|
Names such as Glen Johnson, Wayne Bridge, Claude Makelele, Damien Duff, Juan Sebastien Veron, Joe Cole, Scott Parker, Geremi, Adrian Mutu and Hernan Crespo have all moved to the London side in big money moves since last summer due to the arrival of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Bolton on the other hand have to rely on Free Transfers, Loans and Short Term Contracts in a bid to assemble their squad with Frenchman Florent Laville being their only cash purchase of the season.
Despite all the money though and the ever increasing spending gap Wanderers defeated their big spending rivals at Stamford Bridge back in December, many could argue with a bit of good fortune but that said it shows that success can still be achieved without the aid of bucket loads of cash as Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has proved in his time at the Reebok Stadium. The expectation at Chelsea now is massive and even Claudio Ranieri, the Blues coach is tipped to be replaced despite having a relatively good season which has seen them progress in the Champions League and within the Championship chasing pack.
Tommorows game will be an interesting encounter as it will bring together two teams at the opposite end of the spectrum, on one side of the spectrum there is a club who has to move three people out to bring one person in as funds are limited and on the other side of the spectrum their is a club who will buy better to make their side stronger with money being readily available. One thing Abramovich's arrival has done for the English game is it has benefitted the other teams financially. Whilst Southampton, West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic lost their prized assets they did however get compensated with a huge amount of cash which they will be able to plough into the club or to use for squad improvements. The down side of Abramovich's influence on the game is that it will make the smaller clubs weaker and could force the lesser sides out of business.
SUBMIT YOUR OPINIONS ON ROMAN ABRAMOVICH ON OUR MESSAGE BOARD
CHELSEA ARRIVALS 2003-2004
Glen Johnson (West Ham United £6,000,000)
Wayne Bridge (Southampton, £7,000,000)
Marco Ambrosio (Cheivo (Italy), Free Transfer)
Juergen Macho (Sunderland, Free Transfer)
Claude Makelele (Real Madrid (Spain), £16,600,000)
Joe Cole (West Ham United, £6,600,000)
Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers, £17,000,000)
Geremi (Real Madrid (Spain), Undisclosed)
Scott Parker (Charlton Athletic, £10,000,000)
Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United, £15,000,000
Adrian Mutu (Parma (Italy), £13,800,000)
Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan (Italy), £16,800,000)
Alexei Smertin (currently on loan to Portsmouth, £3,500,000)
TOTAL SPENT: £112,000,000
BOLTON ARRIVALS 2003-2004
Stelios Giannakopoulos (Olympiakos (Greece), Free Transfer)
Mario Jardel (Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), Undisclosed)
Kevin Davies (Southampton, Free Transfer)
Ibrahim Ba (AC Milan (Italy), Free Transfer)
Ivan Campo (Real Madrid (Spain), Free Transfer)
Florent Laville (Lyon (France), £500,000)
Emerson Thome (Sunderland, Free Transfer)
Steve Howey (Leicester City, Free Transfer)
Jon Otsemobor (Liverpool, Loan)
Donovan Ricketts (Village United, Loan)
Glen Little (Burnley, Loan)
Javi Moreno (Athletico Madrid (Spain), Loan)
Dwight Pezzarossi (Communicaciones (Guatemala), Loan)
TOTAL SPENT: £500,000