[han2503]

YOU CAN'T EXPECT SHEVA TO SCORE V MACCLESFIELD!
CARLING CUP Semi-final: Wycombe v Chelsea, tomorrow, 7.30pm LAMPARD DEFENDS £30M FLOP

THEY tried nice with Andriy Shevchenko and it didn't work, as Jose Mourinho's pledges of support were not reciprocated.

Then they tried nasty, and it still didn't work, as Chelsea's manager humiliated the Ukrainian and still could not spark a response.

But last night they adopted a strategy that seemed to sum up the striker's enduring nightmare at Stamford Bridge - pity.

Shevchenko's misery plumbed new depths against Macclesfield on Saturday, with the £30million superstar branded a dive cheat and 'past it' by Silkmen skipper and centre-half David Morley, who took over in goal and easily prevented Shevchenko's best efforts to score past him.

That was as low as it could get for a player supposed to fire the goals to lead the Blues to the Premiership crown and Champions League glory. Yet instead, Shevchenko will run out at Wycombe in the Carling Cup tomorrow knowing that his stock under Mourinho has plummeted to astonishing depths.

And even as Frank Lampard attempted to back the striker with supportive comments, the undercurrent seemed more one of human empathy than any belief that the former AC Milan man can possibly come good.

Asked directly about the Ukrainian, Lampard - who has 12 goals to his credit including his weekend hat-trick - put a metaphorical arm round the striker's shoulder.

"I do feel sympathy for him but it is no problem," insisted Lampard.

"Against Macclesfield it was not a day where, because he cost £30 million and is a world-class striker, he had to score.

"He didn't. He has to work hard and try to lead the line, which he did. It doesn't always happen for you.

"It is the same for me - I scored three against Macclesfield, but at Aston Villa I tried to score the whole game and it didn't go in for me. So it is not a problem for Sheva. I hope people don't want to make a big deal that he didn't score against Macclesfield because football is not that simple."

Yet as Lampard's bitter World Cup memories tell him, it is that simple.

Shevchenko was bought, at Roman Abramovich's behest, to score goals and take the Blues over the final European hurdle. The fact that Didier Drogba has gone from fall-guy to hero has merely illustrated the contrast between him and Shevchenko.

And while there is no questioning of his commitment, Lampard appears to be coming to the conclusion that it is simply not meant to be.

"We can all try too hard - that is not really a big fault," said the England man. "That is just showing what you want to do. Sheva doesn't seem to be letting it affect him. He is working hard in training and is a great professional.

"On Saturday you could see the frustration, but as long as Sheva keeps trying, the goals will come. Eventually it will turn for him."

Whether Lampard, who will be rested tomorrow, truly believes that is hard to know yet, certainly, Mourinho will select Shevchenko against Wycombe before returning him to bench-warming duties against Wigan on Saturday.

[han2503]

No hiding place for Shevchenko

All is not well at Chelsea, but no player reflects the champions' mid-season malaise quite as vividly as Andrei Shevchenko. While blame for the team's recent inconsistency is shouldered almost entirely by the defence, it is conveniently forgotten that their £30.8 million striker has failed to score in his last nine games. For manager Jose Mourinho, believed to be at odds with the board at Stamford Bridge over such extravagant signings, it is a chastening statistic.

The popular logic is that Chelsea's season will be revived as soon as John Terry is restored to the side, but attention is turning increasingly to the 'dead weight' that they are carrying in the captain's absence. Michael Ballack has reportedly been the subject of mutinous murmurs in the camp over his supposed indolence, and similar questions can now legitimately be asked of Shevchenko, who sloped off against Macclesfield in the FA Cup to opposition fans' chants of "What a waste of money".

Until now a clear line has been drawn between the struggles of Ballack and Shevchenko to adjust to Premiership pace. Where the German, by many accounts English football's highest earner on £130,000 a week, has courted criticism for lack of effort, his Ukrainian team-mate has merely looked lost. But having botched the chances Mourinho has given him — including a start against the cannon fodder of Macclesfield from which he again drew a blank —Shevchenko, too, is running out of sympathisers.

Apart from Frank Lampard, that is. "I do feel sympathy for him," said the England midfielder, who scored a hat-trick in Chelsea's 6-1 Cup win and sought to justify the striker's wretched display. ''It was not a day where, because he cost £30 million and is a world-class striker, he had to score — he didn't. He has to work hard and try to lead the line, which he did. It doesn't always happen for you — he is working hard in training and is a great professional. Of course he wants to score more, that is what he has done his whole career. But as long as he keeps trying, the goals will come.

"It is the same for me," Lampard continued. "I scored three against Macclesfield and at Aston Villa I tried to score the whole game and it didn't go in for me. It is not a problem for Sheva. I hope people don't want to make a big deal of the fact that he didn't score against Macclesfield, because football is not that simple."

But Shevchenko's failure to trouble such a limited side simply served as an instructive study in contrasts. It was by no means the only example of his deficiencies, given that he has not scored at all since the Champions League tie against Levski Sofia on Dec 5, while his last Premiership goal came in a routine home win over Watford on Nov 11. For a player in whom so much has been invested, this is a pitiful return.

It is not so much the money that rankles about Shevchenko as his status as the figurehead for Roman Abramovich's revolution at Stamford Bridge. He is the player whom the Russian owner, soon after the takeover, personally approached at Milan's Four Seasons Hotel to resolve the club's search for a centre-forward. Initially he refused the offer, such was his success at AC Milan, but as he committed to a move last summer he said of Chelsea: "Now we are ready for each other." The declaration proved horribly premature.

[han2503]

Oh how the mighty have fallen (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Now I'm actually starting to feel a TAD (just a tad) bit sorry for him

[Bluesummers]

Oh how the mighty have fallen  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Now I'm actually starting to feel a TAD (just a tad) bit sorry for him

so am i, its sad to see him being benched the rest of the season (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Do you think if chelsea wanted to sell him back to milan, that milan would buy him, and how much do you think they'll wanto sell him for (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[milanistar]

so am i, its sad to see him being benched the rest of the season (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)   Do you think if chelsea wanted to sell him back to milan, that milan would buy him, and how much do you think they'll wanto sell him for (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

There is absolutely no way he comes back to Milan!
Well, may be for the other side of the city (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[han2503]

so am i, its sad to see him being benched the rest of the season (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)   Do you think if chelsea wanted to sell him back to milan, that milan would buy him, and how much do you think they'll wanto sell him for (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I’m sorry but I don’t think so.

It’s a matter of pride from all 3 parties involved, Chelsea won’t want to sell him because there transfer policy will blow up in their face and the fact that Sheva’s purchase was more Abramovic’s doing rather then Mourinho’s will be more obvious.

Sheva won’t want to admit he made a mistake and can’t make it in the EPL. And Milan won’t want to take him simply because Milan ain’t no hotel that you could come and go as you please. The fans will never accept him back neither.

And about him going to Inter well that just was a frank question asked by the media to Mancini if he would take him, and we all know Mancini never says no to anything. Sheva would never go to Inter either and if he where to go, the Milan fans would probably set his house on fire.

[agenth]

There is absolutely no way he comes back to Milan!
Well, may be for the other side of the city (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

moratti would surely buy him (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) just to rub it in our faces

[Rossoneri7]

I’m sorry but I don’t think so.

It’s a matter of pride from all 3 parties involved, Chelsea won’t want to sell him because there transfer policy will blow up in their face and the fact that Sheva’s purchase was more Abramovic’s doing rather then Mourinho’s will be more obvious.

Sheva won’t want to admit he made a mistake and can’t make it in the EPL. And Milan won’t want to take him simply because Milan ain’t no hotel that you could come and go as you please. The fans will never accept him  back neither.

And about him going to Inter well that just was a frank question asked by the media to Mancini if he would take him, and we all know Mancini never says no to anything. Sheva would never go to Inter either and if he where to go, the Milan fans would probably set his house on fire.

Totally agree (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

Silvio said too contriversial things; 'Sheva would be welcomed with open arms...' and then 'Sheva is not a man, in my (Silvio's) house I make the decisions...' .

This leaves Sheva, considering his recent form, regreting the minute he switched teams. Which would imply that Shevchenko would rather join Al-Ittihad than come back to Milan. I am guessing, since he was considered a Rossoneri legend but threw it all away for Abramovic .. Basically he wont come back w/ his tail between his legs, he already knew his mistake when he kissed that Chelsea shirt (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[milanistar]

Totally agree (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

Silvio said too contriversial things; 'Sheva would be welcomed with open arms...' and then 'Sheva is not a man, in my (Silvio's) house I make the decisions...' .

This leaves Sheva, considering his recent form, regreting the minute he switched teams. Which would imply that Shevchenko would rather join Al-Ittihad than come back to Milan. I am guessing, since he was considered a Rossoneri legend but threw it all away for Abramovic .. Basically he wont come back w/ his tail between his legs, he already knew his mistake when he kissed that Chelsea shirt (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Now you're making a move for Sheva? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Now you're making a move for Sheva? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Shhhhhh .. I don't want to be a hate figure in here .. But between us, nah, I wouldnt even dream of it. They actually have strikers that score (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Sheva not coming back

Monday 5 March, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has declared that he is happy with the Blues and has no intention of going back to Milan.

The Ukrainian striker joined the London club in the summer in a £31m move, but struggled to adapt to his new life in the Premiership, thus fuelling rumours that he might consider a sensational return to the San Siro.

“At the beginning it was difficult, I had to change the way I played and adapt to English football,” said Shevchenko in an interview with Radio Italia.

“I believe it’s normal to have a period of adjustment. I arrived here after a difficult season for me, now I have finally overcome that hard time,” continued the former Dynamo Kiev star.

“I made my choice, I arrived in England and now I want to continue on this path, I am not going back.”

The striker is still a close friend with club president Silvio Berlusconi, who is the godfather of his son, and admits that leaving the Via Turati shirt wasn’t easy.

“I speak with Berlusconi often, it was extremely difficult for me to tell him that I wanted to leave,” said the international.

“I will never forget Milan. It was a very important experience for me, which allowed me to become the player I am,” concluded the former Rossoneri star.

Football Italia

[Rossoneri7]

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Stay at Chelsea ... We have Ronaldo now

[nuh]

no btw i wouldnt say cuz i would have sheva any time i dont care who we have sheva can never ever be replaced he will alwayz be in my heart

[kurtsimonw]

The past month Sheva has possibly been the best player in the Premiership, he's started to score more goals and his all round play has improved alot.

What more can you say about his goals against Sheff United and Spurs, they were both simply spectacular. All the greats take time to settle, Rooney has only scored about the same as Sheva this season, yet he has no critics, you make stats what you want them to be. Sheva is world class and always will be.

[nahnuhi]

ur rht