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While both part of successful Chelsea squads, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel have never quite managed to win over the entire Chelsea following. Both established members of the senior squad, they get plenty of games each season, and yet their performances still create a divide as fans oscillate in their opinion of them.

Kalou, now in his fifth season with the club, has consistently featured in a healthy amount of games. Although he is not a regular starter, he virtually always comes on should he start on the bench. He was getting games ahead of Joe Cole, and one of the reasons that the latter was getting less minutes on the pitch than he wanted. Kalou’s goal return is also useful, without being prolific. It is hard for a player that is not first choice to get regular goals, but Kalou has chipped in consistently (14, 12, 10, 12 in his last four seasons).

More importantly than the number of goals, is the importance of some of his strikes. Late equalisers at home to Spurs in FA Cup, and against Man United in the league spring to mind. As well as a goal, and two stonewall penalty claims, in last season’s quarter final with Inter.

Kalou has never been a first pick at Chelsea, and probably never will be, but he seems content with the role he plays. In the same way, Chelsea fans are content with his contribution: he’s not setting the league alight, but there is an awareness that he still has a great amount to give.

For Mikel, the situation is slightly different, and is about to get a little tougher. The Nigerian has been a certain starter since his graduation from Claude Makelele’s understudy. Chelsea fought hard to sign Mikel with the much publicised compensation paid to Manchester United, and they will ultimately feel that they did the right thing. In a team packed with stars, Mikel has little glamour to offer; he doesn’t have the passing range of his teammates, or the technical skill, but he is the best enforcer the club possess – better than Michael Essien. While Essien – who I believe to be the most complete midfielder in the league – is a far better footballer, he doesn’t have the rigid discipline that Mikel has, and in a midfield three, Mikel is better at simply sitting in, and protecting his backline.

Mikel’s place is now under threat. Before this season, the combination of Mikel, Essien and Lampard was a pretty straightforward pick for the midfield places. Now, with the arrival of Ramires, Chelsea have the option of a far more dynamic midfield. If Lampard and Essien were accompanied by Ramires, there would be a new dimension added. Whether Essien would move back, or Ramires would simply take Mikel’s role for himself (or even if they shared it through the course of a match), there would still be a more vibrant style of play on show.

Big games are always a good indication of how a manager thinks about his squad, and I still maintain that come the trip to Old Trafford, or on important European nights, Mikel will start. Ramires looks like he could be a very good player, and it is a signing that I’m excited about, but adapting to the Premiership will surely take time. He will however, believe that there is a chance he can make the position his own.

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For both players, winning over all the fans that watch them play will almost be impossible. They are not maligned, or barraged with abuse, because they are still good players – we are not talking about sulking egomaniacs who can’t kick a ball. Their contribution to the squad and their lower profiles reflect the perception that fans have of them. Chelsea fans will never love them wholeheartedly because they don’t do what the likes of Drogba, Cole, and Lampard do. But if players that are the calibre of Kalou an Mikel are squad players (Mikel may be one soon), then it must be a very healthy squad to boast about.

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Tottenham will be eager to dish out some payback on league leaders Manchester City when they travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Roberto Mancini’s men thrashed Spurs 5-1 in September and should be fearful of a backlash from the North Londoners. Despite a slight wobble in recent weeks City remain comfortable at the top three clear or rivals United and six ahead of Harry Redknapp’s side. Having spent much of the season playing breathtakingly exciting football their win at Wigan on Monday night owed much to their ability to dig in and grid out results. The loss of Vincent Kompany to suspension has hit them hardest in recent week with youngster Stefan Savic struggling to adapt to the pace and physicality’s of the English game. However the grit and determination displayed at the DW Stadium will go a long way for City as they aim to bag their first ever Premier League title. Their record at the Etihad Stadium is perfect after 10 wins in a row whilst they scored 31 goals and conceded only four. They’ll need another valiant display on Sunday if they are to maintain that unbeaten home record and put some distance between themselves and their third placed visitors.

It’s been an unbelievable campaign for Spurs as they continue to stay involved in the title race. Redknapp will be desperate for his side to enact some revenge on City after the White Hart Lane mauling they suffered although since that game they’ve won from 14 out of the 19 subsequent fixtures losing just once. Since then Tottenham have been irresistible and deservedly sit in the top three just two victories away from top spot. Despite being held at home to Wolves last week they will be confident of toppling the league leaders on their own patch especially with Scott Paker and Luka Modric resuming their midfield partnership. The signing of Parker in the summer was seen as the final piece of Redknapp’s jigsaw as it would allow Modric to concentrate on creating goals instead of worrying about fulfilling his defensive duties. The Croatian has been a driving force in attack linking up to great effect with Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor whilst Parker sits back and cuts out any threat from the opposition. The duo will be key to keeping City’s midfield three quiet on Sunday as well as getting wingers Bale and Aaron Lennon into the game and providing killer balls for Jermaine Defoe who will start in place of Adebayor who can’t play against his parent club.

Manchester City 1st : 51 points

Last six: W W L D W W

Team news: Vincent Kompany is still serving a ban and misses out alongside Micah Richards who has a hamstring injury. Mario Balotelli could feature despite picking up an ankle knock.

Key Player: David Silva

After spending much of Christmas on the sidelines the silky Spaniard roared back into life on Monday against Wigan. City will be grateful that Silva has finally recovered from injury and he’ll be sure to make up for lost time against Tottenham on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur 3rd : 46 points

Last six: D W W D W D

Team news: Spurs have seven first team players out injured for their trip to the Etihad Stadium whilst Emmanuel Adebayor will be missing as he isn’t permitted to play against his parent club.

Key Player: Luka Modric

Breaking down a City defence that has conceded just four times at home will be extremely difficult but a challenge Modric will savour. The Croatian has been superb for Tottenham this season as they aim to close the gap on the league leaders.

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PREDICTION

City’s record at the Etihad Stadium is phenomenal but they’ve been shaky of late and Vincent Kompany’s absence continues to haunt them. Spurs will see an opportunity to write the wrongs of the 5-1 they took in September and inflict a first home defeat of the season on Roberto Mancini’s men.

Score 2-2

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Indonesian side Sriwijaya slipped to second in Group F of the AFC Cup after suffering a 4-0 defeat away to Vietnam’s Song Lam Nghe.Thierry Ngale gave his side the lead midway through the first-half on Tuesday, with the Cameroonian defender reacting quickest after Andre Fagan’s header had hit the crossbar.

The home side dominated the game and made it 2-0 on 33 minutes when Ngale nabbed a brace, heading home after an intial save from Sriwijaya shot-stopper Feri Rotin Sulu.

Song Lam made it 3-0 in the 57th minute after Fagan went past three defenders before finishing well past Sulu.

Fellow Jamaican Kavin Bryan made it four for the Vietnamese outfit on 61 minutes, with the substitute coolly scoring from the edge of the area.

Sriwijaya’s misery was further compounded by the dismissal of Oktovianus Maniani after 83 minutes.

The victory was Song Lam Nghe’s second of the competition and moved them onto six points – one behind Sriwijaya and three behind group leaders TWS Pegasus.

The transfer window always reminds me of Christmas. Full of expectation, excitement and then suddenly it becomes something an anti-climax once it is over. Some are happy with their presents, while others are left seething at the lack of effort that was put in. City fans are undoubtedly happy with their lot this summer, although others are bound to be disappointed.

It has been a relatively quiet transfer window as clubs remain cautious with their transfer spending, given the current climate. Chairman may have had little option but to be prudent, but it doesn’t stop supporters feeling slightly disappointed that a few more gambles haven’t taken place. Surprisingly a lot of managers have actually been sympathetic towards the situation, highlighting the curse of high wages that has made transfer dealings all the more difficult, rather than bemoaning the lack of backing from their club chairman. While others have simply made the best out of the stagnant transfer market, negotiated well and brought in some real bargains.

So how has Arsenal’s transfer window been and have you been happy, or disappointed, by the progress that has been made? Has Arsene Wenger done enough to ensure that Arsenal will be challenging for honours this season?

The Third Round Proper of the ‘Budweiser’ FA Cup.

The weekend is upon us and the hectic fixture list shows no signs of easing off just yet so it will be interesting to see who fields who and just how seriously one of the most prestigious cups in the world is taken.

Tottenham Hotspur’s success this season has been built upon achieving the consistency against weaker sides that previous seasons have sorely lacked. So Cheltenham at 16/1 doesn’t offer value so much as reflect reality. Spurs have been itching to thump someone (other than Liverpool) this season and if this isn’t it then White Hart Lane will get very frosty. Prediction 2-0.

Fulham have had a mixed time of this season. But Martin Jol’s feel good factor will still be considerably revived after the sensational late win against Arsenal in the Barclay’s Premier League. Charlton are top of League One and will relish the chance of showing their fellow Londoners they can play. Jol doesn’t have much depth of squad so Chris Powell is likely to have his work cut put. Prediction 2-0.

Norwich City are having a great season back in the Premiership. Their support home and away have been nothing short of a credit. Paul Lambert has run a creditable operation given the size of the task that has been placed before him and Norwich sit 9th in the league. Burnley have been scrambling since Owen Coyle left and currently hover in 10th spot in the championship. With virtually an entire division separating the two sides it’s difficult to see an away win. Prediction 1-0.

Newcastle United vs Blackburn Rovers could quite possibly be a classic FA Cup game. The Toon’s fortunes were revived with a brilliant recent win over Manchester United and a cup run may just suit Alan Pardew. Steve Kean will probably be happy to pay away again and so concentrate on playing football opposed to ignoring the noisy idiots who call themselves fans, yet spend every game trying to wreck their team’s morale. Prediction 2-1.

Everton host Tamworth. Tamworth are 14th in the Blue Square Premier League and without being too dismissive this might be a good opportunity for David Moyes to let his boys have a relatively uninhibited run out and flex a few muscles. Prediction 3-0.

Arsenal face Leeds and if Arsene Wenger was completely honest he’d acknowledge he needs this game like a hole in the head. Leeds’ away form is barely distinguishable from their home and whilst they might be 8th in the Championship, they will travel with mind to box well above their weight. Prediction 2-2.

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There’s no doubting that Rafael van der Vaart has been a revelation for Tottenham this season. The Dutchman might not have been in top form in the Premier League recently, but I wouldn’t bet against van der Vaart showing his true colours as Spurs battle Man City for Champions League qualification. Rafa isn’t just skilful with the ball at his feet either, it would seem that he’s pretty handy doing keepy-ups with chewing gum too.

Here’s Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart showing off his skills as he juggles his chewing gum before the match against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League last week. Rafa then goes one step too far and kicks it back up to his mouth to start chewing again. Mmmm, tasty….

Rafa’s still got some way to go to match his WAG Sylvie though! Make sure you check out her football skills here.

It has been reported in the news today that Mario Balotelli’s proposed move from Inter Milan to Manchester City has hit the rocks over his astronomical wage demands. Rumour has it that young Balotelli, despite being deemed surplus to requirements for Italy at the World Cup and struggling to hold down a regular starting place at Inter, believes that he is worth a staggering £180,000 a week.

Balotelli has bags of potential, but are City right to be apprehensive? Here we take a look at some other stars who have promised the world as youngsters and failed to deliver…

Francis Jeffers

The Promise

When Jeffers broke into the Everton team just before his 17th birthday, he was hailed as a natural ‘fox in the box’ who would be an international star of the future and his reputation was further enhanced when he became the England under-21 joint record goalscorer, sharing the record with a certain Alan Shearer. A record at club level of almost a goal in every two games prompted Arsenal to pay over £8 million for the then 20-year-old in 2001 and Arsene Wenger described him ‘obsessed with scoring goals’.

The Disappointment

Jeffers’ Arsenal career was nothing short of a disaster, and after less than 30 appearances in three years at the Gunners and a disastrous loan spell back at Everton, he was shown the door. The bright young thing had faded to the point of invisibility. After a series of unsuccessful transfers and loan spells Jeffers, still just 29, recently had a trial at newly-promoted Blackpool after being released by Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored just 5 goals in 3 years, this summer. He has only scored 12 senior goals since 2004.

Jermaine Pennant

The Promise

By the time Jermaine Pennant was 14, he was already a member of the Notts County under-18 team and was attracting admiring glances from teams across Britain. It was no real surprise, then, that in 1999, when Pennant was 15, he was signed by Arsenal. The fee was £2 million, then a record for a trainee. Pennant became Arsenal’s youngest ever player and was soon impressing the fans with his performances in the League Cup, where he demonstrated his pace and trickery. At 16, he was already a huge name in the world of British football and was seen as a certainty for future international honours.

The Disappointment

Pennant became homesick upon joining Arsenal, and his development waned as a result. Despite scoring a hattrick on his league debut for the Gunners in 2002, Pennant was unable to secure a regular place. He moved to Birmingham, where his career hit controversy as he was forced to play with an electronic tag due to a drink driving conviction. After an inconsistent spell at Liverpool, Pennant turned down a move to Real Madrid and instead joined Portsmouth, causing many to question his ambition. In 2009 he did move to Spain, with Real Zaragoza. Now 27, Pennant has become one of English football’s forgotten men. Despite seeming keen on a move back to England, he is yet to find a suitor, and a full international cap still eludes him.

Cherno Samba

The Promise

At the turn of the millennium, Gambia-born Cherno Samba was once seen as the next big thing in English football. His father was a Gambian international, and when the Samba family moved to London, Cherno took the local football scene by storm. He scored 132 goals in 32 games in his under-14 season, and it was Millwall who elected to take a chance on the pacy frontman, signing him for their academy. Samba’s phenomenal goalscoring exploits continued, and before long the Premier League’s big boys became interested, with Liverpool having a £2 million bid turned down for the teenager before he had even made a first team appearance. He also represented England at every level from under-15s to under-20s. The world, it seemed, was at Samba’ prolific little feet. Millwall offered him a three year contract which he signed in 2002, on his 17th birthday.

The Disappointment

For some reason, Samba never made the grade at Millwall. He saw out his contract at the club, but never made an appearance for the first team. A move to Spain followed, and journeyman Samba has now played for seven clubs despite still being just 25. His goalscoring exploits haven’t continued however, and Malaga remains the only team that he has ever scored ten goals for at senior level. A potential move to Portsmouth in 2009 was hampered by the club’s transfer embargo, and he recently signed for Panetolikos in the Greek second tier.

Freddy Adu

The Promise

There was only one name on everyone’s lips before the 2004 MLS SuperDraft: Freddy Adu. The 14-year-old was drafted as the first pick by DC United, and became the youngest US athlete in 100 years to sign a professional contract. His development continued, and in 2005 he was nominated for the FIFPRO World Young Player of the Year award. Adu had a two week trial with Manchester United in 2006, and became the youngest ever USA international when he came on as a substitute against Canada in the same year. Suddenly, the whole world knew about the Ghanaian-born forward, and it seemed only a matter of time before he made the step into a top European league. In 2007, he agreed a move to Benfica for $2 million.

The Disappointment

Adu never really settled into the Portuguese game, and after failing to hold down a first team place at Benfica, was twice sent on loan, to Monaco and Belenenses, where he also failed to make an impact. A third loan spell in Greece has proved more successful, but at 21 Adu has lost his place in the USA squad and appears to be some way off achieving the brilliance that his early potential suggested. Question marks over his real age have only added to Adu’s turmoil.

Nii Lamptey

The Promise

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When you’re described as the next Pelé, you’re good. When the praise comes from the great man himself, you’re very special. In 1991, midfielder Nii Lamptey inspired Ghana to victory in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup, claiming the Golden Ball in a competition that included Juan Veron and Alessandro Del Piero. Lamptey was hardly an unknown before the tournament. When he signed for Anderlecht as a 15-year-old, Belgian age-limit rules were changed to allow him to appear in the first team at 16 and it wasn’t long before he earned a glamorous move to PSV Eindhoven. Again he was the star performer, leaving fans and pundits awestruck, despite the fact that he was just 19 years old.

The Disappointment

Lamptey seemed happy at PSV, but in the summer of 1994 his agent forced through a move to Ron Atkinson’s Aston Villa, seemingly ignoring what was good for Lamptey’s career but making himself a small fortune. Expectation was high but Lamptey disappointed in England. He followed Atkinson to Coventry after one season but his career nosedived and never fully recovered. He left for Italy after one season, but the death of his child, as well as a racism-plagued spell in Germany, left Lamptey psychologically damaged, and he fell short of the potential he had as a youngster. Currently assistant manager of Sekondi Eleven Wise in the Ghanaian top flight.

Only time will tell if Balotelli will make the grade or if, like so many before him he will fade and be forever thought of as a player who never fulfilled his potential.

What do you guys think? Is Balotelli the next Cristiano Ronaldo or will he fail to shine like his countryman Nii Lamptey?

Written By Gareth Roberts

Back in the day, professional footballers would have had no option but to study for another living that they could turn to if their sporting career didn’t work out or ended prematurely. The likes of Sir Trevor Brooking and co studied in alternate professions before and during their careers so that their life after the beautiful game would be sustainable and quite often achieved a degree or qualification that would be crucial in their later years.

The main reason for the extra hard work was the measly wages that previous generations of players received, which is a far cry from today’s millions. Even some modern day footballers feel the need to pursue a second life after football which in my opinion is extremely credible. Numerous ex-players become heavily involved in charity work, continue a career in football or in Dion Dublin’s case, become an inventor.

However, the wages in twenty first century Premier League football have risen so rapidly that the need for work after football is obsolete. Players such as Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney have wages bordering or in advance of £200,000 a week this year that would have been unthinkable 20-years ago. Earning millions of pounds a year to play football is completely farfetched but the players are not to blame for this.

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The introduction of the multi–billion pound foreign owners to the Premier League in the past 10 years or so has seen a rise in wages to fight off competition from rival clubs. Take Manchester City for example, they have brought dozens of players to the club since their takeover and the majority of the players signed will have received a significant wage rise. One of the main beneficiaries of the influx of foreign ownership has been Wayne Bridge. Chelsea signed the England left back just a month after Roman Abramovich arrived at Stamford Bridge and the former Southampton player doubled his wage overnight. Six years and 87 league appearances later Manchester City; now under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour; signed Bridge for around £10million, once again boosting the left back’s wages.

So with a progressively increased pay packet over his career, Bridge was told he can leave City this January after becoming third choice wing back at the Etihad Stadium. The former England international will be 32 this year and may only have two seasons at the most at the top level of English football left in his career. No team in England or Europe is going to pay the same wage to Bridge that he is receiving in Manchester at the moment so why would he want to leave?

Professional footballers will only have around 12-15 years in the game and so is it not expected that they will try and earn as much money as possible in that time before early retirement? Some will obviously jump on the bandwagon that the players are just greedy but I don’t feel they are to blame and although playing football should be their goal, being paid as much as possible to do so in a short space of time has got to be understandable.

Admittedly the players do not deserve everything they get and the overall debate about money in football is for a different time, but a salary cap or something along those lines would be unthinkable in football as players wages are set to increase even more if they are on the move in the January transfer window.

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Disagree? Do not hesitate to let me know below or on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard

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Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea sit a distant 11 points behind leaders Manchester United following Saturday?s 1-1 draw with Stoke.Jonathan Walters’ early strike shook the Blues until Didier Drogba levelled matters before the break in a game that could have produced far more goals.

Carlo Ancelotti made a tactical switch up front with Salomon Kalou and goal-shy Fernando Torres dropping to the bench to allow Drogba and Nicolas Anelka to spearhead the Blues? attack.

Robert Huth’s early miss was soon forgotten as Walters ran at Michael Essien and cut back on his right foot to beat Petr Cech with a ferocious cross-shot after eight minutes.

Chelsea came close to an instant retort as Ashley Cole steered his diving header wide, while John Terry’s timely tackle denied Kenwyne Jones at the opposite end.

But Chelsea’s strikers did re-pay manager Carlo Ancelotti’s faith as they linked up perfectly in the 33rd minute with Drogba meeting Anelka’s perfectly-weighted chipped pass for a textbook diving header.

The drama continued after the interval as Jermaine Pennant shot straight at Cech’s legs and Drogba struck the post from a tight angle

The Potters were unlucky not to regain the lead with Marc Wilson’s 30-yard free-kick and Huth’s bullet header both pounding Cech’s crossbar in the space of 60 seconds.

The hosts’ profligacy continued with Jones and Walters both struggling to apply finishing touches from around the six yard box.

Drogba rattled Stoke’s woodwork late on as Chelsea’s grip on their champions crown slipped further from their grasp.

West Ham United manager Avram Grant has promised the club's fans that there will be several more new faces at the club before the season starts in less than three weeks' time.

Despite being linked with a host of big names this summer, the only new arrivals at Upton Park since the end of last season have been Pablo Barrera, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piqiuonne.

The Hammers have looked good in pre-season so far, securing 2-0 and 1-0 victories against Borussia Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos respectively, with Grant saying:"It was a very good week.

"The boys trained very hard, they showed a good attitude. Most of the training was of a high intensity which is not easy and they did it very well.

"We also reached our targets in the games. The first was to be familiar to the system that we are going to play this season. Second was we wanted to improve our fitness as we prepare for the league. Everything went well.

"We want to create a structure that can develop and improve the team all the time. We don't have the money of the top four, or top seven as it has become, but we can be a very good team with a vision for the next years.

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"It is encouraging. The squad is not complete yet, we told the players we want to make the squad as strong as we can. Even if the club are limited with money, because we are in debt, we know what we are doing and we know we want to do.

"The owners are trying to give their best for the team so we will buy or loan a few more players. Even if I don't like loans so much – most players here will be players for the long term."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email