Chelsea - On the cheap

Now is the time for national team glory, but let's spend a moment heralding the nouveau Chelsea: Players come to us and we don't spend a penny.

A few years ago, Paul and I debated whether or not Chelsea's spending pace could continue forever. I said it wouldn't. That would be embarrassing in a Yankees-sort-of-way, for one thing, but the stars were already in place. (This was before Sheva and Ballack, so perhaps I wasn't completely correct). The core has been built, though. Terry/Carvalho, Essien, Drogba up the gut. Cole/Robben on the wings.

So. Anyway. Now our backups are joining us for free. Ben Haim, Sidwell, etc. Alex (Alex!!) was technically already ours.