Taking advantage of the new rule allowing Premiership clubs to loan players to each other, Chelsea decided to give Cole and Forsell some Premiership expierence, with Charlton and Birmingham respectively, rather than warming the stands or bench.
Holland coach Dick Advocaat warned internationals at Chelsea and Arsenal that they must play regularly if they want to be selected for Euro 2004. Since, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has sealed a loan move, as now has Zenden, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink seemingly intent on keeping his place in the Chelsea team. He has now scored three goals already this season, and is looking for more.
Advocaat told the News Of The World, "I have only one message for Hasselbaink, Melchiot, Zenden and Van Bronckhorst. Go to another club as soon as you can if you want to go with Holland to the European Championships in Portugal"
Meanwhile, the official Chelsea website stated that at half time today, new understudy to Carlo Cudicini, Neil Sullivan, was introduced to the crowd. Also in attendance at the Bridge was Claude Makelele, who was under going a medical.