Today, Chelsea was cleared of all wrongdoing in the Gael Kakuta transfer case by the Court of Arbitration for sport. Who didn't see that coming?

I'll admit that it worried me at first. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini made it really look there for a second like they were trying to reign in the power held by the bigger clubs throughout UEFA. I feel Platini carries a major bias against the English clubs and this witch hunt was his opportunity to strike out at new money clubs like Chelsea. Then reality set in. UEFA and FIFA have been about has proactive with their rules as Major League Baseball;which is to say, not at all. Lifting the ban for the January window was not a shock and proof that it wouldn't be long until all sanctions were dismissed.

So what did we learn from this? First, the transfer rules pertaining to youth players is all messed up. The Italian and French clubs took issue with English clubs claiming a breach of contract when those teams were signing contracts with their youth players; unfair because they themselves are not able to sign them to pro contracts. What? So you don't have a contract with the player but if they sign a contract elsewhere that's a breach of contract? The bottom line is that there needs to be one rule for all UEFA teams (and,in my opinion, all teams that operate under FIFA) to abide by when dealing with youth players. UEFA needs to wash everyone's slate clean and just start over with a uniform rule. Perhaps this is a tougher thing to accomplish than it sounds, but I really don't know what could complicate it.

What else? Well, if you're a Chelsea fan you discovered that 1) we have a player named Gael Kakuta and 2) he is very very good. He was given a second half entrance into the team's November match against Wolves and he made an immediate statement, almost scoring an incredible goal from way out. He appears to have very few holes in his game and he, in time, maybe the team's next midfield star(underline maybe about four times with permanent marker).

Next to fall, I'm sure, will be UEFA's attempt to control spending by only allowing teams to purchase players with organizational profits. Again,this is sports legislation leveled primarily at clubs like Chelsea,Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool who have amassed incredible debts buying up Europe's top talent. Why will this rule not happen (in my opinion)? UEFA needs and wants Real Madrid in the Champions League, and to do so as the Galacticos. Take a second to look at what they have spent just in the last summer on players and then look at their shopping list for next summer; a list that includes the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. You cannot tell me that between television contracts, selling merchandise and selling tickets that Real Madrid accomplished their spending all from the pockets of their team's profits alone. They, like all of the other clubs mentioned, had to have used private equity. UEFA is too spineless to pass a rule that could eliminate the world's top clubs and, by association, the world's top talent from competing in their top competition/money-maker. How can you call it a Champions League if the champions aren't playing?

                                                               
 
And I'm not ignoring the draw at Hull on Tuesday. That was an awful performance and I'm troubled by the fact that when Drogba is on the field Nicolas Anelka acquiesces to him.Chelsea was rolling with Anelka taking the reigns and he needs to assert himself along side Drogba, not behind him. Carlo Ancelotti may give John Terry a break amid his (MAJOR!) personal problems which would be fine with me if Alex wasn't such a set piece liability. On a team that struggles to defend corners, Alex is the worst culprit when it comes to getting lost in the box. Honestly, I think he should be a holding midfielder. All of his upside seems to be on the offensive side of the ball, which is nice to have but not at the detriment of the one thing you're supposed to be doing: defending.

Big derby match this weekend. Let's see which team shows up in the blue shirts.

Written by Nick Degel, The Official Chelsea Blogger of the Goalmouth Scramble