When Andriy Shevchenko joined Chelsea, Jose Mourinho described it as "a day when the dream became reality". Six months later the words dream and Shevchenko appear in the same sentence about as regularly as Steve Harmison and wicket. Some must imagine the Ukrainian hopes the episode will turn out to be a bad dream and he will find himself back in Milan.The reality is that Shevchenko is determined to succeed at Chelsea but doubts are growing about whether he will be able to produce the form that prompted a delighted Roman Abramovich to part with £30m to purchase him in May. A peripheral performance at Old Trafford on Sunday was the latest occasion on which the striker made little impact, and it came after suggestions that the scale of the match would bring out the best in him.
Tonight's game at Bolton is unlikely to have him salivating but Chelsea have made big statements there over the past two seasons, clinching the title with a win in 2005 and taking an important step towards retaining it with another victory a year later. Shevchenko, if selected, could make a notable statement of his own by shining at a venue that traditionally tests a visitor's quality and character.
Regardless, it remains too early to write him off, given the scale of his past achievements. His five goals from 18 Chelsea appearances, including the Community Shield, compare favourably with Thierry Henry's start at Arsenal. On this day in 1999 Henry had scored four times in 18 games. The Frenchman was, though, just slipping into the form that would see him finish the season with 26 domestic and European goals.
The comparison has to be treated with care, even if it illustrates that acclimatising to the Premiership takes time. Henry was just reverting to playing as a central striker after a period on the flanks, was frequently used as a substitute and, at 22, was always likely to improve. Shevchenko turned 30 in September and questions are being asked about whether Chelsea finally got him a year or so too late.
Such issues were not being debated with anything like the same frequency only 18 days ago when he scored in his third consecutive Chelsea game, against Watford, and it must be noted that he has started only twice since then. Yet one of the most striking aspects of his recent displays has been a lack of pace. Against West Ham and Werder Bremen he appeared to have got beyond a defender only to be caught and dispossessed.
"You think each week that goes by, 'Is he going to get a bit sharper and fitter and stronger?' and at the moment it doesn't quite seem to be happening," says the former Chelsea midfielder Gavin Peacock, although he emphasises the need to allow Shevchenko a period of adjustment. "He has banged in a few goals, and then you thought the floodgates might open, but I think a combination of things [have held him back].
"I don't think he's as quick as he used to be. He's lost half a yard and Shevchenko was quick but never Henry quick. Having lost half a yard it is stopping him getting there but I think he has got enough clever movement, if used in the right way, to be effective.
"With the fact that Chelsea have played a [midfield] diamond a lot they are not getting so many crosses in."
Peacock feels Shevchenko would benefit from at least one of Arjen Robben and Joe Cole being in the team. "I think he needs the ball to be carried and worked to that final third and then his quick brain can get him into positions and I think we would see more from him," he says. "I wouldn't write him off in November. I know Chelsea were looking at him a lot last season, and his record is huge."
A striker interesting Chelsea now, according to reports, is Valencia's David Villa but the Spanish club's president, Juan Soler, said yesterday: "We have no intention of selling him. But should any club be interested they could sit down and negotiate his buy-out clause, which is currently worth €150m [£100m]."
Even Chelsea might consider that steep, and Shevchenko received strong support from Chris Coleman, whose Fulham team kept out the striker during September's defeat. "It's only a matter of time," Coleman said. "Look at [Didier] Drogba when he came over - he couldn't get to grips with it. He just couldn't get with the pace of the game and was having a bad time, getting bad press, and opposition supporters were giving him stick for diving. But look at him now. He's a formidable player and there's no reason why that won't happen to Shevchenko.
"I know they are two different players but once he finds his feet he'll be just as good."
Strike rate
Season Played Goals Strike rate
Dynamo Kiev
1994-95 16 1 6.3%
1995-96 31 16 51.6%
1996-97 20 6 30%
1997-98 23 19 82.6%
1998-99 26 18 69.2%
Milan
1999-00 32 24 75%
2000-01 34 24 70.6%
2001-02 29 15 51.7%
2002-03 23 5 21.7%
2003-04 32 24 75%
2004-05 29 17 65.5%
2005-06 28 19 67.9%
Chelsea
2006-07 12 3 25%
Tonight's game at Bolton is unlikely to have him salivating but Chelsea have made big statements there over the past two seasons, clinching the title with a win in 2005 and taking an important step towards retaining it with another victory a year later. Shevchenko, if selected, could make a notable statement of his own by shining at a venue that traditionally tests a visitor's quality and character.
Regardless, it remains too early to write him off, given the scale of his past achievements. His five goals from 18 Chelsea appearances, including the Community Shield, compare favourably with Thierry Henry's start at Arsenal. On this day in 1999 Henry had scored four times in 18 games. The Frenchman was, though, just slipping into the form that would see him finish the season with 26 domestic and European goals.
The comparison has to be treated with care, even if it illustrates that acclimatising to the Premiership takes time. Henry was just reverting to playing as a central striker after a period on the flanks, was frequently used as a substitute and, at 22, was always likely to improve. Shevchenko turned 30 in September and questions are being asked about whether Chelsea finally got him a year or so too late.
Such issues were not being debated with anything like the same frequency only 18 days ago when he scored in his third consecutive Chelsea game, against Watford, and it must be noted that he has started only twice since then. Yet one of the most striking aspects of his recent displays has been a lack of pace. Against West Ham and Werder Bremen he appeared to have got beyond a defender only to be caught and dispossessed.
"You think each week that goes by, 'Is he going to get a bit sharper and fitter and stronger?' and at the moment it doesn't quite seem to be happening," says the former Chelsea midfielder Gavin Peacock, although he emphasises the need to allow Shevchenko a period of adjustment. "He has banged in a few goals, and then you thought the floodgates might open, but I think a combination of things [have held him back].
"I don't think he's as quick as he used to be. He's lost half a yard and Shevchenko was quick but never Henry quick. Having lost half a yard it is stopping him getting there but I think he has got enough clever movement, if used in the right way, to be effective.
"With the fact that Chelsea have played a [midfield] diamond a lot they are not getting so many crosses in."
Peacock feels Shevchenko would benefit from at least one of Arjen Robben and Joe Cole being in the team. "I think he needs the ball to be carried and worked to that final third and then his quick brain can get him into positions and I think we would see more from him," he says. "I wouldn't write him off in November. I know Chelsea were looking at him a lot last season, and his record is huge."
A striker interesting Chelsea now, according to reports, is Valencia's David Villa but the Spanish club's president, Juan Soler, said yesterday: "We have no intention of selling him. But should any club be interested they could sit down and negotiate his buy-out clause, which is currently worth €150m [£100m]."
Even Chelsea might consider that steep, and Shevchenko received strong support from Chris Coleman, whose Fulham team kept out the striker during September's defeat. "It's only a matter of time," Coleman said. "Look at [Didier] Drogba when he came over - he couldn't get to grips with it. He just couldn't get with the pace of the game and was having a bad time, getting bad press, and opposition supporters were giving him stick for diving. But look at him now. He's a formidable player and there's no reason why that won't happen to Shevchenko.
"I know they are two different players but once he finds his feet he'll be just as good."
Strike rate
Season Played Goals Strike rate
Dynamo Kiev
1994-95 16 1 6.3%
1995-96 31 16 51.6%
1996-97 20 6 30%
1997-98 23 19 82.6%
1998-99 26 18 69.2%
Milan
1999-00 32 24 75%
2000-01 34 24 70.6%
2001-02 29 15 51.7%
2002-03 23 5 21.7%
2003-04 32 24 75%
2004-05 29 17 65.5%
2005-06 28 19 67.9%
Chelsea
2006-07 12 3 25%
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