Fan Interview with Feroze Ali (Feroze17)

Feroze Ali (otherwise known as feroze17) is arguably one of the biggest Chelsea fans. His videos are well-known to Chelsea fans who are active social networkers. His Champions League video "Against All Odds" (parts 1 and 2) has over a million views combined. Feroze has graciously agreed to an interview...

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JT: How long have you been a Chelsea fan?
Feroze: Been supporting them since 2002! Wow... Hard to believe it's been 12 years.
JT: Wow, so that's even before the 'Abramovich' era, huh?
Feroze: Yeah... Just a couple of years before Roman bought the club. Thing is, even without Roman, the club wasn't just a mid-table club. Chelsea used to come around 4th back then.

JT: Do you play football on a regular basis as well?
Feroze: I used to play football a lot, kicking the ball with friends around, etc.

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(This is for you, Ian)
JT: Did you get to play with Ian? So hard to keep up with him on the field...
Feroze: Surprisingly I've never played footy with Ian...! But I heard he's really good..
JT: Haha he's like a little Asian Messi. ;)
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JT: Who's your favourite Chelsea player?
Feroze: I would have said Lampsy [Frank Lampard]... but he doesn't play for Chelsea anymore. Right now it's between JT [John Terry] and Drogs [Didier Drogba], after that Gaz [Gary] Cahill, who in my eyes is very underrated, followed by Eden Hazard.

JT: What's your take on Drogba's 'second coming'? Do you think he'll contribute a lot of goals in the coming season?
Feroze: Love that King Drogs is back. His influence off the field can make Chelsea win trophies alone this season. Considering Chelsea lost a legend this season (Lampsy), glad we got Didier back. He won't play much but I think it was a great decision to get him back. Also, I am sure he will be a coach the following year if he isn't a player...

JT: Did you choose the username feroze17 because of Hazard or did you like the number 17 even before Hazard's transfer?
Feroze: Haha 'nickname' has been feroze17 for quite some time now. Around 2000 I chose it because my birthday is on the 17th of February, nothing to do with Eden! All a coincidence. Glad Hazard has picked number 10 this season though.

JT: So now about your videos... When did you start learning how to edit videos and how/where did you learn it?
Feroze: I started making videos 10 years ago... in 2004. My brother used to edit videos so I gave it a try for a few years... but then stopped. But then when Chelsea won the double in 2010, I decided to make a video on it and the feedback I got was unreal so I continued. I learned it from my brother...
JT: So was that the first Chelsea video you've ever created?
Feroze: Nope, the first video I ever made was on Damien Duff... Got decent feedback for my first video.

JT: Which of the videos you made is your personal favourite?
Feroze: Against All Odds one.. Don't think I can ever top that.

JT: Have you ever watched a Chelsea match live in a stadium before?
Feroze: Yeah. Sadly only pre-season. Last year when Chelsea played vs AC Milan in New York.

JT: From the pictures you posted, you seem to have met quite a few well-known footballers. Which of them do you think is the coolest/friendliest?
Feroze: Fernando [Torres] by far. I wasn't expecting him to be this nice. Also remembered me and told me about his future trips, etc... Met his entire family, really nice people. Alex (former Chelsea player) really nice as well, along with Willian! Luiz and Oscar are good people too but I would have to say Fernando. Really friendly and loves to joke around. Non-Chelsea players I would say El Sharaawy, Niang, Paulinho and Hulk...

JT: Are you currently working on another Chelsea video?
Feroze: Yeah. Probably going to be my toughest work... a video on Lampsy.
JT: So Lamps is gonna be playing in New York now. And since we're in Toronto, do you think you'll catch a Toronto FC vs New York City FC game next MLS season?
Feroze: Definitely... Will go to that game for sure! Need to meet up with Lampsy as well.

JT: And of course I can't leave without asking you about our new signings... So we've got some big names in Fabregas, Costa, Filipe Luis and Drogba. How far do you think Chelsea can go this coming season?
Feroze: Last year I said City were clear favourites.. Didn't expect Liverpool, but this year I think we will win the title. Reason being because Matic is going to be playing from day 1 where as last season he joined in January. Luis is very underrated, for me one of the best left backs in the world right now, surprised he didn't get called up for Brazil. Cesc is class as a deep lying playmaker, I'm sure he'll play there with Matic, or a 4-3-3 with Oscar and Matic. Diego Costa is not a 1 season wonder, he is one of the best number 9's in the world. Didier is Didier, he won't be as influential on the pitch but I am sure he will contribute. My prediction is Chelsea to win the league, and for the Champions League we will make it to the semi-final again, can see the FA Cup though. League Double is what I think Chelsea will win.

JT: Well Feroze, thank you for your time and good luck with your endeavours!
Feroze: No worries Justin! Was a pleasure.

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Don't forget to check out Feroze's YouTube channel, follow him on Twitter, and like his page on Facebook!

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A Busy Summer Window

Chelsea finished the previous season at third place, a spot the Blues were all too familiar with in recent years. Jose Mourinho failed to make an immediate impact by winning a trophy at his first season back. However, this does not mean his season was a failure. Chelsea made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing out to eventual runner-up (and La Liga winners) Atletico Madrid. The squad that seemed to lack chemistry in the 2012/13 season are finally bonding together to create a formidable team. With the help of a few summer signings this year, Chelsea would prove to be the strongest European team this upcoming season.

1. Cesc Fabregas - Barcelona to Chelsea
This is probably one of the most shocking transfers of this summer. It took Chelsea just one week after the media reported of the Blues' interest in Fabregas before eventually signing him. What's most shocking is Arsenal's refusal in signing him. The midfielder used to be the captain of the Gunners until 2011. When Barcelona signed him, his contract states that Arsenal gets first dibs on re-signing if the club wishes to sell. This was the only obstacle Chelsea had to go through. So here he is now, playing for his former London rivals.

2. Mario Pasalic - Hajduk Split to Chelsea
This youngster would prove to be a future prospect for Chelsea, especially after the departure of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. His aerial ability, along with his clinical finish, would be an asset to the squad.

3. David Luiz - Chelsea to PSG
A whopping £50 million for a defender sets a record in the history books. This deal was done before the World Cup went into full swing. Jose Mourinho proved himself to be a master at managing because David Luiz went on to perform horribly at the crucial games of the World Cup. If Mourinho had made the deal AFTER the Cup, David Luiz's price would have deflated significantly.

4. Demba Ba - Chelsea to Besiktas
Signed in January of 2013, Demba Ba has appeared in games as Chelsea's substitute striker. The Senegalese international is now a forward for Turkish club Besiktas.

5. Filipe Luis - Atletico to Chelsea
Ashley Cole's exit in the summer left a huge hole in the Chelsea line-up. Cole is arguably one of the world's best left-backs in history. Filipe Luis would attempt to emulate Cole's performance for Chelsea this coming season. The Brazilian was not called up to the World Cup squad this year; however, his outstanding performance at Atletico was not overlooked by Mourinho.

6. Diego Costa - Atletico to Chelsea
After years of finding the right replacement for Didier Drogba, Chelsea has finally signed a world-class talent in Diego Costa. Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o, and Demba Ba have all failed to reach the standard that Drogba has set in the club. Although Costa was overshadowed by Radamel Falcao in past years at Atletico, the latter's departure in 2013 gave Costa the opportunity to shine last season. The Spanish international finished the previous season with 36 goals, a stat that Chelsea fans are hoping he would carry on to the Premier League. With this signing, Jose Mourinho has expressed his intent on winning trophies this season.

7. Exits of Lampard & Cole
Champions League winners Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have decided to end their term at Chelsea to pursue their careers elsewhere. Lampard, Chelsea's all-time goalscorer, has yet to announce his decision on which club he would join. New York City FC are touted to be among the favorites to sign him. Ashley Cole has signed for AS Roma. Chelsea fans around the world would express their deepest gratitude to the contributions made by these two club legends.

8. Returning loanees Courtois, Bamford, Lukaku
Despite the failure of winning trophies last season, Chelsea has stacked a number of exciting talents from their young signings. Thibaut Courtois won the Spanish La Liga with Atletico last season while winning his second Ricardo Zamora Trophy (an award for conceding the least amount of goals to the amount of games played). Courtois made his impact in the World Cup with Belgium and took the team as far as the quarter-finals before losing out to Argentina. Jose Mourinho had stated his intent on keeping the 22-year old world-class goalkeeper in the club for the upcoming season.

Along with Courtois, striker Romelu Lukaku played his part in the World Cup. Lukaku failed to impress during his stint at Chelsea in previous seasons. Nevertheless, he proved to be an asset in the loan clubs he was assigned to, namely West Bromwich Albion and Everton. Pre-season matches would help Jose decide whether to keep the striker or not.

One exciting, homegrown prospect is Chelsea's 20-year old Patrick Bamford. In just half a season with Derby, Bamford scored 8 goals in 14 league appearances. So far, the Chelsea youngster is enjoying a good pre-season after bagging the club's first goal against Wycombe Wanderers. It looks like a loan to another Premier League club or Championship club would help with the striker's experience.

The preparations for the new season had begun. Looking at all the signings Chelsea made, this would prove to be an interesting year for the Blues. Fans all over the globe would expect nothing less than prestigious titles this season. Keep the blue flag flying high!