Chelsea Reserves 4-0 Fulham Reserves

As promised here is an insight about the Reserves of Chelsea FC who this evening started their season in fine style by beating near neighbours Fulham Reserves 4-0 at the Recreation Ground, Aldershot Town FC.

Fulham say that there is only one F in Fulham, we say there is only one team in Fulham. Recently the Chelsea Ladies beat Fulham Ladies 5-0, so now its down the the 1st Team and the Academy team to keep the run going.

Here is the Chelsea Team from this evenings match:

Yves Ma-Kalambay, Sam Hutchinson, Adrian Pettigrew, Michael Mancienne, Ryan Bertrand, Jimmy Smith (capt), Jack Cork, Jonas Elmer, James Simmonds, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Cummings.

Subs: Rhys Taylor (gk), Ricardo Fernandes, Sergio Tejera Rodriguez, Phil Younghusband, Ben Sahar.

All unfamiliar names I guess, but don't worry as during the course of the season I will be doing an introductory piece on as many of the lesser known players as I can so you will get an idea on the Reserve and Academy teams set-ups.

All of tonights goals came in the second-half. Captain Jimmy Smith scored the first, the next two were scored by Scott (Who Is Theo Walcott?) Sinclair of which one was a penalty and the fourth was scored by Phil Younghusband.

If you are wondering why I wrote 'Scott (Who Is Theo Walcott?) Sinclair.' I firmly believe he is a far better player than Walcott and one of Scott's goals this evening was simply sensational!!!!

To be fair on Fulham the goals were scored after their centre-half who was signed from Leyton Orient in the Summer, was sent-off for two bookable offences.

COME ON CHELSEA!

Curtain Down

After one week of the Premiership season, the Premiership shuts down for two weeks to accommodate qualification matches for Euro 2008.

However this shutdown does not affect the Reserves of Chelsea FC. They start their season tomorrow with a home game against Fulham FC Reserves. News will be published here as its becomes available.

Chelsea's Academy have already played two matches and they have won them both. Liverpool away 1-0 and on Saturday last, the Academy beat Sheff Weds Youth 1-0 as well.

Supporting Chelsea isn't all about the first team, its all about supporting the teams under the Club's umbrella.

To finish, Chelsea Ladies FC played their first game last week and beat Fulham Ladies 5-0.

New Kit (or Three)

If you are wondering about the kit that Chelsea played Blackburn in today, this is the kit that Chelsea will playing in the forthcoming Champions League which Chelsea kick off against Werder Bremen in two weeks time at The Bridge.

Chelsea couldn't play in Blue or the White kit because it would have clashed with Rovers' Blue and White shirts, fair enough.

But this is a rant and I told you in my opening speil that I will tell it to you straight. Chelsea's new tie-up with Adidas means mega-money to the club in sponsorship deals. I am not too sure how much it is but it is an awful lot of money.

To launch THREE new kits in such a short space of time, when fans are scrimping and saving for season-tickets, memberships, scrambling for match tickets before they even start to think about putting food on the table is absolutely outrageous.

But you know, the attitude of the club and its sponsors is probably 'we don't give a damm' 'because if one person can't afford to pay, there will be two people that can.'

My household has only one of the new shirts. Circumstances, especially whilst paying for TWO season tickets dictates otherwise and I have to say it amazes me where people get their money from ie disposal income where they can afford to spend it on Chelsea FC merchandise. After all like match tickets, these kits are not cheap!!!

Anyway rant over. Who needs a shirt to prove your passion for Chelsea Football Club? Unless of course you are a 'prawn sandwich eater?'

COME ON CHELSEA!

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Chelsea

Since the debacle of the defeat at Middlesbrough last Wednesday I have been wishing and calling for the return of Willie G to the centre half position to replace Ricky Carvalho who really hasn't looked the part since he scored his wonderful goal against Man Utd last season to clinch our 2nd successive championship.

I am sure you would agree that Willie G and JT are simply the better defensive partnership. Ok it never happened and to be honest with you I doubt it ever will. According to sources Ashley Cole will sign by Thursday (transfer deadline day) and Willie G will move to Emirates XI, to play left-back no doubt. LOL LOL LOL !!

The good news for ALL Chelsea fans was the unexpected return of 'keeper Petr Cech who I honestly believed wouldn't be back until the Charlton game in two weeks time.

Just a good thing that he was. He saved brilliantly in the second-half from Benni McCarthy to retain the lead that Frank Lampard gave Chelsea from the penalty spot only minutes earlier and he commanded his area like he had never been away.

Welcome back Petr. Not that Carlo isn't a good goalkeeper because he is. It just seems that he has taken alot of unfair criticism for the defeat at 'Boro where in truth he had no chance for the goals that Middlesbrough scored.

Chelsea's win was sealed by Didier Drogba who came on as a second-half substitute and beat Ooijer for pace before slamming the ball past a helpless Friedel in the Blackburn goal.

Until Drogba's arrival, Chelsea didn't play well at all. But the encouraging thing about today's performance as Champions, we got a result WITHOUT playing well and to go to Ewood Park and get that result is even more pleasing.

COME ON CHELSEA!

Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea

Chelsea travel to Blackburn on Sunday looking to erase the memory of the defeat at Middlesbrough on Wednesday night. That night Chelsea lost 2-1.

With no disrespect to Blackburn Rovers I expect Chelsea to win but it will be tough. Recent matches between the two teams have been rough and tough and there is no love lost between the two sides.

With the quality of players that Chelsea now have in their squad you can't help but to expect a win week after week after week but as one famous ex-pro said 'Football is a Funny Old Game.'

And how true that sentence is LOL!

Last season at Ewood Park, Chelsea lost 1-0 but by the time that defeat came around the club were already crowned champions for the 2nd successive season.

There have been some classic encounters at Ewood Park in recent years with lots of action, good football and lots of goals. A repeat of any one of those past encounters will go down like a good wine.

In 2002 and 2004 Chelsea won 3-2.

In 1998 Chelsea won 4-3 with substitute Tore Andre Flo scoring twice in the last five minutes. Gianluca Vialli was manager at the time and each team had a player sent off. Sebastian Perez of Blackburn and Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux.

In a bruising encounter back in 2005 Chelsea won 1-0 with Dutch International winger Arjen Robben scoring the only goal and Petr Cech saved a penalty. Robben broke a bone in his foot after a rough challenge from Blackburn's Mokowena.

So sit back and watch all the action from 4pm tomorrow afternoon and if Chelsea lose you won't get a tantrum from me LOL LOL!!

l8ter

Temper Temper

The statement which appears below and seems to be from a teenage spotty youth somewhere in the mid-west of somewhere and claims to be a supporter of Chelsea FC prompted me to start this Blog.

The statement smacks of a Mummy's boy who has thrown his rattle out of his pram if he doesn't get his own way. Simply put once another team wins the Premiership title, this spotty youth will be moving on and bemoaning their fortune in the same way.

We Lost and I don't want to talk about it
Crap performance for Chelsea today. Plain and simple. 2-1 win for Boro. Bye!

I just LOVE the BYE bit!! LOL LOL LOL

My Chelsea CV reads:

I have been going to watch Chelsea since 1966. I have been going to watch Chelsea when they play away for as long as I can remember and have been to over 60 different grounds in the UK, until money became an issue and I am lucky to get to one away game a year, but at least I go to games.

Three years ago I was fortunate enough to get season tickets at The Bridge for both myself and my son and now that I have got them I do not intend to give them up for whatever. Prices and ticket availability has become a nightmare for games in this generation of football, but at least I have the consolation of a regular season of NINETEEN home matches with a guaranteed seat.

Any other games that I am able to get to, I treat simply as a bonus.

The reason for the title of this blog 'If You Know Your History' is that some say Chelsea Football Club do not have any history. My answer to that is if you have no history, you can't and do not exist!

Chelsea Football Club was formed in 1905 and the Club has just celebrated their 100th Anniversary. Two Premiership titles was a great way to celebrate. Like London Buses you wait fifty years for one and two come along together.

As for a third title? Well why not! Champions League would be nice too and I think the club have geared themselves up with the signings of German Captain Michael Ballack and Ukranian Captain Andrjy Shevchenko to challenge the likes of Real Madrid and Barcalona for the top prize in European football.

Incidentally Chelsea and Barcelona were paired together in Group A for this season's Champions League competition. Surprise, Oh What A Surprise!!