If You Know Your History

Saturday, September 30, 2006

John Terry and Frank Lampard


There has been a lot of complaints and criticism from fans this week that have been made on Chelsea TV about the lack of co-operation from the players in giving autographs to fans on match-days.

Without giving too much away myself and 18 year old Blueblood58 got to Stamford Bridge early this morning to see what the fuss was all about.

I can now appreciate the fans misgivings and concerns. As you can see from the pics ONLY John Terry (Captain) and Frank Lampard (vice-Captain) took the time to face the fans and sign as much as they could in the short time that was available to them.

I regret to say that the rest of the squad for today's game hurried straight into the dressing room once they left the team bus that brought them to the ground.











































We were going to stay on after the game to see how many more signatures we could get, but the performance of the team more that the 1-1 draw left both of us rather deflated.

Although we missed JT's signature we have sussed out what goes on on the morning of a 3pm (UK time) kick off and when Chelsea play Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge on October 21st, we will be ready for JT. LOL LOL !!

COME ON CHELSEA

l8ter

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Magic Memories NO.1 and Barcelona Tickets


Two dream tickets for October 18th at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea v Barcelona and I am not going.

Why you ask? They are not my tickets you say, oh but that are I reply.

Six days after the game, my daughter celebrates her 21st birthday and as part of a selection of treats that me and Mrs Blueblood58 have in store for her one of those selections is a ticket for the Barcelona
game. Accompanying her will be her brother - who is I might add - totally made up, cos his ticket was paid for him and all I will get out of it is a 'bloody programme' LOL.

Unfortunately the Blueblood household simply CANNOT afford another £45 ticket plus £1.50 booking fee!! But am I or am I not a GOOD Dad!! mmmmmm that should be a VERY GOOD DAD LOL!

But this post isn't about the Barcelona game, that will come later. This post is about the two occasions back in 1997 when I was fortunate to see Chelsea play away in Europe twice in the space of two weeks.

The first game was against Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia. Chelsea were already 2-0 up from the first leg, and in extreme windy conditions Chelsea won 2-0 with one of the goals scored by Gianluca Vialli off his bum as a Bratislava defender tried to clear.

What struck me that night was at one end of the ground, and open end, there were huge giant sized conifer trees being blown left to right, right to left and forwards and backwards by the unrelenting wind and how the two teams managed to play football well only the players can relay that information.

On that day I saw two parts of Bratislava. Pre and post days of Communism. The old part of the City was run-down and ramshackled. How people lived and survived in buildings that were grey and depressing is beyond me. Buildings of flats or apartments crammed into small areas of brickwork although the outlining of the buildings were huge and never-ending.

Then a mile or so down the road, you stumbled across a completely different part and modern aspect of the City. Sky rise buildings both housing - flats and apartments - mixed in with healthy businesses and life. Life will all the energy and bustle that you would immediately expect from cities like New York and London.

Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, bars and a sheer abundance of life and enthusiasm.

I will never ever forget the Bratislavian women. Every women I saw was a beauty in her own right. There was no middle ground - a ground between a stunner and an old hag - that ground never existed!!!

Anyway, two weeks later I was off again. This time to Norway, in fact 120 miles inside the Arctic Circle, to a place called Tromso a place where daylight is only seen for three months of the year.

Tromso, a picturesque idyll. A place where the mountains, peaks, ranges and snow take prominence and I mean prominence. The folk of Tromso live for the Snow, work on the Snow and play in the Snow.

Tromso''s ground was a short bus ride away, a bus that has snow chains on all its wheels. The ground was situated at the top of a hill, and in a sort of peninsula where surrounding log cabins with beaming bright lights from the non-footballing residents within, gave that Christmas Card feel and wish.

Freshly fallen snow as bright and crisp as a newly washed and ironed white shirt, shone brighter than the floodlights within the ground.

A cold cold night and more reasons why this day is a magic memory. Chelsea lost 3-2, the game was stopped twice for fallen snow to be swept off the pitch, Gianluca Vialli beating a path through the snow to score two crucial Chelsea goals. And.......

..... sitting on the plane for the return flight for an hour while the wings of the aircraft were being defrosted and on arrival back at Gatwick at about 4.30am realising that it was the 24th October, my daughters 12th birthday.

In less than four weeks time, she will be 21. My how time flies, even with frost and ice on your wings.

l8ter

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Back Where We Belong

Chelsea

Top of the League

Chelsea Chelsea

Top of the League

Chelsea

Top of the League..........

...............At least until Monday night when Portsmouth take on Bolton at Fratton Park, anything other than a win sees the Pompey stay in second and Man Ure in third and thats where they will stay after their surprise draw at Reading this evening.

Chelsea beat Fulham this afternoon at Craven Cottage and this victory was achieved without the services of Captain John Terry who has a back injury and Khalid Boulahrouz who was ruled out with an illness. So without a recognised centre-half to replace the afore-mentioned, up stepped Paulo Ferriera to slot into the centre-back slot alongside Ricardo Carvalho. Geremi was drafted into right back and Ashley Cole continued his left back duties.

Two Frank Lampard goals of which one came from the penalty spot in the second-half saw Chelsea avenge last season's 1-0 defeat.

Earlier in the day Chelsea were drawn away to Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the Carling Cup.

With Champions League week starting, John Terry is a major doubt for the game against Levski in Sofia on Wednesday night.

And lastly. Watch out John, your brother Paul scored for Yeovil today as they beat Crewe 2-0.

L8ter

Friday, September 22, 2006

Fulham v Chelsea

Its time for revenge as Chelsea take the short trip down the road to play near neighbours Fulham FC tomorrow afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Revenge - Well only last March Fulham inflicted a 1-0 defeat on the Champions and to make matters worse, Didier Drogba had a goal disallowed for hand-ball only after Fulham players made a whole heap of fuss and got the Ref to consult his Assistant before the goal was ruled-out.
The problem was neither Ref or his Assistant could have seen the handball in the first place. Then right at the death, Willie G now playing for Arsenal, was sent off and then at the final whistle audacious Fulham fans invaded the pitch and tried to kick off with the Chelsea fans.

Oh how outrageous!!

Fulham should be easy meat. They lost in midweek to Wycombe in the Carling Cup, despite fielding a near strength full team, but injuries have depleted their squad even further. But it is a derby and anything can happen.

Just look at the game at Craven Cottage in March. It was Fulham's first victory over Chelsea in the top flight for 46 years.

Chelsea will be without Ballack (suspended) and Joe Cole (injured) although Joe took part in most of the training sessions held at Cobham this week.

So a victory tomorrow will stand us in good stead for the Champions League encounter next week against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria and then back to the Premiership for the League game against Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.

L8ter

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Bungs, Back-Handers, Free Money

Call it what you like.

Panorama's programme on the BBC centred around bung payments to managers, agents, fathers and sons and reading various different reports throughout the day (only because I REALLY had forgotten about the programme), suggests that there is no conclusive evidence.

Today's newspapers have made a lot of it. But what do you expect? Newspapers make the most of their headlines to sell papers and make as much money as they can. Sometimes they print false stories to sells their rags - isn't that a type of financial inducement to make the gullible public fork out for rubbish?

After all don't us British like a 'bit of scandal' to brightened up our dreary lives? Anyway thats another story for another day.

So we get to the subject of Chelsea's Director of Academy Development, Frank Arnesen, who was himself the subject of a 'tap-up' when he left Tottenham Hotspur to join Chelsea and is now the subject of last night's programme.

It is ALLEGED that he offered a Middlesbrough player Nathan Porritt, £150,000 over three years via his agent someone called Harrison who also touted Porritt to Liverpool as well.

One question that springs to mind. How do we know that if the ALLEGED offer was made how do we know that Arnesen didn't start the proceedings when he was at Tottenham?

Just a question I know!!! Well perhaps there are two in there LOL LOL!!

Anyway it is now in the public domain and rival fans are calling for Chelsea to be docked the three points suspended for the Ashley Cole saga etc etc etc.

Well my rival friends you WILL NOT get the deduction you crave for, because there is a different set of rules for players that are not-contracted or are Academy players. SO!

But there is a worry. Leeds Utd Chairman Mr Ken Bates, Chelsea's saviour over 20 years ago has reported his former club for the ALLEGED tapping-up of his two Academy players, Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods, who are now at Chelsea.

If his case is proven and the Arnesen affair is proven, then Chelsea could be in serious trouble. If one or the other is not proven then Chelsea will be OK! Once bitten, twice shy LOL!

Another point of concern is that at the time of writing, Chelsea has not made a statement. Not even a one word statement.. NOTHING!!

But we all know one thing for certain is for the next few days the media, especially the tabloids are going to be having a 100% field day.

KEEP THE FAITH!!

L8ter

Monday, September 18, 2006

Chelsea v Liverpool

You know the score. Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a sensational Didier Drogba goal shortly before haf-time.

If you haven't seen the goal yet then just get down to your local video store, cos they will have a copy soon to rent and sell.

A few minutes after half-time, Michael Ballack was sent off, straight red card, for a foul nay stamp (mistimed I might add) on Liverpool's Sissoko who in fairness should have been sent off in the first half for an ugly challenge on Frank Lampard. This challenge took place a minute or two after Sissoko was booked for a bad foul on Claude Makelele.

But before I go on and completely lose the jist on this particular entry, Chelsea's Academy side stormed to a 4-0 win away at Tottenham Hotsput on Saturday morning and now have a record of played five, won five.

The goalscorers were Miroslav Stoch (2) Sergio and Ben Sahar.
The Reserves do not play again until next Monday when they are at Home to Reading.

I actually think Benitez should have been born a sheep, cos my God does he bleat on about how Liverpool were this.... Liverpool were that... how Liverpool were great... how Liverpool were unlucky and blah blah blah blah!!!

How Benitez loves to bemoan his Liverpool team publicly to anyone that wants to hear or even listen to the fat .........!! But what you don't here Fat Boy say is HOW SHIT HIS TEAM HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF GOAL.

I mean they have now played three successive matches without scoring a goal and his team HAS England's top scorer in their ranks a so-called FREAK by the name of Peter Crouch.

So what does Benitez do? Put him on the bench and for the fifteen minutes that Crouch was on the pitch, he caused Chelsea all sorts of additional problems, to those already inflicted by the Ballack sending off.

Kuyt other than hitting the bar, couldn't fly one - get off the ground that is and Bellamy was just his usual moaning obnoxious self.

So Benitez. Liverpool is not too far away from Snowdonia, why don't you go there and bleat all you like with all the other SHEEP!!

And as for that handshake, do you really expect us to believe you meant it??

l8ter

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Honour and History

At a packed out Stamford Bridge this afternoon before the action on the pitch got underway I spotted a flag in the Liverpool end being draped over the advertising hoardings in the Upper Tier of the Shed End.

Why we have away fans in the Shed End is completely beyond me, but that is a story for another day!!

On a cheap piece of red cloth (probably nicked), it read:

HONOUR

LFC

HISTORY

Liverpool fans will tell you differently but Liverpool Football Club simply DO NOT have any honour and their history will not be the history that any Liverpool fan will want to give up!!

Their history runs red with blood as red as the colour of their shirts and that cheap piece of tawdry cloth (which was probabaly nicked)!!

Liverpool fans will boast to you 18 League titles, 5 European titles (that is the cup with big ears) or otherwise known as the European Cup and the Champions League trophy and all their other trophy successes. FA Cup, League Cup, giant frizbee achievements and any thing else that they would want to boast about, cos 'scousers' or Liverpool supporters are like that.

Evertonians though and you won't get mislead as in who is one and who is the other, haven't won that much in many a season so you won't get them boasting about anything, but they might try to convince that they are the BEST team in Liverpool.

But what Liverpool fans don't like to hear about or be remembered by is that their club is dripping red with the blood of two football stadium disasters namely Hillsborough and Heysel (in Belgium).

Not only do Liverpool fans kill their own (96) to be precise, they then go off and kill another 39 fans of a different team (Juventus).

Trophies and success on the pitch can never and will never be appreciated and valued anybody else until the lives of those lost at Hillsborough and Heysel be forgotten. NEVER NEVER will they be forgotten!!!

History... pah. Your history is tainted in blood and will always be. Never, ever in a zillion years could you ever, ever get away with spouting off your 'history' without someone banging back to you H and H

HILLSBOROUGH

LFC

HEYSEL

For the record and the HISTORY books Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 this afternoon with a stunning goal from Didier Drogba and playing with ten-men for forty minutes of the second-half when Michael Ballack was sent off for a stamp on Sissoko - who have to be THE most dirtiest and nasitiest player, ever to play in the Premiership.

The man is sheer filth

l8ter

Friday, September 15, 2006

Atmosphere at Stamford Bridge

Atmosphere

Yep the Atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. What atmosphere, exactly!!

I have to admit I have been a right real 'anorak' tonight, firstly because I have moved my computer into the conservatory finally, I've even brought a new PC station from Argos which was the easiest unit to put together and the instructions were the simplest instructions for a component unit ever to read and understand!!

Anyway I digress. I am in the Conservatory enjoying my new surroundings ie blinds on the windows and also complete privacy - just like being on a desert island - and I have got Chelsea TV on watching the 'countdown' show for the game against Liverpool on Sunday. No problems, no disruption and no Mrs Blueblood58 to worry about. Oh happy days. Why oh why didn't I finish off the move into the conservatory earlier??

Anyway as I write Chelsea TV are showing the repeat of Countdown to Sunday and I am watching it again!!

Why!! I dont know, guess I havent turned it over or it could be that the guests, one being Chelsea Legend Kerry Dixon and the other currently starring in Eastenders, Phil Daniels are chatting and expressing their personal views of what has happened and what will happen.

What caused the idea for this entry was another programme on Chelsea TV called 'Points of Blue.' Basically its a show for those 'fans' to write in or phone their views in if they cannot get through to the regular phone-in shows.

Anyway the major air of discontment was about the 'atmosphere' at home matches this season. Personally against Man City I thought the atmosphere wasn't that bad, Charlton with the tribute to JFH starting from the MH Stand you can be inclined to forget the indifference.

BTW in those two games, the Club gave away 1750 flags for those entering the East Stand Lower which is the family section and there is an appeal for those flags to be 're-cycled' on Sunday when we face the might of Scumpool, sorry Liverpool!!

There were complaints about the Charlton atmosphere and there were complaints about the Werder Bremen atmosphere.

Charlton I've already commented on but Werder Bremen what do you expect. 32,135 crowd for a Champions League game and by the looks of it from TV pictures the Matthew Harding Stand was half-empty, well at least the lower tier was - so what do you expect?? If the Matthew Harding is half-empty where do you expect the atmosphere to come from?

West Stand - nah. I have sat in the lower and upper tiers and to be honest with you, you would get more atmosphere in a library.

Shed End Upper - The times I have sat there have been good, but for the last few years the SEU needs that paternal guidance.

East Stand - The last time I went in the East Stand was when the Family section was there before they moved it to the Shed End! As it was the family section as it is now, you had to mind your words etc!!!

So we are left with the Matthew Harding Stand, Upper and Lower. Since I 'reclaimed' my season ticket three years ago it is the Matthew Harding Stand for me. This is the place to be if you want to be part of the game from the moment the teams arrive on the pitch until the ref blows the final whistle.

It is the Matthew Harding Stand that start the songs, sing the songs and attempt to stir the rest of the ground from its slumber and pockets in the ground respond - but to be honest without much success.

Imagine my surprise that I heard emails being read out and telephone calls being made that fans in the Matthew Harding Stand Upper tier were being scowled upon for singing and standing up to help generate the atmosphere and others sitting about in their seats seemingly enjoying a night out at the cinema or the opera or even a concert in the local park.

As radical as it may seem, lets get the Matthew Harding back in The Shed, albeit with seats 'The Shed' is where the atmosphere comes from. From the old days, 'The Shed' started and the 'old' West Stand joining in.

Put those in 'The Shed' at the moment that want to sit and join them together with those in the Matthew Harding that want to do same and whatever amount of seats are left over, give them to away supporters.

The present division of away supporters in the Shed End seems to be working pretty well, so why can't the same division beheld in the Matthew Harding.

The Shed is Chelsea and Chelsea is The Shed - move the MH Stand to The Shed and retire the NO.9 shirt to the Chelsea Museum and give Boulahrouz another number!!

l8ter

Barcelona Ticket News -RANT RANT RANT

Chelsea play Barcelona in the Group stages of the Champions League in October. Wednesday 18th October to be precise and this morning, Chelsea Football Club have announced selling arrangements of tickets for the match.

From Wednesday 20th September to Tuesday 26th September season ticket holders can purchase their own seat until 5pm on the last day.

From Wednesday 27th to Tuesday 3rd October members can purchase one ticket each until 5pm on the last day.

From Wednesday 4th October until Tuesday 10th season ticket holders and members can purchase two extra tickets each (max of three).

From Wednesday 11th October tickets go on general sale, max four per person.

Tickets are subject to availability and are available from 7am Online, 9am Box Office/Call centre.

The game is a MONTH away and this is another example of Chelsea Football Club twisting their already hard-pressed fans for more money earlier than is really needed.

For God's sake what a date to start selling tickets to season ticket holders to purchase their own seats. I mean the start and end date of the selling period doesn't even cover the 'end of the month' pay period.

Whoever sorts out these ticket selling dates really hasn't got a brain and seriously doesn't have a clue!!!

Also in this selling period, tickets are and will become available for the following games:

Levski (a)
Aston Villa (h)
Reading (a)

What do you think?

l8ter

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Last Night's Attendance

Basking in the glory of Chelsea's 2-0 win over Werder Bremen in last night's week one game in the Champions League I took the time to 'surf' the net looking for informed opinion and constructive criticism of last night's performance, not only from Chelsea fans but from rival fans too.

Obviously I found the Chelsea fans take on the game and the performance - some bad, some good - but what about the rival fans?

Well all they could come up with was the amount of empty seats that could be seen from the gantry where the TV cameras are housed.

Last night's attendance was 32,135 and to be fair was 3,000 up on last year's 1st game attendance against Anderlecht. The capacity of the ground is just under 42,000 which is down on last season's capacity due to reburbishments of the family section which is housed in the lower tier of the East Stand.

I didn't go last night simply because of ticket prices. For me and Blueblood88 to have gone it would have raided my wallet to the tune of £96 and thats just for two tickets!!

I had already spent £50-£60 for Saturday's game against Charlton and I am still paying for two season tickets (only two more months to pay, happy days) and for next Sunday's game against Liverpool that will cost another £50-£60. Fortunately Mrs BlueBlood is very understanding, shame about my Bank Manager LOL!!!

Obviously Chelsea hadn't learned the lessons and criticism of last season's campaign. I mean Werder Bremen is hardly a draw, nor was Anderlecht last season, Barcelona will be banged out (even at last night's prices) and unless Chelsea need to qualify against Levski Sofia, then there is no reason why Chelsea CANNOT reduce prices for the last home game in Group A.

At least Chelsea, reduce the prices for kids. Offer concessions for God's sake and then for the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals charge what you 'bleeding like!!!

If Chelsea can offer £25 and concessions for FA Cup and Carling Cup home games for anywhere in the stadium, surely they can do the same for the lesser of the attractive games in the Group stages of the Champions League.

l8ter

Chelsea 2-0 Werder Bremen

Although Jose was pleased with the result and Chelsea gaining their first three points, he was less impressed with the bookings that Chelsea received last night.

John Terry, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Joe Cole. One of the bookings - Didier Drogba - who was booked for shooting the ball away after the whistle blew for offside - was not matched when Diego did the same thing later in the half.

One rule for one and one rule for another!!

What Jose's main grief at the post-match conference was to attack the media for their constant critical attacks on midfielder and ENGLAND's midfielder Super Frank Lampard.

OK we all know that Frank has had a difficult time of late, more with England than with Chelsea, we know that he missed a penalty at the World Cup and we know he missed a late penalty against Charlton on Saturday and we know Michael Ballack took and scored a penalty for Chelsea's 2nd goal against Bremen last night, but despite all that 'The Special One' backed Frank all the way.

This is what he had to say:

“I told them if the next penalty after last weekend’s miss is crucial for the game, it is better for another player to take the responsibility. But, in the future, if the next penalty comes in a moment where Lamps is cool and in conditions to take it, he will take it again.

“Maybe people remember that Lampard missed a penalty against Charlton. I remember that over the last two years, he scored more then ten penalties for us, important penalties, crucial penalties, and he never let us down. So I told him he can miss a penalty when the team doesn’t need the penalty.

“I think something is happening with the English press with Frank Lampard. I spoke with him about it and for me, he is guilty. Do you know why he is guilty? Because you never had a player like him for the last ten years and, because of that, you are having a go at him.

“He is guilty because he scored so many goals. He is guilty because he plays so many matches. He is guilty because he plays for Chelsea and for England with 100 per cent of his effort every game, game after game. He is guilty because he has an unbelievable record of consecutive matches. He is guilty because he is such a good player. But I think you should respect him a little bit more.”

With that Jose gave his apologies, stood up and left.

L8ter

Monday, September 11, 2006

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

What is it about the media in this damm Country? They are the first to jump on Chelsea's back when things go wrong. Bad behaviour, on the field, off the field, talk about money all the time, no credit for winning two titles back-to back, early support for Man Utd cos they lead the table.

They love to run my beloved club down. I always knew that the press in this country were nothing short of scum when it comes to their reporting of Chelsea Football Club but after the emotion of JFH scoring at Chelsea on Saturday, an equaliser to boot in front of the Matthew Harding stand, they criticise the reactions of the Blue boys in chanting Jimmy's name and applauding his goal.

You plainly could see how much it affected JFH when the ball went in. You could see that even though JFH had his job to do he didn't celebrate his first goal for his new club. Instead he turned to the Matthew Harding and applauded them back.

Well done Jim. We love you.

But what happens you open up your Sunday and Monday morning papers and Chelsea fans get criticised for being arrogant. Arrogant for what?

All we Chelsea fans did was to applaud a former hero's goalscoring effort. Even Jose described the applause and adulation 'as a beautiful moment.' JM also said 'that it would never happened in Portugal. A beautiful moment!'

The press in this Country wouldn't recognise a beautiful moment if it stood up and slapped them sqaure in the face.

L8ter

Roman Put Your Cheque Book Away!

The Reserves were in action tonight away at Charlton Athletic and came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a last gasp winner from Captain Jimmy Smith who scored direct from a free-kick after Ben Sahar was fouled.

Its another weekend when all Chelsea teams have recorded victories - first the Academy then the 1st team and now the Reserves.

This article isn't about a report, if you want the full report click the link below:

http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s379.htm

This is about the young players who could be playing in the first team within the next two or three years and save our owner a few quid in the process.

Michael Woods - Well no wonder Leeds United and Ken Bates are stomping about crying 'tap, tap.' Michael is sixteen and was one of the lucky two that went to the U.S. with the first team for pre-season.

Tonight he was extremely dominant in midfield and didn't look out of place facing up to the extremely experienced Matt Holland. As well as dealing well in his defensive duties, he was extremely potent leading Chelsea's attacks. Although he didn't score he caused Charlton's defence all sorts of problems.

Ben Sahar - Strong, fast paced and has a tremendous shot. Ben won the free-kick that the winner came from. Has scored all his goals for the Academy this season - 3 from his last 4 Youth games. Has been involved in two of the Reserves goals this season.

Scott Sinclair - Didn't have too much luck tonight. Blazed over from about eight yards, but the boy has got pace, lots of tricks of the ball and is certainly a danger down the left-hand side

Michael Mancienne - Cool, calm and dependable in the middle of defence and loves to bring the ball out of defence, Alan Hansen style.

Adrian Pettigrew - Michael's partner in defence and for his size has a lot of pace and reads the game very well.

Jimmy Smith - This season's Reserve team Captain taking over from Danny Hollands who left Chelsea to join Bournemouth in the Summer. Hard working, corner taker and looks to take responsibility. Scored tonight's winner direct from a free-kick.

Ryan Bertrand - Left-back and just cannot fail to learn from Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge. Ryan was the 2nd junior player who went with Michael Woods to the U.S. with the first team.

Anyone of the above players could be in the first team at anytime during the Carling Cup competition and if they continue to perform as they have done so far this season, Mr A could well save himself some serious money.

To the lads that I haven't mentioned you are quality and you are 'stars' in the making.

L8ter

Academy 2-1 Cardiff City

The Academy are 'doing a Man Utd.' On Saturday they won their fourth game from four beating Cardiff City Youth 2-1, with Jonas Elmer and Ben Sahar scoring the goals.

The Academy had Lee Sawyer sent off five mnutes from time for fighting.

Jonas Elmer scored in first ever goal for Chelsea and Sahar, a 17yr old Summer signing and an Israeli Youth International scored his third youth goal in as many games.

Football Icon winner Sam Hurrell came on as a substitute after five minutes to make his second appearance of the season.

Tonight the Reserves are away at Charlton Athletic and you can find out how they are getting on by going to '50 Years Over 100 Years' message board from 7pm UK time tonight.

L8ter

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Team for Werder Bremen

So what its to be for Chelsea's starting XI for the Bremen game on Tuesday night.

I suspect JM rested Ferreira and Makelele on Saturday so therefore they will return. I don't think Shaunie boy will start, because Ashley Cole will and both he and Ferreira should give us the width when needed.

The midfield three picks itself - Ballack, Lampard and Essien, with Essien being the more defensive of the trio in helping out Claude.

Up front goes without saying. Drogba and Shevchenko

Cech

Ferreira
Carvalho
Terry
A Cole

Makelele

Essien
Lampard
Ballack

Drogba
Shevchenko

SO what do you think?

Knowing some of the rabbits that Jose has pulled out the hat on previous occasions, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben could return!!!

L8ter

Champions League Returns

On Tuesday Chelsea face up to the challenge of Werder Bremmen in game one of the Champions League group stage at Stamford Bridge.

Alas I won't be there as the expense of season-tickets makes additional games throughout the season prohibitive. Its not just the price of the tickets you have to take into account. Its the rest of it - travel, programme, food and at least a drink or two and the time that it takes to get home after the match.

So instead, with a couple of tins of something alcoholic, I will watch the game on TV - ITV4 - if you are in the UK.

After Bremmen Chelsea then travel to Sofia to play Levski, a team that Chelsea played a few years back in the Cup Winners Cup, winning 5-0 on aggregate.

Then its Barcelona home and away, Werder Bremmen away before finishing the group stage at home to Levski Sofia on Tuesday 5th December.

So lots of expectation and a lot of hope and with the Summer signings of Ballack and 'The Shev,' Andriy Shevchenko and the last minute transfer deadline day signing of Ashley Cole, Chelsea look set to conquer Europe and with the squad that 'The Special One' has at his disposal there is no reason why Chelsea cannot go all the way.

COME ON CHELSEA

l8ter

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Chelsea 2-1 Charlton Athletic

I had a feeling when I woke up this morning that ex-Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink would score today and it seemed appropriate that when he struck his equaliser, it was at the Matthew Harding Stand where his adoring public were sitting.

Poor old Jimmy. Scores a goal, unable to celebrate then signalled to the MH Stand with apologetic arms up as if to say 'I am only doing my job.' In return once the initial shock of the goal being conceded was over, the MH Stand stood up and chanted 'Oh Jimmy Jimmy, Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.' Jimmy turned again and clapped. Nice one Jim. Well done mate.

You will always be in our hearts.

My mate Rickity Rick had a day to remember. Was at fault for Jimmy's equaliser, nine minutes later scores what turned out to be the winner, despite Super Frank missing a late penalty, and soon after scoring got himself booked. Rickity Rick - bring back Willie G.

Chelsea were majestic in the first half. The front three of Drogba, 'The Shev' and Shaunie caused Charlton all-sorts of problems especially with their inter-changing of positions.

Chelsea took the lead as early as the 6th minute when from a Lampard corner, Bryan Hughes made a poor clearance straight to Drogba who thumped the ball back to score with glee. Wave after wave of Chelsea's attacks brought no further reward.

Had Charlton reached half-time two or three goals down I don't think they would have had too many complaints.

Carson saved well from Drogba. Ballack hit a curler just past Carson's right hand post and the Charlton defence worked overtime to keep Chelsea at bay.

The second-half was a different story. Charlton came back into the game and apart from Jimmy's equaliser and it seemed to me, a harsh second equaliser disallowed from Marcus Bent for handball Chelsea struggled to continue their dominance of the first-half.

Late on Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Kalou was adjudged to have been fouled by El Karkouri and it was really a nothing challenge. Anyway, up stepped Super Frank and with direction by JFH to Carson, Carson saved Frank's spot-kick. Frank hit it true and hard but it was straight at Carson, but a penalty save is a penalty save and it was Carson's second successive Premiership spot-kick save.

Jose's reaction was more relieved than disappointed considering Chelsea's dominance. Chelsea had more players away on International duty than any other team and they only had from Thursday to prepare for today.

I was surprised at the reception that Ashley Cole received when he came on for his debut, replacing the very impressive Wayne Bridge. Perhaps I will have to change my ways and thinking about Mr Cole.

I suspect that JM's thinking was to give him thirty minutes before naming him in the starting XI for the Champions League game against Werder Bremen on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge.

COME ON CHELSEA

l8ter

50 Years Over 100 Years

The site above is my main site. This blog compliments the above and I just luv writing about Chelsea!!

Anyway the F**king site isn't working properly. I cannot load any stories, polls or even access the message board properly.

I have done the usual checks on my PC and that is OK. Everywhere else I go on the 'Net, the Net is working fine, so as far as I am concerned the 'Network' is playing up and not for the first time.

So until that site is running properly again, all my work and writings will be channelled through here, and the above post will be a review of this afternoon's game at Stamford Bridge against Charlton Athletic.

l8ter

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Calming Down, Calming Down

As they say in Scouse Land (Liverpool to those outside the UK), 'calm down, calm down.'

In the cold light of day, Willie G has left and we've got Ashley Cole, supposedly the best left-back in the world... or is it the Premiership?

Anyway. I made sure that I watched the phone in (the first one since transfer deadline day) on Chelsea TV last night a show that included special guests ex-left-back Gary Locke and ex-striker Steve 'Jock' Finneston, both Chelsea Legends.

The show and phone-in was all about the sale of Wille G and the acquisition of Cole and I have to say and report that there was a lot of anger and resentment about what when on during the course of Thursday night.

There are a lot of genuine angry Chelsea fans out there at the moment and a lot of them pledged their support to Wayne Bridge. Here! Here!

Lets try to clear something up about Willie G. Claudio Ranieri signed Gallas from Marseille for £6.2m about six years ago, so Willie G is NOT a 'Special One' signing so that maybe why it was easy for JM to let him go, despite what you have read about a rift.

Each end of season Willie G has always said that he wanted to leave. Some fans say that Willie G is slightly unbalanced and the French in him turns him into a loose cannon. He said it last season and the season before. He said it during the WHOLE of last season and stayed, but now he has gone - we the fans must forget about it all and move on.

But that might be easier said then done. Remember at the Chelsea title victory parade in May, Gallas wasn't there and the fans have taken it as a snub and Gallas can expect a rough ride when Arsenal come visiting on December 10th.

L8ter

Friday, September 01, 2006

So.......

....... Ashley Cole finally joins Chelsea and Willie G goes to Emirates XI in a straight swap, plus £5m quid.

Robert Huth finally joins Middlesbrough for a fee in the region of £5m - £6m quid.

So as England prepare to face the 'mighty' Andorra at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon, Chelsea's representation in the squad has increased to five.

John Terry (capt)
Frank Lampard
Wayne Bridge
Shaun Wright-Phillips

and

Ashley Cole

Why oh why did Chelsea keep going after Cole? And why oh why didn't Chelsea work harder in trying to keep Willie G at the club instead of off-loading him to our nearest rivals. Surely they had got the better part of the deal.

In Wayne Bridge we have a decent left-back who I feel is a BETTER player than Cole. In Boulahrouz we have a player feted by Jose who 'is a player that can play anywhere in the back-four.'

And we have 'Rickity' Ricky Carvalho who is presently JT's defensive partner Oh dear!

Oh happy days!