If You Know Your History

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea Team News



The squad has been staying in the North West since they left Cobham on Saturday.

After the pulsating game against Man Ure on Sunday, Jose and the team need to reproduce the results that the boys have produced at the Reebok in the last two seasons.

2-0 when we won the first title in 50 years in 2005 and 2-0 which put the 2nd title out of doubt in 2006.

Can Chelsea reproduce the same again tonight.

Without a game on Saturday, Chelsea NEED a win at the Reebok as it is possible that Man Ure, the League leaders, could be nine points ahead come the end of the weekend!!

If you are wondering why Chelsea do not have a game at the weekend, it is because Newcastle United (who would have been our opponents) have a UEFA Cup tie on Thursday evening. As Chelsea has a Champions League tie against Levski next Tuesday, there was no room for movement or adjustment due to inappropriate and sufficient rest-time. SO!!

A win for Chelsea tonight is a must!!

And here is the team news:

Cudicini

Geremi

Carvalho

Terry (c)

A Cole

Makelele

Essien

Ballack

Lampard

Shevchenko

Drogba

Chelsea subs: Hilario, Boulahrouz, Mikel, Kalou, Wright-Phillips

COME ON CHELSEA

British Press Witch-Hunt Against 'The Shev'

The negative British press frenzy against Andriy Shevchenko especially after the ManUre game on Sunday has been absolutely DISGRACEFUL!!!!!

The bloke has done nothing nothing wrong, except in the media magnifying lenses, not scored the goals he was brought for.

OK his goal return his poor - but to score goals you need the service from your fellow team mates and simply put, Sheva has NOT had the service. I am including the likes of Ballack, Frank, Essien, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben (when they have been on the pitch).

When Sheva and Michael Ballack signed (both on very very BIG money), I would have to be re-incarnated FIVE times and work till I am 65 each time to earn what they are earning.

I had these dreams and visions that Ballack would feed 'The Shev' sublime through ball passes for him to run onto then for Sheva to shoot on sight and hopefully ending in celebrating many many Sheva goals.

It hasn't happen and I believe, Ballack has been a serious let-down and he WAS a disgrace against ManUre on Sunday - AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE.

Ballack fed Sheva one pass in the second-half which was wonderful - except it was overhit - and that was it - Ballack's one and only contribution to my pre-season dream.

What Sheva has done in his arrival and this is aimed at those BLINKERED to Sheva's contribution to the team, IS make Didier Drogba a Chelsea hero. Not only for the goals Dids has scored so far this season, but for the turnaround in his performance of play since the tail end of last season.

It is obvious to me, that Drogba KNEW Sheva was coming last season and simply Dids cleaned up his act.

Gone went the diving, moaning and the general 'cheating' of his game and in came a hunk of a centre-forward, playing the English way of how a centre-forward plays. Strong, attack minded, defensive-minded when needed and the ability to score sensational and crucial goals.

(go back through the archives to see them).

Today one British 'red-top' is suggesting that Sheva is on his toes in January back to Italy and to AC Milan on loan.

After the last couple of days of absolute shameful and disgraceful negative press, I am surprised that Sheva hasn't already packed his bags and left the country!!!!

Monday, November 27, 2006

Carvalho Equaliser v Man Utd

After ALL Chelsea ARE Champions!!




The pre-match build-up was all about the League leaders Man Utd taking on the Champions Chelsea, at the Theatre of Dreams Old Trafford.

When in reality its Chelsea that should have been treated as the underdogs especially with Man Utd's record of Premiership title wins since the Premiership was formed.

When the Premership was formed and first won by Man Ure in 1992/93 only Blackburn Rovers in 1994/95 and Arsenal in 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 won the Premiership title to sink the Man Ure dominance of English League football and then 'the new kid' on the block, Chelsea, went on to win two titles in successive years. And not even the 'mighty' Emirates XI from Cashburton Grove can boast successive Premiership titles to their name.

After Sunday's epic encounter at Old Trafford, Man Ure may still have a three-point lead at the top of the table and despite Man Ure taking the lead with a first-half Saha goal, Chelsea came back in the second-half with a Carvalho header from a Lampard corner, and proved their critics wrong with a second-half performance of Champions class.

And that's what Chelsea are - Champions!!!

It was a game of two halves - Mau Ure in the first half and Chelsea's in second, however I suspect had Michael Ballack been more involved during the course of the first half as he was in the second, Chelsea may have prevailed further than the one point they earned.




Sunday, November 26, 2006

Chelsea Team v ManUre

Chelsea Team:

Cudicini

Geremi
Carvalho
Terry (c)
A Cole

Makelele

Ballack
Lampard
Essien

Drogba
Shevchenko

Subs:

Hilario, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, J Cole, Robben

Saturday, November 25, 2006

....And Chelsea HAS No History?!?!?!

There are not many professional football clubs that can boast a record of achievement that Chelsea can in meetings with Salford Utd/Man Ure/Man Utd at Old Trafford.

Going back in time and exploring the history of matches between the two clubs (and Chelsea has no history BIG DIG), of 72 clashes, Man Utd has won 31 and Chelsea has remained unbeaten in the other 41 of those matches, winning 18 of them.

You may say but Chelsea has won only 18, but we have drawn the another 23, and to me Chelsea's record at Old Trafford is one to be proud off. As I said there are loads of other teams that would love the record that Chelsea has got at Old Trafford - loads of teams!!!

I have only been to Old Trafford once to watch Chelsea play the home team and that was way back in Sept 1977 when I was a mere whippersnapper. If memory serves me right, my trip to Old Trafford came not long after the legend that was - Marc Bolan, T-Rex - tragically died in a car crash in SW London.

In the away end staring straight down the vociferous Stretford End, the lanky 6ft plus Bill Garner scored the only goal of the game after ninety seconds and from then on in, Chelsea defended the hordes of attacking Reds like John Wayne defended the Alamo and Michael Caine defended Rorke's drift in the film Zulu.

Remember Claudio Ranieri's first game in charge for Chelsea which came at Old Trafford in Sept 2002. A stunning strike from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and two from Tore Andre Flo and the game included the remarkable goal-line clearance from Graeme Le Saux, then the following season Chelsea returned to Old Trafford and won 3-0. Jimmy scored one and Eidur got the other two.

Chelsea's last victory at Old Trafford came after the title was lifted for the first time. Remember Tiago's stunner after Man Utd took an early lead and remember when the stands were almost empty when the Red Devils completed their end of season lap of honour???? In that same season Chelsea won 2-1 in the 2nd leg of the League Cup semi-final which was to become Jose first major trophy for Chelsea.

Last season was a different kettle of fish. A Darren Fletcher goal was enough to seal a 1-0 League win for Utd, but it wasn't enough to stop Chelsea claiming their second title in successive years.
Surprising to me was the amount of ManUre fans admitting that Fletcher's goal was a fluke. No doubt trying to take a sample of urine. But didn't Chelsea do that on Saturday 29th April when Chelsea's 2nd title was won, beating ManUre at the Bridge 3-0.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

The Possibility


I am just loving the possibility that Bugs Bunny (above) A.K.A Ronaldinho and Company could be close to ending their reign as Champions League Champions and competing in the UEFA Cup if they fail to beat Werder Bremen in the Nou Camp in two weeks time.

Just bring on ManUre on Sunday

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

CL MATCHDAY 5 CHELSEA v WERDER BREMEN

Carlo Cudicini

Geremi
Boulahrouz
Terry
Ashley Cole

Makelele

Essien, Mikel, Ballack

Joe Cole
Didier Drogba la li la li la


Chelsea subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Morais, Diarra, Wright-Phillips, Robben, Shevchenko

COME ON CHELSEA

Monday, November 20, 2006

Ole,Ole,Ole

No I haven't gone mad or Spanish - OleOle is the latest of the 'new Football Blogs on the Block.'

Currently they are running a competition to send two bloggers to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan at the beginning of December - Barcelona are one of the teams who will be playing.

The winners will get full press accreditation and will be writing for Ole Ole and on full expenses! Not bad eh?

I was going to enter but two things stopped me. First I didn't think this blog was good enough to enter and compare to all the other wonderful footie blogs out there in Web World and secondly I couldn't have gone anywayLOL LOL!!

But what a trip of a lifetime for the eventual winners and good luck to all.

Go along to http://oleole.com and cast your vote.

Ole Ole is a relatively new blog. They are looking for writers and contributors so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a 'hack' - then go for it, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

http://oleole.com

I am not getting paid for this plug. I just think Ole Ole is well worth a mention and has real potential.

Talking about getting paid. I would love to be able to write about what I know about and that is football but more passionately Chelsea Football Club, so if there is anybody out there that wants to give me a go, let me know please!!!

If you are a blogger and want to exhange links, again let me know and we will do something about it.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Geremi's Wonder Free-Kick Against West Ham

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Didier's Hat-Trick and Sheva's Goal Against Watford

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Chelsea 4-0 Watford

You know it is a sobering thought watching a football match. Four days earlier Chelsea bumped off Aston Villa in the Carling Cup 4-0 and Villa's manager Martin O'Neill was truthful in his post-match interview that Chelsea fully deserved their win and not once did O'Neill use any excuse that losing Barry and Laursen in quick-time either side of half-time was a contributing factor to Villa's demise.

I woke up this morning thinking that due to Watford's recent unbeaten run, Chelsea would have to play at their best, but in total honesty Chelsea didn't have to and without disrespecting Watford Football Club and their manager Adie Boothroyd (apart from his Italian Mafia dress sense) Watford didn't make Chelsea play their best because Chelsea didn't have too.

Once the first goal went in after twenty-seven minutes, Chelsea scored another three in forty-two minutes. Three to Drogba and one to Shevchenko. Eight goals in few days - Four to Dids and Two to Shev, watch out Man Ure!!!!

Didier Drogba. What a change in a player. His first hat-trick at home scoring his 12th, 13th and 14th goal of the season, his 6th, 7th and 8th of the Premiership season and The Shev, two in a matter of days, times are looking extremely good for Chelsea Football Club with on TWO weeks away to the clash of the season so far when Chelsea take on the Ure of ManUre.

Drogba's all round game has changed. Since the news that the Shev was finally on his way to the Blues last season, Didier has cut out all the histrionics of his game, defended better, attacked brilliantly and scored some important and some sensational goals - remember Liverpool and Barcelona!!

Drogba's goals this afternoon were standard for a forward of his class. But it was great to celebrate his hat-trick at the Matthew Harding Stand of the ground, my season ticket end of the ground, with him this afternoon.

And of course the Sheva's goal was standard as well - and he came to my side of the stadium after he scored Chelsea's third.

Adie Boothroyd's reaction "We were not unlucky. They were far better than us and we got what we deserved. They are an exceptional team, they were terrific today."

And with those words - Boothroyd said it all for me!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Carling Cup v Aston Villa



Chelsea team:

Cudicini

Geremi

Boulahrouz

Carvalho

Bridge

Makelele

Essien

Lampard

Ballack

Drogba

Shevchenko

subs: Hilario, Diarra, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Kalou

Aston Villa Team:

Sorensen

Bouma

Laursen

Mellberg

Hughes

Davis

McCann

Petrov

Barry

Agbonlahor

Angel

subs: Taylor, Ridgewell, Baros, Osbourne, Berger

COME ON CHELSEA!!

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

One Question?!?!?!?

Why did Jose use Shaun Wright-Phillips as a second-half substitute instead of Joe Cole?

Answers on a postcard please.... or in the comments section.

Maka's Goal Against Tottenham - Wonder Strike

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Could This Be The Time?

The Champions travel to 'Three Point Lane' on Sunday looking to keep the pressure up on League Leaders Man Utd.

Three Point Lane is so-called because Chelsea has not lost there in the League since August 1987 when Tottenham won 1-0. If my old memory serves me right Nico Claesen scored the winner.

Since then Chelsea has won ELEVEN times. The most famous and extremely enjoyable victories came in 1997 when chelsea won 6-1.

This game was Spurs manager Christian Gross's first game in charge and lanky Norwegian striker, Tore Andre Flo scored a hat-trick.

Records and runs have to end sometime we all know that, but I just cannot help having the feeling that Chelsea will be too good for Spurs and will leave 'Three Point Lane,' with another Three Points.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Can't Be Bothered. There is DEFINITELY Some Sort of Conflict!!!

Can't be arssed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to see Frank and Didier goal's in the Nou Camp against Barcelona from the Champions League on Wednesday night then click the link below:

http://chelsea.theoffside.com

COME ON CHELSEA!!

Shit Host

I tried to preview last night's game in the Nou Camp but this 'shit' system would not allow me to update.

Its not the first time this shit system has not let me update when I want too. But when you are 'up' for a particular game and had a shit day at work, the last thing you want is for your 'host' to have a bad shit day as well.

Anyway subject to this shit post being updated and accepted the next two posts will show Frank Lampards astonishing equaliser (Chelsea's first) and then Didier's last gasp equaliser, deep inot injury time which one upset Frank Rijkaard cos of the length of injury allowed (6 mins) and then the ref playing only 5mins 15 secs. Oh well Frank enjoy the UEFA Cup

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL!!!!