If You Know Your History

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Fortunately.......

.... when Chelsea play their next League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Tuesday 2 Jan 2007, Michael Ballack will NOT be playing as he will be suspended after collecting five yellow cards (the fifth being collected on Boxing Day against Reading).

Why do I say fortunately?? Well if Jose (Our Special One) won't drop him, the only way out of the team for Ballack is either suspension or injury!!!

Although Ballack has scored a Champions League goal (albeit from a penalty) and the odd goal or two or three in the Premiership, what has the man contributed to the team?

Well apart from conceding needless free-kicks, which have generated goals for the opposition (Reading and Fulham) spring to mind - I would say absolutely nothing!!

I have said in a previous post that Ballack strolls around like someone taking their dog for a walk in the park, now (courtesy of my son) I say that Ballack strolls around the football pitch like he owns it and has the divine right to be on it.

Maybe he has a case if he was playing for Germany or his old club Bayern Munich, but this is Chelsea and this is the Premiership and Chelsea are the CHAMPIONS!!!

Ballack HAS NO comprehension of the Blue shirt, the history, the Blue badge and the fans (plastic or not) that support and follow the club, the badge, the shirt. For a man of his supposed class and calibre, his performances in the Chelsea shirt have been nothing short of disgraceful.

I can name a whole list of players that were rubbish playing for Chelsea FC down the years, but rubbish or not, these players gave their all for the shirt, the club, the badge and the fans which pales Ballack's contribution completely into oblivion.

Not so long ago Jose said that Ballack was one of his untouchables. Now unless Jose can see something different from the rest of us - did Jose mean that the ball doesn't touch Ballack? Somehow I doubt it!!!

So what does Jose mean exactly???

I don't know, you tell me!!

REMEMBER - I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE SHIT!!!!!!

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    Friday, December 29, 2006

    I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE SHIT

    I am watching Chelsea TV as I write this entry and what you read below is a copy of an email that I have sent to Chelsea TV tonight, in particular to the presenter Neil Barnett who thinks he is the dogs bollocks, but in reality is nothing but a four-eyed bald-headed twit.

    Here comes the copy:

    -------------------------------

    Dear Neil

    I don't expect a reply or this email to be read out because all my previous emails have been ignored in the past.... but man you are priceless

    First the good news about JT - seeing him run at Cobham on Chelsea TV was extremely encouraging.

    Now down to you - as I say you are priceless!!!!

    You said that Steve Clarke said "If we get outsung by Fulham tomorrow we might as well shut Stamford Bridge down."

    You said "there you go a challenge for you Chelsea supporters."

    You claim that you have been writing, reporting for Chelsea for the last 20 years. Even you must realise that 'your hardcore' singers can't afford to go to games anymore and that they have been replaced by the greencoated, corduroy trouser, brown shoe wearing brigade with more money than sense, that do not have a clue how to support the team they are watching.

    So please do not patronise the remaining hardcore fans that can afford to get into Stamford Bridge and do their best not to get outsung by the visiting fans and please do something about the hierachy that really seems to want to distance themselves from the 'REAL' Chelsea fan who nowadays has to do their singing from the pub or from indoors.


    Regards
    41 Years A Blue

    Proud Season ticket holder and singer in the MHL Stand


    ---------------------------------------------

    There you go. I don't expect a reply and I don't expect my opinions to be broadcasted - well they haven't before, perhaps the hierachy are afraid of the 'real' fans telling the truth!!!

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    Just Opened

    'If You Know Your History' is pleased to announce the opening of an online shopping store in conjunction with the nice folks at Amazon where you can buy all items related to Chelsea Football Club in a safe and secure environment.

    Please take a few minutes to click the links below and have a look around and you might find something you like from a range of books, CDs, DVDs, Videos and a whole lot more.











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    John Terry Has Back Surgery

    Captain marvel John Terry, underwent keyhole surgery on his back in France yesterday, and if you believe everything that has been reported, JT could be out for as little as EIGHT DAYS to as much as THREE MONTHS.

    Whatever length of time JT is out, Chelsea are already missing him - conceding six goals in three Premiership matches and with the draw against Reading on Boxing Day the gap at the top of the Premiership is now four points.

    General opinion is that JT will be back in four weeks, but for me his return cannot come quick enough.

    The following is a list of games that JT will miss (should his absence be four weeks):

    Fulham (H)
    Aston Villa (A)
    Macclesfield Town (H)
    Wycombe (A)
    Wigan (H)
    Liverpool (A)
    Wycombe (H)

    Chelsea's owner Mr Abramovich, spoke last week about the 'days of Chelsea's spending being over,' and that he wanted to see more players from the Reserves and Academy forcing their way through to the first team in years to come.

    Tomorrow against Fulham, Jose has a great opportunity to do just that. With Boulahrouz suspended, Jose can call up reserve team defender Adrian Pettigrew to make his first team debut.

    I watch alot of Reserve team football and I know that Pettigrew won't let the team down. He is big, strong, good in the air and has a fair amount of pace.

    Whatever happens, its squeaky bum time, starting tomorrow against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

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    Thursday, December 28, 2006

    Micah Richards Set to Sign???



    The rumour mill is gathering pace and it looks set that Man City and England International, Micah Richards is joining Chelsea when the January transfer window opens. The fee is expected to be £18m.

    This morning, Man City's manager Stuart Pearce has denied that Chelsea has made an approach although he did say that City has contacted Chelsea about taking a player or two from them. Does that mean that SWP is on his way back to Eastlands?

    If Richards signs, his arrival will end Chelsea's right-back problems but their centre-half difficulty will continue with JT out for a few more weeks.

    But Richards is tough, young and uncompromising and there is no reason why he cannot fill the void. Two positions for the price of one!!!

    Jose Mourinho has admitted that he has considered using Didier Drogba as an emergency centre-half, but with Joe Cole and Arjen Robben both out with injuries and the unfortunate Andriy Shevchenko struggling for goals, this move seems unlikely.

    Jose could always switch Ballack to defence - give the lazy git something to do LOL LOL!!!

    Fortunately Chelsea has only ONE more league to play before the transfer window opens and if Richards does sign, I would imagine that JM will pitch him straight in against Aston Villa on Jan 2.

    One club that will be hoping that the Richards move goes through is League One challengers Oldham Athletic. They will receive a massive 25% of the fee - a clause in the contract - when Richards went to City.

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    Wednesday, December 27, 2006

    You Have Just Got To Laugh!!

    Here is the vid of Cole's/Essien combined own goal with less than five minutes to go at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

    The result means that the Champions are four points behind ManUre and without sounding too pessimistic look set to drop further points whilst a certain Mr Michael Ballack continues to wear the Blue of Chelsea.

    Ballack was less than impressive yesterday - strolling around as if he was taking a dog for a walk in the park. Giving away too many free-kicks and generally not getting 'stuck' into the game.

    Whilst 'The Shev' is getting all the criticism for not scoring, Ballack is getting away with it.

    However the fans are starting to get fed up and after the game yesterday Ballack was booed off the pitch and unless Ballack changes his act, style of play the boos will get worse. Am I bothered? No cos I will be one of the booers!!!

    Captain John Terry has missed the last three Premiership games and Chelsea has conceded six goals and Chelsea will continue to concede until JT returns or JM decides to go out into the tranfer market as quick as possible once the clock has turned midmight on Jan 1 2007 to buy a central defender.

    For many Chelsea fans it is a worrying time - oh dear haven't you been spoilt!!!!

    For me I am not worried at all simply because I have seen my Chelsea win the title twice (more than I expected in my lifetime) and I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE SHIT!!!



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    Monday, December 25, 2006

    I Am Ready, Just Waiting for the Others

    Yeah I know its Christmas Day, and yeah you might think I am sad posting this morning, but I am ready and I am waiting for the others in my house to get their skates on before we all head out for lunch to a family members house.

    So whilst I have anything up to an hour before we leave, I'd thought I would give it a go now because later I will be worse the wear and tomorrow I have an early start to get to Stamford Bridge for the Reading game.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

    For forty-four minutes on Saturday Chelsea looked like they would rack up an impressive score-line against Wigan at the JJB. Heskey had different ideas - pulled one back right on the stroke of half-time and the second-half became a different story.

    Heskey equalised and Chelsea looked very capable of losing the game that in fairness they should have wrapped up much much earlier than they did.

    Chelsea have sorely missed the presence of Captain John Terry. Two league games missed and four goals conceded against two teams that like to play rough, tough and straight down the middle. Battles that JT would have relished.

    So the script was written for Chelsea to break Wigan's hearts AGAIN just like last season and so they did.

    Deep deep into injury time Arjen Robben cut in from the left and hit a sweet shot into the bottom corner of the net to give Chelsea an 'undeserved' win - but thats why WE ARE CHAMPIONS..

    See the goal again



    Tomorrow the Champions take on Reading at Stamford Bridge and there really isn't much more to say other than the build-up to the match is all about Hunt and Sonko who were the Reading players involved in the injuries sustained by Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.

    I just hope that nothing more sinister than the verbal abuse these two individuals will expect to receive happens, and that the players, officials and supporters of Reading FC enjoy their trip to Stamford Bridge in relative comfort and safety.

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    Saturday, December 23, 2006

    Wigan v Chelsea

    The Champions kick off their Christmas campaign in less than two hours against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium.

    Remember last season. First game. Wigan's first EVER appearance in the top flight and their hearts were broken with Hernan Crespo's magnificent late late winner?!?!

    View the goal again below and lets hope Wigan hearts are broken again at around 7pm UK time, because it is conceivable that Chelsea could be top of the League for Christmas!!

    COME ON CHELSEA

    John Terry had a night out this week and won himself a cool 87k by betting 2.5k on number 26, which is his shirt number.

    Didier Drogba won a Barclay's award for scoring ten Premiership goals this season and Geremi is reported to have told JM through the press to carry on waving his imaginary cards!!! TUT TUT

    In today's Carling Cup draw for the semi-final, Chelsea was drawn away at Wycombe Wanderers in the first leg. Wycombe remember knocked out Charlton Athletic at The Valley earlier this week.

    Wigan's De Zeeuw is relishing his battle with Dids today and says 'I don't care if my nose gets broken again.' Nor would I if mine had been broken five times before as in the case of De Zeeuw. De Zeeuw also said that his wife has arranged for nose surgery once the hard man defender retires from the game.

    Anyway for regular readers and those passing through, if I don't get a chance to post again before Santa's visit, please allow me to WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope all of your dreams come true.

    Take Care



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    Thursday, December 21, 2006

    1st of Three Semi-Finals?!?!?!!?

    Chelsea snared the victory at St James' Park Newcastle last night 1-0 in the Carling Cup 1/4 final. The only goal of the game was scored by Man of the Match and the man in form Didier Drogba, who came on as a sub with 17 minutes to go.

    Just goes to show how drab the whole game and the performance of most of the players was - that Didier Drogba gets the Man of the Match award LOL LOL LOL!!!

    Only a few hours before the game kicked off, Jose apologised to Everton and Andy Johnson for the remarks he made about Andy Johnson being a 'diver after Chelsea won at Everton 3-2.

    It didn't take Jose long to get himself back in the news, when he brandished the imaginary card signal for ref Chris Foy to issue when Butt fouled Arjen Robben for the free-kick which led to Didier's fine goal. Foy didn't give the yellow card.

    Come on Jose - your recent actions/comments are really starting to irritate me!!

    Enjoy Didier's goal again and again and again......



    Next up Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

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    Tuesday, December 19, 2006

    'Engaging Brain Before Opening Mouth'

    In a game that in all honestly Chelsea should have won comfortably, especially after the way the team started in the first fifteen minutes, events during and after the game have overshadowed the three WONDERFUL goals that Chelsea scored to secure a vital win and gain three points at Goodison Park on Sunday.

    The event in discussion is the 'dive' that Everton's Andy Johnson took over Hilario during the first half to try and win Everton a penalty. Before anybody jumps up and down, TV pictures proved that Johnson didn't dive, TV pictures proved that Boulahrouz pushed Johnson before his tumble took place.

    In can be said that Johnson's tumbling antics were exaggerated, but had the ref had clear sight of the push I am sure a penalty would have been awarded.

    A couple of weeks ago my boss put up a sign at work (in jest I must add) about 'engaging brain before opening mouth,' despite many opportunities that Jose would have had before facing the media post match to view the incident from all angles, it seems that mouth went into overdrive regardless.

    What I find interesting today though, apart from reports that Everton plan to sue Jose for defamtory remarks, is that Andy Johnson has not said that Boulahrouz pushed him, even though TV replays showed that he did.

    Johnson said "I was very disappointed with the comments made by Jose Mourinho after Sunday's match with Chelsea. I do not consider myself a diver. I feel greatly disappointed my integrity as a footballer has been unfairly questioned in this way. I believe the incident highlighted by Mr Mourinho was badly misinterpreted by him.

    I did not dive. I merely jumped out of the way of Chelsea's goalkeeper as he came out at my feet. I was not trying to get a penalty. I hope the Chelsea manager will retract his statement."

    OK AJ. TV pictures show you were pushed. Why not admit it that Boulahrouz pushed you in the back? Why did you have lots of words with Boulahrouz after the incident if you are claiming what you have said is true? Why don't you come out and say that Boulahrouz pushed you and your tumble was due to the force of the push.

    If you didn't dive why was your manager, David Moyes, trying to get Jose to look at the evidence again on the monitors, when HE (David Moyes) felt you were pushed?

    Jose - Watch the tape again, show some humility and say sorry I got it wrong.

    If you haven't seen Chelsea's goals from Sunday's match, check the post below and watch and enjoy!!!

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    Monday, December 18, 2006

    Three VERY VERY Special Goals

    Ballack v Everton (1-1)



    Lampard v Everton (2-2)



    Drogba v Everton (2-3)




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    Sunday, December 17, 2006

    Everton 2-3 Chelsea

    I have to admit I am drunk as a skunk - Barcelona lost in Japan, Chelsea won 3-2 and the URE of Man U lost at West Ham 1-0. What a day and happy days!!!

    There will be more when I sober up simply because I don't think it is fair to express an opinion on the failures of others whilst the influence of an afternoon's intake of alcohol has been enjoyed whilst watching the victory of the Blues and the defeat of the Reds.

    LOL LOL LOL!!!

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    Everton v Chelsea

    I don't normally get nervous before Chelsea play a football match, but this morning I woke up with a feeling of nervousness and anticipation.

    Chelsea head to Goodison Park looking for three points to continue the pressure on League leaders Man Utd at the top of the Premiership.

    Although Everton are not in particularly good form and minus their talisman in Tim Cahill, Everton is still a difficult place to go to.

    Last season's 1-1 draw proved that. That draw became the first points that Chelsea had dropped and already this season as we all know Chelsea have dropped more points at any stage of Jose Mourinho's tenure.

    Expect Hilario to continue in goal and lets hope Carvalho returns to the centre of defence after being withdrawn on Wednesday night against Newcastle.

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    Saturday, December 16, 2006

    Michael Ballack - A Jose 'Untouchable'

    Ever since Michael Ballack 'dived' at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League game against Bayern Munich, I have disliked the man and although Ballack is now a Chelsea player, my opinion of the man has not really changed.

    Michael Ballack - "who is he, who is he?"

    I know he is Germany's Captain and an extremely good player at International level and he was an Icon at Bayern Munich but for Chelsea he is Mr Invisible.

    Where is he and what has he done? Ok he has scored a few goals in Blue against Werder from the penalty spot and League goals against Portsmouth, Sheff Utd and Bolton, but other than that what has been his contribution to the team in general?

    There isn't an answer because he HASN'T contributed anything.

    During the Summer when both Ballack and Shevchenko signed I couldn't believe that Chelsea had signed two superstars and I kept on visualising sublime Ballack passes into the path of Shevchenko running on and scoring plenty of goals with Ballack receiving plenty of 'assists' stats.

    It just hasn't happened!!!

    Up and until a few weeks ago I was in awe of the man. Michael Ballack a superstar in football terms playing his football at the home of the Champions at Stamford Bridge. At the start of the season when Ballack was nursing a minor injury I got close up to the man when he was walking from one part of the ground to another and I was surprised to see how big a man he is.

    Ballack is tall and extremely broad across the shoulders, so with his physical status how can he go 'missing' on a football pitch.

    But missing is what Ballack does and he does it very well. It was my son who first started to complain about the lack of Ballack's presence on the football field and for the last few games, where possible, I have been following Ballack's presence and I am sorry to say that I find him 'wanting.'

    A Jose Untouchable? Don't make me laugh!!

    For the last few games against Levski, Arsenal and Newcastle Utd Chelsea have played with ten men on the pitch - its no wonder we can't kill off teams!!

    Jose doesn't shy away from grabbing the bull by the horns. Look how many times he has pulled 'The Shev' off the football pitch?

    So Jose, its time to re-evaluate your list of 'untouchables' and relegate Ballack to the bench and play someone who wants to play for Chelsea Football Club and not just be happy with turning up at the bank week after week to dip into a £130,000 per week wage.

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    Porto in Champions League

    In Friday's Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland Jose Mourinho and Chelsea were drawn against Jose's old club Porto FC.

    As Chelsea won Group A, they also won the right to play the second leg at home. I believe in a two legged competition it is much better to play the first leg away first!!

    It won't be the first time that Jose will face his old club. Soon after Jose joined Chelsea after leaving Porto, both team were drawn in the Champions League group stage. Chelsea won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge and in the return Porto prevailed 2-1.

    A similar set of results will see Chelsea in the last eight of the Champions League competition.

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    Drogba's Late Goal Against Newcastle



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    Essien's Wonder Goal against Arsenal



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    Normal Service Resumes

    You would have noticed that my last entry was eight days ago. Funny where has eight days gone and what has happened in those eight days.

    To be honest I don't really know. One minute I was looking forward to compiling entries to this 'brilliant' blog in readiness for the Arsenal game and giving the Emirates XI and their fans a right old going over and then the the next minute I had a crisis.

    Crisis for me came in all forms. The first form of crisis was my beloved PC, my world to the WWW, wasn't performing as it should have (now it is and I will try not to overwork you again Darling!!)

    The rest of my own crisis is so hard to explain - so I won't bother trying to. All I know is that this blog is back and will be regularly updated in the hope of entertaining you.

    So to get up-to-date here is a review of whats happened this week in the colourful world of Chelsea Football Club.

    Against Emirates XI a last gasp wonder strike by Michael Essien saved a point for the Blues and in fairness Chelsea could have won the game in the last minutes from either Michael Essien or Frank Lampard.

    Against the Toon Army from Newcastle on Wednesday night - a very depleted team to boot - Chelsea struggled to win and the only goal came from Didier Drogba late into the game.

    Still a win is a win and Chelsea sit five points behind the leaders Man Ure.

    Next up is a tough trip to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon - kick off 1.45pm UK Time.


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    Friday, December 08, 2006

    Chelsea v Emirates XI 10/12/06 PtII

    Didier Drogba's 2nd goal against Emirates XI in the Community Shield a couple of weeks before the Premiership win at The Bridge on the video below

    Although the fans of Emirates XI wouldn't agree, to beat your rivals twice in the space of a couple of weeks - THAT'S WHY WE'RE CHAMPIONS!!!!

    Here is the 2nd of Dids goal in that CS game - if you can find the first please post and let me know!!

    COME ON CHELSEA!!




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    Chelsea v Emirates XI Sunday 10/12/06

    The day after this goal went in at Stamford Bridge, Emirates fans from all over the world went mad and could not believe how lucky Didier Drogba and Chelsea were to get this winner. Look at the video again and you will see that Emirates XI's Senderos pushed Drogba onto the ball which actually came off Dids knee!!!!!

    If the same happens again on Sunday, I will take it LOL LOL

    More to follow!!!

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    Wednesday, December 06, 2006

    Chelsea 2-0 Levski Sofia

    Chelsea comfortably confirmed their Champions League Group A top spot with a 2-0 win over Bulgaria's Levski Sofia on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge.


    Two firsts became two goals as Andriy Shevchenko scored his first European goal in the Chelsea Blue and Shaun Wright-Phillips scored his FIRST ever goal for Chelsea too, after some 17 months and fifty plus appearances.


    Credit where credit is due. Levski had lost ALL of their previous Champions League group games, after becoming the first team from Bulgaria to qualify for the Champions League, an achievement in itself!! But they came to Stamford Bridge and helped to contribute to an entertaining game of football and Levski was unlucky on a couple of occasions not to have scored a consolation goal for themselves; scant reward for their entertaining and enterprising endeavour.


    The draw for the Champions League knockout stage is on Friday 15th December and the Champions League competition resumes matchday in February 2007. Given that the Champions can now focus on catching Man Utd at the top of the Premiership, the Carling Cup Quarter-Final against Newcastle two weeks today and the small matter of the FA Cup which begins on Saturday 6th January 2007.


    Before that is the small matter of Chelsea v Arsenal this Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Hopefully a positive result against Emirates XI will finally end their hopes of Premiership ambitions for this season.

    Countdown to the big match starts soon!!!


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    Shaun Wright-Phillips FIRST Ever Chelsea Goal v Levski Sofia



    Shaunie's first EVER Chelsea goal and didn't he take it well!!!!

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    Sheva's First Chelsea European Goal v Levski Sofia



    Enjoy the goal again and again. Sheva's first in Europe for Chelsea and lets hope it will not be his last.

    This was Chelsea's first goal in Tuesday night's 2-0 over Levski Sofia.

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    Tuesday, December 05, 2006

    Chelsea Team v Levski Sofia

    Chelsea's team has just been announced and it is quite a shocker. A shocker to the extent that there is no Carlo Cudicini in the starting line-up and not even on the bench.

    In fact THERE is no goalkeeper on the bench!!

    Now since the rule change for substitiutes (5 for Domestic games and 7 for European games) I CANNOT remember Chelsea never having a substitute goalkeeper on the bench.

    As you know Petr Cech is injured and new signing Magnus Hedman is ineligible for the Champions League until January.

    Chelsea's Team:

    Hilario

    Ferreira
    Carvalho
    Boulahrouz
    Bridge

    Ballack
    Essien
    Lampard

    Shevchenko
    Drogba
    Robben

    Subs: A. Cole, Geremi, Diarra, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, Morais, Mikel


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    Champions League Time!!!



    Chelsea look set to win Group A in the Champions League tonight against Levski Sofia at Stamford Bridge. A win will guarantee top spot that is for certain, but if Chelsea lose and Werder Bremen win in Barcelona then Chelsea will finish 2nd, as they did last season when Liverpool won their group.
    If both games end in a draw Chelsea will still top the group.
    I can't see any other result than a Chelsea win simply because Levski have lost ALL of their previous five Champions League games this season plus Chelsea won comprehensively 3-1 in Sofia earlier on in the group.
    Levski will be without their international goalkeeper Georgi Petkov who is recovering from knee surgery and Levski's coach, Stanimir Stoliov, has to choose between 18 year old and 19 year old goalkeepers, Nikolai Mihailov and Bozhidar Mitrev respectively.
    Captain John Terry is suspended and Jose Mourinho has already stated that Makelele will be rested and Ashley Cole will be on the bench. So straight away you know that Wayne Bridge, who recently signed a new four year contract, will start the game.
    COME BACK SHORTLY FOR THE FIRST NEWS OF CHELSEA'S STARTING LINE-UP!!
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    Monday, December 04, 2006

    Getting in the Mood for Levski Sofia

    Enjoy once again Didier Drogba's hat-trick against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria from the Group A Champions League game played in September.

    More of the same tomorrow Didier, if you please!!



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    So


    So. No sooner had the draw for the 3rd Round of the FA Cup been made which saw 'The Silkmen' of Macclesfield Town drawn away to the Champions, Macclesfield's chairman Rob Bickerton announced that the club would provide FREE travel for the 'Silks' fans to the game at Stamford Bridge.
    What a great honour and what a great gesture.
    Mind you Macclesfield are likely to make almost £500,000 from their appearance and there is every likelihood that the game could go 'live' on TV either on Saturday 6th Jan or Sunday 7th Jan.
    Macclesfield can expect an allocation of about 6,000 tickets and the fans will be housed in 'The Shed End,' of Stamford Bridge come matchday.
    What is it with teams in Blue and White, taking over our 'end?' LOL!!
    Macclesfield are currently bottom of League Two and their new manager ex legend of Man Utd, Liverpool, West Ham, Paul Ince has found out that he his eligible to play against the Champions.
    Story goes that Incey has already been on the phone to our very own Frank Lampard.
    When Chelsea played Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup a few weeks ago, Villa's chairman Randy Lerner dipped into his pockets and paid for those Villa fans to travel to the game on organised coaches.
    Why am I telling you this!!! Well with all this generousity going around, on Chelsea's official site announced today, tickets are on sale for the Carling Cup Quarter-final at Newcastle United on Wednesday 20th December (yep five days before Christmas) and along with match tickets, you can BUY a train ticket for £33 per person to get you there.
    Spot the irony - enough said!!!
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    Sunday, December 03, 2006

    FA Cup Draw - Its Macclesfield Town






    Chelsea has been drawn at home to Macclesfield Town in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. In the draw made this afternoon the Chelsea match was the second to last tie out of the 'hat.'


    The tie will be played over the weekend of 6th/7th January 2007.


    No doubt the folk of Macclesfield Town will be jumping for joy, because as always at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea games are sold-out and Macclesfield Town will enjoy a very BIG payday.


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    Saturday, December 02, 2006

    The '92 Club'

    Have you ever heard of the '92' Club?

    If you have then good for you. If you haven't, the '92 Club' is opened to those that have visited every single Professional League Football ground in the Country and the membership is so select that not many individuals have achieved it.

    Nowadays with clubs moving locations for one reason or another, the '92 Club' will have to be renamed one day as the '150 Club'!!! LOL LOL

    Myself personally I have visited and watched matches at 52 different grounds but I admit that my total does include one or two non-league sides (but one of them York City, which I visited twice in a season was a Football League club. Chelsea in the League and Chelsea in the FA Cup).

    Also included in my total are the grounds that Chelsea played in the European Cup Winners Cup at Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) and Tromso (Norway).

    Plus there is a visit to the San Siro included when I watched AC Milan play Cagliari.

    Obviously my visits to these grounds were to watch Chelsea play of course, but the one visit to Dartford FC (at Watling Street) when Peter Taylor was manager, Dartford played Merthyr Tydfil and lost 2-0 and there have been many countless trips to Welling United too. Chelsea have sent a team or two, but I have seen some cracking games at Park View Road including a FA Cup tie when Welling United hosted Blackburn Rovers and lost by a single goal.

    Here is the full list of grounds that I have visited and watched a football match:


    Man Utd - Old Trafford
    Chelsea - Stamford Bridge
    Bolton Wanderers - Burnden Park
    Portsmouth - Fratton Park
    Aston Villa - Villa Park
    Arsenal - Highbury
    Everton - Goodison Park
    Tottenham - White Hart Lane
    Fulham - Craven Cottage
    Wigan Athletic -Springfield Park
    West Ham Utd - Upton Park
    Blackburn Rovers - Ewood Park
    Newcastle Utd - St James' Park
    Watford - Vicarage Road
    Charlton - The Valley

    Cardiff City - Ninian Park
    Birmingham City - St Andrews
    Preston NE - Deepdale
    Derby County - The Baseball Ground
    Burnley - Turf Moor
    Southampton - The Dell
    West Bromwich Albion - The Hawthorns
    Wolverhampton Wanderers - Moulineux
    Plymouth Argyle - Home Park
    Norwich City - Carrow Road
    QPR - Loftus Road
    Sheffield Weds - Hillsborough
    Leicester City - Filbert Street
    Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park
    Luton Town - Kenilworth Road
    Barnsley - Oakwell

    Oldham Athletic - Boundary Park
    Swansea City - Vetch Field
    Blackpool - Bloomfield Road
    Brighton & Hove Albion - Goldstone Ground
    Rotherham - Millmoor
    Millwall - The Den
    Leyton Orient - Brisbane Road

    Notts County - Meadow Lane
    Bristol Rovers - Eastville
    Shrewsbury Town - Gay Meadow
    Wrexham - Racecourse Ground
    Grimsby Town - Blundell Park

    York City - Bootham Crescent
    Welling United - Park View Road
    Dartford - Watling Street

    Wimbledon - Plough Lane
    Wimbledon - Selhurst Park

    Wembley

    SK Slovan Bratislava - Tehelne Pole Stadion
    Tromso IL - Alfheim Stadion

    San Siro - AC Milan v Cagliarli

    There are some wonderful memories in the list above. Some sad and some happy and I would like one day to become a member of the '92 Club' and write or blog about my experiences and perhaps take the challenge further by visiting as many of the non-league grounds and watching a game, because if it wasn't for the football that the part-time footballers play in this country, we would never ever have the strong League system that we have now.

    Have you ever heard a part-time player moan about how many games he has to play a week, plus hold down a job????? NO of course you haven't!!

    So if there is anyone interested in sponsoring me with a nice car, laptop, mobile phone, decent camera, expense account and a decent salary for me to go travelling around ALL the grounds in the country, relating and reporting back my experiences, then either post a comment or contact me on abis15@aol.com with Sponsor in the subject line and lets discuss it.

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    Friday, December 01, 2006

    Peaceful and Relaxing Weekend

    I can enjoy a peaceful and relaxing weekend in the knowledge that my beloved Blues are not playing, that Liverpool and Arsenal have 'shot' themselves out of the Premiership title race with recent dismal results and although Man Ure are three points clear of the Champions and play at Middlesbrough in the early evening of Saturday, I am going to do a 'Jose Mourinho' and not worry about it.

    Why?

    Cos like Jose, I KNOW that Chelsea will be back at the top of the Premiership before too long.

    A solitary Michael Ballack goal on Wednesday evening was enough to bring the points back to London and had Chelsea won by three or four goals, I doubt very much if Bolton would have complained, so much was Chelsea's domination of the game and Jussi being the busier of the two goalkeepers.

    You can enjoy Michael Ballack's goal again and again (his third in the Premiership) in the video footage posted below.

    Please though take a moment to sign the online petition at the link below:

    http://www.gopetition.com/online/10254.html

    SAVE SCARBOROUGH FC

    Chelsea's next game is Tuesday 5th December when they entertain Bulgaria's Levski Sofia in the final League game in Group A of the Champions League.

    Two Minutes of Your Time PLEASE!!

    It is so easy to become a supporter of a BIG football club in the UK. For example any team in the English Premiership.

    But consider this for a second! What about those folks that follow a football club at a lower level and have stayed with that club through thick and thin and through the good times as well as the bad. More bad times than good I would imagine.

    OK. Take the folks in the Northern seaside town of Scarborough. Only a few seasons ago they were enjoying the status of a Football League club and came close to humbling the mighty millionaires of Chelsea Football Club in the FA Cup. A few years before that they did cause a major shock in the League Cup beating Chelsea 3-2, after being 2-0 down.

    Today Scarborough FC are facing closure. Currently playing in the North Division of the Nationwide Conference, two leagues beneath the Football League, unless Scarborough can sell their McCain Stadium ground and be allowed to build another ground elsewhere in the town, the club will die!!!

    Unfortunately the wine drinking, prawn sandwich eating members of the local council WILL NOT let Scarborough Football Club sell the ground and move.

    By selling the ground, the club can expect to raise £4m which will be enough to build a new stadium and pay off the club's debts and then the club can move forward into a brighter and better future.

    But like most situations in this madcap country of England, Government and Local Councils NEVER EVER EVER like to help their own first.

    So please take a minute or two to sign an online petition at this link: http://www.gopetition.com/online/10254.html

    and on behalf of a Chelsea fan of over 40 years, a BIG thank you

    Bolton 0-1 Chelsea: Ballack's Goal