If You Know Your History

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Well What Can I Say?!?!!?

Last update 18/3/07

Seriously where has the days and time gone too!!!

I can't believe that it has been almost a month since I last entered a post. And what an exciting time we as fans of Chelsea Football Club have had!!!

Reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup
Reached the semi-finals of the Champions League
ONLY three points behind the Ure of ManUre

and there is a distinct possibility of THREE, yes THREE meaningful meetings with ManUre in the space of 14 days which could see the Premiership title decided and two major Cup-Finals contested - one at Wembley and one in Athens.

So lets recap and get back up to date.

March 18th I posted goals of our victory of Sheff Utd at the Bridge, then on Monday 19th March we went to Tottenham and won 2-1 with two fantastic strikes by the Shev and SWP.

After International break we played Watford at Vicarage Road and won 1-0 with a last gasp Salomon Kalou goal, then on the following Wednesday we played our first leg at home to Valencia in the Champions League and drew 1-1, then just a few days after, on Saturday at home beat Tottenham AGAIN in the Premiership 1-0 and with ManUre losing later on that afternoon, Chelsea's deficit at the top of the Premiership was cut to just THREE points.

Then Tuesday just gone. Probably Chelsea's finest performance under Jose Mourinho, especially in the second-half saw us defeat a Valencia side 2-1, who hadn't been beaten at home in the Mestalla by an English team for 40 years. (As long as I have been a Chelsea fan).

And that is about it at the moment.

Sunday I am off to Old Trafford for the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn, but before then I am sure there is lots to write about, especially now we have to play Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final to which the title of this blog is dedicated too!!!

More later

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:30 pm  25 comments

    Sunday, March 18, 2007

    The Goals Against Sheff Utd

    1-0 Sheva's Strike



    Salomon makes it 2-0



    and finally Ballack's header makes it 3-0




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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 5:03 pm  2 comments

    What A Week That Was!?!?!?!

    First there was the classic FA Cup draw with Tottenham after being 3-1 down, but really we should never have been 3-1 down in the first place.

    Then away to Man City a few days later and we win that with a Frank Lampard penalty and then yesterday beating Neil Warnock's Sheff Utd 3-0, giving Chelsea a SIXTH STRAIGHT Premierhip win, without conceding a goal.

    Then in between the games there has been a 'piranha' press feeding frenzy on the futures of Messrs Jose, JT and Frank Lampard. Michael Essien has no doubts about where he wants to be. He signed a new five year deal on Monday.

    But what about Jose? Jose has said time and time again that he WILL stay with the club until his contract expires in 2010. The press are saying that Jose will be sacked at the end of this season - whether he wins any more trophies or not!!!

    On Monday Chelsea travel to Tottenham for the cup replay and will be looking for a much better performance than the one they gave at Stamford Bridge over a week ago (at least in the first-half).

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 1:04 pm  0 comments

    Monday, March 12, 2007

    FA Cup

    Should Chelsea overcome Tottenham in next Monday's replay then Blackburn will be our semi-final opponents.

    It is highly unlikely that the venues for the semi-finals will be decided before the semi-final replays have been decided.

    If you saw the game yesterday as a neutral you must have felt that you were in football heaven - what a game, what a classic - two teams showing the world what English FA Cup football is all about. Who says the FA Cup is dead!!!

    As a Tottenham fan, you must be gutted that your team threw away a two goal, but judging the pre-match comments that I had read, you were going to Stamford Bridge in more expectation than hope.

    As a Chelsea fan, you are wondering what the hell happened for the Blues to be 3-1 down at half-time. 3 goals conceded in the first half at Stamford Bridge!!! It was a complete nightmare without taking anything away from Tottenham and their fans. All 6,000 + packed into The Shed!!!

    But we witnessed it, we saw it and come the half-time whistle - it was a relief to hear it!!!

    But credit where credit is due. Jose swung it around and did it his OWN way. A Kalou equaliser four minutes from time gave Chelsea a deserved draw more for their fightback in the second half than for their performance in the first half.

    Either The Shev could have won it for Chelsea or Defoe for Tottenham in the very last minutes but the game ended a draw and we all have to go through the emotions all over again on Monday (19th March), for the right to face Blackburn Rovers in the semi-final.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 7:04 pm  0 comments

    Friday, March 09, 2007

    Valencia in the Champions League

    We avoided the Manure of Man Utd and the Scum of Liverpool and we got Valencia of Spain, after the massacre in the Mestilla from Tuesday night.

    But first we need to concentrate on the FA Cup against hopefully a tired Spurs side on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

    And if there are any Americans visiting this site - ITS FOOTBALL - not SOCCER

    More to come later

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:07 pm  2 comments

    Wednesday, March 07, 2007

    Chelsea Flag Waving B4 Porto





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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 12:33 pm  3 comments

    Chelsea 2-1 Porto

    A great night at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea overcome the challenge of FC Porto to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the third time in as many years.

    On current form, THE MOST unlikeliest hero was Michael Ballack who volleyed Chelsea through with eleven minutes to go. This after Porto had taken an early lead.

    Three minutes into the second-half, after a dismal first half, Arjen Robben equalised for Chelsea.

    Below enjoy the goals again

    COME ON CHELSEA!!

    Who do you want in the draw which takes place on Friday or who do you think Chelsea will get in the quarter-final draw?

    Robben makes it 1-1



    Ballack 'The Hero' volleys for 2-1



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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 12:02 pm  0 comments

    Monday, March 05, 2007

    Goals and Cech's Saves from the Portsmouth Game

    Didier's 29th Goal of the Season



    Kalou makes it 2-0 (Both goals assisted by Ashley Cole)



    Finally could these saves help Chelsea to win the title for the 3rd year on the trot?



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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 12:22 pm  0 comments

    Sunday, March 04, 2007

    Portsmouth 0-2 Chelsea

    Whether Chelsea retain their title and win it for a third successive year remains to be seen, but the CHAMPIONS are not giving up their title without a fight.

    Goals by Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou gave the boys a 2-0 at Portsmouth's Fratton Park, a game that Chelsea HAD to win after ManUre's 'lucky' result at Anfield earlier in the day.

    Fratton Park is quite a happy hunting ground for Kalou. Earlier in the season he scored a memorable hat-trick for the reserves as they thumped Portsmouth reserves 5-0.

    The star of the show and Chelsea's saviour was goalkeeper Petr Cech. Cech made two fabulous saves in a five minute spell late in the second-half when Portsmouth were at their most dangerous. First Cech parried and clawed the ball away from a Cole header whilst diving the 'wrong' way and then minutes later Cech swooped down low to his right to keep another header from Kanu from crossing the line.

    After, in the post match conference Jose made the point that having Petr Cech about would earn Chelsea the right to ten to fifteen points a season.

    Jose said "WIth Petr Cech in the goal all season, how many more points would Chelsea have?" He carried on by saying, "They (Portsmouth) have two good chances and Petr Cech has to say I am here and I am the best."

    On pressure Jose said "The belief is there. We know how football is. When we were top of the league last season and everybody was saying there is pressure on Chelsea. I was saying no there is no pressure on Chelsea. There is pressure on second place because the second place cannot lose points."

    "This season I think that too, the second cannot lose points. We are second because we are second. We cannot afford to make mistakes."

    For Tuesday's Champions League return against Porto at Stamford Bridge, Jose confirm that Captain John Terry would not play. JT is under strict orders to rest following the kick in the head in last week's Carling Cup final. JT is expected to have another precautionary scan either Monday or Tuesday.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 5:55 am  0 comments

    Thursday, March 01, 2007

    In Memory - Peter Osgood: 1947 - 2006


    A year ago today I was at work when I heard the news that the ‘King of Stamford Bridge’ had sadly passed away at the young age of 59. I admit I rushed to the loo and shed a few tears to mourn the passing of an absolute Chelsea Legend.

    I was fortunate to see the great man in action on many, many occasions and even had the opportunity to try a save an ‘Ossie’ special in goal. Notice the word try. As soon as I had positioned myself in goal, quick as a flash the ball was in the net - it was an honour LOL.

    Along with another late Chelsea great, Ian Hutchinson, I was treated along with a massive group of Chelsea fans (including my wife) to the special Ossie ‘hospitality’ when he and Ian used to own a pub in Windsor. Because of their special brand of hospitality they didn’t have the pub too long because legend says that they were always buying Chelsea fans who visited plenty of drinks.

    For the record Ossie’s Chelsea career reads: Played 380 and scored 150 goals.

    Because of his hard living off the football field, Ossie’s England career was restricted to just a handful of appearances. Had Ossie ‘towed’ the line - he would have been an England ‘great.’ But our Ossie towing the line, he just wouldn’t have been Peter Osgood - King of Stamford Bridge!!!

    The Shed looked up and saw a great star
    Scoring goals past Pat Jennings from near and from far
    And Chelsea won as we all knew they would
    And the star of that great team was Peter Osgood

    Osgood, Osgood, Osgood, Osgood
    Born is the King of Stamford Bridge
    Buried deep into the penalty spot of the ‘Shed End’ lies the ashes of Peter Osgood - The KING OF STAMFORD BRIDGE!!!

    PETER OSGOOD 1947 - 2006 RIP

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 7:13 pm  0 comments

    Monday, February 26, 2007

    CARLING CUP: CHELSEA 2-1 ARSENAL

    Relive those wonderful Didier Drogba goals from the Final in Cardiff yesterday.

    Didier's 1st Goal



    Didier's 2nd Goal



    There isn't really anything left to write about the game that hasn't already been written, but there is an awful lot that can be written between now and the end of the season.

    REMEMBER!!! I am not a five minute fan who WILL desert Chelsea should ManUre win the League - I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE SHIT AND I WILL BE THERE AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!

    So KEEP THE FAITH and BOOKMARK THIS BLOG!!!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 7:51 pm  1 comments

    Saturday, February 24, 2007

    NEWSFLASH - JT BACK

    John Terry WILL play in the Carling Cup Final!!!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 3:05 pm  0 comments

    Chelsea v Arsenal - Carling Cup Final



    Well the weekend hasn't got off to the best start. ManUre has just beaten Fulham after being a goal down, with Ronaldo scoring the winner in the 88th minute.

    So the Champions are nine points behind and have to win the game in hand against Man City in two weeks time - but thats for another day.

    What a week Chelsea have had. Beating Norwich in the Cup, drawing Tottenham in the next round, drawing with Porto in the Champions League and the 'kids' that are Jose and Wenger starting the off the field mind games, typical in the build up to a mjor cup meeting between the two sides.

    As for the game itself. Well there is no John Terry. Robben looks like he will be fit and Essien will start as centre-half as he has done so magnificently in recent months.

    I am not going to the game. Simply because I just can't be bothered to put up with all the difficulties of travelling to Wales along with 70,000 plus other people.

    So if you are going to the game - then I wish you a safe journey.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 2:47 pm  0 comments

    Monday, February 19, 2007

    OK £80million loss, BUT

    the but is.. Chelsea has frozen ticket prices for next season for Premier League matches which include season tickets, members, OAPs and children. (Chelsea say that the freeze equates to a 6% in terms of inflation). Only the corporate will suffer price increases.. well they can afford it can't they and do they sing???

    Nah course they don't. They spend all their time eating and drinking all they can to get their money's worth whilst watching the game 'through beerglasses.'

    Chelsea has also announced that they will introduce reductions for the Champions League group games and will continue substantial reductions for FA Cup and Carling Cup home games, subject to away team approval.

    In the draw for the Quarter-Final of the FA Cup, Chelsea got a home draw against Tottenham to be played on Saturday 10th March or Sunday 11th March.

    Way before then Chelsea travel to Portugal to play Porto on Wednesday in the Champions League and then on Sunday, Chelsea play Arsenal in the final of the Carling Cup in Cardiff.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 7:54 pm  0 comments

    Saturday, February 17, 2007

    Chelsea Times 17/02/07

    Its been a quiet week on the Chelsea front but starting today the action starts to hot up with Chelsea taking on Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup and then on Wednesday, Chelsea travel to Portugal to face Jose's old club Porto in the Champions League.

    Then next Sunday Chelsea face the Gooners from Cashburton Grove in the final of the Carling Cup in Cardiff. By the time Chelsea play their next Premiership match at 5.15pm on Saturday 3/3/07 at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, the boys COULD BE and I say again COULD BE, 12 points behind League leaders Man Utd.

    The only bit of news to report is that Chelsea Football Club have teamed up with YOU TUBE to provide an internet platform for ALL fans Chelsea.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 9:31 am  0 comments

    Sunday, February 11, 2007

    I Just Had To!!

    Post the article below before it gets edited to appear elsewere. Once it does appear I will give you the link:

    "I really feel that I have right of reply to an article posted on the 5th Feb that headlined 'The lack of Chelsea back-up that Mourinho must account for.'

    What is the writer on? Where has this writer been?

    Jose Mourinho has proved that he is The Special One and I am not going to even mention TWO Premiership titles and a Carling Cup success. Why? Because I am not and don't have to. This article is all about what Jose has acheived this season and before any silverware enters the cabinet.

    At the time of writing, Chelsea Football Club is still involved in FOUR competitions: Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup and there is a Carling Cup final to look forward to in a couple of weeks against London rivals, Arsenal.

    Are Arsenal still involved in four competitions? Nope only three (Come Wednesday night it could be two). Are Man Utd still involved in four competitions? Nope only three.

    Chelsea's season as Champions began very well. Beating Man City 3-0, followed by a surprise defeat at Middlesbrough. Then the team went on an unbeaten run of thirteen games in ALL competitions (including two matches against Barcelona) before the defeat at Tottenham in November. During this period Chelsea lost TWO goalkeepers in one game at Reading in October - Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini.

    In the next nineteen games in ALL competitions Chelsea lost twice. Away to Werder Bremen in the Champions League and to Liverpool in the Premiership. Well when you lose Carvalho on the morning of the match and the team has Crouch and Kuyt to face up to without recognised central defenders - what else do you expect? You can hardly expect the returning Petr Cech to perform miracles can you?

    Since the Liverpool defeat Chelsea hasn't lost and hasn't conceded a goal and Chelsea now have Captain John Terry back making his first start for two months in Saturday's victory against Middlesbrough.

    There have been a lot of politics going on at Stamford Bridge, lets not deny the fact. Jose has had his hands tied - ie the selling of Gallas and Huth on the last day of the transfer season, not being able to buy through the January transfer window. Why wasn't he allowed to buy? Well you had better ask Kenyon or Mr A, or was it that Jose (The Special One) felt that he didn't need to buy anybody because he knew that he had the right players to do the 'job' for Chelsea in the difficult period they were going through.

    Only Jose Mourinho would use Michael Essien at a centre-back and get away with it. Essien has been Mr Chelsea this season with his powerful and dynamic performances in midfield. Only Jose would juggle various players at the problematic right back spot and almost get away with it.

    I am referring to the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham where he had Ferreira at right-back till half-time then changed Ferreira at right-back with Boulharouz and then changed Boulharouz once Tottenham went 2-1 ahead. This is the game that 'lost' the title for Chelsea should Chelsea not win it this season.

    Jose has used Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Geremi and now Lassana Diarra and after brilliant recent displays Diarra could have finally solved the right-back problem.

    For two months Chelsea had been without John Terry, Ashley Cole hasn't really produced his Arsenal form, The Shev hasn't scored the goals that everyone, included me, expected but you just cannot dispute the man's work rate for the team. Michael Ballack though has been the major major disappointment.

    Jose called Ballack one of his 'untouchables,' untouchable by a football I think. Ballack has been a disappointment, a major disappointment. When Ballack and Sheva signed I had many dreams of that sublime through ball being fed to Sheva from Ballack and Sheva running on and scoring goal after goal. Sometimes it looks to me that Ballack doesn't even know that 'The Shev' is on the pitch.

    In addition to the above list of injuries - Joe Cole hasn't played, Boulahrouz got injured at Aston Villa, Wayne Bridge has been injured, players of the reserve team have been sent out on loan who could have been used, for example Michael Mancienne a centre-half who is getting rave reviews at Q.P.R. Adrian Pettigrew another reserve centre-half is on the injury list and now Chelsea has Ashley Cole on the long-term injury list.

    So to end with. Chelsea are six points behind Man Utd in the Premiership, in the final of the Carling Cup, in the 5th Round of the FA Cup and in the last 16 of the Champions League - and this has been achieved without 'back-up' players."


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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:34 pm  0 comments

    The Goals from the Middlesbrough Game

    Didier Drogba 1-0



    Xavier's og made it 2-0



    Lastly another Dids free-kick special made it 3-0



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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 3:19 pm  0 comments

    Tuesday, February 06, 2007

    Right Result Today!!

    Firstly lets get the bouquets out for a really special person who during her lunch hour today went off to Stamford Bridge and got me a ticket for the Champions League game against Porto at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday March 6th.

    With my season ticket in hand she was politely told that due to the demands of UEFA, my seat was not available and that I would have to move to a different part of the ground.

    Taking no regard to calling me before purchasing said ticket she opted for the 'Shed End Upper tier' without hesitation. When she called me after she had my ticket in her hand, my immediate reaction was YES!!!

    Back in the SHED!!! The Shed where I had spent most of my life supporting the Blue Boys and now I am going to back in the SHED (albeit in its all-seater form) cheering on the boys for an extremely important 2nd Leg of the Champions League round of the last 16.

    Why get so excited you may ask? Well practically the 'Shed End' isn't open to season ticket holders!!!

    And the 'Shed End' should be the home of Chelsea fans ALL Chelsea fans and not be part of the away end for visiting fans!!

    Now this is where it gets good. Many unofficial fan sites have been calling for the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge to be increased to a level where the opposition team basically 'shits' themselves for the duration of the time they are on the pitch.

    One of the ideas that have been circulated amongst fans who want to sing, chant and basically get on the nerves of the 'JCLs' (Johnny Come Latelys) and the 'Plastics' is to buy their tickets in the first instance for the Shed End LOwer and the Shed End Upper.

    Chelsea do have the 'hardcore' in the Matthew Harding Stand, which is the stand that houses season ticket holders and singers primarily, but by orchestrating this campaign to get 'singers' in the Shed, can only do wonders for building and sustaining a match atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, just like the old days (crowds of 8,000 LOL).

    So be warned. Any reader that is going to the Porto game and is seated in the 'Shed End Upper or Lower' that does not sing or chant is a PLASTIC, JCL and you will feel my wrath on this blog until the day you die and go to hell!!!!!

    To read the latest on the 'Shed' Update.


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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:49 pm  0 comments

    Sunday, February 04, 2007

    OnLine Petition for the 'Little Clubs.'

    "The F.A is yet to make a decision about which venue will be used to host the 2006/07 F.A Trophy Final and I believe that the decision makers at the F.A may need a little bit of help in making this most difficult of choices.

    Aren't you fed up of having to view this crowing spectacle in the confines of Villa Park?

    No matter which non-league team you support or whether your team even makes it to the pinnacle of this competition, the idea of holding the final back at its old hunting ground must be something that cannot be ignored.

    In summary, I am creating this petition to campaign to the F.A to host the 2006/07 F.A Trophy final back where it belongs, at Wembly Stadium. If you agree with this suggestion, please make every effort to sign this petition and send it on to everyone you know for them to sign. Let’s make this proposal a reality people."

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

    I am sure the author of this petition will not mind me reproducing his/hers words, after all it is for a good cause.

    Before the 'old' Wembley was demolished the FA Trophy was played there, so why are the FA dithering with this decision.

    The FA Trophy BELONGS at Wembley!!!!

    SIGN THE PETITION HERE



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    • posted by BlueBlood58 @ 2:08 pm  0 comments

    Charlton Athletic 0-1 Chelsea

    Three points at The Valley yesterday keeps the Champions on the coat-tails of Man Ure who play at Tottenham this afternoon and what a welcome sight to see John Terry back albeit in a cameo role as a last minute substitute.

    It was difficult for me to keep up with the activities at The Valley because I had to work. UUURRRRGGGGGHHHH!! Working on a Saturday which I hate at the best times, but to work on a Saturday during the football season is sacrilege.

    It was just as well that Chelsea didn't play at home, I would not have been impressed.

    Frank scored the only goal of the game with one of his specials (see vid below) and Petr Cech showed yet again why he is the No.1 Goalkeeper in the world. The saves he made weren't that special, but in the context of yesterday's victory they were very special indeed.

    I firmly believe that with Petr Cech, John Terry back and Michael Essien returning to his usual midfield position (Chelsea have missed in dynamism in midfield), Chelsea can crank it up and go on and overtake Man Ure and claim the Premiership title for the third season in a row.




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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 1:41 pm  0 comments

    Goals from the Blackburn Game

    Enjoy once again the goals from the Blackburn game at Stamford Bridge last Wednesday evening.

    Didier Drogba 1-0



    Frank Lampard 2-0



    Salomon Kalou 3-0



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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 1:17 pm  0 comments

    Thursday, February 01, 2007

    Chelsea 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

    Although Chelsea were convincing winners over Blackburn Rovers this evening at Stamford Bridge, there is one major concern which has overshadowed the team's continued chase of leaders ManUre.

    Ashley Cole was stretchered off in the 2nd half after appearing to have trodden on the ball whilst making a flying empasse down the left wing. Early reports suggest that Cole's injury is serious as Jose said in his post match interview that Cole could not walk on his injured leg. Jose also added that it was too early to make a concrete diagnosis and the full extent of the damage will not be known for a couple of days.

    Another area of concern is that the crowd this evening fell way short of a sellout - 38,000 against 42,250.

    Granted Blackburn would not have been expected to have sold their full allocation of tickets, especially for a midweek visit to London.

    Chelsea fans excuses could be Blackburn are not that big enough attraction for a Wednesday night, Porto tickets for the Champions League start to go on sale for the home leg on Monday. Carling Cup final tickets are currently on sale until a few days before the final, and there is the travel to Cardiff and the additional expenditure of accommodation (if required), food and drink and the rest of it all that goes with the toll of a Cup Final day. Oh yeah toll. Well to get into Wales from England, you have to pay a toll fee, which I gather is not cheap, even for a normal car.

    At least you don't have to pay to get out of Wales LOL LOL LOL!!! Although I think I would rather pay to GET OUT then pay to get in!!!

    Talking of availability of Carling Cup Final tickets, Chelsea has announced that season-ticket holders have a five day window (which ends on Friday 2/2/07) to secure their seat.

    Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Season ticket holders should be given at least TWO WEEKS to buy their tickets and the remaining tickets and period should be equally divided for the members.

    Sometimes it really grates me how long season ticket holders get to obtain their additional match tickets, Chelsea really do not give enough consideration to the financial implications of season tickets holders trying to juggle finances to obtain these tickets for the 'extra' games. And Chelsea DO sell tickets way way too early!!!

    I mean. Porto in the Champions League is not until the 6th March and we have only just reached the 1st day of February!!!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 12:27 am  0 comments

    Monday, January 29, 2007

    FA CUP 4th Round - Chelsea 3-0 Nottm Forest

    Chelsea's reward for defeating League One side Nottingham Forest is a home tie against either Blackpool (also League One) or Norwich City (from the Championship). Both these sides have to play again after a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

    The tie at Stamford Bridge is due to be played on the weekend 17th/18th February 2007.

    Should Norwich City prevail in the their replay and win the right to play the Champions, who will ever forget back in 2002 the fantastic goal scored by Gianfranco Zola, voted by the fans as Chelsea's Greatest ever player against Norwich City in a FA Cup replay, the year that Chelsea won the LAST ever FA Cup final at Wembley.

    If you need to refresh your memory, then check out the video below.



    As for Nottingham Forest.

    Well they came to Stamford Bridge in their thousands turning the Shed End into a sea of 'Red and White.' What didn't work for me though was the constant reference to 'history' and two European Cup successes. Considering both of these triumphs were nearly thirty years ago, the average age of those Forest fans suggested that they were not around when these trophies were won and here they were singing and giving it the big one on a day where their present day team fell far short and I mean far short of their predecessors!!!

    I know it sounds cliche and there were many Robin Hood headlines waiting to be written, but yesterday was a day where the rich stayed rich and the poor stayed poor.

    For the record Chelsea won 3-0 with all the goals being scored in the first-half from Shevchenko, Drogba and Mikel. Chelsea should have scored a lot more goals and if Chelsea had won 6-0, Forest fans would have had no complaints. On the day, the players of Nottingham Forest froze and they froze big-time.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 8:35 pm  0 comments

    Saturday, January 27, 2007

    Scott Sinclair's Wonder Goal for Plymouth v Barnet - FA CUP 4th Round

    Probably one of the best goals Scott Sinclair on loan at Plymouth Argyle will ever score.

    Enjoy and thanks to Green Piskie



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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 8:51 pm  0 comments

    FA Cup 4th Round: Chelsea v Nottingham Forest



    I will quite happily wager you any amount of money that if you asked any Nottingham Forest fan why they are in the equivalent of the OLD Division Three, apart from the obvious answer 'we are shit' they would not be able to give you an accurate, articulate answer to their football club's troubles.

    It really seems only 'five' minutes ago that Forest were Kings of English football, they were Kings of European football and they were just Kings of Football especially when they had the greatest footballing double act of Peter Taylor and the late great Brian Clough as their management team.

    Just ask any Derby County fan!!!!

    On Sunday at Stamford Bridge, Forest come to town hoping to cause another shock, after they beat Charlton Athletic at the City Ground in the third round. Currently joint top of League One, Forest look set to regain the Championship place they lost last season and then for the fans hopefully regaining their position in the top flight of English football.

    Manager Colin Calderwood (apologies for the previous error) is the man charged with leading Forest back to their former glories. You can find Calderwood's Forest record here.

    I can remember travelling to the City Ground on a cold damp Wednesday night only to see Chelsea get thumped 6-0. What do you do in the circumstances?

    Sing 'We WANT Seven.'

    And they say Chelsea have no history!!!!! But in those days we had a sense of humour. Following Chelsea then, you had too!!!!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:44 pm  0 comments

    Scott's FA Cup Glory




    Scott Sinclair, the future of Chelsea, who is currently on a month's loan at Plymouth Argyle scored today in his team's FA Cup 4th Round tie at Barnet.

    According to reports Scott's goal is a goal that is worth sourcing for and watching.

    Plymouth won 2-0.

    Should any reader find a vid of the goal (before I do) please post the link in the comments section.


    Thanks in advance.

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 6:17 pm  1 comments

    Shevchenko Goals v Wycombe Wanderers

    1-0



    2-0



    Lets hope there are many more Sheva goals to come!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 11:48 am  1 comments

    Chelsea Times 27/01/07

    Business commitments took me away for the best part of the week from the world of Chelsea and not being able to afford the ownership of a laptop I had no access to cyberspace from my location in the North West of England and I certainly WAS NOT going to pay £2 per ten minutes Internet access in my temporary lodgings.

    So if there is a mystery benefactor who enjoys this blog and can't get enough of this blog who wants to donate a laptop for my own personal and exclusive use - then leave a comment or get in touch with me LOL LOL!!!

    Failing that I will just have to save up for one then!!!

    So what has happened at Chelsea this week.

    Well Jose is still with us. Chelsea still hasn't made any transfer window signings and with only FOUR days left signings do not look very likely!!!

    Chelsea reached the Carling Cup final on Tuesday night, beating League Two Wycombe Wanderers, and I didn't see the game!!!

    The Shev scored twice in the above game and now all I want the Shev to do is to repeat his exploits in the Premiership starting with Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night.

    Before that, Chelsea entertain once proud and twice winners of the European Cup and now residing in League One, Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the 4th Round of the FA Cup and The Shev starts again.

    A full FA Cup preview will appear later.

    Reports this morning suggest that inspirational Captain John Terry is close to making a return to first team action. Bout time I think!!!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 10:05 am  0 comments

    Sunday, January 21, 2007

    Sheva Should Have Started Yesterday!!!

    What player would you have wanted to start at Anfield yesterday. An ineffective lightweight like Salomon Kalou or an ineffective but vastly experienced Andriy Shevchenko?

    Me. I would have gone for The Shev. The 17 minutes that the Shev got yesterday was no more than a token appearance to perhaps pacify RA's desire to see his £30m investment play.

    All week Jose had planned his formation with Carvalho playing at the back. Carvalho wakes up on Saturday morning unwell and the week's planning goes straight out of the window. Essien has to move into the back four instead of perhaps playing the Makelele role and Mikel is added to the team instead. Personally I would have preferred Diarra to start because he can play the Maka holding role.

    Two Liverpool goals in the first eighteen through basic defensvie errors - and before you think that I am blaming Ferreira and Essien for those errors - I am not. THEY ARE NOT CENTRAL DEFENDERS!!!

    There are people to blame however for Chelsea's current crisis. Lets start with Abramovich and his so-called advisers, add Kenyon to the list along with Buck, Tenebaum and the rest and I do apportion some blame to Jose and his management team.

    All this squabbling about money and signings has to stop and stop now!!! Chelsea need to concentrate on getting inspirational Captain John Terry fit again as soon as possible, if not pay the damm money and get in a decent centre-half.

    OR

    Cancel Michael Mancienne's loan spell at QPR and bring him back and put him in the side. I would rather see a 19 year old centre-half who may be brilliant or may be rubbish, play in a position that he knows about and not players who are making up the numbers.

    OR

    Get Adrian Pettigrew fit ASAP and cancel his potential loan to Wycombe Wanderers.

    Both of the above players can play centre-half. They have done it throughout their careers and I have seen them play for the reserves on many occasions and if they EVER played for the first team they will not let us, the fans, down!!!

    Take Essien out of his normal position and Chelsea lose the power and drive of his midfield play and Chelsea lose the power TOO!!

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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 9:43 am  0 comments

    Friday, January 19, 2007

    When Saturday (and Sunday) Comes!!!

    This weekend is the weekend that Liverpool play Chelsea and Arsenal (my favourite team aka as Emirates XI LOL LOL) take on the ManUre of Man U at Cashburton Grove.

    Will the points difference come 6pm Sunday night (UK time) be six, nine or three between the Champions and the current League leaders?

    Thanks to TV I am able to watch the Liverpool game on TV (Saturday) and I will watch the Arsenal game on Sunday (in the company with my daughters bf who happens to be a Gooner!!!) The amount of times I have told my offspring to get 'partnered up,' with people who either like football (geddit?) or who support Chelsea (just think of all those arguments saved LOL LOL)!!!

    Anyway the main purpose of today's entry is to tell you about a game that I will be watching on Saturday (live at the ground, and don't get me wrong I would have loved to be at Anfield and any other ground that Chelsea play, but today's finances are strictly restricted to Chelsea Home League games).

    Tomorrow I will be going to support one of the many local clubs in my area and the club that I am going to support, VCD Athletic are playing at home against West Auckland Town in the FA Vase competition.

    VCD Athletic play in the Kent League and West Auckland Town who are based near Darlington, play in the Northern League.

    The game had been in doubt for the last two days due to the horrible weather, but as I write, the game is definitely on and will kick off at 3pm UK time.

    Why VCD Athletic you may ask? Well. A colleague at work plays for VCD Athletic and he told me of a match that he played at Wisbech Town in the previous round of the FA Vase and that the crowd was in excess of 300. (Now before you laugh at the attendance figure, we are taling about two teams playing in the lower leagues of England's footballing pyramid).

    The whole idea of the public paying to watch footballers playing at a semi-professional level further down the pyramid than say the Conference, Conference North and Conference South got me thinking.

    Why would 300 plus people from a 'small' Cambridgeshire town want to watch a football match without the named stars, without the glitz and hype, without the TV and press???

    All I could think of was that these people 'supported' their big named club, but either couldn't afford to go to the games, the location of where they lived made the journey difficult or it was easier to support their 'local' club, no matter the level.

    Then I did a 'little' research on VCD Athletic and discovered the League they play in is the Kent League, which is one League beneath the Ryman League South, two Leagues beneath the Ryman League Premier, three Leagues beneath the Nationwide Conference South and Four Leagues beneath the Nationwide Conference.

    So technically in FIVE years time (including this year), VCD Athletic could be a Football League side. And why not?? Currently VCD are in fourth place in the Kent League, only a few points behind leaders Whitstable Town.

    With the greatest respect to the Anorak's (coat that is LOL) I intend to become one tomorrow. My day has bet set and planned like a military operation. I shall be armed with my camera, after all we are talking about a 'new' ground being added to my list, got to buy a VCD scarf, badge, programme and any other souvenir that is available and make VCD Athletic my 'project' for another football team to follow!!!

    Get to the ground by 12.30, watch the Liverpool v Chelsea game in the clubhouse (which kicks off at 12.45pm) watch VCD v West Auckland Town (kick off 3pm) and then sink copious amounts of booze with the players (hopefully in celebration) after the game.

    After all it is THE FA VASE.

    As well as the 'haps' for the Chelsea game, bookmark this blog for the whole story on VCD Athletic v West Auckland Town sometime over the weekend - pictures and all!!!




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    posted by BlueBlood58 @ 5:25 pm  0 comments