It’s been a few days now since our 6-0 opening day victory over West Brom, and as ever with Chelsea, there’s been plenty to talk about.

We start with the news that our French striker, Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 international matches, all but ending the 31 year old’s international career.

Anelka was sent home from the France World Cup squad for allegedly insulting coach Raymond Domenech during the half time break against Mexico.

France captain Patrice Evra was also banned for five matches for leading a training ground revolt over Domenech’s decision to send Anelka home.  As well as Anelka and Evra, the French Football Federation also banned Franck Ribery for three games, Jeremy Toulalan for one, with Eric Abidal escaping any punishment for his part in the boycott.

We at TheChels.net feel that although this punishment seems extraordinarily harsh, the upside for Chelsea is that the player will no longer be travelling away during the international breaks, meaning he should be fresher for our matches. Don’t worry Nico, we still love you even if the FFF don’t.

In other news, Brazilian wonderkid Neymar, reported to be the subject of Chelsea’s interest, has been in the press for a number of reasons, not least with Santos shouting loudly to anyone that will listen that we’ve been a naughty club and have tried to ‘tap up’ their player, an accusation club Chairman Bruce Buck strongly denies.

“There was no tapping up from Chelsea and I want to be clear on that.” Buck said to talkSPORT. “We are looking at several young Brazilian players and he is one of the players we have been looking at. Whether he becomes a Chelsea player at some point, who knows?”

“We are still looking at some things, whether they happen or not I don’t know. Carlo is happy and confident with the squad we have. If there is another player or two – great, if not we’re fine with what we have.”

After the indignations of the Ashley Cole affair and to a lesser extent, Gael Kakuta, for which we were exonerated of any wrong doing, and with the fact that Buck, a lawyer, is reportedly involved in the negotiations with the Brazilian club, we feel that the noises from Santos are nothing more than trying to extract more money to sanction the deal, reniscant of Jean-Michel Aulas’s tactics some years back during the Essien transfer saga.

With the media latching onto the ‘naughty Chelsea’ angle, Fleet Street editors have had their reporters ringing around anyone with the most tenuous link to Neymar to get their quotes, and in some cases (yes Daily Mail, we mean you) not bother with them at all, as in the case of Robinho and Pele, who they claim have advised Neymar to avoid Chelsea, without any comment from either stating as such.

As with everything the mainstream media writes, we’ll take it with a very large pinch of salt, and would advise Neymar of only one thing, a piece of advice from the mouth of an ex manager of ours ‘Big’ Phil Scolari; “Listen to what Pele says, and then do the opposite.” Wise words indeed.

Finally we take a look at another Brazilian, one already now settled into his daily routine at Cobham; Ramires, with news that the midfielder has elected to wear the number 7 shirt. Now we Chelsea supporters know the problems this shirt has had in the past, only too well.

With a list of players including; Adrian Mutu, Winston Bogarde, Andrei Shevchenko, Ricardo Quaresma as players who’ve, shall we say, not performed as expected, and also players such as Bjarne Goldbaek and Bernard Lambourde who weren’t the greatest players we had on the pitch.

In fact we have to go as far back as John Spencer to find a player who performed to a level expected, playing regularly, making chances and scoring goals (who will ever forget the solo effort against Austria Vienna?), but Spencer last played for us 1997, meaning the number seven shirt has had a less than illustrious history for nearly 13 years.

We hope that Ramires is the one to break the curse of the Chelsea No 7, and finally return a number so often synonymous with great players, back to it’s rightful place at Stamford Bridge.

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All together now – Coming home, he’s coming home…

Nic’s been chucked out of the French squad and sent home in disgrace.

Pardon me if I don’t weep into my baguette. Excusez-moi if I don’t join the general hue and cry about his foul-mouthed tirade.

While I am sorry for the man on a personal level that he has missed out on some World Cup appearances, this has been tempered by three more salient, and in my opinion more important issues.

First. There is obviously a problem within the French camp which has had a direct effect on their performances and led to their elimination from the tournament.

Problem? Their situation cannot be described as just a “problem” surely? England have a “problem”. Italy usually begin tournaments as if they have a “problem”. The words Disaster and Catastrophe are more appropriate.

France have players playing like they’d never met before, substitutes who physically distance themselves from the coach and that same coach who, for the past few seasons, appears intent on tearing the heart out of a team that should be feared, not ridiculed.

I won’t mention how they cheated their way to qualification. Would you want to be tarred with the same brush as Thierry Henry? Nic, you’re better off out of it mate.

Second. The foul-mouthed tirade? Son of a whore is very reminiscent of the Zidane farce isn’t it? So, let’s look at this logically.

Reserved, a little shy, but always honest is how Anelka has been described, by none other than King Carlo. Keeps himself to himself.

So is his foul-mouthed outburst consistent with what we know of him? No, of course not. Outburst, maybe. Foul-mouthed, extremely unlikely. More Jackanory from the press most likely.

And now he’s denied that what is reported is what he said.

Someone within the French camp is lying to the press. Evra himself has said that there is a traitor in their midst; and that Anelka really did say those things. And we all remember how honest a man Patrice Evra is, don’t we? (Evra insisted he didn’t physically attack anyone and anyway Chelsea’s groundsman spoke to him in a racist way. The FA Commission found both to be false.

Take a look here there’s also a link to the full report on that page.) Would you really want to be part of that? Nic, you’re better off out of it mate.

Finally, consider the side to face West Brom next season. Carlo has said that players who progress in the World Cup will not be expected to come straight back into the team as soon as the season starts. Be fair, they have families, they need a break and the club don’t want players going stale half way through the season.

So, who do we start with? Now that’s a whole new article, a new world of debate. But – very quickly – goalkeeper and midfield are sorted. With France deservedly out, poor old Florent Malouda can forget his nightmare and return home too. (He at least had the pleasure of scoring 100% of the French goals, ie one. Mind you, it was a good goal, not a handball in sight!)

We’ll miss Lamps of course, but for a game or two we’ll cope (I’m assuming England progress here of course, which may make me look a fool, but I’ll take a chance!). The defence still looks a bit iffy, though, with major players progressing in the WC, and so the return of Anelka will be a godsend up front. Pace, strength, skill and experience. We need him to be part of that team, don’t we? Nic, you’re better off in it, mate, welcome back.

Welcome back to a coach that trusts you, a team that values you, a fanbase that loves you and a club that needs you.

All together now….