Reported to UEFA already and we’re only two games in, some things never change. Just like that of European referees, this time Belgian Frank De Bleeckere who seemed intent on continuing what almost feels like policy now, in making what we’ll kindly refer to as ‘odd’ decisions. This time though, it’s not a manager, player swearing or criticising officials, the opposition or UEFA in general, but our stadium security staff….
As one 100% record ends, another continues with a second win in our Champions League Group ended with a 2-0 over French Champions; Marseille. With Drogba serving his now customary early competition suspension, and with Lampard, Kalou, and Benayoun all unavailable due to injury, it was important to get off to a good start. As it was, a goal didn’t come long after kick off, when John Terry knocked in…
The Champions League returns to SW6 this evening with the visit of Marseilles, former club of our enigmatic striker; Didier Drogba. The Ivorian hitman will however be absent from proceedings, serving his now almost traditional ban from the opening stages of the competition. However the links don’t end there, with Marseilles manager, Didier Deschamps, a former player on the Chelsea payroll. Deschamps signed in 1999 and made 47 appearances for…
As we reach the closing days of September, Chelsea’s loanees will be settled in at their homes for the 2010/11 season, and are preparing for the long winter stretch. Many are firmly established in the starting line-up, but for others, the challenge remains to work their way into regular consideration. Michael Mancienne is facing exactly that after a week in which he failed to appear in Wolverhampton old gold and…
Well that didn’t go entirely to plan, but then as we know from the Mourinho years, when a team sits back and defends for all their life is worth, it’s always difficult to break down. There were times we attacked and City had no less than six players back, often seven with the three mid-fielders sat in front of their back four. Anti-football? Maybe, but with over £250,000,000 spent on…
Sometimes you just need to hold your hands up and accept that you’re second best. That will certainly be the case for Chelsea this afternoon after Southampton came away from Cobham with a 4-2 victory achieved with a first class performance in which they dominated every aspect of the game. The Blues improved in the second half and a brace from Bobby Devyne threatened to give them hope, but in…
Saturday at 12:45 will see our boys head north to the home of Manchester City, in what many are describing as our first real test of this season. That may be true, but it’s also a chance to settle a score from the last one too. City, as if I need to tell you, took six points off us last year and despite this and well over £100 million invested…
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. It might be a cliche, and it might not be clear which one applies just yet, but for Josh McEachran, you can certainly make the case after Wednesday night’s Carling Cup action. Whilst it’s important not to get carried away, it’s equally proper to give credit where credit is due, and for 35 minutes under the…
For many, myself included, tonight’s Carling Cup game will be one of the most anticipated Chelsea matches in some time. For whilst it’s not a title six-pointer, or a European knockout tie, it may represent the future of the club. 2010-11 is the season where the Blues will apparently use the Carling Cup to showcase some of the younger talents at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Jeffrey Bruma, Gael…
I sometimes think that we football fans are mad. We have to be, to keep the faith. For supporters of yore, reaching a cup final necessitated an overnight camp outside the ticket office, or in our case portacabin. These days for a big game it can mean being up at dawn for frustrating internet experience, with seven windows open at once. And then there’s the superstitious element that seems to…