The Harding Perspective: Manchester United

February 28, 2011

This game, without question, is pivotal for both sides. For United it gives them a chance to hammer home their title credentials; for Chelsea it is a chance to not only creep back into the top four but signal their intent for the remainder of an underwhelming season. With Chelsea’s switch to a flat 442 last week, Ferguson will have a few more questions to answer before he sets his…

Read More >>

The Loan Report: February 21-27

February 27, 2011

Daniel Sturridge continues to make the headlines in the latest instalment of The Loan Report as he scored his fourth goal in as many games on loan at Bolton. Elsewhere, Jack Cork also found the scoresheet in another busy week of action for Chelsea’s youngsters. We’ll start with Sturridge, who has hit the ground running under Owen Coyle, and having earned a starting berth with his impressive finishing, he has…

Read More >>

Under-18s: Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich Town

February 26, 2011

Chelsea’s strongest Under-18 team of the season led the way to a 3-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday morning ahead of Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup Quarter Final. First half goals from Nathaniel Chalobah and Anton Rodgers, after an own goal had given the Blues the lead, ensured three more points for Dermot Drummy’s men, before attentions turned to Watford in the second half. Taking the opportunity to try out…

Read More >>

Transition NOT Revolution

February 24, 2011

I was getting ready to go to work the other morning and got fed up with Mrs Frank Lampard’s face on DayBreak, so I had a flick around the channels. Now whenever I see Premiership Years on Sky Sports I always get nostalgic and giddy so I have to put it on. This was a particularly good one – the 2004/2005 season. José’s first season in charge and the title…

Read More >>

TheChels Varsity Collection

February 24, 2011

If you’ve not seen our quality clobber over at TheChels.biz yet, then where have you been? Fortunately for you, we’ve just added a whole lot more to our already extensive catalogue of Chelsea tops and t-shirts. Our new Varsity Collection features designs with retro text styles, customised with player names, nicknames, and numbers. We’ve now got over 630 different designs, styles and colours for men and women, so you’re bound…

Read More >>

Chelsea Hot In Copenhagen

February 23, 2011

So that was easier than many of us expected! What with Copenhagen’s impressive home form this season, and ours erratic, the 2-0 win was more than many of us could have hoped for. Chelsea lined up with Torres and Anelka up front, in what turned out to be more a 4-4-1-1 formation than 4-4-2, with the Frenchman playing just behind the Spaniard. Ramires took the right midfield position, with Malouda…

Read More >>

Travels With The Chels – Barcelona

February 22, 2011

During the Autumn of 2004, something odd happened to my legs. I developed a rash resembling pin-pricks which got bigger and redder. It was after the CL game against PSG, when I went into Soho with a group of friends and danced until we were thrown out of O’Neills at 3am, the rash turned black. So it was that I found myself admitted to hospital for some tests, the upshot…

Read More >>

Reserves: Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea

February 21, 2011

A pulsating Monday night reserve match saw Aston Villa and Chelsea share South league spoils in a 2-2 draw featuring two late goals. Samir Carruthers’ first half opener was cancelled out by Nathaniel Chalobah early in the second half, only for Gokhan Tore to see red. Harry Forrester looked to have won the game for the hosts but a stoppage time leveller from substitute Adam Phillip earned Chelsea a well-deserved…

Read More >>

The Loan Report: February 14-20

February 20, 2011

After a hectic couple of weeks on the loan front, things have calmed down somewhat this week. Still, it’s been a largely positive seven days for young Chelsea players, so let’s take a look. With the weekend being lost to FA Cup action, it meant a significant drop-off in playing time all round, particularly at the top level. Daniel Sturridge and Gael Kakuta were both ineligible to play for Bolton…

Read More >>

Blues Pay The Penalty

February 20, 2011

Chelsea’s challenge of making it three FA Cups in a row were demolished in dramatic fashion at Stamford Bridge yesterday after Everton equalised in last minute of extra-time, before beating us 4-3 on penalties. Chelsea were not at their best throughout the game but looked to have booked their place in the next round after Frank Lampard scored in the dying stages of the first half of extra-time. But then…

Read More >>