A game which looked like two points dropped for so long, turned into a point gained at the end after Petr Cech saved Clint Dempsey’s last minute penalty to earn Blues a point in this West London derby. Keeping true to his word, Carlo Ancelotti rotated his side around and gave starts to Florent Malouda, David Luiz and Ramires with Didier Drogba amongst others being given a rest for this…
The Loan Report: February 7-13
It’s been another productive seven days for Chelsea’s young loanees, with two players finding the back of the net in addition to impressive displays and debuts for a trio of Blues. In the top flight, it’s Daniel Sturridge who is making the headlines. Fresh off the back of two goals in his first two outings for Bolton Wanderers, he stepped his game up once again in front of the live…
FA Youth Cup: Chelsea 2-1 Barnsley
Chelsea’s set up a FA Youth Cup Quarter Final tie with Watford after overcoming Barnsley in a tough match at Stamford Bridge. Second half goals from Josh McEachran and Nathaniel Chalobah cancelled out Danny Rose’s first-minute opener in a tie which mirrored the previous round, when the Blues beat Arsenal. Coach Dermot Drummy made just one change in personnel from that match, bringing in schoolboy Adam Nditi to replace Ben…
The McEachran Position
Hot amongst the assorted topics of discussion by Chelsea supporters is seventeen year-old Josh McEachran. The midfielder has broken through into Carlo Ancelotti’s first team squad this season, capturing the imagination of many supporters with his confident, fearless displays. However, whilst nobody doubts his ability and potential, a regular cause of debate surrounds his best position, and moreover where Ancelotti should be using him. It’s a question – or a…
Robbed By The Scousers
After all the hysteria during the week and the craziness of Saturday, it was time for the big showdown between Chelsea and Liverpool in a match which was built up as showdown between Fernando Torres and his former team, but turned out to be a rather drab affair in which Liverpool came out as winners. Carlo Ancelotti gave debut to his new record signing, Fernando Torres, who replaced Salomon Kalou…
The Loan Report: February 1-6
So, as it turns out, goals are like buses. You go through the entire season to date with a handful of efforts converted by Jack Cork and Nemanja Matic, and then within the space of a week a flurry arrive all at once. This week’s loan round-up sees four goals scored by Chelsea’s youngsters, with others coming close to adding their names to the list in what has been a…
Plenty of Options – Trouble or Blessing?
No world class manager could ask for more than a deadly trio of the strikers in same team and at his disposal. Having signed Fernando Torres on the last day of the transfer window, Chelsea now have proved quality of attacking threat in the name of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and now Torres too. Signing such lethal striker and fitting them in your team formation are two different things altogether,…
The Harding Perspective: Liverpool
With Monday’s monumental events still burning (literally, in Torres shirts) across Merseyside, the usual fiery encounter with the Red side of Liverpool has accrued another level of animosity. Pundits, journalists and ex-players of a Red disposition have all toed the party line espoused by “King” Kenny: Torres is finished. While this article serves to preview matches without indulging in the tittle tattle that pervades much of the written press, I…
Under-18s: Chelsea 3-0 Portsmouth
2010-11 hasn’t been the best of seasons for both Chelsea and Portsmouth as far as academy league results have been concerned. The two lowest placed clubs in Group A met on Saturday morning at Cobham, with Chelsea coming out on top with a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Walter Figueira, Bobby Devyne, and Danny Stenning. Figueira kept his place after scoring the winner in stoppage time last week against…
Not To Fear – Financial Fair Play Is Here
Financial Fair Play (FFP) – the three words that used to send shivers down my spine, when I first found out about the UEFA proposals to put an end to loss-making football clubs. Yet surprisingly, Roman Abramovich was reportedly one of the biggest backers of FFP and UEFA initiatives. The English media put 2 and 2 together and got 5, claiming the main man was no longer interested in backing…