TOO OLD TO ROCK n ROLL

Coventry 0- 2 Chelsea FA cup 1/4 final

2009-03-07T14:39:00.002Z

Up to the Ricoh arena for an FA cup quarter final that Guss is taking very seriously despite the away tie with Juve on Tuesday night. Its a full strength side with Anelka and Deco still injured so the front 3 are the Drog with Maoluda and Kalou on either flank. The big news thogh is that Ricky and Ess return to the bench.

Its a bright start from the Blues and within the first 6mins a hoof up field from Cech sets Drogba through on goal but he scuffs his shot wide and then Ballack scoops a shot over the bar after some nice work from Kalou. Its all Chelsea and the reward comes on 15mins when a mistake by Scott Dann lets in the Drog who looks to have taken the ball too wide before he drills the ball home for 0-1. Coventry are really being stretched as Bozzy and Kalou combine well on the right but they are not lying down and are fighting for every ball. On 28mins Alex gives away a needless free kick which thankfully is struck high and wide - Heads up Chelsea !! Malouda is having another invisible game and when he is finally seen, he sky's the ball to waste some good possession. With 35mins gone, Westwood makes a fine save from a dipping and swerving LAmps free kick and in the last minute of the half, first Drogba and then Kalou shoot wide from the edge of the box.

Queresma is on for Kalou in the second half, presumably with Juve in mind as Malouda would have been the obvious choice to be replaced. Lots of possession in the opening 10mins but not much penetration and Coventry are coming back into this game. However a huge roar goes up on 62mins as Essien gets ready to make an appearance. he replaces the Jedi though frankly we all wanted to see the back of the ineffectual Ballack but .... Om 72 mins a hign ball into the Chelsea box results in a clash of heads between Alex and the Drog. Both go off as we defend a long throw with 9 men however from the clearance Quersma breaks forward in a lightening counter attack and finds Alex with a perfect cross and he side foots home - that's 0-2 and game over but 5mins later another quick break, this time from Malouda (yes he can do quick occasionally) releases Lamps but his shot is well saved by Westwood. Drogba makes way for Di Santo in the last few mins but it ends 0 - 2 and the Blues are on their way to a Wembley semi final.

Now the small matter of Juve on Tuesday - Come on U Blues !!

Chelsea 2 - 1 Wigan

2009-02-28T15:16:00.010Z

Down to earth with a bump after the Juventus game as we face Wigan at home. Mancienne comes in at right back for the suspended Bozzy but otherwise its Wednesdays team.

Its a really slow start from the Blues in a disappointing opening 15mins. The first clear chance of the game goes to Wigan as Scharner breaks free between Alex and Ash but his shot is screwed wide across Cech. Not good from the blues - we're clearly suffering from the midweek exertions. With 20mins on the clock Ash clears a Bramble header off the line and then JT blocks the follow up. Its all Wigan at the moment and Guss is rightly fuming. Finally a decent attacking spell when fisrt Drogba drives wide and from the resulting corner, Mikel tests Kirkland with a stinging volley from the edge of the box. That's got us going and on 25mins a lovely exchange of passes finds Lamps clear in the box, his cross is headed clear but only as far as JT who scissor kicks home a volley from the edge of the box. That's 1-0 and normal service is resumed. On 36mins Chelsea flood forward after a Wigan corner and a peach of a through ball from Kalou finds Lamps in the box but he delays his shot which is saved by Kirkland and Ballack is flagged offside when he heads the loose ball. Right on half time Drogba is fouled 25yrds out, picks himself up to take the kick, much to Ballacks displeasure, but his effort dips too late to trouble Kirkland so the half ends 1-0.

No changes at half time and Wigan start brightly again but on 50mins Lamps breaks free and slots Drogba through - his shot beats Kirkland but is cleared off the line by Bramble. Wigan wont lie down though and whilst its only 1-0 there's a nervy edge around the bridge. Ballack's done very little again and you have to think that Essien's imminent return will have to see him off. Bruce throws on Rodeaga in a move to 4-4-2 but immediately Lamps lifts a through ball for the Drog who feeds in Anelka but Bramble clears. With 15mins to go Belletti comes on for Kalou in what looks like our own version of 4-4-2 but again the Blues look like they're running out of steam. Guss makes another change with Queresma replacing Mancienne and Belletti slotting into right back but in the confusion a whipped cross from that side finds Kapo ahead of Anelka at the near post to head the equalizer. But wait for it, as the stadium announcer calls 3mins to go, Ballack heads on a hopeful hoof into the box and Lamps is on hand to head past Kirkland.

Relief all round the bridge but how many times will Lamps save our season ?

Chelsea 1 - 0 Juventus

2009-02-26T10:56:00.001Z

Big Guss gets his first home game and first taste of a European night at the bridge at the same time. Its the same team that beat the Villa apart from the return of Ash at left back. The Tinkerman gets a warm welcome back which is nice to hear.

The blues start brightly, as we did against Villa, and within 5mins Bozzy tests Buffon with a left-foot drive and 4mins later the Drog heads over from a Bozzy cross. On 12 mins, Kalou wriggles and then threads a ball through to the Drog who easily slots home. It should have been 2-0 just 3mins later when the Drog head wide from a Lamps corner when hitting the target looked much easier. Its all Chelsea but Cech is called into action to save from Del Piero with 22mins on the clock however on the half hour Ash tests Buffon with a 30-yard drive. The half ends 1-0.

No changes at half time but within 5mins Camoranesi goes off with what looks like a hamstring problem injury. On 53mis, the Drog is brought downb for what looks like a nailed on penalty but the ref waves away the protests. Its much the same as the first half with lots of nice football but few clear cut chances. An hour gone and a free-kick from Del Piero tests Cech and JT has to clear the fumble. Its all getting a bit scrappy now as time runs down but with 3 mins to go Anelka nearly doubles the lead with a 20-yard effort that is just inches wide. A big scare in stoppage time as Nedved shaves the post with Cech well beaten but it ends 1 - 0 to the mighty Blues.

Wigan at home next - slightly different challenge that one - Come on u Blues

Villa 0 - 1 Chelsea

2009-02-21T16:51:00.002Z

First games in charge dont get much togher than this - away to a resurgent Aston Villa but Guss goes with Anelka and the Drog but in a standard 4-3-3. No Ash through suspension so Ferreria slots in to left back.

Its a bright start and the Drog looks up for it as first Drogba and then Lamps threaten the Villa goal. Cech flaps at a Milner cross and the ball breaks to Heskey but his shot is high and wide and not too handsome. With 20mins on the clock, Lamps dances between Davies and Petrov before sliding a pass through to Anelka who lifts the ball over Friedel into the corner of the net. Its all Chelsea now and Friedel is called into action again to stop a thunderous header from JT connecting with a corner from Lamps. On 33mins a suspect freekick gives Ashley Young a chance to level things but his shot hits the bar and Heskey heads wide. The half ends 0 - 1 to the Blues.

Villa look more up for it as the second half gets underway but JT has the best chance of the opening minutes when he again connects with a corner from Lamps but Petrov clears off the line. On 54mins, Agbonlahor slips in behind Alex but Cech saves well from his cross come shot. Villa are much improved but much to O'Neils annoyance, the Blues keep slowing the game down to break up their rhythm. As the half draws to a close The Drog shoots over and a nice interchange between Bozzy and Drogba sets the defender free but Friedel saves from close range. So it ends 0 -1 to the Blues and Gus is off to a winning start. Now its just the small matter of Juventus on Wednesday.

Come on U Blues

Watford 1 - 3 Chelsea (FA Cup 6th Rnd)

2009-02-14T17:24:00.008Z

Ray Wilkins takes temporary charge for this FA Cup clash and its a pretty strange line up, even for a game against Watford. Not so much he choice of Drogba and Anelka up front (with Kalou) but its a back 4 that introduces Mancienne at left back (the boy's a centre half) with Alex and Ivanovich as the central two. At least Cech is back between the sticks and there's Quersma is on the bench.

Inside 20secs Mancienne breaks forward and releases the Drog and his cross is just ahead of the on rushing Kalou. On 7mins, Lamps feeds the Drog this time and he rifles a shot that is palmed away for a corner. Its a bight start with lots of neat possession anmd 5mins later another free kick this time reaches Kalou completely unmarked as the Watford defence fail to get out as a unit but he heads behind both Ballack and the Drog. Half way through the half another Lamps free kick is palmed away by Loach in the Watford goal but thus far its all been set pieces or long range shots - there's no real penetration or anyone capable of getting round the back. As the half progresses Watford continue to grow in confidence and threaten a few times but it ends 0-0. Over to Ray to make some changes ? Doubt it

So no changes (and probably no plan B) as we start the second half. A superb long ball from Ivanovich finds the Drog on 48mins but his shot is well saved by Loach and 2mins later Lamps hits a swerving 25yrd shot just wide. An hour gone and a skewed cross from Kalou is headed back across the goal by Anelka only for Ballack to miss from 3 yrds out in even worse fashion that JT last week - pathetic. On 68mins the inevitable happens, everyone's up for our 13th corner and with people only trotting back, a lofted ball reaches Thomas Priskin who looks well offside but he runs on to chip over the advancing Cech. Wilkins' response is to take off Mikel and introduce Stoch - looks like its 4-4-2 but is it too little too late. Fortunately not, because its two Anelka goals in 80seconds; the first from from our 15th corner with and overhead kick from 5yrds out and the second being a nudged header from am Ashley Cole cross. With 8mins to go Belletti comes on to replace the hapless Ballack. On 90mins its almost all undone as Jobi McAnuff almost steers on past Cech but the Blues got straight up the other end for Anleka to squeeze home his hatrick.

Trailing with 15mins to go, it was quite an effort to turn this one around. Its Villa next week so come on U Blues !!

Its so long Phil...... and welcome "the Dink".

2009-02-12T17:17:00.001Z

So Guss is the man - at least until the end of the season - and despite the stories of player power and dressing room discontent perhaps he's a big enough character to grab them by the scruff of the neck turn things around.
We hope so - Come on U Blues

Scolari sacked - its deja vu at the bridge

2009-02-09T17:05:00.002Z

OK, so the performances have been very poor but the injuries have conspired against him.

But hang on..... we were awesome at the start of the season ...... so what happened ? Steve Clarke left, that's what happened and as nice a Ray Wilkins is as a bloke who does a passable Uncle Fester impersonation, he lacks the training ground experience.

Its not Scolari's team (apart from Deco - remember that Bozzy was coming anyway), but clearly he's had problems in the dressing room and on the training ground. This is a huge mess and please tell me the rumours about Grant and Hiddink are just a joke.

Come on U Blues

Chelsea 0 - 0 Hull City

2009-02-07T15:22:00.006Z

A big home game this one after the disappointment of Sunday and it sees the debut of the on loan Queresma. Rickey is still out with a hamstring problem so Alex starts alongside JT but the worse news is that Cech is out with a back problem. So in comes Hilario (yes, that's right Hilario ,,,, because we gave Carlo to Tottenham ...... so we're left with a Calamity Jane and 12year old as cover).

It starts at a cracking pace with a chance falling to JT from a Lamps free kick in the opening minute but somehow he side foots over the bar from barely 3 yards out. Queresma is looking more lively in the first 15mins than Malouda has looked all season and the ball is being zipped around but as the half wears on Hull are starting to look more threatening and we're restricted to long range shots and free kicks - Ballack and Lamps go close .... but no cigar and the half ends 0-0 to mutters of discontent.

No changes at half time and a bright 10mins peters out and Hull nearly snatch a lead as Craig Fagin breaks clear but his shot is easily collected by Hilario. Scolari has seen enough so its Belletti coming on for the Jedi but Hull continue to grow in confidence - closing us down and moving the ball more effectively than we can. For the last 25mins it will be the Drog up front with Anelka as he replaces Queresma. It makes little difference and Dean Marney breaks free for the best chance of the game but his shot is driven wide. Kalou has a shot blocked by the hand of Andy Dawson - but a a clear penalty denied. Deco replaces Ballack as a last throw of the dice with 15mins to go. It would be harsh for Hull to not get anything from this as they've worked tirelessly to close down every inch of our possession. As we enter the last 10mins, Villa are still one up at Blackburn and if it stays like this we'll drop to 4th in the league. Kalou goes down on the edge of the "d" with 4mins to go but Drogba hits it wide. With 2mins to go Fagen and Marney break through for Hull but JT shepherds them away for a corner. Another scare survived and there are 3mins of added time but it comes to nothing. The game ends 0 - 0, boo's ring out around Stamford Bridge and we're down to 4th place.

What's going on !!

RIP John Martyn

2009-02-07T12:33:00.004Z

Sometimes a song just resonates with you and that's how it was when I first heard "may you never" by John Martyn who sadly died in Ireland on 29 January 2009. I cant lay claim to being a big fan but the hairs on the back of my neck always stood up when I heard that song.

Paying tribute to Martyn, BBC Radio 2's folk presenter Mike Harding said: "John Martyn was a true original, one of the giants of the folk scene".

Strangely I always thought is needed a harmony vocal so i was pleasently surprised to find this on You Tube - Enjoy

Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea (no small thanks to Mike Riley)

2009-02-03T15:08:00.000Z

A game that look destined for a goalless draw turned on a ludicrous decision just after the hour from Mike Riley to "straight red" Lamps for a tackle that was like a foul on him by Alonso. Despite throwing on Deco and the Drog (for the largely ineffective Malouda and Anelka) to stem the inevitable red tide following the dismissal the Blues finally scummed to a couple of strikes from Torres in the final two minutes.

That's the title chase over and it'll be a fight with Villa to avoid 4th place.

See the BBC match report here <<<

Chelsea 2 - 0 'Boro

2009-01-28T20:46:00.010Z

Home to the 'Boro and its the same line up as Saturday except that Alex comes in for Ricky who's out with a hamstring problem. The Drog is still warming the bench. ts a lively opening though from the Blues with loads of possession but as has been the case so far at home, no end product. Boro have 10 men behind the ball and we just aren't moving the ball quick enough or wide enough to be effective. Ash goes close with a header from a Bozzy cross but as the half goes on so the frustration grows. Lamps wastes 3 free kicks and as many corners and as we approach half time I can only remember the keeper making one save. As the whistle goes for half time the boos ring out and its not surprising - 75% possession and only 2 attempts on target.

For the second half, its the Drog on for Malouda but will it be 4-4-2 ? No such luck as Anelka drifts wide with his head bowed. Within 2mins Drogba is free but his shot goes out for a throw - yes a throw ! This game has the stench of a 0 - 0 about it. Boro loose the ball on the edge of our box and it takes 6 walking pace passes to reach the centre circle by which time there's 10 men behind the ball again - pathetic. On 54mins we finally swing in a threatening corner which is headed on by Ballack only for Kalou to head over from 3yrds out. Alex has a free kick on 56mins deflected for a corner which again is well delivered and the ball fall to Kalou who buries the loose ball to make up for the earlier miss. Now can we push on but not concede ? Southgate throws on Alves and Tungay in response.On 72mins, Lamps drive a free kick from 35yrds out which is spilled at the feet of Kalou who promptly slips over and the ball runs out for a goal kick. Bozzy cuts in and finds Lamps on 77mins but the shot is wide. With 10mins to go, its 2-0 as Kalou heads home unmarked from a Lamps corner and his reward is to be replaced by Deco. A huge cheer goes up as the news comes in that Wigan have equalised against Liverpool and that's the end of the excitement despite the introduction of Stoch and a late free kick from Deco.

Now on to Anfield - Come on U Blues

Chelsea 3 - 1 Ipswich (FA Cup 4th Round)

2009-01-24T15:11:00.008Z

A home FA cup tie and I'm depending on the BBC for some coverage. Its a strong side to face Ipswich but no Jedi (through suspension) or JT (through back injury) so Belletti holds the midfield and Alex continues alongside Rickey. The Drog is only on the bench prompting more speculation.

Its a bright opening from the Blues and on 8 mins Anelka finds Ballack 10yrds out but his effort is woefully tame and wide. It only takes another 8mins to go ahead as Lamps finds Ash out wide and his cushioned cross is stroked in by Ballack. That's 1-0 and lets hope we press on. Unfortunately that's not the case though as we've taken our foot off the gas and just past the half hour, defending from dead balls lets us down again. Rickey chooses to chest down a ball that should have been cleared and Alex Bruce (Steve's boy) nips in and drives home an equaliser. We simply can't defend any more !! Just appalling !! Now we're in for a tough battle. Maybe the Drog is needed for the second half.

No changes at half time and is depressingly similar. Kalou is charging around like a headless chicken and taking too many touches, Belletti is pushing up and leaving acres of space behind whilst Anelka looks completely disinterested. Malouda is giving the ball away every 5mins but finally the Drog is warming up. Its Drogba for Malouda on 58mins so Anelka needs to go wide right and, surprise surprise, he's having a bit of a strop. It might have woken him up though as 2mins later he breaks forward and is brought down on the edge of the box. Up steps Michael Ballack to drill home the free kick and its 2 - 1. Its a bit better as Kalou and Lamps combine on the edge of the box but Kalous shot is well saved. Rickey has a problem and is replaced by Ivanovich with 20mins to go. Kalou misses an absolute sitter from 3 yards out as Lamps stands a ball up from Anelka that even I could have headed home. If we keep wasting chances like that, we'll be made to pay. With 10mins to go, Deco comes on for Ballack but we're looking sloppy again and its nearly 2 -2 as Kevin Lisbie connects with a deep cross but fortunately he heads wide. Straight up the other end and the Drog looses the ball in the box and then charges back to win the ball. He wins a free kick which Lamps rockets home off and that's 3 - 1 but the scoreline masks a poor performance.

So we're into the last 16 but in very unconvincing fashion - I'll be back at the Bridge on Wed for the Boro game - Come on U Blues

Chelsea 0 - 0 Stoke

2009-01-17T15:21:00.007Z

Looking to build on the midweek FA cup victory so again no Drogba (he's not even on the bench) but the really bad news comes as we hear that Joe Cole had an operation on his knee this morning and will be out for the rest of the season. Worse still is that JT limped off during the warm up and is replaced by Alex. So its up to Malouda and Kalou to provide width for Anelka. No Deco either (calf strain) so its a very young bench with Di Santo, Mancienne, Stoch, Kakuta as 4 teens from the possible 7 subs.

Its a nervy start as an early Delap throw causes havoc in a strange zone come man-to-man hybrid. But from then on its all Chelsea as they park in the Stoke half. Lots of possession and half chances - Ballack hits a free kick straight at Sorensen and on 23mins Lamps whips in a free kick which beats the entire Stoke defence but Kalou knocks the chance over the bar. Kalou is brought down in the box 2mins later but the ref is having none of it. On 32mins, a lovely exchange of passes on the edge of the box breaks to Anelka but his snap shot is well saved by Sorensen. You believe a goal must be coming but again the Blues are denied on 42mins as a goal bound Ashley Cole strike is deflected over. In the last 2mins Lamps twice lets rip from the edge of the box but both times Sorensen gets his gloves behind the ball. Its been all Chelsea but the first half ends goalless.

No changes at half time and its the same pattern - first a driven free kick from Lamps and the Bozzy drives over. On 50mins a flowing move ends with Malouda floating a simple cross which Ballack somehow heads wide when completely unmarked. Apart from one Beattie effort its been all Chelsea but on the hour Beattie feeds Delap whop works his way into the box and lifts the ball over Cech. We're loosing at home to the team with the worst away record in the league and the response is to swap Malouda with Di Santo. With 63 mins its nearly 2-0 as Cech comes and flaps at a Delap throw but its scrambled away. A lovely exchange with Anelka a minute later sets Lamps free but he drags his shot wide. On 69mins the ball is fed out to Ash and his cross / shot eludes everyone. This is not our day (or season ?). Jedi, Ballack and Alex all blast over and this is looking desperate as first Belletti and then Stoch come on for Bozzy and Jedi respectively with 5mins to go and finally Belletti connects with a knock down from Di Santo and its 1-1.

So we celebrate an equaliser against the team with the worst away record in the league - hardly acceptable but ..... on 90mins Kalou picks up the ball in his own half and runs at Stoke only to be brought down on the edge of the box. The free kick is tailor made for Lamps but for some reason Belletti flicks it wastefully into the Stoke wall. On 92mins a fabulous cross field pass from Lamps finds Stoch and his drive is parried by Sorensen. With 30seconds to go and a shot from Anelka breaks on the edge of the box to Lamps whop drives it home - What a turn around. !! Unbelievable scenes as the team and bench go wild....

OK so its a well overdue home win but ....... it was against Stoke and incredibly lucky - just hope this is that start of something better. COME ON U BLUES

Man U 3 - 0 Chelsea

2009-01-11T17:59:00.001Z

No invention, now width, no hope ......

No comment

FA Cup 3rd Round Chelsea 1 - 1 Southend

2009-01-04T10:43:00.000Z

Another home game, another catalog of missed chances, heroic defending from the opposition and finally another victory thrown away in the dying minutes.

This is starting to occur with alarming regularity. We need a new plan (or 3) and maybe some finishing practise

Read it here > Southend Snatch Chelsea Draw
and here > Scolari rues goal-shy Chelsea

I just cant bring myself to comment further

Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea

2008-12-28T14:27:00.008Z

Deco and Malouda come in for Ballack and Anelka in the West London derby but some better news is that Rickey at least makes the bench with those two.

Its an even start until on 10mins a Simon Davies's free-kick beats a static Blues defence to reach Dempsey who has an absolute age to control and flick home the opening goal. We're 1-0 down and not playing well. Deco is blowing hot and cold and crowd start chanting "there's only one Michael Ballack". Apart from a wide drive from the Drog which should have hit the target, its a very lack luster Blues. Things get worse as first Malouda goes off with a hamstring problem only to be followd by Alex who limps off with 10mins of the half remaining to be replaced by the hopefully fit Rickey C. Strangely, its looking better now; Anelka had a good drive straight after coming on and Lamps goes close from a nice interchnage between Anelka and Ash. To be fair to Fulham, they have pressed hard and not given us any space but that's no excuse. Scolari's got a lot to do in the break to extend the 19 game unbeaten away streak.

No changes but its a more positive start as both Lamps and Ivanovich test Schwartzer within 3 mins. The reward comes quickly as Joe chips in to Drogba who clashes with the keeper only for the loose ball to drop to Lamps and is 1-1. Its not before time as by my reckoning we've had at least a dozen goal attempts to their one.... which they scored from. Its all Chelsea as first Lamps and Drogs combine to set Joe Cole through but his shot is straight at Schwarzer and then 2mins later Joe is through again but again he's denied by Schwarzer who then clears the follow up from the on rushing Anelka. Its midway through the half and Kalou's getting ready to come on. He replaces Joe Cole at a time when he's been ripping into Fulham. Strange call but it matters not a jot as Lamps drives in a screamer of a free kick (once he'd got rid of the interfering Deco) to give us the lead. Almost immediately Scolari is up frantically waving 5 fingers calling for a more defensive set up - why? this is Fulham not Liverpool !!

Fulham make a double substitution with 12mins to go but its still all Chelsea though Fulham are still pressing hard. With 3mins to go the ball's played up to Anelka and again he looses out to a simple tackle much to Scolari's arm waving disgust. The resulting possession ends with a Fulham corner and once again we fail to deal with a simple set peice and Dempsey scores with an an unmarked header from the penalty spot. That's 2-2 and we go right up the other end and Ash drives at Schwarzer who parries to Lamps whose shot is also cleared. There's 3mins of added time but its not enough and Chelsea throw away another 2 points.

Kiss the league goodbye at his rate !!

Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom

2008-12-26T18:20:00.000Z

Finally its Anelka and Drogba upfront, but its more of a 4-3-3 with Joe Cole given a broadly free reign in front of Jedi, Lamps and Ballack than the straight up 4-4-2 we'd been hoping for. No JT so Ivanovich plays alongside Alex. No Rickey on the bench either but there's a return for Malouda and a pretty packed Stamford Bridge is looking for a little Boxing Day cheer.

wasts a glorious move by blasting over and then Ash forces a double save from Carson (he should have netted at the second attempt but was wheeling away thinking the first one had gone in). Finally the lead is doubled as We get it within 3 mins as an opening onslaught results in a far post cross that is met sweetly by the Drog and loops into the back of the net. Thats 1-0 and within 10mins it could have been 2-0 as a Lamps free kick is sweetly struck but Carsoin gets his body behind it. Its all Chelsea as first Ballack the Coles combine - Joe plays in Ash for a mazey run - but the ball breaks free to Lamps who lifts the ball over Scott Carson. 2-0 and the half time whistle save WBA further punishment.

Second half sees Belletti on for the injured Bosingwa. The the pattern remains the same but the cutting edge seems to have gone. It dies even more as, after drawing a good save from Carson, the Drog is replaced by Malouda with 20mins to go. It all peters out from there to the sounds of the Shed end having a good old sing song. There should have been more goals but its a home win to break the awful sequence of unnecessary draws. Now on to Fulham for, hopefully, a return to winning away form in the West London derby

Come on you Blues

Everton 0 - 0 Chelsea

2008-12-23T10:14:00.000Z

A chance to go top again squandered after Liverpool dropped points on Sunday against Arsenal. Worse still JT sent off for a stupid high lunge in the firsyt half. Playing away with 10 men and getting a point would normally have been a positive result but if we keep throwing away chances like these to get our noses in front we'll never win the title.

The 100% away record is gone but truth be told we were lucky to get a point

Read it here from Sky --> SKYSPORTS
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3073791,00.html

Chelsea 1 - 1 West Ham

2008-12-15T15:51:00.001Z

Points dropped again at home in a lame display that shows why 442 is becomming essential rather than an option. Anelka on his own is not enough and the "Ballack - Lampard - Deco" combination just doesnt seem to work.
The welcome for Zola was possibly the only highlight
This is pants !!

Read it here --> SKYSPORTS
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3073788,00.html

Chelsea 2 - 1 Cluj

2008-12-10T19:52:00.001Z

Its a cold and nervy night at the bridge as the Blues go for qualification for the last 16 in a group that should have been won at a canter. Difficult to say this, but most of us would probably swap being here for an away game where victories have been more likely (though strangely not in the CL). The surprise is that Drogs is on the bench but happily Joe Cole is back but its a midfield five that looks weak without Lamps.

The nerves are justified as within 7mins Cech has to save a 25-yard drive from Pereira but 5mins later Alex heads a Deco cross down and over the bar. Its end to end stuff as an Alcantara attempt is cleared by the Jedi on the edge of the 6yard box. Its the 25th minute before we really threaten when Joe Cole drives just wide however 5mins later a Deco free kick is floated into the area and as JT is shoved to the ground foir what would ahve been a blatant penanlty Kalou is on hand to net he loose ball. The half ends 1-0 and we're a little lucky.

No changes at half time and our lack luster start is punished in the 55th as Cristian Panin is left with acres of space on the right to cross to the far post where Kone rose above Alex to head past Cech. Straight from the kick off we're up the other end but a Joe Cole drive from the edge of the area is well saved by Nuno Claro in the Cluj goal. Finally Kalou who's had a mare apart from the goal is replaced by the Drog and 6mins later we're back in front. Mikel strides out of defence to play in Joe Cole who lifts the ball over the Cluj defenders and right into Drogbas path. Without breaking stride, the balls in the net and its 2-1.

So, 2nd place in a group we really should have won and the possibility of a tricky opening game in the knock-out stages but at least we're through

Come on U Blues

Bolton 0 - 2 Chelsea

2008-12-06T15:25:00.005Z

Away to Bolton and on current form that should be a positive as at least we seem to be able to win on our Premiership travels. Alex comes in for Ivanovich at the back but otherwise its the usual line up with Mikel and Ballack alongside Lamps and Kalou, joins Anelka and Deco up top.

From the start, its clearly the 'away chelsea' that have arrived as they start the game with tons of pace and quick passing. Its 1-0 within 8mins as Anelka heads home a deep cross from Bosingwa. Its all Chelsea and its 2-0 with 15mins as Jaaskelainen saves a Kalou drive only for Ballack to pop the ball back into the box and Deco scores with a spectacular bicycle kick. Its nearly 3 within 5 mins as Jaaskelainen flaps at a cross and the ball falls to an unmarked Anelka who squeezes a first time shot well wide. The only downide so far has been some 'James-like' keeping from Cech which is worrying but apart from a Kevin Davis effort there have been no serious issues and the half ends 0-2.

No changes from the Blues at half time but this is now a much more even and end to end half. With 10mins gone Deco is clean through after a mix up in midfield but chips wide with only the keeper to beat. Just 2mins later another sweeping move sees Lamps break into the box but his drive from just 6 yards out is straight at Jaaskelainen. Up the other end Cech is forced into good saves from McCaan, Cahill and Davis but the half fizzles out for yet another away win. So that's 11 consecutive away wins which is a new record alongside 8 out of 8 this season. Now if only we were doing the same at home - we'll need to on Tuesday to qualify for the knock out stages of the Champions league.

Come on U Blues

Chelsea 1 - 2 Arsenal

2008-11-30T19:34:00.003Z

Home to Arsenal after a difficult and frustrating week for the Blues. Kalou comes in for Joe Cole who is injured yet again and Ivanovic keeps his palce alongside JT.

In a game that was billed as a must win for the Arse they started really slowly and the Blues bossed the opening 10 mins with Kalou denied an early opener thanks to a very dubious offside. Arsenal were growing in confidence and Cech had to make smart stops from Nasri and Fabregas. Its end to end stuff as Lamps and Deco combine to put Anelka through but the ball skips away. However on 30mins a whipped cross from Bosingwa following a crazy throw out from AlmouniaDjourou. That's it for the first half.

No changes in personnel and the second half starts much as the first as Lamps almost makes it two within 6mins from the edge of the box. Arsenal had done very little when just before the hour Van Persie latched on to a Denilson's pass and while we all waited for the clearest of offside flag to go up he smashed the ball past Cech. Mike Dean pointed at Bosi as if he was the one who played VP onside - clearly not but it was 1 - 1 and worse came 3mins later when AdebayorFabregas' free-kick in to Van Persie who swung a boot to scuff a shot past Chech. From 1 - 0 and cruising to 2-1 and struggling and the introduction of Malouda and Stoch did litlle to suggest we'd get an equaliser.

So fortress Stamford Bridge has been breached again - this is starting to look decidedly dodgy. We have 7 wins from 7 on the road in the Premiership but home its home form that's killing us .... and its the reverse in Europe.

I'm getting worried - COME ON U BLUES !!

Bordeaux 1 - 1 Chelsea

2008-11-26T20:18:00.004Z

Its away to Bordeaux in a vital matchday 5, following the disappointment of Saturdays 0-0 home draw with Newcastle. Drogs is on the bench as a result of an alleged clandestine meeting between him and Inter Milan officials on Monday. So its Anelka up front with Malouda and Cole on either side. Ivanovich lines up alongside JT and Ballack’s back in the midfield.

The opening 25mins is all Bordeaux with Cech having to make 4 vital saves and JT, Ash and Lamps all booked for reckless tackles. This is a very scrappy Blues performance, with Bordeaux closing down quickly and the omens don’t look good at present. It takes a full 35mins for Chelsea to string a decent move together but the balls squirms away from Lamps and Bordeaux are straight back up the other end winning a corner. Ballack, Lamps and Joe Cole have been largely anonymous and Anleka keeps straying offside. Fortunately the half ends goalless and the Blues can regroup - big team talk needed from Big Phil.

The second half starts with no changes and Bordeaux streaming forward . There's an hour on the clock and Drogba is warming up when the ball breaks to Lamps on the halfway line and he slips a through ball to Anelka that splits open the Bordeaux defence. Anelka carries the ball forward and coolly slots home. That's 1-0 and Anelka's reward is to be replaced by Drogs anyway. Joe Cole has the ball in the net on 67mins but its ruled offside and Joe's booked for his efforts for not playing to the whistle. Bordeaux seem to have lost their edge but on 82mins no one picks up Diarra from a Bordeaux corner and its 1 -1. Not one Chelsea player challenged Diarra's run which was criminal...... but it goes from bad to worse on 85mins as Lamps is booked for a loose challenge and he's off for a second yellow. It very nearly gets even worse as Cavenagi tests Cech from the edge of the box but his shot goes wide. The final whistle comes not a minute too soon and we trudge off thanking our lucky stars we're still in the competition.

A home win against Cluj next week (without the suspended Lamps) is now a must as Roma turned in an impressive 1 - 3 away win.

West Brom 0 - 3 Chelsea

2008-11-17T02:51:00.000Z

A perfect response to a pathetic display on Wednesday night, though to be fair for 30 mins it looked like this would be a struggle. All the pre match chatter was about Drogs and his midweek coin tossing and the expectation that he would start his last game before suspension. As it turned out, Anelka started up front in another injury disrupted lineup that saw Carlo remaining in goal, Ivanovich playing alongside JT; still no Ash, Ballack or Joe Cole.

West Brom started well with James Morrison going closed with a drive from the edge of the box and Ishmael Miller scuffing a clear chance wide of the post but as the half wore on we started to knock the ball around and Lamps and Malouda both tested Scott Carson in the Baggies goal. On 34mins Bosingwa cut in from the right wit consummate ease and drilled a shot into the top corner that took Carson completely by surprise - 1-0 to the Blues. Within 4mins it was 2-0 as Anelka collected a headed flick on ffrom Malouda and lifted the ball over Carson. Before the half was complete Anelka got his second and sealed the game when he picked up a pass from Kalou and squeezed the ball between Carson and his near post.

Pretty much game over and though the second half began with chances falling to Deco, Anelka and Malouda we simply eased off as time wore on to see out a routine away victory. Now we need a win against Newcastle to start rebuilding the fortress Stamford Bridge mentality - Come on you Blues

Chelsea 1 - 1 Burnley (Chelsea loose 5-4 on penalties)

2008-11-13T02:48:00.001Z

Pathetic - enough said !!

Blackburn 0 - 2 Chelsea

2008-11-09T14:05:00.008Z

It's more like a swimming pool than a pitch that Chelsea have to deal with up at Eawood Park and they have do it without either of the Cole as Joe's out again and Ash is still not fit. The opening 25mins are all Chelsea and Blackburn are penned back in their own half against an irresistable onslaught. We could be 4 up, with clear chances falling to Kalou, Lamps Malouda and Anelka - the latter being denied a stone wall penalty on 4mins. Robinson is having to have a good game in the Blackburn goal as on on 32mins Anelka is played in by Kalou and he needs firm hands to keep out another good strike. There's standing water everywhere and he ball is holding up badly in the wet - this might even get called off - however, on 35mins Lamps drives in another fierce shot that's parried for a corner. Its been all Chelsea but it takes a fluke to finally beat Robinson when a drive from Bosingwa is deflected in off Anelkas knee.... and that's how a soggy first half comes to a close.

Second half and Blackburn go 4-4-2 introducing Matt Derbyshire to try and respond on a pitch that is at least starting to dry out now. They're starting to cause a few problems but no real goal threats and on 61mins Belletti replaces the injured Kalou so Deco pushes out wide.We'd been looking a bit flat when Lamps pops up opn the edge of the box and nudges the ball to Anelka who lifts the ball over Robinson to make it 2-0. Last throw of the Blackburn dice as they introduce Fowler with 12mins to go. Two mins later Lamps rattles the crossbar with a free kick and Deco just chips over - still all Chelsea and that's how it ends.

That was a bit easy - come on U Blues

Roma 3 - 1 Chelsea

2008-11-04T20:34:00.010Z

Off to the Stadio Olympico for what turned out to be a disastrous night in Rome

Round two of our battle with Roma who set up with a front two this time as opposed to a back eight that they offered at the Bridge. For our part, its Bridge and Alex in for Ash and Rickey, Drogs is on the bench but Joe Cole starts alongside Anelkea and Malouda.The opening exchanges are pretty equal but the Blues are shooting on site with Deco, Malouda and Lamps all going close in the first 20mins. Deco and Lamps combine nicely on 29mins and Lamps draws a good save from Doni with a swerving drive. But the opening goal goes to Roma on 36mins against the run of play. Deco gives away a free kick that is simply pushed wide for Cicinho to cross in to the box and Panucci just walked the ball past Cech. Now we have a real game on. Mikel releases Maoluda on 39mins with a pass that splits the Roma defence but his shot is high and wide when Lamps and Cole were better placed but Roma are playing better now and not sitting back at all. The half end 1 -0 to Roma and there's work to do !

Changes for the second half with Belletti and Drogs on for Malouda and Joe Cole (cant believe that - Anleka has done nothing so far) but it looks like 4-4-2 with Belletti on one side and Deco on the other. It makes no difference as within 3mins its 2-0 as Vucinic buries one past Cech from the edge of the box. Roma set up with two banks of four as they defend their lead but there's no need as, on 58mins, Mikel losses out to Vucinic who runs half the length of the pich and then strokes the ball past Cech. Its 3-0 and game over as the Blues press forward but they are leaving themselves open at the back. Baptiste comes on for Totti on the hour and Kalou replaces Bosingwa at wide right as Belletti goes to right back in a return to 4-3-3 but it makes little difference as Roma soak up the pressure and then look to break. On 75mins we get our frst lucky break as a Deco shot looks to bounce back off JT's arm but nothings given so JT passes it into an empty net for 3 -1, surely no heroic come back ? Well not at this rate as on 80mins the ref books Deco for a second time for taking a quick free kick even though no advantage was gained - absolute refereeing insanity ! and fortunately the last meaningfully action on an awful night for the Blues.

So much for booking hotels in Rome :-)

Chelsea 0 - 1 Liverpool

2008-10-27T12:23:00.001Z

It was going to happen sooner or later but we really hoped it wasn't gonna happen against a big 4 side. After over 4 & 1/2 years and 86 games the home record fell to a deflected Alonso shot and a Liverpool defence that owed a lot to the way Roma set up earlier in the week. Without Torres up front, the omens looked good for the Blues, however it was the same front 3 of Malouda, Anelka and Kalou that were ineffective against Roma so it was unlikely to be a goal-fest

We started brightly and the deflected goal came against the run of early play but once they were ahead Liverpool set up a really strong defence. The rest of first half was all Chelsea but the final balls were poor and there was no real pemetration. Deco dispossed Gerrard with 9mins of the half to go but his shot went angonisingly inches wide.... and that was that. The second half was much the same and after an early Liverpool surge, it was all Chelsea again but apart from a possible penalty when Reina brought down Malouda, there was little to worry the Reds defence. Franco di Santo and Juliano Belletti came on for Malouda and Kalou but we had to wait until the 72nd min for a real chance when Cole latched on to a superb through ball from di Santo but he sliced wide. It was the last real threat of the half and we trudged away on the final whistle thinking that, although the record had to go one day, why did it have to go to Liverpool and in such a limp wristed fashion.

A major response is required away to Hull on Wednesday - come on you Blues !!

Chelsea 1 - 0 Roma

2008-10-23T16:45:00.001+01:00

After the demolition of Boro at the weekend it was hard to believe this would be as tricky as it looked - this was after all a worse Roma side than the one Man U put 6 past and they were coming to the Bridge off the back of a terrible run in Seria A. The Blues set up pretty much as they closed on Saturday with Deco starting alongside Lamps and the Jedi holding. Bridge came in for the injured Ashley Cole but still no sight of Joe.... and the start was pretty bright. Clearly Roma were here to defend with 3 holding midfield players but within 8 mins of the kick-off Lamps cracked a 20-yard volley but Doni safely pushed it away. Kalou latched onto to a cute Deco pass 20mins later but his shot was more like a back-pass. Lamps cracked a rolled Deco free kick against the crossbar but this was starting to look dodgy. Malouda was nowhere an Jedi was giving the ball away as the Blues continued to hit an 8 man Roma wall.

Second half and Big Phil replaced Malouda with Belletti and it seemed to inject some new urgency as a Kalou header brought a great save from Doni. Things were getting desperate as even Jedi tried his luck from Belletti range but it went high wide and not so handsome. On 67mins Anelka deflected another Jedi shot over the bar when it was way easier to score and at that point we we all getting worried. We shouldn't have bothered, with 12mins to go, JT powered his way ahead of his marker to connect with a Lamps corner to make it 1 -0. Lamps nearly cracked in a free kick to make it two in the 83rd minute but Doni tipped the ball over.

So the mighty Blues navigate a tricky tie and now all eyes are on Liverpool at home - come on u Blues !!

Middlesborough 0 - 5 Chelsea

2008-10-18T15:27:00.003+01:00

Its a team decimated by injuries that makes its way up to the Riverside and the only good news is that JT is passed fit as well as the return of Deco, albeit on the bench. Chelsea start without Cech, both Coles, Essien, Drogba, Rickey and Ballack so in come Bridge and Alex with Belletti in a midfield role. That said, its Chelsea from the start with loads of good possession. On 13mins a lovely sweeping move funds bridge wide on the left and his cross drops to belleti and after a few bobbles drops to Kalou to open tne scoring. With 23mins on the clock, Malouda skips round the Boro right back and squares across the 6 yard box with Lamps baring down on goal but his flick drifts just wide. Malouda and Mikel are playing really well though on 30min its Malouda who wastes another great opportunity when he screws a cross / shot well wide after latching on to a lovely through ball from Bridge. This is beautiful football from the blues but for all the possession, its still only 1-0 and that's how the half ends.

No changes at half time and Boro start much brighter with Dowing blasting over from the edge of tne box. Within a minute, Malouda is up the other end and slips into the Boro box only for him to push the ball wide when a simple pass to Anelka was the more obvious option. It matters not a jot as Belletti buries a screamer from fully 30yds on 50mins. Its 3-0 within 2mins as Kalou side foots home a brilliant cut back on the volley from Malouda. Surely game over. Its exhibition stuff on 65mins as a wonderful move ends with Kalou delivering a deftly weighted cross on to the diving head of Frank Lampard. The travelling blues fans rotate their chants from "boring boring chelsea" to "are you Tottenham in disguise ?". There's still 22mins left and its 5-0 as Turnbull spills a vicious Anelka shot on to the post only for it to rebound to Malouda to slot home. Anelka nets 2mins later but its offside and just to make things worse for Boro, on comes Deco. I said someone was gonna get a pasting soon and it ends 0 - 5 to the mighty Blues. This could have been much worse for Boro and with 7 recognized first team players missing. Lets hope more are back for Roma on Wednesday.

Come on U Blues

Chelsea 2 - 0 Aston Villa

2008-10-05T15:03:00.005+01:00

Back home after the exertions of Europe which added to our injury list - no Alex today and he's replaced by Ivanovic alongside JT. The one bright note is the the return of Joe Cole who starts upfront alongside Anelka and Malouda.
We start at a cracking pace, moving the ball well and running Villa all over the shop - Joe looks very lively. Its just over 15mins when Lamps gets his head on an Anelka cross but it drifts wide. However, we're in front 2mins later as Malouda finds Lamps who in turn sets Joe Cole free inside the area to bury the ball past Friedel. Anelka goes close 3mins later when he wrests the ball from Curtis Davis and crashes a 25yrd shot off the crossbar. Lamps has a free kick well saved by Friedel before, on 41mis, he sets Ash free down the left who cuts back only for Ballack to drive straight at Friedel. Fortunately Anelka is on hand to net the rebound at the second attempt. The half ends 2-0 and we should have even more.
Villa make 2 changes - well they had to really, as Milner and Cuellar are on whilst Franco di Santo comes in for Anelka. Its more of the same though and within 5mins Joe Cole finds di Santos but the youngster shoots tamely at Friedel. Petrov launches himself at Joe Cole on 52mins and takes his ankle - if that was Jedi there would be a flurry of Villa players waving imaginary cards. Joe's trying to run it off but looks in trouble and he's off within 2mins to be replaced by Kalou. Ballack drives straight at Friedel and then a Lamps cross skids infront of di Santos and Malouda. A lovely exchange of passes between Lamps, Ballack and Kalou sets Kalou free but his shot deflects over the bar - great football. There's 8mins to go and Belletti comes on for Malouda who's probably had his best game to date in a blue shirt.
Its not being unkind to say that Villa could have been on the wrong side of a 5-0 drubbing today - we were that good
Come on U Blues

CFR Cluj 0 - 0 Chelsea

2008-10-01T19:02:00.007+01:00

Round 2 of the Champions League against the little known CFR Cluj of Roumania who won their domestic double last year having gained promotion in their previous 2 seasons after being bought by a wealthy benefactor. They're a side packed with Portuguese and Argentine talent that beat a strong Roma side 2 - 1 in round 1 so we should expect a tough test. Its pretty much the same side as Saturday with Bridge coming in for Cole on the left as the only change.
The opening 20 - 30mins settle into a familiar pattern of Cluj sitting tight with 10 behind the ball and then breaking quickly. As the half progresses they are getting more confident and this is looking tricky. Few clear cut chances for either side but the better strikes on goal are coming from Cluj but the half still ends 0-0 and Scolari does not look happy.
Its Anelka on for Kalou as we go 4-4-2 in the second half. Immediately things look better until on 55mins Drogba stretches for a whipped in malouda cross and falls awkwardly. His hand goes straight up and he's stretchered off to be replaced by Belletti. That really looked bad. It takes a while to get our shape back and soon Bridge is marauding down the left but still clear chances are hard to come by. With 15mins to go big Phil makes his final change with di Santo coming on for Malouda. Cluj have their best chance with 10mins on the clock when Trica dances across the edge of our box and the shaves the outside of the post with a snap shot. Cluj are growing in confidence again and believe they can win this. On 86mins they nearly do as Perreria spins past Bosingwa and forces a sharp save from Cech. Straight up the other end and Anelka screws a shot wide when uh would have been easier to steer the ball in on the volley. Amazingly there's only 2mins of stoppage time - Drogba was down for at least 3mins - but it ends 0 - 0 and big Phil will be happy with that but not with the growing injury list (the early news about Drogba is not good as reports say knee ligaments ancillary a possible fracture)

Stoke 0 - 2 Chelsea

2008-09-27T15:13:00.004+01:00

A trip to the Britannia for a potentially trickey away tie against Stoke. Its pretty much the same side as midweek except for Bosignwa and Jedi returning to the fray. Deco, Joe Cole and Rickey are still out injured.
The opening 10mins are predictably all Chelsea but few clear chances apart from an early strike from Ballack which is tipped over. On 13mins Drogba is sent clean through by a superb pass from Lamps after Kalou had won back possession but Sorensen did well to touch the ball away with an outstretched left peg. There's 39mins on the clock and Stoke are getting back into the game when Bosingwa plays a neat ball out wide to Lamps and continues his run into the box to pick up theb return and drive it home across Sorensen to score from the return. That's how the half ends.
The second half starts with Anelka (lets hope he's more effective than last week) on for the injured Kalou and within 3min of the restart Sorensen turns a Malouda drive onto the post. On 52mins, Stoke bring on Ricardo Fuller and immediately grow in confidence. More urgency, more balls slung into the box and more problems for the mighty Blues as chances fall to first Cort and then Griffin. Drogba feeds Anelka on 66mins but Le Sulk blasts over from just inside the box. With 72mins on the clock, Scolari replaces a tiring Drogba with Belletti so Anelka's up fron on his own and within 4mins he collects a Bosingwa cross to slot home from 12yds out. That's 0-2 and surely game over..... and after a 12 min lesson in controlled possession ..... it is.
Come On U Blues

Portsmouth 0 - 4 Chelsea (Carling Cup)

2008-09-25T08:59:00.000+01:00

I'm travelling again so once again it was a combination of the web and text feeds to keep up with this game. Scolari set out a strong side with Drogba starting up front and Ivanovic in for Bosignwa. Other han that it was pretty much the side that played against Man U with Joe Cole joining Deco and Rickey on the injured list.
Goals from Lamps (2). Malouda and Kalou wrapped up a straight forward demolition of Pompey at Fratton Park
See the full match reports below

Click > BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7626830.stm

Click > Sky - http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3063592,00.html

Chelsea 1 - 1 Man U

2008-09-22T10:03:00.002+01:00

Too much talk of revenge going into this early season clash – this was really about getting 3 points, creating a 9 point gap, putting down a marker and extending a home unbeaten record to a staggering 85 games. United started with the orange primadona on the bench along with “Tevez the Troll” which meant Berbatov (Sulky Mk2) and Shrek started up front. Unfortunately we lost Deco in the warm up and Rickey within 10mins of the kick-off (to be replaced by Alex) so it was a pretty frantic opening quarter. Man U started the brighter and put down an early marker when Cech had to save sharply from Ferdinand of all people. We were being ripped apart and it was no surprise when Park chipped in from close range after Cech could only deflect a snap shot from Berbatov's into his path. van der Sar eventually left the game on 30mins after earlier appearing to bring down Malouda for a clear penalty but this was a Mike Riley game so we should have known better – free kick to Man U ! and slowly we started to get back into proceedings

Much like the CL final, the second half was a very different affair with the introduction of Drogba (after the lunacy of Riley not letting him on at the start) and with many more chances coming our way. United sent on Ronaldo for Paul Scholes 10 mins later but he ws largely ineffective. It was all Chelsea and Joe Cole wasted great opportunity on 65 mins, shooting straight at Kuszczak after being beautifully put through by Ballack and then Anelka, having his worst display in a blue shirt by far couldn’t even tap into an open net from 3 yards out. Eventually the pressure paid off when Kalou rose unmarked from a jedi free kick to head home with 10mins to go. It was nearly 2 – 1 seconds later as Neville deflected another Kalou strike over the bar.

But in the end United hung on for a point and so there was no 9 point gap or much of a marker put down but the home unbeaten record was extended to a staggering 85 games – COME ON U BLUES

Chelsea 4 - 0 Bordeaux

2008-09-16T20:24:00.006+01:00

Its an unchanged Chelsea side that starts our Champions League campaign at home to Bordeaux so once again the Jedi sits in the Maka role and Anelka is the lone striker.

From the start its zippy and nippy stuff with Deco pulling the strings and once again Ash and Bosingwa are regularly pushing on up the flanks. In fact its Deco and Bosingwa who combine on 14mins for Bosingwa to whip in a cross that is dispatched with a rare Lampard header. That’s 1-0 and cruising – even Anelka wants in on this as his fierce drive is turned away for a corner 5mins later. Its 30mins of campaign Chelsea and on the half hour the lead is doubled by Joe Cole flicking in a near post corner from Lamps. Its nearly 3-0 three minutes later when Lamps screws the ball wide from 8 yrds out.

No changes at half time but Bordeaux start with a little more purpose. Shamak looks more lively and useful so its no surprise to see Ballack introduced just after the hour for Deco who had just picked up a petulant yellow card. Lauren Blanc responds with a double like for like substitution. Its all a bit too intricate for the Blues now with too many attempted 'slide rule' passes being cut out. With just over a quarter of an hour to go its Belletti on for Joe Cole but Scolari is not happy - its all too casual and he wants more - so do we. There's 9mins to go and Jedi dances through the Bordeaux defence, Lamps back heels a through ball to Malouda who drives it home - wonderful goal. Scolari takes him off to let him milk the applause and on come Kalou. Rickey clatters the bar with a free header on 86mins and Anelka shaves the outside of the far post with a drive before Beletti thunders another against the bar on 92mins only for the rebound to be followed in by Anelka to make it four. An emphatic win for the Mighty Blues.

Man City 1 - 3 Chelsea

2008-09-13T18:13:00.004+01:00

Up to the City of Manchester Stadium for the Robinho vs Chelsea show. Drogba's on the bench as a potential bit player and Joe Cole is wearing the Terry Butcher memorial head bandage after his battles for England earlier in the week.
Less than 15mins on the clock and would you believe it, Rickey give up a soft free kick on the edge of our box, we set up an awful wall and lo and behold, Robinho pops it into the corner - you couldn't write this stuff - could you ?? Well it only lasts 4mins though as a JT header comes loose off Joe Cole and Rickey's there to crash the ball home. Its then end to end stuff for the rest of the half with the Blues going closest as Malouda hits the bar, Anelka plants an open goal chance straight at the keeper and Ash sends one just over the bar from 25 yards. One goal from 7 on target attempts may not be enough here ! We'll need more that one point after the scousers beat Man U earlier this morning.
No changes at half time and the game starts in similar vein - however, there's 52mins on the clock and Chelsea stroke the ball end to end with a flowing move that finds Lamps on the edge of the box and he buries the ball across Joe Hart in the City goal. Another great move on 59mins finds Anelka on penalty spot and is bundled to the ground by Richards - a stonewall penalty denied ! Its still very open as, on 63mins, Rickey saves a certain equalizer by throwing himself full stretch across Stephen Ireland and the Lamps drills in a screamer that is saved by Hart. Another great passage of one touch passing and the ball is slid into Anleka from Joe Cole and even he cant miss from 10 yards 3 -1 to the Blues and on comes Belletti and Drogba (for Joe Cole and Malouda) with 20mins to go.
Its gonna get tight now as JT is loudicrously sent off on 76mins when he pulls down Jo with both Rickey and Belletti covering so he could never be the last man. Vidic got a yellow earlier in the day for something far more blatant and closer to goal - absolute farce but what should we expect from Mark Halsey. Alex is on for Anelka and it really could have been "backs to the wall" but the mighty Blues play out the last 10mins in consummate style. It ends 1 - 3 just to show that showboating, even Brazilian showboating isn't everything.
Come on U BLUES !!!!

Chelsea 1 - 1 Spurs

2008-09-01T14:35:00.001+01:00

This has to be seen a 2 points dropped despite a solid performance from spurs that rode their luck and ultimately frustrated all our options. To be fair we should have been 3 up before Bent picked up a lucky ricochet off of Lamps to level the half (in the 44th minute). Prior to that farce, Ess had crashed a drive against the bar and Lamps almost pulled off an outrageous chip over Gomes before Belletti put the mighty Blues ahead from a corner.

The second half was much like the first with lots of pressure but fewer clear chances and only an angles shot from Ashley Cole posed any real threat to Gomes.

So 2 points dropped and back to reality - which may be no bad thing after the euphoria of the opening day

COME ON U BLUES

Off we go... Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth & Wigan 0 - 1 Chelsea

2008-08-24T14:19:00.012+01:00

I've been travelling on business quite a bit and now having a well earned holiday so the posts have not been what they should be over recent weeks. With all the Lampard and Robinhio speculation its been another month where the mighty Blues have hardly been out of the press so it ws nice go finally get to the start of the season last week..... and what a start it was, watched on my laptop thanks to the wonders of a slingbox and good wifi connection (if you haven’t tried a slingbox yet you really should - access your set top box anywhere in the world).

Portsmouth were despatched 4-0 with a swagger that came mainly from the boot of Deco who's home debut was outstanding and topped off with the fourth goal. Bosingwa looked very handy as an attacking right back and Lamps looked at home alongside Ballack and Jedi. No Drogba (still recovering from his knee operation) so the line was led by Le Sulk and Joe Cole with Deco floating between midfield and the left side of a front three. Pompey were poor and we'll have tougher tasks - like Wigan away next week.

So 7 days later and its up to the JJB - I'm still on hols and no Sky coverage this time so its over to one of those dodgy free footy sites for a 3" screen experience. Its almost the same line up except for Essien replacing Jedi in the holding role. The start is equally impressive though - Deco curls a superb free kick into the top corner with 4mins on the clock. The mighty Blues are one up and you fear for Wigan though to their credit they respond in fine style and have the better of the rest of the half without really looking loke scoring - so at halftime it remains 0-1.

The second half is much as the first with Wigan pressing and Chelsea playing off the break so its no surprise that Scolari makes a change by bringing on Kalou for the ineffective Joe Cole. Wigan are really making the mighty Blues (in all black today) work for everything - no swagger in the boots this week. Maybe its the after effects of the internationals earlier in the week but its all a bit flat. Last 5mins and Bruce goes 3 at the back, taking off Melchiot and putting Henri Camera on as another striker and its almost a repeat of the Bridge last season as Cech turns a goal bound Capo strike round the post. Anelka off and Malouda on to waste a few more minutes only for Kalou to give away a dangerous free kick about 25yrds out but fortunately it comes to nothing and Chelsea run out the clock.

Champaigne last week and a stale pint of bitter this week but its still six points from six - Come on U Blues

Kiss the badge.... Kiss my ...

2008-07-09T08:25:00.007+01:00

Pardon my title but ....
Is it just me or is this whole Frank Lampard thing just getting a little tedious.
"I want to stay, this is my home" says our Frank. "He told me he wants to stay for many years" says Big Phil .... but within minutes the agents are in saying that the situation is far from resolved.
What's the problem ? Sign the contract and put the matter to bed. Oh no its never that simple - apparently ! Its all about 4 years vs 5 years, £130K pw vs £150k pw, one year extensions vs contract commitments. So what price loyalty, what price sticking with the club and fans that stuck by you - clearly this is out of place in the modern game and frankly (sic) we shouldn't be surprised.
Personally I'd like to see Lamps stay but I doubt it will happen
JMHO

Scolari (..woa oh oh oh) Part 2

2008-07-08T16:12:00.001+01:00

Ok so that was an impressive press conference from a guy who we were told would struggle to make himself understood as he didn't speak much English.

Within 20mins, Big Phil had the world's media eating out of his hands and dispelled any doubts we might have had – this guy is definitely the real deal. Now if can handle the dressing room egos the way he handles the press we should be in for something a bit special .... and to that precise point he was asked "are you a special one ?" The reply was an immediate "yes".... quickly qualified by saying he was special to his family, friends and his country – and only 'so-so' as a manager. Somehow I doubt that !

Scolari (......woa oh oh oh)

2008-06-30T16:14:00.002+01:00

After all the debate and speculation - now we know – it’s “Big Phil” at the Bridge and one thing’s for sure; if we thought Mourinho did colourful press conferences, wait till this guy gets going.

Personally, and for what it’s worth, I think it’s a great move and a big signing in itself – that’s, before we get on to the transfer speculation. This guy 'brooks no crapulence' so he’ll deal with the dressing room egos and at least we won’t see all that press speculation about Abromovitch picking the team or giving tactical advice to players anymore. OK, so he hasn’t managed a club side in Europe but he’s the real deal when it comes to motivating and inspiring his players so I can’t see that being a problem.

As for the transfer speculation, it looks like we’ve bought and sold just about everybody – at least according to the press. My hopes are for Lamps and Rickey to stay (Deco’s good but we’ll get more goals from Lamps), Drogba to be shown the door (as good and important as his goals have been, he’s become a petulant liability and I can’t forget the Champions League sending off) along with Malouda and then perm any three incomming from Kaka, Van de Vaaht, Villa, Drente, Ribery, Robinho et al.

One thing you can be sure of, it’s never dull following Chelsea

Come on you Blues

Now that the Euro's are over....

2008-06-30T15:07:00.002+01:00

..... we can get back to the proper side of football (by that I mean following the mighty blues).

Yes it was a mildly entertaining tournament and yes the Spanish deserved to win it by virture of being the best team by a country mile; but overall it was a series of disappointments from my perspective. Really wanted to see a good Dutch performance, hoped that the Czech Republic might come good, couldn't believe how poor the French and the Italians were...... but then England weren't even good enough to qualify - hey ho

Anyway, I've had a blogging break and got over the heartbreak of the Champions League final - well as much as any blue blood possibly can - so its back to the keyboard and bring on the Premiership

Come on you Blues

A fine line between despair and euphoria...

2008-05-22T12:13:00.003+01:00

Chelsea 1 - 1 ManU (Man U win 6-5 on penalties, aet)

... in this case, maybe a blade of grass ??

What can you say on a night of such emotion. The best that the Premiership has to offer provided a veritable feast of football which ended in the most dramatic and cruel fashion. That it should come down to a tragically missed penalty from "Mr Chelsea" himself is the most dramatic of ironies. When Jose left all those months ago, no one dreamed we'd even get here and yet there we were, one kick away from an historic victory. When Ronaldo's penalty was saved by Petr Cech, the crowd in the Kings Rd wend wild. All thoughts of Drogbas dismissal 4 minutes earlier disappeared as up stepped our very own Captain Marvel to take the fifth and potentially decisive penalty.

The outcome will melt into history and few who read the cold result will remember the slip that shifted a goal bound (and Champions League winning) strike on to the right hand upright. For it to happen to JT of all people was a crime of immense and proportions. The same JT who had a few minutes earlier thrown himself at a goal bound Ryan Giggs effort that could have sealed the match. No-one who was there, or watched on TV will forget his tears or the image of him slumped in AG's arms as the rain lashed the Luzhniki Stadium and Man U celebrated with their fans.

Yet this was a match that could and should have been won outright. Yes, Man U could have been out of sight by half time but thanks to an opportunistic equaliser from Super Frank, the second half was a revelation. Chelsea out fought, out shot and for large portions of the half out played Man U with Drogba hitting the post, Lamps hitting the bar and a whole host of other efforts that went begging. Some people will dwell on the lunacy and Drogbas actions in getting a straight red and thus consigning the fifth spot kick to JT but few of us would have wanted anyone else to take it.

But dont just take it from me; here's what the BBC had to say ...

"Chelsea, bluntly, did not deserve to be on the wrong side of the cruellest of finals. Blues skipper Terry was inconsolable after his penalty miss. After being tormented by the wizardry of Ronaldo for the first half-hour they got a foothold in the game, thanks to the industry and endeavour of the peerless Claude Makelele and from then on were by far the better team. They had twice as many shots and, as Ferguson himself conceded, they overpowered United through sheer physical strength and dynamic displays from Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.

It was Chelsea at their imperious best. And you know what? They were awesome to watch, too - not something they have been labelled with much during this turbulent campaign. For that and so much more, Avram Grant should hold his head high. Even if he is shortly relieved of his duties, nothing will ever be as cruel as the way in which he saw his team suffer defeat in the most important game in Chelsea's history. "

So the season ends with no trophies and second place all round. Some will see that as an unacceptable and a job threatening outcome. I simply look back at where we were in September of 2007 and the night I've just endured and hope that the core of this squad (which includes the boss) stays together, gains some new blood and pushes on to even greater feats in 08/09.

COME ON U BLUES !!!

The inevitable is no less disappointing

2008-05-12T11:24:00.003+01:00

Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton

The atmosphere was tense and the anticipation high, though in truth no one really believed. Surely Man U wouldn't slip up away to Wigan, had Fergies mind games got to Steve Bennett, was 4-4 against Tottenhan and 1-1 against Wigan themselves going to come back and haunt us. In reality they all mattered and then none of them mattered. Over a long and turbulent season, Man U were the better team ...... but we pushed them right to the wire.

As for the game itself, the omens were not good when JT was stretchered off after a collision with Petr Cech in only the tenth minute and the first half was a nervy affair with Joe Cole obviously having left his crossing boots at home. We started the second half in a much more positive vein with Malouda forcing a stunning save from the Bolton keeper from a 25 yards rocket. Sheva, on for Maka in a reshuffled 4-4-2 scrambled us into the lead on 62mins and despite Man U being one up there was a sudden air of expectation around the bridge. However this left the ground in an instant as the news filtered through that United had added a second at the JJB - ever heard 40,000 people sigh in unison ? its quite eerie.

As the game petered away, we once again scummed to a 92nd minute sucker punchwhen Matt Taylors shot found its way through a crowded penalty area to beat Petr Cech, but the spark had long gone by then and thoughts were turning to Moscow.

Thankfully JT made it back on to the pitch for the "lap of recognition" and hopefully he'll lead us out in Moscow for the first Champions League final in our History - COME ON U BLUES !!

One last push - on the last day

2008-05-05T18:48:00.003+01:00

Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea

So it goes to the last game of the season and the math is straightforward - Man U have to slip up and we have to go one better (they draw - then we win, they loose - we only need a point). What could be closer and if you'd have told me on that fateful few days after the Rosenborg game that we'd be level on points and in our frst Champions league final, I'd have called you insane.

It all started a bit nervy up in Geordie land with a line up that had neither of the Coles (or Lamps) in the starting eleven, Ferreira at right back, Jedi holding and Anelka and Malouda either side of Drogs. The Blues started strongly but Newcastle came back with half chances falling to Owen and Martins, neither of which troubled Cech. Drogba and Anelka were starting to link up well but the end product was missing. On the half hour Ess found Ballack in acres of space inside the Newcastle box but his shot flew wide.
Second half and Kegan swaps Viduka for Alan Smith but its more of the same. Rickey heads over from a Malouda corner and then 10mins later JT crashes one against the bar from the same set up. Then finally on the hour, Ballack heads home a clever dummied free kick from the Drog and the away fans go wild. Lamps replaces Anelka on 66mins and Alex comes on for an injured Carvalho with 79 minutes gone before but Malouda finishes things off with a neat shot from Lamp's pass.

So there it is - last game of the season beckons along with "squeaky bum time".
COME ON U BLUES !

We're on our way to Moscow

2008-05-01T10:37:00.001+01:00

Chelsea 3 - 2 Liverpool (aet 4 - 3 on aggregate)

A momentous night at the bridge - I've hardly got my breath back, let alone my voice.
Drogba was immense (how dumb was Benitez to wind him up)
What can you say about Lamps - to even play, let alone take the penalty in extra time - his strength of character is astonishing
Maka and Ballack - just outstanding
I genuinely have no words - just pure elation so read the BBC report here and Sky report here .
Our first Champions League final in our history and 82 home games unbeaten
COME ON U BLUES !!

No fat lady singing to today boys :-)

2008-04-26T15:14:00.003+01:00

Chelsea 2 - 1 Man U

Part 2 of a huge 3 part week that started with a great Champions League 1st leg result at Anfield and now needs a great performance from the mighty Blues who bring Jedi and Ess in for Maka and Lamps, while Kalou replaces Malouda in the front 3. It's no surprise that United rest Ronaldo and Tevez though they're on the bench.

Chelsea start brilliantly with Ess completely bossing the middle of the park and Joe Cole running riot. Ess has two great opportunities before Joe crashes a scruffy chance against the post. Its all Chelsea but there's still no end product. Ess again plays in Joe Cole but the angle is too tight and Joe smacks a shot into the side netting - all this possession and drive deserves a goal.... and it gets on in the 42min when Drogs brilliantly holds up play on the edge of the box and drops an inch perfect cross into the box which is headed home by an unmarked Ballack. All the players unfurl a number eight shirt with "Pat Lampard RIP" on it - nice touch and condolences to Frank Jnr, Snr and the Lampard family. Its probably as good an opening 45mins as we've had all season. As good today as we were bad against Wigan. Now the challenge is to press on in the same way in the 2nd half.

Chelsea go off in exactly the same fashion in the 2nd half but this time Man U respond - lots of possession for them but not much in the way of clear chances until disaster strikes. Ferreira rolls a free kick to Ricky midway in the Chelsea half and under no real pressure he lets the ball get caught under his feet and then, in trying to find JT, rolls the pass back to Rooney who drives into the box and finishes low across Cech.

An hour gone and were looking knackered so its worrying that off goes Rooney and on comes Ronaldo. Still we press on and with 15mins to go AG makes the change to 4-4-2. Off goes Ferreira and on comes Anelka with Ess switching to right-back. Nani brings down JT on the edge of the box and it suddenly starts descending into farce as Ballack and Drogs start pushing and shoving each other over who's taking the kick. Brogs finnaly wins out and van der Sar pulls off a great save. 10mins left and on comes Sheva and its back to 4-3-3 with Kalou coming off but 2mins later its a penalty !! Carrick sticks out an arm to block a cross from Ess and up steps Ballack to bury the penalty. 3mins to go and Maka comes on for Joe Cole yet there's still time for Sheva to clear off the line from a Darren Fletcher's header. But that;s the last of it - two goals from Ballack, 81 games unbeaten at the bridge in the Premier League and we're still in the title race.

Now for the small matter of Liverpool - Come on you Blues !!

Liverpool 1 - 1 Chelsea

2008-04-23T15:45:00.004+01:00

Up to Anfield for a 1st Leg for a change and surprisingly AG pick Malouda ahead of Kalou. No Ess today so Ferreira starts on the left but Lamps and Drogs are back in a strong line up.

We have loads of early possession but our penetration and delivery in the last 3rd is woeful. Joe wastes our best chance when clear through in the box but seems to not know how much time he has and the ball is gone. Surely a penalty !! Drogs goes down under a clumsy Carragher challenges and up our end, Cech saves well from a Torres effort. Then just as we look like seeing out a difficult half, Alonso's quick free-kick bounces around the box only for Kuyte to scuff the ball past Cech.

Liverpool start much then better in the second half and the tie could have been over before AG introduces Kalou for the subdued Joe Cole. The response is immediate as first a Ballack header from a Lamps free kick is well saved by Reina and then Mascherano dives in to block Malouda after Lamps had carved open the Liverpool defence. Its all Chlesea but with 6mins to go Cech is called on to make stunning saves, first from a Gerrard and then Torres. But there was still one last twist as deep into injury time Kalou sends our first decent cross into the Liverpool box only for Riise to head into his own net at the Kop end.

Oh how we laughed. It's nice to be on the right side of a Mersey Migging for a change - Come on U Blues

Where there's hope ...

2008-04-18T10:15:00.000+01:00

Everton 0 - 1 Chelsea

A vital away win at Goodison that keeps the title race alive for another week but depite the Blues dominance, it was another unconvincing performance. Brilliant in patches but the play in the final 1/3 and particularly the final ball / cross was woeful - whether it came for Ferreria, Cole, SWP or whoever.

Still no Drogs or Lamps and now Ballack is out with a hamstring problem however there were stand out performances from Essien (goal scorer) and Carvalio (just immense in every department)

Read the BBC report here

Isn't this what technology is all about ?

2008-04-17T15:10:00.008+01:00

So why do we make it so complicated ??

Its over .... bar the shouting

2008-04-14T23:23:00.001+01:00

Chelsea 1 - 1 Wigan

There's a reason why a match lasts 90 mins (...and change) - its because to win, you normally have to play for 90mins (and change).

The first half of tonights game was the worst, dullest, most lifeless and soul destroying 45mins I've seen in a long time. A game that demanded urgency and an early strike (or two) to settle the nerves had nothing of the sort. Anelka (starting ahead of drogba) should have scored at least once from two headed chances - one free header from 6yards out and another looping effort that was denied by an athletic save from Chris kirkland - but aside from that the first half was woeful. Kalou and Malouda (awful) started up alongside Anelka and Alex and Bridge came in for Cole and Carvallio. Lamps left during the warm up (due to personal reasons) so the mid three were Jedi, Ballack and Ess. Zorro (as CechWigan .... but not so.

The second half changed dramatically with the introduction of Joe Cole replacing the hapless Malouda and he could have scored twice inside the first 5 mins. JT vollied against the crossbar and then Kirkland brilliantly saved from Kalou shot before Ess drove home from an Anelka lay back on 55 minutes. It should have been all over as the chances kept coming. Alex, Ballack and Joe Cole all missed good chances - Alex bring another great save from Kirkland - and yous started to get the sense that things were not going to end well for the Blues as Wigan kept pressing. Sheva had been warming up for the last 15mins at least before, with 92 mins on the clock, Heskey vollied home a Koumas's cross to leave our tiltle hopes in tatters. To make matters worse, AG brought Sheva on with 30 seconds of the added 3mins to go - if he'd have done that even 3 minutes earlier it might have disrupted Wigans flow - complete nightmare !!

Now a win at Everton, on Thursday is essential and Man U(re) need to slip up big style .... an in reality, playing like this (for 45mins at a time) we don't even deserve to be second.

Chelsea 2 - 0 Fenerbache

2008-04-09T14:49:00.001+01:00

A nervy night at the Bridge as the Blues looked to turn around a 1-2 deficit. No Cech but a full strength side with Ess at right back and Drogs up front with Cole and Kalou.

A good start was essential and that's what we got, when with only 4mis gone, Joe Cole swung in a free kick and Ballack flicked a deft header into the far corner. Kalou and Cole were ripping up the flanks and it all looked on for a big night however once again we took our foot off the gas and allowed the Turks back into the tie. Things went from bad to worse when Carlo limped off with what looked like a hamstring pull only to be replaced by the less than inspiring Hilario. Drogs kept shooting from way out when a pass was a better choice and things were looking grim.

It was no better in the second half as the Turks sensed an upset and brought on Kezman to bolster their attack..... and they wen damn close first through their other sub Ugur and then Kazim-Richards who both forced Hilario into good saves. Ess was booked for fisting the ball away which meant he'd miss the 1st leg of the semi final (if we ever got there) but he made amends with 3mins to go by getting to the byeline, cutting back into the box and then crossing for Lamps to tap in the clincher.

Job done, not particularly well and only 38,000 in the crowd. It will need to be better in every department (inc the crowd) if we're to get past the Scousers.

Man City 0 - 2 Chelsea

2008-04-08T16:49:00.004+01:00

Up to Manchester with 6 changes - Belletti and Alex at the back, Ess back into midfield to partner the Jedi with SWP, Anelka and Kalou up top. What initially looked like a tricky away test wasn't... but it still took another own goal to get things started - on 6mins the hapless Richard Dunne deflected Anelka's cross (intended for Ess) into his own. Anelka almost had a real goal 2mins later only to be stopped by a last ditch tackle by Nedum Onuoha. City came back into it and had a few chances from Petrov, Johnson and Ireland - one clkeared off the line by Ash - but we still looked dangerous on the break and only another superb Onuoha tackle stopped Anelka making it 2 - 0. That scoreline appeared early in the second half when on 52mins a pass from Ess was deflected into the path of Kalou who duly dispatched the second. It could have been more, Kalou and Anelka both drew good saves from Hart. And that was that - all over bar the shouting and thoughts inevitably turned to Tuesday and the (not so small) matter of dispatching Fenerbache - COME ON U BLUES !!

Mugged in Istanbull

2008-04-03T09:13:00.007+01:00

Fenerbache 2 - 1 Chelsea
......... mugged in terms of playing like mugs to let what was a comfortable, albeit fortunately achieved, 1-0 (.... that should have been 4-0) turn into a poor 1 - 2 defeat.

Chelsea started as they did against Arsenal with Ess in the problem right back position and a middle 3 of Ballack, Maka and Lamps. Only in inclusion of Malouda in place of Kalou raised any eyebrows however it was a wicked deflection from a driven Malouda cross that putthe Blues ahead. Drogba and Ballack were both guilty of not putting the tie to bed when they squandered gilt edged chances - Ballack even had a chance to stem the mounting Fenebache tide soon after the equalizer but he shot tamely at the Fenebache keeper. The tie was won with a stunning 30 yard strike from Deivid and, if you had to loose, this was the kind of shot you'd take your hat off to - Carlo had no chance.

Read the BBC report here

It sets up a tricky return leg at the Bridge and signals some ominous clouds to start gathering around AG.

Enterprise 2.0

2008-03-31T10:46:00.009+01:00

I was fortunate to meet up with Andrew McAfee from Harvard Business School (blog.hbs.edu/faculty/amcafee) last week, discussing the growth of social networking software inside organisations - commonly called Enterprise 2.0 - so I thought I would add some content here on my observations, leanings and views. Most of you will know from my posts on "learning from my kids" and "facebook" that I am quite keen on this topic

About the best definition I can find so far for this stuff is "... the use of existing and emerging social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers." So that basically covers blogs, wikis, content tagging, social networks, RSS etc

Despite the hype, these are genuinely new technologies which offer the potential for an organisation to be far more effective around innovation, collaboration, knowledge sharing and collective intelligence. Unfortunately the bariers to adoption now seem to be the lack of foresight or draconian policies of the IT department (or maybe even the irrational fears of some CIOs) rather than the willingness of the customers to embrace the solutions on offer.

There are some simple trends that seem to be driving the adoption of E2.0 solutions

Software has become simple, social and inclusive. Technology is now actually being used to connect rather than alienate or frustrate people.
Network effect – all of these solutions improve with scale so its in the interests of participants to promote use and "market" their new found information and connections

"Platforms" are replacing channels - Web 2.0 promotes the move from channels to platforms (email is a 1.0 channel - a one to one conversation that has no interactivity or contribution). In a web 2.0 world the platforms aspire to be universal, visible and open to the broadest possible interaction.
Most Web2.0 tools have a distinct lack of upfront structure but they have mechanisms in place that allows structure to emerge. This is a really new (and potentially frightening concept for IT folks) - get out of the way of the customers and almost give them a blank slate. Conventional IT has lots of rules and structure. It slots people into roles, assigns privileges to roles, define workflows and data formats etc. This is not wrong, but applying this approach universally can be barrier to collaboration and innovation. Web 2.0 tools (praticularly inside an enterprise) requires a bit more sublety - segmentation if you will - making sure that the appropriatre tools and services are available to the right people. Wikipedia is a great example of managed collaboration - with great self selection and editing. Del.icio.us allows you to store bookmarks online and share them but people tag their entries, not based on any predefined lists, but entirely on the words they choose themselves.

Adoption Challenges
I've already mentioned the potential "fear and loathing" from your all controlling IT Department, though happily these now tend to be in the minority. However, the biggest challenge for any new solution is usually down to surplanting what already exists. Email is the most prevalent collaboration tool - however bad we think it is !! - and for anything new there will always be a level of personal evaluation between an incumbent technology and a prospect technology. Remeber that customers rarely make rational lists to come to a decision. What invariably happens is that the incumbent solution is over-weighted - often by a factor of 3 and the prospect is under-weighted by a similar amount. So new concepts often have to be at least 9x better than existing systems.

So what do I think...
I think Enterprise 2.0 is going to be the difference between innovative and laggard companies. The ones who can embrace and harness the potential from a connected and collaborative organisation will simply be streets ahead of their competritors.

JMHO though

Chelsea 1 - 0 Midddlesborough

2008-03-30T19:20:00.004+01:00

Back in the UK but still not able to get to the Bridge so it was 5 live (I just cant bring myself to get "Sultana Sports") and the BBC website that kept me abreast of this dire affair.

No Maka, Ash (presumably being rested for the upcoming Fenebache game) or Lamps (still unwell) so Ballack, Essien, Jedi and Bridge all got a run out however Cech is still not fully fit. Belletti also came in for Paulo and it stared well when on 6 mins, Rickey C connected with a Bridge free kick to put the Blues ahead. It should have been more when first, Kalou wasted a one one one with Schwarzer after good work from Michael Essien, then Joe Cole shot straight at the keeper after a strong run from Drogba and just before half-time Drogba put a free header over the bar from a Cole's cross. The second half started like the first but again we took our foot off the gas and Boro came more and more into the game. The last 20mins were a now familiar scramble and Boro deserved at least a point with Alves first hitting the bar and then the post and Aliadiere driving clear effort well wide.

Oh well, 3 points is 3 points .... but we'll have to play better than this if we're gonna chalk up a good lead at Fenebache and keep the title hopes alive..... in a somewhat desperate voice .... COME ON U BLUES !!

Chelsea 2 - 1 Arsenal

2008-03-27T18:44:00.003Z

There are few better texts you can get when landing in New York after a transatlantic flight than he one I got that simply said "Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1 - Drogba scored twice - come on u Blues!"

After the 4-4 "hockey match" with Spurs as Jose would have described it, my expectation was pretty low . So as soon as I got to he hotel, on went my Slingbox to watch the game. After a pretty even first half it was Sagna who put Arsenal in front in the 59th minute. When AG took off Ballack an Maka for Anelka and Belletti on 70mins, even though Chelsea were playing the better and more direct football, the crys of "you don't know what you are doing' started to ring out around he bridge. However within 2 minutes of the change, Drogba received a sweet lay off from Lamps and drilled a low shot beyond Almunia and into the bottom corner for the equalizer. He wasn't finished though and 8 mins later a Joe Cole free-kick was flicked on by Anelka to Drogba who sweetly brought the under control and poked it through Almunia for the winner.

Read the skysports report here

2 - 1 to the mighty Blues and the title race is still on.

Newsbiscuit nails it again

2008-03-26T09:19:00.008Z

Iraqi PM wishes Western politicians would call before visiting

Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of Iraq, called on politicians from his country’s allies, including the UK and the United States, to telephone in advance before making surprise visits to the country.

‘Of course we’re very grateful to them for getting rid of Saddam and all that…’ said the country’s first democratically elected leader for a generation. ‘But it doesn’t mean they can just keep turning up whenever they feel like it for a photocall with the Iraqi government.’

‘It’s always the same,’ complained Mrs Maliki, “just as soon as me and Nouri sit down to dinner in front of ‘Afghanistan’s Next Top Martyr’, the doorbell goes. It’s sure to be Condoleeza ‘just passing through’ but expecting a 7-course state banquet – despite her claims that she already had something on the plane. You could set your clock by it.’

The Prime Minister’s plea for a bit of advanced warning from visitors followed ‘the final straw’ when Dick Cheney turned up just as he’d got into the bath. Having answered the door sopping wet and in his dressing gown, Maliki was worried he’d catch a chill while making polite chit-chat with the US Vice-President, ‘I was freezing my nuts off standing there but he woouldn’t take the hint when I didn’t invite him in. Kept making these little jokes about me having a towel on my head, and that ‘I thought we banned the bath party’. Very funny Dick.’

At the moment during the interview Maliki put his finger to his lips and crouched down behind the sofa. ‘Shh! Pretend we’re not in. It’s that Des Browne bloke from England. He’s always dropping by and I’m not even sure exactly who he is or what he does. I wouldn’t mind so much if he didn’t always eat all my biscuits. If we keep quiet he should give up in a minute,’ said the Iraqi PM, as an insistent tapping started on the hallway window.

Posted: 25 March 2008 by sheldonprice (with thanks to Red)

Tottenham 4 - 4 Chelsea

2008-03-19T22:14:00.004Z

why cant we defend a lead - particularly against Tottenham. What was once 3 point lane was more like a house of horrors tonight for our back four..... and yet it all started so well. 1-0 up from Drogba within 2mins, pegged back by a Woodgate free header but back in front on 20mins thanks to a neat flick from Essien. Joe Cole was having an absolute blinder and despite a few scares, that's how the half ended. AG's selection of Ash, JT, Rickey and Paulo, Lamps Ess and Maka with Cole Drogs and Kalou looked a good call.

The second half started with Spurs flying out of the blocks but it looked all over when Joe Cole made it 3-1 on 52mins. Queue the now inevitable Chelsea collapse. First, after 61 minutes Berbatov headed in Huddlestone's corner and then, despite a stunning save by Carlo from Keane, with 15 minutes left Huddlestone drove in a Keane corner to make it 3 -3. In between, AG had swapped Kalou for Alex in a vain attempt to shore things up but there was more to come. Joe Cole restored the lead in the 80th minute only to the be substituted by AG in favour of Ballack. Did we steady he ship - did we 'eck. A long clearance on 88mins hit Rickey on the back and fell straight to Keane who curled a 20-yard shot past Carlo.

So 1-0 up, 3-1 up AND 4-3 up yet we cant hold on - pathetic and with Man U winning, bang goes any realistic chance of pressing for the tile.

Bye Bye Avram - thankfully I'm travelling this weekend so I'll miss the Arsenal match

Sunderland 0 - 1 Chelsea

2008-03-15T15:33:00.006Z

Up north for a tricky match at the stadium of light with 3 changes from midweek - Jedi in for Maka, Alex in for Rickey and Drogba up top im place of Anelka. Its no surprise that Sunderland start brightly but on 9mins the Blues are one up as JT heads home a sweet corner from Lamps. Chelsea are playing some nice stuff and controlling the game. The first real home threat comes on 26mins from an Andy Reid free kick that Carlo turns round the post. Its nip and tuck from then on until O'Donovan dangerously leaves a foot in on Carlo with 5mins to go which amazingly goes unpunished by Mike Dean. The half ends 0 - 1 to the Blues.

We're off and running, unchanged for the second half but its all a bit scrappy with niggly challenges and yellow cards a plenty. We have to wait until the 72min for a change with Dwight York coming on for Sunderland and the Blues change Balack for Ess. Sunderland have gone 6hrs without a goal but they nearly undo our back 4 on 75mins as Jones connects with a floated ball from York, but he heads straight at Carlo. With 10mins to go, its all Sunderland so SWP is thrown on to replace Joe Cole but there's no more goals and Chelsea win 1-0.

Lamps shines brightly

2008-03-13T08:24:00.006Z

Chelsea 6 - 1 Derby
Q) How do you score 6 and still look ordinary, A) Play Derby

Six goals, four from Lamps, 77th home win on the bounce, only five points behind the leaders with a game in hand and yet ....... we're still not convinced.

Derby were awful and fully justify their spot at the foot of the premiership, however it took a penalty from Lamps on the half hour and a bit of quick thinking from Kalou after an error by Carrol in the Derby goal to go in 2-0 up at half time. With Anelka, Cole and Kalou up front and Maka, Ballack and Lamps in the middle, this side always looked like it had the beating of Derby. Indeed, the margin should have been wider by half time given that Lamps hit the post on 3minutes and an Anelka effort was ruled offside. The second half was much better and the game was over as a contest within 5mins of the restart when Anelka played in Joe Cole whose cross was tapped in from 2 yards out by Lamps. Carroll saved from Anelka but Joe Cole rolled in the rebound for 4 - 0 before Kalou set up Lamps for his his hat-trick. A one-two with Joe Cole gave Lamps his 4th and that was 6-0. Derby finally managed a shot on target - and they scored with it when a through ball was deflected off Ess (on for Maka) and fell into the path of Jones who slid his shot past Carlo.

It mattered not a jot. Chelsea finished the game as a training match playing 4-2-4, with Kalou, Drogba, Sheva and Anelka strung across the front......... but still we're not convinced. Wins away against Sunderland, Spurs and then home to Arsenal might just make us believers though

Come on you Blues

Out of the FA Cup !!

2008-03-08T20:09:00.004Z

Barnsley 1 - 0 Chelsea
Read it here or here
... and on the same day that Man U lost to Pompey - Unbelievable !!
No excuses, no calls for AG's head.... we were rubbish - end of !!

as the Moody Blues once said - "You'd better go now...."

2008-03-07T12:16:00.004Z

...that's Sheva not Avram

According to the BBC ...."AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi wants to take striker Andriy Shevchenko back to Italy - and is confident Chelsea will allow him to leave."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7281824.stm

Chelsea 3 - 0 Olympiakos

2008-03-05T23:37:00.001Z

A potentially tricky home second leg beckons and its not helped by loosing Cech in the pre match so the Blues line up with Carlo in goal, Ferreira, Rickey, JT and Ash at the back, Ballack, Maka and Lamps in the middle with Kalou, Drogs and JC up top.

Its all Chelsea from the start as Joe Cole hits the post within 2mins however we're ahead 4mins later when a near post cross from Lamps is sweetly headed home by Ballack. The two of them are bossing the midfield with Maka breaking up any Olypiakos and on 25mis Lamps makes it two when Ballacks shot is pushed out by Olympiakos keeper for Lamps to tap home. That's how it stays to half time.

Second half's underway and within 3mins its all over as a tie when Lamps swings in a corner which Kalou bundles home from a couple of yars out. It could have been five when first Lamps scuffs a clear shot on goal and then both Joe Cole and Maka (yes Maka) have efforts well saved by the Olympiakos keeper. In the closing minutes, Carlo does get some action. First, Fernando Belluschi hits the crossbar from from 25 yards with a blistering strike and the Carlo is called on to make a double save from a Belluschi free kick and resulting header from Antzas's header.
But in reality, we were never in any danger and a slot in the last eight was never in doubt.

What odds on getting Liverpool :-)

Come on U Blues

West Ham 0 - 4 Chelsea

2008-03-01T15:07:00.004Z

Chelsea ring the changes today and you can't be sure if its a response to Sunday's defeat or just AG being careful before Wednesdays Champions league game. However, its Anelka up front with Cole and Kalou, Ballack and Maka come in for Jedi and Ess (who drops to the bench with Drogba) and Ferreia and Cole replace Belletti and Bridge.

The Blues get off to a bright start - there's certainly more bite than in last weeks cup final !! - and the balls' in the net from Anelka on 2mins following a free kick from Lamps and flick on by JT but its ruled offside. With 15mins on the clock, Kalou is brought down by Ferdinand in the box and Lamps buries a scruffy penalty. Its 1-0 to the Blues. Within 5mins its 2-0 after a flowing move that sees Joe Cole volley home a pass from Anelka. Two mins later and its 3 - 0 as Ballack nails a half volley into the bottom corner after great work from Lamps - queue hundreds of (un)happy Hammers leaving their seats. This is some response from the Blues !!

But now there's trouble - Lamps is ridiculously sent off after a foul on him by Boa-Morte. The Linesman shapes to referee Walton for a push in retaliation from Lamps and its a straight red - a straight red for that !! unbelievable !! and Ballack gets booked for arguing. However Clesea don't change their formation and it could have been 4 nil as first Anelka and the Kalou go close but the half ends without further incident.

No changes for the Blues as the second half gets underway but West Ham bring on Ashton for Boe Morte. Its all West Ham as 10 man Chelsea sit back as soak up the pressure but its a good 15mins before they fashion a meaningful chance but Terry clears off the line. They're just lumping long hopeful balls into Ashton and Carlton Cole (too many Coles on the park today), however with 64mins gone, Chelsea break away and Green pushes a Joe Cole drive into the path of Ashley Cole who slots home from a very tight angle. 4 - 0 and even more West Ham fans head for the exit whilst the travelling Blues fans chant "10 men, we've only got 10 men". Last throw of the dice now as West Ham change Carlton Cole for Zamora and Faubert for Solano. Chelsea respond in kind; first bringing on Essien for Joe Cole and then Malouda for Kalou, followed by Alex for Maka in the last 5mins.

So it ends 4 - 0 with 10 men and its a perfect response to last weeks disappointment. However the outstanding Blue performances came from Joe Cole, Ballack and Maka - none of whom made Sunday's starting 11 - go figure.

Now lets bury Olympiakos on Wednesday - Come on u Blues !!

Dramatic increase in the number of proud parents whose sons ‘do something with computers’

2008-02-25T10:37:00.009Z

The government has been criticised for cutting the number of staff working for the British Jobs Survey, and relying instead on information gathered from the elderly parents of those in work.

The latest figures based on this method of collecting employment data has seen a dramatic rise in the number of people who ‘do something in computers’ with the encouraging news that 100% of them ‘are doing very well.’ Other jobs that were revealed to be on the increase were ‘working in London’, ‘something to do with money’ and ‘in a very smart office’. According to the survey of parents, not a single individual was reported to be working as a ‘senior financial advisor to systems analyst set ups’ although this may have been covered by the wider demographic described as ‘working for a big firm who are one of the top ones.’

‘It is ridiculous to attempt to rely on this sort of vague and ill informed data,’ said Professor Sally-Anne Donohue, Senior Statistician at the British Jobs Survey.

However her authority to comment on such matters was brought into question by her official entry in the Elderly Parents’ survey. According to the latest information ‘Sally-Anne’s still working at the moment, yes, which is a shame. I think she’s a secretary or something. But these days it’s actually quite common for a girl to work for a little while before you start a family.

I expect she’ll meet a nice man soon and be able to stay at home. Our Bryan’s doing very well though. He’s something to do with computers…’

.....another gem brought to you by newsbiscuit

This made me smile...

2008-02-25T09:49:00.001Z

Chelsea 1 - 2 Tottenham (1-1 aet)

2008-02-25T08:32:00.003Z

Does the shadow Jose's first trophy signal troubled times for AG ?

It should have been Grants first piece of silverware and, even though he maintained throughout the campaign that the Blues had their sights on higher things, you have to believe he'll be smarting from this one. Not just because we lost, but the manner of the defeat. Out played, out thought and out fought by a team who wanted it more than us - it was never Jose's style to be out'd like this and so comparisons and questions will inevitably start all over again.

There's lots of pieces written this morning about team selection but very few fans would have been moaning when the saw the team sheet - I wasn't !! Drogba and Anelka up front, SWP picked ahead of Joe Cole to stop things going narrow. Lamps and Essien with the Jedi holding (ok maybe Ballack could have started but ....), JT back as captain and Belletti and Bridge for speed going forward. No one complained before kick off. This team, on paper, had all it needed to win but ...... they played poorly, Spurs were sharper and hungrier and that's what counted in the end.

The AG issue will be the tactics and ability to change things during open play. It was clear from very early on that the formation was not working and players weren't performing. Essien looked knackered, Anelka was way off (he's OK drifting out wide but clearly not starting from there), SWP was a shadow of his terrier like performance against Spurs in the league (when he was at the top of a diamond) and Belletti was too nervous. Now you cant change everything, but Joe Cole at half time looked an obvious call and Ballack replacing the Jedi with Essien dropping into a holding role was also a possibility. Nothing happened though and inevitably Spurs got back into the game and once their tails were up there was no stopping them.

Of course the ref was poor - it was Halsey !! - and extra time was almost as much of a farce as Cechs lunge at the free kick (he did stop two other certain goals though !!) but the bottom line was that we played poorly, weren't good enough, Spurs played at their best and wanted it more ..... end of !!

Now we need to regroup and focus on winning a tough away game at Upton Park followed by the swift and efficient dispatching of Olympiakos a few days later to put things back on track. Anything less and the knives will be out.

A bore draw in Athens

2008-02-20T16:55:00.001Z

Olympiakos 0-0 Chelsea

JT and Lamps joined Big Nick and SWP on the bench on a freezing night in Athens that hardly warmed the cockles of anyones hearts let alone any other bodily parts. Possibly our worst display since Rosenberg and, even though Kalou could have nicked a win in the final seconds, a draw always looked the likely outcome.

Still, its better than a defeat and puts us in a good position for the return leg in a fortnight but it was dull dull dull dull dull.

The BBC match report is here

Chelsea 3 - 1 Huddlsfield (FA cup 5th Rnd)

2008-02-16T15:14:00.008Z

Its a strange line-up for the Blues given the opposition and the fact that everyone is now back and most are fit. Drogba, Chec, Ash & Joe Cole, Ballak, Malouda and Maka dont even make the bench. Ess, Rickey, Sheva, Anelka and Hilaro are the subs, so Chlesea line up with Carlo in goal, Ferreira, Ben Haim, JT (making an incredibly early return) and Bridgey at the back. Lamps, Jedi and Sidwell across the middle with Kalou, Pizarro and Scott Sinclair up front. AG's clearly got a trip to Greece on his mind. Frank Sinclair makes a long overdue return to the bridge at right back for Huddersfield and gets a warm welcome from the crowd

The first half is all Chelsea with lots of slick passing which is capped off on 17mins when Lamps drives in a scuffed Scott Sinclair cross. That’s his 100th Chelsea goal. Its 1-0 and cursing but not all that that effective - Lamps has some pretty tame strikes from well outside the box and when Sidwell tries the same things he skys his shots well over the bar - he's rubbish even in this company..... and then right on half time its 1-1. A lifted pass from Chris Brandon finds Michael Collins in behind Ferreira who keeps his cool to fire past Carlo. That's the last effort of the half and leaves the Blues looking stunned as they trapse off.

No changes as we start the 2nd half however its Huddersfield who start the brighter and a another cross field pass in behind Ferreira almost opens Chelsea up. Kalou then has the ball in the net after 10mins only for it to be ruled offside. Still Chelsea press and on the hour Lamps drives into the box this time and nets a rebound after his initial shot is parried by Matt Glennon on the Huddersfield goal. Its 2-1 but still not comfortable. It should be now though as Sinclair nets after Pizarro dribbles past the whole Huddersfield back line but that effort is also ruled out for offside.
It’s looking better now though as Kalou latches on to a pass from Lamps and darts into the box before slotting the ball home under Glennon. 70mins gone and that's 3 - 1. Sidwell is finally removed (not before time) on 75mins to be replaced by Sheva in what looks like a switch to 4-4-2. In the final 10mins Essien replaces Lamps and then Anelka replaces Pizarro so they can bth get a run out but it’s all over.

Into the quarter finals and now off to Greece - come on you Blues !

Archbishop claims introduction of Sod’s Law is inevitable

2008-02-14T17:25:00.002Z

The Archbishop of Canterbury caused controversy today by claiming that the adoption of elements of Sod’s Law into UK law ‘seems inevitable.’ He claimed that Sod’s Law had a strong hold over many marginalised groups within the country and that it would create sense of unity.
Dr Rowan Williams told Radio 4 that the law could apply to many areas, such as toast landing butter-side down or three buses arriving together after a half hour wait. He stressed that ‘nobody in their right mind would want to see the more extreme application of Sod’s Law such as the unemployed man who threw himself under a train with the next weekend’s winning lottery ticket in his pocket.’
Politicians were quick to oppose the Archbishop’s ideas. Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, told journalists that to fragment British Law set a dangerous precedent, unaware of the pigeon dropping on the shoulder of her brand new suit. Leader of the Opposition David Cameron condemned Dr Williams’ views to the House of Commons, but Sod’s Law dictated that the Members’ Bar had just opened so no MPs were in the house to hear it.
Sod’s Law has already been introduced in some parts of the UK. New Welsh secretary, Paul Murphy, introduced his own version of the law in Wales this month. From 1 February ‘Murphy’s Law’ dictates that anyone who applies for a public sector post will be interviewed by panel that includes the driver you crashed into on the way to the interview or an ex-girlfriend who found you in bed with her sister.
Ironically the Archbishop’s comments caused grave offence to one Muslim cleric who immediately issued a fatwa calling for ‘the infidel leader’s wicked tongue to be struck from his mouth for suggesting that there could ever be any other law other than the one true code of ‘Sharia Law.’ But as luck would have it, the microphone had just broken so nobody heard him.
Posted on Newsbiscuit: 9 February 2008 by MitchellAdcow

Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool

2008-02-10T19:30:00.000Z

... two points dropped at home on a day when Man U were beaten at home is a cause for serious depression. Add to that, the fact that it was possibly the dullest game at The Bridge thus far this season and Arsenal, playing tomorrow, can go 5pts clear on the Mancs and 8 points clear of us makes it even worse.

A weakened Liverpool without Torres and a host of others were there for the taking and had we got the penalty that everyone but Mr Reiley saw when Mascherano took out Joe Cole in the first half things might have been diffrerent - but they weren't

The BBC called it a "gritty goalless draw" which did little for the differing aspirations of either side. I just call it a dull disappointment

Newsbiscuit hits the spot again

2008-02-05T16:51:00.000Z

Are you getting tired of polls and pundits telling you the likely outcome of elections only for them to get things spectacularly wrong ??

Over to NewsBiscuit for another slice of 'on the money' irony

Polls predicting pollsters will get US election wrong, may be wrong

Key national opinion polls in the 2008 US election race may be wildly inaccurate according to a new poll of opinion polls. However, pundits have predicted that the new poll will prove to be wrong as American voters take to the polls in the next round of US primaries.

Cole Lymon of McBride Munro McBride conceded: “We got it wrong in Iowa, we got it wrong in New Hampshire and we got it wrong in Michigan and Florida. But I am totally confident that we will get it wrong on Super Tuesday. Of course there is always a chance we might get it right, but that would be such an abberation, that that would actually be wrong as well.’

Sol Brockstein, a commentator on NSBC’s Election Round-Up, and a former blogger for the Clinton campaign, penned a strongly worded letter in the New York Times in which he condemned ‘the more lunatic fringes of the polling community’. His attack appeared to be aimed at those pollsters who had predicted a landslide for Democrat John Edwards in Iowa; a late swing to Republican Fred Thompson in New Hampshire and a possible win by an outsider in Michigan. Among the outsiders named were Osama Bin Laden (due to misprinted ballot forms), Justin Timberlake (not running) and John F Kennedy (who was assassinated in 1963).

Analysis of the early polls by research firm Hudson Hall concluded that there were too many pollsters involved in the elections, although, conflicting research by the Hayz Institute in Michigan concluded that voters felt they weren’t being polled enough.

And yet the average American has now been polled at least seventeen times since the election campaign began. By the time the battle moves on to the race for the White House the entire American population will have been polled at least fifty-six times and will have changed their mind an estimated 70% of the time, usually while actually being questioned.

Cole Lymon adds: ‘I think that pollsters, pundits, bloggers, opinion formers, lobbyists and marketeers have overlooked an underlying characteristic of the American voter. Sometimes the shit they do is just plain weird.’ Frank Trudeau of pollsters Lupus agrees. ‘The bottom line is no-one really knows what the American people are thinking, or indeed if they are. I don’t know, what do you think?’

Posted: 5 February 2008 by darkbill

Pompey 1 - 1 Chelsea

2008-02-02T15:23:00.000Z

Down to the south coast to find Diarra and Glen Johnson getting a run out against their old club whist Defoe also starts for Pompey having made a transfer deadline day move. For the mighty Blues, Ashley replaces Bridgey and Be-Hiam comes in for the suspended Carvahlio.

The first half hour is end to end stuff with chances going begging for both teams but Chelsea should be ahead when a header from Ballack, from a Belletti corner, is cleared off the line by Niko Kranjcar. Then a moment of madness from Maka sees his pass intercepted by Baros but but Ballack dives in to save the day. The final action of the half sees an Anelka shot smothered by David James.

The second half starts as a similarly even affair until on 55mins a Maka clearence finds Malouda whose long crossfield pass is coushioned into the path of Anelka by Joe Cole for the opening goal. However it doesn't last long as a hoof from James is flicked on by Baros into the path of Defoe who despite looking offside, still slots home on his debut. It's 1-1 and Pompey have their tails up. Avram responds on 73mins by replacing Malouda with Pizarro as the Blues go 4-4-2 (ish) - Joe Cole and SWP go wide. Its end to end stuff with 15mins to go, first Defoe has an effort brilliantly closed down by Cech only for Chelsea to go straight up the other but SWP drags his shot wide. Its 89mins and Defoe skys a pass from Diarra to miss a great chance for Pompey to win it and then on 91 minutes a Belletti corner is met with a thumping header from Alex but its straight at David James.

... and that's it, a great second half for the neutrals but on a day when Man U dropped 2 point to Spurs, we've squandered a chance to close the gap.

Chelsea 1 - 0 Reading

2008-01-31T10:57:00.000Z

... and it could have been five - Ballack and Makalele were just awesome and for an hour Reading barely got a touch. However it wasn't five and too many step overs, dummies and showboats meant that the last 10mins were more tense than they needed to be.

A Ballack free kick and a sweet curling shot from Joe Cole were just the opening acts before a sweet header from Ballack opend the scoring. With half-an-hour gone, Ferreira delivered a perfrct outswinging cross for Ballack to rise above both Ingimarsson and Hunt to make it 1-0.

The Joe Cole chant of "he's here he's there, he's every f**kin where" gets changed to "he's here, he's there, he's shaggin everywhere, Ashley Cole, Ashley Cole" - nice to see the home fans giving Ash their support ;-)

It was nearly two within 12 seconds of the second half when Joe Cole again outpaced the Reading back four but his shot flashed wide. Anelka wasted a couple of good chances, Ballack missed with a carbon copy hearder and Reading huffed a bit at the end - but Cech was rarely troubled (in fact I cant remember an actual save) and the game kinda just petered out.

Wigan 1 - 2 Chelsea

2008-01-27T16:55:00.000Z

Through to the 5th round thanks to Anelkas first goal of the season and deft assist (I hate that Americanism !!) to SWP for the second in an otherwise dour affair.

The Blues started the better on an awful pitch and could have been one up inside 50 seconds but Joe Cole curled a through ball from Sidwell just wide of the upright. After that it all got a bit scrappy and messy until a moment of brilliance in the second half, when Belletti lifted a through ball over Titus Bramble and into Anelkas path for him stab home from 12 yards.
In an incident of extreme refereeing myopia, Makelele was caught across the throat by Michael Brown yet neither Rennie nor his linesman saw the assault - amazing; one for the video panel I hope (.... but doubt). Anyway, it was all over on 82mins when Anelka lost Kilbane in and squared the ball for SWP to sidefoot home through Kirklands legs. Sibierski's got one back for the home side with a nice swivel and shot from the edge of the box but it was too little, too late and the mighty Blues go marching on !

Everton 0 - 1 Chelsea ( we win 3 - 1 on agregate)

2008-01-24T09:40:00.000Z

A big night (for Everton) at Goodison Park and it was a no surprise that they were really up for it' and came out with all guns blazing. That said it was SWP who had the first real chance seeing his shot from the edge of the box get deflected for a corner. Cech saved a 6 yard box scramble following a Lescott header and that seemed to spur Everton on again but in reality, the Blues were bossing the half with Anelka, Malouda and Belletti all going close.

Within a minute of the second-half starting, Anelka found space on the edge of the box and drove a shot that rattled the Everton bar. SWP had a shot cleared by Lescott and it really looked like a goal was coming however once again Everton rallied and we needed to good saves from Cech to keep the Toffees at bay.

And then it was all over.... a pin-point cross field pass from Malouda dropped beautifully over Joe Cole's head, he brought it down and in one movement rifled the ball past Howard.

That was it; game over and we're on our way to Wembley - AGAIN!!

Thousands of points knocked off football league tables

2008-01-23T16:00:00.000Z

I just love Newsbuscuit...

The sharp fall in global markets spread to the Premier league this morning as hundreds of points were knocked off the totals for teams in soccer’s top flight. Manchester United fell seven points while five points were knocked off Arsenal’s current league total, putting the London club back on top of the Premier League. Chelsea dropped to fourth after a 12 point fall in the value of their league record so far and a corresponding collapse in the value of their goal difference.

‘Me and the lads is gutted to be honest’ said Wayne Rooney from the Manchester United training ground. ‘We thought the points was in the bag, but then you can’t take nothing for granted in this game. That’s football isn’t it?’

Worst hit were Derby County who saw a massive 112 point drop in the value of their points leaving them on minus 105, and facing an almost impossible task ahead of them if they are to avoid relegation in May. Across the major European leagues the fall in league totals was even more severe, with the value of away wins halved in La Liga and Seria A. But there were some signs of Blyth Spartansrecovery after lunch. In England’s Blue Square North League, clubs rallied after a shaky start and Blyth Spartans even increased the value of their league total to beyond what is mathematically possible at this stage of the season.

‘This is what happens when football gets too commercial’ said Alan Hansen on BBC’s Citywatch Extra. ‘Look at the replay of the Chelsea accountants transferring stocks to high risk bonds. There’s no cover there at all. It’s schoolboy stuff, if you want cash up front you needs solid investments in your reserves.’

Final Score from Wall St; Nasdaq 2; Hang Seng 0 (Dow Jones sent off 61 mins).

Posted: 23 January 2008 by newsbiscuit

Birmingham 0 - 1 Chelsea

2008-01-21T09:32:00.000Z

Had to scramble to hear this one on the Internet - long story - and it certainly sounded / looked like we were lucky but in the end 3 points is 3 points.

A headed goal from a corner, late into the second half, from that goal machine (NOT) Pizarro settled a match that we should have won at a canter and really only ended up scraping. Still championships are won by teams that can 'win ugly' and we're showing that even with the absence of so many first team players, we can still do that.

Now off to Goodison for the so called 'meaningless semi final'; meaningless my a**e !!

Come on you Blues

The greatest action story ever told ...

2008-01-18T17:57:00.000Z

Chelsea 2 - 0 Tottenham

2008-01-12T19:03:00.000Z

..... or 'Le Sulk' est arrive

If ever Spurs had a chance to break their woeful sequence at the Bridge it was today. Still no Lamps, Sheva or Terry and with Drogs, Kalou, Essien and Jedi now away for the AcN, it was good to have Malouda back and a pleasant surprise to see Maka return early (so no need for Shoddy Sidwell). All this and the anticipation of Anelka who starts on the bench.

Its all Chelsea from the start, Joe Cole whips in an early cross but Pizarro is AWOL then Malouda skins Chimbonda but his cross is too high for SWP (playn in midfield again). With just under 20mins gone Belletti ambles through the Spurs midfield and responds to the crowds calls to shoot by unleashing an unstoppable drive from over 30yards that flies into the top corner.

Spurs start to press up their tempo but there's no real threat. Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng rugby tackles Joe Cole an amazingly get s off with just a booking and on 30mins Malbranque dives a volley at Cech (this proves to be Spurs ONLY shot on target). Joe Cole out on the right and SWP beavering away in the middle are having a great game and SWP almost makes it two before Ballack has the ball in the net, from a Malouda cross, only for it to be ruled offside.

The second half continues much like the first but the biggest cheer goes up in the 54th minute when Anelka replaces the hapless Pizarro. We look a different side and 4 minutes he almost scores with his 3rd touch in the game after a neat back heel from SWP sets him up. On 69mins Spurs get a free kick for a Ballack foul on Lenon and Berbatov swings the kick just wide. It seems to spur (pardon the pun) us back into life and 10 minutes from time, Joe Cole's run and pass allowed SWP drive low into the bottom corner.

2 - 0, game over and it could have been more. Its now 74 league games unbeaten at the Bridge and with Le Sulk looking a little bit tasty, who's to say the title is a two horse race. Come on you Blues !!

Can you really beta a car !!

2008-01-09T13:36:00.000Z

.... apparently you can according to a post in the FT which explains that the electric car company set up by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk has been struggling to produce an advanced transmission for its hotly anticipated sports car. To avoid further delaying the launch, it has now opted to launch a "beta version".

This is how new Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori explains it:

To help speed delivery of cars, we will begin production in 2008 with an interim transmission design. These transmissions will meet high standards for reliability and durability, but the car will not meet the original performance spec for acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 5.7 seconds instead of the promised 4 seconds. When the final transmission is ready, we will retrofit all cars, at Tesla’s expense, to meet the promised performance specifications.

Its a good job that its primarily Silicon Valleys finest - like Larry Page and Sergey Brin from Google - who are at the top of the Tesla waiting list. They'll know all about living with beta products

You couldn't make it up :-)

Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton

2008-01-08T22:39:00.000Z

Back from my short break and straight into a Carling Cup semi against Everton. Still no Cech, Lamps, Maka, Sheva or Terry through injury as well as no Drogs, Kalou or Ess due to early ACN release requirements. Jeez, we're looking very thin on the ground but at least Carvalio is back, Jedi gets to play his last game before he gets ACN'd and Malouda makes an unexpected return

Despite being well under strength, the first half is all Chelsea with Ballack and Jedi having their best games of the season and its no surprise when in 26mins, SWP picks up a clever Malouda pass, swivels in the box and curls a peach past Tim Howard. It was nearly 2 - 0 three minutes later when Joe Cole was tripped on the edge of the Everton box and Ballack's free-kick shaved the paint off the far post with Howard beaten.

Everton came out strongly in the 2nd half (they had to really) but again it could have been 2-0 when SWP shot straight at Howard with the whole goal to aim at. On 59mins, Jedi makes a one footedl challenge on Neville and is shown a straight red - UNBELIEVABLE - Jedi's rep is preceding him now and it looks like he cant even put a tackle in. Unsurprisingly, this is the catalyst for Everton to up their game and on 66mins they equalize when Yakubu lashes in a loose ball after Hilario flaps (again !!) at a James McFadden's free-kick.

Its all kicking off now - Neville floors Malouda for an obvious second yellow but scampers away so quickly that the ref does nothing. Everton continue to press and could have got a second when McFadden cuts through the Blues defence but is cross-shot hits the post.

10mins to go and we're coming back now with a final push so its strange that AG takes off first Pizzaro for Sidwell and then Cole for Ferreira and it looks like we're settling for a 10 man draw with only SWP up front. But it turns out to be a masterstroke and on 92min, Ballack hits a hopeful overhead kick across the box and SWP amazingly out-jumps the 6'2" Lescott to cause him to head into his own net. Lescott could have made amens in the last few seconds when clean through o n goal but his touch let him down and Hilario smothered his tame effort.

So, 2-1 and back to Goodison for the second leg - maybe with Anelka up front :-)
Come on you Blues

On hols - so only got mobile footie updates ....

2008-01-05T17:30:00.000Z

..... however

Fulham 1 - 2 Chelsea
Seems like another disastrous first half - we clearly don't like mornings, followed swiftly by a halftime rocket from AG and a much better second half. Links below
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7163891.stm
SKY - http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_2848168,00.html

Chelsea 1 - 0 QPR
Battle of the cash rich was ultimately won by a fluky Pizarro goal but, in truth, the mighty Blues never needed to get out of first gear. Links below
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7163956.stm
SKY - http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_2925850,00.html

Now comes the tricky part where we loose Drogs, Kalou, Essien and Mikel to the ACN to make an injury hit squad even weaker. Its gonna be a tough few weeks

Xmas round up

2007-12-24T12:17:00.000Z

Blackburn 0 - 1 Chelsea 23/12
A tough away trip to Blackburn on a freezing Sundy afternoon but we're back to winning ways in the league with Joe Cole finishing off a sweeping counter attack in the first-half to settle what always looked like a trickey fixture. Blackburn pressed hard for an equaliser but only really looked threatening once Cech was subsititued with a hip injury to be replaced by the cross-flapping Hilario. He did however pull off a superb save late on to deny Roque Santa Cruz and keep Chelsea in touch with the Arse and Mancs.

Chelsea 4 - 4 Aston Villa 26/12
An 8 goal thriller for the neutral but 2 home points dropped if you're a blues fan (even though its now 72 games unbeaten at home). In a woeful first half, where the Sheva / Pizzaro partnership was as ineffective as the Cole and Kalou wing play, Chelsea were already 2 down when Ballack (on for the injured Lampard) was pushed in the area in the 44th minute. Zat Knight was sent off and Sheva buried the resulting penalty giving hope for a better second half

Within 15mins of the second half it was 3-2 after a Sheva pile driver and a sweet finish from Alex (Sheva was having his best game - OK his best 20mins - to date) . But the drama was just beginning. Rickey C is rightly sent off for a 2 footed lunge on Agbonlahore and Villa came back into the game to score from a whipped in kree kick whilst our defence had a boxing day snooze - but there was evem more to come. On 88mins Joe Cole was felled in the "D" and Ballack curled in a low free kick for 4-3. Surely it was 3 points now but no - in the 91st minute a floated ball into the box once again caused panic in our makeshift defence and Ashley Cole was adjudged to have handled when heading off the line. He is sent off and, even though the replays are far from conclusive, that'll surely be a one match ban. Garreth Barry nets the resulting penalty and its 4-4.

More pantomime than football match and now the issue will be, with 9 first team players injured or suspended, who will AG put out on Saturday against Newcastle.

Chelsea - Newcastle 29/12
That we can put a reasonable(ish) side out at all is amazing with no Cech (or Carlo), Ash, JT, Carvalio, Maka, Lamps, Malouda, Sheva or Drogba. So its Hilario in goal - a back 4 of Belletti, Ben Haim, Alex and Bridge - Ess, Ballack (capt) and Jedi in the middle - with Kalou, Cole and SWP up front. So its no surprise that Newcastle come out all guns blazing, looking for an early break. The home fans sing "stand up if you're not in jail" for the banged up Joey Barton and the Blues look to have weathered the early storm.

The first good chance of the half falls to Kalou on 18mins after a mazey run from SWP but its well saved by Given, and 2 mins later Jedi has a deflected shot equally well saved. Its all Chelsea now and Alex has a header from a Joe Cole free kick saved but a minute later we're ahead after Essien pounces on a loose ball in the Newcastle box. The lead should have been doubled on 44mins when a whipped cross from Cole is headed into the side netting by SWP but the half ends 1-0.

The 2nd half starts with Butt almost putting through his own net from outside the box but he makes amends within 10mins by bundling in an N'zogbia cross. Chelsea have a chance immediately to restore the lead but Kalou heads tamely at Given and Newcastle press again - its all got a bit frantic. Strangely, and to a chorus of boos, Pizarro comes on for Joe Cole on 65mins - Kalou goes out wide. But Newcastle are back in this game and we're struggling. Duff almost makes it two as first Rozenhal and the Owen comes on for Smith and Martins. There's only one side that look like wining this .... and its not us. Now AG really has us confused as he takes off Ballack and brings on Scott Scinclair. Sections of the the crowd chant "you don't know what you're doing" and they may be right. However with 2mins to go, a shot from Jedi is deflected by Pizarro into the path of Kalou who slots the ball home (... though he looks well offside in replay). Sidwell comes on for SWP as there's 4 added minutes but its not enough for Newcastle and the Blues scrape home to the news that Man U have lost to West Ham - Game On !!.

You better not pout, you better not cry

2007-12-21T09:32:00.000Z

probably the best of the Xmas ditties

Have a great holiday everyone

On to the Carling Semi's

2007-12-20T11:40:00.000Z

Chelsea 2 - 0 Liverpool

Goals from Lamps and Sheva sealed a good win against the Scousers and passage into the Semi finals to play Everton - but the match will be mostly remembered for an absolute horror tackle from Peter crouch on the Jedi for which he was rightly shown a straight red. A two footed, off the ground, studs showing lunge that would not have bee out of place in a kung fu movie or Eric Cantona video. That Rafa Benitez could come on TV and claim that he thought Crouch had been provoked and that worse challenges go unpunished is as laughable as it is disgraceful. You can be sure that if it would have been the other way round, jedi wold have been vilified in the press for weeks to come.

Liverpool never looked threatening and in reality it was heading for a pretty comfortable 1-0 win for the Blues even before the sending off. Sheva sealed the tie with a late strike from acute angle after a pass by substitute Michael Ballack playing his first game for over 6months.

Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea

2007-12-17T10:17:00.000Z

Off to the Emirates on the back of a 16 game unbeaten streak but expecting the worst - no Drogba, Carvallio, Essien or Malouda and Arsenal with almost all their first choice players back. So it was no real surprise to leave with our first defeat since February 2004. It was made even worse by loosing JT to a late challenge from Eboue - Tal Ben Haim coming on for the remaining hour of play.

Though the Gooners will never admit it, a draw would have been a more realistic result given the manner of their goal - a rare howler from Cech to let in William Gallas to head home unchallenged from a 47th minute corner - and the golden opportunity that SWP missed to equalise from six yards. Almunia also saved well from Lamps in the first half and pushed over a Sheva free-kick in injury time. Arsenal did have the ball in our net twice more but both were ruled out for offside and fouls respectively.

Six point off the leaders now and a disappointing day all round - lets hope JT's injury isn't as bad as it looked.

Chelsea 0 - 0 Valencia

2007-12-13T10:00:00.000Z

A meaningless tie, set off by some pretty dull and meaningless football. Granted we had all the play and all the efforts of note, Canizares saved well from Lamps, Sheva (yes Sheva !!) and Pizarro. Joe Cole hit the post, while Salomon Kalou managed to hit the crossbar from only six yards out (a skill he seems to be perfecting - much to our anoyance).

Still, group winners at a canter .....and we weren't expecting that when JM left after Rosenborg.

Gary Moore (a very young and jazzy version)

2007-12-09T15:02:00.000Z

As many of you know, I'm a big fan of Gary Moore. Of all the guitarists I've seen, his speed, versatility and technique just blows me away, not least because, unlike many modern players, he has such an original style. So I'm really indebted to a friend who sent me this youtube link

Its a very young Gary playing with Colosseum II (with Don Airey on Keyboards, Jon Heisman on drums and John Mole on Bass). This was where I first heard/discovered Gary Moore and the video is from a BBC "sight & sound in concert" broadcast. Its incredibly self indulgent jazz rock from the seventies - who ever gave Gary that stage gear should be shot - but his playing is a taster of what was to come.

Enjoy

Chelsea 2 - 0 Sunderland

2007-12-08T15:25:00.000Z

Home again to face Sunderland and three changes from the win against West Ham. Sheva comes in for Drogba (who'll be out for several weeks due to knee surgery), SWP replaces Sidwell to play in a 3 man midfield with Lamps and Jedi and Wayne Bridge makes way for Ashley Cole.

The opening 10mins is a relentless blue onslaught with 5 corners and Kalou hitting the crossbar. Both Sheva (coming too deep) and SWP (getting caught in possession) look out of sorts but its Sheva who settles first when on 20mins he gets on the end of a floated Kalou cross to head the blues ahead. Its 32mins before Carlo has to make a save and it comes from a scuffed Kenwyne Jones (their only real threat) shot. The half ends 1-0 and its almost too easy.

Second half begins with no changes, the continuing Blue torrent is matched by the now torrential rain. Its coming up to the hour and Sunderland are getting back into this game - loads of Blue possession but no cutting edge and the visitors are growing in confidence. Pizzaro comes on for Kalou on 66mins and that signals a change to 4-4-2 but Sheva's a passenger now and his touch is getting worse. SWP is still not doing enough in middfiled and keeps loosing the ball in dangerous midfiled possitions. We're gonna struggle without Drogs, maybe buying Anelka in the window is not such a daft idea.

On 73mins, and from a whipped in Lampard free kick, Alex is pulled back by Higginbotham and Lamps buries the resulting penalty 2- 0 and its all over now. Joe Cole goes off on 85mins to be replaced by Sidwell and its back to 4-3-3 with Pizarro on his own with Sheva and SWP on the left and right..... and that's how it finishes (despite Lamps hitting the post from a last minute drive).

Another home win, the unbeaten streak continues and no doubt we'll see a few kids (and maybe even Ballack) against Valencia on Tuesday night.

Come on u Blues.

Its been a busy (and successful) week ....

2007-12-03T15:12:00.000Z

Rosenbourg 0 - 4 Chelsea

A superb away win and qualification as group winners, with Drogba effectivly killing the tie in the first 20mins with two superb goals. It was an hour before Rosenburg even got into the game and by then it was all over. Alex and Joe Cole chipped in with the other goals.

http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea180706/index.html#/page/FixturesAndReports/article_1178602
http://www.chelseablog.com/2007/11/29/champions-league-rosenborg-0-4-chelsea/

Chelsea 1 - 0 West Ham

a tough old London dery - a scrappy and bad tempered first half gave way to a much better and more fluid second half performance from the Mighty Blues and was ultimately settled by an excellent Joe Cole goal from a Drogba flick.
Not a classic by any stretch but 70 games unbeaten at home

http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea180706/index.html#/page/FixturesAndReports/article_1180681
http://www.chelseablog.com/2007/12/02/premier-league-chelsea-1-0-west-ham-united/

Derby 0 - 2 Chelsea

2007-11-24T17:24:00.000Z

Off to Derby for the late Saturday game with a chance to close the gap on Man U having lost 0-1 to Bolton earlier and Man City who scrapped a late 2-1 win. JT and Ash are back after injury but Drogba now joins Rickey C on the treatment table with a knee injury. Sheva, Kalou and SWP make up the attacking options whilst Carlo is still in goal. Jedi, Sidwell (in for a rested Essien) and Lamps in the middle.

Very sluggish start and nothing much happening until 17mins when a beautiful end to end move is finished off with Sidwell sliding in Kalou for one nil. Plenty of movement between SWP and Kalou and on 29mins SWP skins Griffin and snakes into the box but fires straight at the keeper.

The boos ring out anytime JT, Lamps, SWP or Ash touch the ball and frankly, even though we're all pi**'d by the England result earlier in the week, this is a bit pathetic - Derby are sitting deep, hoping to avoid a drubbing and that's just making their supporters even more restless. They're nearly punished on 38mins when a cross from SWP is headed straight back to Kalou by Derby's Claude Davis but Kalou skys it high over the bar from 10 yards out when it would have been easier to score. That's the end of a scrappy firts half and it really should all be over by now - let's hope this is not another Everton.

No changes for the mighty Blues in the second half but its Derby who start the brighter with a good chance for Fagan after just 5mins. Suddenly the Derby fans are singing rather than booing and Chelsea are rocking a little. On 64mins, JT gets caught napping and Kenny Miller loops the ball over Carlo but its (wrongly) ruled offise - we're extremely lucky to get away with that one and need to get a grip !! With 20mins to go it looks like the grip's gonna be coming from Essien, but Sheva goes down heavily (yes he is still playing - though you might not have noticed) so the change is delayed. In the intervening 5mins, Sheva chases back, wins a dodgy tackle and then releases Lamps who takes an age to get a shot away which hits the post only for SWP to slot in the rebound.... and now Essien comes on for Sidwell for the last 15mins.

Lamps comes off (for Pizarro on 89mins to predictable boos from the Derby fans only to be replaced with a loud chorus of "super frank" from the travelling Blues fans. But there's a final twist as Essien gets a straight red in the 92nd minute as he fended off Kenny Miller while attempting to shield the ball by the touchline. Its a sour end to an otherwise workmanlike away win.

You need hands - just hands

2007-11-13T17:07:00.000Z

Is green the new black ?? .... I hope not !!

2007-11-12T16:43:00.000Z

Having just come back from a week of discussing 'green IT' with folks in Silicon Valley, I have to admit to being a little worried and frustrated. Two things bother me.

Firstly, whilst there seems to be a fair level of activity and some well intentioned chest beating and lobbying, there is a distinct lack of agreed process and structure to many initiatives - which is surprising from IT folks. If there is one thing we're supposedly good at, it’s all the 'metrics, process and standards' stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not diminishing the commitment or intent, but from what I saw, there seems to be only aspiration targets being set and no common method for measuring or comparing progress.

As you would expect, the most successful initiatives have a positive business case but most of these reached their tipping point as a result of the available subsidies and not from an underlying commercial commitment.

Secondly, and perhaps more worrying, is the spin around the IT industry about being "seen to be green", which extends to the shameless re-branding of existing solutions as "Green technologies". The most blatant is the current spin around virtualization. This is great technology, be it VMware, Solaris Containers, SWsofts cross platform solution or whatever flavour you like, but its hardly new and was only recently classed as 'green'. If I recall correctly, it was originally about improving utilisation and speed to market.

Now as an industry, IT is an easy target - hell we still have Y2K and he dot com bomb to live down so the last thing we need is being seen to be jumping on a green bandwagon. So let’s be sensible here. The technology community has a huge responsibility here to both reduce our current consumption (by our, I mean our organisation - IT footprint might go up to deliver overall corporate savings) and drive innovation to find new power sources and processing options/methods. Let’s make sure however as technology and business leaders we measure effectively and realistically, take justifiable credit for the right things, avoid the seductive voices of a 're-branding quick fix' and accept the challenges of this inconvenient truth.

JMHO

Chelsea 1 - 1 Everton

2007-11-11T14:03:00.000Z

Back to the Bridge and this time with no Terry or Cech, Malouda doesn't even make a bench that has Sheva, Kalou and Pizzao but no Ashley Cole. The wide two are Joe Cole and SWP with Carlo in goal..

Chelsea start the brighter but its a scrappy first 15mins. Stephen Pienaar misses his kick to waste a great chance for Everton and at the other end Drogba has a neat free kick move with Lamps charged down. Rickey goes down heavily on 20mins and then spends the next 10 minutes hobbling around as a midfield passenger whilst the bench work out what to do - eventually he makes way for Tal Ben Haim. Everton are hanging on now as first SWP then Lamps have two great chances - the second bringing an equally great save from Tim Howard. Right on 45mins, Bridgey and SWP break from no-where down the left and the ball finds Drogba 5 yards out from an open goal which amazingly he misses.

Out for the 2nd half, no changes for the Blues, but Everton bring on Anicheb and McFadden for Neville and Yakubu - Everton are going with two up top but again its Chelsea who start the brighter of the two. SWPs having a mare - good positions but his crossing has been woeful and its no surprise when he's replaced by Kalou on 63mins. Lamps chips Howard from 25yrds and brings another amazing save from the Everton keeper and from the resulting corner the ball is cleared off the line - it looks like one of those days - its all Chelsea but the ball just wont go.

And then, just wen you though it would never come, Drogba comes to the near post on 70mins from a Kalou corner and he buries the header past Howard and its 1-0 to the Blues !!!

This is the new Chelsea, so no sitting back, on we press, looking for more, Lamps goes close from a mazey Joe Cole run and then Drogba does likewise but hits his shot tamely at Howard ... but yet you're always worried that the old Chelsea will return and throw this away. And then it happens. To be fair, an amazing overhead from Tim Cahill beats Carlo with two minutes to go. That's the price you pay for not taking your chances. The home record stays intact but it feels like a defeat.

Schalker 0 - 0 Chelsea

2007-11-06T21:36:00.000Z

A very lackluster performance from the Blues (.. in day glow yellow). Schalker came out firing on all cylinders - fighting for their CL future and the future of their manager - and frankly Chelsea never got going. Belletti was run ragged for most of the night until he was replaced by Essien when the Jedi came on Midway through the second half. Cech had to leave the fray at half time with a calf injury that makes him doubtful for Saturdays visit of Everton.

All in all a tough night in Germany, far from impressive, very lucky at times (save twice by the woodwork) but Chelsea scrape through with a vital away point.

Wigan 0 - 2 Chelsea

2007-11-03T16:27:00.000Z

Still travelling but at least this time I've got the BBC 5 live commentary online to keep me updataed on the progress of the mighty Blues.
Here are the text flashes from BBC online

1450: TEAM NEWS Chelsea make three changes from the side that beat Man City 6-0 last week. Shaun Wright-Phillips comes in for Joe Cole, left-back Wayne Bridge replaces the injured Paulo Ferreira and Florent Malouda starts ahead of Salomon Kalou. Wigan drop striker Antoine Sibierski and bring in midfielder Michael Brown in their one change.
1511: GOAL Wigan 0-1 ChelseaDidier Drogba finds Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right flank and he crosses for Frank Lampard to finish into the bottom corner.
1517: GOAL Wigan 0-2 ChelseaJuliano Belletti runs from well inside his own half and is allowed to advance to the edge of the Wigan box where he unleashes a glorious 25-yard shot which flies past Chris Kirkland.
1541: The Chelsea fans are happily singing the Great Escape as half-time approaches at the JJB Stadium. Victory will leave Chelsea three points off the top.
1546: HALF-TIME Wigan 0-2 ChelseaEasy for Chelsea.
1600: Chelsea's players are already out at the JJB Stadium. Bit keen but the games underway at 16:03
(ed) Second half under way and Wigan are pressing hard to get back into this game. Chelsea are not making much of a fist of the second half and its all Wigan
16:32 Kalou on for Drogba (who's carrying a yellow and is flirting with a red given his antics) and Sidwell also comes on for Essien
(ed) Looks like Wigan have run out of steam and Chelsea are happy to see this one out as it stands.

Chelsea move within 3 point of the top two (Man U and Arsenal) with their 7th consecutive win - Come on you Blues !!

It's goning to be a bit quiet here for a while - I'm travelling on business

2007-11-03T14:00:00.000Z