Chelsea F.C [2009-2010]

[cfdemarco]

ESPN is reporting this morning that you guys are going to sign Aguero in January, and that the player has already agreed.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=704616&sec=england&cc=5901

 

[Siawash]

Yeah, I dont know where ESPN got their bull**** from.

I would love for Aguero to join us though. :P

 

[pede54]

Bit late, but great to get the 3 points from the Wolves game. We completely drubbed them. Essien is amazing. The whole team are giving off that vibe again, and when you're in the stadium you can actually feel it coming from the pitch. Sounds wierd but it's true.

Good 1-0 against Porto. We did all that was needed, no more no less. That leaves us top of the group and that's perfect.

Kakuta looks an exciting player indeed, and I agree with all your comments Zak. I wonder how such an amazing French youngster was missed by Wenger. Nice one.
I hope he gets a game against Arsenal on Sunday, and we get to see a bit more of him.

Fully fit squad for the Arsenal game (except Bos of course), and Carlo say's his best 11 will start, so here's to another 3 points. I don't just want to beat Arsenal I want us to outplay them, and lay to rest the bollocks that Arsenal are the only team in England who play football.

In front of everyone watching I want Chelsea to outclass anything that they try to do. I want complete domination of the game. I want an emphatic win.

Saying that, I will take a 1-0 to us and I don't care if the game is sh1te.

C'MON U BLUES

I think it deserves a mention that all the players and directors of both clubs have agreed that they will all give a day's wages tommorow to the Great Ormand Street Childrens Charity. Thats a kids hospital here in London who do amazing work and need financial help to function properly. Well done to all involved.

 

[Filipower]

F*ckers.

 

[Mandieta6]

Arsenal had more posession, but they couldn't break us down in the 1st half and we had the better chances, 2 goals from Cole's crosses, which is simply awesome considering how much booing he's being subjected to. Drogba with a great finish and another from Vermaelen. We've looked dangerous in our counters towards the end, when we were playing better, and I can see us scoring another or even two more if we're allowed more counters.

Arsenal are pressuring the players a lot, and Mikel's had a few problems, he's much better when the rhythm is slower, but defensively he's been solid, as have everyone, a good game all-around, although it's definitely tough.

EDIT: Walcott on for Song, Arse have so many men at our half that they can be on our defensive players in an instant, and we're losing a lot of balls this way. A terrible Drogs backpass ended in goal after some chaos but it was ruled out. We need to add some composure, we're defending better than any team in the world and being adequately dangerous in attack, but we need to do just a bit better.

RE-EDIT: And Drogba with a fantastically taken free-kick makes it 3-0 with 4 minutes to go. A defensive display that could be taught to young footballers, excellent game from pretty much everyone. Arsenal can have all the possession they want, they have hardly made me worry throughout the match.

 

[Arnau]

class finish by vermaelen.

 

[bluesforever101]

chelsea forever baby...3-0, yet another good day for us...we've got this season in the bag whenever we beat united again

 

[Mandieta6]

So, best defense in the league with only 8 goals conceded in 14 matches, we've nullified the high-scoring Arsenal at the Emirates. 5 points ahead of ManU, 10 from 3rd placed Spurs and 11 from Arsenal, probably 8 with their match at hand. 13 from Pool and Villa and 14 from City who we face at Manchester next week.

Oh, and we've scored 36 goals in the league, as many as Arsenal, although they do have an extra match to play.

 

[pede54]

I don't just want to beat Arsenal I want us to outplay them, and lay to rest the bollocks that Arsenal are the only team in England who play football.

In front of everyone watching I want Chelsea to outclass anything that they try to do. I want complete domination of the game. I want an emphatic win.

C'MON U BLUES

I think that was pretty close to what I imagined to happen

The weather didn't help either side,but we murdered them.

They'll have plenty of moans of course, and we'll have even more than them.

Decision wise the ref was as bad for chelsea as he was Arsenal.

Great game to be at. Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 3.

40,000 Arsenal "fans" walk out after 70 minutes or so. Are 40,000 fans trying to tell Arsenal something?

That also ends Arsenal's "Unbeaten at The Emirates Stadium" record. Karma.

 

[adedawson]

I have to admit Chelsea are looking sharp. Only 5 points clear at the moment and I hope it stays that way.

I figure if were going to catch up, January will be our chance. Time will tell I guess. Hoping our experience and our strong performances in the latter half of the season will get us another successive title.

Essien
Drogba
Mikel

You have plenty of cover in midfield of exceptional quality. The only player you will potentially miss is Drogba given the form he's in now. 11 goals already.

The unthinkable could also happen as it often does in these heated games for country and end up with injuries. Sods law.

 

[Mandieta6]

I think all 4 men will be missed, but Essien and Drogba especially. I still don't know who will step up to take Drogs and Kalou's place, but I think Ballack and Belletti can cover the DM position if Matic isn't quite there yet. We don't necessarily need a typical DM either. Hell, I've seen outr strikers defending in our own half, and Cole and Malouda doing some handy defending. The whole team is defending as a unit, so losing Drogba will probably be the biggest hit. It's an opportunity for catch up to his partner in the league.

I can see us going one of two ways. Either we go for direct switches, and Borini (Sturridge) and Matic take their places, or we play with one striker in a more structured chirstmas-tree formation, with Deco and Cole or some other variation behind Anelka.

Unfortunately United have an easy January, too. Although they face Arsenal at the Emirates on the 31st, but they'll push us on, and I hope the motivation will keep us winning.

 

[adedawson]

Sorry I totally forgot about Kalou. Another big loss.

I agree Drogba's your main worry. But even that isn't such a big deal given how Anelka did last season and this season for that matter.


------------anelka------------
------------------------------
malouda---------------Joe Cole
------------------------------
------Lampard----Ballack------
------------------------------
-------------????-------------
Cole-------------- Bosingwa/Ivanović
-------------------------------
-------Terry-----Carvalho-----
-------------------------------
------------Cech--------------

Something like that? Deco in there somewhere. Defo be maloudo and cole at wide, then something in the middle? You will be in trouble if you have any injuries.

 

[Mandieta6]

I doubt it. Ancelotti prefers to have more mobility in the middle, and I don't think we'll play with wingers. It'd work, but I think Carlo will go for a variation of what we're doing now. The 4-5-1 is completely different and I wouldn't mess with the tactic since it's working well.

 

[adedawson]

That's the United in me crying out for wingers haha

Be interesting to see who he picks. I hope it doesn't work out

 

[Pogba4Now]

Even without these 4 players Chelsea has still got some quality players. Only problem is if someone gets injured, there might not be enough backup. For eg. if Anelka gets injured will Borini or Sturridge be able to step up for the first team?

 

[pede54]

Well we managed ok last season while the ACN was happening, and this year won't be any different. In fact this year we are a much stronger club, and much more together. By this time last year if you remember, Scolari had fu<ked us up pretty good. The situation this season is vastly different.

I can understand that everyone else in the league was hoping that the ACN would help their club's season and perhaps derail ours, but really you only have to see where we are as a club, to appreciate that we are ready for all eventualities.

Look at our fixtures during that period too. Hardly the worse teams to face in the league are they? No, now Carlo is settled in and everything has clicked into place at last, we will not be dropping any more points to those teams.

Then again we always have the option to spend a few million in the January window if we want to, much to Wengers annoyance. What an embarrassing prick that man is by the way. No class at all.

So if we need to buy then we will, but I really do not see any reason to do so. Our squad is strong enough and deep enough to cope very well as it is.

Also, not every team will make it to the final of the ACN will they, so some of our players will return sooner than others, as they did last season.

People are clutching at straws if they think that the ACN is gonna make a dent in our season. I've even heard a few so called pundits, who should know better joining in with it. They are usually the ex-Man U or ex-Liverpool or ex- Arsenal players though, so their wishful thinking is understandable I guess, even if it is bullsh1t.

Do you know what else is in our favour this season? The rest of the teams below us are in a worse state than they were last season. We are much stronger this time round. The first half of last season we were in a mess. This season it's everyone elses turn to worry.

C'MON U BLUES

 

[Mandieta6]

Lineup against Blackburn:

Hilario
Belletti - Ivanovic - Ferreira - Zhirkov
Ballack (c) - Mikel - Malouda
Cole - Deco
Kalou

Bench: Turnbull, Bruma, Hutchinson, Matic, Kakuta, Borini, Drogba

I would have preferred for Iva to be rested. Zhirkov, great, giving Turnbull some time might've been nice, although Hilario is our 2nd choice, so no probs. Very disappointed not to see any youngsters starting. I know Blackburn are fielding a strong team, but I would've still liked to see at least 1-2. Hoping for Matic, Kakuta and Borini to come off the bench.

Now looking for a stream.

 

[Sevillista]

Well we managed ok last season while the ACN was happening, and this year won't be any different. In fact this year we are a much stronger club, and much more together. By this time last year if you remember, Scolari had fu<ked us up pretty good. The situation this season is vastly different.

I can understand that everyone else in the league was hoping that the ACN would help their club's season and perhaps derail ours, but really you only have to see where we are as a club, to appreciate that we are ready for all eventualities.

Look at our fixtures during that period too. Hardly the worse teams to face in the league are they? No, now Carlo is settled in and everything has clicked into place at last, we will not be dropping any more points to those teams.

Then again we always have the option to spend a few million in the January window if we want to, much to Wengers annoyance. What an embarrassing prick that man is by the way. No class at all.

So if we need to buy then we will, but I really do not see any reason to do so. Our squad is strong enough and deep enough to cope very well as it is.

Also, not every team will make it to the final of the ACN will they, so some of our players will return sooner than others, as they did last season.

People are clutching at straws if they think that the ACN is gonna make a dent in our season. I've even heard a few so called pundits, who should know better joining in with it. They are usually the ex-Man U or ex-Liverpool or ex- Arsenal players though, so their wishful thinking is understandable I guess, even if it is bullsh1t.

Do you know what else is in our favour this season? The rest of the teams below us are in a worse state than they were last season. We are much stronger this time round. The first half of last season we were in a mess. This season it's everyone elses turn to worry.

C'MON U BLUES

Um, wasn't the last ACN two seasons ago?

 

[pede54]

Whatever.

ARGHHHH...the dreaded penalty shootout. Even Ballack, a German FFS, missed!!! Don't think I would have let Kakuta take the last one TBH. That was a big risk that did not pay off. We missed JT, Lamps and Ricci for sure, but hey, it gave the other lads a runnout I guess.

Blackburn played their best game of the season, and frankly deserved to go through IMO.

If Wenger wants to see a really over physical team he needs to watch Blackburn. They are the team who crock your players.

We lost Kalou tonight and had to play with ten men because Carlo put on all 3 subs for the second half. Silly thing to do but pinpoints the fact that Carlo wasn't taking this game too seriously. We almost lost Kakuta too after some kamikaze tackling from Rovers.

Ferreira, Ivanovich and Zhirkov all gave very disjointed defensive performances in a makeshift defence, which cost us dearly. I hope they all learned something tonight. Crazy game indeed.

I'm glad thats out of the way TBH. Our reserves will have to wait their turn to play now that they are out of this cup. Shame because it was a useful way to keep those players match fit.

 

[Filipower]

O PAULO FERREIRA MARCOU?