Premier League: Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea

It was a great game to watch and all the players seemed to be really up for it. I hate to see Chelsea concede on set pieces. Fulham's only real opportunities of the game as well.
The Drogba/Anelka partnership looks amazing and they will have to save our season.

Lovely job Mark. I stand as one of those who having supported them through 37 years of mostly heartbreak with occasional flushes of brilliance can see Jose's legacy being dismantled further. Who is the chimp? It's so much like the film "Awakenings" its quite disturbing. A comatose patient is bought back to a fulfilling life for a brief time and then as familiarity with the treatment kicks in, the patient returns to its comatose state.

The rumour mill suggests that Roman might me about to pull his horns in even further due to the economic situation and pressures from his homeland. I don't worry too much about that because I'm convinced we'd be snapped up by a similarly well off organization, but one can't help but sense change is in the offing. Sacking Scolari would be daft so soon, although when did common sense ever prevail in football? I like the guy, but am becoming less convinced of his ability within the EPL and whats needed to win such a competitive and hard league. His faith in Deco is simply stunning especially as to my mind he's less effective than Sheva was.

As for Joe Cole, what we're seeing is the decline of a player who has lost faith in himself because the coach has no faith in him. A common occurrence and when/if he leaves we'll all be standing back and moaning about why he's suddenly come good again. I'll disagree on Malouda with you as well. He's fucking shit, and lazy. I agree we need an option to perfect the cake, but he's not flour, he's cement. Sell him and promote Sinclair. He couldn't be worse.

We need 2 or 3 out and 3 in or promoted. We might still win the league but Liverpool were mightily impressive today and they despatched Bolton as if swatting an obese fly. They may slip up but at the moment only United look capable of closing the gap. Sad but true.

I think this summer will see some big changes at Chelsea, in ownership possibly and subsequently another season of Scolari. Our dominant days have been and gone.

Sorry if the previous comment seemed a bit miserable, but I'm fucking fed up of the PR spin from the club, and the piss poor excusues from the players and management. I just don't sense any

fight
spirit
anger
passion
desire
disappointment
drive
hunger

Just for once I'd like to see a player or someone come out and say its not good enough and we know it. I'm just not seeing how 'bad is the new good' and how the powers that be at the club can describe our current position as 'progress'. Like you say Mark, if I go to work tomorrow and work 15% less effectively and try telling my boss that its actually better, then it'll soon be 'thanks but no thanks' time (which might happen anyway if the rumours are true!) .

If Avram Grants results weren't good enough then if the current trend continues its hard to see how Scolari's can be considered good enough. Am I in the apparent minority of people who are desperately crossing everything in the hope that Scolari (agreed on no more endearing terms) does have a strategy and will be given the time and funds and support to put in a legacy of sustainable success?

I think Blue Champions' review of this game is closer for me. You are right in that first half, we were particularly slow in waking up, but going a goal down didn't depress me. For the first time in quite a few games, with Anelka and Carvalho on the pitch within the first half, I felt confident that we could come back from the deficit. Deco was awful in that half, but otherwise I felt we were making regular chances and just needed to finish them off.

The second half was a vast improvement, and we deservedly got two goals. I think the mistake here, in hindsight, was the substitution of Joe Cole for Kalou. I know that it was just before Lamps scored his second, but that in turn left us unable to switch formation due to the injuries. I think, had we waited a minute or two longer, replacing someone with Ballack to shore up the centre, or taking off Bosingwa and replacing him with the steadily defensive Ferreira.

Fulham got two chances and scored from them. I think Terry's red, to an extent, cost us two points today (his organisational skills were missing today and that led to our lack of someone minding the far post for their second), as did injuries. Them's the breaks.

As I have said earlier, the result is not always as important to me as the performance. Today, we know we fully deserved the three points in the end, which is more than we can say for the games against Newcastle, West Ham and Everton. Lamps and Drogba played particularly well, as did Ricky and Ivanovic at the back. Therefore, when the game ended, I stopped watching with a decent amount of optimism remaining.

A loss to United in a few weeks, realistically, ends our chances of winning the title, in my opinion. I'm confident we can go there and get a draw, which would have been fine had we won this game. I never expect a win from grounds like OT. Having both Terry and Ricky together at the back for the first time in months will be a massive boost. Southend will be a welcome warm-up.

Just in conclusion, then (I'm good at running out of space): if we draw or lose with United and/or Liverpool, at the moment we're looking like finishing third behind Liverpool and United (in whatever order). All our home games, on paper, should be victories, and need to be now, but we have yet to play at Old Trafford, Anfield, the Emirates, or Villa Park yet. We need to start getting victories at difficult grounds like that in order to still have a chance of winning the league this year. Let's hope we start in January!

Id love us to make a £30m offer for Villa and Silva at Valencia in the next few days.

A top quality striker and winger, one 27 and the other 22.

Scolari simply is not good enough to compete at this level. He needs to drop Deco and play the 9 untouchables again.

In a few weeks Man Utd will move ahead of us and Liverpool and stay there for the rest of the season.

Great report Mark....

Loved "during the last week he’s been busy perfecting his technique for hitting a short bloke on the head from a distance of 10 yards because none of his corners managed to clear Andy Johnson."

Had me in hysterical laughter.

I want to see some passion in the side, and right at the moment it isn't there.... A win at Old Trafford is now a pre-requisite for any success this season..... A loss, and we could be 6 points behind the Scousers.

Only bright point for the day, is Stuttering Spurs losing to the Baggies!

Great report Mark. Loved the references to his bald headed chimp whose only use is to be shoved in front of the cameras and translate Phil's poor English to the players. Either that or you were referring to the sight of Miniero. Remember him, that other inspired Scolari signing along with Deco. We wonder why Roman's unwilling to let Phil loose with his chequebook!

GOOD:
1. Lamps - When the team is built around him there's no-one better in world football in his position. Two goals, should have been a hat-trick but for a sneaky Aaron Hughes hand and he ran the show. Has been criticised for showing a lack of passion as captain but today he had a never say die attitude and level of fight which has been missing from the side under Phil.
2. 45 - 75 mins - Totally dominated the game and we played some really good stuff. A throwback to the Jose days of wave after wave of Blue pressure as we looked to turn a defeat into a crucial victory. Abandoning this plan with the introduction of Kalou only invited Fulham onto us for the last 5-10 mins. I know Jose would have stopped at 2-1, but unlike Phil, he knows how to close out a game.
3. A Cole - You either love him or you hate him and i love him. He may be a bit of a c*nt but he's one of our most passionate players and seems willing to fight for the Chelsea cause, that or his 100K/wk? But he's the best LB in the world and is playing very well at present. I wonder how Bridge feels, sitting on the bench with his 5yr contract in his pocket?
4. Mikel and Ivanovic - Both understated in their play, yet both continue to turn in Rolls-Royce performances. Mikel will be one of the best midfielders in the world and if given a chance, Ivanovic could continue the legendary CB partnerships with JT after Gallas and Ricky.
5. Crowd - Up until the last minute equaliser, they were great. I personally love the fact that they're beginning to mock Phil's subs as i also think Phil is here for the cash. Soon they'll be chanting Jose's name!

BAD:
1. Phil - Why feel the need to change a winning side? Malouda, i agree gives us some balance, thanks to his left foot but he was patently unfit and only until the return of the Anelka, Didier and Joe triumvirate did we begin to dominate proceedings. As for dropping Ballack for Deco. That was a joke, which cost us 2 points in my eyes (wait for point 2) and his blatent favouritism of Deco must piss off players and fans. I did see a couple of disapproving looks and some abuse hurled by Didier after the latest Deco set-piece smashed into Andy Johsnon, or his latest attempt at a 60yrd hollywood pass ended up in the crowd. He must surely be dropped and if we see him at Old Trafford then i fear our midfield getting overrun.
2. Deco - He's just shit. He didn't offer anything in terms of attacking threat or set-piece ability (that Wigan free-kick looks more and more like a fluke. Must have been a wayward cross!) and without the height and power of Ballack at set-pieces, we always looked vulnerable. He's gotta go but who'd take him? Phil's policy of handing out contracts to any Portuguese speaker, no matter how shit (Deco, Mineiro) makes him look worse at handling the transfer market than Ranieri, he of the signing of Jokanovic, Veron and Neil Sullivan!
3. Set-pieces - Why was it that Portugal got knocked out of the past 3 tournaments under Phil? Oh yeah, it was because they were awful at set-pieces. We were the masters of set-pieces, defensively and attacking-wise under Jose, but now we look like a pub side. We struggle to beat the first man or balloon it into the crowd when sending in a "dangerous" attacking free-kick (only a danger to the man in the wall's bollocks or those in the crowd with a hot drink in their hand) and defensively we're all over the place. I wonder what Phil's teaching them in training?
4. Title race - Our hopes will be decided on Jan. 11 at Old Trafford. Anything but a win and i think the title will again be adorned with red ribbon.

So another 2 points dropped and i get the feeling some are gradually coming aorund to my view that Phil is simply not good enough to win us anything. That will cost him his job in the summer and i for one won't be shedding a tear. I'm not saying he sould get fired now, but no trophies = no job, when managing Chelsea. He just doesn't inspire the confidence i had when under the Special One's leadership. Watching Jose's interviews on SSN this week only reminded me of the knowledge, passion, intensity, tactical nous, daring and sheer genius of Jose. As for now, all i see is an old manager stuck in his old ways who breeds confusion. We've looked lost at many times this season and Phil just doesn't hack it in my opinion. I've never taken to him like i did with Jose, and since his honeymoon period, i've gradually grown frustrated, annoyed and sometimes fucking angry with him. Watching another confusing sub like taking off Mikel, or watching the side waltz around not showing any of the passion evident in the title winning years, or seeing him pick Deco AGAIN no matter how shit he's been and then keep him on...it all just reminds me of the Avram season.

I first began to think he wasn't good enough when we looked clueless against Liverpool. Was it just a blip? Nope, from then on we've been worked out and he hasn't changed anything. He blamed it on injuries, but in the past we've had a siege mentality to get us through it and continue the relentless pursuit of trophies. However, his friendly, relaxed and in my opinion lazy style of leadership lost us that efficiency and ruthlessness and now we look miles away from being Champions. Not in terms of points but in terms of performance and consistency.

I do think he'll last the season but come the summer we will be looking for a new manager and an overhaul of the squad. My bet is on Frank Rijkaard. I still long for the return of Jose because if Blur can put aside their differences to reunite then so can Roman and Jose :)

Great report but i have to disagree with some of it. Firstly we don't need be balanced with playing wingers all the time. Like in the WBA game, create a diamond in the center, with Joey playing just behind strikers and it'll be clicking better. We have great full backs, Bosingwa and Ash, they like to get up front and watching Joe's abillity is wasted at the wing is even more irritaiting than watching Malouda and Kalou being absolutelty annonymous from the start to the end.

And why on earth Scolari dropped Ballack? Maybe Deco is Felipe's son or something? Michael had great game at the beginning of the year 2008 and guess where? At Craven Cottage of course.

I guess more fans were angry at the change because Cole was getting better with every minute, creating chances and driving with the ball through Fulham defence. He should have dropped Deco of course (remember that he became player of the month in September? Happy times!) and put Ballack. Kalou got on the field and i don't know if he even got a touch on the ball!

Summing the 2008 year up - it gets me even more angry at the club because we didn't promote anybody from academy or reserves. Youngsters had a great run at FA Cup last year and why Scolari is putting Ferreira or Belletti (instead of Stoch, Sinclair..) while we're winning 2-0 is still a mistery for me.

As Kenyon said in Blue Revolution movie - Chelsea was looking for somebody (to be the manager) with winning mentallity. So, as far as i'm concerned, Scolari doesn't have that at all. And what is even more suprising, sadly, it is getting to our playrs as well. No hunger, spirit and passion at all. If that's the way they're doing it in Brazil, then they should have no fucking chance to win any world cup trophy.

I didn't see both games; some interesting developments:
1) His Highness back in his Exalted postion:-Scoreboard.
What with? A Goal Against a relegated team. Typical. Swerving Freekick?
What the lauding NeoMuppets here overlook is the fact that it came after 6000 attempts(counted).
2) I wouldn't give Sco a penny to spend on new players. Get the best out of Deco first! Ok. Good taste on Robinho, but, he wouldn't be as effective at Chelsea as he is at Citeh. He is benefitting from being their focal point.
3)I expect Big Phil to be gone way b4 our Juv. fixture.

Oh god! Oh god! Oh god! Give me another whiskey you bastards! This mad experiment to play attractive football and win everything with style (instigated at the start of the season before last) that so discomforted Jose he was happy to leave, that brought us the insane appointment of Avram Grant, that then led (lagely through player preference according to Avram) to Scolari, his chimp, and the Samba style (in the bleak English midwinter for chrissakes) has so torn our squad mentally we are falling apart. Winning positions are conceded to lesser teams, points thrwon away and we're left with the prospect of another manager swap in the near future. The Scousers marched through the streets to support Fat Benny when his position seemed threatened, because he had delievered (c/o Gerrard) the Champs Lge and an FA Cup and his grind 'em out style promised stability that would come good in the Prem one day. It is looking like it will. Only the long serving SirAlex can challenge them realistically. Venger has blown his own credibility (too much smoke up his arse from media). And us, who were set to dominate for years to come? We'll be busy rebuilding for several years at this rate. Someone tell me its all a bad dream.

Morning all

A most frustrating afternoon; not may have left Craven Cottage with points this season, but to concede a winning position like that isn't good at all. This comes down to general fitness, concentration and sharpness which, I think we're all agreed, aren't quite what they were a couple of seasons ago.

Tony - I know that Joey must be frustrated that Scolari is showing little faith in him, but it worries me that every time he starts a game, he is breathing through his arse after 60 minutes - whether it is the fitness folk who aren't doing their job or (I suspect this is more likely the case), Joe is still of the opinion that his talent will see him through without someone kicking his backside every time he gives the ball away / has a bad game, but he is going backwards at a rate of knots. 3 years ago, he'd have walked into any Premiership team, but now? Looking at the league, I genuinely couldn't see him as anything more than a bit part player for anyone down to and including Villa.

The recurrence of injuries to key players could be down to a number of things; age (and the level they have performed to in recent years), returning to action too quickly - maybe Fergie's "Chelsea are too old" quote was a little more relevant than we liked to believe at the time? His ramblings are usually written off as 'mind games' in the Sky era of stock quotes, but the fact is the bloke does know what he's talking about.

There are questions for Scolari, no doubt, but it is also worth considering what he is working with. How many times has he been able to pick our (maybe also his?) first choice spine (Cech, Terry, Riccy, Lampard, Mikel, Drogba etc.) together this season? I think he has been shocked by the level of intensity of the league and his reliance on Deco is a worry at present (it must be remembered that he is the one player who knows the way Scolari plays inside out), but options are unquestionably limited at the moment.

(Continued...)

Every cloud has a silver lining, Liverpool may have won the battle yesterday but not the war. Although fighting your way to the PL title has been taking too literally LINK

oops I meant taken we need the edit back

The concern is that the team looks like it needs renewal and a new impetus which can be time consuming, expensive and painful. People assumed that Ferguson getting shot of van Nistelrooy was madness, but unquestionably it improved United no end. Maybe Drogba does need to move on in January (or the summer) along with one or two others?

Is Scolari the man to rebuild us? At 60, time is hardly on his side but it isn't impossible - but more specifically, the elephant in the room that only a few are mentioning here is Roman. Maybe it isn't just as easy as removing a very successful manager, employing a mate and then a coach untried in the league and demanding trophies with attacking football almost immediately?

I suppose when kenyon the Snake said We have the winning mentality which Jose made, the change of manager was supposedly to be friendlier with the media and footballing world as well as believing the rubbish about playing preety (circus) football. I assume we were to push on and keep on winning and playing like Arsenal...Well, we all know what is happening to Arsenal and as for the winnning mentality? Gone.....Roman is the owner and he has advisers and kenyon is the main one. So much for our domination of english football that the media and other teams feared......i was ok with Scholari because I thought he would carry on and shake up the established teams and media as jose did but I was utterly wrong. His post match interviws are quite frankly pathetic and he is looking and sounding more like Coco the Clown than a patch on JM. When I see and hear jose speak on interviews in and out of the Italian league, it just seems there is a gulf in footballing knowledge, tactics, nous and is way beyond Scholari and or any other manager including fergie, Rafa, Benitez or anybody else....I hope it is too early to start writing about the Rise and Fall of Chelsea Football Club because that is how it is looking already after only two years of Prem wins!!!!

Afternoon KJ - we'll have to agree to disagree on Joe Cole - I still see mental heartbreaking images of him tearing up the PL in an Arsenal shirt!

As for the rest I more or less agree. Fergie has seen everyone off and the only one I see who might challenge him is Benitez, who is looking very comfortable and has forged a pretty useful team. They may well blip, but can anyone see them falling like we have?

As for the elephant in the room, my source is no better than most but often there is no smoke without fire. And lets face it....would anyone be surprised?

Come on chaps is all the doom and gloom necessary? I know it was really frustrating to throw away two points at the death but at least for the first time this season when things were going badly we actually managed to shift up a gear in the 2nd half and actually create lots of chances and almost complete dominance.

We cannot seriously consider another mid-season change of manager, please.

@Clive - while we're on Scousers committing assault, did anyone else think Carragher's lunge at Michael Owen after about 10 minutes was not a millon miles different from JT's on Osman earlier in the week, except this one didn't even merit a yellow card?

@BBD
The one thing I've noticed this season with us and Liverpool, apart from a few games they've played pretty nice stuff and you can count those games on one hand. The rest of their football has been pretty dull and dour, but the one thing that they seem to have in abundance as well is... lady luck, and yes we all know we need that as well to win things.

I'm not making excuses for poor decisions that have gone against us, that have potentially effected outcomes of games. But there were two decisions yesterday that went in Liverpools favour again, Carragher being one, and Duff the other, given incorrectly offside for Owen's goal, and if I remember correctly would have made it 1-0 to Newcastle or 1-1

I appreciate that Liverpool murdered them, but did that defence look remotely like the defence that shut up shop against us, they were funnier than the Keystone Cops, you only have to look at Babels (who is Liverpools Kalou) goal to see the comedic value, all that was missing was the organ music that used to go with those classic film clips.

And just to point out the Christmas Table this time last year we were 6 points adrift of the Arse and 5 points behind Utd with an inferior goal difference and a buffoon in charge. I don't like being the voice of reason, there are more articulate/intelligent bloggers on here that do a far better job. But there's still half the season to go, (nothing profound in that statement) lets just wait and see.

I am going to vomit all over my keyboard if the word 'nous' is used one more time.

nous avons besoin de plus de bon sens

I am going to vomit all over my keyboard if the word 'nous' is used one more time.

I could really lower the tone with regard keyboards getting covered in things,
but I won't, I'm trying to be a more polite and kind person, except when it comes to Henry.

@ Clive - I agree that not all is doom and gloom but after so many years you tend to get a good idea if things are working well or not, and at the moment they are not. In my opinion. As the guy from The Times says - its not a blip but a trend. We all know we can still win the biggies but when it comes to the looks of the squads then Liverpools is looking at least as good as ours and Uniteds looks better than anyones. The fact is we have 3 away games to our biggest rivals, 4 if you include a confident Villa side and whilst I don't expect us to roll over for anyone its hard to see us winning those games at the moment.

I'll stick with my 2 or 3 out/2 or 3 in theory as to whats needed to give us that edge.

Deco and Malouda out seems a banker to me. Malouda has had enough chances and his heart is patently not with us. Deco is on the downhill part of his career - and its going downhill at a pace that Franz Klamer would have been proud of.

Interesting story about Stevie "Captain" G. and the bar room fracas. I doubt there was actually a brawl at all -- he just dived to make it look like someone hit him.

@ Mark

Yes, we do. I would add an expanded vocabulary, and personally, a new keyboard.

Fire Scolari? Wow, you'd think that Chelsea were about to make the drop.

I thought Gooners were supposed to be the permanently unhappy supporters! Chelsea have a great team and if you want to sell off some of your wide players (Jokeole, Malouda, or Kalou) I'm sure Arsenal would love to have them -- didn't Wenger make an offer for Kalou or something? Also, now that Cesc is down, if you're giving away a free Deco we'll take him as well.

Do you think it's possible, just maybe, that Fulham have put together a damn good defensive team? I do. Their goals against record is fourth in the league, one off league leaders Liverpool. So, maybe it's not so much that Chelsea played poorly but that Fulham played well.

Jeeze, at least you still have a realistic shot at the title.

"I have always said that I was happy that Nicolas came to Chelsea," said Drogba. "But I still don't understand why coaches are scared to play us together." (France Football, 1900 BST)

Seems to be puzzle even for the players

@Tony
I think you're spot on when you say that you get a good idea when things are not working well. I agree there is cause for concern in some aspects of our play, and team selection, we all waxed lyrical about Deco at the start of the season, but he's quite rightly being rounded on at present because he's a liability, and should be dropped.

Although I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and some more time to adjust, I think Herr Ballack had a similar start to his Chelsea career. But as far as Malouda goes I think he should be given away free with some packet of kids cereal, he had no stomach for the fight yesterday, he has no stomach full stop.

Your reference to squads somewhat surprised me because my navel grazing on Liverpool sites have confirmed the opposite to what you've stated. They seem to think we have the strongest squad with Utd second and them third, and I tend to go along with that. They seem to have little faith in their Kalou(Babel) Lucas, and a few of their backline who's names escape me. And Dirk Kuyt has caused more arguments amongst their supporters than Kalou has for us. As far as Utd's squad I find it hard to see from this selection from their game against Boro this evening...

: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov. Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Giggs, Scholes, Welbeck, Gibson, Possebon.

who would we actually want (apart from Rooney and Ronaldo) in our first team ahead of our first choice picks? Even Utd fans are now thinking they might have been done by Spurs for the £30 million Berbatov cost.

@JD
Just to pick up on your first paragraph on your post. Considering that's the first time this season we've conceded in the final minutes of a game and it occurred six times last season, surely that would indicate our sharpness, concentration, and fitness levels are better currently.

Bloody hell you can use stats to prove any point you may have ;-)

And once again the Mancs squeeze out a 1-0 in the kind of fixture they're supposed to win easily.

Remind you of anyone? (Clue: think back four seasons.)

They'll win the league, devil take the lot of 'em (with an extra sharp pitchfork for C. Ronaldo and G. Neville, one hopes). Unless we can beat them up at the Theatre of Yuck, that is.

An away draw at Fulham isn't per se a terrible result, given how well-organised they've become. What sticks in the craw is dropping two points thanks to a mistake, from a winnable position. But saying that means we have to sack Scolari ... Yes, it would be nice to have a manager whose team never gave up unpleasant late goals. Anyone got any names?

>>LTB...Anyone got any names?

1)I would go for Dunga. He doesn't always get results(with Brazil) but seems to prefer an organised-midfield(balacned team) that allows his star players to play their game. The players he tends to sacrifice(Diego, Lucas) to achieve this organisation would be untouchable in our case. He puts team balance before player interests.
Besides that would give us more possibilities of bringing in Brazial players.

2)My 2nd choice would be Wise or Shearer. I don't suppose Wise would fare any worse than his Bigness. And we wouldn't have any player power-problem with Wise in charge.

@ Hnery......."Wise as boss"

That's one of the most sensible things you have ever suggested on the blog.....Well Done! (And no, this time, I am not taking the piss.)

Whilst I don't think it is yet time to start discussing the end of Scolari, I believe Wisey (or someone of his ilk) is exactly what is required to get some belief back.....either that or we wait til Spam sack Franco Zola. It is past time for getting a bit of heart and soul back into the club, and if it means we don't achieve world domination for a couple of years, so be it!

And it also looks like Stevie GBH could be in a fair bit of bother. Doubt if it will happen, but 5 years is the max jail term, according to the Sun.

@ Tony G

I think we're on roughly the same page re Joe - my frustration is that we know he can do it, but just isn't hacking it on a regular basis - whether it is coaching or Joe himself that this is down to we can only speculate, but history tells us he is basically at his best when he's getting his backside kicked. He should be approaching his prime now - I'd hate to see him end up looking decent one game out of four for Newcastle or some other footballing backwater which is where he seems to be heading right now.

Despite his history, and with respect to Wisey, I suspect that the last thing both he (and we) need right now is a distinctly average manager with virtually no experience at this level (he's also crap without Poyet, something he has virtually admitted himself).

And Shearer? I presume that suggestion was made in jest, Henry?

Re Stevie G - section 20 assualt which is fairly serious stuff; not quite Joey Barton, but just below. Not good if he is guilty (for him, at least).

I have to say I'm quite enjoying the perverse pleasure in seeing Stevie Me in his tight predicament. This little gem by one Liverpool fan in the hope that perhaps bribery could be the order of the day.......

Head up Stevie, fuck I wished the next game was at home and not at Preston. What must be going through that lads mind right now. The club needs to step in and sort the mess out, Now.

@ KaiserJonny_II, I agree with you, Joe is only at his best when he has some one kicking his ass, like it was happening in JM times. The problem his, he behaves just like a boy, and sorry to say this because I know he enjoys lot of sympathy here....I don't like him. For a professional, at this level getting what he gets, his behaviour is simply not good enough.

Not a jest at all. Novices succeed quite often than not.(Ryikard, Capello@Milan, Vialli, Gardiola, Southgate,Ven-gerson,...)
-----------
Joey deserves more respect, he's good enough to play every 90 min. of every game. Its the managers that keep demoralising him.
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I sympathise with Steve G., its so easy to assault somebody; were this to be a real life discussion in some pub for instance, i would have assaulted at least somebody.:-). calling police for assault is pussy-y.

Report: Abramovich mulls selling Chelsea Football Club
(no access to the story)
LINK

The Metro has apparently paid the sub to access TASS - seems we'll find out if he loves us more than his yacht or not:

LINK

I think we should have a whip round on the blog and buy the yacht. The plus side of that is, we can all go to sea on a "jolly" and Henry wouldn't be coming back.

Clive
Try hunting sharks! ;-)
or charming snakes
or bungee jumping

It'll be fun!

JD-looks like you'll be doing 'Leeds vs. Chelski' previews in a min, with Jody Morris as our capt.

Henry
I would probably do quite well at all three, but Troll extermination would be a far better challenge, and more fun.

Novices may well succeed on the odd occasion, Hnrey, but plenty don't. Take a look at the list of names you've mentioned - most have either played or coached under the very best, and a degree of basic intelligence also marks them out from the crowd - that alone which probably rules Shearer out straight away; you only have to listen to 30 seconds of his semi-literate cliched nonsense on MotD to imagine what a disaster he'd be. I'd rather watch that particular car crash at Newcastle rather than Chelsea, thanks.

I found a Spanish site, that reports according to the Russian press, that the fortune from Roman decreased form 16,7 Billion to 2,3 Billion.

LINK

Down to his last 2.3 billion, eh? Blimey, my heart bleeds for him.

The point that most of the "Roman is going skint" stories don't seem to grasp is that the losses are primarily on paper, i.e. if he sold his interests off he'd lose X amount which is the case for more than half the country if they sold their properties / companies right now - appreciably it isn't quite as simple as that, but I doubt that Roman is about to go under just yet.

Also worth remembering that he pocketed several billion when he sold his share in Sibneft a couple of years back - I'd imagine there might be a few quid of that buried in plastic bags at the bottom of his garden for emergencies.

Down to his last 2.3 billion, eh? Blimey, my heart bleeds for him.
@JD
I was just thinking the same thing, but you beat me to it. But yes I think your correct the rumours of his impending slide to claim benefits and live in a pokey bedsit next to Henry, are a little wide of the mark.

With Roman, it may seem strange to say it but i do feel that he loves this club. Not like the Arabs who are out to gain some publicity for Abu Dhabi. Roman has invested time and money in all aspects of the club from the youth team, to the training facilites and the staff and players and is willing to plough money into the side for long term success. I don't think he'd ever sell us and imagine if we did get a new owner like the Arabs at City! The club just wouldn't be the same. We may have a couple more billion quid but i don't think they'd be as loyal to the club as Roman is. I still remember reading about how Roman invited JT and Lamps onto his yacht for a summer holiday and how he provides his private jet to fly the Chelsea boys home from England duty.

And anyway, as many have pointed out he's not skint yet. 2.3Bn will at least get us through this season and he's only 'lost' this money on paper and not by pissing away 10Bn of his 12Bn fortune. I have no doubt that he'll be hear for years to come and when this recession lark blows over in 2009 we'll see a return for us competing for the best players again and not the Kevin Davies of this world.

My request for suggestions for the next manager was, of course, a joke ... Needless to say there's no such thing as a manager who can guarantee that their team won't sometimes get beaten in the 89th minute. The grass really is proverbially greener if it's seriously tempting anyone to think of Alan Shearer. But then, of course, the manager we do have is always there to be blamed for the occasional draw, whereas all the managers we don't have are wonderfully spotless and blameless and certainly bear no responsibility at all for the fact that we drew away to one of the division's more resilient teams. So, they must be better. Right?**



[** NB -- joke. (Taking no chances this time.)]

Apparently Manchester City are ready to bid £8m for Wayne Bridge in January.
I hope to god this is not true. Bridge is on a 5 year contract and has been a great servent to the club. Also I know hate City and Robinho with a passion.

I now

Im starting to doubt Scolari and his thought processes. Ultimately, he would say that our season got screwed by Kenyon for the loss of Robinho. Who is to blame now?

Nice to see Phil keeping dressing room morale as high as possible:

LINK

"Luiz Felipe Scolari read the riot act to his under-performing Chelsea players during
a stormy meeting at the club’s training ground yesterday.

Sportsmail can reveal that a full-scale slanging match developed between some of the club’s star names during the 45-minute meeting after Scolari had asked his squad to air their grievances.

According to sources, ‘it all went off’ as players had a full and frank exchange of opinions in an attempt to rediscover the team spirit at Stamford Bridge that was so successful under Jose Mourinho.

The manager called the squad together for the impromptu session, held in the auditorium usually used for press conferences at the club’s Cobham training ground, to thrash out problems that have recently surfaced on and off the field.

Amid remarkable scenes, there was dressing-room fury with Didier Drogba as well as an inquest into tactics, morale and results.

Scolari passionately stressed the importance of team spirit and he still has the players on his side as he attempts to win the Barclays Premier League and lift the European Cup in his first season in English football.

But key players singled out Drogba after he went public with his criticism of and Scolari’s decision to keep him on the bench when the striker returned from his ban for throwing a coin at Burnley fans during the Carling Cup defeat.
Drogba, who is likely to be fined by the club for his latest outburst, claimed Chelsea did nothing for him when his grandmother died in June, but one member of the squad told him he was ‘talking ********’ because Chelsea hired a ‘private jet to fly him to the Ivory Coast’...

...Many squad members believe Drogba is one of the main causes of dressing room disharmony at the club and would prefer him to be sold in the January transfer window. Scolari and his coaching staff decided to address several issues following the disappointing 2-2 draw with Fulham on Sunday.

And, when the players returned to duty after Monday’s day off, the meeting quickly turned into a heated row.

‘Before we went to training, we had a good team meeting,’ said the boss.

‘Since Sunday I have had the chance to watch again the Fulham game and today with my players, we talked about all of that game before going out for a good training session.’

Although the Brazilian as admitted it has taken time for him to adjust to living and
working in a new country, he has not been helped by the attitude of some players.

Despite second-placed Chelsea’s healthy League position, there are fears among
certain players that the Stamford Bridge success story is in danger of being undermined by dressing-room strife.

Scolari is under huge pressure to deliver silverware, given the failure on all fronts of
his predecessor Avram Grant last season, but the hierarchy insist they are ‘100 per cent’ behind him.

From the beginning, Scolari has tried to foster a fatherly relationship with his players and has maintained an open door policy.

The club confirmed last night that the team meeting took place but insisted that Scolari’s position is not under threat. Chief executive Peter Kenyon believes the manager is being destabilised by certain individuals agitating for a move, but he is not prepared to sell them next month."

At least the players have got the frustration out of their system. Much like they did in the weeks after Avram started to fuck things up over Xmas last year and after that we went on an amazing run which nearly resulted in success.

Drogba is a constant menace with his press statements
and i think there should be a clause in his contract that sanctions his freedom of speech ,i don't know if its the hairglo or the hot comb that has fried his brain cells but he talks an awful lot of rubbish, grant put it that some Chelsea squad members have problems primary school going children should be left to solve,didier talks lots of rubbish b4 thinking .
he is always destabilizing the squad harmony, when it really matters.worst of all he caves in under immense pressure he did it at the ACN against BARCA and MANU..sell this hair glo monster before
london bridge falls down
LFS should be firm on referees, it is these referees who make the difference on who is going to win the leagues. a single stupid decision is enough to rob you the title and we have had plenty against us from penalties red cards to offside goals.
which were rare during joses reign.
i suggest he should also adopt joses tactics of openly criticizing referees.if referees are favoring Liverpool, say it. If Gerrard is a diver say it,If Rooney is playing rugby just say it .These will help put them under scrutiny and weed out these bad vices.
people are of the opinion that the title race should be left for manu and Liverpool because they are both on a record equaling verge .this notion of favorites is really killing officiating standards in football to the extent certain matches really look to be fixed.

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is eyeing WAGNER LOVE, snd LUIS FABIANO (Daily Mirror)
Fabiano is Scolari's first choice signing but Palmeiras hit-man KLEBER and (Daily Express)
==================================
Sacking Scolari would be a BIG mistake. He has a good taste; besides players not tactics win you games.
==================================
I advise Roman to get rid of anybody earning >60k/wk.
(Cech@£15m,Terry@20m,Calv10m,Ivan10m,Cashley15m,Lamp10m,Ballack10m,deco10m,Drog10m,Anelka10m,Bosing15m,Malouda10m,Kalou10m,Essien40m)= £170m, instead of selling the club for 200m

then get rid of Kenyon, if we're to break even by next yr.

That leaves him with Bridge, Obi, Belleti, Joey, Santos, Alex;
the buy Elano, Hernanes, Jaskalainen,Fabiano

Jaskalainen,
Younghusband, Alex,Mancien,Brigde
Joey(c), Belleti,Obi,Hernanes
Elano,Fabiano
4 englishmen, 5 brazilians ;-)
this will keep us in big 4.

I agree that the stories on the demise of Roman's fortune are greatly exaggerated. Perhaps I've been watching too many espionage films recently but while I generally subscribe to the cock-up rather than conspiracy theory of history I'm beginning to wonder if there is some attempt to suppress the "Roman to Sell Yacht or Chelsea" story in the English language press.

I see that the Metro's version of the story I posted the link for above has been withdrawn, and the only other newspaper link I found [for Daily Mail online] has also disappeared. Indeed trawling one of the online sports news summaries websites only turned up a Goal link which still works as of this morning [for anyone who hasn't managed to read the story yet:

LINK

Do I need to go lie down in a dark room/start celebrating the New Year early to relax more?

Fuck off, troll.

@55, obviously...

Right, time for my tuppence worth. I'm sure you've all been waiting with breath akimbo.

1 We're in decline. It needs to be said. This isn't drastic cos it happens if you stop investing in your team (see United four/five years compared with now; ditto Arsenal in reverse). But the team is ageing and has spent too long together, like any group that causes friction.

2 We're still incredibly strong. Don't forget. We're in the top five in Europe and top three in England. Let's not sniff at that.

3 We needed Robinho. JD might disagree, but we clearly lack sparkle and a world class creative player. We've never replaced Robben and Robinho would have made the difference in a lot of the tighter games we've played this year.

4 We were better balanced with Kalou and Malouda than we are with Joe Cole and Deco. Some people might not like that, but the stats speak louder than their bias.

5 Deco. The riddle wrapped in an enigma. He's both the cause and solution to many of our problems. I totally understand Scolari's desire to keep him playing because we really need what he offers - and he was a phenomenal footballer and i think he still can be for us - but he's utter shit at the moment. What to do? I say persevere, because the long-term rewards will be worth it.

6 Some sanity most be restored to our supporters. We are trying to alter our style of play; that will bring hiccups. We are bedding in our third manager in as many years and one who is new to the Premier League. These things don't happen overnight. To dump him now would be embarrassing and insane. Learn to show some patience people.

7 Injuries. Three years of them, no sign of improvement. This can't be a coincidence and it should be a very real concern. I still maintain it coincides with our move to Cobham.

8 Luck. We've not had much of it. To an extent, you make your own in the Prem, but we've definitely not been getting the breaks. It won't last.

Continued...

9 This is not a strong league and we can still win it. United have been utterly underwhelming, especially given their vast outlay and almost complete lack of key injuries; Liverpool are okay but have plenty of weaknesses that can be exploited; we're far from great, but still easily good and experienced enough to win.

However, the Chelsea of five years ago (or the United of 2007) would have won this title by February. It's weak and I think the days of three English CL semi-finalists is over.

Against the backdrop of a recession, this could be a pivotal season in the Premier League: if Villa qualify for the CL it could change everything, and not before time. I'd love to see a more unpredictable top six and it could be on its way. That might mean less finals and trophies for us, but it will be a lot more fun for everyone.

10 Dennis Wise is quite possibly the worst suggestion for a future Chelsea manager I have ever heard. I know things are changing, but show at least some ambition!

@BBD
The whole thing with RA does appear to be no more than lazy hacks scrambling around to find something juicy in an attempt to sir up the usual nonesense that people like to read about Chelsea.

If Roman does have so called money problems he's not alone in the financial world, there appears to be a long list of the wealthy taking hits. If the press seem hellbent on trying to stir it up for us, why aren't Utd's owners not making the news. Not that I'm an expert in the markets or read the FT but surely their position is far more precarious considering they purchased Utd on the back of Hedge Funds, and the interest repayments on their loans alone are fairly substantial.

And of course there are the two cowboys from Texas where it seems to have gone rather quiet on their financial plight with re-negotiating the £350 million loan with the RBS

Re: Hnrey's suggestion of 55. Peter Risdale anybody?

RE 61
At least one high-profile football club is surely going to get blitzed in 2009. Could be any one of 10 and is probably the one we least expect (ie, not us, fingers crossed).

@Pete
Henry knows as much about fooball, as I know about Quantum Mechanics and Particle String Theory

@ Pete

Morning - hope you enjoyed the festivities and all that...

Don't disagree that we needed Robinho or some such similar player, but Roman is clearly not in the crazy money market anymore which is sadly where those individuals dwell. I can't wait for the howls of anguish and derision on here demanding Kenyon's cock on a plate when City (inevitably) double our bid for Fabiano or whoever.

And your point 6 is bang on the money.

I would continue, but I'm just being presented with Peppa Pig and a half eaten breadstick by the small person of the house.

Hi mate, yeah cracking chrimbo thanks, and looking forward to an evening at home tonight playing Triv and waiting till 12.01 so I can go to bed.

All tempered somewhat by being stuck in the office today. Hope yours was good and may sanity prevail!

Someone wanted my cock on a plate once but eventually they had to back down and use a serving platter.

Interesting set of stats LINK

Chelsea has always been quick to offer official statements in response to rumours. Whats wrong this time. Probably the bloke hasn't been paid his wages and is on strike.

Afternoon Pete. Glad I'm not the only one sitting in the office today! Mind you it beats the madhouse at home.

Agree on most of your well made points bar 4 and 5. Deco should have shone more by now but its his attitude and arrogance as much as anything, If he really believes he can swan around like he did in La Liga then he is destined for miserable failure. Even Ronaldo worked out that hard work and team play counts for more than constant 'hollywood' passing. I think Ballack is far more effective in midfield than Deco, and Ballack can make the Hollywood passing work because he has a tendency to be more accurate.

Malouda is a busted flush (in my humble opinion)and we need to offload him asap and buy a suitable replacement. If this is the only spend we have then it would be worth it to get someone committed to the cause, especially as Scolari still seems reluctant to promote Stoch or Sinclair. Kalou - a frustrating and annoying Scarecrow, but there is talent beneath that dimwitted exterior and I'd persevere with him.

On the striker front, blood Di Santo or go for Owen. Job done.

In a nutshell, give Deco until the end of the season but as a bench warmer, sell Malouda, extra lessons and detention for Kalou to drum the message home (performance management we call it here at work) .

Happy New year all. Even you Hnery.

Happy New Year ..Chelsea

Well..I was trying to stay away from the disappointment of not winning 3 points at Craven Cottage. I was in a bad shape that i didnt want to accept that we had dropped 2 points more and had no intrest in reading Mark's coloumn. Sorry Mark.
I did find some courage this New Year eve and wish all my fellow Blues a very happy New year.

I just have a couple of observations from the match...Hats off to our one and only..."Frank Lampard". A true blue in his attitude and the hunger for goals/sucess is written in his football. I guess the whole team has the true attitude of his including Big Phil. I also would have liked to see Ballack at his supreme like last season. Scolari seems a bit harsh to him wen compared to the likes of Deco. Well.. I dont want to compare with harsh words to either of them since they are a part of my chelsea family.All i hope is good year for our Blues""...a Premier League Victory ... a Champions League Sucesss ...Tats all...

Sell Malouda and Alex. We should get around 15m quid. Then ask Roman to top up abit of cash and Scolari will have his transfer kitty. We can still try for Fabiano should we raise more cash from sales.

Happy New Year to all......

Looks like Wayne Bridge to City is beginning to get some momentum for anywhere between 8 and 12 million if you believe the papers.

Personally I think it would be a shame to let him go without at least trying the Bridge / Cole combination on the left hand side for a few games. They are both fast and skillful and far better at crossing a ball than Florent Malouda.

And once again Drogba has opened his mouth and stirred up another hornets nest, this time costing himself a weeks wages (100 grand (!)) in the process. Looks like we will be getting te sulky Drogba for the next few weeks.....That is unless they decide to cut their losses completely and offload him.

All this Drogbiada makes me sick. He wants to go he should go and stop damaging club, dressing room and game!

Sell Bridge and keep Malouda is shambolic!!!

@60 PeteW

Thank you for that utterly sane list of comments. I'm just about with you - having recovered from Fulham now - on ever point. And as Clive's stats link shows, we have most shots (I'm assuming that means on target) and the man who tries the most shots (in Lamps). Surely, we only need more of them to go in for all our problems to be solved.

And thank you all for such engaging and vital blogging over last year, clearly it's the best Chelsea site. Here's to another year of funny, dreadful and truly ridiculous commentary on the continuing drama surrounding our beloved club.

Happy New Year everyone...
This is yet another time in the football calender that pisses me off for 31 days.
We'll get rumour and counter rumour of who's going where and for how much, just looking at the gossip column on the BBC website has just filled me with utter dread.

Man City have been linked with nearly every player that are currently playing football, it wouldn't surprise me to see Obama touted as their next manager.

Roll on Feb 1st

Aye, afternoon and a Happy New Year to all.

Yes Clive, transfer window lunacy is here. So can I be the first to berate Kenyon for not signing anyone?

Has to be said, on a serious note, that Bridge to Citeh for 10-12m is very good business which we should take; can totally understand him wanting to go for regular football and he's 29 this year so why not make room for a youngster and boost Phil's spending power in one go? 5 plus years of very decent service, make a profit on him - job done, I say.

The official 2009 calendar features images from every squad member including Frank Lampard, Captain John Terry, Joe Cole, Didier Drogba, celebrating recent success and glories.

Is this a safe buy?

Happy New Year to one and all.

Not much to be added to Marks report and all the recent comments.

A short summary of what at various points during the week has amounted to War & Peace when running through it in my head.

Set Pieces - we can't take 'em and we can't defend 'em.

Teamwork - the Everton game and now the Fulham game while showing there is still heart and fight in the team seems to have exposed a lack of cohesion as though the team doesn't go through enough drills particularly defensively. So while individuals are doing well enough there is a weakness in team work.

Manure - Three 1-0 wins on the trot. We are by no means the only team still in third gear but they still have 9 points.

Romans money - Its a situation that needs watching. Yes he is still rich and his losses are paper ones but if I understand it rightly a lot of his businesses were highly leveraged and he has big problems with renegotiating finance. Ultimately Chelsea along with other sporting interests are businesses to which he has loaned money. As he is forced to unravel his business interests who knows what may happen. We need someone with financial expertise to help us out here.

Still the end of the year while tinged with darkness was brightened by receiving a Chelsea birthday card from my brother. When opened it plays "Blue is the Colour". My three and four year olds loved it and have learned it off by heart and made daddy proud by singing it to my oldest friend, a Gooner, while we were round there last night for dinner.

@ Clive #64

Were Particle String Theory musically related to String Driven Thing by any chance?

Were Particle String Theory musically related to String Driven Thing by any chance?

@BB
The only thing I know about Particle String Theory is the term itself, it just sounded good and adds to my pseudo-intelligence.

Now if you want to know about Event Horizons, and Black Holes then I'm your man. ;-)

£10m for Bridge!

Let's see what else we can throw at City, recoup some of our losses for the madness of Roman's first summer. If only we still had SWP to flog back to them, we might even have made a profit on the little sod!

Happy New year to everyone!!
i think selling bridge is a mistake peresonally. He is a british player who knows all about the English league and how to play derbies and how important some games are. I dont believe getting another brazilian who does not have the same feelings about certain games is not going to help us. Wayne is a top class player the type we should keep because he can take over from Cole when needed. i think this is a bad move. Who else is going to cover us at that level when Cole is injured? cettainly not a brazilian striker! let's not forget, we lost points because of letting goals in so our defence needs looking at. We cant believe we are going to score more than the opposition because we dont and we did not win under jose like that either. man-u are only scoring 1 goal a game at the moment yet they can now overtake us if they win their game in hand because they have not leaked goals generally as we have. Defence is the most important thing as the recent last minute goals against us has shown. this does not bode well. it seems Scholari has obviously failed to understand the league even after everything that has gone on in the last few months.

Our problem is scoring against defensive teams, not conceding (Fulham was an aberration).

If we have to sell to buy the only sensible option is to flog squad players that can be replaced by youth or Paolo Ferreira. Bridge, given that he is English and therefore can be sold for more than he is worth, has to be first out, despite how fond we all are of him.

Alex is the other candidate as he can be replaced by Mancienne or Cork.

Sahar could also bring in a couple of million, if we're lucky.

Bridge and Malouda's replacement: LINK

I think if we can add in Fabiano or preferbly Aguero in the summer, Scolari's Chelsea would be 100% and ready to roll.

@85 Jang - am I having a senior moment or does anyone else not even remember this "Russian Ronaldhino" from Euro 2008?

He was in my Euro Fantasy team! So he caught my eye (and was cheap).

Less flashy that Arshavin but had his moments.

I'm assuming Kenyon has already ordered 20,000 Zhirkov shirts

Even if he fucks the deal up, we can always shift the shirts - it's just what to do with all those Z's and V's that worries me...

We've agreed an undisclosed fee with Citeh for Bridge, according to SSN.

Sign Zaki would be start

Zaki would be an interesting one, real bustling battling old fashioned type of player.

How would our American fans react to having someone called Zhirkov in the team.......

Emile Hezkey anyone?

(runs for cover)

Afternoon TG - hope the NY celebrations were enjoyable...

Hughes is a scumbag. At the moment roman would listen to any bid. so why not bid for cashly?

Afternoon JD/KJ - yesterday I had the single most hellish hangover since.......Christmas Day. One of those that almost paralyses you with discomfort......must have been the buffet food ;-)

Hnery, lay off the acid mate.

Henry
Do you actually enjoy being ridiculed, or do you really believe the crap you write?

All this excitement about Zirkov seems to me simply dull. There are leagues in this world from where one should not get players. Russian league is one of them. Football there is EXTREMELY slow and players are below par in terms of physical strength and find it very hard to adapt to the speed of EPL. I thought we have learned it on Smertin.

To add couple more words I also believe that selling of Bridge is mistake. We should sell Malouda and link Bridge with Cole.

Tony-

How would Americans react to a player named You'rea Jerkoff? I think you have the answer right there.

I watched a lot of the russian team during the Euro's. I don't think he's that good. There is a reason that he doesn't score in international competition. I'd much prefer Arshavin.

I also think selling Bridgey is a good idea. Both Fereira and Ivanovic can cover the spot if necessary.

PLEASE could we have a blog without.... who we should buy, and who we should sell until the end of the season.

I don't ask for much, I contribute very little worthwhile, but it would be nice not to mention the T word.

I promise if we can manage that and I get lucky on the lottery (millions) I'll take everyone on the blog to Las Vegas for a week with spending money thrown in.

@Clive

I'm with you, I hate this season. But I don't think there is any chance of ignoring it, fantasy football and FM do huge business for a reason.

@Clive 100

What about the L word. Can we discuss Loan deals?

@Mark
You'll be flying economy and staying in the cheapest hotel.

The headline picture in the News section of the club website has Di Santo in it, so I'm guessing he's fit again. No mention of him among the fringe players likely to start today though. With Drogs available I suppose he'll be shunted well to the back of the queue again. It would be nice to get a look at him, but perhaps they're thinking he's still a year away from being able to muscle around in the Prem.

I'm a big fan of Bridgey but it made sense to let him go at that price. It's a funny reversal of the position a couple of years ago, when they let SWP go because we made a silly offer. Good luck to him, he's been a good player for us for a long time. My two favourite Bridgey moments:

1) -- so obvious I don't really need to say, do I? (cough*highbury*cough)

2) -- when he scored against Portsmouth shortly after he'd come up here from So'ton. Running in front of the away fans at the bottom of the East stand with his hand cupped to his ear. In the days before we were above that sort of thing.

@ Blue Mikel

What about Ivanovic, Vidic and Pavlyuchenko?

@JANG
Ivanovic and Vidic are Serbs, in case you did not know they are not Russians. You might even get killed in some places for calling Serbian person Russian. Pavluchenko a good player?

Yet another shambolic performance against low side opposition!!! This time it is Southened who scores on the last minute!!! What is going on there???!!!!

What a load of crap,Scolari,Kenyon please don't keep saying we don't need new players.This squad is simply not good enough and yes before all the regular faces ask,I am pressing the fucking panic button.We weaken the squad by selling a proven international and then say we don't need to strengthen.There is something seriously wrong at Chelsea and the sooner the regulars on here start to realise it the better.We won't win anything this season and it will be a miracle if Scolari lasts the season.Abramovich fiddles while Chelsea burns!!!!

We just drew 1-1 at home to the mighty Southend United. I'm going to go and cry now.

We have to clear the ranks, those who are not interested to play football anymore must be sold!!! I am getting fed up with Drogba and his off field antics and on field shambles!!! Our defence looks like old sieve in my mom's kitchen.
Like it was not bad enough to beat Southend, at home, with one goal difference we let them score on the last minute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Blue Mikel

Im not saying his a good player but all 3 came from the Russian League. Dont jump to conclusions too fast.

Lost for words after this Southend debacle. Stop giving excuses Scolari. The team just wasted everybody's time. And PK needs to be sacked. I want his head.

Rather more a need to sort the basics out before worrying about anything else; throwing one game away with shite defending of a 90th minute set piece is bad enough, but two inside of a week is inexcusable and someone wants their arse kicking. Fully prepared to give Scolari time to make the side his own, but repeating basic mistakes like that and the natives will run out of patience very quickly.

I'm sure that Messrs Kenyon, Buck and co have given due consideration to your pressing of the panic button, Evillynn - I expect they will make a statement soon. What's the date today, by the way?

Can people please stop saying don't panic this is now a disaster :P

Our recent run of form is shocking and simply will not do for a top 4 side. Out of league cup, nearly out of FA cup, nearly out of Champions League, and in a week will be in third place in the premiership.

Selling Bridge was bad. We will now have Ashley injured for the next few months and have a problem with that position. The fact Bridge was persuaded to leave is shocking. From having 2 of the best LB's in Europe to now it being a potential weak spot for 12m. PAH? Bosingwa cost us more than that.

Alex should have been offered and sold for 10m, at least we have suitable cover in CB.

Now someone who isn't a natural left back will have to play there.

All I want now is for us to go back being a mediocre side fast, so when we get knocked out in the quarters of the Champions League I don't spend the next few days in a huff. Instead feeling we did well to qualify.

I doubted Scolari from the start, he AFAIK has not won a league. And we signed him based on him winning a world cup with an extremely gifted side. That half the people on this board could have won it with.

He has lost us our winning record at home, and been defeated at home on more than 1 occasion. So now our air of invincibility is gone. The guy who scored for Southend just said on the radio, how that gave them more confidence.

We have lost to a top 4 team on 2 occasions both at home, that in itself is laughable!

Teams worked out how to defeat his 1 and only tactic within a month.

Since then we have struggled, and we will continue to do so until he is sacked. I hope there is a performance clause in his contract so this can we done without having to pay him excess compensation.

Myself, get Steve Clarke back and let JT and frank pick the team. Cmon at least it would be entertaining.

Find a replacement manager of true quality at the end of the season. (Rijkaard, Lippi)

Cudicini
Ferreira; Carvalho; Ivanovic; Ashley Cole
Belletti; Lampard; Mikel;
Joe Cole, Kalou, Drogba.

With a team like this we really should be beating crap like Southend. But letting in another last minute goal is really pathetic after what happened at Fulham. I'm starting to wonder what Phil does all week in training. And we must remember it's Southend! The 13th best side in League 1 against officailly the no.1 ranked side in Europe. The fact we can only score once against them and come away with a replay says it all about where Phil is taking us at present.

However despite it being pathetic i wasn't really that shocked as we are pretty shit at the moment. Our next game at Old Trafford is a must win in my eyes as a draw would leave us 5 points behind Liverpool and just ahead of Utd who would have 2 games in hand. But at present i'm just hoping we don't get murdered.

I agree that we won't win anything this season but i've thought that for a while ever since it became obvious that Phil isn't a very good manager. I've written it off as another transitional one as last year and i've now stopped expecting us to win games, as i did under Jose and now just started to hope that we remember how to.

In the past i've asked myself if we look like Champions and the answer was a definite NO. Then i asked myself if Phil is good enough to manage Chelsea and the answer was again NO. Now i'm asking myself who we should look for in the summer as it's becoming obvious Phil will only last 1 season at most. He even admitted that no trophies = the sack and our best chance of a trophy is now the FA Cup. That's how low we have to set our sights now.

Anyway we won't be short of options in the summer. Bilic has said he can now quit Croatia for the right job in the Premiership. There's Rijkaard, Hiddink, Van Basten should be available and one of my favourites would be Martin O'Neill. So over to Roman who must be loving the change from Jose's boring Chelsea!

@Kaiserjonny. Have you got a problem with me?that's the second time you've had a go at me for giving my opinion.Sorry I'm not one of the special people on here,you know the ones,they're the only people on here who's opinion matters.This used to be an honest site,but not anymore.I stopped coming on here because of all the bias by people towards certain bloggers,everyone has a right to their opinion even if you don't agree with it.
How is Scoloari going to make the side his own if he doesn't buy any new players?
I hope I'm wrong and we do win something because I don't give a fuck what you think I just want Chelsea to do well.

If you think my previous comment was having a go then you're far too easily offended, Lynn. I just have a problem with anyone that only seems capable of screaming hysterically when things don't go their way - we win and you vanish, but draw or lose and you appear like the grim reaper telling us we're all doomed. It just grates a wee bit after a while, that's all, me being a glass half full sort of bloke by nature.

As for the new players thing, I genuinely cannot be fucked to go over what has actually been said by the club as opposed to the tabloid headlines you choose to chew up and regurgitate on here ad infinitum. 28 days left in January; Scolari now presumably has a few quid to play with after the sale of Bridge - let's just wait and see what happens, eh?

As for your last point; I doubt many people give a flying fuck what I think which is a eminently sensible position for them to take, but we are all linked by the fact that we want Chelsea to do well.

Well this result is really pathetic. This is one of our worst seasons, in the last years, and the fact that we still on second shows how competitive the PL is being comparing with the last previous seasons. It's time also to say that we are neither playing entertaining football at least for Chelsea fans or playing effective football. What next????

Evening all, I agree with more or less whats been said. I normally try to be the voice of reason as well, but in truth results like this against such opposition are a fucking disgrace. Magic of the cup...blah ...blah all you like. For that team to be unable to rattle home a hatful against such vastly inferior opposition does not smack of a united or committed group.

@ KJ_II - I agree Scolari needs time to make his mark and get the players he wants BUT he should shut the fuck up about the players loving him and about how fucking good he thinks they all are. I manage people at work and the biggest danger that can befall any manager is the Mr Nice Guy syndrome, telling them they're great when they're under-performing (and we are under-performing)which leads to complacency and even worse results, and telling those above him that everything is rosy when they can see results are getting worse. Owners and CEO's don't like bullshitters. And neither do customers. Where I work I'm measured on performance as are my team, and if my team fuck up then they will know about it, either as a unit or individually. But I will not portray a rosy garden if the weeds have taken root. He could do worse than come out and say that some must go as they aren't good enough anymore, or aren't committed enough. If that pisses some of the pampered primadonnas off then so be it. They can fuck off and annoy another set of fans.

I know enough of PR to know how it works but the shite that comes from Scolari and the players addressed to the fans is patronising bollocks. Performances like today are frankly a fucking disgrace. Barnsley was bad enough, but if we lose to Southend (and it is possible) then our laughing stock days , just like the Taliban, have made a resurgent comeback.

oh well. i hope the Chelsea board, all the media, other fans and some of our own fans can now stop the anti- mourinho bias and finally admit that money does not buy you success and neither talented players alone. Not only Chelsea last year and so far this year but also Man-city and Real Madrid too. Money allows you to buy your way into the top tier or at the high roller tabloe in a poker game but does not guarantee success. the missing ingredient along with money is the Manager. look at harry Rednapp last year with portsmouth. It certainly was not the money available to Pompey or the world class players they did not have. Will the football world now finally hold it's hands up and admit how great a manager Jose Mourinho was and still is? this of course does not help us now but it can at least help the board learn to pick a manager who has CURRENT EUROPEAN LEAGUE EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS!!! whoever that is......

I don’t know why, but as I tried to rationalise another performance where with the majority of the possession we struggle to score while conceding at the first sign of pressure, all I could think of was Dad’s Army. Was I Corporal Jones running around like a headless chicken shouting, ‘Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring’ or Private Fraser with a lugubrious ‘We’re doomed, aye we’re doomed’?

Turn on the telly this evening and what appeared on the screen? Dad’s Army.

Still not sure what to think. Not being there for the game makes it difficult to judge what in the diddly Jesus is going on.

Evening TG

Know what you mean - must admit I've not paid a huge amount of attention to what Phil says in general; listening to anyone trotting out the usual football platitudes is bad enough, but when it's in their second (third) language it rarely sheds much light on things and usually makes things worse in the eyes of the fans. But to an extent he's damned one way or another in terms of what he says in public anyway. If he says all in the garden is rosy, he's clearly not being entirely truthful, if he slates the players it isn't going to help and if he keeps his mouth shut and leaves Wilkins to do the talking he's feeling the pressure etc.

To be honest I don't think there is anyone on here that said "Yes!" when he was appointed; it was the least underwhelming option available and ultimately the more things slip the more it puts Mourinho's departure in sharper focus than ever before. But the fact we've conceded an equaliser late for the second game in a row is piss-poor and the buck has to stop with him. I've said it all along - get the basics (concentration and fitness for 90 minutes, clean sheets etc.) right - which we're not - and confidence will soon come back; if we don't then it's a very slippery slope that can be hard to climb back up.

This is the big concern - judging by the suggestions I've seen about the players' general demeanour at present, it sounds like we're walking a fine line between a basic dip in confidence and BPS losing the team - if that happens then all bets are off and something needs to be done.

Has to be said that Old Trafford isn't the ideal venue if the team isn't brimming with confidence at present; nasty feeling we're going to get our backsides kicked, but hopefully JT and Carvalho back in tandem will boost the spirits a little.