Premier League: Newcastle United 0 - 2 Chelsea

I must say that Avram got me, whatever the result of this season is...

Fly high, BLUE!!!

Fantastic game to watch, especially the second half, where it was an absolutely dominant midfield performance. I think Grant got the team selection spot on. Mikel was absolutely immense, and I'd say that Terry had to be challenging for Man-of-the-Match honours, the amount of belief and resilience he gives the team is amazing.

I only saw the second half which for the most part was complete domination by Chelsea and our midfield in particular. In that form we would beat any team including Man U on 21st.

It would be a surprise if Man U did drop points and of course beating Bolton is no certainty even at home. But the pressure is well and truly on Man U playing away not to give the title to us. Definitely squeaky bum time as if we don't win the title then pundits will still say well done Chelsea for pushing Man U to the last game, but if Man U don't win and we do then the knives will be out for Man U irrespective of what happens on the 21st.

Very intriguing weekend coming up. Whatever happens I take my hat to the team, the coaches and yes AG for providing us fans with some thrilling moments this season despite out frustrations earlier with the way the team were playing. You cannot fault the record and the results but most of all it is fantastic to see the passion and team spirit well and truly back. Winning helps of course but all credit to those involved.

If we do win the title then for me it will be sweetest victory of the 3 titles given the way we have battled to the very end and never gave up.

KTBFFH

Thanks for the report Nick!

Agree with every word

It appears it was Grant that screamed at the team in half time - maybe he is coming out of his skin at last

Anyway I'm on IV valium until next Sunday!!!! You just never know......

Nick, I believe we have lost 5 of 50 under AG.
CC Final, Barnsley and Fenerbache plus the two away league defeats!

Regardless.....great second half after a shaky first and a curious starting XI,
and Anelka on the wing again!!!!

Wouldn't it be lovely if Heskey scores the equaliser at death at JJB on Sunday?!?! And of course we get our obligatory league winning three points against Bolton with Lamps scoring the two to bring his total to 20!

One can only dream......

i posted this on the last blog, probably moments before this one was written, so i've cut and pasted it here. apologies to those who have read it already......

Allow me a minute or two to wipe the proverbial humble pie from my face.

I’m actually starting to quite warm to Avram grant.

There i said it.

Regardless of anything else, (with the possible exception of Wigan game) his results have been quite impressive. As much as i wanted him out, i think he deserves at least another year to mould things more to his style. After all, he did inherit someone else’s squad.

I think chelsea look a lot more composed/fluent/less eratic going forward under grant than they did under jose.. more stylish… sometimes.. am i really saying this?

wow.

Should i wash my mouth out with soap?

Ok, here is a question for all you protocol minded folks:

Will both the bridge and the jjb have the celebratory materials of the prospective premiership winning club? How does that work? If by some chance Manu loses points and we don't, will JT have a blue and white streamed trophy to lift?

@ Evan

The real trophy is heading to JJB and a replica with Blue tassles is going to SB. The Premier League have also taken the unprecedented step of minting 2 sets of winners medals. So whoever wins the title in Sunday, then the necessary baubles will be on offer for post match celebrations.

The only variation is that if we win then Man U have to ship the real trophy down to London for another year....

KTBFFH

Another point of interest, in our enthusiasm about the possibility of winning the title, we mustn't forget that last nights result guaranteed our automatic qualification for next seasons CL. Of course winning the final on the 21st will also do that but it is great for the team to have achieved this milestone. If my memory serves me correct that is 5 years in a row we have finished in the top two which in itself is an amazing achievement for the club given the history before these five years ! How things have changed along with our perspectives.

I too am enjoying the rather delicious humble pie at the moment and looking forward to the cream (the title) and the cherry on top (the CL) over the next few weeks !

KTBFFH

If Anelka plays poorly he currently has the get out clause of being played out of position. But at least twice yesterday he had good shooting opportunities but hit the ball with a force equivalent to being whipped with a stick of limp celery. Even when I turned my Sky+ box up to 30x speed he still looked slow.

Sheva looked more lively when he came on.

As a gesture of goodwill I think we should ship our groundsmen up to Wigan to help with the pitch because these boys have a score to settle.

I really HAD to post it here, made me feel so... blue? :)
Go Blues...
LINK

When I think back to the title decider between Liverpoo and Arse in 1990 not entirely sure on the date. Liverpoo could afford to lose by the odd goal so were red hot favourites, and we know what happened a 2-0 win for the Arse with a goal in the last minute.

I just have a feeling that Wigan (providing we do our job) can get something out of their game. Whatever the conspiracy theorists think, Wigan and Bruce know that they will be hugely under the microscope to provide an intensity and have a go and not bend over like Wet Spam and Curbishley did so meekly.

I don't think we're going to free flowing football from Utd because in all probability nerves will play a huge part hopefully. But if they do play with attacking and free flowing football and win, then as much as it pains me to say it, they will deserve the title.

But as we all know, it's not over until the obese lady belts out a verse of Blue is the colour!

The Good

Arse will finish below Chelsea! Bloody marvellous! I really hate their mob in the pubs!

Proud of the chaps for getting us this close.

Agree about Grant - maybe he has turned the corner - great record.

Ze German is like wine - he gets better with age Mr Benfield. Expect many a year of chanting his name. He is OUR best midfield player. :)

Who says Lampard and Ballack cant play together? Ze German is not like that classless Stevie G. He's not intelligent enough to play with Lampard!

@ SimonT:

Yup. I think it's delicious that we'll definitely finish at least second, considering how Le Arse were 1st not too long ago. Hahahaha.

@ Emma

Arse and LiverPooPoo have to play the qualifier for CL... Isn't it lovely! :-)

I have 3 wishes next Sunday...

Chelsea beat Bolton
Wigan beat ManU
Derby beat Reading (I hate you, Stephen Hunt!)

Lovely stuff - nice to get a result (and an important one at that) up there as it has been a while. Ballack coming into his own at just the right time; injury to Carvalho is a worry though.

All down to the last day then - lap of the the gods stuff really; we just have to do our job against Notlob and hope for something from Wigan. Unlikely, but you never know I suppose. Surely they won't be quite as hopeless as the Spammers were on Saturday?

These Wigan lads are more hopeful...

Chris Kirkland
Ryan Taylor
Emile Heskey
Kevin Kilbane
Marcus Bent
Marlon King
Antonio Valencia

I'm going to try and recreate the conditions to my vivid dream of us beating Liverpoo. So it will be to bed at 11.45pm set the alarm to wake me up at 6.20am supper will be at 7.30pm with a glass of red at about 10pm. The only thing I can't remember is, did I have sex with the wife, I'll have to check with her, but I have a feeling she might not know as she could have been asleep. ;-)

OK, Clive, I hope you don't get a wet dream instead! :-)

I am trying to get a ticket to Sunday's match. I have never been to a game at the Bridge. Is the East Stand good? what is the best place to sit?

I'll buy something from Wigan every bloody week next year if the Latics manage something against ManUre! Come on Dave Whelan, Steve Bruce, Emile Heskey and the rest of the Wigan "boys"!

@ bmwchelsfan:

I've been to East Stand for the Arse-Anal match, it's very good. If you want to sing for the 90 mins - I would give the West Stand Upper a miss. Shed & North is the best bet. Don't get a restricted view ticket at North & East Stand - it's terrible!

@ BMWChlesFan

It's very unlikely you can get a ticket for the match now.

I don't fully understand your english game of feetballs but according to the media its all down to the Wyre next Sunday

What with the hot weather and all the excitement I thought it was important to let you know where you can get a nice cup of tea while your there

LINK

Things may be rosy on the field of play for Utd, but things are not all what they seem with regard finance.

LINK

It is nice to see the second goal, a beautiful combination from our midfielders

ESSIEN -> BALLACK -> LAMPARD -> MALOUDA

Please keep improving!

Kevin Kilbane is actually a pretty underrated player. He's my favourite non-Chelsea player after Peter Crouch (sorry! but he doesn't even play for the scum that much anyway and he's leaving in the Summer) and Robbie Keane (again, sorry! But I can't help it), and I'm really crossing my fingers that he scores a hat-trick or gets Tina sent off or something on Saturday.

I have a soft(ish) spot for Charles N'Zogbia, just because I wonder what his nickname is when it comes to Geordie dressing-room banter. N'Zoggy?

I bet Wisey goes in there in his executive suit and fills the players' underpants with shaving foam etc etc. Before going out and thumping any taxi driver who criticises the club's transfer failures. (I gather Modric didn't even turn up for his lunch appointment with Dennis.)

It's the sign of a great team when you can win such a big game as this almost comfortbaly. We stepped up the gears only when we needed, which is what we used to do under Jose week in week out.

It was a big big game for the lads, but i didn't really feel the pressure at all, even with the score remaining 0-0 into the 2nd half. Says it all really!

Hey!

What happened to that petition (against AG) that crept into this blog some weeks back?
Just wondering aloud...lafs

If things continue this way, a certain Mr Dyer may have to do a retraction along the lines of "WHY GRANT MUST STAY"...and that will be the day!

Still looking forward to the double and more beautiful, attack-minded football...

Always Blue!

Good review Nick..

J.T was my MOTM, he was outstanding..

The lads did us proud yesterday and i'm keeping every possible joint on my body crossed that Man Ure either lose (unlikely) or draw (poosible) at Wigan..suppose it could depend on how many whiskey-laced cups of tea and cream scones that McFergie and Brucie partake in before the game, eh? Not that i'm presuming foul play of course!! I'd NEVER do such a thing! *ahem!*

It's gonna be a def Chels win at Bolton..3-0.

In the extreme liklehood that Ye Olde Purple Nose's tossers win on the weekend, our boys have absolutely NOTHING to be ashamed of. They can be incredibly proud and hold their heads up high knowing that they were beaten to the post on goal difference ONLY.. They would've finished joint top position and equal on points.

In situations like that, where two teams are joint top and equal on points, i believe that a final match should be played between those two teams to decide the outcome.."Man Ure have superior goal difference",we keep being reminded by the world and his wife (as if we have been allowed to forget!)..but how many of them goals have been penalties from Horse Face alone i wonder? If anyone knows, please tell me because i'd be really interested to know..

@ ALEX

Behave yourself!!!

*def Chels win at the Bridge

sorry..been a LONG day!!

And here's the most accurate drawing of Cristiano Ronaldo I think I've ever seen.

LINK

Slimy git.

Tina, Shrek Rooney, Ten Year Old Girl Torres & Stevie Me = hatred.

@ EMMA

Have to say babe, that is the most true to form drawing i've ever seen of old Horse Face in my life!!! What a w****r!!!

33. alex · 8:37 PM · 6th May

Alex the petition should still be active, dont think that 3 games "in parts" with good football, should credit AG. I must admit AG is a quick learner, when things are going his way.
But imagine, ends season with no troffies.
Starts next season, with 70% of the same players, and games do not go his(AG) way, maybe because players are not prepared to give 100% as they gave the last 4 games, or whatever.
But get this, because AG feels secure in his place, as an "achiever" LOL, he will want to change and impose his style. No he (AG), the fans, the players know that he HAS NOT GOT any style, and do not mean his dressing style, I mean his football style,doesnt exist all FAKE, take my word alex.
So in order to justify his salary and all the FAKE talk that convinced the owner,
he will start with the rethoric of "before" the "past" and thats when he will hang himself.
I forecast that by next christmas he will be the "father Xmas giving presents to the players" but NOT as the manager.
A FAKE can only go so far as the players will allow, now he is sailing a HUGE wave, something that he(AG) never even dreamt it, but soon reality will come.
Just dont swallow the fact that chelsea had so many injuries (less that a year ago) that african players went to the AFC, etc etc all bullshit, he had an element called LUCK to replace all those impediments.
If you noticed against NU, at half time he came and shouted at the playerslol, wait until "footy player" comes in the blog and explaines LOL.
So alex the "petition to sack/replace AG should be live ang soon will start growing.
So far we have achieved nothing, and where we are is a lot to do with LUCK, believe me, so do not get too excited, and the excuse that AG inherited JM players, is a fact, but so did KKeegan, J Ramos, etc etc,with squads that ,make Chelsea players universal galacticos lol.
So whoever started the "petiotion of replacing" AG so keep that very OPEN, because will not go away.
Lets wait and read what footy has to say.

@ 38. Guest · 10:24 PM · 6th May

I'm with you! Lets sack all the managers that don't deliver trophies...
So in the end of this season at least 16 managers of EPL should go home, right?

I cant understand Grant, I have given him credit and so have many fans who still want him out and then he starts on his bullshit "this club was on the way down" crap today. I mean he inherited a team worth over 200 million for gods sake who even in Keyon's words have gained a winning mentality learned under...JM of course!! I just dont get it, just when he could start to win some of us over ...just maybe ...he continues as he started off when he took over trying to bullshit everyone and put Jose down in his slimey words! I mean, just keep it up Grant, just keep it up!! whatever we win this year if you keep on this track, well see. Because when all is done, I dont for one second believe he has what it takes to build a team of failures and turn them into world beaters, you just dont! And if he stays next year, and he has to put his own team together, I really dread for next season. I mean, this guy's 53 this week and if he was so good as he believes why has he never shown up on a big European clubs radar for so long? Answers on a postcard anyone? I'm trying against my better judgement to give him a chance because I want Chelsea to mash Man-U and rub the Media's nose in it but he really tries the patience. Win something, build your own team next year, win something then and then you can talk. Until then Quite frankly shut it!"

OK...... I have today had to take the utterly gut-wrenching decision that despite being offered a ticket, and 2 other Melbourne mates travelling to Moscow, I will be staying home. All comes down to money at the end of the day and unfortunately I don't have enough.

Absolutely gutted.... Anyone else on the blog heading to Moscow?

Well, for a long time, so many Man Utd fans have wondered why Becks, heinze and Ruud were sold on the cheap to the only team (other than us) that can't be mugged in transfers.

Well, folks the answer is here.

Look at the uncanny connection between the winners of La Liga and the Premiership in recent years:

2001 Real Madrid-United
2002 Valencia-Arsenal
2003 Real Madrid-United
2004 Valencia-Arsenal
2005 Barca-Chelski
2006 Barca-Chelski
2007 Real Madrid-United

well, as much i hate the stats, real madrid has won for 2008! jose mourhino had better go to barcelona next season.

Wow...That's real interesting! Did not realise it!
Let's hope this year will break that streak!

Talking abiur Barca, take a looka t this.
I know it's the Sun but still! If true will be the first time AG wil have my full respect. (regardless of whom for he steps down or up if you like)

LINK

Pretty bad omen for the Gooners too as I don't see Valencia up to winning La Liga for a few years!!! LOL

@ Bluecelery

AG certainly comes across as un assuming chap who would prefer to be in the background. The idea of AG ranting at the players or sriding into news conferences just doesn't seem to fit the man. As you say it is the Sun but it does make sense given RA's love of 'sexy' football. In fact it would be a fitting end to the season if we do prevail and win the double and then a new 'younger' coach is appointed to lead us into the next chapter of the RA era.

Everyone will be happy then !

@ BLUEPETERTHE GREAT

Agreed on all counts!!
That truly would be the best case senario.

It's really funny because I was thinking/hoping for this exact thing yesterday
after the match.

After all Roman hasn't been to the Bridge in a while either.
hmmm...

@ Bluecelery

He's been in russia planning a right royal knees up for his mates on 21st, plus greasing a few palms to keep him out of trouble back home....

Speaking of partys anyone by chance know of party in Adelaide I can go to...!

Blue peter the great.....you would be wise to listen to a song called 'one more boring night in adelaide' by redgum before asking any further questions regarding parties and adelaide...

Alex - your repetitive trolling is becoming extremely tiresome. As I've mentioned on numerous occasions, I've praised Grant when he's got things right and criticised when he's got them wrong; something you seem to selectively forget when it suits you.

I'm happy to admit he has exceeded all expectations (yours included, I suspect?) and I've also pointed out that should he bring home a trophy or two, I'll be happy to admit where I've been wrong about him.

I'll have to say that it may take a few days for me to do so - if one or both of the pots still on offer ends up in SW6, I'll be taking part in one of the biggest celebrations the club has ever seen and I fear the hangover will last for some time. Because I'm a Chelsea fan.

One thing I remain very curious about: much of your rambling on here about us winning anything seems to be inexorably tied to the joy you will take from telling everyone how terribly clever you are and how wrong they were, rather than the joy of actually seeing us win something. But somehow we're the ones with the agenda?

A word from the wise - either grow up, or run along and find somewhere else to act like a child. Understood?

Alex is a troll. He only comes on to start fights and has absolutely nothing constructive to ever say. His embarrassing lack of knowledge about Chelsea's history also suggests he is not really in a position to understand or comment on how long-term supporters feel about Grant, which is still almost universally, 'thanks but no thanks'.

Up the Wanderers! But I hate to see M Utd win anything....

Orc seige lol

JD & Peter...
That old saying, "A sexual toneation a day keeps Musumba away" is currently working. Perhaps we should think of something that would do the same for trolls. ;-)

El Mundo Deportivo is reporting that we're in negotiations with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, according to the BBC gossip column.

Fine player, probably one of the best young defenders/right-backs in world football. Madrid paid €27m for him in 2005.

Don't see it happening myself.

JD/Peter - I'd hope all real Chelsea fans old and new on here will be ecstatic if we win either or both competitions and if we lose both take solace from a really exciting end to a season that seemed to be dribbling away into anti-climax up till the Arsenal home game.

How much credit Avram is due for this and his future is another issue. I'm still tending toward the Pat Nevin theory of teams performing well BECAUSE of a weak manager I mentioned on an earlier post - but feel that can only last so long and is likely to lead in the end to the team breaking up and difficulty in attracting new players of the calibre we need no matter how much money is thrown at them.

Happy to see him kicked upstairs and replaced by someone who can build on our current level and retain most of the current key players.

No matter how hard Alex kisses the toad, the toad will never suddenly become a prince! :-)

Did anyone notice the odd celebration after our 2nd goal on Monday?

Malouda scored and ran off (towards the corner flag I think), and...
nothing

No one joined him, JT and SuperF hugged each other. Poor Malouda looked a bit embarrassed and ran back towards his teammates?

What is it?
- Unpopular Flo
- Bad case of halitosis
- JT & SF only have eyes for each other
- Perhaps Flo is shunned by the rest of team because he is Avram's pet?

Theories anyone?

The money for Ramos is crazy, and we're hardly struggling for centre backs. Carvalho will need replacing in a year or so, but no point spending a fortune on that right now. Priority has to be wingers and forwards. I'm not even sure right back is a major problem.

And we can't forget about Ivanovic either!!!

@ 58. Peter · 12:33 PM · 7th May

An interesting debate to be had on priorities and major problems - as opposed to just problems.

Arguably we have no major problems. We're down to the wire in the League and in the Champion's League final, despite having had a host of injuries, the ANC and a change of managers. And our closest rivals with their best ever ever ever team / squad etc have had few injuries, stable management and no ANC disruption. So difficult to argue we have any major problems.

Now if Drogba is to up sticks and leave or to go into sulk mode, then yes a major problem, because he has a combination of power that no one else appears to have playing at the top level right now (suggestions ?), and our attacking style is built around him.

Problems yes, and I go along with right back and wingers. I still think we may be okay with Malouda and Kalou, but it needs to happen for them next season. Malouda's clearly got the class, but needs to show the application consistently in the Premier League. Next season is Kalou's 3rd and there won't be any ANC disruption so you'd expect him to up his contribution again. If he plateaus, then he has a big question mark against him then season. I think if I were doing the player scores, Joe Cole would score a lot more 9s and 4s as he seems to be either wonderful or crap, and that's something that needs to be sorted out. Maybe someone could ask TSO to record a special bollocking message to be played to Joe as and when necessary.

Right back. Well its clearly a problem if you have to play Essien at right back because that means he's not causing havoc in midfield, although it does allow us to get more of our stellar collection of central midfield players on the pitch at the same time. Paulo's okay, but it would be good to have a RB who completely shuts down that flank.

Other problems. Well for starters, we don't score enough goals, but that's a much bigger debate and I'm back to work now !

Alright, just read a about Steve Bruce's comment on increased transfer funds for beating the Mancs.

1.5 mil, for finishing a position higher.

That got me thinking, would it wrong for us to offer Wigan some 'cash incentives' of our own.

Is that above board?

Of course no one should have to bribe a team to win their own bloody matches - in fact, no one should bribe anyone at all, but surely if there were circumstances that made it acceptable it would be those we are in now, right?

It doesn't have to be anything huge, but seeing as our own lot are being given plenty of bonuses, Rom should be able to spare a few bob for Wigan.

Money doesn't win you everything?
Well, I reckon we'd see those Wigan players getting about that pitch on Sunday with just a little bit more energy than they normally would.

Ramos is worth the money, (if anyone is worth that amount anyway) he will turn our RB position from a potential weakspot into a strength. AC JT RC SR, now that is a defence.

@61 Cashif

Sir Alex was there before you I'm afraid.

Didn't he make some dark reference in the West Ham build up, after we complained about Alan Curbishley declaring his eternal love for the Lord of the Mancs, to Chelsea knowing all about getting the right result when they needed it.......and I don't think he was referring to our jaunty, stylish way with the football.

In the sure and certain knowledge that the good Lord will decide to intervene directly in his creation (see the Gospels for evidence of previous on this)on Sunday (yes I know its his day of rest but this is important), what are the odds on the following being the chief reason in the eyes of SAF that the Premiership went South?

1. The state of the pitch
2. The referee
3. Chelsea's overphysical dark evil style of football
4. A general conspiracy against the Mancs by everyone on earth
5. A general conspiracy against the Mancs by everyone on earth and heaven (in a judeo-christian sense given his culture and background)
6. The referee and the linesman
7. Bribery of the referee
8. His mate Bruce being a dirty double crossing b*****d
9. Hints at dark underhand Chelsea doings off the pitch as well as Chelsea's dark underhand football doings on the pitch (see no. 3)
10. The referee, the linesman and the fourth official
11. It was all those 75 penalties they didn't get and all those penalty (yes thats right just the 1) that were given against them

Well I'm sure you can all add more.

What we need now is one of you chirpy happy go lucky cockney types who tends to dress mainly in loud check clothing and is a regular habitue of the greyhound track and race course to set up a book and we're away.

I'm happy to split the profits with the operators of this site and the turf accountant in a fair and seemly fashion.

@57 Z One and Only

Nope, I noticed it as well and even rewound the recording to make sure my eyes hadn't deceived me. Not ONE single player ran over with him to celebrate. He turned round and I almost felt a bit sorry for him when he saw nobody was near him as the embarrassment was plain to see.

He was bought by JM so patently isn't AG's pet, but it looks like he isn't the most popular kid on the SB Block. Judging by his utterly useless performances thus far, and he's had more than anyone, perhaps that's the reason. He's so crap even the others know it. Ironic after putting in a decent 7.5/10 performance from my rankings on Monday.

@ Fooit - that would be brilliant. That way managers would be like players - we could bid for ferguson and wenger and leave them on the bench!! HAHAHAHA.

We wont go for Ramos - they are saying we have bid £50m!! Why when we have Alex, Riccy and JT?!?!

Pompeys midfielder said AG is happy to go upstairs for Rikaard. I would love that as we would then surely bring Messi over - now he would make me as happy as a kid in a sweetshop.

Apparently lamps is off according to la liga on skysports but then another press says he will sign a 1 yr extension - that is rediculous as this is his "show me the money" contract before he becomes "past it" in footballing terms.

@ Stephen - if dd goes we need to bid whatever it takes to buy Mario Barwuah Balotelli.

@ 65 BMF - Balotelli looks a great prospect, but he's not 18 till August, still has only a handful of 1st team games for Inter under his belt in his first season in top flight and would almost certainly suffer culture shock in adjusting to the Premiership. Hardly an immediate replacement for DD - and why would Inter part with him anyway?

I did see that Malouda incident too. It was weird. he goes to the corner flag..and gestures as though he is trying to start a motor-bike..looks around and no body is there. Surprisingly Ballack and Drogba ran to each other to cuddle up when usually both of them run opposite ways with Ballack screaming "JAAAAAAA" and running to the WAGs!
Florent must start hanging out with these guys. They seem good fun and now that lassana is not there anymore he would fit in.

LINK

@ 57 Z One and Only:

Flo did his "rev the bike" celebration by the corner flag, then joined JT and Lampsy who were running towards him. There are pictures of them all hugging on Getty Images.

Whatever our other problems may be, team spirit is not one of them. These boys are all in it together.

On a related note, did anyone spot JT and Bridgey and Paulo talking to Duffa and Mash Mash (Geremi) at the final whistle on Monday? My coverage cut off and I wanted to see who else was catching up with our old boys. I think things like that just underline the type of family atmosphere we've had in the squad for the past few years--very nice to see!

Let's hope our other old boy Mario Melchiot does us a favour on Sunday against the poxy Mancs, eh?

@CASHIF - Cash incentives are OK! Its infact bread and butter in La Liga. A lot of clubs are quite poor there as in not being able to pay wages to the players.
I cant see Wigan players being motivated for some extra cash though. Barnsley/ Luton/Leeds - Yes.

Hmmmmm... I'd have to dissagree there Ravenous1. They'll probably lose anyway, but the last thing we want is for them to get on the pitch, go through the motions and trot back off again with the scoreline at 4-0.

Anything that might make them try a little harder is worth it from where I'm standing.

On the Malouda celebration - wasn't Drogba meant to be one of his best pals?
Remember Drogs doing that bike revving celebration against Westam a couple of seasons back.

It was odd though.

Ramos? I cant think why Real would want to sell him.
Balotelli looks a great prospect (How bad were Inter the other day? Could have kicked Milan down out of CL contention, Hope Roma nick the title.)
I'd love to see us go for CSKA's Jo.

This man is a bloody hypocrite, where was he when Italian and Spanish teams were dominating?

LINK

Clive - that is a joke. It goes in cycles - the italians ruled, then the spanish and now the english. Blatter is a class A prick though. We fooking well invented the game matey boy - let us have our time at the top - it hasnt exactly happened that often has it!!

Blueboy - you are right he would need time and yes it would be a slightly longer term prospect however he would be a good one :)

Ive heard that we will be a 4-4-2 next season something like this

GK - Cech
RB - Ivanovic
CB - Riccy
CB - JT
LB - Ash
RM - Joey Cole
CM - Ballack
CM - Lampsy
LM - Silva/Bentley
CF - Anelka
ST - Sheva

Something I read

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack will be rewarded with a lucrative three-year deal following an outstanding season at Stamford Bridge
The Blues are keen for Ballack to commit the rest of his career to the club, and he is likely to accept despite strong interest from Real Madrid and former club Bayern Munich.

The 31-year-old got off to a slow start at Stamford Bridge, initially struggling to cope with the pace of the Premier League following his free transfer from Bayern in 2006, and had a rocky relationship with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

However, the Germany captain has flourished this season under new boss Avram Grant, and has become the key creative and attacking element in a star-studded Chelsea midfield, scoring nine goals since his return to action late in December.

Reward

And it appears Grant may look to reward Ballack’s excellent form not only by improving on his current ?121,000 deal, as the Israeli is considering a shift to a 4-4-2 formation so as to best utilise Ballack’s attacking talents and accommodate striker Nicolas Anelka.

But Grant have to find a new strike partner for his formation is reports regarding Didier Drogba’s imminent exit are to believed, as the Ivorian is supposedly frustrated with his paltry ?100,000 pay packet and feel under-appreciated at Stamford Bridge.

But plans for next season must wait until the current one is dealt with, as Chelsea look to secure what would be a memorable double.

Pressure

The Blues are battling with Manchester United on both domestic and European fronts this season, as they lie level on points heading into the last game of the Premier League season and are set to face each other in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 15.

And although United’s superior goal difference makes them favourites to clinch their 10th Premier League crown, Ballack has experienced first-hand with Bayer Leverkusen the pressure involved in maintaining a slender advantage toward the end of the season.

“Everything is in United's hands and the pressure is all on them now,” he said. “With Leverkusen in the last game, we needed just a draw and Bayern Munich needed to win and we lost. It was even against a lower team in the league, so I know that anything is possible and this is possible.”

Pride

Chelsea face 16th-placed Bolton Wanderers this weekend, while the Red Devils face 13th-placed Wigan Athletic.

And Ballack is adamant that United will be tested, as the Latics scrapped 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge recently thanks to a late Emile Heskey equaliser.

“We hope that Wigan play with the pride we know they have,” Ballack said. “When they played us a couple of weeks ago, they put four strikers on the pitch in the last four or five minutes to get something from the game. I hope they are not on their holidays.”

Blatter said: "Shall we let the rich become richer and say nothing?

There are so many responses to that particular gem, most of them unsuitable for publication before the watershed.

There are so many responses to that particular gem, most of them unsuitable for publication before the watershed.

Don't let the watershed stop you JD most of us are umm... grown ups here.

Quick! Quick! read this before someone else changes it.
LINK

"He is widely renowned for being an absolute tosspot, and whose presence at the head of the world footballing body leaves a lot to be desired. F**king w*nker."

I didnt do it!

Just Otherwise - nobody takes that man seriously. I mean he was the one who was vouching for sexier outfits in Womens football to promote it! He is just there in the news for the sake of it. An attention seeking whore!

We get all the glamourizing of foreign players in male football. So what if they got their female footballers glossed up?

Women's football i'm not really into, but should he have got all that stick for that one? After all, they complain about the lack of funds.

I'm curious to know why everyone is so excited about Ivanovic playing at right back for us. From the few games I've seen he is a centre half, and one who isn't very comfortable on the ball. We've got three very good centre halves already...

Heard that we are being linked with a super defender by the name of Sergio Ramos. This news made my day.

And here's a question: Who is worst - Platini or Blatter?

>>We get all the glamourizing of foreign players in male football. So what if they got their female footballers glossed up?

Glamourizing (male) players happen off the pitch. If that had been the problem for Womens footie then its a just cause - but Blatter wants them to play with Tanktops and in that case i cant help but draw parallels between him and men having fetishes about women wrestling in mud!

'Blatter wants them to play with Tanktops'

Before everyone gets the wrong idea, that sort of stuff I'm NOT in support of, nor mud-wrestling fetishes.

@ 57- Z ONE AND ONLY

Could be that no one ran to congratulate Malouda because they were all shocked and dumbstruck that he even managed to score a goal in the first place!!!

JANG, I dont think we have a hope in hell of signing Sergio, They see him as the next Hierro and he has a $150m buy out clause so its very unlikely

@ BLUE TRUE BLUE JOE

Silva is under contract until 2011, so can't see him going anywhere at the moment!
Sparky said AGAIN last week in a press conference that Bentley is NOT up for sale, so that's him ruled out also.
As for Sick Note Sheva, he's on his way back to AC Milan (hopefully) next season..
The only player i could MAYBE see making an eventual appearance out of the names you listed is Ivanovic..as i said, maybe..

"Let the women footballers play in more skimpier clothes, they could have tighter shorts."

Blatter said that in January 2004! :-)

@ SIMONT

Are you sure it was Bloater who said that? Or has the thought just crept into your sordid little mind?!

@ Lollipop

Yes, darling! I remember he said something like that. It was shocking!

@ SIMONT

I don't believe you!!!

I think you're a perv really!! LOL

@ Lollipop

Believe me, here the link on BBC...

LINK

@ SIMONT

Let you off!! What a dirty, fat, old man!! Typical sexist view of women..probably indulges in all sorts on the internet!

Having said that though..i used to find it incredibly pleasurable to see the fellas running around in small, tight shorts circa 1980's!!

In fact, if truth be known..EVERY time i see SUPERFRANK in his VERY, VERY short training shorts, i break into a hot sweat!! Salivating at those thigh muscles..oh my!!!

*someone slap me!!*

LOLLIPOP, The only player i could MAYBE see making an eventual appearance out of the names you listed is Ivanovic..as i said, maybe..

Maybe but unlike most of you lot im happy with the squad we jave now, they got us to a CL final, what more can we ask of them? Im also proberbly the only one who thinks Sheva deserves another chance and Milan have said over and over that they wont pay for him so I reckon he will stay, As for Silva/Bentley I am hoping that like Ze German he will come good in his second season with us, KTBFFH

Have

@ Lollipop

Yeah, I know you like lunch boxes! LOL!

...But I'd love to see women footballers exchanging their shirts at the end of the match. :-)

@ BLUE TRUE BLUE JOE

As i said, Silva's on contract until 2011 and Bentley's not up for sale..

I'm happy with our squad..i'd only say that if Didier leaves,( IF being a big word) we would need someone of the same calibre like Eto'o to replace him. It sounds today though that he's sounding more and more likely to be going to Spurs, which is a tragedy IMO..he'd look great in Blue.

Sheva WILL go..and i can honestly say i won't be sad to see the back of him..You think he's great and that's fine sweetie..i don't disrespect what you're saying. We all have our own opinions on players though don't we? That's what blogs are about..PERSONAL opinions..

As you say about the boys..they've got us to a CL final for the first and hopefully not the last time..I love them all, apart from;
Sheva
TBH
Pizarro (cute but crap!)
Sidwell..news today that Man City are after him as well as W Ham
Malouda (can take him or leave him and wouldn't miss him if he left..good goal on the weekend though)

The only one i'd give a chance who some people would hang, draw and quarter on here is SWP..

@ SIMONT
"Yeah, I know you like lunch boxes!"
Erm...explain yourself with that comment young man!!

You'd like to see women exchange shirts?
I was right about you on my first instinct then?? LOL

Hey people you guys are going to be a bit disappointed with Ivanovic, potentially is a good polayer, but just good not reall someone it put the place on fire.
Besides to just field a player just like that in a very important match, can ruin his career imagine, chelsea lets in a goal through one of his mistakes? The guy will lose all his confidence, no let him come next year and graduallyy build his confidence.
Even spuds think that Modric is going to be the saviour, hmmmmm I have my doubts, Ramos is a brilliant manager, but he is brilliant when players speak spanish, lets wait and see.
There was some good news about the toad, apparently he is prepared to go back to DoF place, if FR leaves Barcelona and comes to Chelsea, let FR be the manager.
Although FR has told the spanish press that he would like 1 year sabbatical from football, I will find difficult for FR to listen or accept any advice from AG, after all he must heard the opinion of many tv and newspaper commentators in spain about AG. In fact TV5 Deportes, said that in the last 10 years Chelsea was the luckiest fianlist in the European Cup, always with the easiest draws.
I still belive FR will not come to Chelsea and AG will stay and be sacked before Xmas because of the so famous "sexy attacking football" that he claims has installed in Chelsea since his take over, LOL.

20 Mins gone in El Clasico tonight and its Real Madrid 2 Barca 0, Raul and Crjen Robben have got the goals, Lets get ready for Rijkaard and hope he brings Eto’o with him

Poor Eidur Gudjohnsen who got a rare start for Barca has been subbed after just 24 mins, Man I bet he wishes he stayed and I hope he comes back

@ GUEST

Can't see Ivanovic making an appearance just yet, maybe towards the end of next season?..
He will get his chance eventually though. I mean, you wouldn't buy a player JUST to play him in the reserves/youth games and not give him a go at first team football would you, surely?!
What's the point in buying him otherwise?

Im SURE that Ivanovic will become our first choice left back next season, Hes had like 6 months to get fit and of course we will use him, 2-0 and Thierry The Tit and co are getting embarrassed, I LOVE IT! COME ON MADRID!!!

@ Lollipop

Maybe you're just too young to know about Linford Christies and his Lunch Box! :-)

Not at all..i remember Linford very well..from the face down! LOL

No seriously..my friend was in love with him but he didn't "do it" for me.

Give me Lampsie and his Super Large thighs any day of the week!! Phwoarrr!!

Thanks for the compliment by the way..i'm a very young 35..

@ Lollipop

OMG, I thought you were younger than Emma! :-)

LOL! I wish!!! Emma's only 18! I don't remember being that old..i was rather tipsy though..
Thanks honey, you've made my day x

@ Lollipop

You're welcome! It's good to be young at heart! :-)

This article is interesting...

LINK

The toad cannot motivate Chelsea players but the carrot can! :-)

@ SIMONT

It is indeed..i'm lucky to have the youthful looks that go with it! LOL!

Why does everyone ignore me :(

@ Blue True Blue Joe

I suggest you use Lynx deodorant bodyspray. :-)

@ BLUE TRUE BLUE JOE

Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!! Cheer up!!

Is this LolliPop Chat Show? :-)

@ SIMONT

Erm...i don't come on here all day!! I'm too busy at work!!

Speaking of which, i'd better get to bed. Early shift in the morning..6.30am start..booooo!!!!

Nighty bye..

Good night, Miss ChelseaBlog! :-)

Good night Mr Chelsea! :)

Z Z z z ......

3-0, This will surely cost Rijkaard his job

He can come to Chelsea and replace the toad! :-)

That is looking more likely by the minute, Barca look like a under 18 team compared to Real Madrid

HOLY SHIT, 5-0, This just about confirms that he will be at SB in the summer

4-0 I mean

I have never believed AG's appointment is permanent, I think there's an escape clause for him to be moved on whenever Roman wants to.

After defeat in the semis, Reijkaard complained about the lack of 'football' played by English clubs including United. In all honesty, I wouldn't want him here.

These bitter, saw loser types, who cant mix it up when they need a result and things aren't going their way.
This Barca team without Ronaldinho at the top of his game has looked pretty ordinary, despite all the other stars at his disposal.

The truth is, the Mancs were very comfortable in both legs. They could quite easily have knocked a few past that shaky defence if they had been a little more adventurous.

All they did was knock it around in front of red shirts, a few long range pot-shots and that was about it.
One thing about us is, we can get the ball into the danger zone if we need to, and have goalscoring chances come out of it. Cut out all the nonesense if we need to.

Do we really want one of these managers who will stubbornly persist in playing his 'pretty football' even when it's clear the opposition can handle it all day long?

Marko Pantelic, I keep seeing that name pop up on Sky's Scores Centre.
This is Hertha Berlin's Serbian striker we were heavily linked with at the start of this season before we signed Pizarro. JM wanted him as our back-up striker.

Anyone is better than the toad! I'm not too fussy! :-)

Thats the problem with long standing managers, except SAF and AW, very very few really can manage constant good results.
2 / 3 years FR was fulkl of enthusiasm with Barca, Braca then had a fantastic midfield and a on top form striker (eto'o). But if you read the mundo deportivo 2 /3 years ago in the net, the main difference was Deco, and then Ronaldinho , besides all the other players like puyol etc etc, really on top form.
This year FR lost the dressing room thats why Barca went awol, not because Ten Cate left. Ten Cate if he had stayed longer and with his manner of coaching he would have been beaten up by some players, he was really disliked in Barca befor he joined Ajax.But as Sinont says and quietky right FR is a much better and complete manager than AG.
I believe the press when they say he will be moved back to DoF, this makes him a top figure for being part of the management team that took chelsea to the finals.
He would have a heart attack next season if he continues, the man doesnt look fit at all.
Another topic, have you guys noticed that ManU players all played far mor games than chelsea players? apart from joe cole? This is another advantage for chelsea to do well in the final .

I don't understand all the clamour for Rijkaard.

He has taken Barca from being the top side in Europe, to a complete shambles in under 2 years.

He has turned Ronaldinho, Eidur, Henry, Eto'o into a shadow of their former selves.

He was the arch-enemy only 3 years ago over the Frisk episode.

Perhaps he we have already acquired the 'brains' of the operation in Ten Cate.... It is only since he left that they have fallen apart.

I for one, will be very disappointed if we end up with him and would much rather have Eriksson, if Avram is going to move upstairs.

I return from a week in the sun, eating and drinking far too much, and we're in the Champs League final and still in the title race !!!! Maybe the lack of my negativity on this blog for the past week or so rubbed off.

Great stuff in the second half against Newcastle (allied to the whole game against Liverpool - I wasn't here to post on that one). We looked very shot-shy though, and I thought DD looked a bit lethargic. We dont have a huge goal threat.

I'm not sure how I feel about the possibility of finishing runners up on goal difference. Part of me is happy we've run them so close but to lose on goal difference is too close, and part of me would rather not finish on the same points.

Still, Heskey did for us at the Bridge, heres hoping he'll do the same on Sunday. If only.....

@Fifty
Good to see you back from your hols mate, you even had JD worried as to your whereabouts.

welcome back 50. how were the hols.

ten cate was hated by the lazy players! ronnie loved him and his dip was because no one was watching him when he left.

ten cate was loved by the more passionate guys but obviously clashes happen.

I don't think we need major changes. a right back and messi type. then only replace those that leave.

Ramos, Aguero and Messi. We have been linked with ridiculous deals for the past few weeks. Which one is more likely to be true? I hope Villa doesnt end up like Modric. Linked with us for 2 years and then goes to another club. Arnesan, please get off your arse and start working!

LINK

This is Henry Winter's take. So much is down to whether Drogba stays.

Really don't get the Rijkaard love - he's not cut out for Chelsea.

The best possible back 4 i can imagine:

---------------------------Cech-----------------

Ramos/Richards-----Carvalho-----Terry-----A.Cole

We have Ivanovic and Alex as backup. In the meantime, Ramos and Richards can also slot in at center back. Now thats what i call real strength and depth because we wont have to fear too much if Carvalho or Terry gets injured again.

How long has Ramos got left on his Real deal? Sounds suspiciously like a man who doesn't have any intention of going anywhere, but is after a nice chunky contract extension (see Roberto Carlos and many others).

And Maka???

A good time had by the Fifty-family, the 25 degree-plus temperatures every day in Tenerife were certainly a welcome distraction from the dull weather we left behind in trusty Norfolk (although I'll never tire of explicitly loathing Playa De Las America's - the Canary Islands answer to Great Yarmouth, albeit with mildly better weather).

The arse-end of the season has found me in surprisingly bouyant mood. Maybe I'm still feeling the effects of the dirt cheap beer (1 litre of San Miguel for a single Euro anyone ??) but I'm beginning to think maybe, just maybe, the Champions League is coming our way. I still think the leagues done, I dont think ManUSA will just beat Wigan, I think they will destroy them. The Moscow showdown however finds us in the better form of the two, with a recent win under our belts, and another first choice player available in Lamps.

I nearly cried when he scored the penalty, although that was becase I stubbed my toe on the umbrella stand in front of our table as I jumped up to celebrate, waking Fifty Jnr in the process and earning a stern telling off from Mrs Fifty. "We're on holiday woman, we're beating Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final, give it a rest" I said. She just looked at me with one of those piercing looks women possess and I knew to shut up.

And so, post-Moscow, the rags will begin the annual ritual of spectulating which over-rated has been will top up their pension fund by joining us. It's fairly obvious we'll be losing a large amount of dead-wood, but I'm surprised by the names we're being linked with. I rate Sergio Ramos as probably the best defender in La Liga, and have never mentioned him as I just can't see him leaving Real. Would love to sign him as a RB / CB the same way Ivanovic may play there if he actually exists. In midfield, my vote is for Van Der Vaart, and despite the beer, food, beer, sun, beer, sea, beer, sand and yes, even sex, you know who I'm going for up-front.

As an aside - anyone know anything about the new home kit ??? In past seasons, the last home game of the season was always the one where a new kit was shown off - I wonder if they'll be wearing it on Sunday ??

@ 50

Yup, they'll have it on (new kit), on Sunday.

I heard we'll be using the new home kit in Moscow. Not all that BTW, has a huge Y-collar and the shirts seem to drown the players.

The other day watching Newcastle, I had a thought about keeper shirts and what colours would make the keeper seem bigger in goal. Our new one is bright orange, on Petr Cech's say-so (from the Chelsea website)

"Studies say the orange colour spreads the most when the striker attacks, in the split of a second as he focuses, this colour is like a sort of alarm or alert which really spreads and is very difficult to avoid, so this should be good for me.

(He may not look very fit, but one thing you can say on Grunt's defence is he doesn't come out to the pre-match conference looking like he's seriously high on weed.)

>How long has Ramos got left on his Real deal?

"Ramos' representatives are aware of [Chelsea's] interest and the Spain international could be persuaded to swap La Liga for England after growing frustrated at Real's apparent reluctance to offer him new terms at the Bernabéu.

Ramos, who began his career at Sevilla, became the third most expensive teenager in history when he moved to Real in 2005 for around £20m, signing an eight-year contract in the Spanish capital."

LINK

Raphael Honigstein talks about Chelsea and Grant on this week's Guardian Football Weekly podcast (7:00' - 11:22').

LINK

Ramos seems like a far fetch deal. Especially when Calderon was just chasing Essien a few weeks back. Lets be realistic. I think Lahm and Bosingwa are good enough and not as expensive as Alves or Ramos. Ribery and Silva would provide enough penetration down the flanks with J.Cole. Strikers wise, as long as Drogba stays, we dont need another one. I reckon 3 top class players to make the difference in what is already a powerful squad.

Clear all the dead branches and bring in 3 to 4 top class quality players. I predict a squad size of around 24-25 players after a summer transfer operation.

All I think we need is another RB and a winger eg Bosingwa and Joaquin

Damn LINK

LINK

It's amazing how certain Journalists who were snubbed by jose still try to put the knife in a year later when he is not even in the country!!! Even when a Chelsea player agrees with most of the fans and everybody else in Football about what is going on at the club, you still get twisted, jealous little, envious troglodytes who cant face reality of what CFC players themselves actually think including one of the better ones this season?. Notice also how there is no place to leave a reply! I wonder why? Did'nt get a seat at the Bridge when Jose was there? No autograph for your little boy? Friend Of Grant's by any chance? Same paper which was the only one to talk about Grant and Benfica when no-one else in football even commented on such a ridiculous suggestion and we know now that Ericcsson is really talking to them!!

Yeah, a big jumping of the gun from me.

Just been into town and seen said new home shirt (and awful, awful goal-keepers shirt) on sale. Not impressed at all. It reminds me of the one we wore in the 1998 FA Cup final though....

The Dos Santos story is interesting. If Barca are willing to let an 18 year old go, I can only assume they dont rate him in the same way as Bojan or Messi. And if he isn't good enough for them, why shouldit be any different for us.

Bloody hell, another decent player not coming to the Bridge!!!! Can anybody please let me/fellow fans know who is in serious, and I mean serious contention of coming to the Bridge among the top footballers out there? I mean one's who have actually said or commented somewhere that they are looking forward to joining Chelsea? So in the CL final and down to the last game for the Prem and no-one is expressing interest, this is starting to be depressing for next year! Why is this happening? We can all read it in the papers so why is this situation developing?

Might be a little premature to be panicking about who will and won't come to the Bridge just yet. Most European seasons aren't even over, the managerial merry go-round on the continent will play a big part in who moves where and we still have Euro 2008 to come - plenty of time to sort things out on that front.

As Fifty mentions (welcome back, young man - hope that toe is on the mend...!) Barca clearly don't rate Dos Santos in the same class as Bojan and Messi, otherwise they wouldn't be letting him go.

Ribery is just what we need to replace what we dint replace 2 seasons back. The loss of Duff and Robben. Thos menacing wing plays that have been winning us game after games.

Forget Dos Santos. Been reading that City are getting closer to signing CSKA's Brazilian lot, Dudu (who is nothing special), Daniel Carvalho, Vagner Love-- and Jo!

Really hope it's nothing but a rumour started by a dreaming City fan.

Jo is a real gem. Just need some polishing.

@Jang -
Is Bosingwa all that much of an improvement on Beletti (who we should keep as a back up right winger IMHO)?
One of those who is more attacking right side, than full back when you watch him play.

Ribery is having a great season , and there's no reason why Bayern will let him go. They're not a selling club, the only reason they had people leaving them last year was because they had a clear-out of their own dead wood.
If anything, they'll be improving their squad over the summer with some big names to add to the likes of Toni, Klose and Ribery.

(There are rumours that Huntelaar is a hot target for the Mancs. Anyone know anything about that?)

I guess if Scolari does end up at City then the possibility of a small Brazilian enclave developing at Eastlands is on the cards.

@CASHIF

Yes, simply because Bosingwa has pace and can defend. Belletti cannot defend and is not good enough.

@Dio - actually i agree with the article

not all was paradise in the land of Jose and not all is hell in the land of Grant

Trouble is you guys are all so entrenched in your views you just can't or won't see that maybe the reality is a bit different. Really arrogant.

also why the hell do some of you stil call the guy grunt, toad etc - give the guy some respect he is our manager - at least for now. Even if he is replaced we should give him credit for doing a pretty good job under difficult circumstances.

you know you shouldn't believe all the gossip you read in the papers - my husband had a well known ex chelsea player and member of backroom staff in his taxi last week, for a long trip - the guy couldn't give enough praise to Grant and said he is a well liked and respected figure within the club who has made some really positive changes . He did add though that Grant may be moved back upstairs at the end of season regardless of results because he doesn't fit in with "brand Chelsea" - not in looks and not in demenour. Roman wants Chelsea to be loved by the press and is worried that the fans don't like Grant and wants someone more "sexy". No actual decision had been made as of last week.

I don't care if he stays or goes - so long as we are the best!!!!!!!!!!!

@JANG

Not at right back clearly, but how monay players do we have who can cross a ball like him? He can go around defenders too, I'd have him at right wing ahead of SWP any day. Surely letting Beletti go would be weakening our squad.

Kalou, Malouda, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Fereira, IVANOVIC? - he has more of delivery on him than those mentioned.

Can we really afford to be letting go of one of the very few who can cross a ball? There aren't that many around who can do what he does even though he is shite defensively.

From what I've seen of Bosingwa, which admittedly isn't enough to give a cast iron opinion on him, he comes across as more of a wing-back than a full back.

The best comparison I can think of is Evra before he improved defensively.

@CASHIF

Thats why we have been linked with the likes of Ribery. Wingers who can cross the damn ball. I have no issues with Belletti part from his defending which really irks me. In Bosingwa, we have a burly and pacy defender. Its just my personal opinion. I think Dani Alves is bad at defending too. Lahm's game is abit more balanced. We the perfect right back who can defend and attack.

Ivanovic was clearly bought for next season. I think he has potential so lets wait and see him next season.

Cheers.

@CASHIF

Who do you reckon is the perfect and avaliable right back for us to buy this summer?

'Grunt' is one of our more affectionate terms :)

But seriously, of course it wasn't all paradise with JM. I think what the players like about our very own cuddly turtle is that they have more freedom on the pitch. Someone like Joe Cole, for example, is probably glad to see JM go.

The rigidity that made us so difficult to break down meant players were sometimes almost mechanical (dare I say, 'predictable'?) in what they did.

My big worry is that we've had an easier ride than we'll get next season. Teams have ben taking us less seriously than in the past, which probably won't be the case next season.

The other point is there's been a marked change in the attitude of the players after the Arsenal home win, before which it seemed the players were really disillusioned with what was going on.

The idea that we were incapable of winning the 'big games' under Grunt was probably a belief that the players held to some degree. Now that we have won against the Arse, the Mancs and the Scum, they have probably changed their stance towards their manager.

Having said all that, these players are in a really positive mood right now, and have been for the last couple of weeks. When things get a litle slippery again, we'll see the same doubt in the manager's ability resurface. It's bound to happen, because whatever Grunt will have done by the end of this season, they must know they are not playing for one of the top managers in the world, and therefore they won't have the full confidence in his ability such as would be the case if they were.

@JANG

I hear what you're saying. Agree about Alves too, and Lahm on form is pretty damn good.

Personally, I would have liked to see Zambrotta, but he's off to Milan.

Sergio Ramos in an ideal world would be great, but what kind of crazy price will we be paying?

And an injury free Micah Richards would be tremendous. He is far from complete, but with maturity he can become an absolute monster.

Hey all!What do you think of our new home shirt?
It reminds me of the 1996/97 shirt in compilation with the 2005/06

@ 153 Tommyblue

It's an interesting point you make there. I've never (to my knowledge) criticised AG's way of dressing because as a 'nothing fits me Joe' I know how he feels. I'm the sort of bloke when dressed in an Armani suit is arrested because it looks like I've nicked it. I'm also a bit of socialist rebel (or I was until that utter tosser Brown got the top job - fuckwit might as well have a pointing sign outside Number 10 saying 19th century this way) so I always believed that capability counted rather than looks - so I always had Axl Rose length hair, never wore ties in the office and jeans wherever I could get away with it. Needless to say that little naivety period means I'm firmly stuck in the middle aged, middle management, fuck all power, hope and future type role I do now. But it pays the bills see. The point I make is in the real, dog eat dog, cut and thrust , selfish world we live in, looks count above ability, and that will do for AG in the end. It's all about personal brand innit?

It was why Paul Sturrock was sacked from Southampton (along with the fact he was shit).

Kenyon of course has the remit to build the Chelsea brand and be in no doubt that was a key reason Clownio got his P45. You see they wanted the young swashbuckler, or the Professorial Statesman to represent the club abroad and in all it's brand imagery. When Professor Statesman said no, they got Young Count Swashbuckler in. Now for me TSO is the greatest coach we've had and no matter what anyone says it's unlikely anyone will have that effect on ANY club again, nor that concentrated spell of immediate success. If JM went to Liverpool I doubt he could recreate it there. Not only was he a great coach but oozed swarthy good looks and enigmatic mystery, and deep intelligence combined with a playful sense of humour and mischief. he knew what he wanted, what he could do and how to deliver it. Ferguson is much the same but remember he took far longer to achieve the success TSO gained from Day 1. So as Kenyon went about building the brand with big sponsorship signings, a populist move back to something approaching the traditional 'lion rampant' badge he hit the right buttons for the club and RA, and while he did the deals TSO delivered the trophies that meant something. TSO did the Samsung ads, he did the charity work, kids loved him, women swooned over him, men were admiringly jealous of him and wanted to be him and ad agencies loved him. Samsung Mobile knew what they were doing when they signed the shirt deal etc knowing such a high profile figure would sell their product for them. it's the Becham Effect. Now Samsung Mobile and others, maybe even the charities may cast their eyes elsewhere when the club proposes AG as the face of the 'brand'.

In the end big business counts and image counts. Microsoft may be hated by many, but they're loved by more. Apple are as 'evil' but have conjured a cuddly, hippy brand to mask their monopolistic, purely capitalistic approach to business. Steve Jobs was the front man, and despite his geekiness Bill Gates used bis wealth to aid his philanthropic desires which also helped his image...that and his former Jobs hippiness.

I still don't think AG has what it takes experience wise to manage a club like ours. If he has a track record good enough then so does SGE, Roy Hodgson, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish and Howard Wilkinson and arguably Dave 'Dullarse' Bassett. Souness might cut enough of a dash sartorially but his dour demeanour would never work for us. SGE would probably work fine, everyone loves a shagger. TSO's dourness is well documented as being a front, Souness is like that for real. I may not rate him but I'll not resort to Toady or some of the other insults (I'll keep them in my head or reserve them for bad matchdays)

For me AG will move eventually, but it probably won't be results that do the damage, but lost DVD/Shirt/Sponsorship/Merchandising/tour revenue and Brand devaluation that will do for him. That's the shallow, fame hunting, celebrity obsessed, money driven, designer label oriented, talent vacuum, me me me world we live in.

Fuck me, political dogma, big business and fashion in one go. Time to get back to my Philosophy course and learn about the Computational Theory of Mind :-)

Wow Tony well put!!!!!!!!!

Gotta say I crave the simpler football days of the most unsexy and talented balding Charlton brothers, grim and dour Sir Alf Ramsey and squeeky voiced Alan Ball- who was my personal heart throb as a child.(broke my heart when he passed away)

But times have changed ....... Yeah Tony you are right.

Rikjaard is replaced by Guadiola officially. So whats next?

@Jang
Do not expect any move before Champions League Final.

The one player I would really love to see play for Chelsea next year is Sergio Aguerro. He is an absolutely magnificent player who has been winning games on his own for Atletico Madrid this year. Then, if he has any children with his current girlfriend, maybe we should take an option on them as well. That would be as good a football pedigree as you could possibly get. With the current trend of recruiting kids at a younger and younger age, why not go a step further and start breeding footballers in the way that racehorses are? If you've been a top international footballer, you get sent to stud at the end of your career. I don't see why it's so far fetched. It's the sort of arrangement that would suit someone like JT down to the ground. Instead of having to go trawling around the London nightclubs, he could just stay in his bedroom and be sent suitable 'mares'. What about putting someone like Maria Sharapova to Didier Drogba? You could get a pretty powerful centre forward out of that little union. Then, when the babies are born, they would be sold at auction to the highest bidding club. This system could well save a lot of money in the long term. It might be the way forward

@ YOHAR (159)

I think it's great! In fact, had my new number 8 Lampard shirt delivered today..

Doesn't look as good on me as on him though i have to say..

I apologise if this is an analogy someone has made before, but AG reminds me of the air stewardess who manages to land the plane (being talked down by a man on the ground, usually) after the pilot has a heart attack.

"Well done", they say, and mean it, but they don't necessarily want her to take another plane up the next day.

In most cases, the stewardess would usually say - "Whoa! there's no way I am doing it again!"

@sedentarydave
Good comparison I like it

@sedentarydave

Interesting analogy. Air stewardesses aren't as glamorous as they were 30-40 years ago but even on Ryanair I've yet to see one that looks like Avram. Still if he dresses up in a British Caledonian outfit, says "I'm Avram, fly me" and we win the Champions League I guess I might be able to give him one.

Interesting stat I wasn't aware of... we all know it has been 81 games since we have been beaten at home in the league, but it has been 102 domestic games since we have lost at home if you discount penalty shoot out loses in cup comps. Will there be any other team that will come close to this home record ?

Can't wait for Sunday and feel Wigan will give Man U a real run for their money. It would still be a surprise if we do win the league... a pleasant surprise at that. However, now we have got this close it would also be a bitter disappointment to miss out on goal difference. Still believe it is the CL we are destined to win this year.

KTBFFH

Joe Cole has picked up the Player of the Year award....

Not sure about that.. If you had asked me a month agao, he would have had my vote, but Ballack and Ricky have excelled recently and Joe has been very average.

I wonder when they stopped counting the votes? Maybe in March, methinks.

I voted for No. 6.

He has been working hard this season. I don't think it was fair for our captain to blame No. 6 when he got injured last match. He must get some rest for the CL final.

Anyone else find the goings on at Cashburden Grove amusing?

They have now lost both Hleb and Flamini and the season hasn't even finished yet!Adebayor also wants away.

I don't believe that it is all down to money, either. As much as it plays it's part, I reckon the players are sick of not winning anything, and see their only chance of silverware away from Arsenal.

If Fabregas goes to Real too, they will be finished as a force for some time, and a vacancy will emerge in the 'Big 4'.

Interesting stat I wasn’t aware of… we all know it has been 81 games since we have been beaten at home in the league, but it has been 102 domestic games since we have lost at home if you discount penalty shoot out loses in cup comps. Will there be any other team that will come close to this home record ?

@PTG
If my memory serves me correctly, I think it was Looserpoo that held the record for consecutive league wins at home with 63, and with domestic cups I think that stretched to 80 or so. But I think our record will take some beating in the modern era, and only the Arse are on a run with a current home win record this season.

The only downside I see to our home record is 'sometimes' we play as if we don't want to lose it, rather than take the risks to go for a win, too many home draws against opposition we should beat.

On saying that, take note Looserpoo fans we continue to make and rewrite something you call history!

Alot of people, players, and pundits show disrespect to Stamford Bridge saying it isnt as intimidating as Anfield or blah blah. If thats the case, how did the team not loose at home for almost 4 years in a row? Phil Thompson?

@ Syed- thanks for the info.

to anyone else: sunday will be my first trip to SW6 on a match day. any recommendations of where to go before/after the game?

JANG, I agree Phil Thompson has always been an idiot though, Shitfield is only a annoying place to be because of all the idiots screaming there, Unfortunetly by the way Sergio Ramos says he wants to retire at Real Madrid

For anyone who wasn't aware (and I wasn't), we're live on Sky Sports 2 on Sunday. ManUSA are on Sky Sports 1.

Love SedentaryDave's analogy.

Joe Cole player of the year? Very strange. I hovered over Carvalho and then voted for Maka - we're going to miss him when he finally hangs up his handcuffs (though Stevieeeee Gerrard won't).

[any recommendations of where to go before/after the game?]

Loads of decent boozers around the ground, we're blessed in that sense. Posh hot dogs at the White Horse on Parson's Green; have a singsong with the riffraff in the So Bar or Jim Thompson's; the Harwood Arms is a cracking little pub, but very busy. Depends what you are looking for.

Sven is waiting to see the developments at chelsea before making any decision on Benfica!! Hmmmm nooooooooooo, he will be shagging all the wags rather than taking training sessions.

Lolli - your frank obsession is getting worse!! You need a cold shower me thinks - clive will wash your back!! That should keep Musumba away another day!!

Rikaard is out but I think they will wait - grant has done a good job and i think personally deserves another season if he wants it. If not then let the other hot seats unfold and make a decision post CL final. mancini, rikaard, sven - a number of good mgrs could be on the market.

For right back i would go for micah richards - a beast of a man who wil only get better and when he matures will be a riccy c natural successor.

Messi or RvDV should be the other buy.

So long as we keep Ze German - we will be OK.

I am ordering my new shirt - is "Ze German" offensive to anyone?!? Herr Ballack doesnt fit :(

I would have thought if they were keeping Grant they would have announced it already? surely whether he stays or goes will have a massive impact on what players come and go.

Of course, the other 2 options are that he will be judged post CL final or that they are planning on canning him but dont want to tell him till after the final.

Dylbo - i think the next 2 games are whether he stays or goes - if we win or draw the PL then he will get a tick. If we lose or draw our last game he will get a big red X.

If we win the CL or lose by some freak incident he will get a tick - he we lose it and play poorly he will get another big red X.

They will then ask him for targets - speak to those targets agents and judge if they want to come to chelsea with grant here. If they dont then they will address all the reasons why. This is like many businesses - you do a lot of behind the scenes / off the record work before making any decision - espesially one that will cost £££. If grant is the sole reason people wont come then he will go even if he wins both.

If targets will come with him here and he has done well i can see him staying and i think he deserves that chance to make us all eat humble pie.

However if rikaard could bring eto'o and messi for example then that makes him a great hire even he doesnt work out!!

@BlueMunkeyfeet - “mancini, rikaard, sven - a number of good mgrs could be on the market.” -
Hmmm you think Chelsea will be better with somebody else’s rejects? Can not forget the look on Rikaard's face other night, so helpless, so humiliated so empty…do not want to see that with us. Almost same goes for Mancini. Sven is a different story, but I think he lucks fire in the belly.
If we look just for somebody who has better suits, lets get Brad Pit, ah?

Chelsea 24 - Bolton 0

"However if rikaard could bring eto’o and messi for example then that makes him a great hire even he doesnt work out!!"

Rikaard manage to finished 3 in La Liga, out of CL, despite having so many QUALITY players, is that the attraction?
Eto is a small version of Drogba (thanks, but NO thanks) and Barca will NEVER SELL Messi!

So let’s finish the 2 games left and see what happens.

if messi wants to go then he will...

barca would be wise to sell him otherwise he will walkout when his contract expires(anyone know when that expires?)isnt that what just happened with flamini?

LOL Jiko - his little face was a picture - he hadnt even shaved - scruffy looking which is a sign his confidence is rock bottom.

I disagree regarding mancini though - in his early 40's to do what he has done for Inter is fantastic. For me he has all the makings of a great manager.

Internazionale July 1, 2004 Present Played 188, Won 116, Lost 19, Drawn 53, Win percentage 61.7

Jose's:

Chelsea June 2, 2004 September 20, 2007 Played 185, Won 131, Lost 18, Drawn 36, Win percentage 70.81

Not far off with a significantly lower budget.

I dont mind the idea of Riijkaard. I think he's got a bit of bad press recently. Sure, finishing third for that squad of players is disappointing, but in much the same way Man USA have been the best team here, Real have in Spain.

Don't forget Messi has had two lengthy injury spells this season, Eto'o and Toure went to the ACN, Ronaldinho has been missing for 6 weeks. Henry and Abidal are / were 'acclimatising' (look at Sheva, Pizarro etc. coming to us). They had a fair few injuries and suspensions that have robbed them of key players like us.

Over the course of the two legs against ManUSA, it's hard to say who was the best team. Barca had plenty of chances but, like us, lacked that decisive finishing quality when it mattered.

Riijkaard's a big name. There wont be many better than him without a job in the summer, I guarantee you that.

I must just add, I had a horrible dream / nightmare / premonition last night. I dont know how the game ended, but JT scored an own goal from the edge of the box in the Champs League final....

Jiko - I dont doubt Rikaard has fallen apart this year. Jose had an awful start this year but i will always remember him for what he did for this club.

Have you never worked in one company - started off well and then its gone wrong - moved on from there and then had a stormer because you learnt from your mistakes! I have for sure. Rikaard is young in terms of management years and this is a big lesson for him and one impossible to rectify as he didnt see the problem early enough - they all need clean starts.

He definitely needs a change - politics has killed Barca - Eto'o and Ronnie fighting and deco being more interested in clubbing. This is the same problem Real had during their galatico era - its why jose never buys into that culture because it is volatile.

You cant knock a man who has won several liga titles, a champs league and made a team that plays arguably the best football in the world - last year they drew with real on points, beat them on goal difference but lost because spain works it out in the two games they played against each other where real were better!!

@FIFTY

Are they accurate?

What we need now is a tactician who can deliver. It doesnt take an artisan to play beautiful football, its whether Jose wants to do it or not. My vote goes to Lippi and Big Phil. No to Rikjaard.

BlueMunkeyfeet agree with you there, but I think FR failed to control players, failed to get respect of them, and did not get the best of a squad who has hugely talented players in it.
His decisions not always make sense - see Bojan before Henry situation. Just think he lost it. Mancini, has a good record, but did not like the way he did in the CL this year as well. I would not like to be in Barcelona, Inter or City shoes. So does not make sense to get their managers. See Hiddink is a different story. Anyway the season has 2 more important games to go. See where we are and if we winning why change wining formula?

Not keen on the whole Rijkaard thing - the tales leaking out of Barca about his inability to man-manage individuals successfully are a worry.

Jiko - totally agree - if we come out of this season with the CL - then for me Grant deserves another year.

I agree but Mancini cant control a sending off in each leg and lets be honest any team down to 10 in the CL is going to struggle.

As i said before - funny how ten cate leaves and the rott sets in at barca!! Last year they kept afloat - this year its all gone very wrong. Ten cate ruffles feathers but hey you have to get these people onto your way of thinking. I had heard the success at barca was more to do with ten cate than rikaard 2 years ago - i guess only now do you realise that must have been very true.

Grant has no man-management either but with clarke and ten cate he has those who dont mind being hated at times - as a manager this is part of the role, hence why many dont want to be a manager.

Jang,

As accurate as I can remember, so maybe not.....

I watch a fair bit of Spanish football and would like to think my assumptions are not far off the truth.

The problem we Chelsea fans have is with every single name that's available or linked to us, we sub-consciously will compare them to JM. The JM analogy is like a porterhouse steak. Nothing else is good enough, and no matter what sauces you cover it in, or what you have with it, nothing will ever come close. JM was the absolute pinnacle as far as I'm concerned, and I doubt we'll ever witness anyone of that ilk for a very long time.

It is a bit early to reflect on the season just yet, but if we look back – few games in to the season- change of management. African cup, injuries to key players “red cards”.
MU had no such a problems, no major players out for a long time, no players on African Cup and yet still we are there on THE SAME POINTS and in for the Grant Finale. Who will have believed that? Can not bear thinking what if: Tim did not score with the last kick of the game, or RKeen for that matter, or Cech did slightly better on the cross before Gallas scored….We could have been the champions now. But still we are around there and MU are sweating, I know that much. Do not know if RA is going to make some changes in the summer. It looks like he might, but if not I will not be too worried about next season anyway

@ TOMMYBLUE
Hi sorry, have been away couple of days. Regarding the article and Grant and yesterday, Zahivi the agent talking about the anti-Jewish situation against Grant, personally I dont care how he dresses, how he looks, what he says or does'nt say, etc etc. I also dont agree with the name calling except maybe after the heat of battle when a game does not go our way but this happens to every manager by their own fans, but not out of context so I agree with you in that sense. HOWEVER, what i dont think you quite understand and indeed the media who hated JM cannot aparantley seem to understand is why the fans dislike of Grant even with the results. It is quite simply as has been said by myself since the beginning of Grant's reign and by most CFC fans also here and elswhere and it is this: HE HELPED STABBED JM IN THE BACK and for that HE WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN! tha'ts it, To stab someone in the back in this life is probably the most hated thing one person can do to another, and it is rarley if ever forgiven or forgotten. I'm sure these 2000 years later, you know well how Julius ceaser was stabbed in the back by Brutus, or if it really happended how Judas betrayed Jesus, wether you belive the story or not and you still know the story 2 millenia later, why? Because it is as abhorrent as if a husband betrays his wife with another woman. It is virtually never forgiven whatever is said. The point is HE STABBED AND BETRAYED JM and that is that. Nothing, absolutley nothing you or the few others can say will ever change that and it will be remembered forever in Chelseas history. That is why he is disliked by the majority of CFC fans.
As to the article, it says nothing, absolutley nothing about Grant being able to take a team of previous failures to win the league in fifty years and to mould a team of winners which even Kenyon has reiterated JM achieved and win back to back Prem titles breaking all records and battering Manchester United and Liverpool and Arsenal along the way, probably three of the best teams in Europe while fighting Epic unforgettable battles in Europe and establishing Chelsea as a powerhouse. And before you say, Ranieri also had Roman's money and Chelsea were nowhere near established as they are now before Grant took over. This is the Legacy of Jose Mourinho. Not a mention of this from the writer in the article and never of course from Grant. So now, Grant has acheived nothing even with us being in this position. Ask yoursellf this question, if Grant had taken over instead of Jose Mourinho, where would Chelsea be now in the league, the CL and the world stage? Read the History of JM before Chelsea not only with Porto but with Leira, yes that's right a little club he made good enough to beat the top three in the Portuguese league before Porto. This is the true history of JM, not Chelsea in actual fact. Image Grant doing that? You have to be dreaming. never. His own age and record in world football already show that and it is downright disrepectfull to the legacy of JM to even compare! Only the Pro Grant lobby at Chelsea' boardroom and in the media peddle such rubbish, but dont believe it and read the history first.
Lastly, I have personally given Grant over the last three weeks appreciation on this blog in those recent games, but dont ask true CFC fans to think for one moment this is a team Grant moulded and achieved this or worse that we should like him one iota. It just will never happen barring about four individuals on this blog. Read this blog over the last year and you will see what I mean.
CFC forever, after JM, after Grant, after Roman, CFC will be here and so will I!!

@ Jiko,

I think you raise some interesting points there on our season. We have had major spells without players due to factors out of our control such as the African Cup of Nations, we lost our top goalscorer and still managed to win every single match in January, a feet I believe only Manchester United could equal and as you said, they did not lose any players to the tournament.
I personally believe that no matter what happens in the final two games of the season, it has been a good campaign for us, if we had had a little bit more luck or perhaps concentration in the games such as the draw with Everton or the draw with Tottenham then we'd have already won the league by now and it would have been a fantastic season.
We have pushed United further this time out than last season and have finally reached the Champions League finale how can this season have been anywhere near unsuccessful? We should have beaten Spurs in the Carling Cup an already have a trophy in the bag but it was not to be, we didn't play well and it shows a floor in Avram's management. Despite this we were two games away from playing every single possible fixture this season if we had beaten Barnsley and made the FA Cup final and although we could yet end the season without silverware deep down I feel that we could slowly build under Grant if he has the right people behind him. Controversial I know but that's my stance on the situation...

@ Dio

You must be my twin brother I never knew I had!
Seriously mate, well said and spot on --- at least for me.
Brilliant.

@TG

160-- Brillianr piece and although I don't agree with only a few of your philosophical standings, I most certainly agree with all the business points
hence Grant will not be the manager in June 2008 regardless of 1, 2 or no trophies this term.

@Dio - fair enough said- and no arguments JM was good - I loved him and was sorry and pissed to see him go. WOuldn't take one bit of credit and admiration that he deserved away from him and his legacy

but.......
1. not sure if grant back stabbed JM - JM's cards were pretty much written by himself. The whole Judas thing is a bit strong for me. The truth seems that AG was just as surprised as everyone else when he was offered the job.It was Roman who fired him - his decision - and I don't reckon anyone tells him what to do.

2. don't have to compare every manager to JM - at some point you have to move on emotionally. It isn't healthy to put anyone - manager or player in a godlike position. Jose built on Raneri's work and Grant on Jose's. That's just the way it is.

3. Grant's done a more than ok job - you don't have to love him to give him credit. I think you all underestimate him - his skills and man management.Could he have built the team like Jose - dunno - doubt it- maybe. You know what maybe anyone could have built the team with the resources Roman ploughed into it.

4. At the end of the day we all want the same - good of the team. Frankly posh spice could manage the team and if we did well I'd even chant her name.

@ TOMMYBLUE
Quite frankly if we win the league and CL it will be the best so Chelsea can rub it in the medi'as face and also in Europe's face too, including UEFA and the rest of them. If Grant is at the helm, fine, if he keeps winning great and in that case give him another chance if he will be able to do it. But on no account will I ever sing his name or ever like him. I'm also waiting for the day when the Chelsea board stop acting like the biggest *&&^%%$$ in football and at least erect something to JM for his achievements or name something to help placate the fans and show their appreciation. On another note, Posh, nah too skinny and overestimated. Eva Longoria, well now your'e talking!

@ TommyBlue

JM's cards were written by the likes of Arnesen and others close to RA and AG's arrival added to the writing of those cards and finally killed him off. It was Grant that got in the ears of the players and stirred the pot on sight to unsettle the aquad. This unsettling had started already in other ways by the likes of Arnesen who were in RA ears away from the training ground.

Now whether AG was surprised to get the job or not can be debated, but for me he had completed the damage that had started from months before. And I for one would consider this stab in the back, even if he would not have been appointd the manager!

And at least for me this is not an emotional issue regarding your second point and Jose!! It's actually all about facts and figures. What Jose accompolished at SB was nothing shy of colossal and dare I say will probably not get repeated anywhere let alone at our beloved club, keeping in mind the short period of time that it occured in. And as for moving on it's blatanly obvious we all have to as such is life.

And although I will readily give AG some credit for this season, majority of the credit should go to the players, their class and quality and the winning mentality that Jose so firmly installed in the infrastructure of our club.

It also has to be said that we got the easiest draws in all cup competitions comaperd to previous years and others ( Olympiakos, Fenerbache, Barnsley, Spuds to name a few).

I think even United fans would accept that if Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Vidic, Ferdinand and Van Der Saar had missed as many games as Drogba, Ballack, Lampard, Carvalho, Terry and Cech, there's no way the title would be going down to goal difference. Last year, I thought United were worthy champions; this year, they've had the odds stacked in their favourr but still haven't managed to put it to bed. They've had their moments, but given their quality and the massive advantages they've had, they've underperformed far too many times to be considered a truly great side.

@Peter, totally agree. It hardly gets a mention in the media by the arse licking man-u supporting journalists but they dont deserve it. Just look at the points difference and games lost/drawn. In fact it must be said only one player has saved them at that is ronaldo with his goals this season. no question. So much for a great team. It actually shows how badly they have underperformed without any NAC distractions or major injuries.! But if they win it will be the greatest team ever which if I am honest would be a travesty to the team of 99 and Keane et all which was a great team.

So, I think JD and I agreed we might meet for a pre-match beer on Sunday. Mark was also on the list but it is extended to our esteemed commenter's as well. Im usually there a couple of hours before kick off so if anyone knows a decent pub where we could hear each other think then I'd happily .....ahem....expose myself (identity wise unless Lolli's there!)

@JD me and alot of guys go to the Spanish Tapas bar called La Rueda on the kings road literally opposite the grounds through one of the roads opposite the main entrance that goes over to teh Kings Road. It does get packed though but there are alot of fans in there and the food is great too

If fortune wants to favour the brave, they will have the chance this Sunday. Looking forward to a summer of Crazy Chelsea Chequebooks more than Euro 08 LOL

Evening all

Tony - have dropped Nick a line as I can't find your e-mail addy (and to save publishing it on here!)

Will stick a note up about suggestions for a meeting place a bit later / tomorrow.

It was a brilliant second half to watch from us. I though we were really really good. First half, I thought we were a bit lethargic and lacked that penetration. Playing Anelka on the wing did not help. Switching to a 4-4-2 and putting Anelka up front really did the trick. Whatever Avram or anyone said in the dressing room really helped. We came out with a lot of determination and really took the game to Newcastle.

Your reviews pretty much always sum up what I've got to say. Haha. Ballack is becoming a great asset to us. His performances have been... orgasmic? Haha. The only sour thing about this win was Carvalho's injury. Hope its not too serious. And I think Malouda had his best game in a blue shirt today. His deliveries from set pieces were amazing and took his goal really well. Maybe he's starting to settle in? Let's hope so. And who says Frank and Ballack can't play together? The passing between them and our midfield is what led to the second goal. Nonsense.

Nobody thought we would even be at where we are at the moment and for that, I am really proud of the team and it's achievements. I mean, to be here itself is amazing. After the draw with Wigan, everybody thought we were gone. But this team has proved its character on so many ocassions and it did so again. Bravo.

Wigan have a lot to play for. If they win and the teams above them lose, they might climb another two places and could earn another 2m. Plus, it's their last home game of the season. The fans will want to see a show. And their fans will want to be known as the team that stopped Manchester United from winning the title. Also, Valencia and Palacios have been linked with United and will want to show Fergie just how good they are. People think United at Wigan is a foregone conclusion but one thing they've forgotten is that it's easy for anyone to sit down and make predictions. United have to play the game, they have to get the ball into the back of the net. The win is not going to come and fall on their laps. And the pressure will get to them, no matter what Fergie says. It gets to everyone. Fortune favours the brave. Where there is life, there is hope. Let's hope its true. It could be our day.

I think we've come too far to slip up against Bolton. No matter what Bolton say about parking the freaking bus in front of goal, they've got nothing to play for. I think we can beat Bolton and I think Wigan can get a result against United. I think we will beat Bolton... hopefully.. and... that... Wigan will get a result against United? Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but hey, anything can happen. If it doesnt happen, then who cares? We've still had a brilliant season considering where we were when Avram came in. Come on CHELSEA!!!

KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH

Dead chuffed Avram's manager of the month

if you are wondering why i am so adamant in my support of the guy - it's probably that I always support the underdog - sort of dogged sense of English fair play. The whole treatment of the guy leaves me with a sense of discomfort - not the initial shock of who the hell is he and what's he ever done - but the consequent bloody mindedness against him

@celery - your comments re pre sacking of jose - facts or guess work on your part? Lot of stuff put out there regarding behind the scenes stuff - most of it just BS. The writing was on the wall for Jose way before Grant even turned up. Don't think it was right by the way - bloody ridicules to sack the best manager we've ever had - but not convinced it was anything to do with Grant. Like most of us don't really know - just guess work

Anyway nuff said - I promise not to say another word on the subject - at least till after we've done the double!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ 209 Tommyblue

Manager of the Month - fuck that is so often the kiss of death.....

Congratulations to AG... for not wearing the black shirt recently, that's why Chelsea have been winning! :-)

"Manager" of the Month?... My arse!

As Ballack put it bluntly: The Chelsea team certainly has enough class to be successful in spite of AG!

Maybe the MOTM award has been given to AG just incase we win the title, I mean how ridiculous would they look we won the double and not any of our players are in the team of the year and have we ever had "Player of the month?" I cant remember but I think this is just incase the PL and CL turn out to be BLUE!

Ive been amused by some of the things Ive heard about Liverpoopoo in recent weeks
Stevie Me : Two signings can win us the title! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Fat Rafa : Crouch can go for £15m! Who in the right mind would pay that?

Actually, 'Manager of the Month' has been a curse in the past; some anti-Chelsea elements would try anything now to stop Chelsea!

Martin O'Neill on Rafa... "I'm not sure he respects anything!"

Very true, we all know that!

Liverpool have been saying that a couple of signings could win them the league for a few years now, it's almost laughable to think that the Scousers actually believe that the title is still a realistic possibility for them.
There are really only three teams in England that could claim the title right now, namely us, United and Arsenal and that's it.
Liverpool could win the league within the next five to ten years but in order for that to happen they would need to sack Rafa Benitez because he focuses too strongly on the Champions league. If they don't do this soon we could quite easily move further and further out of their reach.
Avram does deserve the manager of the month award. Despite what many may say, over the past month we've beaten both United and Everton and the side have played with real confidence, we're also on paper THE form team in the league. Even with the draw against Wigan Avram deserves the accolade purely due to the fact he has steered the team to the verge of a double, one which was extremely unlikely just a few months back.

Avram doesnt deserve an award, The PLAYERS do particuarly Ze German who we are set to offer a new 3 year contract

"The Blues are keen for Ballack to commit the rest of his career to the club, and he is likely to accept despite strong interest from Real Madrid and former club Bayern Munich. The 31-year-old got off to a slow start at Stamford Bridge, initially struggling to cope with the pace of the Premier League following his free transfer from Bayern in 2006, and had a rocky relationship with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. However, the Germany captain has flourished this season under new boss Avram Grant, and has become the key creative and attacking element in a star-studded Chelsea midfield, scoring nine goals since his return to action late in December. And it appears Grant may look to reward Ballack’s excellent form not only by improving on his current ?121,000 deal, as the Israeli is considering a shift to a 4-4-2 formation so as to best utilise Ballack’s attacking talents and accommodate striker Nicolas Anelka. But Grant have to find a new strike partner for his formation is reports regarding Didier Drogba’s imminent exit are to believed, as the Ivorian is supposedly frustrated with his paltry ?100,000 pay packet and feel under-appreciated at Stamford Bridge. But plans for next season must wait until the current one is dealt with, as Chelsea look to secure what would be a memorable double. The Blues are battling with Manchester United on both domestic and European fronts this season, as they lie level on points heading into the last game of the Premier League season and are set to face each other in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 15. And although United’s superior goal difference makes them favourites to clinch their 10th Premier League crown, Ballack has experienced first-hand with Bayer Leverkusen the pressure involved in maintaining a slender advantage toward the end of the season. “Everything is in United's hands and the pressure is all on them now,” he said. “With Leverkusen in the last game, we needed just a draw and Bayern Munich needed to win and we lost. It was even against a lower team in the league, so I know that anything is possible and this is possible." Chelsea face 16th-placed Bolton Wanderers this weekend, while the Red Devils face 13th-placed Wigan Athletic. And Ballack is adamant that United will be tested, as the Latics scrapped 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge recently thanks to a late Emile Heskey equaliser. “We hope that Wigan play with the pride we know they have,” Ballack said. “When they played us a couple of weeks ago, they put four strikers on the pitch in the last four or five minutes to get something from the game. I hope they are not on their holidays.”

SIMONT, True about Fat Mad Rafa, He truly is clueless and his priority is the UCL and he doesnt even bother with anything else, He wants £15 million for Crouch LOL LOL LOL

But... AG does deserve the Pretender of the Year! :-)

Rafa is just an idiot! Not even a circus would pay that price for Crouch! LOL!

#218

So that means Lampard will be gone? Actually, i think things can click if we can find better wide players. The difference could only be a David Silva or Micah Richards to turn us into world beaters again. Im convinced about that. We lack the last piece of jigsaw on the entire right flank.

223, Why would a new contract for Ballack mean the end for Lamps? We have lots of midfielders yes but we get enough injuries to keep the satisfied with their role at the club, I agree about a new winger though lets get Silva or Affelay

Just got home and turned on the tv. After a few days of cautious optimism, I was confronted with Steve Bruce (on Setanta) saying his ideal senario for the weekend would Bolton beating us and Wigan beating United, so Man U won the league.

Now, after Wigan have moved a rugby match (which they've never done before) to suit Uniteds passing game, Curbishly led a disgracefuly inept hammers to defeat after claiming he'd raise a toast to fergie if they won the league, the fact that fergie's weak mind games have tried to include Wigan's Valencia, Bolton's players and anyone else who'd care to listen....

I am now a very angry man (especially with what I heard from Brucie), BUT, fuck fergie, Fuck Wigan, fuck fergie's premier league mates and fuck everything his side may have to offer.

Whatever the premier league may not hold, we are the masters of our own destiny in Moscow, and not even fergie's boy's club can stop us there!

We are the Chelsea, and we are the best...

The Sun is reporting that Roman Abramovich wont be at the Bolton game

#224

My humble opinion is that one of our big name is going to get sacrifised this summer to accomodate the 4-4-2 system. I dont know who it is but everything ends well and we can keep our top performers.

JANG, We will see, Its looking very likely that Rijkard will be in charge next season and RA wants him so maybe we will stick with a 4-3-3 but like you say a 4-4-2 is a possibility and of course if Didier is still here next year then great we can finally see him and Anelka playing where they should play because they linked up really well against Le Arse

I'm not a fan of AG either but I can live without the explicit antisemitism (222) and so, I hope, can this blog.

@LTB - yeah looks like the worm has crawled out of the woodwork. No place for that kind of comment on here.

Morning all,

Guest is no longer invited, if you see what I mean...

I find it really ridiculous to ask Wigan or WestHam or anybody else to make as a favor and win. We have had to win Wigan ourselves and we did not. We do not have to humiliate ourselves by asking somebody to win the League for us. All we have to do is to keep our pride, if we can not keep the title. We must win Bolton and we MUST win Man USA in Moscow.
Come on Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ 231 Mikel

I agree - just converting one home draw would have put us in pole position tomorrow, so to expect favours from elsewhere is daft. However, football is a strange beast and last day nerves can get to anyone, as can the pressure. be honest the pressure is on Man utd rather than us as the majority of the footballing neutrals and possibly a fair proportion of Mancs and Blues think the goal difference will sort things and work in Manure's favour. In 5 years it'll be

2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 2nd if the Mancs win tomorrow. For old lags like me such a run would have been unthinkable 10 years ago. I still go tomorrow with a little hope, but for me if Manure win the title (and lets face it they deserve to be there as much as we do) I'll happily salute a band of blue brothers who exceeded my expectations after TSO was unceremoniously dumped.

Providing we beat Bolton of course ;-)

It's certainly not going to be a pushover for Utd if Wigan decide to turn up and give it a go. As Tony stated last day nerves are certainly going to play a part, and anything can happen. I just have a feeling if Wigan can keep it tight and not get swept aside in the first 20 mins or so like Wet Spam then there's always a chance, and I feel Wigan just might get a draw tomorrow, providing we do our job and win.

I think it would be hard to take if both games ended in a draw, or loss, I would much prefer if we're going to lose it let Utd and us win, and goal difference decide it.

I know some people have pointed out that the Wigan game was the crucial game where we let the PL slip, but I think we can look at four games where we conceded in the last minutes when we were leading. To let it happen once was bad enough and twice was bloody careless, but there are no excuses for the third and fourth time.

But if it all ends with Utd tears tomorrow because they bottled it then none of us will care, and I'm sure we all will raise a glass or two to toast the lads and management for a job sneakily done!

Right, a quick note - Mr. Tony Glover and I will be having a pre-match beer tomorrow at the White Horse on Parsons Green from about 1pm onwards; if any bloggers fancy joining us to put names to faces and all that, e-mail Nick, the archdeacon of this parish who has kindly offered to pass on our mobile numbers etc.

chelseablog@gmail.com

Is the address to get him on - just let him know who you post as on the site (we have to filter the crazy people out somehow...)

Cheers all - fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Dio - saw your note about La Rueda; don't often make it up that far, but may do at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Is the address to get him on - just let him know who you post as on the site (we have to filter the crazy people out somehow…)

That's going to exclude 99.99% of the bloggers JD

Drogs is off to Milan.

@ Cashif - where's the evidence? I think we all know he's likely to go, but don't just come on here and make a statement without a link to the alleged news or some proof.

#237

teamtalk.com or Skysports paper talk section.

In the Mirror, so to be taken with a large pinch of salt...

LINK

Just hope that he concentrates on the last 2 games first before thinking about other things. Im sure he wont want to see his hardwork against Shitpoo go down the drain in Moscow.

Portuguese sports daily O JOGO reports that Chelsea have completed the signing of FC Porto right-back José Bosingwa. Avram Grant was desperate to bring in a new right-sided defender as he was reportedly unhappy with the current options available at Stamford Bridge for this position. O JOGO says the two clubs concurred on a €20 million deal yesterday, suggesting that the deal will be formally announced on Monday. Although Bosingwa had been widely tipped for a move to Manchester United, Chelsea were reportedly discreet in their attempt to lure the 25-year-old into their ranks, and quickly gathered the fee Porto were requesting to begin negotiations. The Portuguese international is expected to face stiff competition for a place in the starting XI from compatriot Paulo Ferreira and Brazilian Belletti, although one of them will reportedly leave the club in the summer. Bosingwa joined Porto from Boavista in 2003 and has cemented his position as Jesualdo Ferreira's first choice in the right side of the defence since Ferreira departed for the London-based club.

#241

How true is that?

I'd say about medium true.

Sky Sports are running the story as well.
LINK

Until its confirmed thats all it is a "Story" but they say it will be confirmed on monday, Maybe its already a done deal like with Ivanovic they didnt announce it until about a week later, Lets hope its true, Who would you axe Ferreira or Belletti?

Belletti will go due to Paulo's new contract. Nice to see that we are in the market for some quality players worth in the 15m+ market after watching on last summer as Man Utd spent 40m in one day on anderson and nani, liverpool 25m on torres and milan stealing alexandre pato off us for 16m. At least Roman appears to have got over last summer's sulk and found his chequebook. Bosingwa if confirmed would be good, but the indication that this summer we will be spending big is great news. Bring on bentley, young, aguero, benzema and even messi! One thing that can be guarenteed is that there won't be any more frees akin to the rubbish that are TBH and Pizzarro. There may even be some cash left to give to Lamps and Clarkey on new deals!

KTBFFH

Hard to decide. But i think Belletti.

And exciting days ahead. Things turning around for the better? I sincerely hope so...

haha, just read on BBc that stevie Me expects to challenge for the title next year and is disappointed that they couldn't sustain their ummmm.. title run.

DYLBO, LOL, Stevie Me cracks us all up, He also thinks that 2 signings will win them the title next year LMAO, Their "title run" lasted like 3 weeks

Anyone think that Stevie S***head has created his own story how the likes of Inter Milan are after him just to secure a better paydeal for himself next season?! Seriously..who'd want Gerro in their squad? Underperforming, over-rated, overpayed a***hole!!!

I'm STILL optimistic about a Wigan/Man U draw tomorrow, even though the odds are stacked against us..i can't believe how the Cup is already at Wigan for Man Ure to lift and the replica is at Stamford Bridge!! What if (God Forbid!) Chelsea win tomorrow and Wigan manage to get a draw out of the Mancs and J.T has to lift the bloody replica?! And they say matches aren't fixed for certain teams to win? How about McFergie sending his groundsmen down to Wigan to make sure their pitch is suitable for his team to play on?! Apparently, Wigan staff have been working on getting everything just right for their VERY important visitors for the last 3 weeks.."We think Sir Alex will be very pleased with the pitch" one was quoted as saying earlier this week..Yeah..i'm sure he will! Doesn't matter that every team in the Prem has had to struggle on it all season (remember Whinger complaining about it), just as long as it's perfect for the all important final game of the season..It's a joke!!

I'm dead jealous of anyone going to the game tomorrow, i'd love to be there to meet up with people from here and put faces to names and see TONY exposing himself.. but i'm at work until 12pm and hardly live just around the corner!
Will pass my mobile number on though if anyone would like to get in touch?

Make sure someone has a beer for me please!!!

Tim O'Shea, I really hope what you have read is complete tripe but deep down I feel that it is more than likely that these words are true. Just because 'Sir' Alex Ferguson has been in the game for so long means that no and again he'll get the odd favour off of his chums.
It makes me sick to think that we could be heading in to such a crucial game tomorrow almost knowing that no matter what happens in our match against Bolton, Bruce and his men could well hand the title to United out of courtesy. Stupid.
But like you said, no matter what happens in the Premier league, there is absolutely no chance that anybody can help Ferguson in Moscow and we will see once and for all which team truly deserves to be crowned Champions.
KTBFFH

LOLLI, As much as I despise Stevie S*ithead, I know that Inter president Massimo Moratti is a big fan of the overrated scouse bastard, As for the replica trophy Im pissed about that too, God forbid that the team everyone loves to hate snatches the title from under Sir Alices big purple nose. Im not really suprised to be honest because I havent heard a single tv pundit say we are gonna do it and none of our players are even in the team of the year for gods sake, Thats another reason why im really hoping that we can do the double because then they would look very stupid. Up the Latics, KTBFFH

@ BLUE TRUE BLUE JOE

At least that's one non-scouser you know about that likes him then?!
I HATE him with every bone in my body..i feel an intense hatred for Carra as well..
I agree, i haven't heard one pundit, Manager, or read one single article that says we will lift the trophy tomorrow and i find it insulting that the boys are seen as a sub standard team compared to Utd. We keep hearing that McFergie's lot have played entertaining football. Really? I must've missed those games then i'm afraid!
And yes JOE..I would love it if we win tomorrow and all they manage is a draw..
My God!! Wouldn't that just shock them all into silence?!

Either way, we'll wipe the floor with them in Moscow..
There's only 1 fella lifting THAT cup..and it's our very own J.T!

I'm not that annoyed that we will only lift the replica if we were to snatch the title. i don't think it's a conspiracy. the most likely event of sunday, in my ever so humble opinion, is that both teams will win.

if you look at it in a matrix form, then it is most likely that Man USA will hold on. i think that is why the original is going to be at their game.

If Mc USA win, i'd hate to come on this blog and read about how everyone thinks wigan rolled over and fergie scammed this and fergie cheated that. in reality, we lost 2 points to wigan in the last minute, drew 4-4 with spuds- both our fault. Tomorrow's game shouldn't have depended on another team doing us a favour.

What i fee optimistic about is that considering our turbulant season, we are, at this stage, level with one of the 'greatest Man united teams of all time' according to fergie. that's why if they pinch it i'll congratulate them, hell they've played some great football at times, but deep down i know that the chelsea boys are only just starting to find their form... and i can't wait for the new season to start. god help anyone that tries to keep up with us in the league.

Whatever happens it's been an interesting Season in our history.

Come on the chels

Hi Loll (254), I agree that most people think United are going to lift the trophy but that's just a sensible application of the laws of probability, surely? Will you beat Bolton? Probably. Will United beat Wigan? Probably. Will you overturn the goal difference differential? Probably not.

So there's your balance of probabilities.

As to the other point you make (leaving aside the question of who you really really hate), what I'm seeing is a growing admiration for the way Chelsea have held on to a title chance, despite everything, and have timed this run so well. Nobody, but nobody (except maybe you die-hards) expected it to go down to the final day.

I'm even seeing a rather surprised respect for AG, which I'm (almost) starting to share. He certainly seems to have handled the pre-match niceties with more grace and wit than Fergie.

So don't think everyone hates you. I've been really quite impressed.

P.S. Well said Dylbo.

Good Morning all!!!
I have a good feeling for today hopefully by the end of the day this feeling will be converted into something bigger!!!!!
Come on Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very nervous...biting my nails...can't type right

Morning all - the nerves are starting to tingle. Lolli - I'll sink one for you.

I think the PL have done the reasonable thing with the trophy, after all that's where the odds lay. I could use some philosophy about the trophy, real or replica, merely being a syntactic symbol, a formal token, which without our interpreted attachment of semantic purpose and meaning is utterly worthless.

But I won't. Suffice it to say, if we're lifting the replica then in reality we're lifting a symbol representation of reality. I wouldn't care if it was an egg cup!

As SedentaryDave said so eloquently, the probability equation does lie in their favour.

There's a great article here

LINK

KTBFFH!

Well, nice day for it, whatever 'it' may turn out to be.

I'm expecting nothing more than a few beers in the sun and a win to round the (domestic) season off with; anything else is beyond our control and not really worth worrying about. Sod's law says we'll get all keyed up and the Mancs will ruin it all by going 3-0 up inside 20 minutes...

Stranger things have happened, of course. But this is Wigan we're talking about here.

I'm afraid I won't be able to get away early enough to join my fellow bloggaz at the Sloaney Pony -- shame, it would have been fun.

I'm strangely nerveless. It's out of our hands and to be honest it would be astonishing if the Mancs couldn't beat Wigan when a trophy depended on it. I agree entirely with those who say that we've already done much, much better than we could have expected.

I'm trying to figure out whom I want to see relegated. It ought to be Fulham but for some inexplicable reason I'm hoping they can escape -- what's happening to me?

Reading will go down and Steven Hunt will get his transfer to Sunderland. So we will see him next season.

Here's how it goes at Wigan. Yes they will give it a go. Yes they will thump balls up the field and into the box. Yes the Manc defence will have some scares, but generally they will deal with it. There will be no real goal threat. At the other end, the likes of Ronaldo will find themselves one on one with defenders a lot because Bruce will not have done a lot of tactical work with his team. Not like as if their future depended on it. He will give them the talk about not letting punters and the public down etc, but he won't have really plotted the downfall of his old team, which would take day after day of drilling marking duties and general positioning and teamwork into the players. So the Mancs will get the necessary goals. (I hope I am wrong)

Forget about winning the Prem. We have enough to do to beat Bolton. We will win the game and the players will do a well-received lap of honour and make promises to win the Champions League. Back in September, after Jose departed and we lost at Manyoo I was hoping we could make fourth in the league at least. This has been a better season than most of us expected. We should be thankfull to the players for that, especially Ricci and Joe, and we should not forget some heroic performances from squad players when the Africans took their leave: SWP, Sidwell and the always at least willing Pizarro come to mind.

The bet I'm going to make today, that totally goes against everything I've said above, is for Chelsea to Draw and Still Win the Prem. It is with Paddy Power and the last I heard the odds were 85 - 1. Have fun all you guys who are going and meeting up in the pub. How I miss Fulham Broadway in the sun on the last day of the season. I will be watching on tv with a couple of fellow displaced Blues up in in South Yorkshire. KTBF

I should be there today but returned my ticket to the South West supporters group due to family commitments, some things are more important than football, but I will be watching, and there in spirit.

I feel like LTB no nerves as it's out of our hands, but this little voice in my head says Wigan may do the unexpected today and at least get a draw. Of course if I keep admitting to the voices.... I feel Section 3 of the Mental Health Act may follow quite promptly.

Anyway to the guys and gals that are going and meeting up with the dynamic duo of JD and Tony have a great day, and hope we will all be celebrating JT lifting that replica above his head.

Getting ready for the pub tonight...... Not really expecting to get anything more out of the night than a convincing win over Bolton, but you never know.

Everyone seems fairly convinced that Wigan will bend over for Utd, but until the fat lady sings, we must continue to dream...... Let's be honest, there could be only one thing funnier than Riise scoring a diving header into his own net at the Kop end in the 94th minute...... and that would be watching Fergie turn purple as Utd throw things away!!

C'mon Lucky Avram..... We have come so close, let's finish the job!

Wigan Chairman : "I would want Man-United to win the league over the southerners (Us) any day of the week". I dont see them winning they have nothing to play for

>JD (#49)
Been bogged down with work @ office hence the late reaction to your post

I’m sure you can check my posts up to the end of the JM era…you’ll note that I was (and still am) a JM fan…When he left, some of us grieved for a long while cos of our affection towards him, the void created by his exit and the confusion that hung over the bridge… then came AG and life just had to go on FOR CHELSEA FC cos even though I loved the romantic couple (JM and Chelsea FC), I knew I had to go with one party when the romance broke and that party was Chelsea Fc.

After AG took over, I looked at THE RESULTS as time progressed and realized that he was not faring badly, given the circumstances in which he assumed control of the team. From then on I felt he should be given till the end of the season (at least) before a proper assessment can be made about his stewardship, but the general tone of the blog management tended towards removing AG (manifested in your piece ‘why AG must go’). I sensed an agenda then and that’s where we differed cos a few of us felt there was not much wisdom in jumping to early conclusions since AG had not sat for ALL his tests (Carling and ‘possibly’ FA cups) and exams (Premiership and CL).

I believe a team can not fare well without the support of its fans, and that we owe it to the team to give our support to both the players and management, something that will not be feasible if we continued going at AG and creating a divide through the ranks (like some of you were doing)…Seeing how well the team has done on the back of the vociferous support they had in their recent crucial matches makes me feel real good and somewhat vindicated (not gloating mind you, before you jump to conclusions). Just imagine what things would’v been like if the bridge was rocking with ‘you don know what u’r doing’ during these crucial matches…

You doubt my support?.. I wonder why…perhaps you feel I don’t make so much noise here after victories. It’s the same way I’m curious about the motives of you and your ilk… you guys MORE OFTEN THAN NOT attack the manager, discount whatever ‘little’ achievements the team has had and then come back here for ‘cosmetic’ celebrations, to scream and tell tales of your bouts with alcohol after our victories…if that’s not double-faced I wonder what is…. The pessimism and negative vibes have slowed my verve down on this blog…outside the blog, I’m a shinning, dazzling, loud and proud BLUE to the core!

And that bit about ‘word from the wise and growing up’?...with all humility I’m sorry to say that though i respect you, you guys didn’t show any wisdom in jumping to early conclusions on AG and his team (as is evident from some of the recent comments here)….and you cant ask me to grow up simply because I hold a different view or refuse to tow your line like Peter and co

>Peter
You should know that its not how long but how well…you sound like the scousers when you go ‘history-mental’

>Lolli
I hope your feelings about us and the premiership comes true and that JD et al truly, pleasantly drink themselves to stupor!

I want the double and hope fate smiles on us today, as the 1st step towards achieving the feat.

Always Blue!

@Greenlight
Convincing win over Bolton is all what we can do and that is all WE MUST DO!!!! All the rest is in the hands of the Football Almighty!!
Come on Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ TONY

Thanks..a pint of Carling extra cold please..and another after the game, whatever the result!! Have a great day whoever is meeting up at the pub. Wish i could be there..like CLIVE, i'll be there in spirit to (hopefully) see our Captain lift the trophy..In body, i'll be watching on Sky TV..

@ SEDENTARY DAVE

Most people hate us, that's a known fact. But thanks anyway for being quite possibly the only nice W ham fan that i've ever encountered in my life! You're a star! x

Feeling really excited as the clock's ticking away..will have to force a beer upon myself to help calm the nerves!! I predict a 3-0 Chels win today..

All that's left to say is GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE BOYS..no matter what the outcome today, you've done us proud for getting this far (even though i've NEVER) doubted any of you all season..go out and do your best for us!!!

Up the Chels xxx

JD,
Where is you pre-match report?We all love reading it and are mentally prepared after this, for example 'Standing on the edge...' right guys?
I was really looking forward for it.
I am so nervous about this game that i want to go hide somewhere until the result is out!I am blanking my mind everytime I think about this game, like JD or was it Tony(?) who said, that we should be choosing another less nerve wrecking sport :).But again, this is what being Blue is all about, isnt it? Against all odds.
I hate/d the "I will bend over you can take my arse" hammers coach.
Hell with the Manure arse lickers! thats wat they are! Hell with the pundits, the experts or whoever they are, We are The Blues and We will just take everything in our stride and keep our heads high...phew...that was emotional for me!

Terry gone to hospital with possible arm break or shoulder dislocation.

Manure 1-0 with a Ronaldo pen,someone must have shot a Manure player in the box,after all that's the only way they get a pen.

Scholes should have been sent off for second yellow but Bennett bottles it,he should hang his head in shame.

Andriy! :D

Could it be the goal to give us the title? Come On Wigan!!!

Not a real shock to anyone what's happened today i think...
Can't believe we conceded a goal in the last, what was it?..30 or so seconds..i'm gutted. Would've loved for us to be runners up equal on points but it wasn't to be i guess.

Never mind, there's always next season.
And the Champs is still ours for the taking..

Well done anyway lads, i'm still proud of you all for putting up a great fight this season.

X X X

Theres nothing worse than seeing Man-Ure win the title and we have had to see it for 2 seasons in a row now, We cant blame Wigan they gave their all today and we did all we can until we needlessly conceded a goal right at the death like many times this season, Stupid lapses of concerntration like that is what has costed us the league this season, This NEVER happened under JM and its happening under Avram Grant and his inability to shut out these mistakes from our games is enough reason to get rid of him and bring in a proven coach at the end of the season

bloody heskey

Pffft. Same old same old.

We don't score enough goals against inferior teams. Hence the poor goal difference, and the perpetual risk of dropping two points in the dying minutes.

Ah well.

Well, it is hard to disagree with the fact that we do not score enough and letting goals in the dying seconds....
I am not shocked by the fact that we have lost the PL, the only things I am shocked about are as I said; not scoring enough, not defending well, but, I believe, these points are mostly due to the management motivating team to score more and to defend better.
I am worried about John Terry, though. Just hope he is going to be fine for the CL game.

I've heard from reports on BBC Radio 5Live that Terry's injury is not as bad as it was first feared i.e. a broken arm. Plus as many of us have already seen, he came back from hospital at the end of the match to lead the teams lap of honour at the final whistle and yes I do believe that the team deserved to a lap of honour.
What surprised me was that there were chants from the Shed End of Avram's name, perhaps eventually we might be moving on en mass from Jose and I for one am happy about that.
We do let too many goals in in the dying embers of matches but our defence is so solid generally, perhaps we just need to tweak it during the Summer and if Avram is in charge I'm sure that he will be able to do that.
In terms of goals, if it wasn't for Bolton's late equaliser we would have lost because we don't score enough. I'm not convinced that we should turn into the Harlem globetrotters that Roman wants us to be but I do feel that we need to look at becoming a little more adventurous going forward.

The biggest disappointment for me is yet again we concede in added time, it's a habit that has become all too familiar, and in all probability been the main reason as to why we haven't won the PL.

Anyway one more game to go, and hopefully wipe the smiles off Utd and their fans faces

I blame the Toad!

Chelsea could have won 2 Cups by now!

I was fascinated by how many kids Malouda had on display at the lap of honour. If he can show as much spunk on the pitch his performances would be outstanding. However I thought he played well today.

I think Terry will be ok but Ricky will have to put his arm up for the offside claims otherwise Terry's arm might fly off.

Great to meet JD and Peter today - review will be written later with details of the drink and all, but expect a Cech to get some heavy criticism for a terrible game and outfit today.

Well i'm proud of the lads. To get us this close was great and our football over the last few weeks has been great. To see Utd win it wasn't a surprise and the manner they won it wasn't either. Seeing a ref bottle key decisions to give wigan a pen and send scholes off wasn't a shock. And sad as it is to say, seeing Chelsea's performance today wasn't a surprise either. I can understand why this was our worst game in weeks after hearing utd score but it did expose many of the traits which have cost us the title:

1. As you can all see we think 1-0 is enough. Well it was under Jose as we could keep a clean sheet but now our defence is leaky. Alex is an average player who seems to lose concentration all too readily (picture him failing to mark Davies at every free kick) and our defence just isn't as secure.
2. We need to score more goals. For all Avram's protestations that we play more attacking football, we just don't attack like Man Utd who i hate to say play well quite regularly and win, unlike Arsenal. We are functional and i loved that under Jose because our results proved how winning football could enable us to stick two fingers up to Fergie and show him that our football could breed success. But now, i'm falling into RA's dream, if our functional football doesn't bring trophies then i want my season ticket money to bring something more. Goals and flair would do nicely as next year if goal difference ends up costing us anything as it could have done this year then we have only ourselves to blame.
3. We can't cross the ball, ever. Seeing JC (a worthy player of the year for 90% of the season) time and again either hit the first man or kick it out of play was awful.

We saw all of these problems today and it could be just what we need to kick start a new era at the club. We still have Moscow and i personally will just about get over today's disappointment to cheer on the boys. If we win it it will be the greatest night in our history. To see Rio and Fergie collapse in defeat would be hilarious and i would proceed to probably fail my A-levels which follow up soon afterwards. But if we lose then i won't know where to turn. The loss will be devastating but it could be the preverbial blessing in disguise. It will accelerate the need for a chaotic, exciting, money filled summer with changes going on everywhere. I have thought up 10 to leave (Carlo, Belletti, TBH, Sidwell, SWP, Maka to retire, Malouda, Sheva, Pizzarro, Drogba) and personally i think they all will leave which means our squad will need refreshing. Bringing in young fresh talent over the summer i personally find to be one of the best parts of the year: A new Gk (Rhys Taylor), RB (Bosingwa), CB (Ivanovic), Midfielders (Bentley, Van der Vaart), Wingers (Young, Quaresma, Messi, Sinclair) and strikers (Aguero, Benzema, Huntelaar, Villa) would all be great. We may not get all these but this quality is what i'll demand IF we end up with absolutely nothing from this season. If we return empty handed from Moscow then we msut all face it that Avram must and will go. If we win it then i'd accept him staying as RA will back him with millions. So for me it is win win wither way. But today has exposed some of our problems.

Despite this, bring on Moscow. I feel we are destined to win it. Moscow-Chelsea-RA. It all seems to fit perfectly like us winning the League at Bolton 100 years after out formation and 50 years after our last title. But as i've been told many times, football cannot be explained rationally. We can win it and we should win it if we turn up. I hope for a 3-1 with Drogba leaving us on a high with a hat-trick. But if not, and i have to prepare myself for failure, then change will be demanded from management to players.

KTBFFH

Hey, me too (Mark) with the Malouda kids! Cute little moppets they were too. And how did Frank end up with four girls? When did that happen?

Coolest kid (by far) was the little Belletti toodler, who had a fabulous cameo in front of the East Stand. That little one is going to be a star.

I think most fans of Chelsea are the reason as to why Drogba wants to leave every single season. He's done a great job for you but nobody pays tribute for that. I could even remember the last season Chelsea pies, people portrays him as a monkey. Very sad!

You think Chelsea better off him, you might be right but the opposite might prove to be true in the near future.

Good luck!

I am even an Arsenal fan who would crave to have him in my team but I think we can't afford him and Chelsea would not like to sell him to one of their arch rival

All i want to say is well done to the lads. We came far from behind to reach the last game of the league campaign. A pity that we dint win but nonetheless this home record is still intact. Actually winning or a draw wasnt relevant anyway because Man U were 2-0 up already.

I hope the lads can turn this bitterness into even more hunger and motivation for the game of their life in Moscow. Everything will be at stake and i keep my fingers crossed so COME ON YOU BLUES!

" I think most fans of Chelsea are the reason as to why Drogba wants to leave every single season. He’s done a great job for you but nobody pays tribute for that."

@ STEPHEN

Really? Afraid i don't agree with you. Drogs has been unsettled since Mourinho left and has made no secret of that or the fact that he'd like to join up with him again in future..the fans have nothing to do with him wanting to leave Chelsea.
Nobody pays tribute to how well he plays? Well i have to say that's not true also. You obviously don't come on here very often do you? Ok, some fans might get tired of the will he/won't he stay speculations as it can sometimes be grating but i've never heard of ONE single Chelsea supporter run him down over what he's done for us in his time at the club. If he does decide to leave us in the summer, you won't find anyone on here calling him anything other than a "legend".

Sorry if that disappoints you..

Alex

Thanks for at least constructing a decent reply; I'd say that events today summed up the season nicely - 2 teams challenging for the title, both 1-0 up and (at the Bridge at least) comfortable. One team kicked on and won their game and consequently the title; the other stumbled and drew yet another game at home, having conceded in the final minutes of the game (again). On such slim margins these things are decided.

You'll always get pessimism from football fans - it is a natural state, especially relating to all things Chelsea. It often manifests itself on places like this in many forms - it comes across differently at games; I'd personally rather have my eyeballs eaten by maggots before I chanted anything against the team at the Bridge, but others pay their money and they take their choice.

But I, like many others refuse to follow something blindly; I'll always prefer to question rather than accept what I'm being told (especially if it stinks).

I recall not so long ago that TG and I (and a few others) were berated on here for asking what would happen if Mourinho left. We were heretics, blasphemers - all the usual stuff. In hindsight, not such a ridiculous question, was it?

So I've asked questions about Grant. A fair bit of opinion thrown in, but backed up with some fairly relevant points, if you choose to read them.

All that aside, the facts are as follows; after Mourinho left, Grant took charge and we were told by Peter Kenyon that he was the man to "take us forward". He has done an excellent job, better than expected by anyone I would guess, with the best maybe still yet to come. You'd assume he had earnt the right to be in charge next season, wouldn't you?

A month or so ago, Bruce Buck appeared at a public event and would not confirm that Grant would be the manager next season. The man that who has delivered an excellent season in the circumstances, and was given a 4 year deal little more than 6 months ago.

So do I believe that Grant is the right man to achieve the goal in the quotes above? In my opinion, probably not. You've read that on here, and you've often chosen to be selective about the points I've raised - fine, your prerogative, I suppose.

But do Roman and co. think he is the right man for the job? They may well do so and confirm that soon enough (they at least owe the man that much); but given that he has taken us to the biggest game in our history which is less than 2 weeks away, with constant rumours about other managers taking over in the summer remaining unanswered by the club, the silence thus far seems both deafening and rather telling, don't you think?

Right, teething 6 month old shouting the place down; night all!

And to add - great to meet you TG; we'll definitely sort a blog beer out with a bit more notice next time...

I think we're all a bit deflated after today, but I think most hoped rather than expected Wigan to do us a favour, and in reality that's no way to win a title. I'm still gutted not so much that they won the title, but as I mentioned earlier that late goal yet again, we didn't do what we should have done and win!

I don't know if it will have any bearing on what happens in Moscow, but as much as the boys might have been disappointed with a draw, I'm sure losing out on goal difference might have been easier to take.

I wonder what effect it will have on team spirit if we lose on May 21st to further erode that winning mentality. I would have felt far more confident going into that game with a comfortable and convincing victory under the belt.

I'm bloody nervous about the game now and we've got ten days to go, and I've stupidly invited two Utd supporting mates to come over and watch the game, I hope I don't live to regret it

Injury worries to Terry and Didier. Any news and updates please keep us updated here. Thanks.

Have just got back from the game and watched the Wigan United game upon my return. I made comments earlier on this week about Wigan perhaps not trying, and I retract said comments after a decent performance from them. However, even though the best side over the course of the season has won the league, i'd just like to raise a comment about the performance today of Steve Bennett.

If there has been a more one eyed, biased performance by a ref this season I must have missed it. Non-pens, dodgy pens and what exactly warrants a second booking these days (even man u loving andy gray was lost for words ay half time). Hopefully the power of Fergie hasn't spread beyond the FA, otherwise i've wasted a lot of money going to Moscow.

Rant aside, i'd like to give a big congrats to the boys for getting closer to the title than i could have imagined a few months ago, and getting to the Champs Final. Keep doing us proud...

The same goes to all the guys that keep this blog flowing, it's excellent and makes the long days at work pass a little smoother!

@ Jang

Don't know about Didier, but JT will be fit for the final...

Can we take some positives that we have every chance to reclaim the title next season as long as we dont bottle it against teams that we should win?

Look up Jose Bosingwa on wikipedia "On the 12th, he signed for Chelsea FC, at the end of the Premier League 2007-08 season, for around €20m (£15.8 million)"
It looks like its pretty close to being confirmed, One things for sure we will definetly know by tommorow