The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[Norf Tyrone]

Well done Butch... showed more balls in 90 minutes than BFS did in 7 months.

His starting XI was just okish but again a holding midfielder against a struggling Championship team was uncalled for. However this was offset against the fact he was not afraid to drop Bosingwa, and give Michael Mancienne his debut, and indeed 90 minutes. Remember Wilkins selected MM ahead of Belletti, Ferrari and Bosingwa.

Saying that Chelsea battered Watford for the entire game, with Watford scoring a breakaway lead goal. Under the previous regime change was not something that came quickly. However Wilkins quickly changed things. Obi Mikel was removed, and young Stoch introduced which at last changed to a 4-4-2 system. Within minutes of Drogba and Anelka being paired up front together and Chelsea were 2-1 up. Again Stoch was first sub ahead of Deco, Malouda and co.

The other big positive was Roman's body language. He looked like a man who still cared to me....

[Square Ball]

The other big positive was Roman's body language. He looked like a man who still cared to me....

Norf

I love watching him, he kicks and heads every ball, a very very enthusiastic fan indeed

[Norf Tyrone]

I can but dream....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7890621.stm

[Square Ball]

Feel terrible for him

Abramovich 'suffers £6.3bn loss' 

Abramovich has made a loss according to a Russian magazine
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has seen his wealth reduced by about $9bn (£6.3bn) in the financial crisis, according to a business magazine.

Abramovich held on to second place among Russia's wealthiest people with a fortune of $13.9bn, said Finans magazine.

Last year, American magazine Forbes estimated Abramovich was worth $23.5bn.

Russia has been hit hard during the recent financial crisis and several of the country's tycoons have suffered.

An updated Forbes list is due in around two months.

[Norf Tyrone]

A critical few days coming up for the Chelsea, as Hiddink's show gets on the round. It would be interesting to see what formation, and what side is sent out tomorrow. Everyone, me included, is clambouring for 4-4-2 or at least a bit of flexability with tactics. However tommorrow with Villa's pace may be a day more suited to 4-3-3, also it's a bit too much of a risky tie for changing things too much.
Chelsea don't have their sorrows to seek in the back line with Percy, Ashley Cole, and Alex all out.

As such I'd expect Chelsea to line out as follows;

                            Cech

Bosingwa      Terry       Ivanovic           Ferreria

                       Mikel
               Lamps      Ballack

Kalou                                    Anelka
                      Drogba

My worry is that Malouda started his career as a LB, and played a lot for Lyon there. I hope he is not put into the LM role to protect Paulo Ferreria.

[FermPundit]

Fantastic goal from Chelsea. Great finish from Anelka

[Norf Tyrone]

Well the Hiddink era starts off with two 1-0 wins. Who does that remind me of? Hmmmm.

Both games also followed a very similar pattern. Chelsea looked good in the first 45 minutes, and a couple of magic momments securing the spoils. On Saturday Stylian Petrov are co are still walking in a daze around Villa Park as 'Fat Frank' (As per Doogie's description  ) spins and feeds Anelka, and then on Wednesday a moment of genius by Kalou. I'll repeat that a moment of genius from Kalou, gives Drogba the chance to fire in.

However in both games the team faded in the second half, and on the balance of play in both games I could see reasons why Villa and Juve deserved draws. Truth be told, Chelsea tired really badly in both fixtures, as the hangover from BFS lax training continues. The differance in Hiddink's teams so far, is that the team are working much, much harder. The defence looks a lot more solid, and together. Cole and Bosingwa are attacking with more intelliegence and not bombing forward at every opportunity, and Terry and Alex look more of a unit. Alex I thought had a very good game on Wednesday bar one wee slip up.

Up front Drogba is certainly coming back to the DD we know. He was very bullish again on Wednesday, took his goal well before tiring badly in the last 15 minutes.

One other aspect of the Hiddink era is that on Wednesday when Chelsea were under 'P' who did he spring from the bench? Michael Mancienne. No fear from Guus, and a wonderful boost for the lad. He played very well too, and was very cool.

So a tricky but very winable encounter tomorrow. With 4 games in 11 days (Wigan H, Pompey A, Coventry A, Juve A), he may use tomorrow's home fixture to rest a few legs. Bosingwa is suspended so I'd expect Mancienne, Belletti or more than likely Ferreria to start at RB. Drogba or Anelka may get a rest with Di Santo starting, and perhaps even the duracell bunny that is Lampard will be on the bench if Deco is fit. Three points to keep the momentum going.

[Norf Tyrone]

Na na na na na na. Michael Essien, Essien, Michael Essien. Na na na na na na. Welcome back to the Bison!!

RESERVE REPORT: ASTON VILLA 4 CHELSEA 3

For the second week running the reserves lost by the odd goal in a high-scoring encounter but there was the great sight of Michael Essien completing the whole game on his comeback.

Such was the strength of the Ghanaian's return from six months out following a cruciate injury that he scored the final goal of the match late on at Villa Park.

Another success was the 60 minutes played by Ricardo Carvalho as he works back towards first team action following a five-week hamstring problem. Having suffered such injury earlier in the season, due diligence for the defender in his comeback is essential and he came through untroubled.

Essien played a holding midfield role against a Villa side who had their own first team squad member making a return. Dutch international defender Wilfred Bouma was playing for the first time since July. Marlon Harewood up front brought experience to a home side containing several players who had lost out in last year's FA Youth Cup semi-final to Chelsea.

Villa are the leaders in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South but Chelsea started very well and before either Essien or Carvalho had barely touched the ball, took the lead.

It was two of our younger prospects down the left side of the team who manufactured the third minute opener - and what a good goal it was!

Miroslav Stoch advanced and slipped the ball to overlapping full-back Patrick van Aanholt who, with the Villa right-back already committed and out the game, had space and composure for shot across the keeper and just inside the far post.

Chelsea centre-forward Frank Nouble then broke wide on the right but couldn't find Lee Sawyer who has forward from midfield inside the box but the passing overall was bright.

Fifteen minutes in, Chelsea almost doubled the lead with what would have been an even better goal than the first. In fact it would have been one of the free-kicks of the season had Stoch's 35-yard blast been an inch or two lower.

The ball rebounded off the crossbar but Mellis, who had been fouled initially for the strike, headed wastefully wide of an unguarded net.

Villa won a corner soon after - and it was headed away by Essien. But a minute later Villa equalised with their won counter down the wing. Carvalho had headed clear but Chelsea were disorganised when it came back. Harewood from the right had the pace to cross beyond Carl Magnay and Nathan Delfouneso, who had scored in the Youth Cup tie, finished first time. It was 1-1 with 19 minutes gone.

There was a shot by Weimann for Villa that passed uncomfortably close to the post before a classic moment of Essien power on 32 minutes as he collected a Noble pass on the edge of the box and bounced Hogg off his shoulder before his shot was blocked.

There was no denying our reserves however as the second goal was netted two minutes later. Jacob Mellis began and finished the move, playing out to Stoch who had switched to the right and then flicking the return in with his head from a position at the near post. Asked to play an unfamiliar wide position on the night, it was the 18-year-old third reserve goal of the season.

This time it took Villa less than two minutes to level, Hogg running from midfield untracked and into acres between the Chelsea defenders as a long ball came over from wide. The England Under 19 international controlled the ball out of Aldi Haxhia's reach and then slide home.

The 17-year-old Chelsea keeper was playing his first reserve game having only feature four times for the youth side. Rhys Taylor and Nic Heimann are both injured.

Haxhia, who was born in Kosovo but has been with Academy since the age of 14 suffered his own injury in trying to block the goal but after treatment continued.

Hogg blasted wide on the run as Villa threatened leading up to the break and then Haxhia charged out of his area as Delfouneso raced forward and upended the forward to earn a booking.

The free-kick from Bannan from the left was crisp but centrally aimed yet the Chelsea keeper at full-strength could only tip it onto the bar, centre-back Clark turning in the rebound for a 3-2 half-time lead for the home side.

Villa continued as the team on top at the start of the second half. Haxhia gathered a header on the run from Delfouneso on 57 minutes and Lee Sawyer picked up a booking for petulance having kicked the ball away a couple of minutes later after an Essien foul.

That was one of a succession of free-kicks conceded that were making it hard to escape the Chelsea half.

Carvalho was the first withdrawn having played an hour, Sawyer exiting a few moments later.

Carl Magnay, now back from loan at MK Dons, twisted his back and looked in jeopardy which with Carvalho off could have stretched resources but the Geordie soldered on.

There was a better moment for Chelsea approaching 70 minutes when a long ball from right-back Nana Ofori-Twumasi was collected by sub Adam Phillip. The timing of the run gave the new striker space but from distance he shot over.

Villa responded instantly and after manoeuvring outside a still-inhibited Magnay, Harewood smacked a cross-shot against the far post.

Essien gave further evidence for what a unique specimen he is when 77 minutes into his comeback, he made a 60-yard run, pass and supporting run but a wayward Mellis ball led to the attack breaking down.

The Villa fourth came on 81 minutes, the impressive Delfouneso smashing home after Bannan had capitalised on a stray Magnay pass.

In the 86thminute Essien was still going strong, surging past a midfield cover with a nutmeg and pulling the deficit back to one goal again with a low shot that deflected past Stuart Taylor off defender Clark.

Stoch almost caught the keeper out with two minutes remaining when his intended cross drifted towards the goalline. Chelsea were ending as we had begun. Mellis then stabbed a difficult chance wide from a deflected Van Aanholt cross while at the other end, Albrighton had a good effort deflected just inches over off Magnay

At the very death, Taylor in the Villa goal mishandled a Bridcutt shot as if the ball had been greased during a final spell of Chelsea pressure, but a goal to prevent victory would have been hard on this Villa performance.

Essien wasn't the only one to complete 90 minutes. Guus Hiddink and Ray Wilkins had made the journey to Villa Park and watched from the stands right up to the final whistle.


Chelsea Aldi Haxhia; Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Ricardo Carvalho (Tom Taiwo 60), Carl Magnay, Patrick van Aanholt; Lee Sawyer (Adam Phillip 62), Michael Essien, Liam Bridcutt (c); Jacob Mellis, Frank Nouble, Miroslav Stoch.

Villa Taylor; Lichaj, Bouma, Clark, Lowry; Hogg, Albrighton, Weimann (Williams 74), Bannan; Delfouneso (Collins 84), Harewood.

[Norf Tyrone]

Another effective performance for Hiddink's men tonight. With an attacking trio of Drogba, Kalou and Maloser there was never going to be much guile or invention. Only with the introduction of Quaresma did Chelsea show a bit of flair in the final third, and the Portugeezer was involved as Drogba finished well.

Keeps the run going, with Essien and Carvalho due back for our next league game.

[new devil]

Drogba looks like a new man since big phill lefted..if he got his head right he would be 1 of the best strikers in the world...he even jumped straight back to his feet after getting pushed off the ball..in the past he would of acted like a sniper had hit him

[nutsy--1]

Drogba is one of the best strikers in the world he's got all the qualities just lacks consistancy in the last seasons. he could guide Champions league glory if he keeps up these displays.

[Norf Tyrone]

What are the complaints about the goal? Haven't seen it.

Has there been complaints about it? I thought at the time it would've been disalowed. Malouda was standing offside about a foot in front of James when Drogba shot.
A wee bit like how the Ireland goal was chalked off v Georgia. I think Doyle was blocking then.

I'd be crying for offside if it was the other way around.

[Doogie Browser]

Everyones favourite Chelsea player in the news again...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7925963.stm

[full back]

Everyones favourite Chelsea player in the news again...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7925963.stm

 
Cheryl is going to castrate him, especially with her climbing K2
I thought he wasnt allowed out of the house any more

[Norf Tyrone]

Great to see.

Cheryl doing her bit for comic relief, and Ashley for children in need.