The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[Norf Tyrone]

Nice of the MOTD pundits to mention that Anelka had collected the golden boot. 

Can't believe they overlooked this most important of awards. Clearly an anti-Chelsea conspiracy.

It's not the most important, but it's a trophy for the top goal scorer in the world's best league. Would they have mentioned it if Rooney, Gerard or Ronaldo had've won it today with a 25 yard screamer a la our Nic?

[Norf Tyrone]

Strong rumour this morning that Chelsea have signed Twente's Marko Arnautovic for £10 million, and Dean Sturridge on a free. They will inject much needed pace at least.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Pity Anelka's goal yesterday came too late for Goal of The Season...wasn't mentioned by the panel either.  Is it just me or were the Goal of the Season contenders for the most part fairly average??

[Billys Boots]

The legend. Now if you had've said John Spencer.... he WAS a legend.

Or Kerry Dixon.   

[Norf Tyrone]

Pity Anelka's goal yesterday came too late for Goal of The Season...wasn't mentioned by the panel either.  Is it just me or were the Goal of the Season contenders for the most part fairly average??

I thought the same. Shite.
Giggs', Fullers were average.

IIRC I think Johnson's goal for Pompey will win it, but I liked Carlton Cole's too.

Now Kerry Dixon was more, much, much, more than a legend. Met the great many several times, and betrays the notion you shouldn't meet your heroes. A gentleman. I've gone all Feronism on you haven't I.

[Billys Boots]

I've gone all Feronism on you haven't I.

Well, you were provoked. 

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Well done to Frank Lampard who lifted the Chelsea player of the year for the 3rd time last night, the first person to do so.

I'd go as far as saying, Lampard is now Chelsea's greatest ever player.

Fortunately I am old enough to have seen Peter Osgood (RIP) and Charlie Cooke...no one will ever touch these two!

[mountainboii]

Strong rumour this morning that Chelsea have signed Twente's Marko Arnautovic for £10 million, and Dean Sturridge on a free. They will inject much needed pace at least.

So who is signing these players then? If, and its a big if, this is true then Chelsea must already have their man for next season in the bag. Either that or managers at Chelsea still don't get to decide which players are signed.

[Norf Tyrone]

Strong rumour this morning that Chelsea have signed Twente's Marko Arnautovic for £10 million, and Dean Sturridge on a free. They will inject much needed pace at least.

So who is signing these players then? If, and its a big if, this is true then Chelsea must already have their man for next season in the bag. Either that or managers at Chelsea still don't get to decide which players are signed.

It was a bit like Bosingwa last year. Who signed him?
Sometimes a lot of these signings are made months in advance. If Hiddink said in Feb/ Mar they were worth signings, maybe they are worth a risk. Do you honestly think Fergis and Rafa pick all the players they sign. Some are scouted, some are signed by the board for merchandise reasons.

[Norf Tyrone]

Well now that all the sideshows are out of the way, it's now time for the 'World's greatest competition' on Saturday.

I'll be honest and state that bar the debacle of 2002, and the inevitability of 1994, I haven't been as confident about winning a FA Cup final ever. That scares me. However Everton should be underestimated at Chelsea's peril. The amount of injuries they have suffered this season has been amazing, but they've constantly brushed themselves down and got on with it. The Jagielka injury being a case in point. Everyone thought they'd struggle when he hit the hay, but Yobo has come in and their very good run has continued.

In addition both games this year have been tight, 0-0 and 0-0 (Bet the neutrals can't wait). That would suggest that they'll be little in it again. Nonetheless Chelsea are a different animal under Hiddink, and he'll leave a big void around 4.50pm (or more if ET and penalties) on Saturday. The front three of Drogba, Anelka and who-has-snatched-my-body Malouda interchange, pass, and move that means that the ball is less direct but worked through the channels. I feel that if the three continue this on Saturday, the Everton back four will struggle, and the game will be won and lost. If. The only wee concern is that Lampard has been off key the last week or two. However he has not played now in two weeks, which might be the rest he required.

Thankfully Chelsea appear to be going into the game with no new injury worries bar the long term absence of Joe Cole, which means that Hiddink's 11 picks itself bar the Ballack or Mikel dilema.

Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Mikel or Ballack, Malouda, Drogba, Anelka.

As an aside I've had a gut feel for Malouda to hit the first goal at Wembley for the last few weeks. I am guessing he'll be in the 10 range, so might be worth a tenner.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Malouda is 12/1 to score first with Ladbrokes (who amazingly have Quaresma at 10/1 ).  I'm having a fiver on Terry @ 16's, though I'm tempted to have a nibble at Alex (Ooooh Matron!) @ 25/1.  What with the media's obsession with Man Utd up until about 9:45pm on Wednesday the build up to the Cup Final has been low key.  I agree with NT that the team virtually picks itself and I think Hiddink (please stay!) will go with Ballack...maybe a last hurrah for both?  Everton are not a bad side and I've great regard for Moyes as a manager so I'd think things will be tight enough. 1-0 to Chelsea???

[corn02]

Zhirkov signed apparently.

[Norf Tyrone]

Zhirkov signed apparently.

His name has been banded about for some time now. I know little about him, but he sounds like exactly what's needed, and some of the decent posters on the Chelsea forums (Not me or MQP) on other sites have been touting him for ages... based on that, IF he signs it'll be a step in the right direction.

[Minder]

Chelsea embroiled in row on eve of FA Cup Final
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article6391102.ece

[Norf Tyrone]

This must be the worse hangover ever. In pub at 2pm, and left at 2.30am... totally f**ked.

Anyhow. Pretty good final I thought. When Saha scored, I thought that Everton had scored too early, if that's a bad thing. After that Chelsea dominated. Malouda was outstanding, and really took Hibbert to the cleaners. When Jacobsen came on Everton got a foot hold again, but Malouda still had a good second half. Deservedly Ashley Cole got MOTM, but the French man would not have been far behind I'd say, and was robbed of a bit of folklore by the linesman missing his effort that crossed the line. The officials were deemed to have had a good game yesterday which is true, bar the goal that crossed the line, Lampard being denied a penalty and booked for diving and the fact that Everton's goal was offside. At least it was not costly this time.

As I said, Everton had a bit of a foothold until the main man once again pulled something out of the locker with 20 minutes to go. A man for the big occasion is our Frank.


Bed time for me I'd say now...and farewell to Guus. What an impact he had over the 3 or 4 months, and I'll depart with this ditty from yesterday.

We'll drink, a drink, a drink
To Guus Hiddink, Hiddink, Hiddink
The saviour of Chelsea's season
He reinvented Flourent Malouda
Now most creative in every way.