The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[Norf Tyrone]

A bit of reality biting now. I think today's result will suggest that Chelsea are not quite ready to streak clear in the Premiership, but at the same time not ready to drop out of the top four. Still think we will be there or thereabouts.

I was a bit 'concerned' when I seen our midfield today. Essien, Lampard, Ballack and Deco lacks pace and legs when played in the way they lined out. In truth they were over run for a fair portion of the game, with a special nod to the excellent Nigel De Jong. Wright Phillips also had a decent outing.

Lampard's poor form continues. However I still think CA should continue to name him, to play him through his dip. To do this though he needs Essien in the engine room alongside him, and I'd suggest Malouda at the tip for that wee bit of pace, and energy. Mikel or even Ballack behind to do the holding role. It was also a rare off day for Drogba and Anelka.

Chelsea though arguably deserved a point with the stats even pointing to Chelsea edging the shot and posession stats.

I am trying not to get into a rant about the ref today, but he was shocking. I'll not even list the decisions he got wrong, but he spent a good 60 seconds telling the City players to stay out of the box for the penalty kick- as Lampard waited- and then let Given come 4 yards off his line to save, and De Jong- inside the box when kick was taken- clears.

The ref's performance really frustrated the Chelsea players, and Chelsea's 6 yellows for 17 fouls, to City's 1 yellow for 14 fouls echoes that.

Long way to go, but if I was offered 15 points out of 18 from games that included United (H), City (A) and Arsenal (A) I'd have taken it.

The last time City beat Chelsea, the league went to SW6.

hmm interesting comments coming from you, did you really believe Chelsea would streak clear in the Premiership v a man united team that has won 3 titles in a row? but i still believe it's a two horse race! but this season will by the lowest points total for sometime with the league winners losing 5/6 games

Alan Hansen on the Match of the day blame Petr cech for the three league defeats so far when we lost our 3rd game of the season to Chelsea, Hansen said to many to win the premiership

looking at the upcoming fixture lists for both Chelsea & man united i will be expecting them to both streak clear of the rest

I never said that Chelsea would streak clear. I was refering to posters on here and the media who tend to get carried away when a team puts together a few wins. Typical media stuff really.

[Dinny Breen]

Good man Archie for posting an image to back me up.

School boy error 

[Archie Mitchell]

Sorry for not getting the picture right when Lampard struck the ball. All of a few milliseconds too early. Lescott (who cleared the ball, not De Jong) is just about to enter the D, when the ball is struck. I forgot about Toure but he's not technically in the box, but still technically a foul. So Given isn't the 4 yards off his line that you were claiming then? And Deco is also in the box so both teams where as guilty. Would the penalty have been retaken if Lampard scored and Deco was in the box before it was taken? I don't think so.

Nothing school boy about it Dinny, what's school boy is not having the decency and courtesy to shake a fellow managers hand after a game.

[Dinny Breen]

Nothing school boy about it Dinny, what's school boy is not having the decency and courtesy to shake a fellow managers hand after a game.

Build a bridge lad, build a bridge. Nobody cares.

[Archie Mitchell]

I care.

[EC Unique]

I have to admit.......

I am 100% behind Chelsea this season in their quest for the EPL.

Suppose you have to jump ship to somebody   Good for you.

[Archie Mitchell]

I still think they will win the league. They were poor on Saturday and City were good. If City were poor as well on Sat then Chelsea likely would have won the game. All teams will have poor games along the season, and this was a kick up the back side that will drive them on, the same way they reacted after the defeat to Aston Villa. 

[TheGreatRambo]

Thought myself that Given was 2/3 yards off the line when I saw it on MOTD, never noticed the players encroaching to be honest. Be a brave referee to allow him take it again though.

[Norf Tyrone]

Sorry for not getting the picture right when Lampard struck the ball. All of a few milliseconds too early. Lescott (who cleared the ball, not De Jong) is just about to enter the D, when the ball is struck. I forgot about Toure but he's not technically in the box, but still technically a foul. So Given isn't the 4 yards off his line that you were claiming then? And Deco is also in the box so both teams where as guilty. Would the penalty have been retaken if Lampard scored and Deco was in the box before it was taken? I don't think so.

Nothing school boy about it Dinny, what's school boy is not having the decency and courtesy to shake a fellow managers hand after a game.

Just the six players in the box (Seven adding Deco), and Given at the very least not on his line. I am in joking mode now, but what seriously  gripes me about this is the ref spent at least a minute telling all the City players to stay out of the box, which did not help Lampard. It assisted the offending team. He then ignored the fact that they all came wandering in regardless.

And I know it happens all the time.

I have always had a bee in my bonnet about this, as I have only seen one penalty retaken (I am sure there have been more) for the keeper coming off his line, and that was Cudicini at Anfield a few seasons back.

[Norf Tyrone]

Actually Archie if this man's on my side you're right enough.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1233960/GRAHAM-POLL-Penalty-kickers-raw-deal-referees-allow-likes-Given-Jensen-goal-lines.html?ITO=1490

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Any truth in the rumour that Shay is offering Chelsea a replay??

[Archie Mitchell]

Your photo is inaccurate as the ball has already been struck, therefore your argument is null and void and what would Graham Poll know, he has to book a player 3 times before sending them off!

Yeah I get what your saying, the rules are there but never enforced. Same with the old line "if it happened outside the box it would have been a free kick but doesn't get a foul in the box". Also with all the pushing, shirt pulling etc that goes on in the box for free kicks and corners and no foul given. Seems to be part of the game now unfortunately.

On another note away from the City game, I see Fabregas has come out and said that Chelsea are average without Drogba. Yes Drogba is in good form, but to call that team average is a bit silly of him. What would he call his own side then?

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Unfortunately Senor Fabregas, like his boss,  is well down Dickhead Road.  Shame, as he is a very talented footballer.

[Norf Tyrone]

Strangely strong side tonight. Ancellotti must be determined not to collect 3 defeats on the bounce. Let's hope there are no injuries or yellow cards.

At a glance I'd of given JT a rest for Bruma.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Essien, Joe Cole, Kakuta, Malouda, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Lampard, Anelka, Bruma, Borini, Philliskirk.

[mountainboii]

Chelsea face compensation claim from Dean Ashton for Shaun Wright-Phillips challenge

Dean Ashton is considering suing Chelsea and Shaun Wright-Phillips following the challenge in August 2006 which, he will claim, has ended his football career.

The 26-year-old West Ham United striker is, according to club sources, expected to announce his retirement from football today having failed to recover from the injury sustained during a training session while on England duty.

In an apparently ground-breaking case, Ashton is believed to be investigating whether both Wright-Phillips and his employers at the time, Chelsea, can be the subject of legal action. It may be argued that Chelsea face what is termed a vicarious liability even though the winger was on international duty.

Such a case would undoubtedly be challenged by Chelsea, who would argue that they cannot be held responsible for something that happened while their former player — who is now at Manchester City – was with England and, therefore, under the care of the Football Association. They will, it can be expected, argue that it did not take place during the course of his employment by Chelsea.

At the same time West Ham are to launch a £7 million compensation claim against the FA, which covers the amount Ashton is understood to have been insured for and equates to the fee they initially paid to sign him from Norwich City in January that year. That, too, will undoubtedly be challenged.

Ashton himself, who is just 26, will also receive a pay-off from West Ham of about a year's salary, thought to be £3 million.

Player-on-player claims are a complex area of the law with some insurers refusing to cover clubs for such eventualities. But all such previous cases appear only to have involved players taking part in matches for their clubs.

For example, only last week former Charlton Athletic midfielder Matty Holmes accepted £250,000 in damages following a tackle by Wolves defender Kevin Muscat in 1998.

The biggest award so far to cite the vicarious liability argument was the £909,000 received by Bradford City's Gordon Watson, who had a leg broken in two places in a challenge by Huddersfield Town defender Kevin Gray in 1997.

The injury to Ashton happened at Manchester United's training ground, Carrington, prior to a friendly against Greece when he was due to start for the first time. Indeed the striker had been earmarked by the then head coach, Steve McClaren, as a key figure in England's plans to try to qualify for euro 2008.

The decision for Ashton to retire had been trailed last month, but marks a personal tragedy for a striker whom England manager Fabio Capello had also hoped to include in his squad. The Italian had watched Ashton carefully, in the hope that he would recover, and he even managed to gain an international cap, featuring in the friendly away to Trinidad and Tobago.

However, it will be argued that although Ashton did make a comeback of sorts and played 35 games for West Ham, scoring 11 goals, he never recovered from the original injury.

It ruled him out for 11 months and he has now suffered such degenerative damage that he has no option but to retire from football even though he only signed a five-year contract last year. The key to the success of the expected claims by Ashton — and West Ham — is if they can prove that he never recovered from the ankle problem.

Ashton has not played a senior match in 15 months, after breaking down soon after Gianfranco Zola was appointed manager. Although he is physically fit, he cannot twist or turn or take any impact on the left ankle because the injury is chronic. It is believed he has even been warned he may end up not being able to walk properly unless he retires.

Discussions between Ashton and West Ham have been going on for some time while both parties have been examining the medical reports of the Dutch surgeon, Niek van Dyke, who originally operated on the player and has been fully involved in his attempts to regain fitness. Final tests have taken place in the last few weeks.

An added complication is that the FA beefed up its insurance cover after a dispute with Newcastle United following Michael Owen's injury in the last World Cup but, it is believed, the Ashton claim will be dealt with by the previous company.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/chelsea/6782923/Chelsea-face-compensation-claim-from-Dean-Ashton-for-Shaun-Wright-Phillips-challenge.html