Its a strange line up for the Blues today as we go to Upon Park having essentially conceded the title on Wednesday. Thoughts have inevitably turned to the mid week semi final 1st leg at Barca as Ballack, Alex, Drogba, and Essien are all rested. Bozzy starts at left back to get some practise in case he gets the call to try and shutout Messi, Jedi is holding in front of Lamps, Belletti and Kalou with Anelka and Malouda up top. Mancienne come in at right back and Ivanovich partners JT at the back.
The opening 20mins are pretty even but the best chance falls to Dyer who's put clean through by Tristan but he shoots tamely at Cech. The game is flowing nicely with chances at both ends but nothing of any real threat or substance. With 2mins to go, West Ham get a corner and put 4 players in the 6yrd box to pressure Cech who trys to come and fails to connect - the ball falls to Tristan but his weak shot is cleared off the line by the Jedi. Again Chelsea have had all the possession but West Ham have had the best chances; the question is whether Guus will make changes once he hears that the Scousers are one up.
No changes at half time and the pattern in the opening 5mins is the same as the first with lots of Chelsea possesion but with 9mins gone Lamps gets free in the box and he chips through to Kalou who stabs home for 0-1. Ash is coming on so perhaps thats the sign that Guss has seen enough and its time for Bozzy to rest in preparation for the test that will be Lionel Messi. On 64mins, Belletti threads a great ball behind Upson for Anelka but Robert Green is quick to smother his shot. A minute later and a loverly passing move from the Blues sets Ash free on the left but his snap shot hits the bar. On 69mins, Kalou crazily pulls back Ilunga to concede a penalty however Cech saves brilliantly from Mark Noble. Ess replaces Kalou with 15mins to go so Belletti will push up. Mancienne, who's had a good game, is suffering with cramp and is replaced by Ballack with 8mins remaining as Ess slips into right back. Lamps brings down Savio for as free kick with a minute to go (...and the board goes up showing 5mins of added time) but it comes to nothing as does those extra 5mins and it ends 0-1.
A good win that keeps the premiership race mathematically alive but more importantly serves as a good run out for Tuesdays CL Semi Final against Barca - Come on U Blues
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Chelsea 0 - 0 Everton
Back to the Bridge after the exertions of a successful Wembley semi final for a dress rehearsal of the FA cup final. Its the same team that started at Wembley so no rest for the victorious.
The opening 20mins are bossed by the Blues in terms of possession but the best efforts have gone to Everton. On 7mins, Cech saves from Jo with his legs and on 22 Pienaar curls one close but just wide. The same Mr Pienaar gives away a needless free kick on 27mins but Ballacks' free kick doesn't come down quickly enough, There's a good shout for an Everton penalty on 32mins when Alex leaves a lazy leg out on Baines but the ref waves away the appeals. Its now a much more even contest. With 3mins to go Malouda gives a woeful ball away to Cahill who finds Jo on the edge of the box but JT covers up the error. Baines is regularly getting in between Anelka and Ivanovich which is causing big problems down the right but a largely frustrating half ends 0-0. Guus wont be happy.
Surprisingly there are no changes at half time so the staring 11 had better improve but within 2mins Cahill gets a free header in the box - thankfully, Cech safely gathers. The Blues are starting to look sharper but the final ball is lazy; particularly from Anelka. Kalou is warming up and unsurprisingly he replaces Anelka on the hour. Ess also gets a rest as well as the Jedi also comes on pushing Ballack further forward. JT steps up to show how its done by rifling in a 35yrd drive but Howard makes the save. Yobo flattens Malouda on the edge of the box but the ref and linesman conspire to miss it completely. Chelsea are stepping up the pace in the last 20mins and a great ball from Ivanovich falls to Lamps but the shot is smothered. A minute later and Malouda's cross is headed over by Kalou. Its Maloudas last action as he's replaced by Di Santo. Its all Chelsea as we enter the last 10mins as Kalous drive is headed clear by Lescott but Everton still look lively on the break. A long hoof out of defence on 90mins finds Jo in a one on one with Cech who stoops to head away and gets a knock for his troubles as 4mins of added time goes up. Ivanovich finds the Drog who spins but his shot crashes back off the crossbar. Its the last action of a frustrating night that ends all square.
Chelsea have dropped 18 points to date at home and that explains why the premiership has been beyond us for some time now. Still, there's the Champions League and an FA cup final left to contest - Come on u Blues.
The opening 20mins are bossed by the Blues in terms of possession but the best efforts have gone to Everton. On 7mins, Cech saves from Jo with his legs and on 22 Pienaar curls one close but just wide. The same Mr Pienaar gives away a needless free kick on 27mins but Ballacks' free kick doesn't come down quickly enough, There's a good shout for an Everton penalty on 32mins when Alex leaves a lazy leg out on Baines but the ref waves away the appeals. Its now a much more even contest. With 3mins to go Malouda gives a woeful ball away to Cahill who finds Jo on the edge of the box but JT covers up the error. Baines is regularly getting in between Anelka and Ivanovich which is causing big problems down the right but a largely frustrating half ends 0-0. Guus wont be happy.
Surprisingly there are no changes at half time so the staring 11 had better improve but within 2mins Cahill gets a free header in the box - thankfully, Cech safely gathers. The Blues are starting to look sharper but the final ball is lazy; particularly from Anelka. Kalou is warming up and unsurprisingly he replaces Anelka on the hour. Ess also gets a rest as well as the Jedi also comes on pushing Ballack further forward. JT steps up to show how its done by rifling in a 35yrd drive but Howard makes the save. Yobo flattens Malouda on the edge of the box but the ref and linesman conspire to miss it completely. Chelsea are stepping up the pace in the last 20mins and a great ball from Ivanovich falls to Lamps but the shot is smothered. A minute later and Malouda's cross is headed over by Kalou. Its Maloudas last action as he's replaced by Di Santo. Its all Chelsea as we enter the last 10mins as Kalous drive is headed clear by Lescott but Everton still look lively on the break. A long hoof out of defence on 90mins finds Jo in a one on one with Cech who stoops to head away and gets a knock for his troubles as 4mins of added time goes up. Ivanovich finds the Drog who spins but his shot crashes back off the crossbar. Its the last action of a frustrating night that ends all square.
Chelsea have dropped 18 points to date at home and that explains why the premiership has been beyond us for some time now. Still, there's the Champions League and an FA cup final left to contest - Come on u Blues.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Chelsea 2 -- 1 Arsenal (FA Cup semi final)
A great day at Wembley and a result that generated the kind of response that normally comes when we win at trophy. Shame it was just a semi final (not sure that semi'sshould ever be at Wembley but that's a debate for another time
We got off to a great start when the Drog almost headded into an empty net as Fabianski came charging out but the ball was cleared off he line. Against the run of play, Theo Walcott opened the scoring on 18mins with a shot across Cech that really should have produced a save but for the deflection of Ashley Cole's hand. This set back only served only to spur on the Blues and as we took control of the half we leveled when Malouda collected a superb cross field pass from Lamps and slotted home into the far corner.
pitch so it wasn't much of a surprise when, with 6The second half was much like the first as the Blues got stronger and stronger on a dire wembleymns remaining, Drogba latched on to a looped clearance from Lamps, shook off the challenge of Silvestre, rounded the advancing Fabianski and tapped Chelsea into the FA cup final.
Massive celebrations on the Wembley west side and out on to the concourse after the game
Come on U blues
Read BBC report here
We got off to a great start when the Drog almost headded into an empty net as Fabianski came charging out but the ball was cleared off he line. Against the run of play, Theo Walcott opened the scoring on 18mins with a shot across Cech that really should have produced a save but for the deflection of Ashley Cole's hand. This set back only served only to spur on the Blues and as we took control of the half we leveled when Malouda collected a superb cross field pass from Lamps and slotted home into the far corner.
pitch so it wasn't much of a surprise when, with 6The second half was much like the first as the Blues got stronger and stronger on a dire wembleymns remaining, Drogba latched on to a looped clearance from Lamps, shook off the challenge of Silvestre, rounded the advancing Fabianski and tapped Chelsea into the FA cup final.
Massive celebrations on the Wembley west side and out on to the concourse after the game
Come on U blues
Read BBC report here
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Chelsea 4 - 4 Liverpool (Chelsea win 7-5 on ag)
An incredible night at Stamford Bridge and I'm still breathless the morning after.
Having played a shambolic first half in which frankly he Blues were luck to be only 0-2 down, they came out for the second half and tore a page out of the Liverpool comeback book by leading 3-2. Goals from Drogba, a screamer of a free kick ofrom Alex and a 3rd from Lamps had looked as if they had put the tie to bed. But back came Liverpool with 10mins to go, scoring 2 goals in as many minutes as the current frailties of Peter Cech came to the fore again. That made it 3-4 and Liverpool only needed to score one more to progress but up stepped that man Lampard again to finish in the dying minutes from a sweet pull back by Anelka.
So the scousers are dumped out of the Champions league for the second year in a row at the Bridge and now there's the small mater of Barca in the Semis - who said this campaign would be easy - Come on U Blues.
Match report
Having played a shambolic first half in which frankly he Blues were luck to be only 0-2 down, they came out for the second half and tore a page out of the Liverpool comeback book by leading 3-2. Goals from Drogba, a screamer of a free kick ofrom Alex and a 3rd from Lamps had looked as if they had put the tie to bed. But back came Liverpool with 10mins to go, scoring 2 goals in as many minutes as the current frailties of Peter Cech came to the fore again. That made it 3-4 and Liverpool only needed to score one more to progress but up stepped that man Lampard again to finish in the dying minutes from a sweet pull back by Anelka.
So the scousers are dumped out of the Champions league for the second year in a row at the Bridge and now there's the small mater of Barca in the Semis - who said this campaign would be easy - Come on U Blues.
Match report
Monday, 13 April 2009
.... of scarcity, abundance and Prince (yet again)
You'll remember that Prince famously gave away his last album as a cover mount with the Mail On Sunday and, whilst the music bigwigs threw their hands up in horror, a few of us contemplated that the purple one really understood the new economics of scarcity and abundance - particularly after seeing him live.
Last week Prince announced that his 3 new albums - LOtUSFLOW3R, MPLSoUND and Elixer - will be sold as a triple disc set and will probably retail for less than £10 in the UK. Value indeed (even though he only sings on the first two) however consider this ... According to the Guardian, Princes other release in 2009 will be ... "21 Nights :The Prince Opus, comprising a limited edition book and iPod, has been announced with a price-tag of £1,500".
Now £1500 should buy you a one hell of a book and indeed the report claims "its a massive 280 pages, almost two feet wide, and weighing 17kg". The book documents Prince's 21-night stand at the O2 arena in 2007, interspersed with lyrics, poetry and photographs by Randee St Nicholas. A engraved iPod, pre-loaded with Prince's Indigo Nights live album and a special 40 minute film "made by Prince", documenting the O2 residency is also included in the package. Only 950 sets will be made available and one lucky "buyer" will win a flight to LA for a private Prince gig.
That's a smell over £1.4m just on the "special offer" and before any album sales
.... of scarcity and abundance or what ?
Last week Prince announced that his 3 new albums - LOtUSFLOW3R, MPLSoUND and Elixer - will be sold as a triple disc set and will probably retail for less than £10 in the UK. Value indeed (even though he only sings on the first two) however consider this ... According to the Guardian, Princes other release in 2009 will be ... "21 Nights :The Prince Opus, comprising a limited edition book and iPod, has been announced with a price-tag of £1,500".
Now £1500 should buy you a one hell of a book and indeed the report claims "its a massive 280 pages, almost two feet wide, and weighing 17kg". The book documents Prince's 21-night stand at the O2 arena in 2007, interspersed with lyrics, poetry and photographs by Randee St Nicholas. A engraved iPod, pre-loaded with Prince's Indigo Nights live album and a special 40 minute film "made by Prince", documenting the O2 residency is also included in the package. Only 950 sets will be made available and one lucky "buyer" will win a flight to LA for a private Prince gig.
That's a smell over £1.4m just on the "special offer" and before any album sales
.... of scarcity and abundance or what ?
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton
A potentially tricky tie at home to Bolton with minds on Tuesday 2nd leg against the scousers. Guus pairs JT with Rickey to give him a run out and keeps Ivanovich at right back. Jedi comes in for Ess who we hope is just being rested.
After a bright start from Bolton the game swings firmly in our favour with Lamps, Jedi and Ballack bossing the play. On 24mins, Lamps rifles in a low free kick which Jaaskelainen is lucky to palm the ball wide. Its all Chelsea and after a few careless misses from the Drog and the denial of a stonewall penalty on 31mins following a foul on Ash, the deadlock is finally broken on 39mins. Ballack works a nice one two with Kalou on the right and then drives into the box and buries one past Jaaskelainen. Bolton are barely getting out of their half but right at the death a ball is lobbed into Kevin Davies an his snap shot flies just wide.
No changes for the Blues at half time and none needed as within 3mins Kalou is brought down on the right and the resulting free kick in driven in low by Lamps and drilled home by the Drog. its 2-0 and cruising. On 55mins Ivanovich chips in to the Drog who flicks the ball back to Lamps who volleys just wide. Bolton have hardly been out of their half in the opening 10mins. On the hour Ballack feeds lamps in the box and his cross hits Steinsson on the arm. Its a soft penalty but Lamps steps up to makes it 3-0. Boltons goal is under siege as a Kalou cross is knocked out for a corner from which Ivanovich gets a neat head on for the Drog to shoot past Jaaskelainen. That's 4-0 with 68mins gone and its rest time for Lamps and the Drog as Deco and Anelka join the fray.
Bolton substitute Andy O'Brien pulls one back a minute later after Cech fails to collect and a minute later Chris Basham connects with a Kevin Davies header and its 4-2. Surely the Blues wont throw this one away - maybe minds are turning prematurely to Tuesday night ?? But with 12mins to go its 4-3 as a route one ball splits JT and Ash and Matt Taylor heads past Cech. I know the Drog and Lamps are off but we're not playing with nine - we just look like it !! Cool heads are needed as Bolton are just hoisting balls into the Chelse box - its not pretty but its effective.With 3mins to go the ball breaks to Gardner wide on the left; he cuts in past Ballack but thankfully drives well over. A mix up in the Bolton goal and Anelka scuffs a connection but but the ball is cleared off the line. There are 4 very tense minutes of added time to come. Ballack finds Malouda on the edge of the box but his shot is well parried by Jaaskelainen. Last throw of the dice as Bolton win a corner - Cech flaps but the loose ball goes wide.
Jeez that was as bad as Wednesday was brilliant. Liverpool must be heartened by that as they need to score three - g-d I hope not. Come on U Blues.
After a bright start from Bolton the game swings firmly in our favour with Lamps, Jedi and Ballack bossing the play. On 24mins, Lamps rifles in a low free kick which Jaaskelainen is lucky to palm the ball wide. Its all Chelsea and after a few careless misses from the Drog and the denial of a stonewall penalty on 31mins following a foul on Ash, the deadlock is finally broken on 39mins. Ballack works a nice one two with Kalou on the right and then drives into the box and buries one past Jaaskelainen. Bolton are barely getting out of their half but right at the death a ball is lobbed into Kevin Davies an his snap shot flies just wide.
No changes for the Blues at half time and none needed as within 3mins Kalou is brought down on the right and the resulting free kick in driven in low by Lamps and drilled home by the Drog. its 2-0 and cruising. On 55mins Ivanovich chips in to the Drog who flicks the ball back to Lamps who volleys just wide. Bolton have hardly been out of their half in the opening 10mins. On the hour Ballack feeds lamps in the box and his cross hits Steinsson on the arm. Its a soft penalty but Lamps steps up to makes it 3-0. Boltons goal is under siege as a Kalou cross is knocked out for a corner from which Ivanovich gets a neat head on for the Drog to shoot past Jaaskelainen. That's 4-0 with 68mins gone and its rest time for Lamps and the Drog as Deco and Anelka join the fray.
Bolton substitute Andy O'Brien pulls one back a minute later after Cech fails to collect and a minute later Chris Basham connects with a Kevin Davies header and its 4-2. Surely the Blues wont throw this one away - maybe minds are turning prematurely to Tuesday night ?? But with 12mins to go its 4-3 as a route one ball splits JT and Ash and Matt Taylor heads past Cech. I know the Drog and Lamps are off but we're not playing with nine - we just look like it !! Cool heads are needed as Bolton are just hoisting balls into the Chelse box - its not pretty but its effective.With 3mins to go the ball breaks to Gardner wide on the left; he cuts in past Ballack but thankfully drives well over. A mix up in the Bolton goal and Anelka scuffs a connection but but the ball is cleared off the line. There are 4 very tense minutes of added time to come. Ballack finds Malouda on the edge of the box but his shot is well parried by Jaaskelainen. Last throw of the dice as Bolton win a corner - Cech flaps but the loose ball goes wide.
Jeez that was as bad as Wednesday was brilliant. Liverpool must be heartened by that as they need to score three - g-d I hope not. Come on U Blues.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Liverpool 1 - 3 Chelsea
They talk about big European nights at Anfield but this will go down as one that all Blues fans had hopped for but few could have expected. Guus pulls a mater stroke by dropping Ess into the holding role to shadow Gerrard (who as a result was almost invisible). Anelka is on the bench with Rickey so its a regulation 4-3-3 with the Drog up top on his own. Bosingwa is still injured so Ivanovitch comes in at right back and his presence was crucial.
It looked ominous when Torres put the scousers ahead on 6mins but the response from the Blues was nothing short of awesome as they soaked up the pressure and built our own great chances. Twice we could have leveled as Drogba wasted good chances (the best on 30mins when he lashed over a Ballack cross) before Ivanovich made Liverpool pay for a sloppy zone on their 6yard box. The half ends 1-1
The 2nd half started in much the same way as the first but slowly the Blues took control and on 62mins a corner form Lamps again exposes the Liverpool zone and Ivanovic darts in to bury a header for 1-2. Within 5mins its 1-3 as Ballack plays in Malouda, who drives in a low cross for the Drog to drive in and bury from close range.
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It looked ominous when Torres put the scousers ahead on 6mins but the response from the Blues was nothing short of awesome as they soaked up the pressure and built our own great chances. Twice we could have leveled as Drogba wasted good chances (the best on 30mins when he lashed over a Ballack cross) before Ivanovich made Liverpool pay for a sloppy zone on their 6yard box. The half ends 1-1
The 2nd half started in much the same way as the first but slowly the Blues took control and on 62mins a corner form Lamps again exposes the Liverpool zone and Ivanovic darts in to bury a header for 1-2. Within 5mins its 1-3 as Ballack plays in Malouda, who drives in a low cross for the Drog to drive in and bury from close range.
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Monday, 6 April 2009
Newcastle 0 - 2 Chelsea
Traveling so again reduced to recieving BBC text reports but this had the potential to be a trickey game at St James Park with the return of Shearer the messaia.
As it goes, it was a hard fought and well earned 0-2 win with golas from Lamps and Malouda to set things up nicely for our CL trip to Anfield on Wednesday.
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As it goes, it was a hard fought and well earned 0-2 win with golas from Lamps and Malouda to set things up nicely for our CL trip to Anfield on Wednesday.
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