Oh so much, dear readers, to feed on in 6's and 7's absence. While we were lost in the snowy mountains with nothing to sustain us besides frozen pizza, Straub beer, and... hmm that sounds like most nights at ours, well there was loads to watch on the football box.
We'll skip to the highlights since most of the lowlights include Manchester City unfortunately looking pretty good so far under Il Manch, and Liverpool looking, well pretty Liverpool right now.

The second of our four half-term report cards (check out the first part here) for the 09/10 Premier League season features Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham and Hull City:

BURNLEY (14th, 20 points from 20 games)

It's a breeze to sum up the Clarets' season so far: excellent at Fortress Turf Moor, lamentable away from Fortress Turf Moor; Burnley have failed to win any of their ten games on the road, with just one draw and nine defeats.

Since the season began – and Chelsea made such a good start to their Premier League campaign – much has been made of the potential impact of this month's African Cup of Nations on Ancelotti's title hopes. The loss of the influential Drogba and Essien, who have scored 23 goals and made 8 assists for Chelsea so far this season between them, would surely spell disaster for Chelsea's title charge.

1. Got it wrong v Stoke

   After Arsenal's defeat at Stoke today in the FA Cup 4th Round it looks as if its Chelsea's trophy to lose again this year, with the Blues being the only member of the so-called Big Four left in the competition. The holders dispatched Preston with ease on Saturday and the absence of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien has not slowed Carlo Ancelotti's men in their tracks.

"Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York" (Shakespeare- Richard III)

Yes, I know a bit of culture is always welcomed by the Soccerlens readers and who better than The Bard himself to open this piece? Of course Will actually meant that the time of discontent was waning (in it's 'winter'), while I borrow the great man's phrase to suggest that down Stamford Bridge way the words winter and discontent are becoming synonymous in recent seasons.

First of all, my apologies to regular readers: it's been a long time since I've posted. Christmas, New Year and too much work have put paid to regular writing.
Without further ado however, it is suddenly that time again: the time to look back over the previous month and what the stats tell us about Chelsea's progress this season.

First of all, my apologies to regular readers: it's been a long time since I've posted. Christmas, New Year and too much work have put paid to regular writing.
Without further ado however, it is suddenly that time again: the time to look back over the previous month and what the stats tell us about Chelsea's progress this season.

It's not entirely misleading, but just enough that the article was definitely not what I thought it was about.Chelsea skipper Terry: Trio of players run the club (ESPN Soccernet)Instead of being a story about how Terry, Lampard and Droga are actually running club and Ancelotti is just a figurehead, it's .

Since the season began – and Chelsea made such a good start to their Premier League campaign – much has been made of the potential impact of this month's African Cup of Nations on Ancelotti's title hopes. The loss of the influential Drogba and Essien, who have scored 23 goals and made 8 assists for Chelsea so far this season between them, would surely spell disaster for Chelsea's title charge.

By virtue of the weather, Chelsea found themselves knocked off top spot in the Premier League last week as Arsenal swept Bolton aside at the Emirates. In turn, Manchester Utd scored four against a hapless Hull to secure the lead for themselves at the weekend whilst Chelsea and Arsenal concerned themselves with the FA Cup –with varying degrees of success.

By virtue of the weather, Chelsea found themselves knocked off top spot in the Premier League last week as Arsenal swept Bolton aside at the Emirates. In turn, Manchester Utd scored four against a hapless Hull to secure the lead for themselves at the weekend whilst Chelsea and Arsenal concerned themselves with the FA Cup –with varying degrees of success.

By Ollie Irish

An evening stroll for Chelsea, this. They brushed aside in-form Birmingham like Roger Federer crushes unseeded players in the first round of majors, i.e. with disdain and efficiency. Frank Lampard scored twice clinical strikes, both after Florent Malouda had put Chelsea in front with a routine header in the fifth minute.

The Serie A season has perhaps been overshadowed by the struggles of Juventus which have culminated in the firing of Coach Ciro Ferrara. While it has been gloomy in Turin, the city of Milan has witnessed the revival of the Rossoneri but more importantly the continued dominance of the Nerazzurri on the domestic scene.

Starting at the third spot before the game against Birmingham things looked not so promising for the blues. But what night it turned out to be given the results going elsewhere at Aston villa and Old trafford. The victory was even sweeter given the fact that Birmingham were on a 13 match unbeaten run.