So, Flo Malouda reached back a couple of years for this stunner against Serbia on Wednesday.
Good on him. It's not changing my mind, though. Pack your bags, playa.
Not a bad effort this. Go on then, Nando.
Roy Hodgson finally got down to some official, cutthroat business as England manager today,
revealing the 23 lads he'll take with him to Austria and Switzerland for this summer's European
Championships. England's probably going to be shit probably is too soft a term but, hey, at least
John Terry will be available to answer questions about the Ferdinand brothers for the month or so
leading up to the competition.
There were a number of international friendlies on Thursday's docket, among them England hosting
the Netherlands at Wembley. Cool story.
The Dutch ran out 3-2 winners thanks to the mercurial Arjen Robben, who once again reminded us
Chelsea supporters just what could have been had he remained at the club rather than leaving in the
summer of 2007.
Didier and Sala are coming home. Thank the lord almighty. More, after the jump:
Coming up empty
Well it's been a shit sandwich around these parts for the last month- crystallized by that
pathetic/shambolic performance we were witness to on Saturday. So forgive me for latching on to the
tiniest bit of hope, but I need this.
Not exactly a great week if you're John Terry. More, after the jump:
Kicks for sale
So if you're keeping score at home, that's Social Media Neophytes/Journo Hacks/Chelsea Naysayers
3, John Terry 0. First he lost the armband, which, in fairness many of us accepted with relative
understanding.
This certainly isn't going to go down that well with the FA.
England manager Fabio Capello laid out his thoughts on John Terry and the FA's decision to strip
him of the England captaincy to Italian broadcaster Rai 1 today. To say he's not pleased
with what has transpired would be a gross understatement.
The artist formerly known as England's Brave John Terry. Again.
Innocent or guilty, right or wrong the time has come for the Chelsea captain to leave the Three
Lions, and the circus surrounding them, behind. Permanently.
An era passed
It's difficult to argue however much I disagree with the Football Association's decision to
relieve Terry of the England captaincy in wake of the racist abuse trial he faces in July.
There's some news you might be interested in. Might. More, after the jump:
Back to France
Dijon have confirmed that, after a protracted series of negotiations, Gael Kakuta will be
joining the club for the remainder of the campaign. Over the last ten days, Chelsea have been
engaged in a series of loan discussions with both Dijon and Olympiakos.
As you well know, Frank Lampard captained England today versus Spain. It was his second time
leading the Three Lions, and I'd say he did fairly well for himself.
Super Frank scored the only goal in a solid if unspectacular 1-0 win over the European and world
champions at Wembley. Cue the Euro favorites headlines (ridiculousness).
Big day for our veterans, past and present. Remember them. Big day, also, for Frank Lampard who
was named England captain for tomorrow's friendly against Spain at Wembley.
It will be Super Frank's second time captaining his country. Congratulations, my friend.
Leading man
Elsewhere on a Friday:
Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas charged with improper conduct
Via The Telegraph
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas could incur a touchline ban after being charged by the
Football Association over his allegation that referee Chris Foy gave Queens Park Rangers
preferential treatment during Chelsea's fractious 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road last month.
You may have heard about this little disagreement between FIFA and the English FA over the use
of poppies for England's friendly against Spain on Saturday. A compromise was finally reached, but
that didn't stop Nike from taking things into its own power-tripping hands.
Nine England internationals will wear Nike boots embroidered with a poppy for the match.
A host of Chelsea players are in action today for their respective countries as qualifying for
next year's European Championships comes to a close. Some, including Branislav Ivanovic, are in for
a nervy couple of hours.
Rant it up on an international level right here.
Bane.
Three of the Chelsea boys managed to make it on the scoresheet for their international teams on
Friday as we continue the agonizing wait for the Premier League to resume.
Juan Mata managed to beat the offside trap against Petr Cech's fellow defenders, latching on to
a nice pass and slipping the ball past his club's number one as Spain ran out 2-0 winners over the
Czechs.
Nigeria is apparently shit. Thank the sweet lord.
Hanging out in January
Apologies for not getting this up early. Most of us were doing the full-time job thing when the
news broke. Me, I was doing some low-rent promotion at a local mixed martial arts event with a good
friend.
Chelsea players are in action across the globe today any number of international matches. Have a
rant about their performance. Or, you know, a prayer about them returning to the club in one
piece.
All smiles
Who's in the mix today?
Montenegro v.
Argentina disposed of Nigeria 3-1 in Bangladesh on Tuesday. Among the highlights was a certain
Lionel Messi robbing a certain John Obi Mikel at midfield, and turning said theft into a supreme
goal for the La Albiceleste (via Angel Di Maria).
It's all good, John. We still love you.
Hope everyone has enjoyed a festive Labor Day. News on the Chelsea front continues to be slow
during this international break, but we do have footage of newest signing Raul Meireles taking part
in his first training session. Check it out below.
Pay special attention to the pleasantries at 21 seconds.
Some good. Mostly bad. Sums up international friendlies rather well I'd say.
Milestone
Our England trio were spared the opportunity to pick up various knocks when the Three Lions'
exhibition against the Netherlands at Wembley was called off due to rioting throughout the
country.
Sad face
Interesting news out of the England and Chelsea camps today. Frank Lampard has withdrawn from
the England side to face Holland on Wednesday at Wembley. The reason: a throat infection.
Says the official release from Chelsea:
Frank Lampard has withdrawn from the England squad to face Holland on Wednesday the FA has
announced.
More video this weekend. Not because we're lazy yeah, I know I am but because we've all been
busy as hell.
Chelsea's young defensive monster, Nathaniel Chalobah, opens the scoring for the England
Under-17 national team against Uruguay at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico. Impressive, most
impressive.
Isn't it a bit sad that this is news?
@ 1:32
Fernando Torres scored a fourth for the Spanish in an international friendly against an
overwhelmed United States on Saturday up in New England. I have to say, the finish was good, though
his substitute appearance up until that point had been usual fare for this season a couple of
chances wasted, isolated, general malaise.
Yeah, we're kinda psychic I guess.
I need a favor, broseph..
We did this. Or so I'm convinced.
True or not, it's rather vindicating to see the latest rumors put Capello in yet another bind
with regards to his captain issues, or lack thereof. It seems he's run out of second-string leaders
to masquerade as top dog, so he's decided to finally give it back to England's Brave ahead of next
weekend's vital fixture with Wales.
So, the Inter-webs is rife with conversation about what went down in Copenhagen last night.
England won, sure, though it wasn't a particularly impressive performance. Rather, the talk at the
moment seems to center on what went on during the second half of the match, in particular, the
curious game of passing along the Captain's armband to anyone not named John Terry.
