Branislav Ivanovic's young son takes the opportunity post-match yesterday to break away from the pack and show off some dribbling skills. And then, he shoots he scores! Only five more goals to catch up to his dad for the season!

Branislav Ivanovic's young son takes the opportunity post-match yesterday to break away from the pack and show off some dribbling skills. And then, he shoots he scores! Only five more goals to catch up to his dad for the season!

By Chris Wright

I know it's incredibly moronic, but I just can't stop laughing at this little clip in which a QPR fan seizes his opportunity to nip in and yell in Branislav Ivanovic's face with gusto.

Wait for it, waaaaait for it and...TOSSAH!

In and out like a Cockney insult ninja, though I think we all know who the real tosser is here.

The helmeted one, to absolutely no one's surprise, has been named the Chelsea Offside readers' player of the season. By a country mile.

Readers' player of the season voting results (2010-11):
Total votes: 272 (50 more than last season)
1.

Attacking proficiency on the right side of our defense is not exactly something we've possessed in recent seasons. That's hardly a secret.

Sure, Branislav Ivanovic has been outstanding as a fullback. Outstanding in the face of being forced into the position. Applaud the man. Still, no matter how much we love him (and trust me we do), his ability in the offensive third of the field has never been of elite quality.

A brief synopsis of the latest injury chatter heading into the curtain-rasier this weekend (provided the riots don't prevent it from happening). More after the jump.

In Doubt?

So if we're lucky to get some footy this weekend, we may well be in a bit of a bind with some injuries key members of our squad are carrying.

Better late than never, eh?

The Sypnosis

"I'm a fan of Chelsea. Chelsea are the only team that can play. Chelsea players have by far the most impressive reproductive organs. Stamford Bridge is my church. The men who play there are my Gods.

Steven Pienaar liked the look of Stamford Bridge from Fulham Road. Once inside, the South African was not so impressed. Between £40-50K per week, you say? I think I'll bugger on down to the Lane.

Good riddance.

No mercenary

The Steven Pienaar mini-saga is finally over.

King Kenny continues to work his magic as a Raul Meireles goal so Liverpool beat Chelsea 1-0 ay Stamford Bridge. Liverpool are now only six points back of Chelsea for that final Champions League spot as they remarkable revival under Kenny Dalglish continues.

The build-up to the match at Stamford Bridge had focused on the first appearance in a Chelsea shirt of Fernando Torres, but Torres was poor as he was surprisingly substituted by Carlo Ancelotti before Liverpool scored on 69 minutes.

Out-thought.

Man of the match? I think not.

This has been about as disappointing a day as I can remember. Not that it wasn't entirely unforeseen. Isn't this just like Chelsea Football Club? You have to love it.

Ah well, enough talk of consecutive league crowns.

Tottenham's hopes of an upset when it faces AC Milan in this week's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg took a serious blow with the news that Gareth Bale is still out with a back injury. Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp had been confident that Bale could recover in time to travel to the San Siro, but the 21-year-old will have to stay behind.

After literally surrendering their premier league crown and only concentrated in getting into the Champions League zone for the season, Chelsea, are forced to give up another trophy as they were defeated in the FA Cup replay game against Everton.

After drawing the initial game 1-1 at Goodison park, the Blues failed to take the home advantage and continue their current lack of sharpness up front as the 90 minutes game ended in a goalless draw.

There's this match at Old Trafford tomorrow evening, maybe you've read about it around the web. You know, it may define our season.

Who do you like?

We've tackled tactics throughout the season. This time is no different. However, there's just one thing: I'm not sure that this side of the game has ever been more critical to our success than it will be at the Theatre of Dreams.

Chelsea v Newcastle 2011 Final score:- Chelsea vs Newcastle 2-2 ( Jonas Guiterrez, Steven Taylor/ Branislav Ivanovic, Alex) Steven Taylor's injury time goal allows Newcastle United to draw 2-2 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were playing in their new 11/12 home kit against Newcastle. The 2-2 draw vs Newcastle was also Chelsea's last home [.

By Chris Wright

In which Chelsea mob Nicolas Anelka, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira and David Luiz partake in a huge game of footballing Space Invaders during the middle of the night in an abandoned warehouse somewhere in Battersea.

Why? Lord alone knows, though sponsors 188BET did vow to donate the £1,500 prize money to the eventual winner's charity of choice.

A whirlwind couple of days ends with the appointment of one of the most beautiful men on the planet. High praise coming from a hetero male.

The Chelsea Offside found time amid its myriad of public service and motivational speaking commitments to offer some initial thoughts on this new era at Chelsea Football Club.

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.

Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas struggling for defenders after Branislav Ivanovic injury | Mail Online Branislav Ivanovic will miss Chelsea's first game of the season with a thigh injury, leaving Andre Villas-Boas with a defensive headache ahead of Sunday's trip to Stoke. Ivanovic has not trained fully since pulling a muscle in pre-season and missed Serbia's friendly in Russia.

Aaron Ramsey came off the bench to strike an injury-time winner that guided Arsenal to a famous 1-0 victory over Olympique Marseille at Stade Velodrome.

Earlier in the match, a blatant handball from Marseille's Souleymane Diawara went unnoticed as the Gunners were denied an easy penalty decision.

With Chelsea earning a throw and Branislav Ivanovic very prepared to get proceedings moving, he ambled over to the touchline.

And then this man happened. And the ball went way down the pitch. And Branislav got a suggestion of just how one QPR fan feels about his laundry. So apparently QPR really was playing with 12 the only question is whether or not they were playing with 13.

This afternoon Chelsea take on Aston Villa knowing that United, Arsenal, City and Spurs have all won their games yesterday. The pressure is mounting once again and Chelsea need to come out and show us all they have turned a corner. They do it without Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel.

Chelsea vs Blackburn- Premiership Stamford Bridge, London- January 15, 2011 Final score:- Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn Rovers ( Branislav Ivanovic, Nicolas Anelka) Goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka give under pressure Chelsea a much needed 2-0 win over Blackburn. Both Chelsea goals came in the second half against Rovers.

On the up.

Player of the season, without question

There are still issues to be dealt with, but consecutive wins is very much a sign of improvement. Many thanks to Branislav Ivanovic for driving the team on, not only with his superb defensive play but also with his ability on set pieces.

On the up.

Player of the season, without question

There are still issues to be dealt with, but consecutive wins is very much a sign of improvement. Many thanks to Branislav Ivanovic for driving the team on, not only with his superb defensive play but also with his ability on set pieces.

Jonathan Liew of the Telegraph summed this one up before I even had a chance to revisit the scene.

"Grinding out wins in adversity may be the hallmark of champions, but still, this was about as unsatisfying a 2-0 victory as it is possible to imagine. For a team low on morale and down on their luck, it is a start, but Ancelotti will be aware it is no more than that.

According to the London Evening Standard, Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is close to signing a new four-year deal with the club. The other day Ivanovic said,

"I want to stay and I hope it will be sorted out soon. We are talking about my new contract but we will see in the next couple of weeks .

Benfica have confirmed that they have received an offer from Chelsea for David Luiz and they are involved in negotiations. It is further proof that Chelsea are getting close to signing the Brazilian defender, who has been of great interest to Carlo Ancelotti for the past year or so. It is rumoured that Chelsea have had a £21 million bid plus the offer of Nemanja Matic rejected.

King Kenny continues to work his magic as a Raul Meireles goal so Liverpool beat Chelsea 1-0 ay Stamford Bridge. Liverpool are now only six points back of Chelsea for that final Champions League spot as they remarkable revival under Kenny Dalglish continues.

The build-up to the match at Stamford Bridge had focused on the first appearance in a Chelsea shirt of Fernando Torres, but Torres was poor as he was surprisingly substituted by Carlo Ancelotti before Liverpool scored on 69 minutes.

Great news today for Chelsea with what is in my eyes, another major signing for the club. Branislav Ivanovic has signed a new five and a half year contract at the club and has committed his future to us!.
On signing the deal he is quoted on the Official Chelsea website saying:

It is good news for me, it is a very big step for me in my career and I want to give my maximum and try to help Chelsea win a lot more trophies.

Our Serbian beast has no intention of abandoning ship despite our stuttering form of late or the appearance of new, young competition in central defense he has signed on for five and a half more years as a Chelsea blue!

Despite rumors that he was unhappy playing as right back or that he was going to run off and join AC Milan or Sevilla, Ivanovic has finally put pen to paper and committed his long-term future to the Blues.

UPDATE: According to Chelsea's official website, Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has signed a new five-and-a-half year deal with the club.

January 19th, 2011: According to the London Evening Standard, Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is close to signing a new four-year deal with the club.

The 4th Round replay of Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge needed penalties to decide the outcome, with the Merseyside club pulling out the upset. I chose to cover this match because Chelsea had a dilemma; they have a midweek Champions League match at Copenhagen. How much would Chelsea play their first team?

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Nicolas Anelka eased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti as his double-strike inspired Chelsea's 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at the Parken Stadium on Tuesday. Anelka's 15th and 16th goals of the season put Chelsea on course for the quarter-finals and they [.

Yeah, it was that kind of night. No worries, though, we'll see you in the last eight.

A classic European night at the Bridge this was not.

Those expecting a leaping Terry header 15 minutes from time to secure our advancement to the next round were let down not on this night but three weeks ago, after 54 minutes in Denmark.

Not exactly the boost my fragile state needed ahead of Tuesday.

Together again

Meh.

I'd say that just about sums up Saturday afternoon at the Bridge. It was another labored performance, salvaged somewhat by the industry of Didier Drogba, the return of both Alex and Yossi and Flo's first goal for two-plus months.

A chance to exorcise demons from each of the last three seasons, perhaps against those very clubs which denied us then and still haunt us to this day. To reach a second Champions League final, one fittingly held in our own backyard. The opportunity to make history, to become the first club from London to lift this hallowed trophy, in the very city in which we reside.

Revenge is at hand.

Who: Birmingham City
What: Premier League, Round 34
When: 19 April, 8pm local time (3pm EST)
Where: Stamford Bridge (42,449)
How: Fox Soccer Channel (DirecTV 619, Dish 149)

Why: Because, quite frankly, we should've battered them back in November.

El Niño strikes at Stamford Bridge. And that was before Chelsea's No. 9 blew the lid off the place.

Kisses.

What a damn day in West London.

I was forced to miss today's festivities because of this thing called a full-time job. You know, fuck work.

The boys take the phrase 'phoning it in' to new, soaring, heights in a forgettable draw with them Geordie boys at Stamford Bridge. Not exactly what you expect from a home finale now is it?

Yeah, that just about sums it up

Nothing to play for. I tried to belie this idea of indifference to the end of the season in my match preview.

Last night in the great hall at Chelsea, Our end of season awards night took place and five awards were handed out.
First was goal of the season and the award went to Ramires for his goal against Man City:
Second was the award for young player of the year and the award went to Josh McEachran.