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The best player on the pitch in the FA Cup, Florent Malouda, was also the best player on the pitch in the 2nd half of Chelsea's 2-0 pre-season win over Club America last night.
Malouda scored one goal and set up another - with a delightful chip to Franco di Santo.

It is that time of the year when managers have been weighed by the output of their wards, and the ones that did not perform are given the pivotal push through the doorway, and out onto the high road. This brings us to the point where we will observe the battle hardened conquistadors take to the helm of those clubs that have not got their share of the loot this season.

So easy to hate in real life, so easy to love in the fantasy world
Here's what I know:
Ashley Cole has 2 goals this season in 6 matches.
In 2008-2009, he scored 1 goal the whole season.In 2007-2008, he scored 1 goal the whole season.In 2006-2007, he scored 0 goals the whole season.

That Deco is so dreamy
Frank Lampard may have been the leading point scorer after Tuesday's fixtures, but it was Deco (8.5M) who impressed me most today - completely out of nowhere.
He picked up an assist in the win over Hull, and a goal today in the win over Sunderland, but will he continue in a starting role?

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2012.
While Chelsea fans, commentators, and bloggers have spent the last year noting the club's "problem area" on the left wing - and discussing possibilities ranging from Yuri Zhirkov to Ashley Young to Ze Roberto, when 2009 rolled around - and I started watching Florent Malouda hit form - I just didn't understand the need to look anywhere else for a brilliant left winger.

No Drogba, no problem. Chelsea did what three other British teams couldn't do this week in the Champions League - comfortably beat clearly inferior opposition.
While Liverpool lost to Lyon, Arsenal could only draw with AZ Alkmaar, and Manchester United could only scrape by Juande Ramos' CSKA Moscow 1-0, Chelsea had absolutely no problem disposing of Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge.

Is Ancelotti the answer? Chelsea's new Italian manager, Carlo Ancelotti will be tasked with one goal and one goal only: to with The Champions League. He will be Chelsea's 5th manager in 2 years.
The appointment comes on the heels of the relative success of Guus Hiddink's temporary stay in charge - the failure of Luiz Felipe Scolari's stint, and the "what if John Terry didn't slip" tenure under Avram Grant.