I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT. Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT. Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

I said in my preview post posted earlier today that it was a big game and a chance for us to establish a 5-point gap at the top of the table, and after a scrappy, hard fought and closer than expected game, we managed it through a great Barcelona at home header from JT.
Chelsea lined up as expected with Ivanovic at right back, JT, Carvalho and Ashley Cole at the back, Cech in goal of course. Click to continue reading...

We travel to the Reebok today looking to get our away form back on track as Chelsea take on Bolton for the second time in 4 days. Chelsea ran riot at the Bridge on Wednesday in the League Cup but today is going to be alot different with key players back for both sides so expect a much different kind of game. Click to continue reading...

Here's another monthly look at what at what the stats tell us about Chelsea's progress: this time with revelations about Lampard's scoring rate, Chelsea's deceptively good defence and a continuing reliance on Drogba. My obsession with football stats continues...
At this rate Lampard won't score 20
Such is the quality of Frank Lampard that scoring just one goal in 12 games was a crisis.

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Here's another monthly look at what at what the stats tell us about Chelsea's progress: this time with revelations about Lampard's scoring rate, Chelsea's deceptively good defence and a continuing reliance on Drogba. My obsession with football stats continues...
At this rate Lampard won't score 20
Such is the quality of Frank Lampard that scoring just one goal in 12 games was a crisis.

Click to continue reading...

A mere three days after our match against the Toffees, our lovely Wanderers will be wandering their way down to Stamford Bridge. I;m not particularly relishing the prospect as the Carling Cup is the only silverware we even have a slight chance of winning, since most clubs treat it like a joke.

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Another away match, another defeat. Overall, in losing to a good Aston Villa side, Chelsea didn't actually put in a bad performance. But errors both in defence and attack, and a worrying lack of leadership from Ancelotti, were enough to get me concerned.
Even in deserved defeat, there were some positives.

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Another away match, another defeat. Overall, in losing to a good Aston Villa side, Chelsea didn't actually put in a bad performance. But errors both in defence and attack, and a worrying lack of leadership from Ancelotti, were enough to get me concerned.
Even in deserved defeat, there were some positives.

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The Italian Serie A had two matches on Saturday, October 17, 2009 as Inter Milan faced Genoa and Juventus played Fiorentina. Here's a recap of both matches along with video highlights.

Inter Milan beats Genoa 5-0 Video Highlights

Inter Milan (Internazionale) easily beat Genoa as they had goals from five different players.

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"I didn't mean to stamp on Carvalho, but I know what it looks like and I do wince when I see it."
Wayne Rooney is still adamant it was an accident.

"In terms of a game where everything just clicked, it has to be Barcelona away in the Champions League. Of all the goals I scored, I always preferred the ones that were brilliant team goals, and the interaction was at its peak.

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This is some fascinating news that really could influence the 2010-2011 Premier League season, if not this current 2009-2010 campaign.
Chelsea have been banned from signing any new players until 2011 by FIFA.
The club was found guilty of inducing French winger Gael Kakuta, 18, to breach his contract with Lens when he � joined in 2007. Click to continue reading...

Well I was bang on with my prediction about the 2-0 scoreline but had thought that we would of had a much more difficult game. But let's face it apart from a clearing header that went wide of the post from Carvalho, it was pretty much a stroll yesterday afternoon at our local neighbours. With goals from Didier Drogba (first half) and Nicolas Anelka (second half) we ran out easy and comfortable Click to continue reading...

The same fixture last season saw Chelsea take the points with a 3-2 victory at the end of last season. Lampard was rested, Carvalho and Deco weren't even playing but was a great victory at the Stadium of Light and another three points will be needed tonight. But, this is no easy game for Chelsea.Ok again on paper looking at our first set of games in the Premier League and on paper you would Click to continue reading...

Tough fixture. That's all that really needs to be said about today's trip to Sunderland.

Steve Bruce's renovation project looks solid. And, following a rugged 1-0 result at Bolton to begin the season, the Stadium of Light is certain to be frantic for the the Cats' home opener.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to improve upon a last-second victory at home to Hull City on Saturday.

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Inter vice president Fernando Carvalho has urged Inter to find the form that the team showed at the beginning of the season, despite an encouraging run of results which has seen the Colorado win their last five matches.
"At this moment we are looking for the football we displayed at the beginning of the season. Click to continue reading...

Sure, it's not really supposed to be a competitive match. So, you ask how can you really learn anything from it?

Well, if you watched today's CA you know it was actually far from a friendly encounter. There were body checks word to Michael Ballack and a fair share of jawings from both sides.

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Chelsea ended last season winning the FA Cup after falling just short in the Premier and Champions League.� They have opened this season with a Community Shield win over Manchester United and look stronger by not being weaker.� Despite having ridiculous sums of money thrown at him, John Terry has - for now - spurned Manchester City to stay. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea have just won the Community Shield trophy� and even though it is not a very important one, it will, nevertheless, serve as a big confidence boost for the Blues. With both Manchester United and Liverpool looking weaker than last season, Chelsea seem to have a great opportunity to win back the Premiership title from United.

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The curtain raiser for the Premier League 09/10 is now behind us, and we can finally look forward to actual competitive football. Of course, the international friendly is almost surreal in its scheduling but we can break our head over it another day.

Here are a few thoughts on yesterday...

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I had previously decided that this was the first game of the season that I would actually be caring about. Sure, it matters about as much as all the other preseason games, but I'm of the opinion that any time 1) there's a possibility to collect silverware (no matter how insignificant) and 2) you're playing one of your Premiership rivals, it matters.

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Gallery, Images, Photos and Pictures of Chelsea v Manchester United, Community Shield, August 2009. Includes Frank Lampard, John Terry, Patrice Evra, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Ben Foster, Petr Cech, Dimitar Berbatov, Nani, Darren Fletcher, Ji-Sung Park, Florent Malouda, Michael Carrick, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney. Click to continue reading...

In his pre match press conference today Carlo Ancelotti responded to being questioned about players leaving. There has been numerous rumors in the press and have been posted and reported by me on this blog since long before Ancelotti took over in the Summer. So it was not really a surprise he was asked about the likes of Carvalho and Deco leaving in response to the reports that Jose claimed the Click to continue reading...

Porto Alegre newspapers Zero Hora and Correio do Povo are both reporting that Edu has agreed to join Inter.
No official announcement has been made but it is thought that the 30 year old attacking midfielder will officially sign a two year contract with the club on Friday when Inter return from Japan. Click to continue reading...

It has been confirmed that Fernandão, the hugely popular former captain, will not be returning to Inter after agreeing to join Goiás after a manic couple of hours last night.
Reports broke early yesterday evening on ESPN Brasil that Fernandão, who had just rescinded his contract with Qatar based Al-Gharafa, had agreed to return to his former club, sparking off celebrations as supporters celebrated the return of their idol. Click to continue reading...

The fantastic Ronald Gordo returns once again with his latest take on Inter's current plight.
In 1578, El Rey Dom Sebastião (King Sebastian) of Portugal convinced himself that he was to be Christ's captain in a crusade against Muslims in Africa. So he would win the eternal glory. Click to continue reading...

Inter threw away a two goal lead as São Paulo came back to earn a 2-2 draw at the Beira-Rio last night.
Alecsandro who was recalled to an Inter side which saw both Taison and D'Alessandro dropped, scored twice in the first half to give Inter a healthy advantage.
The first resulted from Kléber's long freekick into the box which found Alecsandro (29) unmarked as the striker headed Inter in front. Click to continue reading...

L'Inter che sta nascendo, secondo il portale di Telelombardia (qsvs.it) non è quella che aveva in mente Josè Mourinho, come del resto ha ammesso lui stesso durante la prima conferenza stampa stagionale.Niente Deco e Carvalho, niente Drogba, e tra poco niente Ibrahimovic.La societ� si sta muovendo in autonomia, e non ritiene vincolanti i pareri del tecnico, che ad esempio, pare sia piuttosto Click to continue reading...

Inter boss is not satisfied with the transfer window; Moratti said to him no to ask for excuses and the Portuguese is looking up north, where fiercely reinforced Juventus are set to get back what they rightfully deserve. Mourinho is avoiding press in Los Angeles, where the team is on preparations but knowing him, the Portuguese won't be quiet for much longer.

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Muricy Ramalho has taken over at Palmeiras a month after leaving São Paulo.
Ramalho had appeared to be the obvious choice to replace Inter's current coach Tite, who has been heavily criticized for Inter's decline in performances in recent weeks.
The 53 year old who has coached Inter twice previously, had refused to speculate on a return to the Beira-Rio but was a popular choice amongst supporters to replace Tite. Click to continue reading...

Following Inter's defeat to Club America on penalty kicks that no one seemed to know were supposed to take place (and also included an angry Mourinho on the pitch, arguing with the refs) on Sunday, Jose has apparently stopped talking to the press. Instead, his assistant, Beppe Baresi has taken up those duties, while Jose pouts over a few issues.

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Inter vice president has played down speculation that Tite will be dismissed following last night's Gre-Nal defeat.
A run of poor performances and defeats in both the Copa do Brasil final and Recopa have seen Tite heavily criticised for Inter's decline however, Fernando Carvalho remains patient. Click to continue reading...

Speculation continues regarding the future of Nilmar as the August transfer window nears. ClicRBS reports that the situation is now in the hands of the Colorado board as Emerson Langie translates.
The attacker Nilmar remains a target by European clubs. After Wolfsburg, Villarreal have now formalized a proposal to acquire the player. Click to continue reading...

We have already spoken about how Jose Mourinho is starting to feel. The gloves are off but scudetto is not enough for Moratti, so the Portuguese will find himself in a brand new situation.

Italy is specific ground, the presidents say what's on their mind and don't pay much attention to their behavior.

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Un gran colpo, quello firmato dall'Inter. Mourinho può essere ora davvero soddisfatto. Infatti, ha ottenuto il rinforzo in difesa che chiedeva. Non è il suo pupillo Carvalho, ma ugualmente si tratta di un giocatore di grande spessore e caratura internazionale, oltre che carattere e determinazione in ogni gara nella quale è sceso in campo nelle squadre di calcio che lo hanno visto protagonista. Click to continue reading...