A few notes from around the club today, including the signing of another young talent (as seen below).

Window shopping

Mikel to be fit for Saturday, Lampard likely
• After some seven weeks on the shelf, John Obi Mikel is finally ready to resurface.

What was a dream at 3-0 quickly morphed into a nightmare near full time for the Chels, as Manchester United with a helping hand from good friend Howard Webb clawed back to secure a 3-3 draw in a breathless encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Yeah, that's a difficult result to accept.

Ah hell. Not this shit again.

Oh joy. We've reached that special day of days in which insanity and panic trumps all. Well, you know, perhaps it's money that trumps all. Yeah, it's the cake.

This is January transfer deadline day. A war amongst men. Not really, but you know what I'm getting at.

Another frustrating day out and about for the Chels, who, despite a heap of possession and a fair few scoring chances, failed to break down a resolute Norwich City side at Carrow Road. Good result for them; us, not so much. That, as we said in our innovative preview, is another golden opportunity wasted.

Liverpool may be playing Roma this summer at Fenway Park. Who cares. Liverpool or Roma playing the Chels elsewhere on American soil? Now that's an idea I can get behind.

To be reunited?

The Boston Globe is reporting that they may just happen.

In a short piece touching on the prospect of both Liverpool and Roma touring the United States during the preseason, Chelsea is mentioned along with Celtic as a potential partner in crime for this so-called tournament.

It has indeed happened. We have reached the magical plateau of 40 points, and are thus unlikely to be relegated. Three cheers. As for this fixture, it was a right odd one, with the Chels looking equal parts sterling and benumb, particularly in defense. Chances, there were a fair few for both sides.

Sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of days. Quite a bit going on in my world at that moment. Now, with the pleasantries out of the way, let's take a look at what's been going on since our much-needed win at Wolves. Turns out, this has been a relatively newsworthy day for the Chels.

CO approved transfer target

Source(s): Chelsea set to make second bid for Lucas Moura
• Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva is one of world football's elite young talents.

The draw for the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League is complete. The Chels popped out of that giant serving bowl very early on.

Who'd we get, then? Fucking Napoli.

Dangerous

I think we all agreed prior to the draw that all of our potential opponents in the first knockout stage of this competition represented tricky ties to navigate.

We broke the curse. That's all you need to know. Well, not really. Once again I'm taking you on a running diary odyssey of sorts. The madness, after the jump:

No Church in the Wild

Much like the last go around, I woke up on Saturday morning, broke out the laptop, and did my best to track the madness of the match in whatever fashion I could surmise.

The return of European club football is indeed glorious. The return of David Moyes' Everton to Stamford Bridge is not so much glorious as it is shitty.

Will we finally shatter this recent Toffees hex?

Damn this man.

The Barclays Premier League returns this weekend following a two-week break for international qualifiers and the like.

Today is yet another important milestone for me and my blog. A short time ago my site had hit the ONE MILLION mark for site hits (now over 1.1 million) and today my blog has now hit the TWO MILLION mark for individual page views which is just amazing.
Like I have said many times, I started blogging about the Chels' in March 2009 and never ever dreamed I would have the success I have had this early.

The average attendance figures from across Europe for the previous season popped up in a few places this week and, to no Chelsea supporter's surprise, the club remain firmly in the middle.

Sold out

Chelsea rose three places to 28th on the continent with an average attendance of 41,435.

Our biggest test of the Champions League group stage arrives Wednesday in the form of a trip to the Estadio Mestalla. Valencia not only bring forth a heavy test for the Chels, but they also eagerly await the return of a departed son.

Homecoming

Matchday 1 was particularly special to Chelsea supporters for, aside from a win over Bayer Leverkusen, the return of Michael Ballack to Stamford Bridge.

Fernando Torres loses his fucking mind. Chelsea, meanwhile, don't miss a beat.

God dammit, Fernando

The Chels slash four past Swansea at the Bridge despite playing with ten men for the better part of 50 minutes. It was pretty much an excellent performance aside from the wretchedness that was Torres' fist-half, studs-up lunge on Mark Gower at midfield.

Forget about it is like if you agree with someone, you know, like Raquel Welch is one great piece of ass, forget about it. But then, if you disagree, like a Lincoln is better than a Cadillac? Forget about it! You know? But then, it's also like if something's the greatest thing in the world, like mingia those peppers, forget about it.

Waiting is for pussies.

Just five weeks into the new season, Andre Villas-Boas' sexy is set to invade the Terrordome. Football's equivalent of Cary Grant brings with him 450 minutes of competitive managerial experience with the Chels. Surely that's more than enough to match wits and tailors with one of the greatest to ever grace a sideline.

We have it on good word that at least one English club has lodged a bid for Kevin De Bruyne. Who made the bid, however, is up for interpretation.

Chelsea? Say word.

Chelsea have been linked with the 20-year-old Racing Genk midfielder since, well, the summer close season began.

Not exactly a heap of new news regarding the Chels over the past couple of days. Thus the lack of cutting-edge, thought-provoking material on this blog. That, or the three of us have been consumed by our full-time jobs.

Snoods.

Nevertheless, more transfer gossip continues to surface from Lucio to Lucho and back home to Cahill and Dann.

By Gareth McKnight, writing from Australia

The 2011 Copa America in Argentina kicks off in early July, with the hosts the favourites amongst most bookmakers. Despite this, eight time tournament winners and current holders Brazil, as always, have a star studded squad capable of beating anyone on their day.

By IAN HOLLIDAY

Since their meeting in the UEFA Champions League final last season, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have been on similar paths. Both clubs started slowly in their respective leagues, both clubs have been climbing their respective tables in recent weeks and both clubs earned wins this Saturday ahead of their Round of 16 matchup in this year's Champions League on Wednesday.

Ladies, gentlemen, those not of this realm,

I'd like to take this time to make an introduction, a most triumphant one. No, unfortunately he's not from San Dimas. He does, however, hail from California the City of Angels, in fact.

Jack. Devin.

This fine man has been following The CO on the hush for a while.

Give me a break Theo

Forgive me but my creative juice is not exactly flowing. That is the best title I could come up with. This was supposed to be a tight game. West Ham generally raise their game when we come for a visit. Unfortunately for them, no one told new boy Wayne Bridge. He is on loan from Manchester City but surely now Avram Grant is regretting the decision to sign him.

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.