We are playing like shit. Every one of us is waiting for the shit to stop. Some are suggesting
that the shit stops with Andre Villas-Boas. I, as you know, am not of this opinion. However, seeing
as there are many that would like to see the suave Portuguese vacate the premises, I thought I'd
gauge just how many are leaning toward this resolution.
I'm going to attempt to keep this short because, quite frankly, spitting viciously vile vitriol
is not how I'd like to spend my Saturday afternoon. Virulence really isn't going to get us
anywhere.
But, shit, I'm fucking pissed.
Don't worry, it got much worse.
Hey, at least this guy isn't going to torment us today.
Team news and the like from 2:30pm EST.
Team sheets
Everton
Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Donovan, Gibson, Fellaini, Pienaar; Cahill;
Stracqualursi.
A trip to Goodison Park is just the tonic needed following our recent troubles, namely a
bizarre, referee-induced three-goal collapse at home against Manchester United.
Wait, what? We rarely win at Everton? Shit.
Mean muggin'
We have actually won at Goodison this season, a 2-1 victory in extra time in the League Cup.
Devin is slammed and I'm sick (laryngitis). That being said, we're not sure a preview of Everton
will be making an appearance prior to the match. Apologies. What we do have for you, however, are
some excellent pieces on Chelsea's finances.
Someone asked us about the recent release of our financials for the year (June 2010-June
2011).
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.
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.
It looks like the forecast is clearing up in London. That still doesn't mean we'll play, but
it's enough reason to have a rant at least.
Team news and the like from 2:30pm EST.
Team sheets
Chelsea
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Manchester United
TBA
Liveblog: Follow along with Jack @ The Score
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Help me, I'm having nightmares. More, after the jump:
Cold as ice
I'm not even sure this match is as important as what's transpiring around the orbit of England's
Once Brave (Twice-Removed) John Terry- henceforth known as EOBTRJT. Jack cooked up some brilliance
on the matter, as always, which I recommend you all read at once.
Big game at the Bridge on Super Sunday. Personnel decisions are likely to play a significant
role in the outcome. So, let's channel our inner Andre Villas-Boas and sort this one out.
Cool? Cool.
I see you.
Andre Villas-Boas faces all kinds of issues entering our match against Manchester United.
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.
JOSH. Fortunately, he won't be playing against us. Nevertheless, this is going to be hella
difficult.
Team news and the like from 2:30pm EST.
Team sheets
Swansea City
Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Allen, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham.
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.
The draw for the FA Cup's fifth round was held earlier today. A reunion with Gus Poyet (via
Brighton) wasn't in the cards, with Chelsea being drawn against Birmingham.
Not bad. The Championship club will pose a threat, but not to the extent that traveling to
Anfield would have. Ties will be held 18/19 February.
Eden Hazard, one of the most desirable transfer targets in world football at the moment, says he
is not moving this January. Definitively. Moving this coming summer, however? That's on fo sho. To
England? Why yes, actually.
Excuse me while I shit my pants with potential excitement.
Seeking a new challenge in the summer
Hazard spoke to Canal+ today and shed some light on his current situation.
It wasn't pretty. Hell, it was downright hideous. But it's a win, one that puts us in the
fifth-round draw. Hey, that's good enough for this guy.
A united front
I guess we should have expected this. All the hype, all the controversy it simply overstated
what was bound to be on display at Loftus Road on Saturday.
We of course don't have the official prognosis yet, but on the strength of quotes from both the
player and Andre Villas-Boas it looks like we may have dodged a massive bullet.
Worrying moments
Ramires went down in serious pain during the second half of today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at
Loftus Road against Queens Park Rangers.
Football, thankfully, gets the attention today.
Team news and the like from 6:45am EST.
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Queens Park Rangers
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Chelsea
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The magic of the FA Cup. The combined furor of two players and thus two clubs and two sets of
support groups embroiled in an alleged race row.
And, of course, handshake gate revisited.
Not again
Saturday's FA Cup fixture between visiting Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road is
brimmed with subplots.
Sportsmail strikes again. Though we may have to start giving the masked man/woman/thing a little
more credit on the back of breaking the Willian negotiations last week. This time around, the
Daily Mail's journo in the field, with a little help from the Mirror,
suggests Chelsea are ready to make key moves for both Paul Pogba and Gregory van der Wiel.
Whoa. I forgot we were still involved in the CL for a second. More, after the jump:
The Shove Heard Round Naples
Get this: Napoli's manager, Walter Mazzarri, has been banned by UEFA for two matches after
shoving Nilmar during Napoli's final group stage match with Villareal.
Some good and some bad news for Salomon Kalou today at the Africa Cup of Nations.
We'll start with the good, the real good. Kalou opened the scoring for Côte d'Ivoire in their
2-0 win against Burkina Faso tonight. Peep Sal's excellent volley in visual form below.
The volley was the cherry on the top of what was another fine performance from the rarely used
Chelsea vet.
Buy Belgian. Ho.
We talked yesterday about the club allegedly reentering talks with Racing Genk over the transfer
of the young Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne. Those talks (gasp) are actually true.
This according to a spokesman for Genk:
Dirk Degraen is in London and the expectation is that it (the transfer of De Bruyne) will be
finished this week.
Not entirely sure about the source material, but Chelsea have allegedly re-engaged in talks with
Racing Genk over the transfer of the 20-year-old that looks not a day over 12 Kevin De Bruyne.
Young Money
As you may recall, the club inquired about De Bruyne in the summer.
Queens Park Rangers apparently can't afford Alex. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, certainly can.
I guess that solves that then, in my skewed mind at least.
A reunion?
The protracted transfer of Alex away from Chelsea drags on.
News today arrives in two parts.
It was, in short, a poor afternoon. Let's just say our trip to Spain couldn't have come at a
better time. More, after the jump:
Begging for Mercy
I'm a hazy mess. Well, not a mess per se. But, disappointed by what was without a doubt a
toothless display of our ineffective style that sums up our season.
I initially filed this one under bullshit in my immensely well-organized mental
filing cabinet. It was first reported in the Daily Mail after all. That bummy rag may have
been on to something, though. In fact, they were probably dead-on.
Sincerest apologies, Mail.
This doesn't sound too promising. While the rest of the boys headed off to Spain after the
disappointing draw with Norwich City, Frank Lampard remained behind. Poor guy.
He instead headed back to London in order to undergo scans on what is suspected to be a torn
calf muscle. You may recall him being removed after only 37 minutes at Carrow Road.
As if today's disappointing result wasn't enough to elicit anger, we now have news that a
section of Chelsea supporters were reported to authorities after allegedly making racist remarks
about Anton Ferdinand as they were traveling back from Norfolk via train.
Chelsea Football Club is concerned to hear that a small number of fans travelling back by train
from Norwich were alleged to be involved in racist chants and comment.
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.
Oh, hey.
Team news and the like from 7:45am EST.
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Norwich City
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Chelsea
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We're off to Carrow Road tomorrow. My suggestion? Take the morning train.
It's a fixture that promises to be kind of fascinating. For one, it wasn't easy at Stamford
bridge at the end of August; it sure won't be easy in Norfolk, either, with Norwich undefeated in
four and currently in ninth.
Nicolas Anelka is swimming in dough on the shores of Shanghai. Will Didier Drogba be joining him
before the end of the January transfer window?
Quite possibly, if you ask the Shenhua PR department.
Chinese connection?
As you know, Drogba has rejected a one-year contract extension from Chelsea in search of at
least a two-year deal.
Well, this is unique. Luton Town announced today that Chelsea have signed three players from the
Hatters' youth academy.
According to the Luton Town website:
Brothers Rio, Cole and Jay Dasilva have signed terms with the Blues in separate transfers each
worth five figures which will in total net the Town a suitable sum.
Josh McEachran talks to Chelsea TV prior to leaving for Wales. I think he's going to have a
difficult time breaking into the side up there, but I have no doubt he can, and will, do the
business.
Good luck, son.
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's done.
No, really. I'm serious, man. Just take a glance at the image below. Look, I swear it's not
photoshopped. Look at his hair. I mean, how could I 'shop that?
Jack Bauer stylings
From now forth or at least until he fucks up Gary Cahill is a Chelsea player.
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.
Rest up, Ram. We're going to need your services today.
Team news and the like from 9:45am EST.
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Chelsea
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Sunderland
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