On Sunday Manchester United will walk into the Stamford Bridge pitch in unusual fashion. They will be the underdogs.

By all accounts, Chelsea simply look the stronger side. After trashing Bolton Wanderers 4-0 last weekend and earning a 2-2 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid, Chelsea's in-form striker Didier Drogba will be looking to punish a Manchester United defense that will be without Rio Ferdinand.

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Forget Haye v Valuev, this is the big one Chelsea v Manchester United. This year's favourites take on the Premier League champions. But while Chelsea and Drogba are in top form, United's injury problems mount.

And it is Didier Drogba who pundits alike are talking about. He is in the best form of his life, and if there was a better time to face United for the Ivory Coast forward, it would have to be now as he will be up against a rather depleted looking back line.

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And the honor this week goes to Elisabetta Canalis. Click to continue reading...

Sunday's top of the table clash between Chelsea and Manchester United pits the current Premiership Champions against the current FA Cup winners for the second time this season. The Blues beat the Red Devils on penalties in the annual curtain-raiser, the Community Shield.

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Insert your own caption here
Let's get right to our favorite column of the week - the Premier League preview.
I. Manchester United @ Chelsea: The biggest match of the Premier League thus far this season sees Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney go head-to-head in Sunday's meeting at the top of the table. Click to continue reading...

Wayne Rooney

This parenting stuff is already harder than I thought. ... Meat. ... The kid doesn't like to play with fireworks nearly as much as I do and he doesn't even know how to use a toilet. ... Meat. ... I think he might be broken. Can you fix a broken kid with a screwdriver and a nail gun?

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Gerrard actually misses Xabi Alonso. Which is kinda cute.
Don't forget to re-acquaint yourself with this beauty.
But Liverpool still sucks.
Now some links:

• More Bulgarian craziness. [Unprofessional Foul]
  
• Police use water cannon at German riot. [SI]
  
• Carlo loves him some Didier Drogba.

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What language is this? The language of beautiful football
Despite his groin problem, Fernando Torres may feel a bit snubbed after Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Frank Lampard both claimed yesterday that Didier Drogba is the best striker in the world. Click to continue reading...

Atletico de Madrid put on a brave display to snatch a draw against Chelsea. The Spanish club have had a harsh time in the Primera Division, as well as in the Champions League. But two sensational strikes from Sergio Aguero ensured that fans at the Vicente Calderon did not go home unhappy. Aguero opened the scoring [. Click to continue reading...

Luca Toni's toque was no match for Bordeaux last night. Image via Getty

Wow. Last night's Champions League group action was more exciting than an Hermes sample sale.

In case you missed it, here's what we observed:

- Frank Lampard's increasing use of thigh-covering under-armour is becoming a serious concern.

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Luca Toni's toque was no match for Bordeaux last night. Image via Getty

Wow. Last night's Champions League group action was more exciting than an Hermes sample sale.

In case you missed it, here's what we observed:

- Frank Lampard's increasing use of thigh-covering under-armour is becoming a serious concern.

Click to continue reading...

Chelsea sealed qualification into the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-2 draw at Atletico with goals from Didier Drogba. FC Porto beat Apoel as they also clinched qualification and its now down to our game at their place to see who wins the group for the favourable draw when its made by UEFA. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United booked its passage to the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League in dramatic and somewhat embarrassing fashion. If a side like CSKA Moscow can come to Old Trafford and score goals in the manner they did, I don't think the Special One at Inter Milan or Barcelona's Pep Guardiola will be having sleepless nights worrying about United's threat to their title hopes.

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The UEFA Champions League had a full set of group stage matches on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 including Chelsea traveling to play Atletico Madrid in Spain. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Chelsea draws with Atletico Madrid 2-2 Video Highlights

It was a quick start as Atletico Madrid came out with confidence playing at home.

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All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

The derby match between St. Pauli and Hansa Rostock once again brings fire and violence and police involvement, this time inflamed by St. Pauli's Deniz Naki. [101gg]

Every fan attending the Dynamo Kiev v Inter Champions League match will be given masks to protect against the terrifying dangers of swine flu.

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I don't know if anyone else reads World Soccer but I have a subscription to the magazine and in the most recent issue, they raised the point of the best striker in the world. I'll explain how they came to their conclusion in a moment but I was wondering what other people thought was required in a striker and who they feel is the best.

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New Atletico manager Quique� Flores remembers the Blue machine well, Michael Essien all too well. Furthermore, a win will take us through to the group stages. Oh, and Didier Drogba is back to terrorize Europe.

I'll have that.

This man may be the fulcrum in 09-10.

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November 2, 2009 (10/11 games played)
EPL Top 5 player leaderboard, goals + assists:
1. Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal
5 goals, 9 assists
1. Didier Drogba, Chelsea
9 goals, 5 assists
3. Robin van Persie, Arsenal
7 goals, 6 assists
4. Fernando Torres, Liverpool
10 goals, 1 assist
5. Click to continue reading...

New COS Writer David Knight, lifelong Chelsea fan, just has something to say to his Idol.

Portsmouth vs Chelsea Tickets Still Available!

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Oh, hi, Didier.

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If No. 4 isn't up for goal of the season, the whole list is a sham. That was truly as elegant as team goal as I've seen. Sheer audacity and brilliance. (P.S. Only Spanish commentary could enhance this display) Bonita Gol.

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Bolton managed well in their match against Chelsea, until the dying minutes of the first half but Jlloyd Samuels challenge earned him a red card and a penalty for Chelsea and Lampard made no mistake converting it before the break. The Blues dominance continued with an extra player and pure quality all over and goals [. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea looked to keep their lead atop the English Premier League table as they traveled to face Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, October 31, 2009. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Chelsea beats Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Video Highlights

1st Half

Chelsea were the better team early but Bolton played solid to keep it scoreless through the first 20 minutes.

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So it's Bolton at the Reebok on Saturday.

I think we can safely say we're not going to see a repeat of the midweek thrashing we threw at Wanderers in the Carling Cup. Wednesday's match was the third consecutive demolition at Stamford Bridge 13 goals scored, none conceded. The Blues are in a rich vein, eh?

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FIFA has announced its shortlist of 23 players for the Men's World Player of the Year award, and 10 players for the Women's World Player of the Year Award. National team captains and coaches will now vote (but not for players from their own country) and this final five will be revealed in early December, with the winners announced at FIFA's World Player bash in Zurich on December 21st.

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FIFA has announced its 23-man shortlist for World Player of the Year. Lets discuss who we think should win and why.

Michael Ballack
Gianluigi Buffon
Iker Casillas
Diego
Didier Drogba
Michael Essien
Samuel Eto'o
Steven Gerrard
Thierry Henry
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Andres Iniesta
Kaka
Frank Lampard
Luis Fabiano
Lionel Messi
Carles Puyol
Franck Ribery
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney
John Terry
Fernando Torres
David Villa
Xavi

Club-wise distribution

Chelsea 5
Manchester United 1
Liverpool 2
Valencia 1
Barcelona 6
Real Madrid 3
Sevilla 1
Inter 1
Juventus 2
Bayern Munich 1
Arsenal 0

Oh wait !

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Joe Cole - breathing out of mouth and wearing short shorts, as usual
Joe Cole is fit again - which means that not only are his extra short shorts back on the playing field, but his brilliant creativity and Benayoun-like awareness in close spaces is on display as well in the Chelsea attack. Click to continue reading...

Argentine ace and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has had quite a year.� After leading Barcelona to an unprecedented treble in the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Ray he is now up for both the Ballon d'Or (European footballer of the year) and the equally prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year.

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This morning Man United striker Wayne Rooney has been shortlisted for the FIFA World Player Of The Year award. He has been named alongside other English Premier League stars Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry.
Other Premier League players named are Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Michael Essien. Click to continue reading...

Via the Guardian (of course), following our 5-0 demoltion of Blackburn on the weekend ...

"The oversimplified reading of a diamond formation* suggests that any success is significantly dependent on the excellence of attacking full-backs. Yet Chelsea were without Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa when they obliterated Blackburn at the weekend.

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It's a celebration, bitches.

Via the Guardian ... "The competition may change, the advertising hoardings spinning to proclaim Champions League or Premier League or Carling Cup,� but Chelsea's swashbuckling home form remains a constant. A tenth consecutive win here, achieved gracefully and impressively last night, has propelled Carlo Ancelotti's team into the quarter-finals.

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Carlo Ancelotti has decided to name his starting 11 way ahead of the game tonight which is unusual and he has also taken the step of giving complete rest to John Terry, Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka whereas Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will be on the bench. He said before tonight's game: If I have the possibility to give rest to all the players who also have to play in Click to continue reading...

Carlo Ancelotti has decided to name his starting 11 way ahead of the game tonight which is unusual and he has also taken the step of giving complete rest to John Terry, Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka whereas Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will be on the bench. He said before tonight's game: If I have the possibility to give rest to all the players who also have to play in

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Just two months into the 2009-2010 season, the "big four" of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have lost 10 matches combined. Compare that with 18 matches lost by the league's elite combined in the entirety of last season, and it's clear that either the big four are weaker, or the rest of the league is getting stronger.

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Algumas estatísticas das eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo:
Continente Africano.
Já fizeram gols no Continente africano, pelas eliminatórias da copa, 268 jogadores, e os 5 maiores artilheiros do continente africano são:
1º - Moumoni DAGANO - Burkina Faso - 11 gols
2º - Frederic KANOUTE - Mali - 8 gols
3º - Samuel ETOO - Camarões - 8 gols
4º - Razak OMOTOYOSSI - Benin - 7 gols
5º - Didier DROGBA - Costa do Marfim - 6 gols
Maior número de cartões:
1º - Mohammed KALLON - Serra Leoa - 4 cartões amarelos
2º - Stephane SESSEGON - Benin - 4 cartões amarelos
3º - Yazid MANSOURI - Argélia - 4 cartões amarelos
4º - Saidou PANANDETIGUIRI - Burkina Faso - 4 cartões amarelos
5º - Alaeldin YOUSIF - Sadão - 4 cartões amarelos
Continente Europeu
Já fizeram 384 jogadores, gols nas Eliminatórias da Europa. Click to continue reading...

This man struggles to sell hard copies.
He certainly doesn't have any trouble bulging the ol' onion bag (no Tommy Smyth) against the Blackeyes.

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