John Terry is at the thick of it all again. Here's my thoughts: Yes, the FA had considerable case to strip him, but in doing so they have effectively gone against their own coach (don't these people ever communicate with each other? It's almost as though they pass messages to each other though the press.

As you all know by now, John Terry has this morning been stripped of the England Captaincy once again. The "Official statement" from the FA reads as follows:

"Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, The Football Association confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved.

After getting thru the anti-climax that was QPR, Chelsea have announced that John Terry will miss the trip to the Liberty Stadium, coincidentally in line with the week his trial for racial abuse commences. More, after the jump:

M.I.A.

In a late-night conversation with The Doc, we both agreed that John could profit from a stretch of rest.

With the news that Gary Cahill has finally signed for Chelsea and after already asking you guys what the signing of Cahill means for the likes of David Luiz, I am wondering what you the Chelsea fans believe is now our best starting back four.
It's important to remember that AVB intended to play a high line in the Premier League with defenders who are also technically gifted.

One schoolboy had his moment of glory during a kickabout with John Terry when he volleyed the ball at the England captain's nuts. The ball sat up nicely to present the youngster with a chance that many people up and down the country would relish. The Chelsea man clearly felt the impact, although he was [.

Norfolk SharX press release:
SHARX BLAST PAST BALTIMORE FOR SECOND WIN 17-12
Lieberman outstanding in goal with 16 saves
Norfolk, Virginia – The Norfolk SharX hosted the legendary Baltimore Blast at Norfolk Scope Arena Thursday night and came away with a stunning upset win 17-12 Thursday night.

By Joel Greenwaldt
In a match up that was billed by many as the must see game of the season, the Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave battled fiercely for 60 minutes in a game that lived up to it's billing. Baltimore was able to secure a hard fought 9-4 victory over Milwaukee, and at the same validated their belief that they are the best team in the MISL.

JT has spoken about about stories of a dressing room revolt, backing the manager, celebrating the goals yesterday and of the hard line that AVB has installed at the club today.
In a fantastic interview featured here he said:

"I want to make it clear I'm 100 per cent behind the manager.

Quite a funny news story circulating today, with John Terry being used to front a "quit smoking" campaign in India. Whats funnier is that JT has no knowledge whatsoever of being used in this campaign, so the company that owns his image rights are understandably trying to resolve the problem.
John Terry's blurred image features on the front of the pack of cigarettes, urging people to stop smoking.

Blurry JT gets Indian government into bother John Terry is said to be considering legal action after his image was used on cigarette packets as part of an anti-smoking initiative by the Indian government. A blurry image of the Chelsea captain boasting a pair of blackened lungs has appeared on packaging accompanied by the warning: [.

Let's not beat around the bush here and let's tell it like it is. We've seen two managers, drama, controversy, speculation, excitement, frustration and find ourselves at the turn of this year in the exact same position as we did a year ago. Isn't it strange how things have turned out!
This is my review of 2011 and a year on my blog as written by me, a lifelong Chelsea fan giving you my take on everything that happened.

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from New Year's Day papers

Chinese exit for JT? Walcott on the move? Nani for PSG? De Rossi for City?

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-01 11:09:15 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

You could see it coming a mile off couldn't you!. Once again we struggled to break a side down that comes here and lines up with ten men behind the ball. It's all well and good having the majority of the possession of the ball but you HAVE TO do something with it.
How many fucking times am I saying the same thing over and over again?

Let's not beat around the bush here and let's tell it like it is. We've seen two managers, drama, controversy, speculation, excitement, frustration and find ourselves at the turn of this year in the exact same position as we did a year ago. Isn't it strange how things have turned out!
This is my review of 2011 and a year on my blog as written by me, a lifelong Chelsea fan giving you my take on everything that happened.

Let's not beat around the bush here and let's tell it like it is. We've seen two managers, drama, controversy, speculation, excitement, frustration and find ourselves at the turn of this year in the exact same position as we did a year ago. Isn't it strange how things have turned out!
This is my review of 2011 and a year on my blog as written by me, a lifelong Chelsea fan giving you my take on everything that happened.

It's common knowledge that AVB wants Gary Cahill and late last night The Mirror broke an "Exclusive" stating that a fee of £7m that has been touted about HAS been agreed between Bolton and Chelsea and it's now in the hands of the players agent and Chelsea's Ron Gourlay to thrash out personal terms.

I have said it's no surprise that we drew 1-1 in this one really based on our performances of late. We pick ourselves up for the big games like Newcastle, City and Spurs in the league but for some reason our performances suffer against the likes of Wigan and now Fulham!. In saying that I mean no disrespect to both those sides and to Fulham especially as I don't think Fulham fans thought they would come away with anything after being stuffed 5-0 at home to United.

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- Just Missed the Anniversary! Forty Years ago, QPR's Rodney Marsh his England Debut!
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- Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates, comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general.

Yesterday during the open training session at Stamford Bridge we had the news that John Terry had suffered an injury and at first was doubtful to face Spurs on Thursday night. Thank god that it seems as though we will now be OK for the game as I really believe he is one player we simply cannot afford to miss right now.

"No, Anton, I said I caught a bleak and a carp." John Terry is in a row with his neighbours over his plans to build a fishing pond at his £10million Surrey mansion, according to Mirror Football. The England skipper is seeking planning ­permission to develop a "featureless paddock" on the seven-acre plot, claiming it [.

Rumours have been rife that Italian giants Juventus are looking to sign Alex from us. Alex himself talked up a move last summer but no deal could be agreed. As a result he stayed here but has hardly featured and as a result handed in a transfer request last week that has been accepted.
It's now believed that Juventus are looking to offer Chelsea £2m for Alex in January knowing that his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

In spite of all the going on off the pitch at the moment I thought John Terry's performance against Newcastle was outstanding.
It can't be easy for him to concentrate on games at the moment with everything going on but he still gets out on that pitch and gives his everything for the win and a clean sheet.

In spite of all the going on off the pitch at the moment I thought John Terry's performance against Newcastle was outstanding.
It can't be easy for him to concentrate on games at the moment with everything going on but he still gets out on that pitch and gives his everything for the win and a clean sheet.

So some people say the League Cup isn't important, it's the lesser of the four trophies we are in the hunt for this season and has the least priority. This is Chelsea v Liverpool at the Bridge and to be honest, it doesn't matter what competition we face each other, it's ALWAYS a big game.
Just a few weeks ago I was looking forward to Chelsea putting in a good performance and beating them but we all know what happened.

By Joel Greenwaldt
The Baltimore Blast rolled to their fourth consecutive road win on Sunday after defeating the Syracuse Silver Knights 18-10 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. The Blast improved to 4-1 on the season with the win which gave them a 1 1/2 game lead over Syracuse for the MISL Eastern Division lead.

By Joel Greenwaldt
The Baltimore Blast rolled to their fourth consecutive road win on Sunday after defeating the Syracuse Silver Knights 18-10 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. The Blast improved to 4-1 on the season with the win which gave them a 1 1/2 game lead over Syracuse for the MISL Eastern Division lead.

The biggest mismanager at Chelsea isn't AVB... it's Roman

Why neither JT or Rio will start Euro 2012... and one may not go at all Why gloating at City could come back to haunt Napoli I do like it when this column provides you readers with mirth. Which is why, in August, I was chuffed to hear from Chelsea fans that I'd given them one of the best laughs since Jose Mourinho hid in the club's dirty laundry basket.

Why neither JT or Rio will start Euro 2012... and one may not go at all

The biggest mismanager at Chelsea isn't AVB... it's Roman Why gloating at City could come back to haunt Napoli Has there ever been a better time for an English centre-back with an eye on breaking into the national side?

Why gloating at City could come back to haunt Napoli

The biggest mismanager at Chelsea isn't AVB... it's Roman Why neither JT or Rio will start Euro 2012... and one may not go at all Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis lived up to his film producer title on Tuesday night by putting out a short movie called "Rubbing Manchester City's face in the dirt.

The more I think about our "slump" and dip in form at the moment, the more I keep thinking about our rotation policy. Let me explain.
At the moment, things are against us and we need to stop the rot sooner rather than later. I wrote a earlier in the week about getting back to basics as far as our defending is concerned and I really think the constant rotating players in our defensive line isn't helping our situation either.

I think we are all agreed on that fact that this is a must win game for Chelsea. Not only so that we can take a step into the next round but for the confidence of the team. AVB has stated that the players need to keep believing and working hard to get back to winning ways and if we can get the right result tonight, it will give us confidence heading into the three big games in the Premier League.

OK, we have had a couple of days now to get over Liverpool, and get refocused on the next task at hand at that is Leverkusen tomorrow night in the Champions League.
This is our penultimate game of the group stages with Valencia at home to follow and we have qualification by winning the group in our own hands as long we we put in two good performances and getting the right results.

Chelsea's team this afternoon against Liverpool has been confirmed and it is as follows:
Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, JT (c), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Lampard; Mata, Drogba, Malouda - subs: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Romeu, Meireles, Sturridge, Anelka, Torres.
Your thoughts?
KTBFFH
I'm taking part in Movember this month, please donate!

Tonight Daniel Sturridge may get his chance to start for England against Sweden after hearing of Danny Welbecks injury. It will be his first start in the first team and he will be looking to impress. The way Sturridge has been playing his football so far, I fully expect him to make an impact tonight along with John Terry.

John Terry spoke to the press ahead of England's friendly with Sweden and has revealed he is feeling good, getting plenty of support from players and managers alike and always looks to two Chelsea Captains of the past as his inspiration.
We all know what allegations JT is facing at the moment and as a result he couldn't speak directly about the investigations being made by the FA and Police.

For any club to be successful you have to strike the right balance. You need the experience players combined with younger players to gel and if you do find the right mix, you will have a good chance of being successful.
It pains me to say it but look at Sir Alex Ferguson at United. He continues to do it season after season, he evolves his squad and his team to keep things fresh and has done it again this term with the likes of Wellbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling.

After watching what happened on Saturday as Alex came back into the side and Ivanovic replaced Bosingwa at right back, the fact that although at times we looked dodgey and could have been caught out twice, I am still wondering what is our strongest back four?
Do you think Ivanovic should stick to right back?

OK, In an hour Chelsea take on Blackburn at Ewood Park in a game we simply have to win. Ideally we all want us to win well and keep a clean sheet but we have to face a harsh reality, do we settle for a win no matter what, even if it means we still concede?
We are nine points behind City and cannot afford to lose more points at this early stage of the season.

The transactions have mimicked the play on the field - fast and furious as MISL teams finalize rosters, unveil uniforms, and prepare for the upcoming 2011-2012 season.
Here is a recap of all the happenings so far this week around MISL:
MISL Comets Season Preview: Read Here
Baltimore Blast add Three
Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that forward Adriano Dos Santos will return to the Blast this season and that the team has signed defender Mike Deasel and midfielder JT Noone, pictured, pending league approval.

Let's be honest, after seeing Genk at Stamford Bridge the other week, this should be a walk in the park for Chelsea. I thought Genk were poor at best and for a side in the Champions League proper were disappointing. No disrespect to Genk as a football club, but it was fact based on their performance on the night.