It's a massive game on Sunday and two sides in contrasting situations. Chelsea are not playing as well as we would like to see them playing and are still struggling to create chances and feed Fernando Torres. We find ourselves 12 points behind United.
United, with plenty of injuries are still picking up vital wins and are now back on level par with City.

Burkino Faso defender Bakary Kone's amazing own goal helps the Ivory Coast to a 2-0 win and qualification to the second round of the African Nations Cup after Chelsea striker Saloman Kalou scored the opener. (see below)

The Frank Lampard Appreciation Society offers another unique, unadulterated glimpse into the voyage of life of one tragic Monseur Lampeur.

DECEMBER 6, 2011

It's funny how the clothes we wear reflect who we are, and I don't mean those t-shirts that the mentally handicapped wear and include the person's name, number, and address.

Talksport: Kalou to Arsenal, Dublin to Man United, Rush to Newcastle Top 10 underwhelming transfers

Click the arrow on the right of the photo to see football's Top 10 most underwhelming transfers

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2012-01-10 14:39:59 from: Talksport

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

It seems that the recent Arsenal transfer news linking the Gunners with a move for the 26 year-old Chelsea striker/winger Salomon Kalou were completely accurate. According to many sources this morning, but originally in the Daily Mail i believe, the Ivorian international has been given special permission to return to London by his national team [.

There are certainly a good selection of Arsenal transfer rumours around this morning, but I'm not sure how many of them are even close to being likely! There is no doubt that Arsenal need a proper backup striker for Robin Van Persie, especially with the possibility that the Dutchman could be leaving next summer.

There are certainly a good selection of Arsenal transfer rumours around this morning, but I'm not sure how many of them are even close to being likely! There is no doubt that Arsenal need a proper backup striker for Robin Van Persie, especially with the possibility that the Dutchman could be leaving next summer.

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.

The African Cup of Nations is just a couple of weeks away and Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is already predicting a tough title challenge for Manchester City.

The Citizens are set to lose their most influential player of the season so far-Yaya Toure. Yaya who was also named as the African player of the Year 2011 has been in scintillating form for City helping them to a first place finish in the league for the first time in 82 years since Christmas 1929.

After Frank Lampard came on and scored the winner against Manchester City in the week, he was asked after the game about being on the bench the last couple of games. His response made headlines in the media and was spoken about on here. Lampard's response was of surprise as he said straight after the game:

"I want to play, simple as that, I'm as fit as I've ever been.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou's imminent January departure for the African Cup of Nations, along with the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chinese Super League Club Shanghai Shenhua has left manager André Villas-Boas facing a possibly head-scratching dilemma.

The loss of these three household names could force goal-shy Fernando Torres back in to the equation at Stamford Bridge, a move which some would consider a risk.

The Daily Mail is reporting this morning that Chelsea are willing to take as £30m loss on misfiring striker Fernando Torres.

According to Neil Ashton at the Daily Mail, Chelsea have considered sending Torres out on loan to rebuild his confidence, after scoring only three Premier League goals for Chelsea this year.

The Daily Mail is reporting this morning that Chelsea are willing to take as £30m loss on misfiring striker Fernando Torres.

According to Neil Ashton at the Daily Mail, Chelsea have considered sending Torres out on loan to rebuild his confidence, after scoring only three Premier League goals for Chelsea this year.

10 players your club could sign in January including Poldolski, Kalou, Gourcuff and more

talkSPORT runs down the players who could be up for a move in the new year

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-12-10 09:15:00 from: Talksport

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

It has been reported, and especially after AVB has reportedly told six of our first team squad that they are free to leave the club, that Paris St Germain are more than interested in Salomon Kalou.
Kalou as we all know has failed to hold down a regular first team spot ever since he has been at Chelsea really if you think about it.

The Twittersphere was alive last night with the scoreline London 2-0 Manchester, as both City and, more spectacularly, United failed to join Arsenal and Chelsea for the knockout stages of this season's Champions League.

The response from dejected mancs has been that this scoreline is of little relevance; the red and blue halves of Manchester still make up the top two in the Premier League, and the Londoners don't really have a chance of conquering Europe anyway.

The Twittersphere was alive last night with the scoreline London 2-0 Manchester, as both City and, more spectacularly, United failed to join Arsenal and Chelsea for the knockout stages of this season's Champions League.

The response from dejected mancs has been that this scoreline is of little relevance; the red and blue halves of Manchester still make up the top two in the Premier League, and the Londoners don't really have a chance of conquering Europe anyway.

The bums they are a squeaking.

Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres are on the bench for the defining match of Andre Villas-Boas' tenure at Chelsea thus far. Bold and correct decisions, will they pay off?

Architects

Team sheets
Chelsea
Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, EBJT (c), Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge.

As we all know AVB is planning a clear out starting in January and continuing next summer after the club confirmed that transfer requests have been accepted from Alex and Nico Anelka. Over the weekend stories also broke that AVB is prepared to listen to offers for Drogba, Kalou, Bosingwa and Ferreira.

Just three weeks to go until the winter transfer window opens, and the press is full of Arsenal transfer news today as it probably will be every day from now on! Arsene Wenger has said that he is not looking for a new striker but most fans think that that is his usual smokescreen.... So [...]

Over the weekend we heard AVB confirm that Alex and Nico Anelka have both submitted transfer requests to the club that have been accepted and they are now training away from the first team squad until a move has been completed.
Yesterday however, news broke all over the media that Chelsea and AVB are also willing to listen to offers for a further FOUR more players in January!

Newcastle finally falls. And falls hard at that, 3-0 to Chelsea. Despite balanced stats, Chelsea were on form (despite a Lampard missed PK), as Drogba's 38' goal lead the way, with Kalou and Sturridge putting the dagger in with goals a minute apart just before the final whistle.Video: Rutube
[[ This is a content summary only.

The confirmed Chelsea line up to face Liverpool tonight is:
Turnbull, Bosingwa, Alex, D Luiz, Bertrand; McEachran, Romeu, Lampard (c); Lukaku, Torres, Malouda. - subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Ramires, Kalou, Mata, Anelka.
Liverpool XI vs Chelsea: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Enrique, Henderson, Spearing, Lucas, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll.

Daniel Sturridge scored yet again in front of AVB at The Bridge against Liverpool last weekend. What more does he HAVE to do to earn a permanent place in Chelsea frontline? AVB has so far persisted with both Torres and Drogba while only allowing Sturridge to shine as an impact substitute or on the right of a front three.

Join in for a rant or two on all things Chelsea. Or just some witty banter. We're good at that.

Relive this moment, six times please

Team news forthcoming. And, if the Liverpool match wasn't a 'must win', then this surely has to be? For a ton of reasons.

Sidenote: Anelka has been told by the club that he can leave in January.

Squad sheets: Chelsea v Liverpool

It is hardly a crisis for a club to be fourth in the table when there are still another 27 fixtures to come, but the demands are always great at Chelsea. Even if the manager André Villas-Boas can only be concerned by the goals conceded so regularly, there is comfort in both the firepower and some very good days that have ensued.

We have been waiting and wondering what the team will be. Here is our starting eleven tonight:
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Romeu, Ramires Meireles, Malouda, Torres, Anelka
...and on the bench:
Turnbull, Terry, Lampard, McEachran, Mata, Sturridge, Kalou.
What are your thoughts?

What another great result for Chelsea tonight. Everton away is a hard place to go and get a result, especially having to make the long trip up north in midweek!. This was a game that had everything, three goals, two players sent off and two missed penalties. There was plenty of goal mouth action too and once again frustratingly we failed to keep a clean sheet!

I posted the other day about Salomon Kalou and the fact I was gob smacked that he had been offered a new deal at Chelsea and the fact that he was being linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. Since then, Kalou again never featured against Everton and came on and scored against Genk the other night in the Champions League.

Tonight's Champions League game went as expected. Chelsea were much too good for Genk and easily won 5-0.

What impressed me tonight was the swagger and style that Chelsea played with. Fernando Torres looked like the player that Chelsea paid £50million for. His movement and passing was terrific and for once he looked like he was on the same wavelength as his colleagues.

In light of all the recent speculation surrounding the futures of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa, AVB has come out and made HIS intentions clear, even if they do not sign new contracts before January, he has no intention of selling them this season and would rather let their contracts run out than lose them from his plans for the season.

Andre Villas Boas confirmed in his press conference yesterday that there are deals offered and on the table for four of our first team players who's contracts are due to expire at the end of this season.
Jose Bosingwa, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou have all had offers made to them by the club to extend their time here but I am just wondering who would sign an extended deal.

AVB today revealed that Chelsea have offered Salomon Kalou a new contract after all which is a big surprise in my book. I only posted the other day about Kalou being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool as they had been reportedly interested in signing him when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Reports have surfaced over the weekend that Liverpool and Arsenal are looking at making a move for Salomon Kalou in a cut price deal in the January transfer window. Kalou only has a year left on his contract and with talks of extending his deal put on hold it looks as though AVB has decided to cut his losses on Kalou and will allow him to leave.

I am interested to find out all of your opinions on our manager Andre Villas-Boas and the start he has made at Chelsea. We are two months into the season now and have played enough games to form an opinion of how we are playing, formation etc so I just would like to know as many of your opinions as possible.

It ends a draw in Spain. It shouldn't have. Not by a long-shot. More, after the jump:

"Fernando, meet the pitch. You'll be spending loads of time down here tonight..."

Well, that was about as bad as you can play over a 10 minute stretch now isn't it? After bossing the majority of the match, taking the lead behind a peach of a Frank Lampard strike from just outside the box, Villas Boas got it all wrong with his substitutions and ultimately cost us a win.

So tomorrow we are back to the Premier League and new boys Swansea travel to the Bridge with a couple of familiar faces returning in Brendan Rogers and Scotty Sinclair.
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back after a defeat at United last week that still after a really good second half performance, leaves me feeling optimistic that, if we can sort out our defending and regain our usual solidity at the back, we can attack and beat anyone!

OK apologies for the late blog post on the game the other night but due to PC problems I am doing it now. Alot has been said yesterday about the game so I won't bore you all with the same reports. I just want to give my opinion on the game.
First of all I thought it was a game that had everything but goals.

Rich may have some quality observations in the morning, but I just wanted to rip apart something I read about the match.

The lede in the Guardian's (awful) recap:

André Villas-Boas's selection may suggest the Carling Cup is of minor importance but after his 10-man team won this entertaining tie on the penalty shoot-out, courtesy of Bryan Ruiz's missed fifth kick that smacked the crossbar and bounced close to the goalline, he will be content.

The journey toward winning another one of these starts here.

Team news and the like from 2:30pm EDT.

Teams sheets:

Chelsea
Cech
Ferreira-Luiz-Alex-Bertrand
Romeu-McEachran
Lukaku-Kalou-Malouda
Sturridge
Substitutes: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Terry, Mikel, Lampard, Mata, Drogba.