James

While Didier Drogba's most iconic moment in a Chelsea shirt came as he dispatched the winning penalty in the 2012 European Champions League final, it is in the FA Cup where has made the most dramatic impact. Now back at an all-conquering Chelsea as they look to complete a domestic sweep of trophies, Drogba will be looking to appear in a fifth final and create even more history at Wembley's breathtaking national stadium. Whether he will have the opportunity to achieve this has yet to be seen, but the Ivorian striker clearly has an excellent chance given the Blues' early season form. Drogba and the FA Cup: A Marriage made in Heaven Drogba has already appeared in four FA cup finals for the Blues, winning every single one in 2007, 2009, 2010 and most recently 2012. He has also set an individual record by scoring in every single one of these finals, with three of his four goals securing victory for his side. His final goal in an FA Cup final was the decisive strike in the thrilling 2-1 victory over Liverpool in 2012, as Drogba brought his first spell at Chelsea to a close with a stunning cup and European Champions League double. Drogba's first final goal was also a genuine, FA Cup magic moment as his thunderous late finish after an exquisite one-two with Frank Lampard helped to deny league champions Manchester United their first league and cup double since 1999. Having also scored the only goal in the 2009 victory over Portsmouth and a crucial equaliser after Everton had taken a shock lead the following year, Drogba is firmly established as an FA Cup legend and the forward will be aiming to build on this reputation now that he has returned to England. This Season: Can Drogba Make More History in a Chelsea Shirt? While Chelsea will not enter the FA Cup until the third round in January, bookmakers are already offering odds that they will win the domestic double. This is down to their incredible form so far, as they are unbeaten in all competitions and a staggering seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after just twelve matches. Although Drogba has yet to play a significant role for the Blues this season, he is bound to get more game time as the season progresses and manager Jose Mourinho looks to rotate his large and lavishly gifted squad. This means that Drogba will surely get a chance to shine on the biggest stage, and recreate his former Wembley heroics once again. Click here to view the article

I'll have to look into it, I expect something needs to be changed in the skin after the upgrade.

Like the ideas mate ill look into this if enough people are behind it. I was thinking they could have a little blue lion in front of there name so they stand out, more pm space, even a @talkchelsea.net email address. Also would a monthly or yearly subscription be best?

I've thought about that before giving members extra forum features, its knowing what to offer... and if people would actually keep donating each month.

Recent reports have suggested that Arsenal have agreed 'in principle' to sign Petr Cech from Chelsea. Whether this is simply paper talk or if there is actually some truth in the rumours it's time for every Chelsea fan to question why. Allowing a goalkeeper of Cech's class to leave the club is a worthy concern alone, but to allow him to move to another Premier League team brings it to a whole new level. Let's go back to the start of the season. Cech was on the back of sharing the Premier League's Golden Glove with Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny after both goalkeepers had claimed sixteen clean sheets each in the 2013/14 season. He was also named as the goalkeeper in the PFA's Team of the Year. At thirty-two Cech is in his prime and he can still offer many years at the very top. Mourinho chose to recall Thibaut Courtois from his loan at Atletico Madrid. The young Belgian had been winning rave reviews for his performances in La Liga after helping Atletico to the league title, pushing aside Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in the process. Not only that, but in the Champions League too, Courtois was a major influence in helping Atletico reach the European final in 2013/14 and his team was just seconds away from the securing trophy before Sergio Ramos equalised in the ninety-third minute for city neighbours Real Madrid.The rest as they say is history. Like Cech, Thibaut's season was also a good one, probably even better. In Courtois' return to Stamford Bridge Mourinho had a decision to make. One of two of the world's best goalkeepers would have to sit on the bench. When favouring Courtois it was clear that Mourinho had his eye on the future, that was pretty obvious and to an extent made perfect sense. However, Cech, as previously mentioned is thirty-two, in his prime and arguably back to his very best pre-Stephen Hunt-gate... Was Cech undroppable? Could Mourinho have allowed Courtois to stay at Atletico a further season? Would that have benefited both clubs? Is allowing Cech to leave the club and potentially move to a Premier League rival a bad move? Opta powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com have taken a firm look at the stats and have answered these questions. A focus on Cech's 2013/14 Premier League game to game form against Courtois' first twelve Premier League games this season. The results suggest that Mourinho has made the wrong decision in dropping Cech and that allowing him to leave Stamford Bridge would be an even bigger mistake. On a per game basis Cech leads almost every important goalkeeping statistic. His clean sheet percentage is higher and is over a larger amount of games, he has conceded less goals per game and has made more saves per game as well as making more saves per goal. The Czech stopper also has better punches and clearances stats in his favour. In fact the only two things that Courtois does lead are catches made and less errors leading to goals made and considering the much lower games played the former isn't really worth its weight until he has completed thirty-four games. Arsene Wenger has never experienced victory over Mourinho but if Arsenal land Petr Cech it is Wenger that will feel like he's won a trophy. With Arsenal's poor start to the season Wenger's fourth place trophy will be a big ask for the club, however maybe he'll soon be dreaming up the 'Petr Cech trophy'... Click here to view the article

Wow mate I didn't expect a donation like that! Thank you so much.

Hi all, Your continued generosity has helped make TalkChelsea the magnificent place it is today, but we once again need your help to keep the site running. As you might know i invested heavily out of my own pocket to move us to an impressive new server over a year ago which runs emphatically on match-days - but if that is to continue then we need a little help from yourselves! Anything - no matter how small - is gratefully accepted Even £2 each month would go a long, long way towards us meeting the hosting fees throughout the year! It's ever so cheeky to have to ask you guys like this, but we have to be absolutely transparent and say that our funds are drying up, and we desperately need some help in keeping the site running as fantastically well as it has been for the last few months! Thanks for taking the time to read, and thanks in advance for any donations - no matter how big or small - you may make as a result. Donating is incredibly easy and all you need is a PayPal account, so please help us keep the site running! Yours very faithfully, Jim and the rest of the staff team.

I think i've fixed the problem.

I don't miss anything bro.

Im still looking to find how to fix it give me time.

Last season's PFA Young Player of the Year award winner is currently fighting it out with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez as the best performer in the Premier League this season. Hazard also currently sits as the seventh best player in European football. This is not a view from behind rose-tinted glasses but the findings of online fantasy football game www.oulala.com . With a sophisticated Opta sourced scoring matrix, the system takes into account every positive or negative action any player on the field may perform, from shots on or off target to blocks and tackles. The Belgian international is currently one of the top performing players in the Premier League as well as in Europe based on Opta performance statistics. New teammates Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas appear to be stealing the headlines with their goals and assists, which have also put both players firmly on the radar as two of Europe's best with Costa ranked as the ninth best striker in Europe and Fabregas as the fourth best midfielder in the Premier League. However on an overall performance level, taking all actions into account, Hazard is in a league of his own. Hazard's 104 successful head to head battles, 56 successful dribbles and drawing a total of 33 fouls emphasise just how well the winger is performing this season. He has completed the most dribbles of all the players in Europe's top five leagues and been fouled more times than any player in English football. The Belgians best performance so far this season came in the Blues 4-2 home win over Swansea after Hazard won 14 of the 18 head to head duels he faced, completed 9 successful dribbles and assisted 4 shots. In comparing Hazard's stats to fellow wingers Liverpool's Raheem Sterling and ex-Chelsea favourite Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich, widely considered one of the world's best, the results are quite remarkable. Hazard has completed more successful dribbles, missed fewer crosses and drawn more fouls than both players. The Belgian has also put a shift in defensively making more defensive clearances and blocking more shots and crosses than both Sterling and Robben displaying his far superior all round game. Chelsea sit top of the Premier League and four points clear of their nearest challengers Southampton. Hazard's contribution thus far should not be underestimated. If he can continue his fine form then it is very likely that a fifth league title will be heading to Stamford Bridge come May. Stats courtesy of www.oulala.com Click here to view the article

You got the godaddy page come up because they tried to take a payment from me for the renewal of the domain which got rejected.

no you wont even notice.

Also there's a small update taking place this evening.

Fixed this.

Chelsea's red hot start continued in Week 6 with a routine 3-0 victory over a deceptively dangerous Aston Villa side. The match was never in doubt, and represented a strong rebound for the club after a somewhat disappointing draw at Manchester City, when a late goal by Frank Lampard robbed the Blues of what would have been a major road victory. And perhaps most thrilling of all, EPL scoring leader Diego Costa got back in a rhythm with yet another goal (his eighth overall) against Villa. In the bigger picture, taking four points out of back-to-back matches away against Manchester City and home against frequent spoilers Aston Villa amounted to a very strong start to a difficult stretch in the schedule. And whereas a few short weeks ago it was easy to to say that Chelsea supporters ought not to get ahead of themselves, now it's becoming fair to ask: could the Blues run away from the pack in the 2013-14 Premier League? Writing on league betting outlook for Betfair's EPL news section, Luke Moore thinks that could be the case. In a post following Week 6 action, at which point Chelsea is atop the league standings with 16 points, just three ahead of Southampton but well clear of top rivals Man City, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Following the easy victory over Aston Villa, Moore writes that the Blues remain "hot favourites" for the title, with 1.65 odds to win the league - a pretty significant edge this early in the season. For reference, Man City is next best at just 3.65 odds to win the league. But is this edge in the betting outlook based purely on early season success, or is it justifiable looking forward? As mentioned, Chelsea's in the midst of a tough stretch in the schedule, but earning a point at the Etihad arguably takes care of the toughest match on the schedule for the entire season. But the club will need to stay sharp in the coming weeks to maintain its status as a runaway favourite. Next up on October 5 is a crucial Week 7 fixture with Arsenal that the Blues ought to be able to take advantage of. While few will doubt the Gunners' overall quality, the Arsene Wenger's club has been far from consistent as it looks to round into form and integrate newcomers. Chelsea ought to have the advantage this early in the year at Stamford Bridge, making this a great chance to widen the lead against a fellow contender early on. From that point on, Chelsea has a chance to put together a truly stellar 2014 in EPL play. A look at the EPL website shows the Arsenal match followed by away contests with Crystal Palace and Manchester United (who, thus far, are disappointing once more), a home fixture with utterly overmatched QPR, and then a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. Following the Liverpool match on November 8, there are no matches against current top-five clubs remaining in 2014. Add that all up, and it's a tremendous mix of winnable matches and opportunity for a Chelsea team that appears ready to make a statement every time it steps on the field. For whatever reason, Chelsea seems to have made quicker adjustments than other top clubs regarding incoming transfers, and that makes early matches against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal that much more appealing. It's certainly beginning to look like this year's team has a chance not just to establish itself as favourites, but to distance itself considerably from the rest of the pack early on. And if you're too cautious to take our word for it, take Jose Mourinho's! HITC Sport wrote that Mourinho not only agrees with the growing consensus that Chelsea are EPL favourites, but believes the Blues are the best team in the running for the 2014-15 Champions League as well. Click here to view the article

Jose Mourinho’s second coming may not have produced instant success that everyone connected with Chelsea was hoping for, but bringing back ‘The Special One’ could reap considerable dividends. Coming so close to winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short of Champions League glory at the semi-final stage still represents a step in the right direction, but Mourinho was openly adamant that foundations were being built to be much stronger in his second season. Moulding a squad to suit his style of play and meet the quality that a club of Chelsea’s considerable calibre demands was the challenge put forward to a manager who worked closely with Roman Abramovich to target top quality signings. A summer packed with incomings and outgoings have put Chelsea in a wonderful position to mount a serious challenge on every domestic and European front to enjoy the success that fans and Abramovich expects. Summer transfers A major factor behind Chelsea’s potential development was how Mourinho would utilise the summer transfer window to put the club in a much stronger position to challenge for major honours. Although it was always likely that the club could flex its considerable financial muscle in bringing in big name players, there was a case for negotiation to let players who Mourinho wanted to move on leave Chelsea for pastures new. Selling David Luiz and Romelu Lukaku for a combined total of £78 million should be considered a masterstroke, despite an underlying feeling that letting a highly-talented forward leave may come back to haunt Mourinho. The arrival of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa not only represent wonderful deals for Chelsea, but also resulted in the club moving ahead of Manchester City as the bookies’ favourites to win the 2014/2015 Barclays Premier League. Atletico Madrid left-back Felipe and Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy have also arrived through the doors at Stamford Bridge, while Didier Drogba has made an emotional return to the club; the Ivorian remains a firm fans’ favourite, with the striker providing an invaluable option upfront with his considerable strength and power. It would be stupid not to back them with the wealth of quality at Mourinho’s disposal, with the squad stronger than ever in every department. Statement of intent Enjoying a strong start to the season was essential for the Blues to make a real statement of intent and lay down a marker for their closest Premier League rivals to match. Three consecutive victories represent a wonderful start for Chelsea who swept aside Burnley, Leicester and Everton to record maximum points. Although Leicester gave Chelsea a real scare at Stamford Bridge before Diego Costa and Eden Hazard sealed a 2-0 victory, Mourinho’s men have been in ominous form from the get-go. The supreme quality of play in all departments has been a joy to behold, with Fabregas and Diego Costa instantly repaying their transfer fees with superb performances. They have both made an immediate difference in areas where Chelsea arguably fell short last season; Fabregas has the vision and range of passing to dissect defences and create chances at will, while Costa brings considerable physicality, strength and deadly eye for goal which should make amends for Chelsea’s lack of goals from the forward line. There is no question that Chelsea are well equipped to be a dominant force in the Premier League, but also have enough in the tank to be a major threat in the domestic cup competitions and Champions League. Click here to view the article

What are these for?

It's most probably a link to another website in that topic causing this.

My wins this week

RIP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jBO348MgQc

Post it here http://forum.talkchelsea.net/forum/9-articles/ it will get checked then approved.

This weekend we welcome Leicester City to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League for the first time in nearly 10 years. Ahead of the game we caught up with Ivar Tisthammer from filbertway.com to ask him some questions. 1. When you did start supporting Leicester City and why them? In 1972 after watching them on telly v. West Ham. I war originally following Liverpool, as most kid were back then, or Leeds, but fancied Leicester more and more with entertaining football and some great players in Worthington and Weller especially. 2. What are your thoughts on Nigel Pearson and the work he has done since taking over in 2011? Nigel is back at Leicester in his 2nd period, and I am delighted to see him back. He is a good manager for Leicester City, and the right man for the club at the moment. I wish him all the best and hopefully he can be spot on with his new men coming in as he has in the past, great transfer deals done so far. He has taken City up two divisions, and guided them to two play-off's and hopefully he will secure City in the PL this season. He is 51 years of age and has climbed the ladder both as a player and a manager, doing it in a proper way, and he must now the English game inside out. He also surprises a bit, sitting in the stands, something I don't favour, and also signing a number of odd players, one is Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but they are out there doing the job for him, so no worries. 3. Who is your best player and why? I believe Danny Drinkwater Is our best player, followed by Kasper Schmeichel and Liam Moore. All three of them doing great for City. Moore is so fantastic, coming from Leicestershire and hopefully he will go to win more caps not only for the England U.21 team. I just hope that we will keep him for another two or three seasons before clubs higher in the league comes looking for him. Man Utd have allready been linked with him. 4. What did you make of your first game back in the Premier League last weekend against Everton? It was just great to be back, playing maybe one of the better teams and getting a result. The fact that new forward Leo Ulloa also scored a goal and that the team managed to come back twice v. Everton were the great positives. The negatives was there to see, and they can be fatal if something isn't done, hopefully against Chelsea a few of the errors will be fixed. City have a full back problem on both sides against the best teams, and it could have turned out badly, but we were lucky. Another fact is that Drinkwater had to leave the field and we are not playing our best 11 against Chelsea. 5. What are your expectations for this season? Hopefully to continue playing the football we did last season and not try to change too much, then I feel that everything will be ok in the chase for survival. Hoping to be around 12th when the season ends. A number of promoted sides have managed that in the past and hopefully City can do so this season. 6. Which player would be key for you in this game to get a result? Kasper Schmeichel. He can save us and be the reason also for City staying up this season. At his best, we would not change him with anyone, and the way he performed for Denmark v. England a few months back shows everyone what Schmeichel Jr can do. 7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Leicester? The strength, of course the goalkeeper and keeping up the tradition of having some great names in the past, Banks and Shilton used to play for Leicester, so did also Tim Flower and Ian Walker, all of them previous England internationals. 8. What is your best memory of Leicester's clash with Chelsea and why? That must the 2-0 win in 2000, when Stan Collymore and Muzzy Izzet scored the goals. A few weeks later City were top of the Premier League table, what a great start to a season. 9. Chelsea have had difficulties breaking down lesser sides who 'park the bus' last season. Do you think Nigel Pearson will set Leicester up to play that away against us or will he try to take the game to us? If he will park the bus, I don't know, but to believe to go to Stamford Bridge and start entertaining, will be foolish. He surprised everyone playing 4-4-2 In the game v. Everton, after playing 4-5-1 in most pre-season games, so I am not shure what he will be up to against Chelsea. We have no tradition of parking the bus, so I believe he will try to push forward, and as we could see against Burnley, you just did the business, and cooled it off In the 2nd half, don't know why. If it was fatigue or if Burnley have something about them. NP knows that a number of smaller clubs have in the past made ok results v. Chelsea, so he probably have studied some of those games to find a formula of play. 10. What would be expected lineup from Nigel Pearson on Saturday? My guess would be to go out in a 4-5-1 formation, and drop Ulloa from the starting line-up, but I am not shure. But my prediction is, Schmeichel – De Laet, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan – Hammond, King, Knockeart, Albrighton, Mahrez – Nugent. If Albrighton isn't fit he will probably play Vardy who is also back in contention after injury. If he goes with 4-4-2, Ulloa will play alongside Nugent and Mahrez or Knockeart will go to the bench. 11. What is your prediction for this game? I believe that your prediction of a 3-0 win for Chelsea is one that could happen, but the only thing I would be willing to hope for in my wildest dream is a 0-0 draw or a shocking 1-0 opener from us and that you come back in we manage a 1-1 draw. Click here to view the article