Ollie

i know it sounds wrong, but having Drogba, Essien, Lampard and Terry unavailable hasn't been as bad as first feared. Replacing Drogba = Sheva played well a few weeks back, we still created chances and he scored a few. Now we have Anelka who at the top end of the pitch, is just as lethal, if not, more so. Just Drogba's all round game is superior. Replacing Essien = SWP has been great lately, Malouda is back, we have many many options in the midfield area, the 4-3-3 is a perfect solution when there's no Essien. Makelele himself was absolutely brilliant on Saturday in essiens spot, he's still got it. Replacing Lampard = Ballack. He looks a different player without Lampard, he's taken every match by the scruff of the neck and he's dominated and controlled them. He's been fautless since coming back from injury. Replacing Terry = Well carvalho coming back was a huge boost, but the form of Alex has been outstanding. He's taken his chance and not put a foot wrong and hes getting better all the time. Again.....Magnificent on Saturday. Our problem's arent what they seem. Maybe these unavailable players are a blessing in disguise, all our players have played well with each other in big games and came through with flying colours. When we get injuries in the future, there's nothing to worry about.

well you know Lampard will walk back into the team because of who he is, Essien will probably walk back into the team too, Ballack must surely stay in there because he's controlled every game since lamps' injury and he's been fantastic. There's so many decisions to be made, even up front when drogs gets back, Anelka and Drogs or just one? If both, then we can only pick one player out of all the rest of our midfielders to play. headache for avram

well the deal was finalised yesterday, that was january so maybe thats all that matters. He'll probs stay there anyway.

nah, this could definitely be a game we slip up on, this will no way be easy. We don't tend to play well there and they are not a bad team atm. Yes, a win is imperative but i can see this being a very frustrating draw, either 0-0 or 1-1. On paper, yeah we should win, but it's not always as easy as that.

I like it, buts its only a mock up. It will be different. Nice tho.

Regardless of where he goes next, he'll be back in England one day to manage Liverpool or Man Utd. Obviously that's not gonna make me happy and its not what i want to happen, but its something that i feel will happen. If Roman is still with us, he'll wanna show Roman what he can do with the full backing of the board of an English team, without anyone else interfering and making decisions. Saying that tho......he wants to manage Portugal and then retire so lets hope he takes the milan job, then portugal, then decides not to fuck us up with someone else because he's capable.

kevin nolan, awesome goal.

yeah, English teams were banned from European Competition for a period of time because of the Haysel thing. That was in 1985 and Everton won the league in 1985 so they werent allowed to participate in the european cup the following season. English teams can't breathe in Europe, everyone else can do what they want and no one gives a shit.

Everton almost got through in 05/06 but got a very hard draw in the last qualifying round vs villarreal, villarreal made it to the semi final that year where arse knocked em out (just, i still think about that riquelme penalty, thats how much i hate arsenal). Everton have done very well in europe this year so at least they would have experience for next season if they made it. Man City were in the Uefa Cup like 3 or 4 years ago i seem to remember, didn't they get knocked out by some 2 bob Belgian Team lol. They probably have a point to prove. Even if they don't get in the UCL, will be good to see Villa, Everton and City in the Uefa cup, They are big names, even in europe, Villa won the European cup in 1982 themselves. Everton also done well in the 80's. The way Liverpool are playing atm, they might not even make Europe lol. Did they accept the Intertoto Cup invitation?

Liverpool can celebrate 20 years without being named kings of england, thats confirmed now by January 13th which really makes me piss myself laughing tbh after they were supposedly gonna make a serious bid this season. OOOPS!! Arsenal drawing at home to Birmingham is a quite unbelievable result. They aint looking that good atm, even the commentators and pundits are saying it that they are not looking as good as they were at the start. I can see the Arse dropping more points in the next month. We need to get on that. Man Utd are probs the favourites after the most atroscious 2nd half performance ever from newcastle. Their new manager is in shit street whoever he may be. Chelsea, well.......we're going about our business, winning games, playing well, showing a great attitude and 100% commitment for the cause. We have perfect cover for all possitions and if we can be there or there abouts by the time our injured players and africans are back, we have a bloody good chance of winning this title. The next month is HUGE! I have full confidence that we can push for this premiership. Come on the Boys. Down the Bottom......well, any two can go with derby. Its so tight down there its incredible. If someone in the bottom 6-8 wins 2 games in a short amount of time, it'll do wonders, its that close.

When we played Suwon Bluewings, they had Samsung LCD TV on their shirt so you can get anything as long as its part of the brand. Maybe they've decided to just keep it as samsung because its easier and tbh it does make more sence. From 94-96 man utd had Sharp on their red kit and Sharp Viewcam on their black shirt. As Matt said, Real madrid did the same thing. I also made the comment about our 97 coors shirt, that was also my first ever shirt and it does look very similar, even the yellow on the collar. only difference the collar being blue on that occasion and we had no stripes.

I like it, it's not bad at all. Now the question remains if it is indeed the real finished design. I'll be surprised, its too early. There's no way in hell pics will be released already.

nah it won't be, he's replacing drogba in the long run i feel.

the beer sponsors are only banned in certain european countries like france for example i thought. Everyone has to have their beer sponsors taken off the shirt when they travel to france like liverpool in toulouse and marseille and rangers in lyon.

lol Drogba is in africa, when was this sposed to have been said Anyway, Drogba can say what he wants, there's many stars at Chelsea. Anelka will push Drogba on and Drogba will push Anelka on. They can even play together. I'm sure they'll get on well and it can only be a good thing. Its just a bit of friendly banter.

Liverpool will give Rafa one or two more years after this and then i reckon Jose might take liverpool once hes allowed to take an english team again. I think he would probs manage somewhere in spain or italy first tho. If he takes a top 4 English team, i'll not be a happy bunny. You can't see him taking a shit team tho and he wants to manage in england again as JT has said on Goals on Sunday. Sorry guys but.......it's gonna happen, just not yet. Brace yourselves for Jose managing Liverpool or Man Utd one day.

well ok, i agree with you Tri-Blue, but he certainly doesnt try to win only the ball. He certainly has an eye on the player tho i think. Yes it's good to get the ball and the player, but he's gotta get the poxy ball first. JT is the best at it, he takes the ball and puts the player in row K. He doesn't go in high or reckless. If anyone can teach him, its the captain himself. Essien goes in the same way as Obi, just ask Ben Haim lol. I wonder how many africans get sent off in the african nations cup, if they all tackle like that, there will be a good few. I must admit, ive seen lots of african players tackle like that, not just our boys.

if or when Drogba goes, we'll have room for another striker, a striker that won't mind being on the bench from time to time (maybe the whole season with their mate sidwell ). Kitson, or Doyle would be good squad players. You can't have 3 or 4 world class strikers, its impossible to keep them happy. We are ruining sidwells career tho so maybe they wouldnt wanna come but i still reckon they would come for the experience.

you would still expect liverpool to get it, even tho they look really average atm. The other teams are more liable to go on a losing streak and a dodgy run. Liverpool to just edge it for me but they're making heavy work of it.

well the votes are pretty much as expected, if you had to pick maybe the top 3-5 for each spot, my name might of got in somewhere, but its obviously the best this and best that so i knew i'd obviously not get nothing and some ppl just vote for who they like and get on with the most. This is his welcome thread, read his posts too lol and you'll see what i mean. http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php...amp;#entry10579

well its a big tournament, the equivalent to our European Championships or south America's Copa America.

Well there's the 2 footed off the floor lunge, thats a straight red. There's the 2 Footed studs up but not in the air tackle, is that a yellow or a red? There's also the normal studs up challenge with only 1 leg like mikel vs everton. What's a red and whats a yellow? its all confusing to me. Must be confusing to the refs too it seems.

sounds awesome, both Chelsea players scoring. 30 goals for DD in 47 games, jesus thats immense. i hope all the Chelsea boys play well, thats one of the main reasons i'll watch a lot of games. Hope Ivory Coast win it, they were unlucky last time. The 2 Chelsea guys up front will be key for them.

i don't think its in the dictionary yet. Would go something like this: "Uhh (See errrr and hmmm): Expression used when you don't know what to say or how to say it. Used often when in an interview or being questioned generally" SPIT IT OUT AVRAM!!

well hes a awful tackler then if he actually tries to win the ball