Madmax

In 06/07 he played 62 games, the highest ever by any Chelsea player in a single season. Before that, he went on a run of 164 consecutive Premier League appearances that ended with him missing a game due to a virus in December 2005. One word for SFL : Indispensable.

Zhirkov has been poor when he's got his chances so far, as has Sturridge even though he got a goal against Zilina. I'm worried we'll face the same problems we faced against Man city if we start with Mikel-Essien-Ramires. So I'd love starts for McEachran and Kakuta. But considering this is the CL, I think Carlo will stick with the City lineup with Zhirkov in Ramires' place being the only change. Cech Ivan, Alex, JT, Ash Mikel Essien, Zhirkov Sturridge, Anelka, Malouda

We missed Lamps. An all too similar midfield trio of Mikel, Ess and R7 gave us nothing going forward. Also, both overwhelmingly defensive midfields cancelled each other out. We got no width going forwards either. Ash didn't bomb down the left as we've become used to see him doing. Ivan didn't either. And Drogba was so isolated upfront it seemed we were playing 10 against 12. We were crying out for a Lampard or a Benayoun in midfield just to make a run at the box, spray the ball to the flanks, beat a player or two ... in other words, do something other than getting a foot in and hoping for the best, but injuries did us in the end.

I've forgotten my password haha!

Glenn Hoddle on Chelsea's Premier league and Champions League chances : "Chelsea are playing with such freedom these days. You look at them and you look at the depth of their squad and you think that they right now are the strongest team there," he told the Daily Express. "Ancelotti has got them playing. Technically he has a squad of great players - I believe the strongest squad in the league right now. And he has good players to come off the bench. "They are scoring goals for fun - but the goals are coming from all areas of the team - not just Drogba or Anelka or Lampard, but also from players like Malouda. They have quality wherever you look. In my view whoever wins the league will have to finish above Chelsea." He added: "This is going to be a tough patch for them, with games against Man City, Arsenal, Villa and Liverpool, but I think they have the strength in depth to cope with it. And they have the experience. It wasn't an easy run winning the title last year, they had some moments, but they came through it. "I don't have a worry for Chelsea in the league. I think they will win it. Where I have a worry about them is in the Champions League. Chelsea have gone so close now, and have been going for it for so many years, that I worry if they want it too much. Maybe that desire in them to win the Champions League is burning just a bit too much. "It comes from the top from Roman Abramovich I think, because that is the trophy he really wants, but it is not just him. It is in the players themselves. They want that trophy above any other - and maybe that is a danger. Maybe that just makes you a little bit too desperate, maybe it clouds your vision a bit. "Also, a lot of these players are getting to the stage now where maybe this is their last shot at it, and they know that. "You are better off going into a competition knowing you are better than anyone else and knowing you can win it, like they do with the league, having confidence. But they have had a few setbacks in Europe, a few bits of bad luck, never quite made it - so there is not quite the same level of confidence, and maybe a bit of desperation - and I'm not sure that is as healthy. "It is odd that, in Carlo Ancelotti, who has won it twice and knows all about the competition, they have a manager who should be able to calm that down, steady them, and instil the confidence in him. He is a calming influence, a steadying hand. But it still worries me that it is in the players, inside them."

You've got a long way to go catch me ... 55 hours.

BomTrett beat you to it http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/8023-buck-off-letter-to-the-guardian/

It's an interesting one isn't it? We need a new, capable backup, that's for sure. But we're going to find it very difficult to find one. We already have Delac, Walker and Taylor waiting in the wings. If we bring in a young GK, it is going to interfere with the progress of these guys. Which means ideally we would want someone who's a good 8-10 years older than the likes of Delac and Taylor. But at he same time he's got to be good enough to keep Cech on his toes yet remain content in the knowledge that he is going to play second fiddle to one of the top 5 GKs in the world. It's going to be really difficult to find someone who fits this profile. If only we had held on to Cudicini ...

Very proud of our boys today. So unlucky with the injuries, but what great resilience to come back from 1-3 to 3-3. Also hit the post twice. Only one I'm disappointed with today is Sturridge. But he's young and so are Bruma and PvA and they'll only become better after games like these. Great effort lads, chin up! P.S. Josh McEachran - a star has been born

HT. A whole half to turn it around. KTF , C'mon you Chels!!!

1-1 at SB

I've got a very laggy stream ... am missing everything!

Surprised about Anelka. Thought Carlo would have wanted him fresh for City. Otherwise strong line-up, hopefully McEachran will come on at some point. missed his debut vs Zilina and am dying to see him play.C'mon you Chels!

I don't see why we should be happy with this 'back-handed compliment' as they put it. If United or Arsenal would have been champions, there would be raving articles about how great they are, their manager is blah blah. We don't get the credit we deserve, and that doesn't change no matter how many trophies we win.

Mirror says McEachran will start

I don't know what the fuss is about, tbh. For a 42000 seater like us, a crowd of 41000 is a sell out. Our occupation percentage (don't know if it's the correct term) last season was higher than 'pool. So that means they're a small club as well? Also, if the away club don't sell out their allocated seats, it contributes to a lower avg attendance as well since total attendance is comprised of home and away fans. The headline takes the cake though. To say we've spent whatever millions to bring only 1600 more fans to the club is so juvenile that it's unbelievable. That's what happens when you hand figures to idiots like that journo though. They somehow twist the numbers to come up with a catchy line that creates controversy and sells papers.

Wonderful video - some real classics here. A real plus is that it's got the original commentary instead of the crappy music that usually accompanies such videos.

Drogba strikes me as being the joker of the pack.

Aye good lad Carlo!

Welcome

Got to give Ross some minutes. I'd take any side that's got the young ones in it along with Yuri and Sturridge. No Kalou please.

Only if Scolari hadn't arrived when he did, we would have won the league that year by a mile. He took the club backwards a year or two. The players looked listless and lethargic, there was no spirit to our play bar one or two occasions. Probably the worst 3-4 months we've had since Roman arrived. It was a huge credit to Guus though who really turned our season on it's head. The damage to the league campaign had been done by the time he took over, but he still took us to the UCL semis and but for that thug Overbo we should have been in the final. The FA Cup win was a great way to see Guus off.

It just gets better and better. Seems everyone is on a concerted mission to label us a 'small club' with 'no history'. Full Article

Who?

myp2p.net does have the game listed but on occasions the links do tend to go dead just before kickoff.