EskWeston

Not sure how many rounds there are...I can't for the life of me understand why they played Mellis at right back, i know Nana was suspended but why not play Cummings who is still old enough to play? And to play Tejera as a striker? What a waste of his ability, and it's not as if we don't have any strikers - Nielson, Borini, Phillip ect....Some odd team choices there. I am sure the weather didn't help but you would have hoped for a more convincing win against Stevenage, looking like Newcastle in the next round which we will have to be up for...

It is pretty clear he isn't going to be able to cut it at our level. He will go if we can sign another midfielder to replace him in the squad and any return on him is a profit which will be nice too.

Not overly fussed about Berbatov at the moment... He hasn't been too great lately and looks a right moody git..

Lets be honest, a draw away at the Emirates would be a f**king good result for us, and i think that is certainly possible. One thing is for sure and that is Arsenal won't walk all over us. It will be a tough game that as always could swing either way. But we have done well against Wengers teams in recent years and in most games have had the upper end even if we didn't win (like both games last season).If we win it will be amazing, but i would be very happy with a draw.

Was always going to happen wasn't it. Considering the run of results we have had he was going to be given the contract at some stage. I certainly hope the results keep going in exactly the same way they are and we pick up a cup or 2 at the end of the season, which i never thought would be realistic after Jose left no matter who was put in charge....

A single goal by substitute Adam Phillip (pictured) just before half-time was sufficient for Chelsea to clear the first hurdle in this season's FA Youth Cup campaign. On a freezing night and on an increasingly icy pitch, the game became a contest between not just the two teams but the elements as well. A kick-off delayed by 25 minutes did not help the scenario but when the match did commence, Chelsea had a shot cleared off the line as early as the third minute. A perfectly executed corner routine between Kakuta and Stoch set up Bruma. Stevenage Borough's Matthew Pring was the defender in the right place to block a low 20-yard rocket. A Van Aanholt header over and a speculative Stoch shot that dipped and swerved but ultimately flew wide were Chelsea's two best efforts of the next 20 minutes. In midfield, Stevenage, understandably committed, put in a couple of meaty fouls. Coach Paul Clement had chosen a side with no recognised centre-forward, the number nine shirt handed to Sergio Tejera, usually a classic 'number 10'. The Spaniard dropped deep on several occasions, rotating positions with attacking midfielder Gaël Kakuta. Jacob Mellis, usually a midfielder, was a new face at right-back in the absence of suspended skipper Nana Ofori-Twumasi. On 22 minutes, Frank Nouble crossed from the left but Tejera slid his shot wide. Stoch forced a save at the near-post after Chelsea had shown what could be achieved when the ball was moved quickly through the middle but soon after came a set-back. Kakuta was forced off with an injury, replaced by Adam Phillip. The tall Nouble moved from wide to the middle to give the side a more traditional 4-3-3 look. Stoch was only inches away from netting a special goal with an outswinging shot with nine minutes to go to the break. On 39 minutes, the Stevenage keeper lost concentration and picked up a back pass right on the edge of the six-yard box but to the side wide on the left. Stoch was unable to do any more than smash the free-kick into the side-netting. It was all pointing towards a half-time break without the reassurance of a lead but that all changed on 44 minutes with a moment of inspiration from substitute Phillip. Running into the area, he found the way open and after nipping past the last challenge, finished low from 15 yards for a very good goal.Five minutes into the second half, Chelsea suffered a second injury and this time the contribution of the pitch could be questioned. Lee Sawyer slid in, missed a tackle and landed hard on his shoulder, suffering a dislocation. At the other end, Scott Balderson shot a yard over from distance for Stevenage's best attempt to date. The same player then forced a save from Rhys Taylor on 56 minutes. At the other end, Phillip's cross shot was hacked clear of the goalmouth and Chelsea left-back Ben Gordon had the ball in the net on 75 minutes but the flag was up. By now, the surface in that penalty area was causing concern, not least to the Stevenage keeper who slipped up on more than one occasion. The ref examined it, consulted with his linesman but the game was allowed to run it's course. The cushion of a second goal was proving elusive. With 12 minutes to go, Stoch wound up and let fly with a 35-yarder that smacked against the far-post and bounced safe. With a minute to go, Stevenage came frighteningly close to taking the match into extra-time when a ricochet fell between their Zak Burke and our Rhys Taylor. The Welsh keeper was brave and fast and just won the race. He made one more save before the final whistle. 'One of the penalty areas was difficult for both sides,' reported Clement after the game.'We didn't perform that well, a bit better in the first-half. It can be difficult coming to places like this where they try to get into you and upset you. That is good experience because we don't get that a lot in the league.'This is a new line-up for this competition and we are going have to be more cohesive if we are to progress further.'Chelsea will now play the winners of next Monday's tie between Newcastle and Shrewsbury. The venue will be Griffin Park and the game will be played before 20 January. Chelsea (4-3-3): Rhys Taylor; Jacob Mellis, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt, Ben Gordon; Michael Woods ©, Gaël Kakuta (Adam Phillip 37), Lee Sawyer (Tom Taiwo 51); Frank Nouble (Nikki Ahamed 80), Sergio Tejera, Miroslav Stoch. Stevenage Christopher Adams, Ashley Grinham, Matthew Pring, Joe Finn, Gary Caslake, Liam McDevitt, Zak Burke, Danny Payne (George Brinkham 75), Sam Kenningham (Geoff Banks-Smith 63), Scott Balderson, Kerran Birch (Nathan Bustill 62).Source: Chelsea FC

Yes he did become a top class player and was scoring good and vital goals. But what you never saw him do is what you are seeing him do now, he has moved on even more. He has taken his skills and tricks that dominated his play at West Ham and combined that with the maturity and work ethic that he has gained at Chelsea.

And why not? It's a roumer in the roumer mill. What makes them any less reputable than say the Sun or Sky Sports?

If we are talking playmakers then Lamps and Ballack won't do, because neither of them are. The only one we have is Joe Cole who doesn't get played there. Kaka unless he is desperate to leave AC we will never get....

Chelsea face competition for Swedish whizkid Albin Ekdal. The 18 year-old has had trials at Chelsea and remains a target for Blues football chief Frank Arnesen. However, La Stampa says the Brommapojkarna midfielder has informed both Chelsea and Inter Milan he doesn't want to leave Sweden until he has finished his schooling.Source: Tribal Football

What "spin" are you talking about? Part of the discussion we have been having involved the fact that he gets no credit from anywhere for how good he is.Yes having Joe fit again is a big part of it, but i don't think anyone could deny that he is a lot different to what he was when he was at his peak under Jose. The freedom for expression he is getting now is fantastic and because he worked hard under Jose to get the mature streak into him he is now becomming the complete flair player.

He has actually done really well since joining us, and he has settled down into the team nicely. He has had more playing time than even he thought he would get thanks to injuries to both JT and Riccy. He has been solid and the fact we have kept so many clean sheets is a positive for him.Will be tough for him when Riccy comes back but he will still get games because it is no risk at all to play him. Probably the best backup centre back you could ask to have.

Not Chelsea related really, moved to the General football section....

No point trying to force anything. Just go and have a good time and see what happens. Best advice to give is to just be relaxed and be yourself, if someone don't like they way you are then it is not worth bothering, because you can't be false forever...

Joe Cole was a different class when he came on, hit the post too. Without doubt our most outstanding player on the night and he didn't play the whole game either

Four months after his first Chelsea appearance, Alex has given his first major interview and confirmed that he is settling in rather well to life in SW6, discussing his English, team-mates and those spectacular goals. The Brazilian defender arrived at the Bridge from PSV Eindhoven in the summer, and quickly set about immersing himself into British culture. He was even spotted boarding a red London bus outside the ground the day he arrived in London, and while he admits he has had his difficulties with language, the settling in period is now well and truly over. He began his career with legendary Brazilian club Santos, where he won the national championship, his first medal, before moving to Holland in 2004. 'When I first arrived in Holland it was really difficult, the cold and the language particularly, but I am fine here, perfectly adapted. I had spent all my life in Brazil and it was a real shock,' he admitted. After three years at PSV, in which he had seen his stock rise and rise, Alex made the move across the North Sea to ply his trade with the Blues, something he is very proud to have done. There can be few more demanding tasks than making your debut at Anfield, but this was the prospect facing the defender following Ricardo Carvalho's injury at Reading in August. Since that point, Alex has been a regular in the side, a reluctant beneficiary of the injuries suffered by both Carvalho and John Terry. Both have been tremendous influences on him since he arrived. 'Both of them have been very helpful. They talk all the time and obviously Belletti helps too,' Alex said. 'We talk before games about which striker is faster or who does what manoeuvre, and it's all very helpful.' While many in a new country would have struggled to bed in, Alex was fortunate to count on several other Portuguese speakers within the squad - Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Hilario were all there upon his arrival, while Belletti became the second Brazilian at the club weeks later. There was also of course José Mourinho and his coaching staff, who Alex also compliments for helping him settle. 'The whole group is really useful Belletti and the other Portuguese speakers are very helpful. If there is a problem in training or whatever they always jump in, it's a really good group,' said the defender, who had been nicknamed The Tank at his previous club. 'It's because I was strong and big and tough, because of the way I played,' he recalled. 'I don't have one here yet, but I think they are trying to think of one for me.' Things have been going well lately for the Blues, with the side unbeaten in 15 games, and recovering from a shaky patch. Alex has played in a dozen of those, and has been a major reason why so few goals have been conceded. Since Mourinho's exit in mid September, Avram Grant has suffered just one defeat, in his first game away at Manchester United, and Alex, who was not used that day, believes we are now back on track after a difficult period. 'Yes it was very difficult,' he sighed. 'There was great confusion for everybody. We were all very used to Mourinho, and he was a great man who helped me a great deal. 'Obviously he spoke Portuguese and helped me to adapt my game, but Avram Grant is also very helpful and ready to talk, it's just different. 'There was a great deal of confusion and it did make a difference. We lost points, particularly at home with some draws, but gradually we are creeping up and keeping in touch with the leaders which is the most important thing.' After key victories at home to West Ham and Sunderland, we are now just three points behind leaders Arsenal as we prepare to travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. While acknowledging the problems we faced, Alex insists there is yet more to come from Chelsea. 'We are all looking to improve every day in training and games, and especially at home, because losing points is not good enough. 'Of course we have problems with injuries, but everybody who is fit is always looking to improve,' he maintained. With Terry now operating at full fitness, and Carvalho's return imminently anticipated, Alex knows he will have to be on top of his game if he is to keep his place in a side that is beginning to move through the gears. Such is his quick adaptation to English football, it is easy to forget he is still a novice on these shores, and the player himself puts that down to the similarities in English and Dutch football. 'It's much the same as Holland, the formations, tactics and the way we play,' he considered. 'The difference here is the quality is higher, and it is more intense. The standard of play, the speed, it is all much greater.' One thing Alex does have in his armoury that his colleagues do not, this season at least is a tendency to find the net. The defender met up with his former coach at PSV Ronald Koeman this week, with the Dutchman now in charge at Valencia, and noted the similarities he shares with the former Holland man. 'I saw videos of him and like me he scored lots of free kicks and spectacular goals,' he smiled. 'He was a really good guy, and a very intelligent, tactically aware person.' Having already found the net with a blistering strike at Middlesbrough, Alex doubled his Blues tally with a somewhat tamer effort at Rosenborg a fortnight ago, and he now believes the pressure is on to keep producing these moments. 'I have to keep doing it! I like to come in and help the attack so have to keep doing that,' he said. 'I don't practice too much because it's dangerous, you can do yourself an injury, but luckily I have been able to do it in a couple of games.' When asked if he ever scores typical centre half's goals, those brave efforts inside the six-yard box that can go in via a bullet header, a knee or a nose, the Brazilian laughed, and explained: 'It's a bit difficult, I dream about it, but that's a speciality for JT rather than me!'Source: Chelsea FC

F**king shocking, we are the ONLY team that gets done for this. But we are by no means the only team that does it! It's a joke and blatant victimisation.

Ha, yeah Drogba will walk this one no problem...

Joe Coles tricks and flicks are what makes him special, pretty much everything he does comes off for him at the moment, obviously not everything will but neither will Ronaldinho's, Messi's, Ronaldo's ect... i think we would be mad to try and get him to curb his tricks.

You have to say that the team for us to avaoid from that lot is Lyon, other than that we should be able to cope. Having the second leg at home is obviously a huge advantage...

I think Sheva could play as a lone striker but we would have to chance the way we play, it will mean trying to get more balls in behind the defence rather than infront of it the way we do with Drogba, it can work and it will have to really because i am not too sure we can rely on Pizarro that heavily.

You had to say it didn't you!!! Now you will have jinxed it and he will get a serious injury in the next game

It's like having a new player. And from what we have seen so far this season it is like picking up one of the most skillful players around, and not just that one of the most dangerous to other teams, he is carving them open at the moment.

Summed up perfectly. Although it's not that he is English, it's that he is Chelsea. If he was at Man you, Arse or Pool he would be hailed as world class. The fact is he is World Class and really showing it at the moment.

You do worry sometimes with our club, you see these players who look real class and we get linked with them. They end up going to one of our rivals and doing really well, and you think - well the club must have someone better lined up - but they never do