BlueLion.

Adebayor to save our season.

We're going out regardless of who we get.

I was jokingly going to say I'd rather have Glen Murray than Costa before the start of yesterday's game. Ooops.

I can't find the post where I said I'd give him until the New Year to sort it out... but at this rate we'll be in the Europa League by Thursday morning, out of the FA Cup in round three, and in a relegation dogfight. He's done nothing to change the set-up. We've had a few wins against piss-poor opposition down to strokes of good fortune or brilliance, but tactically, we're the same predictable team we've been for two years. You can overlook poor football when we're overpowering teams and winning games, but you can't when you're failing to create clear-cut chances. How many clear cut chances have we had in the last few games? None. Unacceptable. I know there's no-one more qualified we can bring in, but he's too stubborn to change it, and while mongs like Fabregas and Oscar get free rides, we're not going to win another game between now and the end of the month.

We're still in the title race

If we don't beat these and beat them comfortably, then I'll be properly worried.

Guest article by domfell History will be made one way or another on Saturday when AFC Bournemouth roll into Stamford Bridge. The meeting will be the first between the two clubs in the top tier, and only the fifth time they have ever locked horns. Those previous contests came in Division Two and League Cup competition, with the Cherries emerging victorious in the first, but coming unstuck in the next three – failing to score a goal in the process. Some 21 years have passed since the last of those matches was staged, and it is fair to say that a lot has changed in that time for both clubs. This weekend, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will send a star-studded team into action, one brimming with world-class talent, international pedigree and one still operating under the banner of reigning Premier League champions. Things have not always been this good, though, and back in 1994/95, the Blues were plodding their way towards mid-table mediocrity and early exits from domestic knockout competition. They were, however, to claim the scalp of Bournemouth along the way, and the side that lined up in west London the last time the Cherries paid a visit stands in stark contrast to the expensively assembled ranks of today.How many of those handed a starting berth that day do you think you can name? To give you a bit of a clue, there a sprinkling of full internationals in there – with Russia, Norway, Scotland, Denmark and Jamaica among those represented, alongside five Englishmen - four of which were spread across midfield. The game in question finished 1-0 to Chelsea, putting them on course to prevail in a Coca-Cola Cup contest played over two legs. Given that goals have been in short supply between these two in past meetings, and with both in need of points in the present day, football betting experts are likely to favour another close encounter when the curtain goes up on their latest fixture. Let us get back, though, to the issue of those who made up Glenn Hoddle’s starting XI back on 21st September 1994. Dmitri Kharine lined up between the sticks, and in front of him were Erland Johnsen, Frank Sinclair, Jakob Kjeldbjerg and Steve Clarke. Bite and flair in midfield was provided by Gavin Peacock, Eddie Newton, Dennis Wise and David Rocastle. Paul Furlong and John Spencer were paired together up front, with Neil Shipperley stepping off the bench to replace the latter in the only change of the game. None of the frontmen proved to be the match-winner, though, with a solitary effort from Rocastle enough to hand the Blues a slender first leg advantage. It is also worth noting that the game was played out in front of just 8,974 spectators. It is safe to assume that there will be a fair few thousand more in attendance this weekend, and that Mourinho will be hoping to see his side offer more of a cutting edge than they did two decades ago as Chelsea seek to stretch their three-match unbeaten run and breathe new life into their 2015/16 campaign.

Erection worthy.

He's a better option than Falcao, but if we're signing him to save our season after fucking SPURS released him, we might as well just accept 9th place now.

Off the top of my head... 07/08 away(luminous yellow) 08/09 third (yellow) 09/10 away (black/blue) 10/11 third (green) 14/15 away (yellow) Five kits out of the 29 adidas have manufactured for us.

Fucking fed up of white and black away kits. Why not green? Why not red?

Another good game yesterday.

I think we need to take the situation into perspective. I think you may have misread my point: I am saying we should be content with a point. Right now, would we be disappointed with a point at Anfield, the Emirates, Old Trafford or the Etihad? I don't think so, going by our performances. And right now, you have to put Spurs up there with those teams. They are bang in form and could turn any side over right now, IMO. We need to build from the back. There is literally nothing in football that breeds more confidence than a clean sheet. It encourages the forwards who know the defence behind them is playing well. Things will click into place soon. This is the start of a season-changing run for us, and we'll need to look on this as a good point won, rather than two dropped.

Perspective. Something a great many of you lack. We're enduring our worst start to a season in twenty years, and you expect us to go away to a club on their record unbeaten streak in the Premier League and win, when we'd only won 40% of our matches prior to that? Two wins and a draw from three games - including two away from home - with three clean sheets, since the international break. When things are going badly, you need to rebuild, and to start from the back. No point scoring two in a game if you're conceding the same amount, or more. We've put together a decent little defensive run now, and that is the foundation to further success. Beat Bournemouth and Porto in consecutive home games and all of a sudden we have some real momentum.

Mourinho 1-0 DC19

£10m a year is a massive sum for a training kit. The next move for extra revenue is to rename the training ground... "The Yokohama Training Complex", for instance.

People are allowed to share their thoughts, of course, but having been on both sides of the 'divide', so to speak, it is very clear that the staff team get some uncalled for stick. They do a great job, and have done so for quite some time, in keeping this place. Not every decision they make will please everyone, but I for one would appreciate it if you could privately discuss this with staff members. I agree with Rmpr that a public announcement isn't the place for it.

You all care far too much about an internet forum. If you don't like a decision, PM a mod. That's what I'd do, rather than cause a commotion.

Fuck Opta. Bunch of statistics Nazis.

When does the current adidas deal expire? I can't be arsed checking.

You said yourself that an assist is if the final pass directly leads to the recipient scoring a goal. His pass led to an own goal. Hence the assist. Otherwise, what was the point in Kalou crossing the ball right onto Riise's head?

Plus against Swansea for the own goal and against Dynamo Kyiv for the Dragovic OG, too... those stats are horribly wrong.

Shit. Thankfully we'd still go through with that combination so all is well

Chelsea face a tense tussle with FC Porto on Matchday Six as qualification from UEFA Champions League Group G remains in the balance. Whilst the Blues were excellent in their 4-0 demolition of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Dynamo Kyiv's victory in Porto means that things remains tight in Chelsea's group with just one game remaining. On Wednesday 9 December, the Blues host Porto whilst Maccabi travel to Ukraine. Here are the permutations of what might happen... If Chelsea beat Porto, regardless of what happens in Kyiv, the Blues will progress as group winners. If Porto beat Chelsea and Dynamo Kyiv beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, Chelsea will drop into the Europa League. If Porto beat Chelsea but Dynamo Kyiv fail to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, Chelsea will go through in second place.If Chelsea draw with Porto and Dynamo Kyiv beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, Chelsea will go through in second place by virtue of Porto's superior head-to-head record against the Blues and their own superior head-to-head record against the Ukrainian side. If Chelsea draw with Porto and Dyanmo Kyiv fail to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, Chelsea will go through in second place. In short, the only way Chelsea can go out is if they lose to Porto and Dynamo Kyiv also beat Maccabi Tel Aviv. Chelsea cannot go out if they avoid defeat against the Portuguese side, but the only way they can top the group is with three points on 9 December.

Chelsea eased to a comfortable victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv to maintain their hopes of progression to the Champions League knock-out rounds. Needing a win to ensure they remained in contention to qualify, the Blues went into the half-time break with both a goal and a man advantage as, after Gary Cahill reacted quickest after his own initial effort had been saved to smash home the rebound, former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim saw red for a wild swipe at Diego Costa. Despite the home side resolutely bouncing back from that double blow and almost equalising through Eran Zahavi, Willian netted a trademark free-kick - his sixth dead-ball strike of the season - to put the game beyond the realistic ambitions of the hosts. Oscar then applied a layer of gloss to the scoreline when he tapped in from close range, whilst Kurt Zouma, on as a substitute for the injured John Terry, scored the fourth in stoppage time with a powerful header to guarantee the Blues a shot at progression to the last sixteen. Chelsea would have progressed on the night had Dynamo Kyiv failed to win in Porto, but with the Ukrainian side securing three points, it means there is now a three-way contest for progression from the group. Jose Mourinho's men are, at the very least, assured of a berth in the Europa League's round of 32, but the Stamford Bridge outfit will no doubt be eyeing up a spot in Europe's more prestigious tournament. The permutations for qualification are simple to grasp. With Kyiv at home to Maccabi on matchday six and therefore likely to add three points to their tally, a draw at Stamford Bridge between the Blues and Porto next month would result in a three-way tie at the top of the group. The Blues benefit from having a superior head-to-head record against the Ukrainian side, which is significant considering that three years ago, a similar situation led to the Blues being dumped out of the Champions League. A victory over the Portuguese side would simplify matters and guarantee qualification for Mourinho's side, whilst a defeat could have disastrous consequences. They may well be without their captain, however, as Terry was stretchered off in clear discomfort midway-through the second period. A more pressing and immediate concern is the skipper's availability for Sunday's London derby against in-form Tottenham Hotspur, but the result here will hopefully encourage the defending Premier League champions, who have made it two wins from two following the international break. Regardless of boasting over 65% possession in Tel Aviv, Chelsea were made to work hard for their opening goal, which came after Predrag Rajkovic had athletically tipped Cahill's header onto the frame of the goal. Showing great predatory instincts that a certain Diego Costa ought to take note of, the England vice-captain was first to the loose ball and headed home to make it 1-0. Chelsea's job on the night became a lot easier when Ben Haim, who exactly eight years ago was partnering Terry at the heart of the Blues' defence in a defeat of Derby County, inexplicably kicked out at Costa, earning him a straight red card. Yet any thoughts that that moment of madness would consign Maccabi to an inevitable defeat were quashed almost immediately after half-time as the home side showed commendable character to take the game to the visitors. Though Rajkovic had to excel himself to first turn aside Eden Hazard's well-struck effort, and then brilliantly deny Cesar Azpilicueta from close range, Zahavi broke away as produced an equally outstanding stop from Asmir Begovic, who fingertipped the striker's effort around the post. Acknowledging that warning shot, Chelsea quickly moved through the gears and eventually made the game safe with a quarter of an hour remaining, as Willian, who became the first player in Chelsea's history to score five direct free-kicks in one season, added one more to his tally to further increase his growing stock. Chelsea's clear player of the season - so far - this time deliciously whipped the ball over a stationary wall to make safe the three points. All that was left was for the Blues to apply a quickfire coup de grâce as Oscar made it 3-0 just minutes later, toeing home Baba Rahman's devilish delivery from the wing, whilst the Brazilian later turned provider for substitute Zouma, who rose highest to head home powerfully at the near post. A tense matchday six now awaits Mourinho and his charges....