BlueLion.

That's why most people went for him I think haha Having watched the game again I'm 100% sure on my choice for man of the match; Mikel.

The one thing I use the official website for and they get it wrong, they're friggin useless.

Chelsea 3-1 Everton Chelsea end Toffees hoodoo to close gap on Manchester clubs Andre Villas-Boas' Chelsea side continued their dogged pursuit of Manchester City and Manchester United with a comfortable win over Everton at Stamford Bridge. With Manchester United just about battling to a scarcely-deserved point against Liverpool at Anfield, the incentive was clear for the Portuguese tactician - win, and his side would close the gap on second-placed United to a single point, whilst continuing to tread on the coat-tails of table-topping City. Such a result was no given, however; the Toffees' recent record at Stamford Bridge is an impressive one, and having knocked the Blues out of the FA Cup on penalties in West London last season, even an Everton side devastated by defeat in the Merseyside derby prior to the international break would enter the match buoyed by previous endeavours. I would be no cliché to say that the Toffees have become sticky opposition for Chelsea in recent seasons, particularly during the Ancelotti era - the Italian could only boast two draws from his five meetings with David Moyes, though it would be fair to state a fair degree of misfortune in those fixtures had swung the pendulum in Everton's favour. There was to be no such problem for Villas-Boas, however, as the young Portuguese coach inspired his side to a fourth straight home league win to keep the pressure on the Manchester clubs. Whilst City continue to dominate teams into submission - previously-unbeaten Aston Villa the latest to feel the full force of the vibrant attacking options at Roberto Mancini's disposal - and United salvaging a draw away at Liverpool despite being second-best for most of the encounter, Villas-Boas' charges are ambling along at the steady pace. However, they are doing it by playing an intelligent and entertaining brand of football. Recalls were handed to Branislav Ivanovic and John Mikel Obi as David Luiz and Raul Meireles were rested following intensive international action in midweek, but even that brace of changes at the heart of the team failed to disrupt the same passing fluency that has begun to characterise the West London outfit under Villas-Boas' tutelage. At time matched by Everton's physical proficiency, the game served as a reminder to Chelsea that sometimes you have to earn the right to play your tidy football, and the Merseysiders would need to be matched man-for-man before they could be technically outdone. This was a contest decided by three moments of brilliance, each of them typifying the efficiency and variety of the electric attack boasted by Chelsea in recent times. With Didier Drogba's brutish power being complimented by the effervescence of Daniel Sturridge, Juan Mata's ingenuity and John Mikel Obi's brutish-but-elegant dominance of the midfield creating a fully-functioning, though somewhat juxtaposed creative hub in the centre of the pitch, and the marauding aspect of full-backs Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole, the fluidity and incisiveness of each Chelsea attack is an absolute joy to watch. Negativity is almost a thing of the past at Stamford Bridge. Any memories of the at-times tentative style of Ancelotti's second season - inspired by backwards passed - are quickly addressed by a torrent of sighs and groans. The Chelsea crowd have become expectant, but against Everton, they demonstrated not only their pretty style of play, but also that their ability to do the nitty-gritty has not yet diminished. One certainty of David Moyes' side is that they will give as good as they get - but they were woefully outmatched by the volume of Chelsea firepower. Drogba, Sturridge and Mata caused them no end of problems, and with Ramires and Frank Lampard surging forwards at will - and Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka also entering the fray to truly bamboozle and dishearten the Toffees faithful, the gruelling journey back to Merseyside will at least have been muted by a late rally being rewarded with a goal to celebrate. That late consolation goal from substitute Apostolos Vellios came from Everton's first real effort of note. Besides for a Louis Saha effort that Petr Cech grasped at the second attempt and a brace of efforts from Leon Osman; one of which kissing the base of the left-hand upright, Everton were a subdued force and their display belied the lack of attacking options available to Moyes. The late introduction of Royston Drenthe added some thrust to the Toffees' play and he contributed the assist to Vellios' strike, but the game had long been over by that point. It would at least be a memorable moment for the young Greek starlet. Perhaps the greatest criticism of this Chelsea team away at Old Trafford in September was a lack of clinical finishing. That lesson has been learnt and then some. Villas-Boas' ideology of fighting fire with fire has been perceived as naive by some cynics, the reality is that Chelsea are an all-out attacking force with the mindframe of scoring more goals than the opposition. It sounds a simplistic objective, but shooting practice is really paying rich dividends at present, as three clinical finishes put the sword to the beleaguered Merseysiders. A forgettable first thirty minutes was well and truly reduced to insignificance as the Blues moved through the gears for the first time as Daniel Sturridge headed home his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign. After John Mikel Obi had excelled at the other end of the pitch to deny the Toffees the opening goal, the Nigerian began the defence-splitting move by passing to Drogba, who combined quickly with Juan Mata. The Spaniard's deft chip found Cole in space, and he lofted the ball up for the oncoming Sturridge to head home with aplomb. The interval approached with Chelsea having assumed control of the game, and it was essentially won as soon as John Terry netted his second of the campaign from Lampard's free-kick. It is an age-old combination and one that continues to delight the Stamford Bridge crowd - Lampard's delivery was whipped in with ferocious pace and Tim Howard could only flap at fresh air as Terry beat him to the ball to glance home. That handed Chelsea a degree of comfort as they emerged for the second half, but that was almost undone when Leon Osman hit Cech's post with a well-taken effort. A timely reminder that Everton were not yet extinguished as an attacking unit themselves only served as encouragement for further attacking gusto from the hosts. Though the moments were unfortunately few and far between, when the Blues decided to cruise through the gears, it was done to a devastating degree of efficiency. What came next was perhaps the best team goal of the season so far. Its beautiful simplicity was something a side with Chelsea's quality may expect as standard - and again it was Mata at the heart of it all. Switching the play from the left as the Blues broke forward, his raking cross-field ball found Drogba in the centre circle. Powering forward, the Ivorian carried the ball before feeding the diminutive Spaniard with a finely-weighted pass. Mata did the necessary; effortlessly crossing for Ramires to maraud forward and convert from close range to seal the victory. The Brazilian's fifth Chelsea goal had been delivered on his half-century of appearances for the club, but the first of two sour notes came in the 64th minute when he limped off, apparently injured in converting his third of the season in a challenge with Leighton Baines. The second was the noticeable lack of a clean sheet once again - something that would be more concerning if points were being dropped. Vellios' consolation strike just evaded the reach of Cech and snook into the bottom corner with nine minutes remaining, but even for a team boasting an impressive unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge it was too late to even consider going for broke. The damage had already been done and Everton were a beaten side - and the deficit might have been greater had Lampard's late strike been directed anywhere other than straight down Tim Howard's throat. A different performance from the barn-storming showing at the Reebok in Chelsea's last league outing, a more conservative offering from Villas-Boas' men - presumably in light of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Belgian team Genk, followed by Sunday's West London derby with QPR - had still brought about a richly deserved victory that ensures this Chelsea side will now be taken as serious contenders for the title. Despite losing at Old Trafford, the beauty of playing that particular fixture so early in the season means that its implications can be negated almost instantly - and the Blues have already clawed back most of the five-point gap United opened up with that 3-1 triumph last month. With a Manchester derby fast-approaching, all permutations and combinations point in a beneficial direction for the Blues - providing they win at Loftus Road, of course! Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry ©, Cole; Ramires (Malouda 64), Mikel (Romeu 76), Lampard; Sturridge, Drogba, Mata (Anelka 76) Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka ©, Distin, Baines; Coleman (Drenthe 60), Rodwell, Fellaini, Osman; Cahill (Neville 71); Saha (Vellios 80) The TalkChelsea.net MAN OF THE MATCH award goes to Chelsea's number 10: JUAN MATA

I'm going to be controversial and choose Mikel, I was really impressed by him yesterday. He passed the ball fluently, made some vital challenges and interceptions and really bossed the midfield.

Vote for your man of the match.

Ivanovic-Terry is a must. Luiz won't be risked and will play against QPR and Everton (Legaue Cup), Alex will probably feature against Genk as per the rotation policy, so Ivan will be needed at centre-back. I expect: Cech Bosingwa - Ivan - Terry - Cole Meireles - Ramires - Lampard ---------------------Mata Sturridge----------------- Drogba

He was/is on the same wages at Liverpool that he was at Chelsea....

No he's not, he was allowed to leave because the club thought it the best decision at the time. He may not be the most gifted footballer but he tried his hardest and put in some glorious performances for us, scoring some truly wonderful goals. Chelsea fans were infuriated when he said Liverpool are a bigger club. The truth hurts. Maybe not at this moment, but in terms of history, they, like Juventus and Real Madrid, are a footballing powerhouse. Conversely Torres angered the Scousers when he said he was joining a bigger club. Again, the truth hurts, at this moment we are the football giants and Liverpool are battling for their future. Either way, you say that sort of thing as a token gesture to the supporters. You don't go and say "I'm joining a smaller club than the one I just played for, but oh well." I'm grateful for what Joe helped us accomplish and whilst he will never be regarded as a Chelsea 'legend,' seven seasons at the club certainly makes him part of the club's furniture and a key cog in the Mourinho winning machine. Thanks, Joe. Best of luck in France.

It felt just as good winning it in 2010 playing the best football, to be fair.

Chelsea vs Genk Wednesday 19 October 2011 UEFA Champions League Match chat here! :cfc:

But you can flip that and say we've conceded 8 goals from those 25 shots on target... meaning we let a goal in every 3.125 shots on goal. That doesn't make for great reading, especially when you consider teams like Norwich, West Brom and Swansea scored three goals between them from a total of six shots on goal.

Messi for Barcelona - world class. Messi for Argentina - average. Reminds me of the Gerrard/Lampard syndrome.

I totally agree with you mate, I'm not disputing that they should have been given, all I said is sometimes you see them given and other times you don't. However the handball at least was inexcusable.

Yeah, can't ask for much more than that. Maybe a few broken legs as well, especially Cuntarito.

I don't like the idea of us 'doing an Arsenal' and destroying more than a century of tradition. However I think its better than seeing QPR move in...

You can say that, but I believe it's more than just 'luck' that got them to the Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011.

He'll be in the Championship before long, what a step-down. Best of luck to him however.

You know everything is against Kalou when his girlfriend can't stand the sight of him.

You sound like Tommy10... cool... my technique killas and africans Young, Welbeck and Sturridge all start for England, could be special!

We'll still have Torres, Anelka and Lukaku... plenty of firepower with Sturridge, Mata and Malouda on the wings also.

VdB is standing by him, so is AVB. Must make him feel better, can't wait to see him play again next Wednesday against GENK!

leg·end noun \ˈle-jənd\ Definition of LEGEND 1 a : a story coming down from the past; especially : one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable b : a body of such stories <a place in the legend of the frontier> c : a popular myth of recent origin d : a person or thing that inspires legends e : the subject of a legend <its violence was legend even in its own time — William Broyles Jr.>

Fucking hell, scrolling through this thread I thought Essien had died and I'd been living under a rock for a week

MACHINE! Should play against Everton at right-back this weekend, Bosingwa on the bench. It won't happen but it would be a tactically astute move.