BlueLion.

We'll pay £25 million and they can have Ferreira and Hilario for good measure.

Bosingwa out, Luiz in?

Zlatan's was awesome, but Carlos

Rep points for everyone who voted, thanks a lot!

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I see your point, but seeing Essien, Mikel and Ramires ALL in the same midfield makes me feel physically sick. So whilst we don't have a shortage of midfielders per se, we have a shortage of specialist midfielders, since we sold two attacking midfielders in Deco and Joe Cole, a holding player in Belletti, and a box-to-box player in Ballack and only replaced two of them.

Always loved this man as well:

I can quite safely say Pienaar is going to Spurs. Sky Sports are reporting Spurs have had their bid for the player accepted.

I get you now xD

I can understand that guy giving up his season ticket, though. You expect to see better when you pay that much every season. And what a fucking FANTASTIC article. I'm only 17, but I know a lot about the traditions of this club. I'd give anything to be able to experience something like that. My dad's been supporting this football club for 54 years or something ridiculous like that. The first game he went to, he was 14, in December 1966. It was a game between the Chels and West Ham. His mother supports Chelsea, and his step-dad was a West Ham fan, so he said he'd go and whoever won he'd support. Obviously he'd been brought up to support both since a young age (he went to watch West Ham numerous times with his step dad), so he said it was time to choose one. Ironically, it finished Chelsea 5-5 West Ham But the stories he's told me of the glory days of the 60s... the shite the club went through in the 80s... it makes me very proud of this club and all its history. In 41 years time, after I've supported the club for 54 years like my dad, I want to be able to pass on stories of Lampard and Zola and Desailly. Chelsea til I die.

Uhm... no we don't. :unsure:

Let's be fair, you could have disagreed with me more... if I'd have said Lucas was their best player that season.

Welcome back Ray, nice to see you back online. Enjoy yourself yesterday?

Yossi did alright for Liverpool in 2008/09 when they finished second... I'd have said he was their player of the season that year, personally.

The latest is we're offering the transfer fee that Everton want, but Spurs have met Pienaar's wage demands...

Yeah, and £20 million more expensive just to sit on the bench.

@Styles, I think that's a little harsh. We played better yesterday than we did against Ipswich although the scoreline says different.

It may not yet constitute a revival, but Chelsea's 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers certainly heralded a collection of positives for beleaguered Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti. Last weekend's 7-0 demolition of Ipswich in the FA Cup has certainly aided confidence amongst the Italian's struggling charges, perhaps most importantly for Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard; both returning to goalscoring form. Amongst the myriad of goals that were scored on Sunday by a team looking to become the first side to win three consecutive FA Cups since 1886, were two goals that came as a result of set-pieces. The first was a tremendous, teasing ball whipped in from the near side by Lampard; diverted into the corner by Ipswich's Carlos Edwards for an own goal. The second was equally fortuitous - a dangerous Gael Kakuta corner was deflected the way of Chelsea's number 8, who leathered the ball with aplomb past Martin Fulop. But, considering a recent forum discussion referring to a lack of quality and variation in the delivery of corners, it was through a delicious swoop of irony that again, two Chelsea goals came as a result of set-piece prowess. Saturday's win over Blackburn led to goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka, both goals coming from corner kicks. The goals were perhaps not representative of Chelsea's early season attacking form, but considering the Blues' stuttering recent form, to have collected three points and recorded back-to-back victories will offer Ancelotti some solace - especially since the Blues have since moved back into the Champions League places. Ivanovic's goal - the crucial opener before the hour - came as a result of corner kick variation. With Yury Zhirkov and Frank Lampard both recently out of the team, Chelsea's corners had become predictable. With only one designated corner taker in Malouda, corner kicks were essentially becoming a pass-back to the opposition goalkeeper. That's not necessarily a bad reflection on Malouda's delivery - the Frenchman consistently puts the ball into dangerous territory - but it is through the fact that they are too consistent; too predictable. Even when Didier Drogba came over to take the odd delivery, through the fact both he and Malouda whip balls in with ferocious pace, the type of delivery was simply too similar and lacked variation. And when the Ivorian did come over to take them, Chelsea lost an important, six-foot-three presence in the penalty area. The return of Lampard to the field has seen a different style of corner return; Lampard's lofted delivery can be very difficult to defend against - he will sometimes hit the ball in with great pace to the front post, or add more height and direct it towards the penalty spot and far post area. And though both goals came as a result of Malouda's delivery, the variation in play made that all possible. Lampard and Malouda shared corner-taking duties, whilst Drogba also got in the act after the Frenchman was offered an early bath as Kalou entered the fray. Because of that, it was very, very difficult for Blackburn to defend against the Blues when it came to set pieces. The differing type of delivery ensured that the previously-predictable nature of Chelsea's set-piece routines made Rovers - a side renown for their defensive resilience - seem to be chasing shadows. The first goal was testament to the excellent movement of the Chelsea's players in the penalty area. John Terry's front post run was not picked up, allowing the Blues skipper to find Ivanovic at the far post, who duly shot beyond Paul Robinson. For the second goal, Chelsea's excellent movement in the box again outfoxed Blackburn's defenders, who were utilising the risky zonal marking system. Ivanovic was allowed a free run on goal from the penalty spot, allowing him to direct another Malouda corner goalwards. Whilst the Serb's effort was a worthy one, Anelka made sure with an intelligent flick beyond the goalkeeper's despairing dive. And Chelsea's set-piece prowess might have yielded further success earlier on, when Ramires launched a half-volleyed effort against the woodwork, and also later when John Terry's headed effort fell just wide of the post after Lampard had returned the ball into the danger zone. The corner kick routine was proving a rich source of attacking opportunity for Chelsea. Drogba headed an effort over whilst Essien also headed high, wide and handsome. But whilst the game finished with a respectable 2-0 scoreline - one that did not constitute embarrassment for the visitors but still representing the degree of comfort with which the Blues had achieved victory - the game yielded much promise from dead-ball deliveries. It makes a refreshing change to see the Blues return to their best from a set-piece perspective. Previously, Chelsea had been so impotent, yet four of the last nine goals registered at Stamford Bridge over the course of their mini-revival suggests the Blues have re-located the second string to their bow - incredibly important considering the fact that at this point in time, any goal and any result will constitute a happy and fruitful return from a Blues point-of-view. Similarly, it now means that opposition defenders might actually need to bother when Lampard, Malouda or Drogba pops up to smack a delivery into the box.

We've not yet turned the corner but we've certainly started to move in a positive direction. A win in the FA Cup and a 2-0 victory over a team that are in shockingly poor form (even worse than we have been domestically) does not constitute turning a corner. It does, however, form the cornerstone to potential future success. This is the first time we've had two wins on the bounce and thus that 'winning' mentality will have been restored. Certainly there will be more confidence amongst the players. If we win our next three games (against Bolton, Everton and Sunderland), then I'd be inclined to agree that we have turned the corner.

It seemed to me that Essien was playing in the deeper role... Ramires looked to be the more offensive player.

Bolton vs Chelsea FC Monday 24 January 2011, FA Premier League - 8PM kick-off, The Reebok Match chat here

Ramires, with Ivanovic excellent as well.

Thanks for your comments guys.

Chelsea FC 2-0 Blackburn Rovers Saturday 15 January 2011, the FA Premier League, Stamford Bridge Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka scored as Chelsea eased past Blackburn to return to winning ways in the Premier League. The reigning Premier League champions had previously recorded only a single win in their last nine league matches prior to their clash with Blackburn, a side who have failed to beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge since 2003 - but they were able to build on their impressive 7-0 demolition of Ipswich Town in the FA Cup with a comfortable and dominant display against their Lancastrian opponents thanks to two second half goals that came from set pieces. It is a result that will offer much comfort to Chelsea supporters considering their team's poor recent form, and after compiling back-to-back victories, there will be murmurings that the Blues are back to their normal attacking incisiveness as well as demonstrating their typical defensive prowess. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will be happy with the confidence demonstrated by his squad on what was a potentially difficult-looking encounter with Rovers - a side who boast an exceptionally good record at Stamford Bridge. The Italian coach had threatened some of his big-name stars with a place on the bench prior to the game, but somewhat predictably, he chose to play a number of his out-of-sorts squad members in spite of the good form of youngsters Daniel Sturridge and Josh McEachran. And though Chelsea had found it difficult to create many clear-cut opportunities in the first half, they were desperately unfortunate not to go in to the interval with the lead considering their dominance early on, particularly during the opening exchanges. It was merely the width of the crossbar that denied the hosts an early opening goal as Ramires poked the ball against the woodwork from close range. After Drogba had laboured in the penalty area following excellent approach play by Nicolas Anelka, the Blues were almost able to capitalise when Ivanovic flicked on the resulting corner to Ramires, to hit his half-volley against the woodwork. And whilst Petr Cech was forced into two saves - the first a parry from Martin Olsson's speculative drive from distance and then a sharp low save to deny Blackburn forward David Hoilett from opening the scoring - the Blues were consistently looking the more likely to take the lead, and both Drogba and Jose Bosingwa both firing wide, whilst Gael Givet stopped an ailing Drogba from firing home when he should have done better when well-placed in the penalty area. The Blues closed the half the stronger of the two sides and went agonisingly close on three occasions prior to the half-time whistle. First Anelka curled an effort around the foot of the post, before Lampard headed over from a Bosingwa centre. But the closest they came was through Anelka - who flicked the ball against the crossbar after Drogba had done well to cross the ball into the six yard box. Anelka then lashed across the face of goal with the first effort of note after the break, but Chelsea were not going to be denied a deserved much longer. A Malouda corner was flicked on by John Terry and Ivanovic was able to tease a low shot over the line and beyond Paul Robinson. It was a deserved opener and a sense of relief flooded about Stamford Bridge. Terry then came close to almost instantaneously doubling the lead when he flicked on a miss-hit Lampard volley, but suddenly the confidence was flowing again. Moments later Drogba was denied by Robinson after a shocking backpass from Christopher Samba had presented him with an opportunity to steal in and double the lead. The Ivorian had endured a shockingly bad day in front of goal, looking a shadow of his former self, with an apparent lack of self-confidence obviously affecting Chelsea's talismanic forward. And though he failed to capitalise, Chelsea were still able to deliver a game-clinching second goal when Anelka touched home his second goal in as many matches. The corner that followed Robinson's save from Drogba was met emphatically by Ivanovic, and his goal-bound header was flicked in nonchalantly by Anelka to score his twelfth goal of the season - and only his second strike since November. With the two-goal lead established, there was a decidedly confident look to the Blues, and they came close to a third goal when Drogba's audacious chip landed on the roof of the net and Lampard brought the best out of his former England international colleague Robinson, who did well to palm the ball away. There was even time for McEachran and Sturridge to enter the fray in place of the excellent Malouda and Anelka, as the Blues played out the remainder of the game to secure only their second win in ten Premier League matches and move them up to fourth in the table at the expense of Tottenham, who face Manchester United tomorrow. ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, JT © Cole; Ramires; Essien (McEachran 79), Lampard, Anelka (Kalou 79), Drogba, Malouda (Sturridge 86). Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba ©, Nelsen, Givet; Dunn (Lowe 23), Pedersen; MB Diouf, Hoilett (Roberts 67), Olsson; Kalinic (Santa Cruz 46). The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 7, RAMIRES