BlueLion.

What a load of utter wank.

0-0 half-time. Dicked over two penalty decisions, you'd see them given 9 times in 10. The one that was given and then not was a piss-take, wouldn't happen against United.

Probable Teams: Marseille: Mandanda; Kaboré, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Lucho (or Abriel), Cissé, A. Ayew; Rémy, Brandao, Valbuena (or J. Ayew) Chelsea: Turnbull; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Van Aanholt, Bruma; Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda; Kalou, Drogba http://www.ligue1.com/autresCompetitions/article/Drogba-back-at-om-auxerre-up-against-it.htm#

No Gignac for Marseille. Terry will be playing his 350th game as captain.

We still have another then years left in this indestructible machine!

Happy Birthday JT!

Gerrard gets away with shitloads... Bosingwa demonstrated his love for 300 on Benayoun and got away with it... THIS IS BOSINGWA!

Holy fucking shit crumbs, Batman! This thread is WAY off-topic, so I'm going to lock it. If anyone wants to enquire about the shirt, PM chelseablues138.

Read an article in The Independent saying a new contract is imminent.

Anelka is past his prime, I would say - I think we were lucky enough in 2008/09 to see him at his absolute best. That being said, he is still a very, very good footballer and in my view perfect for this team. He is simply VERY tired, he's had to play a lot more games than I think he will have expected to have by this stage.

Great coach. Really have a lot of time for Chris Hughton, he's humble and has a wonderful state of humility. Great person and a really likeable character in English football. He's drawn with CHELSEA and beaten ARSENAL in recent weeks, and beat Newcastle's arch-rivals Sunderland 5-. He deserved that contract!

Dear Carlo, John and the boys, Win this game and all will be forgiven, you overpaid, under-committed arseholes. Love from Alex. xx

That's only because Stoke couldn't sell their allocation. Ipswich certainly will! At this moment in time, the FA Cup represents our best chance of silverware and I think we'll be seeing stronger teams then we'd expect/like to see.

This one's funny

Probably be something along these lines: Turnbull Ferreira, Bruma, Terry, Patch McEachran, Essien, Kakuta Sturridge, Anelka, Kalou I can see Terry playing simply for match fitness, same for Essien. We don't have too many options up front.

The best way to stop Iniesta, Messi and Xavi? A sniper in the top tier... In all seriousness, manmark them with Essien, Gattuso and van Bommel and they'll stop farting around

Thanks mate

Clutching at straws is all we can do at this stage.

Updated for today's game. Terry and Ivanovic due suspensions soon...

I think if we weren't in this run of form we would see today's result in a different result. Draws in the last five seasons at home against Everton suggested this would be the inevitable result. I'm not overly concerned about the result - a point is a decent return against this calibre of team - but the performance was not satisfactory.

I think Essien was wearing a poppy today in remembrance of that Double we won last season... Considering our run of appaling recent form, it might be hard to stay positive. That being said, we just have to keep the faith. It seems to me that Chelsea supporters are coming to a sudden realisation that we may indeed not win the title this season. At this moment in time it certainly looks that way. However we cannot afford to stop believing. For all we know, we might steal a win at Tottenham next weekend and use it as a pivot to rekindle our title hopes. I simply refuse to believe that we will not win the title this season based on recent form. In fact, it makes me optimistic. Why? Because, despite us showing the type of form that would make us candidates for relegation had the season started last month for the last month, we’re still in touching distance. Arsenal are two points clear and United have the opportunity to extend that to four should they win their game in hand, but let’s be frank – neither of those sides are world beaters. Arsenal are so vulnerable defensively that they are looking very susceptible to sustainable pressure, and as soon as they come up against an organised team they fire blanks. United may be unbeaten in the Premier League but they aren’t exactly setting the world alight, either. I fear facing neither of them, because I believe that we can beat them both on our day, injuries and confidence permitting, of course. To me, it is clear what has to be done. Ancelotti, or more likely John Terry, has to go fucking mental at the squad. Three things are undermining our season – complacency. bad luck and a lack of commitment. There are players on the pitch who simply do not deserve to be there – but by injury or reputation, they are automatic starters. You must put some of the blame on Ancelotti here – it seems to me he either has his favourites or simply does not have the balls to drop some of the big name stars. This must be addressed – the best way to do it is to drop players who are massively out of form or performing below par; the likes of Kalou, Anelka and Mikel. This will send a message out to the players who are simply taking the biscuit and do not seem to care as long as they get their £100,000-a-week wages every Wednesday. That links in to another factor that is threatening to put our title challenge to bed – a lack of commitment. You can see it best in Drogba, Anelka and Malouda – besides when defending corners, those three players did not come back once to help out defensively and help out the full-backs. It meant that the midfield was swamped and we lost out in that particular battle, whilst Cech and the defence – who were all brilliant today, I can’t fault any of them – are having to work overtime. There are players in this team who are starting based purely on the name on the back of their shirts and the reputation that comes with it, and this must be addressed by Carlo stamping his authority, or, failing that, Terry showing why he is captain. Ancelotti is incredibly mild-mannered or so it seems, but someone has to blow their lid to show that this is simply not acceptable. The third thing that is a factor in our poor form is bad luck. We should have been given a second penalty today and similarly Everton made some unbelievable blocks today, whilst the woodwork was also a defining factor. You can say that football is a game of karma and what goes around comes around, but some game-defining refereeing decisions are going against us whilst the woodwork is having a massive say in our season at the moment, also. We have been pitifully unlucky with injuries but that is a part of the game that must be taken with a pinch of salt – it was also quite predictable at the start of the season that we would struggle this season considering firstly the small size of our squad and all the transition over the summer, such as the myriad of players coming and going. It has been all-change and time is needed to solve this. With all that being said, someone needs to stand up and point out the obvious – this is not good enough. Five points from the last six matches puts us sixteenth in the form table at the moment. We have not only blown a five-point lead but potentially allowed Manchester United to open up a four-point gap, should they win their game in hand, which they most definitely will at Blackpool. Relegation form is unacceptable from a side trying to defend their championship. It must be acknowledged that defending a title is so much harder than winning it in the first instance. We saw that in 2005/06 – the second half to the season (April apart) was pretty average and we ground out results where we could, and we were able to rely on our early season form to win us the championship. However, with the league being so competitive and unpredictable this season, that is simply impossible. Consistency is no longer a factor in the Premier League – the team that wins the title will essentially be the “least shit” out of us, United, Arsenal, City and (I hate to even mention them in this way, as title contenders) Tottenham. To say that the team that lifts the trophy is the one that drops the least points is a “no shit” sort of statement, but it is absolutely appropriate – every “big” team is dropping points at almost every opportunity. I think no more than 80 points will secure the league crown this season – a figure that would have been scoffed and laughed at even a couple of years back. I believe that, as slumps go, we’ve hit rock bottom. Things can get worse on a results front – we might well lose our next three games and then almost absolutely be out of the title race – but even a single win against the three of Arsenal, United and Spurs could realistically spark our season back into life. Three wins from three might sound crazy considering what has gone before it, but in the most topsy-turvy Premier League season since its inception, The return of Frank Lampard will most likely get us back on track, that is a likelihood – that man could single-handedly put us back in contention for honours this term. Many people say one man simply cannot make a team, but in Lampard’s case, it can. It is impossible to say when he will be back – and along with that, how long it will before he is back to his best, but that man is simply world class and we have missed him like a hole in the head this season. Ultimately, we should not abandon hope. United and Arsenal are both beatable and they can be caught. Consider this – even if we lose to Spurs and United, we can realistically go the Arsenal and beat them. There is something in the North London air that Didier Drogba seems to get off on, and what better way to get a season back on track than a win at the home of your most bitter rivals? Once this run of games is out of the way, our fixtures are comparatively easier than the other teams in the top four. We’ll have played Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City away and faced United, Arsenal and Everton at the Bridge. Compare our run of games after the New Year to United and Arsenal, and we look like the team that will gain the most points next month, at least on paper. This might be a shocking run of form but we cannot afford to give up. Keep the faith. Ignore the knee-jerk reactions. That being said, I don’t think it is fair for us, the majority of whom weren’t even at the game today, to criticise the fans who booed at the Bridge today. The performance was simply not good enough and people who pay £50 for a ticket are entitled to show their disgust if they are not happy with what they have paid to see. All that being said – Carefree. It isn’t over until the Fat Lady sings.

I think even if we lose all three matches (against Spurs, Arsenal and United), we can still remain optimistic about our title chances as our most difficult run of the season will be over. I am certain when Lampard returns it will be a different Chelsea. People say one man doesn't make a team but I disagree with that notion.

Chelsea 1-1 Everton Saturday 4 December 2010, Premier League, Stamford Bridge Another insipid Chelsea display saw Everton score a late equaliser to deny the Blues victory at Stamford Bridge. It was an ultimately deserved point for David Moyes' side, who showed the greater effort and commitment throughout. Having earned the Toffees a share of the spoils with an 86th minute strike, former Chelsea youth player Jermaine Beckford will no doubt be a new hero on Merseyside, and his team incidentally had the chances to win the match following the former Leeds man's late leveller. Their performance - full of character, resilience and vigour - was the polar opposite of yet another lackadaisical Chelsea team display, with the Blues leaving the field to a chorus of boos from the home faithful following the disappointments of a fourth Premier League match without victory. The Blues have taken a mere five points from their last six matches, which happens to be no better than the three teams occupying the relegation zone. If Chelsea are to turn this rot around and at least put up some sort of fight in the defence of their Premier League crown, much work must be done on the training ground and an entire reversal in fortune is needed also. On the pitch, players are putting in woeful performances where inspiration is needed, and Carlo Ancelotti's plight has not been aided by goings-on at boardroom level at the club. Even the return of captain John Terry and influential midfielder Michael Essien could do little to prevent the Chelsea slump from continuing - though it must be noted that Ancelotti's men have a clear case of injustice after a myriad of questionable decisions from referee Lee Probert. The official might have awarded Chelsea penalties for a Sylvain Distin handball early on and a blatant challenge on Ashley Cole by full-back Coleman, but the Blues simply did not deserve to win the game. For the one penalty that was awarded to the Blues - a challenge worthy of a rugby match by Tim Howard on Nicolas Anelka - the referee should surely have sent off the goalkeeper for a professional foul as he had denied a goalscoring opportunity. That being said, Chelsea were themselves massively fortunate to have eleven men on the field at the end of the game because of a flailing arm by Florent Malouda that caught Tim Cahill, and there was also an injury scare to goalkeeper Petr Cech after a collision between the Czech and Cahill left the Blues custodian requiring stitches to a cut above the eye. Cech will now no doubt be an injury concern ahead of a midweek trip to Marseille. And with consecutive matches against Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal and in-form Bolton coming up for the Blues, their current position of third might soon seem a satisfactory achievement considering the possibility of more disappointing results that seem destined to come unless Ancelotti can instil confidence and belief into his team once again. Chelsea's problem stems from a lack of energy and commitment to the cause, and the shock dismissal of Ray Wilkins has clearly affected the mindset of the previously-imperious West London outfit. But whilst Chelsea can scratch their heads after another below-par showing, Everton will rightfully be lauded with deserved praise after a magnificent second half performance that continues their excellent form away from Goodison Park - the Toffees are unbeaten on the road since August and might have taken all three points against a shell-shocked Chelsea side who were second-best for large periods. Indications of how difficult the day would be came early on as Louis Saha forced a smart save from Petr Cech inside the first minute, whilst the excellent Leighton Baines fired over after a marauding run from deep. Chelsea's response was to go equally close - first Phil Jagielka showed his defensive steel to block an Anelka effort before John Terry's intelligent effort came back off the crossbar. The Chelsea captain had seen his first effort blocked by the magnificent Dystin - who, minutes earlier, had escaped what would have been a harsh penalty after handling inside the box - before turning his second effort against the visitors' woodwork. Chelsea continued to turn the screw and Kalou went close when he headed across the face of goal from Florent Malouda's corner kick, but the Blues were finding clear-cut opportunities few and far-between. Either side of half-time it was a tale of two back-passes as first Nicolas Anelka latched on to Phil Neville's shockingly-underhit pass to Tim Howard and won a penalty after being hurled to the ground by the American. Up stepped Drogba to score his first goal in six games and give the Blues what was perhaps a lead deserved on the balance of attacking play, but Everton rallied and ensured Chelsea ensured a torrid climax following the interval. The second woeful back-pass of the afternoon came from the boot of John Mikel Obi, who saw Jermaine Beckford try and beat Cech from 45 yards - it was the right idea from the former Chelsea youngster but the execution was lacking. Meanwhile, news of a second Arsenal goal against Fulham - giving them a 2-1 lead - filtered through and was met by a wave of grumbles across all four stands of the ground. Everton came desperately close to a levelling goal when Jack Rodwell's header beat Cech but came off the inside of the goalkeeper's left post before being cleared by Branislav Ivanovic, whilst the same player was inches away from connecting to a Jagielka flick-on as Baines' left-footed deliveries continued to cause problems for the Chelsea backline. Cahill and Cech then collided as the Blues keeper bravely collected the ball at the Australian's feet only to be met by a facefull of studs, leaving the Chelsea goalkeeper with a cut above the eye. Stitches were required but the Czech Republic number one showed no ill-effects of the challenge as he kept out a glanced effort from Beckford; the ex-Leeds man keen to prove a point against the team that had not offered him a professional contract in 2003. Then came a moment the game seemed to pivot on, as Ashley Cole was brutally hacked down inside the area by Seamus Coleman. Paulo Ferreira - a late substitute - had burst forward and crossed into the six yard box for Cole to tap home, only to see the England international blatantly chopped down. No penalty was rewarded and a snapshot by Malouda was saved by Howard seconds later as Everton survived what would have been a game-winning goalscoring opportunity. Kalou was then guilty of dithering inside the area and allowing Everton to clear, and it would prove costly. It came as no surprise that any route back into the game from a Toffees' perspective would come from Leighton Baines, and it saw the Englishman cross to Cahill who in turned knocked the ball down to Beckford who duly converted. It was the inevitable Everton equaliser that was absolutely deserved for their second half showing, who, to a man, had been absolutely brilliant and their performance had warranted a reward. Even seven minutes of injury time was inadequate time for the Blues to fashion what would have been a cruel winner. Full-time was met by a chorus of boos from a host of supporters inside Stamford Bridge as another woeful Blues performance had cost them points in the title race. Arsenal now top the table and are two points clear of Chelsea in third - but the gap will be four points should Manchester United win their rearranged fixture at Blackpool. Defeat at Spurs next weekend, coupled with wins for Manchester City and Manchester United, will see Chelsea drop down to fourth place - a previously incomprehensible situation for the defending Premier League champions, but one that now looks increasingly likely. Chelsea supporters may not have much to cheer on a football front this Christmas. ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa (Ferreira 64), Ivanovic, Terry ©, Cole; Essien, Mikel (Sturridge 87), Malouda; Anelka (Ramires 77), Drogba, Kalou Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Neville ©, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar (Bilyaletdinov 86); Cahill, Saha (Beckford 57) The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Everton's number 15, Sylvain Distin

Game over.

Come on boys, please! Four games without a league win is relegation form... come on Chels