BlueLion.

Really good result and an equally satisfactory performance. We have a nice habit of playing within ourselves in Europe, but to a standard where we can still achieve an ultimately comfortable victory. Spartak played well and it will have been a good work out for the players. Stand-out performances include Terry, Zhirkov, Mikel, Cech and the tireless Anelka. To be fair, no-one had a bad game. Considering we were missing players who contributed nearly 70 goals to the cause last season in Drogba and Lampard, we were potent going forward and took enough chances to get a nice victory.

Is it wrong I now want him to go to City after the above proposition?!

Chelsea are expected to start in the following 4-3-3 formation: 1 Petr Cech 19 Paulo Ferreira 2 Branislav Ivanovic 26 John Terry © 3 Ashley Cole 5 Michael Essien 12 John Mikel Obi 18 Yury Zhirkov 21 Salomon Kalou 39 Nicolas Anelka 15 Florent Malouda Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 47 Billy Clifford, 43 Jeffrey Bruma, 38 Patrick van Aanholt, 46 Josh McEachran, 52 Jacob Mellis, 44 Gael Kakuta. Spartak are expected to start in the following 4-2-3-1 formation: Dykan; Parshivlyuk, Pareja, Suchy, Makeev; Ibson, Sheshukov; McGeady, Ari, Kombarov; Welliton. Subs: Pesyakov, Sabitov, Stranzl, Ivanov, Ananidze, Kozlov, Maidana. The referee is Carlos Velasco from Spain. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2189762,00.html

I doubt he'd go anywhere except where the money is flowing - we're rich but the wages City, Barcelona and Madrid can offer are ludicrous. I doubt he'd betray his 'northern roots' and come down south if he does stay in England - but I can honestly see him going to Madrid to join Ronaldo and Mourinho, with Benzema going to Old Trafford.

from the official site.

I think we'll see something along these lines: Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, van Aanholt, Mikel, Zhirkov, Kakuta, Kalou, Malouda, Anelka. I say that because it would appear Cole and Essien won't be risked, and these are really the only options we have at the moment. Alternatively Ferreira may play at LB, Ivan at RB and bring in Bruma. I just can't see Ancelotti wanting to risk Essien and Cole on a plastic surface when we still have two home games to play after this (which we will both win).

I don't think Rooney will leave... but I wouldn't mind if we put in a bid. People saying he's scum and so on ought to remember at the end of the day he's still a very good footballer.

Holy shit! No Ramires, Cole, Alex, Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa, Yossi Benayoun and Frank Lampard... possibly no Essien either. Our squad is so fucking thin atm! Cech Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, van Aanholt Mikel Kakuta, Zhirkov Kalou, Anelka, Malouda Maybe?

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he is reluctant to risk Ashley Cole on Spartak Moscow's plastic pitch on Tuesday. The Blues travel to Russia for the UEFA Champions League Group F encounter, which will be staged at Spartak's Luzhniki Stadium. Defender Cole has been battling an ongoing ankle problem and often does not train for two days after a game in an attempt to manage his fitness. Blues manager Ancelotti will wait until his medical team have assessed how the 29-year-old's troublesome ankle reacts to training on the artificial surface before deciding whether to give him a run out on Tuesday evening. "He needs more days to recover," said Ancelotti. "For a year, he has had a little problem with his ankle. After the game you maybe have to give him two days of recovery instead of one. "I played for 10 years with a problem with my knee. To play a lot of games in a season is a lot of stress for your body." Doubt Midfielder Michael Essien is also a doubt after recently suffering two serious knee injuries, and Ancelotti added: "He (Cole) doesn't have a problem today but this pitch is different. It is the same for Essien. "After training, we will take a decision. If he is comfortable on this pitch, he'll play. If he is not comfortable, he will not." Essien could feel the pressure to play after fellow midfielder Ramires was sidelined for the clash with an ankle knock. The Brazilian was the latest casualty in Ancelotti's injury-plagued squad, with Alex, Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa, Yossi Benayoun and Frank Lampard already ruled out of Tuesday's game. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_6453377,00.html

Well played Yossi. However, someone somewhere has fucked up and should be made responsible for misdiagnosing his injury!

The difference between Kakuta and di Santo/Sinclair is that he'll end up playing 75% of games at a club like Blackburn, for instance.

Anelka deserves a rest... Kalou maybe to start?

Thank God! Kalou

I don't either mate. We owed the clean sheet yesterday to Ivanovic as well, what a challenge that was to block Ireland's shot! :cfc:

Agreed. As a goalkeeper myself, I can vouch that it takes a lot of courage to go in where it hurts. I know how it can also be a massive psychological barrier, as I received a horror injury along the same lines. I was 11 and playing in goal, and a sliding collision involving myself an an opposition striker saw my knee cap almost ripped out. I had to have a metal plate put in there, and now I have to wear protection on my left knee and a strapping on my left leg to offer some support. It really frightens me when I go to ground where there are boots and studs, so I know how Petr feels. It's really, really scary and I still haven't got over it.

What? It's a pertinent point. Terry and Lampard will join the bracket of legends that includes Harris, Osgood and Zola. Cole, Cech, Essien and Drogba will join the likes of Kerry Dixon, Dennis Wise and Marcel Desailly.

An interesting stat is that Petr Cech has kept 11 clean sheets in his last 14 Premier League appearances.

Average? He was less than average. Woeful is a more suited description.

Any news on Kalou? We've missed him!

Probably Malouda's way of saying 'this wouldn't happen if we were still playing the Diamond, Carlo'

I have to say, Cech's been phenomenal this season. Besides the combination of an odd mistake and sheer bad luck (the punch at West Ham wasn't that bad at all as Parker did brilliantly and the flap at Zilina which led to their consolation goal after hitting Ivanovic), he's been as good as I can remember. His performance yesterday was certainly his best since the Nou Camp when we held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw; his handling was faultless and he made a couple of really good saves. Even when he didn't make saves, his presence of mind and quick reactions put both Ireland and Reo-Coker off and rushed them into taking their shots early. He's made some excellent stops this season; a couple in the Arsenal game, a few smart saves yesterday and I also can recall a superb save to deny Graham Dorrans against West Brom back in August. He also seems to be a lot more vocal than he has been in the past - something I have been quite critical of. With no Alex yesterday I was worried that Villa might be too physical for us but Cech marshalled the team well and I can't fault him this season so far. It's great to see him back to his best - only three goals conceded in 10 games and 7 clean sheets. Well done Petr. :cfc:

The only thing that might stop him achieving legend status is that he played for Arsenal I joke of course If he ends his career with us there is no doubt in my mind he'll be a Blues legend - of course not in the same bracket as Terry and Lampard but certainly on par with the likes of Essien, Drogba and Cech.

He should be loaned to a Premier League club and nowhere else!

Only Jim can do it I think... personally I think we should just change the boxes so for the last match it has an RSS feed with a link to the latest post in the Match Reports forum, and the next match box is just a link to the The Match forum.