BlueLion.

Ancelotti will play to the strengths of the players he has - in all fairness, the squad we have and the type of players we have should have worked well in a 4-1-2-1-2. However I think Carlo's realised you don't need to fix what isn't broken and that a 4-3-3 works well with our players as we used it under Mourinho, Grant, Scolari AND Hiddink.

Up! http://www.talkchelsea.net/players/nicolas-anelka

I hope he'll be fine, but like you say, after 12 months out it will be hard for him.

Excellent point, I made that point to my dad (who has supported the club for 42 years) the other day.

Eight words: José Bosingwa Branislav Ivanovic Paulo Ferreira. No thanks.

Yes, the game should be for youngsters but playing a team of reserves is futile. We need some experienced heads in there, ie.: Turnbull Ferreira, Ivanovic, Bruma, van Aanholt Essien McEachran, Kakuta Sturridge, Anelka, Kalou Playing any more than four young players would be Wenger-esque.

Judging by Carlo's rotation policy, I think we'll see something along these lines: Cech Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Cole Ramires, Mikel, Benayoun Kalou, Drogba, Malouda Resting Ivanovic, Zhirkov, Anelka and Essien - all of whom I see playing against Newcastle.

The home one looks tight but it really really isn't! Don't get fooled into buying a size larger, because the TechFit ones the players wear are to help circulate air and prevent moisture (sweat) build-up. The away kit appears to be the same.

Best Moment - beating Arsenal at Highbury in the Champions League in 2004. Worst Moment - losing at Anfield in the Champions League to the Goal That Wasn't or being knocked out in 2009 by the referee. A lot of people have said the Champions League final - but I am extremely proud of how well we played that day, and see it as a great night in the club's history. We were so unlucky that night, but against Liverpool and Barcelona we were cheated and to me that hurts more. Funniest Moment - I remember Alex scoring a free-kick against Rosenborg in 2007 in a 4-0 win; one of the guys in the wall did a cartwheel . Grant's celebration was hilarious too.Best Manager - José Mourinho. I love Ancelotti but Mourinho was pure entertainment and a great motivator. His substitutions were always spot on. Worst Manager - Scolari. I liked him as a person but his monotonous methods meant as soon as one team found out how to contain us, everyone did. The only reason he wasn't sacked earlier is because we were so bloody good away from home in the league (mainly thanks to Anelka's goalscoring). Favourite Player - There are plenty - Lampard, Cech, Zola, Makelele, di Matteo, Cudicini, etc. But if I had to choose one it would be Eidur Gudjohnsen. Least favourite Player - N/A. I've always tried to support every Chelsea player and I can't say I disliked anyone whilst they were at Chelsea. However since moving on, probably William Gallas fits the bill. Favourite goal - either Wayne Bridge against Arsenal, Eidur Gudjohnsen's bicycle kick against Leeds or Tiago's wonder-goal against United. Best game attended - Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool. The atmosphere was magical and I went through every emotion that night; from despair to joy. Either that or the Stoke games last season where we won 2-1 away and 7-0 at home. At the away match I had flu, so when we scored in the last minute I went mental with everyone else, and I was buzzing on adrenaline for hours The 7-0 was the best I've ever seen us play, I think, some of the football was magnificent. Worst game attended - I can't really say. The Burnley game in 2008/09, when we lost on penalties, was pretty shocking. But I can't really recall... it would probably have been some disappointing away defeat I don't try to remember Favourite chant/song - JU-LI-A-NO BELL-EEEEET-TIIII! What does being a Chelsea fan mean to you? Everything and nothing. On the grand scheme of things, there are so many things that are more important than football. To me, that's family and friends, and at this moment sixth form and university. But at the same time, what is the first thing I think about when I wake up? When I see a five-foot-diameter Chelsea emblem on the far wall and massive posters of Cech, Lampard and pictures of Stamford Bridge, scarves and flags draped all over the place, that thing is Chelsea Football Club. I have a strange relationship with this club where it means EVERYTHING AND NOTHING to me. To me, it's my life, whilst at the same time my family and friends are. It just means so much to me, but it's hard to put it into words. Put it this way - my mood reflects how well we're doing in terms of results these days And the thing I look forward to most is going to football matches with my dad and best mate.

Yeah I'm sure JT will take a painkilling injection of some kind if he is struggling. News on Bosingwa - Ancelotti expects this long-term injured right-back Jose Bosingwa to play in a training ground reserve match against Fulham next Wednesday.

Terrible news about his father. But this is testament to the character that Carlo has.

No JT? Source?

I hope you're right pal.

Preach.

He can go and fuck himself as far as I'm concerned. His attitude appears as bad as Ronaldo's. He missed his chance to join us, and he can live with that thought for the rest of his career.

Has anyone actually seen Delac play? More to point, no-one has seen him play in the Premier League, so I don't quite think he'll be in our first team straight away.

I certainly hope he hasn't broken his back, or that could be his career over.

Frank Lampard is not yet fully recovered from surgery on his groin and will not be available for Sunday's game. Carlo Ancelotti believes the midfielder could make his return in the Carling Cup against Newcastle on Wednesday. Jose Bosingwa remains unavailable but Yossi Benayoun will be in the squad. The Jewish holy day that will keep Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim away from West Ham's game on Saturday finishes before Sunday. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2157176,00.html

As already said; Gylfi Sigurdsson, who signed for Hoffenheim.

He's an alright player, was very good for Standard Liege anyway. Was top scorer in Belgium in 08/09 I think, but he hasn't really made much of an impression at Monaco.

Looks like the same template as the home goalkeeper shirt, but with last year's colour scheme. Here are some pictures:

I almost found myself willing Kalou to come on at points, reckon he'd have had a field day.

Lyon might just surprise us all again

http://www.talkchelsea.net/zilina1-4chelsea.html

MŠK Žilina 1-4 Chelsea Josh McEachran made his début as Chelsea cruised to victory against Slovakian champions MŠK Žilina. The win was relatively routine - Chelsea had established a comfortable 3-0 lead within half an hour, but a spirited second half performance from the hosts saw them grab a consolation goal when Petr Cech missed a cross, allowing Tomas Oravec to poke home after confusion in the Chelsea penalty area. But the Žilina goal was academic - Carlo Ancelotti's side had already guaranteed the perfect start to their quest to win the Champions League; a trophy which has thus far evaded Roman Abramovich. Michael Essien continued his rich vein of form in front of goal by opening the scoring, before a Nicolas Anelka brace and a first Champions League goal for Daniel Sturridge secured an emphatic victory for the Blues. Ancelotti was even given the luxury of bringing on a number of Chelsea's rising stars - 17 year-old Josh McEachran was joined by fellow substitutes Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt as the Chelsea manager shuffled his pack. Ashley Cole, Paulo Ferreira, Ramires and Salomon Kalou were rested, whilst Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard missed out through suspension and injury respectively. Sturridge, Yuri Zhirkov and the excellent Yossi Benayoun all made their first starts of the season. As expected, Žilina came out of the starting blocks at lightning-quick speed in a bid to unnerve the Blues amidst a cacophony of noise generated by their home supporters, but it was Chelsea who opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Essien found the bottom corner after an incisive passing move down the left. Anelka's run split the home side's defence apart, before his pull-back was cleverly left by Florent Malouda, enabling Essien to bury his third goal in two matches. Robert Jez then brought a save out of Petr Cech with a low free-kick that was well-dealt with by the Chelsea goalkeeper; the slippery ball initially evading the Czech's grip but the Chelsea goalkeeper recovered well. Babatounde Bello then was presented with a chance, but just as the home side looked to have the measure of Ancelotti's men, it was 2-0 thanks to a neat Anelka finish. Malouda supplied the killer through-ball, and Anelka's effort was low and true - although goalkeeper Martin Dubravka should definitely have done better considering the angle. Nevertheless, Chelsea were home and hosed with barely 24 minutes left. Four minutes later, Anelka had his second. Malouda's corner was headed goalwards by John Terry, who saw his effort tipped on to the woodwork by Dubravka. However the ball fell kindly for the Blues, with both Anelka and Alex in position to sweep the ball home from a yard. The Frenchman did the honours and with less than a third of the game completed, Chelsea's assault on the Champions League was in full flight. Chelsea were not yet done and had another decent effort to increase the score just before half-time. In a well-worked team move, Terry fed the marauding Yuri Zhirkov who was spending more time in the opponent's half than his own. The Russian slipped the ball to Malouda who was denied only by a very brave block by a Žilina defender. Admir Vladavic forced a good save out of Cech before the half was done, but the Blues were cruising. Barely a minute was on the clock when it was made 4-0 thanks to a brilliant move that was capped off by the best finish of the match. Benayoun - who had grown in influence throughout the first half - played a perfect through-ball for Sturridge to run to. An example of calmness and composure, Sturridge rounded Dubravka and slotted home confidently for his first ever Champions League goal. The Chelsea players celebrated in front of the pocket of supporters from West London - the Blues were well on their way to another goal-fest. But the chances of another 6-0 romp were quashed when lacklustre goalkeeping from Cech handed the hosts a reprieve. Missing a cross, the ball unfortunately hit the bemused Ivanovic, who could only look on as Oravec poked home a consolation - at least the home fans now had a goal to celebrate. What will anger Ancelotti was the nature of the goal - it was entirely self-inflicted and totally avoidable. The vociferous home support had warranted some reward, and the Žilina fans were nearly celebrating a second goal but Vladavic crashed a shot into the side netting with Cech at full stretch looking nervous. The Chelsea goalkeeper then fumbled a catch under pressure, and in doing so surrendered a corner - thankfully it was fruitless from a Chelsea perspective. With the four-goal lead established, Sturridge made way for Gael Kakuta on the hour mark while Žilina replaced ex-Chelsea reserves player Momodou Ceesay with Tomás Majtan. Dubravka then denied Essien a second goal of the game when he scooped the Ghanaian's drive from distance away from danger, but there was a decent penalty shout for the Blues when Malouda was hacked down in the box despite the presence of UEFA's extra official behind the goalline, thus robbing Anelka of a chance to secure his hat-trick. The Blues did have the ball in the net once more - Kakuta firing home but only after the offside flag had been raised against Anelka who was fighting tooth and nail for one decent chance to score his third of the game. By this point, McEachran and van Aanholt had joined the action, replacing Benayoun and Malouda. Anelka did get another chance, but fired wide from an acute angle - and a Jez freekick at the other end left Cech untroubled as Ancelotti's side played out the remaining minutes in relative comfort. The result will please the Chelsea manager, and he will no doubt be happy with the goalscoring form of his side, as well as the excellent performance of Yossi Benayoun. Chelsea fans will be delighted seeing McEachran for the first time in the senior squad, whilst Kakuta also showed glimpses of brilliance in his cameo role. Daniel Sturridge also impressed; his goal well-taken - and John Mikel Obi, Michael Essien and Nicolas Anelka were all at their imperious best. Tougher challenges await but the win is the perfect tonic as the Blues look to cure their Champions League hangover. ___________________________________________________________________ MŠK Žilina - Dubravka; Guldan (Angelovic 78), Piacek, Pecalka, Mraz; Jez, Bello; Rilke, Ceesay (Majtan 60), Vladavic; Oravec Chelsea - Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry ©, Zhirkov; Benayoun (McEachran 78), Essien, Mikel; Malouda (Van Aanholt 88), Anelka, Sturridge (Kakuta 60) The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 10, Yossi Benayoun