BlueLion.

- match report

And therefore we don't want him getting injured so early into the season by playing him when he isn't needed.

Unfortunately I can't attend. Bummer.

I think Carlo rotates the squad sensibly, and it positions he can afford to. For example, he wouldn't rest Essien against a team such as Arsenal, or against someone where we will need his drive, and he wouldn't rest Drogba if we were playing against a team who were planning of parking the bus. It's all sensible because he has players who are perfectly suited to replace those who are being rested, for example, against a team who are physical and powerful, you need players like Mikel and Ballack who are tall and strong, but you also need players with pace like Anelka and Malouda.

Sunday 23 August 2009, FA Premier League, Craven Cottage Stadium, London Didier Drogba's third goal of the new Premier League season set Chelsea on the way to victory over West London rivals Fulham. In what was manager Carlo Ancelotti's first London derby of the new campaign, Drogba and his strike partner Nicolas Anelka were let off the leash as the Ivorian opened the scoring with a well-taken finish across Mark Schwarzer after being played through by a wonderful through-ball by Anelka. It was roles reversed when, ten minutes before the close of play, Drogba played in Anelka, who confidently rounded the Australian goalkeeper before shooting into an empty net. Chelsea were rarely troubled by their neighbours, and goalkeeper Petr Cech was seldom called into action. Though it was not as impressive as their high-octane performance against Sunderland in mid-week, Ancelotti praised his team's performance, citing their "mature" display as the difference between the two sides. With maximum points from the Blues' opening three Premier League fixtures and a first clean sheet of the season to boot, confidence is sure to be high amongst the FA Cup holders as they prepare to host Burnley at Stamford Bridge - more than wary of the Clarets' victories over Manchester United and Everton in the space of five days. The Italian coach elected to make a host of changes to the side that came from behind to defeat Steve Bruce's Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, with Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda, John Mikel Obi and Nicolas Anelka all recalled to the starting eleven. Young defender Sam Hutchinson was joined on the bench by Michael Essien and Anderson Deco amongst others, and would come on to make his first senior appearance for the club since May 2007. Fulham made only a single change to the team that won at Portsmouth on the opening weekend, with Andrew Johnson replaced by former Blues winger Damien Duff. Clint Dempsey moved forward to support Bobby Zamora, and it was the American who had the first sight of goal. With barely a minute on the clock, Dempsey swivelled and volleyed over Petr Cech's crossbar with John Terry quickly closing the Fulham forward down. Chelsea countered and a fine surge by Malouda was ended only by a well-timed John Pantsil tackle. The game had begun at a lively tempo, but it was Chelsea who went on to dictate the opening exchanges. Passing the ball amongst their ranks, Chelsea fashioned their first real effort of the match on 12 minutes when Drogba won a freekick after a tussle for a high ball with Hangeland saw the Ivorian fouled by the Fulham defender. Michael Ballack stepped up to take the set-piece, but his aim was wide of the mark as his effort cleared the crossbar by a couple of feet. Ballack then saw a headed effort ricochet off of Dickson Etuhu, who did well to deny the German space to meet a Malouda cross that had been floated in from the near flank. John Mikel Obi had earlier seen a sumptuously-hit volley fizz wide of Schwarzer's post with the Australian clearly concerned. A corner had found its way to the Nigerian, who, from a distance of thirty yards, powered a ferociously-hit volley a fraction wide of the mark. Chelsea were looking dangerous, but were finding it hard to break Fulham down, and tight - and incorrect - offside calls were frustrating Ancelotti's team. John Terry saw an effort from distance go over the bar before the deadlock was finally broken on 38 minutes when Drogba converted. Carvalho passed to Lampard, who instantly combined with Frenchman Nicolas Anelka. The Chelsea number 39 had provided a sensational through-ball to Drogba for the Ivorian's goal in a 3-1 over their West London neighbours in May, and a similarly-executed pass allowed Drogba the room to break behind the Fulham defence. Drogba duly converted the chance and buried the ball into the corner of the net, beyond the outstretched leg of the goalkeeper, and Chelsea had a deserved half-time lead. Fulham emerged for the restart with renewed vigour and it took a superb header from Carvalho to clear a long ball from Hangeland after Cech had come a long distance to fail to collect the ball; Carvalho excelled to head it behind for a corner with Dempsey bearing down on goal. At the other end, Chelsea almost found the net again through Drogba, who again combined with Anelka, only to see his effort on the turn from a very tight angle instinctively saved by Schwarzer. After good play by the ever-involved Drogba and Lampard, Malouda volleyed wide of the far upright from outside the area, and the Frenchman latter ballooned a 25-yard effort over the crossbar on his weaker right foot. Lampard then shot wide after being played into space by Drogba, but Chelsea's worth ethic - dominant and controlling - was not being matched by the amount of clear-cut chances being created. The visiting supporters were in good voice, however, and though their team were being denied by the industrious Fulham backline, Chelsea continued to push forward in search of the goal that would ensure the three points would be heading to the Stamford Bridge outfit. That goal came with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the match. Ballack and Drogba played a glorious one-two, and the Ivorian returned the favour to Anelka by slipping the ball between the Fulham centre-backs and perfectly into the path of Anelka's perfectly-timed run. A simple touch around the goalkeeper and a finish into an unguarded net followed, and the game belonged to Ancelotti's team. Erik Nevland hooked a shot over Cech's crossbar from an acute angle and only alert goalkeeping by Schwarzer and a tight offside call denied Chelsea scoring a third goal - with the Australian first collecting a dangerous Drogba cross that was destined for Anelka's forehead, before looking on as a Ballack goal was prevented by both the linesman's flag and a wayward finish from the German. But the game was already won and Chelsea now stand three points clear of Manchester United and Arsenal, with only Tottenham's superior goal difference keeping the Blues from topping the Premier League table. Liverpool find themselves six points behind Ancelotti's side ahead of their match against Aston Villa tomorrow evening - let's hope Martin O'Neill's side can keep it that way. ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech; Bosingwa (Hutchinson), Carvalho, Terry ©, A Cole; Ballack, Mikel, Malouda; Anelka, Lampard (Deco); Drogba Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Gera (Kamara), Murphy © (Baird), Etuhu, Duff; Dempsey, Zamora (Nevland). The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 11; Didier Drogba

Great result, performance wasn't fantastic but we were rarely threatened. Anelka's first of the season and a clean sheet for Cech - not bad.

The boy's got talent and I think the sooner we play him as a forward rather than a winger, the better. He's very much in the Anelka mould and though he's going to be away in Africa for a few weeks I see no reason why he can't score a dozen goals for us this season.

I wish them the speediest of recoveries. Two people are being held over the incident.

FA Cup will start in January for Chelsea, and Carling Cup in September, along with the CL matches. I'd recommend going to as many home cup/CL group matches as possible because the tickets are cut-price.

I fancy 2-0, myself. Lampard will score - he always does against Full Ham.

Bloody hell. If this is true, looks like our boys are gonna need some slapping and spitting techniques from Didier and JT respectively. We can't be having our new generation beaten up now, can we?

Chelsea vs Burnley VS The FA Premier League, Saturday 29th August, 2009, Stamford Bridge - 12:45 PM Kick-off Chelsea host Burnley as they look to continue their sound start to the new Premier League season. Owen Coyles' side pulled off the most remarkable of upsets last season, when, in a Carling Cup fixture, the Clarets knocked out Luiz Felipe Scolari's side on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw after extra-time. Chelsea will be looking to avenge last season's poor showing with a dominant display - and after the coin throwing incident in this fixture last term, I wonder what the odds on a Didier Drogba hat-trick are? Match chat here - C'MON THE BLUES!

The squad we have is stronger than any other in the EPL. I just hope we don't end up to regret missing out on Kun Aguero.

I can see him get around 170-180 before he's done; there's no way he can continue scoring 20 a season.

Joe Cole will likely be the one who plays behind the two strikers. I can't help but feel Ancelotti will change the midfield to a 4-1-3-2 rather than move Lampard, and by bringing him deeper we will see the best of him.

I really wouldn't give a shit.

If he scores 5/6 goals this season as a sub I'd happily see him in the squad.

Would be nice to see another Joe Cole-inspired win over Tottenham at the Bridge

Chin Up. Felt really proud after that game. We played like Champions.

West Ham United footballer Calum Davenport is having surgery on both legs after he and his mother were stabbed, his spokesman has said. Mr Davenport, 26, and his mother are both in a serious condition after being stabbed at their home in Bedford. Police said the attack happened late on Friday. West Ham said its thoughts were with the player and his family. The defender and former England under-21 joined West Ham from Tottenham for £3m in 2007. He had a spell on loan for Sunderland last season and also played for Coventry City. A West Ham spokesman said: "The club's medical team are in contact with hospital staff. "The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family and, due to the on-going investigation, no further information will be released." Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8216049.stm

That might make the layout at the bottom look a bit squashed though Jim. I think it looks great as it is tbh.

This is just fucking childish. Get over it.

Looks great Jim.

I'm glad Shevchenko is staying. When Didier and Salomon go away to the African Cup of Nations, his experience will be vital to winning games.

That's fantastic if true.