BlueLion.

I'll get the camera out at the weekend then

Order of sour grapes to go, waiter.

I can't possibly take photos of everything I own that is Chelsea, I think it would take me a month!

Season long loan in the top flight maybe? Would be ideal.

That's my point; over recent performances, he has shown better form than Carvalho, but Riccy of course has been injured. Maybe we could play either AdC or Riccy alongside Terry and the other at LB?

I really think that Frank this season has been as produtice as Frank in 2005/06.

I'd seriously consider playing Ivanovic LB and Belletti RB.

Agreed. Have to win every game. It would feel like winning the EPL if we beat Liverpool to 2nd if you ask me.

If you'd have offered me one trophy a couple of months back I'd have chewed your hand off. However as we approach the tail end of the campaign we are still in the running for three major honours. Being totally realistic, the PL is United's to lose and it would be nothing short of a miracle if we claimed the title. The FA Cup is a brilliant shot at glory but this is Everton's first chance of a trophy for over 10 years, and they'll be up for it. If we can overcome Barcelona as well, then the CL is a possibility as well. We could end up with 2 or even all 3, maybe we'll end up with nothing, but my heart of hearts says one trophy is on the cards, and that's great IMO.

I can see your reasoning there, Esk, but on current form, Alex deserves his place purely on merit, in my view.

Flo Cole

Good decision by the Drog, it would appear.

Arsenal 1 - 2 Chelsea F.C. Saturday 18th April 2009, FA Cup Semi Final, Wembley Stadium, London Petr Cech and Chelsea captain John Terry celebrate at full-time. Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba scored to send Chelsea through to their second FA Cup Final in three seasons. Theo Walcott opened the scoring for Arsenal when his deflected effort wrong-footed Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, but Florent Malouda's magnificent equalising goal saw Chelsea restore parity before the half-time interval. After dominating for long periods of the second half, the Blues secured a return to Wembley when Didier Drogba latched onto Frank Lampard's brilliant lofted ball, rounded Arsenal shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski and slotted the ball home to delight Blues boss Guus Hiddink. The win means that the Dutch tactician will bow out of his role as interim manager of the club on the 30th of May as Chelsea return for a showpiece final against Everton, after the Merseyside team dispatched Premier League leaders Manchester United 4-2 on penalties following 120 minutes of stalemate. And with Everton Chelsea's next opponents on Wednesday evening, the Blues may be able to gain a psychological advantage over their opponents should they defeat the Toffees in a crucial top six encounter. With John Terry returning following European suspension, Ricardo Carvalho was relegated to the bench as Brazilian defender Alex continued at the heart of Chelsea's defence. Branislav Ivanovic retained his right-back position after another imperious performance on Tuesday against Liverpool, and Nicolas Anelka's match-turning performance earned him a recall to the side; Salomon Kalou dropping to the bench. Arsenal were blighted by a number of defensive injuries, with William Gallas a notable absentee at the back. With Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy also missing, Abou Diaby came into the starting eleven to give protection to young left-back Keiron Gibbs. Andrei Arshavin was available as a substitute. Chelsea started the better of the two teams, but the Wembley pitch was marking it hard for the players to spread the ball across the field with any conviction. There was some indecision amongst the Arsenal ranks with little over three minutes played when Drogba intuitively headed goalwards after capitalising on defensive ineptitude, but the distance to the goal was too great, allowing Keiron Gibbs to clear his header from almost 20 yards. The game was subject to a quiet spell as both teams sized each other up, but it was difficult for both teams to play their free-flowing, fluid football, as the ball bobbled across the poor pitch. After 16 minutes, Emmanuel Adebayor played in Gibbs, who cut back to Theo Walcott. The teenager, who had scored his first Arsenal goal in the 2007 Carling Cup Final, saw his effort deflect off Ashley Cole's arm, leaving Cech helpless as it bounced onto and over his stretching frame. However, immediately at the other end, Malouda was close to finding the net as his brilliant low drive across the face of the goal crept under the body of the nervous Arsenal goalkeeper and flashed just wide of the post. Frank Lampard then shot weakly from range before Drogba lashed wide from 22 yards. Slowly but surely, Chelsea were in the ascendancy - the Arsenal goal was completely against the run of play. But with just over half an hour played, the Blues were level, and deservedly so. Lampard played a brilliant pass to Malouda on the edge of the area, and the French winger brilliantly cut inside Emmanuel Eboue before rifling the ball into the corner. It was a superb finish from Chelsea's number 15, who has demonstrated excellent form over the past fortnight. Anelka then hit the woodwork after Malouda had distracted Diaby, who surrendered possession of the ball to Chelsea's top scorer, but his low effort ricocheted off the post. Malouda, Ballack, Ivanovic and Lampard then all combined to tee up Essien, who stung the palms of Fabianski with a rasping drive. Ballack and Ivanovic then found themselves in the book for lunges on van Persie, who earned Arsenal some much-needed respite. Anelka headed straight at the goalkeeper before the interval as Chelsea seized control of the match. Robin van Persie was inches away from converting a Walcott cross as the second half kicked off, but the Dutchman failed to make contact as the ball sped across the face of the goal. At the other end, Lampard had an effort deflected behind for a corner and found Fabianski's gloves with a volleyed effort, as the Blues looked to press for a second goal that would surely put the game beyond the reach of their London rivals. Despite taking the lead, Arsenal had offered precious little going forward and were looking uncomfortable defensively thanks to the efforts of Anelka, Drogba and Malouda. Martin Atkinson then waved away a penalty claim as Silvestre and Drogba wrestled in the area, but it would have been a harsh decision to award a spot-kick, as replays indicated both players had a hold of the other. On 84 minutes, Drogba converted a brilliant pass from Lampard to give Chelsea the lead after rounding the goalkeeper and sliding the ball into the bottom corner. It was another well-worked Chelsea goal that was reminiscent of the Ivorian's finish against Coventry in the quarter-final at the Ricoh Arena. Alex then blocked a shit from Arsenal substitute Andrei Arshavin before Lampard hacked the ball away in his own penalty area as Chelsea hung on to claim a famous victory. The Blues would be returning to Wembley in just over a month's time, and their endeavour and attitude certainly deserved it. ___________________________________________________________________ The TalkChelsea.net Star Man award goes to... Florent Malouda, Chelsea F.C. Coupled with his brilliantly-taken equalising goal, the Frenchman's considerable effort made him an ideal candidate for man of the match. Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry ©, A Cole; Ballack, Essien, Lampard; Anelka (Kalou), Drogba, Malouda Arsenal: Fabianski; Eboué, Touré, Silvestre, Gibbs; Walcott, Fàbregas, Denilson (Nasri), Diaby, Van Persie (Arshavin); Adebayor (Bendtner)

Don't make me talk in Gibberish, Badboy You'll all regret it...

Haha brilliant

Well, at the way we're playing after going a goal down, it can't hurt.

Maicon's the Dog's IMO. Think Alves ought to let the football do the talking.

If he breaks Messi's leg as well, its two birds with one stone.

What a pleb. Shame we don't need him. All he does is sit on the bench with a permanently worried look on his face. Someone ought to tell him he gets £100,000 a week for doing fuck all. I'd love that.

Anyone fancy joining in on a chorus of 'YOU ARE SHIT, YOU ARE SHIT'?

Can't fucking fault him at the minute. Long may it continue. Hope he keeps the silly hairdo, gives him magic powers.

Its 99% going to be exactly that, I reckon. Shame, could have been much better.

Welcome

The FA Cup Final Chelsea vs. Everton Saturday 30 May 2009, Wembley Stadium, London, 15:00 KO Chelsea face Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. The Blues won the competition in 2007, when a brilliant one-two between Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard saw the former poke the ball beyond Edwin van der Sar to beat Manchester United 1-0 in the first FA Cup Final to be contested at the new Wembley Stadium. Two years later, the Blues return to their 'second home' in search of more silverware, after Guus Hiddink's troops dispatched Arsenal 2-1 in a semi-final, thanks to goals from Drogba and Florent Malouda. In the final they will face Everton, who knocked out favourites Manchester United 4-2 on penalties after former United goalkeeper Tim Howard denied Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand with crucial saves during the shootout. Over recent seasons, Everton have vastly improved and their results against Chelsea have been hugely respectable, with the Merseyside team earning a draw against the Blues earlier in the season at Goodison Park. Tim Cahill's stoppage-time overhead kick saw the Toffees earn a last-gasp draw at Stamford Bridge the season before and but for a Drogba equaliser, the Blue side of Liverpool would have ended the 2006/07 season with an unlikely victory. Everton also secured a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge in April 2009, though only the crossbar denied Didier Drogba a last-minute winner. However, Chelsea's form in cup competitions against Everton is excellent; the Blues beat their rivals home and away in 2008 to progress to the Carling Cup Final, winning 3-1 on aggregate, and a 4-1 victory over the Merseyside outfit in the 2005/06 season was one of the Blues' most complete performances of the season. The Path to the Final Chelsea began 2009 in unconvincing style as the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Southend United of League One. Salomon Kalou had headed home in the first half, and only acrobatic goalkeeper denied Franco di Santo in the last minute as Chelsea looked to play out for a barely-deserved win. However, Peter Clarke nodded past Carlo Cudicini to set up a replay which Chelsea eventually won 4-1, coming from behind to seal the win with a trademark strike from Frank Lampard. Michael Ballack scored his first goal of the season to equalise in the first half. Everton, on the other hand, had no trouble fending off lower league opposition, although a 1-0 victory away at Macclesfield Town suggests otherwise. Leon Osman's stunning half-volley on the stroke of half-time was enough for the Toffees as Phi Jagielka and Leighton Baines both had efforts well saved in an entertaining first half. Everton were tested in the Fourth Round as they were drawn against the might of their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool. Joleon Lescott put Everton ahead at Anfield only for Steven Gerrard to fire home after Tim Howard allowed the Liverpool captain's shot to squirm through his fingers. A 1-0 win in a replay at Goodison Park saw young Dan Gosling score a brilliant winner in extra-time, after Lucas Leiva had been sent off for the visitors. Chelsea's path to the fifth round was more simple; defeating Ipswich Town 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Alex Bruce equalised for the Championship strugglers after Michael Ballack had put the Blues ahead, but a spectacular freekick from the German gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead. Frank Lampard then bettered his midfield colleague with a stunning 35 yard freekick to book Chelsea's place in the last sixteen. Everton then smashed Aston Villa 3-1 at Goodison Park, with goals from Jack Rodwell, Tim Cahill and the brilliant Mikel Arteta. Villa had equalised from the spot when James Milner converted, but the Toffees were too strong and ran out healthy victors. Chelsea came from behind at Vicarage Road to beat Watford 1-3, thanks to a sublime perfect hattrick from Nicolas Anelka. Tamas Priskin beat Petr Cech to put the Hornets 1-0 up, but an overhead kick, header and an emphatic right-footed blast from Anelka set up a tie with Coventry in the Quarter-Finals. Everton would face Middlesbrough. Chelsea's victory at the Ricoh Arena was an efficient one; with Didier Drogba and Alex scoring for Guus Hiddink's team. Drogba first rounded the Coventry goalkeeper Westwood to blast home before Alex converted a brilliant cross from Ricardo Quaresma to send Chelsea to Wembley. Everton found themselves 1-0 down at home at half-time to David Wheater's goal, but second-half strikes from Fellaini and Saha gave the hosts victory to set-up a mouth-watering tie with Manchester United. Everton triumphed 4-2 on penalties after extra time saw the two sides deadlocked at 0-0. Tim Howard saved a lazy effort from Berbatov before Rio Ferdinand's spot kick was excellent kept out by the American, although United were right to claim for a penalty in the second half. Nevertheless, the Toffees set up a clash in the final with Chelsea, who triumphed 2-1 over Arsenal in a pulse-pounding London derby. Theo Walcott's deflected effort beat Petr Cech before Florent Malouda's beautiful goal restored parity. Drogba then netted a carbon copy of the goal he scored at the Ricoh Arena to send the blue half of Wembley into ecstacy. Can the Ivorian do it again in the final? In what is to be Guus Hiddink's final game in charge of Chelsea, can the Dutchman mastermind a famous victory as Chelsea reach the FA Cup Final for a phenomenal fourth time in 10 seasons?

Delighted, to be honest.