BlueLion.

I'm sure the Bundesliga has started... Dortmund won 3-2 away... or am I losing my marbles?

Sir Alex Ferguson

I think ultimately it was JT's sign of commitment, pride and loyalty to the cause following the Champions League final, coupled with Rio's outburst at Stamford Bridge in April where he assaulted a female steward, that earned Terry the armband. In my head I can hear Scolari's words - "Very good choice!"

Yes, and when he did they were shite

2-0 win looks likely for me. First home game of the season for Wigan so they will be fired up, no doubt. Should be a good game.

Kenyon doesn't like offering contracts during the season, May next year is the most likely time we'll see him sign.

Hold on? They're dominating!

Wigan Athletic versus Chelsea F.C. Looking to add to their excellent opening day display, Chelsea head north to Wigan, where the Blues have won all three of their previous league encounters with the Latics. Last season, Frank Lampard and Juliano Belletti fired the Blues to three points as Chelsea looked to close the gap on Arsenal. Can the Blues make it six from six? Match chat here.

Welcome to the forum

COME ON NEWCASTLE!

On Radio Five Live, LFS said that Balley needs a couple of scans and said he may miss four or five weeks.

Its all written by me, mate

The TC Match Report - http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2424

Chelsea F.C. 4 - 0 Portsmouth August 17 2008, Premier League, Stamford Bridge, London A majestic opening performance to the Premier League season saw Chelsea destroy Portsmouth. Joe Cole fired home following Michael Ballack's marvellous pass, before Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard added goals before the interval. Deco's thunderous fourth was the pick of the goals as Chelsea swept aside Harry Redknapp's team in Luiz Felipe Scolari's first competitive match in charge of the Blues. Deadly from start to finish, the Chelsea crowd were treated to some magnificent football as Scolari elected to field a side full of pace and attacking energy. With Didier Drogba still on the sidelines, Nicolas Anelka was given the opportunity to take his excellent pre-season form into a match situation, with Joe Cole and debutant Deco featuring behind the French striker. Michael Ballack was given a start with Michael Essien nursing an injury, and Frank Lampard and Mikel John Obi also in the midfield three. Ashley Cole, John Terry, and Portuguese duo Ricardo Carvalho and Jose Bosingwa completed the line-up, with Petr Cech in goal. Portsmouth were not without talent themselves, as their side featured both Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch up front, whilst Glen Johnson and Lassana Diarra played against their former employers. Chelsea began with much vigour, relentlessly spraying passes all across the field. Deco and Lampard were central to the Blues' creative genius as they looked for an early advantage. After combining with Mikel and Bosingwa, Michael Ballack was able to present Joe Cole with such an opportunity. Playing the ball perfectly beyond Sylvain Distin and into Cole's path, last season's player of the year did not disappoint as he lashed the ball beyond a beleaguered David James. The Blues were rampant and their attacking enthusiasm was greatly received by the Stamford Bridge faithful, who were in excellent voice throughout this seemingly difficult opening fixture. However, Chelsea were adamant on sending out a message to Liverpool and Arsenal, who both began their seasons with hard-fought 1-0 victories against Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion respectively. And the home side were 2-0 up within twenty six minutes, as Nicolas Anelka rose to head home under pressure. Having previously been denied brilliantly by the feet of James, Anelka beat Glen Johnson in the air to power home a bullet header after Deco had lofted it into the six yard box. With David James in No Man's Land, the Frenchman coolly made it 4-0 to the West London outfit. Anelka was in fine form; firing over from range on a number of occasions, and his pace and intelligent running was causing no end of problems for the Pompey defenders, but Chelsea's attacking play suffered a setback when Michael Ballack was forced to retire due to injury. His replacement; Florent Malouda, almost made an instant impact, but his low cross across the face of the goal failed to be converted by the waiting Chelsea forwards. Cech was called into action twice moments later, denying first Krancjar before smothering an effort by Crouch with his body, before Lampard put the game beyond the reach of the visitors. Winning a penalty after Distin obviously handled Joe Cole's cross, the England international sent James the wrong way with a cool spot kick to strike on the opening day of the season for the second time in two campaigns. The second half saw Chelsea play much more conservatively, the game already in no doubt. However Portsmouth were mustering somewhat of a fight back, and it took strong defending from Terry and Mikel to prevent Harry Redknapp's side from forcing an opening. Ricardo Carvalho was lucky to escape with what appeared to be a handball in the penalty area, but the Portuguese defender's arms were positioned close to his body and any contact would have been accidental. Defoe and Crouch were struggling against the athleticism of the Chelsea backline and Cech's dominance in the air, and save for a poor punch from the Czech goalkeeper, Portsmouth failed to push the Czech into action. Joe Cole burst through the Portsmouth defence by under pressure from Distin, fired a couple of yards wide, before Anelka fired inches over. Lampard, who had tested James' handling early on with a number of driving efforts, launched a clever pass to the far post following Deco's short corner, but Carvalho miscued his header and the chance went begging. However Chelsea's commitment to attack paid off as Deco scored an incredible - and deserved - debut goal. Receiving the ball from Wright-Phillips, he took two touches before smashing the ball into the top corner of the goal from all of twenty five yards. Whilst James got a hand to the ball, the power of the shot from Chelsea's number 20 took the ball beyond the England goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Portsmouth fashioned their best chance straight from the kick-off, but Younes Kaboul's shot was straight at Petr Cech who pushed the ball away effectively. The final whistle was sounded, accompanied by massive cheers from the Stamford Bridge faithful. A dominant display in which debutants Jose Bosingwa and Deco starred in complimented by the beautiful football played by the Blues gave Big Phil the perfect start as Chelsea manager. Bring on Wigan! ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Obi, Deco, Joe Cole, Anelka. Subs: Hilario, Di Santo, Malouda, Bridge, Ferreira, Wright-Phillips, Alex. Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Diarra, Diop, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch. Subs: Ashdown, Lauren, Thomas, Utaka, Mvuemba, Cranie, Traore. Attendance: Approx. 41,361 Referee: Mike Dean Star Man : Deco

I think he should donate a month's wages to build a missile to destroy your home

What a fucking goal by Deco! Majestic debut performance by him, and JB17 wasn't half bad either.

Its like watching Brazil

Less than two hours to go now. Come on you Blues!

Thank fuck, I have Essien 5 on about three shirts!

Namibian National Team job, probably

We can all hope Keane was a great player, and it would appear he is becoming a great manager as well. He has taken a mediocre Sunderland side from the Championship into the PL and done a very good job to keep them up, and has strengthened with some top signings over the summer. The man knows his football, and I'm sure he'll be proven right.

If Robinho is available for £32 million, go for it, I say. He's 24 and has much more to give, despite already being brilliant.

Chelsea Player of the Year: Deco Premiership Player of the Year: Deco Chelsea Top Scorer: Drogba Premier League Top Scorer: Adebayor Premier League Winner: Chelsea FA Cup Winner: Man United Champions League Winner: Real Madrid Carling Cup Winner: Chelsea Surprise* Team of the Season: West Brom Surprise* Chelsea Player of the Season: Franco di Santo Surprise* Premiership Player of the Season: Geovanni 99.99% chance this will be proven wrong within a month

Correct

I know, the little guy is gonna get swallowed in rolls.