BlueLion.

I'm not too concerned in fairness, we bossed the first half and they have scored with really their only decent effort. Don't forget, they were 1-0 up and looking comfortable at Anfield as well...

I agree with you. At Porto, though, he never really had to defend because its such an all-out attacking league. I'm sure he'll learn his defensive responsibilites are more pronounced in English football.

Aye. Either that or he's trying to get Ferguson's nose out of joint.

Merge this with the other Kalou thread, Mod.

Class. Gives the media so many headlines his players are only in the news for sporting reasons... works perfectly.

Fergie won't get a response out of Scolari, although I wouldn't mind Felipao giving him a left hook like he did to Dragutinovic

I'd be more concerned with people like Ben Thatcher and Joey Barton still playing football rather JT getting a red card rescinded, fucking hell.

Manchester Ronaldo FC will be leaving The Bridge with fuck all on Sunday, except a bruising

But the best team in the competition doesn't necessarilly win. Porto were hardly anyone's favourites in 2004, only Barcelona winning it in 05/06 has marked the time when one can honestly admit the best team in Europe won the competition. Its just a competition where everyone is on an even playing field.

The return of Ronaldo could work to our advantage. He doesn't play well against Cole and everytime someone challenged him for the ball last night he jumped out of the challenge - his confidence is low.

Chelsea F.C. 4 - 0 Girondins de Bordeaux September 16 2008, UEFA Champions League, Matchday 1, Stamford Bridge, London Chelsea opened their European Cup campaign with a thrashing of Ligue Un side Bordeaux. Frank Lampard opened the scoring on 14 minutes, heading home from Jose Bosingwa's inch-perfect cross, before the England midfielder's corner was glanced into the net by winger Joe Cole. Lampard then instinctively set up Florent Malouda for an exquisite third, before Nicolas Anelka scored from close range, after goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé had brilliantly pushed Juliano Belletti's effort against the bar. It was a dazzling performance from the home side, who can now look ahead to a potentially difficult tie away at CFR Cluj, after the Romanians stunned Italian football with a sensational 2-1 away win in the Estadio Olimpico against Roma. Whilst the Blues were not at their best, the score line was a fair reflection of the game and is a warning to all of Europe. After toppling Manchester City 3-1 at Eastlands on Saturday, Luiz Felipe Scolari elected to field an unchanged line-up, which saw both Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka feature against French opposition. Frank Lampard started, and John Terry - with his league suspension now overturned - captained the side ahead of another memorable season in Europe. Bordeaux featured several well-known players, including Diego Placente, a former teammate of Michael Ballack, as well as former Lyon midfielder Alou Diarra, Maroune Chamakh and Brazilian winger Windel, who netted 12 times in Ligue Un last term. Chelsea started the better of the two teams and the opening exchanges were a clear indication of the route the match would take, with the hosts dominating possession and passing the ball about with ease. It took just fourteen minutes to fashion a breakthrough. Deco and Joe Cole played the ball amongst themselves before the ball was worked wide to Bosingwa, who crossed delightfully gave Lampard with the easiest of headed opportunities. Finishing with aplomb, Lampard celebrated with his teammates as he continued where he left off in last season's competition. Deco had earlier threatened to unleash Joe Cole, but his chipped ball bounced beyond the England winger and through to Ramé, but the floodgates soon opened and Chelsea seized the initiative. Nicolas Anelka had a low shot saved by Ramé and the France goalkeeper did excellently to readjust himself to prevent a freak own-goal from doubling Chelsea's lead. John Terry was presented with a chance from a Lampard corner, but wheeled away disappointedly as his headed effort went wide of the post. However Lampard's brilliance from set-pieces was not to be denied, as his next corner was flicked into the goal by Joe Cole at the near post and into the goal. The Blues could have been three-up moments later, but for uncharacteristic wayward shooting by Lampard. Malouda flicked the ball into the England midfielder's path, but his shot was hit with too much venom and fizzed yards wide. Bordeaux offered little but for a free kick that was lifted onto the roof of the net, with Petr Cech in a comfortable position. However, they begin the second half with much more purpose, and could have had a foothold in the game less than six minutes in, with Fernando having a crack from thirty yards. The strike was powerful but fractionally off target, with Petr Cech watching the ball behind. The Chelsea goalkeeper was called into action on 55 minutes to prevent a corner after a shot had cannoned off Carvalho's shin. Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti came on half-way through the second period, the German replacing Deco and Belletti coming on for Joe Cole, who had shot wide only moments earlier. Both Terry and Carvalho went on sparkling forward runs, before the imperious John Mikel Obi started a stunning move which ripped the French side to pieces. Picking the ball up from Michael Ballack, the Nigerian sped forward before feeding Frank Lampard, who superbly flicked the ball onwards by backheeling it into the path of a well-timed Malouda run. The Chelsea number 15 did not disappoint when one-on-one, and hammered the ball into the net to cap off a sterling move. Carvalho could have netted a goal that his brilliant display warranted, but his header from a Lampard corner crashed against the crossbar. However the Blues were not to be denied a fourth goal, as Anelka slotted home after Ulrich Ramé had tipped Belletti's ferocious 30-yard bullet against the bar, only for his compatriot to prod home calmly. The rout was completed, and with seven goals scored in two matches, Manchester United and all of Europe have been warned. Bring on the European Champions. ___________________________________________________________________ Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole (Belletti), Deco (Ballack), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou), Anelka Bordeaux: Rame, Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente, Diarra, Menegazzo (Ducasse ), Gouffran (Obertan), Gourcuff, Wendell, Chamakh (Cavenaghi) Attendance: 39,365 Star Man : Lampard

Allez les Lyonnais 2-0 down and home and up pops Karim Benzema Great game last night.

Nice one

HE CROSSED THE BALL IN FROM THE LEFT IT LANDED RIGHT ON RIISE'S HEAD THAT'S WHY WE LOVE SALOMON KALOU :D

And I had a photo with Ray on Tuesday night as well

He can brilliant one match and poor the next. He is in a delicate part of his development and needs regular first team football at this stage.

Glad we got those scarves, I was fucking freezing last night

Correct

And yet Terry will be given the same amount of time out for giving Jo's shirt a tug. Ridiculous.

Aye, completely forgot about Drogba. Anelka will probably play well, considering we're playing French

Not sure Henri Saivet is in their CL squad, he's barely played for les Girondins since he joined. Only around 10 matches in Ligue Un I think.

Di Matteo

The only party involved that is being disloyal is the club. 20 years fucking service and it appears they only keep him in his role to give Scolari extra credits with the fans by keeping a popular face on the bench.

Lampard is worth more than £11 million if you ask me, and getting Deco for around £8 million is a fucking steal.

Berba should have gone to Newcastle, they perform for ten games a season as well.