BlueLion.

Guys, let's not get carried away by pre-season form. Kezman started pre-season in 04 like a house on fire but failed to transport that consistency into a pressure situation. Whilst pre-season has so far given us indications we may not be so relient on Drogba anymore, as TB says, we're a stronger side when he is in the starting XI.

Scolari's domination of the dressing room is welcome news to my ears. At least now the egos have been battered back into place.

I agree, I do like Ballack's attitude very much. Ballack is a big ego - but he is also a very good professional and his importance to the team was clear last season. I think with Deco at the club, it will do nothing but raise Ballack's game even more - he had a very disappointing season last year, finishing second in four competitions for both club and country, and that alone should spur his own personal performances to improve.

Liking the new navbar Jim, top marks mate

Welcome back, I do remember you indeed

I'll join later in the summer, when we have a better idea of who will be in the teams.

I'm not saying anything of the sort - this team is nowhere near the likes of Lokomotiv! I'm just saying this will be more of a test than the first two games, and this challenge is what the players need.

I think we all agree he has the talent, but lets not get carried away here - di Santo is only young and is still learning his trade - would he get in the team ahead of Drogba, Anelka and Shevchenko?

Without Roman's money, we'd never have got Mourinho in the first place. Bit of a no-brainer, but Mourinho used that money to his full advantage to make us into a big club that wins things. Scolari can turn us into a massive club.

Ballack was incredible for us last season. If we would have had his goalscoring throughout the season, we might have won something.

Keeping them both would not be such a bad thing in my opinion. I prefer Malouda because I know he has a huge amount of talent. It is only a matter of time before he recaptures his form at Lyon.

I am adding: Alex Ferguson Ronaldive Ramon Calderon Luis Garcia Lubos Michel Liverpool 'fans' Neil Barnet

According to mass media reports, Balley has said he plans to end his career following another two years with the Blues and the World Cup in 2010. Its a likely statement, as he will be 32 in September afterall.

I don't expect this match will be easy. I have no doubt we will win the match because of how strong this team is, I just hope this Malaysia side pose more of a challenge than the previous two games. It's all fine and good for one's confidence when the team is scoring a lot of goals, but when there is no challenge, there is no urgency or intensity to the game. Pre-season is about achieving match fitness moreso than results, and against better teams we will have to be faster and stronger. Hopefully this side will pose a threat.

From the Spoof

I was joking

As above. Fucking amazing film.

Highlights - http://101greatgoals.magnify.net/item/LBLKSMH4KVXC6S6W

Agreed. Looking forward to seeing one or both of them with Drogba up front, it will be a devestating combination.

We don't need him. Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Mikel and Deco are five top class midfielders, I don't think Arshavin is good enough.

How does signing Robinho dictate if Lampard stays? Robinho is a winger...

Match report = http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2280

Chengdu Blades 0 - 7 Chelsea F.C. July 26 2008, Pre-season Friendly, Macau Sports Center, Macau, China Chelsea continued their excellent form in China with a 7-0 demolition of Super League side Chengdu Blades. Following their 4-0 victory over Guangzhou in the previous pre-season friendly, Luiz Felipe Scolari's side showed no quarter as they put the Blades to the sword. First-half goals from the impressive Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard but the Blues in a dominating position, before substitutes Joe Cole and Franco di Santo added another three goals between them. Shaun Wright-Phillips was the benefactor of a huge slice of luck moments after Cole had back-healed home from six yards, as Florent Malouda's shot rebounded off the head of the diminutive figure and into the back of the net. Petr Cech, a spectator for the hour he played in Macau, began in goal, with Ashley Cole, John Terry and Alex in the backline - Paulo Ferreira replaced the injured Jose Bosingwa, who earlier flew back to Cobham to begin his rehabilitation. Frank Lampard, Deco and Michael Essien featured in a three-man midfield, as John Obi Mikel dropped to the bench; replaced by Wright-Phillips, who partnered Nicolas Anelka and Kalou up front. The result was never in doubt as a strong Chelsea side looked to make an early breakthrough. There was only two minutes on the clock when Frank Lampard shot towards goal, but the strike lacked conviction and Lan Yi gathered comfortably. Deco was beginning to stamp his authority on the game, and the Portuguese midfielder was involved when Salomon Kalou was presented with an excellent scoring opportunity. Deco threaded the ball to Nicolas Anelka, whose deft touch allowed Kalou a yard of space, but the Ivorian drilled his shot just beyond the upright. A difficult opportunity, but a chance nonetheless, but the Blues were demonstrating their ability to carve the Chinese side's defence open with ease. However, Chelsea were not to be denied, and Nicolas Anelka superbly slotted home on the quarter-hour mark. Shaun Wright-Phillips' through ball found Anelka onside, and the Frenchman coolly took the ball around the advancing goalkeeper before tapping home without difficulty. It was a class goal, and a welcome morale boost to a player who had yet to find the net in a Chelsea shirt since February. The same player drove half a yard wide moments later, latching onto Essien's pass but firing wide of the mark. The Blues were clearly in the mood for some dazzling attacking play. Wright-Phillips soon shot over after a clever one-two with Anelka, but the England winger made amends moments later when he contributed to the second Chelsea goal, by setting Anelka on his way. The Frenchman cleverly passed to the unmarked Kalou, who fired home with the goalkeeper nowhere. It was the Ivorian's second goal in as many pre-season games. A third goal was a welcome reward just seven minutes later. Following a goal ruled out for offside by Anelka, Lampard made no mistake when he was gifted a glorious opportunity by Kalou. The Ivorian rolled the ball to Lampard, who finished with aplomb from 10 yards on the half-volley, after the goalkeeper had gone walk-about. Following a minute of stoppage time, the Blues went in three-up, and with plenty left in the tank. Thus far, the game had been a walk in the park, with the Chelsea players showing no signs of urgency following Lampard's goal. Yet with more difficult tests to come, Scolari will have been delighted with his team's performance in the first-half. A succession of substitutions at the interval saw Ferreira, Ashley Cole and Alex replaced by Ivanovic, Wayne Bridge and Carvalho at the back. Mikel replaced goalscorer Lampard and Malouda came on in place of Kalou; slotting into the left-wing position. Joe Cole would enter the fray moments later, replacing skipper John Terry. A reshuffle in the defence which saw Essien slot in at right-back meant Wright-Phillips moved into midfield alongside Deco and Mikel. Ricardo Carvalho took the captain's armband. And it was Cole who added the fourth goal with his first contribution to the game. Anelka delightfully threaded the ball through to the Chelsea number 10, who rounded the goalkeeper and finished on his left foot. It was trademark Cole, and the winger showed his gratitude for Anelka's vision. Anelka could have had a second goal moments later, but headed just over from Malouda's cross. It was to be his last action of the game as Franco di Santo, scorer of the third goal against Guangzhou, replaced him, whilst Henrique Hilario replaced Petr Cech in the bright orange jersey. Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho combined on 65 minutes, the Portuguese defender crossing from di Santo. After some haphazard defending, di Santo rifled home from 10 yards on his left foot for his second goal in two friendly matches. Joe Cole made it 6-0 with nine minutes remaining, converting Essien's rifled cross delightfully by back-heeling the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. But the comedy moment of the day followed, with Wright-Phillips inadvertently scoring. Following brilliant work by Malouda to shake off two markers, the Frenchman powered a shot on goal. Whilst the ball appeared to be heading wide, it ricocheted off the back of the England star and beyond a shell-shocked Lan Yi, who had only moments previously spectacularly denied di Santo a second after the Argentinean striker had scuffed goalwards. But di Santo was guilty of a shocking miss moments before the end, as he toed the ball into the ground and over the bar from a Malouda cross with the goalkeeper beaten. However, it was to be elementary, as Chelsea claimed a convincing triumph ahead of their game against the Malaysian XI on Tuesday. Scolari's side are gathering steam, and their crushing wins over both Guangzhou and Chengdu Blades are sure to help the confidence of the side ahead of their Premier League opener with Portsmouth at the Bridge. ___________________________________________________________________ Match Fact : A donation from the game's proceeds will go towards the Sichuan earthquake appeal. Chelsea: Cech [6] (Hilario [6]), Ferreira [6] (Ivanovic [6]), Terry [6] (Joe Cole [8]), Alex [6] (Carvalho [6]), Ashley Cole [6] (Bridge [6]), Lampard [6] (Mikel [6]), Essien [8], Deco [7], Kalou [7] (Malouda [7]), Anelka [9] (di Santo [6]), Wright-Phillips [7]. Attendance: Approx. 15,000 Referee: Tou Lap Meng Star Man : Nicolas Anelka

If we scraped a 1-0 against that shower of shit, I don't think Scolari would be in a job.

SWP's header was the best