BlueLion.

Spot on, and I think that is the angle the club are looking at this situation from.

I don't think we need t linger over it, but it is a childish action nonetheless. Cool gadget, though

Something made from nothing, I feel.

I see your point, but I have respect for the man. He's come into this job all of a sudden, not really knowing what he's in for. Whether its down to him or not, I don't know, but the players are fighting in every game again, and that fire and passion is what I love to see in a football match.

You've made a lot of (incorrect) assumptions there. First of all, he was sent on in the Carling Cup final for doing nothing wrong, perhaps you need to watch the highlights once more. I am hardly criticising Grant, if you ask any member on this board they could probably honestly say I am one of the few who gives the bloke some credit. And I was not negatively commenting on the man's tactics, I merely said that the man-management of players since Mourinho's departure has declined. I never directly blamed this on Grant, as you would have taken notice of my use of the word "apparent" if you had cared to have read my post thoroughly.In addition, it appears as if you are blaming me for all the hatred against Grant.

He's young an naive, its only natural for him to get a rush of blood to the head and try and win tackles he knows he can't. But, like Rooney, he will come out of that phase suddenly.

Aye, its basically Chelsea TV Online revamped. Not much point to it really.

He deserves as much respect as Jimmy Floyd demanded, and in the future he will come to be known as a great.

I have this awful feeling Clarke is there to make up the numbers, and to gain some respect from the fans for Grant. I honestly hope this isn't true.

He is a raw talent. He has a natural ability of being strong and commanding, giving him good defensive credentials, but he is an exciting player going forward and if he were to be played in a more advanced role, it would give Lampard the freedom of the park. He has a great talent.

We never know, when we first brought Drogba I wasn't sure if he would be able to cope with the pace of the Premier League, but at that time I was pretty ignorant towards the French Lieague, which is similar to the PL IMO.

He was awful, however that young Konan Ya looked very lively for them. I would consider a move for him if I was Grant, he seems a talented player. Problem is, he looks too much like Mikel, I'd get confused.

There is no way he would be sold to a rival, and no way he would play for another Italian team except Milan. We need to keep him until next summer at least, because he will be an important player during the Cup of Nations.

Bridge looks the most likely of he and Ashley to go, but he is playing fairly regularly and a lot more often than the likes of Shevchenko and Pizarro. I just think it would be a complete waste, because he is a talent, but he needs to play every week for his potential to be reached. I hope he one days becomes the next Roberto Carlos, but I cannot see that happening at Madrid or Chelsea.

Chelsea FC versus SunderlandChelsea entertain Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, with both teams coming into this game on the back of 1-0 victories. Geremi, Arjen Robben and Michael Essien celebrate the Cameroun midfielder's goal in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Sunderland in 2005.With Chelsea unbeaten in fourteen matches, Sunderland will find themselves pushed to their maximum if they are to register any points at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea can stretch their unbeaten home league run to an incredible 71 matches, and almost four years since they last tasted defeat there.Sunderland, having been drubbed 7-1 at Everton the previous weekend, got their season back on track with a 1-0 home win over Derby, but the Black Cats' defence will find the in-form Didier Drogba a much tougher opponent than the calibre of players they almost failed to overcome.With Chelsea beating West Ham 1-0 in their previous league outing, the London outfit are in fantastic form in the league, having won six of their last eight league matches; drawing the other two with Fulham and Everton, and scoring fifteen goals in the process; conceding just one.Will Roy Keane's return to Stamford Bridge be a happy one, or will Chelsea ensure the former Manchester United skipper goes home unhappy? Discuss here!Remember to predict the game's outcome in the Prediction League - but make sure you are registered first!

Expect more and more of this at the Bridge, people. teams are going to come and park the bus, and we were given the benefit of the doubt yesterday because Joe Cole was in line with the defender. We've seen those decisions go in favour of the defender, but its about time we had a decision go for us, after the Blackburn "draw" which cost us two points.

I watched the game versus West Ham and I saw hard challenges going in hard and fast. I expected this, it was an emotional derby game and the competition always rises in these games.But ever since Grant has taken the reins, it looks as if the players are gradually becoming less and less disciplined. We're conceding so many fouls as a team, so many bookings and we've had far too many sendings off, in my opinion. It can only come down to Grant's apparent inferior man management, because we never used to concede so many fouls under José. We need it sorting out, because these suspensions are biting us hard on the ass.

Ballack was frustrating to a lot of people because they wanted an instant return. He was never going to overshadow Lampard and get on the scoresheet so often. Its because Lampard does that that his contribution was made so apparent. I believe its only a matter of time until Ballack does the same, although he couldn't fully adapt last season because of all the injuries he picked up. I think the true player we all know Michael Ballack to be will come out of the shell when he is playing regularly and scoring goals, which I think he will do with our 4-3-3 formations - it means a lot of efforts in and around the box, where he likes them.

To be fair, a lot of people are looking at the 1-0 and saying we "only just" scraped it. Far from the truth. West Ham came to the Bridge witha gameplan, to get in some early, heavy challenges to rattle our midfield and disrupt the flow of our football which is always through Lampard. With him being manmarked and therefore having little time on the ball, we were struglging to get to grips with their style of play. Their defence was solid and they ever had two players on Drogba, so when he tried to flick the ball on 9 times in 10 there would be a covering defender there to intercept the winner. It worked brilliantly until we changed our game plan and went long ball, and then it took a simple movement of Cudicini to Drogba, Drogba to Kalou, Kalou to Joe Cole, Joe Cole to 1-0. West Ham couldn't react to the sudden change of play, and as they had been attacking moments beforehand, they were undermanned at the back.What I am trying to get across is that this was one of those tough games. First of all, it was a cagey London derby, you might as well expect this sort of performance when teams come to Stamford Bridge where they know they will be opened up eventually. We broke them down, kept them under sustained pressure, and it eventually paid off. So this 1-0 result for me, is a great scoreline and shows that whilst we now also have the ability to go on and win games with relative ease, we can also maintain our old skill of being able to take the game by the scruff of the neck, dig in deep, and grind out the necessary performance to get the three points. To be fair, no, but he slagged off Benitez for his and our enjoyment anyway.

Damn straight.

The draw for the Third Round Proper will be televised live on BBC1 at 3.10pm on Sunday and here are the numbers to look out for. From thefa.com

So, Kaka has won. So happy that Ronaldive hasn't been awarded it, the arrogant bastard.

Knowing the FA, this will land in a prison sentence for Abramovich and a hanging without trial for Essien.

Match report - click here!

Chelsea FC 1 - 0 West Ham United Premier League, 1 December, 12:45 KO, Stamford Bridge, LondonChelsea went to second in the Premier League thanks to Joe Cole, who scored a 76th minute winner against his former team West Ham United.Not only does the result herald a much-welcomed three points after Chelsea's last home league game - a 1-1 draw with Everton, but it also means that the FA Cup holders have now reached 70 league games without defeat at Stamford Bridge. And with Manchester United not in action until Monday evening, the three points leaves the West London outfit clear of Manchester City, who suffered a setback with a 1-1 draw away to Wigan, and just two points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.Suspecting a physical challenge from the visitors, Avram Grant preferred Steven Sidwell to Claude Makelele in the centre of midfield. With Essien suspended, Mikel continued in midfield, with Salomon Kalou replacing Shaun Wright-Phillips in the front three, which contained Didier Drogba and Joe Cole; two players who found the net away to Rosenborg in midweek. Carlo Cudicini began in goal with Petr Cech still nursing a calf injury, meaning the Italian shotstopper would make his 200th appearance for the Blues.Scott Parker attempts to keep Drogba at bay.The game was predictably a tedious and even affair, with both teams contesting in the centre of the pitch. Whilst Lampard looked to stamp his authority on the game, it was Nolberto Solano of West Ham who looked by far the most influential player on the pitch as West Ham put Chelsea under a spell of early pressure.However, it was Chelsea who had the best opportunity of the first half. Counter-attacking, the home side looked to make an early breakthrough, and Didier Drogba looked almost certain to do so. Having scored twice in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Ivorian's confidence was high, and his tried an audacious effort from range. Bending the ball from outside the area, Drogba beat Robert Green but also the crossbar.Solano tried to lob Cudicini from outside the area, but the Peruvian's strike was barely inches over the crossbar. Whilst Carlton Cole was causing trouble on his return to Stamford Bridge, John Terry was doing very well to keep West Ham at bay, buy the England and Chelsea skipper was lucky to escape without a caution after he grabbed Luis Boa Morte by the scruff of the neck after the Portuguese midfielder had kicked out at Carlo Cudicini. Kalou went into the book along with Mikel before the half-time whistle was sounded, as well as Boa Morte for hacking down Sidwell in stoppage time.The second half performance by both teams was far greater than that of the first half, as Alan Curbishley and Avram Grant pushed their players to look for a goal. With the teams both evenly matched, it took some sparkling football for Chelsea to split open West Ham's packed defence immediately after the kick-off.Lucas Neill prevents Kalou from getting goal side of the West Ham defence.Wayne Bridge did fantastically down the left wing as he cut inside and fed Steven Sidwell. The former Reading man launched his shot, but West Ham defender Matt Upson blocked the Chelsea number nine's drive with a brilliant sliding challenge. Chelsea began to look more and more devilish on the counter attack but West Ham were proving to be as dangerous when their midfield players forayed forward. The game was suddenly transformed from a dull, lifeless encounter to a feisty end-to-end showcase of counter-attacking football.Whilst Chelsea's sustained pressure had resulted in West Ham to be penned in their own half, Boa Morte unleashed a strike as the visitors ventured forward. However, Terry blocked and the Portuguese's shot was deflected straight into the arms of a welcoming Cudicini.Chelsea went up the other end straight away and Rob Green did well to claw away a Joe Cole cross which saw Drogba lurking in the six-yard area, and John Terry might have scored his first goal since August 2006 when he headed wide from six yards with the West Ham goalkeeper beaten.But fourteen minutes from time, Drogba's flicked header scythed open the away side's defence. Joe Cole raced on from an onside position, and coolly took the ball around Robert Green before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. The goal was Cole's fourth of the campaign and the former West Ham man ensured the travelling fans went home unhappy as he celebrated with the elated Chelsea faithful.Joe Cole's winner leaves the Stamford Bridge crowd ecstatic_______________________________________Chelsea: Cudicini (6), Belletti (7), Alex (6), Terry (8), Bridge (6), Sidwell (6) (Wright-Phillips (7)), Mikel (6), Lampard (6), Kalou (5), Drogba (7), Joe Cole (7) (Makelele (6)).Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Ben-Haim. Booked: Mikel, Kalou, Belletti, Lampard, Terry. Goals: Joe Cole 76. West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Ljungberg 74), Parker (Spector 79), Mullins, Etherington (Ashton 79), Boa Morte, Cole.Subs Not Used: Wright, Collins. Booked: Etherington, Solano, Boa Morte. Attendance: 41,830 Referee: Howard WebbMatch Fact: the result means that Chelsea are now an incredible 70 Premier League matches unbeaten at Stamford Bridge, and 49 unbeaten in all competitions.Man of the Match : John Terry