BlueLion.

You're right, Esk. Whilst we all may have our own feelings regarding who may leave and who may come to Chelsea, nobody will no for certain until the end of the transfer season.

I like the templates for both of those kits, both of them seems really boring.

Well the team captain is hardly going to come out before a hugely important match and say the team are at odds with the manager.

That much activity would completely de-stablise the squad in my opinion. I highly doubt many players will leave, even if Grant remains in charge, and it is only likely that we will sign a handful of players.

You say Avram has lost it, I'm quite certain he never had it in the first place.

Manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that Steven Gerrard is a doubt for Liverpool's Champions League semi-final first leg tie with Chelsea on Tuesday. The 27-year-old sat out his side's 2-0 win away at Fulham with a neck injury and Benitez is unsure if he will be fit in time to face the Blues at Anfield. "We don't know at the moment," he said. "Steven is working with the physios. "He is improving but it is still too soon. You always have to be careful with the neck." Source: BBC

Right you were, David. My mistake.

cfc-meleady, you have got this song in my head now May you die painfully j/k

There is only one manager in the world on par with Mourinho, and that is Marcello Lippi. Lippi with Zola as his number two would make a perfect manegerial duo.

We'll have no more of that, Badboy. The Wes is not a bullshitter - all he is doing is posting threads in the Rumour forum - if you don't like it, don't read the topic. However, The Wes, if you continue to post stories without sources, the Staff may delete your posts. Sources are necessary to assess the reliability of a story.

Team News: Michael Essien is suspended, whilst Frank Lampard looks set to miss another game as he looks after his sick mother. Michael Ballack is nursing a hamstring injury but Didier Drogba should be fit. Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of skipper Steven Gerrard.

That means that in the 16 games since, United have earned 36 points from a possible 48, whilst we have earned 40 points. Liverpool have gathered 33 in the same time period and Arsenal have recorded 30. That shows we have been the most consistent of the top four teams, and but for last minute equalisers for Villa, Everton, Wigan and Spurs, we'd be five clear at the top.

I don't think you understood what I was saying because of how I worded it. Changed it a little.

Spot on. If we come out with no silverware at the end of the season, if we can push United all the way then we shall at least have some pride intact.

Aston Villa 3-1 Birmingham, 12:00 Man City 1-1 Portsmouth, 16:00 Newcastle 2-1 Sunderland, 13:30

Had quite an anonymous performance in the second half though

Excellent work mate

If that's true, that's a bit sad to be fair

Saturday, 19 April 2008 Arsenal v Reading, 12:45 Blackburn v Man Utd, 17:15 Fulham v Liverpool, 15:00 Middlesbrough v Bolton, 15:00 West Ham v Derby, 15:00 Wigan v Tottenham, 15:00 Deadline: 12:30 Sunday, 20 April 2008 Aston Villa v Birmingham, 12:00 Man City v Portsmouth, 16:00 Newcastle v Sunderland, 13:30 Deadline: 11:45

Click HERE for the Talk Chelsea match report

Everton 0 - 1 Chelsea F.C. April 17 2008, Premier League, Goodison Park, Merseyside Michael Essien's first half strike was enough for Chelsea to claim three points against Everton. The game was fiercely contested from the first to the final whistle, with the home side valiantly defending wave after wave of Chelsea attacks. Yet the Blues' quality was too much to be denied, and Everton's plucky resistance was thwarted by the brilliance of the Essien's one-two with Wright-Phillips on the edge of the area, before the Ghanaian lofted the ball beyond Tim Howard from eight yards. Nicolas Anelka retained his position in the starting eleven due to Didier Drogba failing a fitness test, whilst Frank Lampard's continued absence meant John Obi Mikel, Essien and Shaun Wright-Phillips featured in a three-man midfield. Joe Cole was drafted into the starting eleven, whilst both Paulo Ferreira and Ashley Cole were reinstated after missing out on Monday's 1-1 draw with Wigan. The three points means that Manchester United will have no room for error when they take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday, with their lead at the top of the Premier League table now reduced to merely two points. And following Chelsea's disappointment against northern opposition early in the week, this hard-fought victory will surely offer the team much confidence as they prepare for next week's crunch Champions League game at Anfield with Liverpool. Chelsea began the game the more dominant of the two sides in possession, but they were looking fruitless without the figure of Ivorian Didier Drogba leading the line. With both Lampard and Michael Ballack missing, Chelsea's strike force was becoming isolated and attacking moves often broke down due to lack of support from a defensive-minded Chelsea midfield. Nicolas Anelka - without a goal in 12 matches - was offered the first chance of a dull yet intriguing opening twenty minutes, but the Frenchman's lack of form was typified as he weakly shot wide of Tim Howard's near post. Everton, however, would not succumb under pressure from the yellow-clad Chelsea side, and Joleon Lescott's marauding runs down the Everton left were leaving Paulo Ferreira and the mysteriously anonymous Joe Cole for dead. Their only opportunity of the half fell to Manuel Fernandes, whose dipping free-kick forced Cech into a smart save as the ball skid across the Goodison Park surface towards the goal. Yet it was Chelsea who took the lead minutes before the half-time interval, and it was Essien on the score sheet for the second time in four days. Whilst Chelsea were trying to imitate the passing movements of Arsenal around the Everton area, Essien's simple give-and-go with Shaun Wright-Phillips unlocked the Toffees' defence, as the diminutive figure returned the ball into the path of Essien, albeit thanks to a wicked deflection off Jagielka. Essien finished with much aplomb, but the Blues did not over-celebrate their half-time advantage. The second half was keenly contested by both sides but the ball was often bogged down in midfield as Mikel and Essien looked to stamp their authority on the game. The former went close to giving Chelsea an even more commanding lead, but the Nigerian midfielder's 30-yard strike was tipped over by Howard. Chelsea were being limited to chances from distance, but Everton's play was limited in an attacking sense as they looked to hold the visitors at bay. The only noteworthy attempt in the final quarter of the game for Everton fell to Fernandes. The Everton player had caused problems for Chelsea with previous set-pieces, and his devilishly whipped free kick was inches away from drawing the home side level. From 20 yards, Fernandes beat Cech but failed to find the net as Chelsea breathed a huge sigh of relief. Their lead was still intact - but only just. The same player had a decent chance with 13 minutes remaining, but his volleyed effort was well wide of Cech's goal. Michael Essien went close for Chelsea, his dipping effort from 35 yards inches away from putting Chelsea 2-0 up. Chelsea survived a last-minute Everton storm thanks to magnificent defending by John Terry and the brilliant Ricardo Carvalho, and went on to claim the three points. ___________________________________________________________________ Match Fact : Chelsea are unbeaten since November 2006 in the league when they have scored the first goal. Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Carsley, Fernandes, Pienaar (Anichebe 63), Johnson (Gravesen 62), Yakubu Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Makelele 81), Obi, Essien, Joe Cole (Malouda 76), Anelka, Kalou Attendance: 37,112 Referee: Martin Atkinson Man of the Match : 6. Carvalho

Full-time. Satisfactory performance, pleasing result. Carvalho man of the match without question.

Nothing they can do against that, so we can't hold a grudge against them for this reason.

Good first half performance, defensively solid and decent going forward. The goal came through a simple give and go - none of the useless Arsenal-esque walking the ball into the net.