BlueLion.

If we reach the European cup final and wear that kit, I'll buy the shirt, but I still prefer our current shirt.

I'm scarred for life

Considering that we have seen Chelsea vs Barcelona every season for the past few years, maybe fate will see us drawn in the final.

Florent Malouda Its between Ballack, Cole and Carvalho, but Riccy shades it for me.

He could wear a lead suit and be the best goalkeeper in the league.

Like the new player banners, Jim. Noticed the Shevchenko one earlier.

Do not underestimate Liverpool.

Updated

Saturday, 12 April 2008 Birmingham 0-1 Everton, 15:00 Bolton 0-2 West Ham, 15:00 Derby 1-2 Aston Villa, 15:00 Portsmouth 1-1 Newcastle, 17:15 Reading 2-0 Fulham, 15:00 Sunderland 2-2 Man City, 15:00 Tottenham 4-1 Middlesbrough, 15:00 Sunday, 13 April 2008 Liverpool 2-0 Blackburn, 13:30 Man Utd 1-0 Arsenal, 16:00 Monday, 14 April 2008 Chelsea 2-0 Wigan, 20:00

Saturday, 12 April 2008 Birmingham v Everton, 15:00 Bolton v West Ham, 15:00 Derby v Aston Villa, 15:00 Portsmouth v Newcastle, 17:15 Reading v Fulham, 15:00 Sunderland v Man City, 15:00 Tottenham v Middlesbrough, 15:00 Deadline = 14:45 Saturday Sunday, 13 April 2008 Liverpool v Blackburn, 13:30 Man Utd v Arsenal, 16:00 Deadline = 13:15 Sunday Monday, 14 April 2008 Chelsea v Wigan, 20:00 Deadline = 19:45 Monday

Welcome

Welcome to the forum I'm BlueLion, nice to have you hear. Stay around and post well and you'll be accepted amongst us Blues fans

Re-arranged for Monday 5 May, 4pm kick off.

Chelsea F.C. 2 - 0 Fenerbahce Chelsea 3 - 2 Fenerbahce (agg) April 2 2008, UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg, Şükrü Saracoğlu, Istanbul April 8 2008, UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg, Stamford Bridge, West London Goals from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard ensured Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League. The aggregate win over the Turkish club has set up an all-English semi-final between the Blues and Liverpool - the third time in four seasons such a fixture has been established, and Avram Grant's side will be hopeful that it will be third time lucky as the two Premier League giants clash for a place in the Champions League final in Moscow. Despite a dominating performance in Istanbul, Chelsea were unable to hold on to a 1-0 lead presented to them when Florent Malouda's low cross was driven into the home side's net by Deivid, as Fenerbahce launched a stunning comeback to take a 2-1 aggregate lead to Stamford Bridge. Colin Kazim-Richards, formerly of Sheffield United, equalised for the Turkish club before Deivid made amends by beating Carlo Cudicini from fully 30 yards with a rasping drive into the top corner. There was confident talk from Avram Grant despite the fact Chelsea had lost for the first time in European competition this season, with the Chelsea head coach claiming that the Blues had an excellent chance to progress thanks to their home form. Grant elected to field a strong, attack-minded formation against the Turks, with Ashley Cole and Michael Essien preferred in the full-back positions. Ricardo Carvalho returned to the defence after missing out on the 2-0 away win at Manchester City, whilst Didier Drogba and Joe Cole replaced Nicolas Anelka and Shaun Wright-Phillips respectively. Chelsea were dominant in the opening exchanges and were ahead after just four minutes - their fourth goal in as many games inside six minutes of a match. Michael Essien prowled down the right flank and was hacked down for a Chelsea free-kick. Whipped in by Joe Cole, his cross was met by Michael Ballack who steered the ball beyond Volkan with a brilliant header into the corner of the goal. It was the start Avram Grant needed. The home side could have doubled their lead on ten minutes, with Joe Cole flicking Kalou's cross onto the near post. The Ivorian winger had beaten his marker and his teasing low cross was met by the outside of Cole's boot, but the England winger was unable to prod the ball over the line. Carlo Cudicini was forced off with a hamstring injury on twenty minutes. The goalkeeper looked uncomfortable when he took a goal kick early in the game, which forced him to take his long-balls left-footed from that point onwards. However this only seemed to aggravate the injury and was forced to retire, being replaced in between the sticks by Henrique Hilario. The visitors seemed buoyed by the fact that Chelsea were being forced to play a goalkeeper who had not featured for three months, and the Portuguese did nothing to unnerve the Turkish side with a number of poor clearances. His indecisiveness almost cost the Blues, but centre-half Lugano wastefully headed wide with the goal at his mercy after Alex had beaten the Chelsea offside trap with a clever pass. The second half saw much of the same from Chelsea, with Grant's side being wasteful in possession, though Didier Drogba did force a smart save out of Volkan. The Ivorian forward brilliantly swivelled inside the area and launched an explosive volley into the midriff of Volkan, who clutched onto the ball with both hands. Drogba tried an effort from range moments later, but it was comfortably gathered by the Fenerbahce goalkeeper. Drogba was once again denied by Volkan on 70 minutes when the Ivorian's free kick was powerfully fisted away. The ball was not hit at pace but forced a good save from Volkan as it travelled through the Fenerbahce wall and towards the goal. Substitute Juliano Belletti was making good ground down the right flank for Chelsea but the Blues were failing to create many chances as they switched to a more robust 4-4-2 formation. Hilario was seriously tested when Fenerbahce midfielder Ugur flicked the ball goalwards but the Portuguese shotstopper spread himself well and denied Fenerbahce an away goal, before Kazim-Richards forced a good save out of the Chelsea number 40 from distance. It was to be the last meaningful chance for the Turkish side who had failed to capitalise on a less-than-convincing display by a Chelsea side still chasing multiple honours. Florent Malouda was introduced soon after and his attacking presence put pressure on the Fenerbahce full-backs who had not been troubled since Salomon Kalou had left the field. The Frenchman's runs allowed space for Michael Ballack and Lampard to join the Chelsea attacks, and a strong run from Michael Essien gave the midfielders chance to get forward with a brilliant run beyond the full-backs, before crossing for Lampard to kill the tie and break Fenerbahce hearts on 87 minutes with a tap-in from 6 yards. Belletti and Malouda went close with long-range efforts moments later but Chelsea survived a late flurry by the away side to clinch a semi-final clash with Liverpool. ___________________________________________________________________ Match Fact : Chelsea have conceded one goal in five games at home in this season's Champions League. Chelsea: Cudicini (6) (Hilario (6)), Essien (6), Carvalho (6), Terry (6), Ashley Cole (6), Ballack (8), Makelele (5), Lampard (6), Joe Cole (7) (Malouda (7)), Drogba (6), Kalou (7) (Belletti (6)). Fenerbahce: Demirel, Gonul, Lugano, Edu Dracena, Wederson (Bilgin 89), Maldonado (Kezman 60), Aurelio, Kazim-Richards, Deivid, Alex, Senturk (Boral 75). Attendance: 38,369. Referee: Herbert Fandel Man of the Match : Michael Ballack

Avoiding defeat away is imperative this time. A score draw would suit us perfectly.

There is no guarantee either goalkeeper will be fit for the semi-finals, and Rhys Taylor cannot be called up as substitute goalkeeper for the Champions League. We are allowed to bring in another goalkeeper on emergency loan - hopefully Santi Canizares as he has been suspended by Valencia and should be easy to clinch. As much faith as I have in Hilario I would feel more confident with an established goalkeeper.

2-0 full-time, Lampard with a second. Liverpool in the semis - they won 4-2.

What an absolutely abysmal half. We were electric in the first five minutes, then the Special Needs One obviously elects to defend his precious 1-0 lead. If he doesnt change his tactics, we're going to go out of Europe, trust me.

He had plastic surgery yesterday as the skin was torn off to the bone. Cech himself has rubbished these rumours - I doubt he will be allowed to play for an extra week though, hopefully he will be fit for United.

Aluminium is awful and Hildebrand is now first choice at Valencia as Santi Canizares has been suspended by the club for the rest of the season and possible permanently. Ok, myabe I'm being a little over zealous being a keeper myself, but Carlo is very reliable and has made a few good stops in the last few games. I'd take him over any other EPL goalkeeper other than Van der Sar, Friedel, James and Cech.

Don't get thinking of the title yet. Still five more games for Grant to fuck up.

Anything else other than a win doesn't even bare need thinking of.

We didn't deserve to win but we did against Middlesbrough. Maybe that is the difference between Chelsea and United.

I don't. I genuinely don't. If you can find me another second choice goalkeeper who can come into the side and perform as well as Cudicini, I'm all ears.