BlueLion.

The thing is, Lampard will walk straight back into the team. He is just too good a player to sit on the bench.

I agree with you Elliott. I dont like the fact he is manager but at the end of the day he is and we can't do much to change that.

Looks like Mikel will be back soon

Every manager has to make their name somewhere. Some have to start low and build up, whilst others get lucky and get a top job, like Grant.

I'm going to sell a story to them About the time I was in Manchester and Rooney was hurling stones at me.

Some players to watch out for: Carlos Eduardo Manu Neuer Vincent Kompany Dani De Rossi

Attention, most likely. Anyway, ciao for now, hope to see you back soon.

Drogba played very well.

It won't be when I'm finished with it

Heart senses a thrashing, head senses 2-0. I'd like to see Pizarro and Anelka to score, but I can't look past Joe Cole atm.

Look mate, some people have the finances to go up to Everton. Some people can't because they have work or school the following day and its a fucking drive and half from Liverpool to Fulham.

Terry is stupidly brave and throughs himself at things he shouldn't, such as the League Cup final. That's why he gets so injured. Lampard is a different story, he just seems unlucky with his injuries this season. It seems those 160 odd consecutive EPL games is bitting him on the ass.

Yeah spot on. The entire point of this thread is that we have gone places since Grant has come in, and shows that he isn't doing a bad job at all.

I'm happy the transfer has finally gone through, I was beginning to get anxious as it didn't look like he'd ever arrive.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/article240522.ece That page sums it up perfectly.

Reminder that these predictions shut tomorrow at midday GMT.

It was a calf strain, I imagine he should be back for the weekend game, maybe the Reading match in six days' time at the max.

New Bond film title is confirmed The next James Bond film is to be called Quantum of Solace, producers have confirmed. The title is taken from one of a collection of short stories published by 007 creator Ian Fleming in 1960. Producer Michael Wilson said the film would have "twice as much action" as 2006's Casino Royale, which saw Daniel Craig debut as the iconic secret agent. The next outing, previously known as Bond 22, is partly being shot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. At a press conference at the facility, reporters were shown a minute of footage from the new film, including Bond swinging on a rope after an explosion at an art gallery in Siena, Italy. Another scene showed him meeting M - played by Dame Judi Dench - outside in the snow. Filming on the movie has been taking place at Pinewood since November. Craig said the cryptic title referenced how Bond's heart had been broken at the end of Casino Royale. "Ian Fleming had written about relationships," he explained. "When they go wrong, when there's nothing left, when the spark has gone, when the fire's gone out, there's no quantum of solace. "And at the end of the last movie, Bond has the love of his life taken away from him and he never got that quantum of solace." Craig said the new film would follow 007 as he goes out "to find the guy who's responsible". "So he's looking for revenge, you know, to make himself happy with the world again. "But it the title also alludes to something else in the film," he added. 'Driven by revenge' Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton star alongside Craig Olga Kurylenko, who plays Bond girl Camille in the film, said that she has yet to film any scenes, but was working hard preparing for her role. "I'm doing weapons training and body flight training for aerial scenes and stunt work for fighting," she said. "This girl is going to kick ass. She's on her own mission and she's driven by revenge." But it is not clear whether Camille is a secret agent. French actor Mathieu Amalric, who plays the villainous Dominic Greene, told reporters his character had "the smile of Tony Blair and the crazy eyes of Nicholas Sarkozy". Actress Gemma Arterton plays an MI6 agent in the film and has already shot her love scenes with 007. She said: "I felt like a giggly girl, and I felt so young and inexperienced - but I kissed James Bond!" The 21-year-old, who recently starred in the St Trinian's film, said her Bond role is "not so frolicksome" and her character "fresh and young, not sultry and a femme fatale". 'Pretty prickly' Dame Judi Dench, who returns for her sixth Bond film, said: "I get to do more in this one, which is brilliant." She hinted that her character's relationship with Bond would be "pretty prickly". Rumours about the name had grown after fans noticed that film studio Sony had bought the domain name quantumofsolace.com. But co-producer Michael Wilson said the name had only been decided "a few days ago", adding the story's start point would be "literally an hour after the last film left off". Asked if Casino Royale star Eva Green would appear in Quantum of Solace, co-producer Barbara Broccoli said: "There are no flashbacks in the film, but she's certainly on Bond's mind." Director Marc Forster is in charge of work on the movie, which is due for release on 7 November. From the BBC

Everton 0 - 1 Chelsea F.C. Wednesday 23 January 2008, League Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg, Goodison Park, Liverpool Joe Cole's volley ensured Chelsea progressed to the League Cup Final to set up a showdown with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. But whilst the England winger's explosive volley won the game for the West London outfit, it was Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech who stole all the accolades with a man-of-the-match performance against a determined Everton side. Cech's excellence underlined his value to the club and despite reaching his fourth cup final in a Chelsea jersey, Cech was a proud man walking for more than one reason as his wife had given birth to the couple's first child the day previous. For this crunch affair with the Toffees, Avram Grant's side were boosted by the return to fitness of Shaun Wright-Phillips who had suffered an ankle injury against Birmingham at the weekend. Steve Sidwell deputised for the injured Michael Ballack who had pulled up with a calf strain and did not travel to Liverpool with his team-mates. Claude Makelele captained the side with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba all missing. Wayne Bridge played ahead of Ashley Cole in the left-back position whilst Nicolas Anelka, Joe Cole and former Lyon forward Florent Malouda spearheaded the Chelsea attack. Everton were not without their own injuries, although Leon Osman passed a late fitness test as the blue half of Merseyside bid to participate in their first domestic cup final since 1995. Yakubu and Joseph Yobo were the most notable absentees, joining Steven Pienaar at the African Cup of Nations. The game started at an incredible pace, as Everton responded to the cacophony of noise generated by their enthusiastic supporters. However despite their dominance, Alex and Ricardo Carvalho at the centre of the Chelsea rearguard were playing brilliantly as the hosts failed to break down the Londoner's defence. Whilst Mikel Arteta was pumping ball after ball into the box, Petr Cech responded very several sound catches before he responded brilliantly to deny Joleon Lescott. The England international had made a trademark run from deep and though his effort lacked the necessary conviction, the Chelsea shot stopper responded well to turn the ball away. And despite the early tempo of the game, Everton's pressure was soon met by the steel of Chelsea's backline, as Juliano Belletti and Wayne Bridge complimented a watertight backline. Everton managed to breakthrough on occasions, but the isolated presence of Andy Johnson as Everton's main goal threat was forming no problem for the yellow-stripped visitors. Manuel Fernandes, making his second debut for Everton, was playing excellently in the midfield alongside Everton, restricting Chelsea's counter-attacks to the wings, where Florent Malouda and Joe Cole found Jagielka and Joleon Lescott difficult opponents to overcome. Howard was only seriously tested on one occasion, as Anelka demonstrated excellent agility to turn and shoot at the American's goal, but the Everton number 24 had the angle in his favour. Shaun Wright-Phillips had also saw an excellent opportunity deflected over off the head of Jagielka, but it was Everton applying the majority of the pressure. The second half saw the first tipped on its head as Chelsea raced out of the starting blocks. Everton were looking tired after all of their early effort and gaps were beginning to appear in the centre of midfield. Malouda was looking more content with the ball at his feet and was finding more joy against Jagielka, whilst Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips had exchanged positions with the Chelsea number 10 operating through the centre behind Anelka whilst Wright-Phillips drifted to the wing. Steven Sidwell was looking solid at the centre of the park and was finding his more defensively-orientated role in front of the back four much suitable to his playing style. Anelka smashed an effort onto the crossbar, the second time in his three-game career he has done so. The ball fell kindly to him outside the area and he unleashed a curling effort which deflected off of Jagielka and against the woodwork. It was an excellent if not fortunate block by the Everton player, but an important one nonetheless. Cech made an excellent double save as he fisted away a drive from Phil Neville before reacting brilliantly to deny the rebound with his feet. He later stopped Johnson with an excellent block at his near post to push the ball over the crossbar. The Czech was a determined man and would not surrender his clean sheet. But it Chelsea who stole the win as Malouda danced up to the halfway line with the ball, before firing gloriously into the path of Joe Cole. The Englishman's touch was deft and his second was sublime, but it was his third that was the clinical finish and the final nail into the coffin for Everton. The brave attempts of the Toffees had been thwarted by Malouda's vision to unlock the defence and Cole's excellent volleyed finish, as the Blues set up their third Carling Cup final in the space of four seasons. ______________________________________ Match Fact : Petr Cech has kept 12 clean sheets in his last fourteen games for Chelsea. Everton: Howard (6), Neville (6), Jagielka (8), Lescott (7), Nuno Valente (6), Osman (5), Cahill (6), Carsley (5) (Anichebe (6)), Arteta (6), Fernandes (7) (Vaughan (6)), Johnson (5). Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs. Booked: Carsley, Fernandes, Nuno Valente, Neville. Chelsea: Cech (10), Belletti (7), Carvalho (8), Alex (7), Bridge (6), Makelele (9), Malouda (6) (Ashley Cole (6)), Sidwell (6), Joe Cole (7) (Pizarro (6)), Wright-Phillips (6), Anelka (8) (Ben-Haim (6)). Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ferreira. Booked: Makelele, Belletti. Goals: Joe Cole 69. Aggregate (1-3) Attendance: 37,086 Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent). Man of the Match : Petr Cech

You might think its down to the players and not the manager, but Avram Grant has equalled the record set by Jose Mourinho. Mourinho's first 28 matches at Chelsea saw the Blues win 21 times, draw five and lose just two fixtures, and now Avram Grant has repeated this feat. Whether it is down to the squad or not, its a pretty good record.

The penalty miss was comical.

I want Alonso's head, although I don't want to stain the Stamford Bridge turf with his Scouse blood. His head shall roll elsewhere.

Exactly. With 88 minutes on the clock he sprinted 50 yards to get back, stole the ball and ran another fifty with the ball at his feet.

We missed a midfield dynamo last night, although Sidwell had a good game in a defensive position. It suits him much more.