BlueLion.

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

Villa 1 - 0 Arsenal

I felt like making a thread for my favourite foreign league. The French Ligue Un receives a lot of unfair scrutiny, yet provides some of the most entertaining attacking football seen in European leagues across the continent. With tonight's round of matches coming up, my team Lyon have a home game against Strasbourg, who are enjoying a good run of results recently. And with PSG losing 2-1 at Nice last week, they will battle against relegation with Caen. A win for the Paris team will see them clear of the relegation zone. Discuss here

Blackburn 3-1 Newcastle FT Portsmouth 0-0 Everton FT Reading 1-1 Middlesbrough FT Sunderland 1-0 Derby FT Wigan 1-1 Man City FT The Man City results means Chelsea will remain second over the weekend, and will drop to third if United beat Fulham on Monday.

I have added you to the roster.

Avram, give us a smile,Avram Avram, give us a smile

Welcome back

I can't welcome him back any faster, Mikel has been really suspect these past few games if you ask me, he gives away ridiculous free-kicks in ridiculous areas. He is a frustrating player - one game he can be magnificent, and shite the next. Ballack plays at a more consistent level, even though last season was far from his best, he did give a constant rate of return, but Chelsea fans got on his back because they expected 20 goals from him immediately.

I don't know if anyone else thinks the same, but I think Grant is really poor to react to matches with substitutes. He seems very keen to keep the players he selects in the starting XI on the field for as long as possible, and brings on substitutes too late on in the game if you ask me. I would have brought on SWP at half-time, but I guess he's a slightly more experienced manager than I

Not necessarilly, lower league opposition outnumber Premier League heavily at this stage, and there is an even chance of getting a tie at Stamford Bridge.

I always thought Miguel was a right-back. Whether he is or not (I think he plays RB for Portugal anyway) I don't think he is better than either Belletti or Alex.

You know a player that would have been great with Drogba? Hernan Crespo

You think he is good? I think he is entirely overrated.

I thought Terry was excellent, and for that superstar bloke, Emmanuel Petit, for him to question his duty as England captain is fucking ridiculous.

One might appear in a minute, I;ll keep an eye out.

Full-time, 1-0 to Chelsea. Howard Webb with a brilliant game as referee is you ask me.

Good idea, Cole off for Makelele who takes his place as a centre-midfielder.180 seconds of stoppage time to go.

Freekick to West Ham just outside of the area. Yellow card for Terry. Alex fucked up seriously.