Sky Sports pundit lauds "unplayable" Chelsea star

Author: Ben Moss
Posted on:24 September 2010 - 11:11



Paul Merson has picked out Didier Drogba as the man to watch in tomorrow’s lunchtime Premier League encounter between Chelsea and Manchester City, suggesting the Ivorian is unplayable on current form.

The defending champions have begun the season in imperious fashion albeit having had a favourable start to the season, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side face a stern test of the title credentials at Eastlands tomorrow, and Merson believes the aforementioned striker is the man to look out for.

Drogba has already netted five goals to help Chelsea open up a four point lead at the top of the table, and Merson suggests the striker has merely continued his superb form from last year.

The former Arsenal star told Skysports.com: “I don't know how City are going to stop Drogba, who is almost unplayable at the moment.

“Kolo Toure always struggled with him at Arsenal and I don't see how he's going to do any better now he's at City.

“Drogba looks like scoring every time he goes onto the pitch.”


http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44171/Sky_Sports_pundit_lauds_unplayable_Chelsea_star.aspx

Chelsea legend sends warning to Terry and Lampard

Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:24 September 2010 - 11:22


Former Chelsea legend Graeme Le Saux has warned Frank Lampard and captain John Terry that their status in the football world does not guarantee them first team football at Chelsea advising them that Carlo Ancelotti will pick in-form players not players with big reputations.

Le Saux had two spells at Stamford Bridge, the first between 1987 and 1993 and the second between 1997 and 2003, performing at both left-back and left midfield for the club establishing himself firmly in the hearts of the blues followers.

Despite admitting how important Terry and Lampard are for Chelsea Le Saux has admitted the duo must prove their fitness and form to stake a claim for a first team spot at Stamford Bridge.

Le Saux told Goal.com: “John and Frank are the cornerstones of that side, so they’re hugely valuable players for that team,” Le Saux said.

“But we all know as players that you have to be fit. If you’re not fit and it gives someone else an opportunity, then it’s up to the manager. If he sticks with a player because he is playing well, then you have got to sit and wait it out.

“It depends how they train. If Frank Lampard is training well and looks like he has completely recovered from the hernia, then Ancelotti will pick him because he is a very special player in terms of his goalscoring and his contribution.

"But if him or John is not 100 per cent fit and he can justify not playing them, then I don’t think he would have a doubt about not playing them for that game or the short-term.

“Any good team is built on a squad and the more confident a squad is, the more the fringe players feel part of it, the more likelihood that when one of the big names comes out there is a seamless transition.

"Do you leave someone out because they’re not playing too well or do you put someone in because they’re a big name? It’s an interesting conundrum. I’m sure Carlo Ancelotti will be pleased to have the competition but it’s going to give him a headache.”


http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44178/Chelsea_legend_sends_warning_to_Terry_and_Lampard.aspx

Lampard return delayed again

---

24 September 2010, 16:31

Frank Lampard has still not returned to full fitness following a hernia operation and will miss Chelsea's trip to Manchester City on Saturday, the English league leaders announced on Friday.

The England international midfielder underwent surgery at the end of August but is not yet ready to resume competitive football.
"Frank is not 100 percent so we don't want to take a risk. We need to have more time to be fit," said Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Blues have made a perfect start to the defence of their Premier League title, winning their first five games and scoring 21 goals in the process to establish a four-point lead at the top of the table.

They were knocked out of the League Cup after losing 4-3 at home to Newcastle on Wednesday, however, and lost both Salomon Kalou (thigh) and Yossi Benayoun (calf) to injury during the game.

Ivorian forward Kalou is likely to be out for around three weeks, with Israeli midfield schemer Benayoun predicted to spend a similar time on the sidelines.

Both players will therefore miss Chelsea's Champions League game at home to Marseille on Tuesday, as well as the trip to City.

"Yossi and Salomon had a check yesterday, I think they will be able to come back after the internationals, maybe three weeks," said Ancelotti.

"With muscle injuries it's always three weeks."

http://www.supersport.com/football/barclays-premier-league/news/100924/Lampard_return_delayed_again

Chelsea will win title - Mancini

Friday September 24 2010

Roberto Mancini has already conceded the Premier League title to Chelsea.

After spending more than £100m on new players this summer, it was felt Manchester City would be able to provide some sort of challenge for the championship, even if they eventually fell short.


Yet, after seeing his team fall seven points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men, and then have his squad decimated by injury, Mancini has apparently thrown in the towel, not just for his own club, but the rest of the league as well.


"Chelsea are probably going to win the Premier League title easily," he said.


"They are the best team in the Premier League at the moment.


"They are a strong team, who have been playing together for many years, with a fantastic manager.


"They have worked to reach this situation."


It is quite possible Mancini did not quite mean his words to come out the way he did.


Nevertheless, it is quite baffling just five matches in to the season and on the eve of Chelsea's visit to Eastlands to defend their 100pc record.


Yet it seems Mancini does feel City are years behind Chelsea at present, even if they are making ground up fast.


"We must work hard to be their equals," he said.


"We can be a strong club in one or two years. But we must improve, month after month, year after year."


The City faithful might not be impressed by such talk. In midweek the Blues crashed out of the Carling Cup, a competition that many felt was the easiest way of ending a trophy drought that dates back to 1976.


"With the problems at this moment we couldn't play in four competitions," said Mancini.


Given the squad building they have undergone in the last couple of years, few will shed any tears at Mancini's complaints at being short of so many players.


Yet when he was assiduously piecing together his squad this summer, he did so on the basis he was buying for the future, as well as the present, believing the day would come when City could hold their heads up alongside Chelsea as one of the Premier League's top dogs.


"We have got strong players but we have also got young players," he said.


"We have one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.


"David Silva and Yaya Toure played in the Champions League for many years, Mario Balotelli won it with Inter, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng are international players.


"We have bought strong players. When they play together we can change everything."


However, Kolarov and Balotelli are out with long-term injuries after playing just one match. Boateng has not even managed that yet after aggravating a knee injury in a collision with an in-flight trolley.


Boateng has finally managed to get a full week's training under his belt but is badly lacking match practice.


Yet such is Mancini's desperate need for defenders, down to just three fit ones at the last count, he is among the options to fill the left-back role, along with the equally rusty Joleon Lescott, youngster Dedryck Boyata, James Milner and Gareth Barry.


"Joleon has worked with us for one day. He is not ready to play 90 minutes," said Mancini.


"Jerome has been working with us for one week. He is not ready to play 100pc.


"I do not know what I am going to do just yet. I will speak with Joleon and Jerome, but if they are not available I am not sure. Maybe Boyata, but I am not sure."


Emmanuel Adebayor should be fit enough to make the bench after a recent spell on the sidelines with a dead leg.


However, with Shaun Wright-Phillips joining Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli on the sidelines with a knee injury, Mancini cannot believe his squad has so rapidly been torn apart.


"I am disappointed we have all these injuries at the moment," he said.


"I only have 11 players who are 100pc fit."

Press Association

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/chelsea-will-win-title-mancini-2352196.html

feeling a bit lonely in here joff? :p

mind you, i'm surprised at how few chelsea fans are on here

Ancelotti knows only too well the real goal

SOCCER ANGLES: Carlo Ancelotti can lose at Manchester City today and be relatively relaxed . . . . but lose to Marseilles and he might not be allowed to forget it, writes MICHAEL WALKER

REMEMBER A man called Luiz Felipe Scolari? Big Brazilian bloke, England tried to get him as their manager after dismissing Sven Goran Eriksson? Scolari said Manchester City also tried to sign him.

Scolari did eventually arrive in English football after certain drama but it was not in east Manchester, it was at Stamford Bridge. It was only two years ago, but time does fly.

This weekend in 2008 Scolari was leading Chelsea for the sixth time in the Premier League. They went to Stoke and won 2-0 to go top. Chelsea then won six of their next seven matches to stay there and Scolari was looking like an eclipse of Avram Grant in terms of succeeding Jose Mourinho. All we and his players could do was praise him.

Less than three months later Scolari was sacked. Drawing at home to Hull was deemed the final straw. In came Guus Hiddink until the end of the season. That brought stability, the FA Cup and almost a victory over Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Scolari was forgotten already. Hiddink seemed a perfect fit at Chelsea but he had promised himself elsewhere so Roman Abramovich had to seek another manager, Chelsea’s sixth in the Russian’s time at the club.

So then came Carlo Ancelotti. It felt like a safe rather than spectacular appointment. Ancelotti had a major profile due to his European and domestic achievements with AC Milan of course, but we are a small-minded people: what would he bring to Chelsea? The answer was “The Double” – the Premier League and the FA Cup. Before the invention of the Premier League that was a revered achievement but Abramovich’s money was part of the dilution of the term’s status.

That could be seen in Ancelotti receiving more praise for beating Manchester United to the title than for adding the FA Cup via victory over basket-case Portsmouth at Wembley. Stopping United meant something.

Courtesy of a winning, self-deprecating personality, Ancelotti also eased himself into our general affection. There was none of the rampant egotism of Mourinho – which we sometimes enjoyed – instead there was a lower-key humour.

That has been on view again this season as Chelsea have begun the season with five straight league victories, 20 goals and one against. Only Scott Parker has broken through. The opponents – West Brom, Wigan, Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool — are likely to figure in the bottom half of the table in May but they represent a quarter of the division. Alex Ferguson has queried the degree of difficulty involved but you beat what’s in front of you.

It is an even better start at Chelsea than last season. Then they won their first five league games under Ancelotti, scoring 12 times. Tottenham came to Stamford Bridge for the sixth match and this was to be “the first serious test”, much as Chelsea’s game at Manchester City is being marketed today. Chelsea beat Spurs 3-0.

Over the next few weeks Chelsea beat Blackburn 5-0, Bolton 4-0, Wolves 4-0 and Arsenal 3-0. After Christmas they put seven past Sunderland, then Aston Villa and Stoke. On the season’s final day Chelsea beat Wigan 8-0. In total they scored 103 goals. How quickly we forget.

There must be a reason for that and the reason is surely Mourinho. Ask a member of the general public to select one Chelsea result from last season and a fair percentage will say Chelsea 0 Internazionale 1 in the Champions League.

It could even be the one Abramovich nominates.

Being eliminated by the competition’s winners, and a former manager, once again raised the stake that Abramovich, Ancelotti and Chelsea are playing for. It is the European Cup.

Going out of the League Cup to Newcastle on Wednesday was a blow to the club, just as a loss today at Eastlands would be – and Chelsea lost twice to City last season.

But if this time next year we are reviewing Chelsea’s triumph in the Champions League – the first London club to win it and at, of all places, Wembley – then these will be considered irritations, if they are considered at all.

That knowledge of Chelsea’s European emphasis is also part of why the total of 103 goals last season is not heralded in the way it would have been had Arsenal or United managed it – Ancelotti and Scolari could have a discussion about memory at Chelsea.

It is why, for the all the intrigue at City this lunchtime – Ancelotti meeting an old colleague in Roberto Mancini – the game that looms large for Chelsea is Marseilles at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Last year’s French champions, by six points, Marseilles will have more substance than Blackpool displayed last Sunday. Ancelotti can lose at City and be relatively relaxed. Lose to Marseilles and he might not be allowed to forget.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0925/1224279658105.html

MANCHESTER CITY v CHELSEA

SportingPreview.com: 25 September 2010

Salomon Kalou and Yossi Benayoun are out for Chelsea for three weeks and Frank Lampard has not recovered from his hernia problem and will not play against Manchester City this lunchtime.

Benayoun and Kalou are expected to be out for up to a month after suffering calf and thigh injuries respectively in the 4-3 Carling Cup defeat by Newcastle.


Paulo Ferreira will revert to the sub's bench to make way for captain John Terry who missed the 4-0 win over Blackpool five days ago with a rib injury but played against Newcastle.

Nicolas Anelka will replace Kalou in the only other change from last week.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has to cope with a defensive injury crisis.

Micah Richards, Wayne Bridge and Aleksandar Kolarov are definitely out, and the fitness of Joleon Lescott (groin) and Jerome Boateng will need to be checked before Mancini can finalise his line-up.

Further forward, Emmanuel Adebayor returns after missing four matches with a dead leg, but Shaun Wright-Phillips is also out.

Manchester City Squad: Hart, Given, Zabaleta, Kompany, K Toure, Boyata, Cunningham, Lescott, Boateng, Silva, De Jong, Y Toure, Barry, Vieira, Milner, Johnson, Tevez, Adebayor, Jo, Santa Cruz.

Chelsea Squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda, Ferriera, Borini, Bruma, Zhirkov, Sturridge, Turnbull, Van Aanholt, McEachran.

http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10110418.php

Drogba hauled off by Carlo but champions' problem is they had no one to replace him

By Rob Draper Last updated at 11:49 PM on 25th September 2010

Carlo Ancelotti defended his decision to replace Didier Drogba with Daniel Sturridge 15 minutes from time - when Chelsea were chasing the game - and insisted he was happy with the strength of his squad.

A glance at the respective benches yesterday gave an indication of the changing balance of power in the battle of billionaires.

Whereas Chelsea called on the inconsistent and inexperienced Sturridge, 21, Yuri Zhirkov and 17-year-old Josh McEachran in their hour of need, Manchester City could introduce exciting international players in Adam Johnson, Jerome Boateng and Emmanuel Adebayor to shore up their position.

The Chelsea manager said of the Drogba substitution: 'I wanted to put more speed up front with Anelka and Sturridge, and he was fresh so that's why I took this decision.'

Though manager and player exchanged a respectful handshake, the Ivorian shook his head as he approached the bench.

Injuries to Frank Lampard, Yossi Benayoun and Salomon Kalou have exposed the relative lack of depth in Chelsea's squad.

Talented though McEachran is, he is not yet a player to rescue Chelsea on one of their rare off days, and when Ancelotti looked to his bench to strengthen his failing midfield, he had only the slight teenager to turn to.

The Chelsea manager insisted: 'Josh McEachran came on for 10 minutes and played well. We have to have confidence in the young players and we do have confidence in them.'

Yet the rapid promotion of McEachran, 19-year-old Frenchman Gael Kakuta and 20-year-old Dutchman Patrick van Aanholt has been born out of necessity rather than design.

Fellow substitutes Ross Turnbull, an inadequate reserve goalkeeper, and Sturridge, a man in danger of wasting his early promise, were free transfers also recruited in the new age of austerity under owner Roman Abramovich.

While Chelsea did include among their seven substitutes yesterday Paulo Ferreira who, at 31, represents a good back-up full-back, Zhirkov, their most expensive substitute who cost £18million from CSKA Moscow, increasingly looks out of place at Stamford Bridge.
City, by contrast, boasted a full complement of internationals among their seven substitutes, assembled at a collective cost of £85million, with the experience of Shay Given, Patrick Vieira and Adebayor sitting alongside the burgeoning talents of Boateng and Johnson.

Joleon Lescott and Jo, though out of favour at present with manager Roberto Mancini, are also still full internationals.

Chelsea, who were once the recipients of similar bountiful transfer funds from their indulgent owner as City now receive, must have looked on a little enviously.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1315268/Drogba-hauled-Carlo-champions-problem-replace-him.html#ixzz10aecYepe

Sticky this shit Joff, you have the power

Joffa can keep this in the top 20 threads on the page via sheer spamage.

Chelsea Midfielder Florent Malouda: Winning The Champions League Is Our Main Target

Frenchman says they won't take their eyes off Premier League though...
By Peter Lennox
Sep 26, 2010 6:00:00 PM

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda says the club's dream is to lift the Champions League at Wembley in May.

Malouda has been in outstanding form this season, and already has six Premier League goals to his name.

The 30-year-old told the Daily Star Sunday that it is European success which drives the club on.

"It's a big target for this club to win the European Cup," he said.

"Coming so close has been frustrating and we really do feel this is the year we can win it”

The strength in depth of the Chelsea squad, Malouda believes, holds the key to their success.

"The manager can put one team out on a Saturday and another out in the week. They would both be world class."

The dynamic French midfielder also thinks that their manager Carlo Ancelotti is the perfect man to lead them to glory, both at home and in Europe.

“I think our manager is one of the most proven managers there is," he said.

"Every single player at the club is having a lot of fun playing under him and he wants the Champions League as much as us. This can be the season for us."

Malouda insisted, however, that any talk of the Blues taking their eyes off the Premier League should be quickly dismissed.

He said: "Any talk of us putting more importance on the Champions League than the Premier League is wrong - we know how important both are to the club and the fans.

"We want them both. We know how hard that will be but we have a fantastic squad.”

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/09/26/2137804/chelsea-midfielder-florent-malouda-winning-the-champions

LYNN OSGOOD: WE`VE DONE HIM PROUD

Posted on: Sat 02 Oct 2010

Lynn Osgood and Elaine Hutchinson, along with the Chelsea faithful, have been driving forces behind the new statue of 'The King of Stamford Bridge' that was unveiled yesterday (Friday).

The widows of Peter Osgood and his former strike partner, Ian Hutchinson, knew him better than anyone and were able to guide sculptor Philip Jackson when photos of the star were not enough.

They did well, as the nine-foot statue captures the spirit of our famous number 9, as remembered by those lucky enough to have seen any of the 380 games Osgood played for Chelsea.

'It's amazing,' said Lynn, speaking to the Official Chelsea Website. 'You talk about it for a long time when it is a work in progress but it is completely overwhelming seeing it full size.

'I was a nervous wreck before that moment because you have in your mind's eye what it is going to look like, but having seen it, it's a thousand times better than I imagined.

'It depicts him perfectly. It's definitely got his character and personality - The King of Stamford Bridge,' she added.

Helping create the statue has been a time of reminiscing for Lynn (pictured below left) and for Elaine (below right), whose husband, another Chelsea legend, was Osgood's close friend on and off the pitch and even ran a pub with the famous striker once their playing careers came to an end.




'We have been searching through all the old pictures for what seems like years now,' explained Elaine.

'Lynn had a lot of photographs but I also had a lot of Peter and Ian working and playing together.

'It has been a very emotional journey. The nerves were there throughout. You're worried that the reveal would happen and you'd think "That's not Pete" but it really is.

'The way he stood and everything, it's perfect. It looks like he's standing at the back door going "Come on, are you coming out or not?" - It's just him!'

Apart from the figure's features, there was attention to other detail needed. Club historian Rick Glanvill informed Jackson on the type of boots Osgood would have worn, what the kit was like during the Sixties and Seventies and even facts on the ball itself.

'There's so much information that went into this,' said Lynn. 'Pictures, video footage and books have all been looked at and Rick has been very good providing a lot of background.

'Because of those sorts of things it has taken us a while to get to this stage and to see it real is just fantastic, Philip has done a fantastic job.'




Osgood's son Darren was also impressed: 'It's quite amazing. That look, that expression, it's him.

'Supporters who come to games will see the statue outside and remember him, it will be a focal point at the ground from now on.'

Since Osgood's death in 2006, Lynn has helped build The Peter Osgood Trust, a charity set up to enhance the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

The charity receives a lot of support from fans, who Lynn was keen to thank for all their help with the piece.

'It's all down to the fans that we've got this statue, it was their vision and they pressed to have something like this outside of Stamford Bridge and it's absolutely fitting. It's amazing!

'It will tie in with the Peter Osgood Trust (www.thepeterosgoodtrust.org) and hopefully help build awareness for the charity as well.'

Elaine added: 'I hope they [the fans] will love it. It's going to be there forever so that is a lasting, befitting tribute to the King of Stamford Bridge.'

'He'd love it, absolutely love it and I think we've done him proud,' decided Lynn.

'We're fantastically proud ourselves, he was a very special man and he deserves this very much.'
http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2172287,00.html

CHELSEA KING JOHN TERRY CAN RULE FOR YEARS AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

3rd October 2010 By Harry Pratt

JOHN TERRY has been hailed the new ‘King of Stamford Bridge’.



That title has always belonged to the late, great Blues star Peter Osgood – and this weekend the club unveiled a statue to honour their legendary hitman of the 60s and 70s.



But, according to assistant-manager Ray Wilkins, Chelsea already boast their own modern-day version in captain fantastic Terry.


Yes, Terry may have lost the England armband last season after revelations about his private life but Wilkins insists he has never put a foot wrong in SW6.



Indeed, he even went as far as to suggest the inspirational defender is the perfect role model – on the pitch at least – for the Blues’ current crop of blossoming talent.



Wilkins said: “It was a very difficult decision placed on Fabio – but I don’t want to talk about England because when John Terry plays for us he’ll always be captain of this team


“Yes, he probably is the modern ‘King of the Bridge’. John has been a wonderful servant to this club and he remains the first name on the team sheet – even though we have some wonderfully-gifted players alongside him.



“All I can say is that I hope Terry continues to play in the same vein for us that he has been for many years – and leading the team in the way he always has done.


“We have been talking a lot this season about our young players coming through. But it’s only when these young men are learning their trade from fellas like John that they will improve.”



Some critics reckon Terry, 29, has lost a lot of pace over the last 18 months and should no longer be considered an automatic starter with England.



But Wilkins added: “Everyone keeps going on about John not being quick enough but I’ve never seen him outpaced – because he reads the game so well.”


He confirmed Carlo Ancelotti will be in the dugout today despite the death of his dad on Friday and admitted Chelsea were lucky to come into the weekend still three points clear at the top, after defeat at Manchester City.



“We felt quite fortunate to get away with dropping three points,” added Wilkins. “It turned out to be a pleasant weekend in the end.”

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/156629/Chelsea-king-John-Terry-can-rule-for-years-at-Stamford-Bridge/

Terry to shrug off rib problem

Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:06 October 2010 - 08:10 AM

Chelsea captain John Terry will shrug off a continuing rib problem in order to play in England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next week.

The defender was recalled to the squad after missing the qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland last month with a hamstring injury.

Terry has no intention of missing another England game despite being troubled by a rib problem in recent weeks.

He explained: "I take elbows in the ribs in a lot of games but it is one of them where I have a bit of bruising and the masseurs can't get into it because it is too sore.

"I had an X-ray and a scan and thankfully it came back all clear. It is a case of getting on with it but sneezing and coughing is really painful."

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/44744/Terry_to_shrug_off_rib_problem.aspx

Chelsea sign 11-year-old wonderkid Gyasi

October 15, 2010 - 4:39AM

Chelsea signed 11-year-old wonderkid Michael Gyasi from League Two club Northampton Town for an undisclosed fee on Thursday.

Gyasi had been playing for Northampton's Under-11s since joining the club's centre of excellence three years ago and the striker showed enough potential at his tender age to persuade Premier League champions Chelsea to pay a fee that could rise significantly due to several clauses in the deal.

Northampton's centre of excellence chief Trevor Gould believes the opportunity to join Chelsea's youth academy will help Gyasi deliver on his potential.

He said: "Not only is this is a superb opportunity for Michael but it reinforces the quality of player we are bringing both into the club and through our centre of excellence.

"Michael has progressed well and has improved with our coaching, and while we obviously want to produce and keep our best players, when a Premier League club like Chelsea come knocking then as long as the deal is right for the club, we will never stand in a boy's way."

© 2010 AFP

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-sport/chelsea-sign-11yearold-wonderkid-gyasi-20101015-16m84.html

After a lacklustre season so far, John Terry could be tempted to leave England to rejoin Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

According to reports from Sport, the La Liga giants could look to tempt Chelsea to cash in on their captain by offering Pepe in a part-exchange, part-cash deal.
The 29-year-old England star is a target of Mourinho, who is looking to add some backbone to their defence.
Currently Pepe is persona no grata at Real after his wage demands of £85,000 a week were deemed over-the-top by the club’s hierarchy, and with two more years on his current contract, Mourinho could either sell him for £20 million or secure a direct swap for the Portugal international. (ESPN)

There appears to be a growing amount of speculation that John Terry could be set to to rejoin form Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, but is there any truth to the rumours? Well it seems hard to believe that any deal that would take the England international would involve some sort of swap for Portuguese international Pepe as there is quite a gap of class between the two players.

Carlo Ancelotti will not want to lose his skipper and will fight off any interest in the centre back and perhaps news of a potential move is merely mindless rumour mongering. After all Ashley Cole has always been strongly linked with a move to the Bernabeu and many had predicted the full back would move to the La Liga giants last summer but no such deal took place.

What do Chelsea fans think? Is this plausible? Or just blind speculation
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/10/16/chelsea-skipper-john-terry-set-for-real-madrid-move/

Carlo Ancelotti Reveals Didier Drogba Is Certain To Miss Spartak Moscow Clash
Salomon Kalou set to replace Ivorian for Russian test
By Gareth Lovell
Oct 16, 2010 3:00:00 PM

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Didier Drogba is almost certain to miss Chelsea's Champions League clash with Spartak Moscow on Tuesday night.

The tie sees the Blues return to the Luzhniki Stadium, the scene of their Champions League final misery of 2008 when they lost to Manchester United on penalties.

If Chelsea are to be without Drogba, who is still suffering from illness, it will be the third successive Champions League game the Ivory Coast international will have missed due to being suspended for the first two opening games of the campaign.

The fever Drogba is suffering from has prevented the prolific marksman from training all week and will also see him miss his side's Premier League game against Aston Villa today.

Ancelotti told the Daily Mail:"I don't think he will be able to play on Tuesday because he hasn't trained this week, and he needs to train.

"He will be here at Cobham. He'll have to recover from the illness. We can cope because we will have a fit Salomon Kalou over there."

Chelsea will have Salomon Kalou back from injury and Daniel Sturridge as possible options to replace Drogba for the clash against an unbeaten Spartak Moscow.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2010/10/16/2168475/carlo-ancelotti-reveals-didier-drogba-is-certain-to-miss-spartak-

Rooney would be ideal for Chelsea: Terry

October 21, 2010 - 6:49PM


John Terry admits Wayne Rooney would be the ideal signing for Chelsea if the unsettled Manchester United striker is allowed to quit Old Trafford.

Rooney sent shockwaves through the football world this week when he revealed he would not extend his stay at United beyond the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of next season.

The 24-year-old claimed a lack of assurances over United's ability to improve the squad to ensure they can still compete for major honours was behind his decision to end talks over a new contract.

Reports suggest Rooney has also angered United by demanding wages of STG150,000 pounds ($A241,332.15) a week after tax and he could even be sold in the January transfer window.

Given the spending power of Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, the Premier League champions are one of the few clubs who could afford Rooney, and Terry knows a swoop for his England team-mate would improve Carlo Ancelotti's squad.

"Wayne is the best young player in the world. I am no different to any other player in saying that," Terry said.

"You obviously have to respect Manchester United and Wayne, but who knows what's going to happen.

"We've got a great squad of players and he would add to that and strengthen the squad. He is the best player in the world for me."

French striker Nicolas Anelka, a team-mate of Terry's at Chelsea, agrees that his club should do everything to sign Rooney - even though he would be a direct rival for his place in the team.

"If he wants to come to Chelsea he would be very welcome," Anelka said. "Would I buy him? Of course I would, he's a good player."

A meeting between United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and the club's chief executive David Gill was set for Thursday to discuss the best way to resolve the saga.

© 2010 AFP

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-sport/rooney-would-be-ideal-for-chelsea-terry-20101021-16w5r.html

Lampard still out but Drogba back for Blues

22/10/2010 - 07:21:09

Frank Lampard will remain a frustrated by-stander as Chelsea look to extend their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League when struggling Wolves visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

While striker Didier Drogba is ready to return after missing the last two games with a virus, Lampard continues to work on the comeback trail.

England midfielder Lampard has been out of action since August 28 following a hernia operation, but is slowly closing in on full fitness.

“Frank is progressing really well,” assistant first-team coach Paul Clement confirmed. “He had a terrific session earlier in the week with [assistant fitness coach] Chris Jones doing some individual work. He is really pushing himself.

“Frank is very frustrated and can’t wait to get back. We have missed him and we look forward to him returning.”

While Drogba will give manager Carlo Ancelotti fresh options in attack, with Alex also not yet able to return to the first-team fold as he recovers from a thigh problem, it will again be something of a makeshift backline.

Branislav Ivanovic, though, has enjoyed the experience of playing alongside captain John Terry at the heart of the defence.

“To play with John is a great experience for every player,” said the Serbia international, whose usual position is on the right. “He gives to every player great confidence and I just try with him to give my best on the pitch.”

Brazilian midfielder Ramires missed the midweek Champions League victory over Spartak Moscow because of an ankle injury, but should be back in contention.

Striker Salomon Kalou played his first game since sustaining a thigh strain in the Carling Cup defeat against Newcastle last month and produced an impressive display at Luzhniki Stadium – the venue of Chelsea’s heartbreaking Champions League final penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester United in 2008.

Blues captain Terry paid tribute to the support of the travelling fans in Moscow.

The England defender hopes another victory over the Russians at Stamford Bridge next month would enable Ancelotti to give some of his players a welcome breather.

“The support we get up and down the country is brilliant and it is especially so when you come to places like Russia. It is tiring enough for us players, but when the fans have to get up and go in to do a nine-to-five job it is great and we want to show our support to them as they do to us,” the centre-back said.

Terry added: “It would be very good to qualify early with the games coming thick and fast in the Premier League.

“With not only us, but other sides picking up injuries it will be nice if we can get the job done early on and maybe we can then rest a few players.”
http://www.thepost.ie/breakingnews/sport/eyqlidqlkfmh/

Chelsea - Best Fans In The World?

After valiantly leading the Chelsea backline in Moscow this midweek, in a stadium that will no doubt have brought back painful memories, captain John Terry took time out to praise the few who often don't get much of a mention or second thought.

In the aftermath of our 2-0 win in the Russian capital, a win that sets us up very nicely in the group, JT was full of admiration for the 1500 or so Blues fans who followed the team halfway across the continent.

'The fans have come a long way to watch us and it is obviously very expensive and many are not going to be getting back until very late,' he said.

'A lot of them are going to be taking days off work or getting back really late and going straight into work, and that is brilliant.'

It was a bare-chested Terry that led the players over to the corner of the ground where the Chelsea fans were situated, a ground where they too would have had horrible memories from two-and-a-half years ago.

However, it was a different story this time as goals from Yury Zhirkov and Nicolas Anelka sealed the points for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Terry went on,

'The support we get up and down the country is brilliant and it is especially so when you come to places like Russia. It is tiring enough for us players but when the fans have to get up and go in to do a nine-to-five job it is great and we want to show our support to them as they do to us.'

Many who braved the sub-zero temperatures in Moscow will have been up in the Midlands the previous Saturday also and, most likely, will be back at Stamford Bridge this weekend when Wolves come to town.

The best supporters in the land? We think so.

Read more: http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=520817#ixzz134ebutzA

Ancelotti wants ruthlessness

30 October 2010-PA Sport

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has warned his players that they will have to stop taking their foot off the accelerator during games if they are to successfully retain their English Premier League crown.

Chelsea has taken advantage of a number of slip-ups by its rivals to establish a five-point gap at the top of the table with almost a quarter of the season gone.

Yet the Blues boss, who clinched the title last season in his first year in charge, has voiced his concerns recently that his team is not performing to its potential.

The Londoners had to rely on a late goal from Salomon Kalou to seal a 2-0 victory over Wolves last week and has been guilty of easing off on its opponents at times this season - most notably against Stoke and Blackpool.

Ancelotti thinks his team will have to be more ruthless in closing out matches if it is to claim victory in the key battles against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal that lie ahead.

"We have started the season well but I think we can play better because we played very well in some parts of some games but not continuously," the Italian said.

"We have to play 90 minutes how we want to play. We have to improve our play and our intensity. We can't just play for 45 minutes like we did against Wolves. We want to play well for the whole of the match and we haven't been able to do that so far this season."

Ancelotti takes his team to Blackburn on Sunday morning (AEDT) knowing that his team has under-performed in its last two league matches away from home.

Defeat at title rival Manchester City was followed by a goalless draw at Aston Villa, where it could have lost all three points had Nigel Reo-Coker not squandered a golden chance in the dying minutes.

Although Ancelotti's team swept aside Wigan and West Ham in its other two away league games, the former AC Milan boss admits his side must do better on the road if it is to hold on to its title.

"In the last two games away we didn't score against Man City and against Aston Villa," said the 51-year-old.

"We had a good away game in the Champions League at Spartak Moscow but it is strange for us not to score away in two consecutive games in the Premier League.

"We had a fantastic performance when we won at Wigan 6-0 but we have to be better away."

Alex will return to the heart of the Chelsea defence tomorrow after recovering from a thigh injury but Ramires (ankle), Frank Lampard (hernia) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Chelsea will be clear favourite to take all three points and maintain its grip on the title against a Blackburn side whose three-match winless run has seen it plummet to 17th in the table.

However, Ancelotti expects the game to be one of the toughest of the season and has warned his side that defeat could seriously affect its chances of winning back-to-back titles for the second time in the club's 105-year history.

"It's very important to maintain that gap on the other teams," said Ancelotti, whose side drew 1-1 at Ewood Park last year.

"Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal are interested in our results and they would like us to lose some points. For this reason it will be an important game tomorrow.

"If we are able to win this game I think that we can improve our confidence and we can give disappointment to the other teams."

Sam Allardyce has come under fire in recent weeks for the physical style that he employs but Ancelotti fully respects Sunday's opposing manager.

"Sam Allardyce is doing a good job at Blackburn," Ancelotti continued.

"He is putting on the pitch a very strong team that are using a particular physical style of play and for this reason to play against them is not easy. Tactically they are one of the best teams in England, particularly defensively."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1029367/Ancelotti-wants-ruthlessness-