Chelsea FC - Supporters' Rally

[Glen2712]

MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 2 LIVERPOOL 0

Chelsea sealed our place in the Carling Cup semi-final this evening with a 2-0 win over the visitors from Merseyside.


Andriy Shevchenko and Frank Lampard, who had a little bit of help from Jamie Carragher, guaranteed Chelsea's 51st win-in-a-row in all competitions at Stamford Bridge in a game which seemed a stalemate at half-time.


Michael Ballack returned to a winning Blues side after his long rehabilitation while Scott Sinclair proved to be another useful player with pace on the wing.


The last time these two teams met in the Carling Cup, Chelsea ended Liverpool's hopes of winning the title with a 3-2 win in front of 78,000 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, today the feat was achieved in front of a more modest figure of over 41,000.


None of the scorers from that game started this evening. Even Steven Gerrard, who opened the scoring for the Blues that afternoon with an own goal, missed tonight's match due to illness. Didier Drogba is still sidelined because of his knee injury and John Arne Riise began tonight's fixture on the Liverpool bench.


There was a home coming for a lot of the Blues this evening. Ballack returned to the bench after eight months out with an ankle injury while Sinclair took up his role on the left after a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers. Carlo Cudicini remained on the bench as Petr Cech began between the Chelsea posts.


Ricardo Carvalho was back in the line up after his back injury forced him out of the squad in November and Michael Essien returned to the domestic competition after his three match suspension.


Liverpool made nine changes from the team that lost to Manchester United on Sunday with Xabi Alonso returning after missing 10 matches due to a metatarsal injury. Peter Crouch headed the attack instead of Fernando Torres while Ryan Babel and Momo Sissoko both started for the Reds.


The last 10 meetings between the Reds and the Blues have seen four wins a piece and two draws.


The game started with a flurry of blue as Frank Lampard controlled the field in the centre with his usual pin point accurate passing, finding the chests of Sinclair, Juliano Belletti and Shevchenko before a certain gloved Ukrainian won a free-kick on the edge of the box - only for Lampard's subsequent shot to be deflected by the Liverpool wall.


Kalou was to come closest for Chelsea within the first 10 minutes when Itandje denied the Ivorian's curling shot by smashing the ball behind the line for a corner.


The play then evened out as the fans behind each goal tried to out-sing each other with their home team's chants, creating a warming atmosphere on the cold crisp evening.


The fans continued their karaoke competition as the game reached its 25th minute when Alonso made his presence known in the centre circle with an ambitious shot towards Cech's goal.


However, the Chelsea number one was untroubled as the ball flew wide and instead allowed Cech to play a long kick which fell into the path of Lampard who had only Itandje to beat. Unfortunately a clever little chip did not quite reach over the head of the Liverpool keeper as it deflected the ball for a corner.


With 10 minutes to go in the half, both sides had come close. Crouch and Alonso had shots spinning wide while Lucas had managed to force an athletic save from Cech. Not to be outdone, Sinclair and Shevcehnko been denied at the other end by either inaccuracy or Itandje.


It was Essien that made the whole stadium move to the edge of their seats as the Ghanaian launched a screaming shot from the edge of the box which flew across the face of goal and inches past the post.


By the end of the first-half the match was a stalemate in midfield. Despite Chelsea's control of the possession, both keepers had been called into action only a couple of times but were mostly watching the game unfolding metres from the edges of their box.


Within 10 minutes of the start of the second half the stalemate continued. As Lampard's shot flew wide so did Voronin's at the other end. Then Essien was denied by Itandje before Crouch was foiled by Cech.


A change seemed inevitable, the only question was who.


In the 57th minute Avram Grant decided it would be Sinclair who would give way for a fresh pair of legs as Joe Cole came on to play down the right in an attempt to break the deadlock.


It was only seconds later that the feat was achieved, but without the help of Cole. Lampard broke into the box and smashed a shot towards goal but the ball was awkwardly deflected by Carragher and lobbed Itandje in what would have been a perfectly placed chip to find the back of the net.


The game immediately heated up as Nabil El Zhar came on to replace Alonso. No sooner had the Spaniard left the field and there was another player on his way as Crouch was shown the red for a ridiculous challenge on John Mikel Obi right in front of the referee.


The excitement then died as the teams began to re-shuffle. It wasn't until the 68th minute that the stadium sang once again as Ballack came on for the first time this season, replacing Mikel.


With 20 minutes left Chelsea were slowly inching forward with more frequent attacks but without really troubling Itandje between the Liverpool posts. The Reds had lost their panache since Crouch had left the field and seemed to have resorted to placing 10 men behind the ball. In the 73rd minute Rafa Benitez decided to swap Babel with Yossi Benayoun who took up the attacking role alongside Lucas.


There were sighs of relief when Benayoun, Lucas and Voronin all broke through the back line before releasing shots that flew either high or wide.


As the game began to draw to a close Essien, Shevchenko and Lampard had all come close without much Liverpool retaliation the other end.


It was in the 91st minute that the game was sealed when Shevchenko found space in the box to fire home a Bridge cross which bounced off the head of Ballack before falling into the Ukrainian's path where it was smashed home despite a touch from Itandje.


It was Shevchenko's last touch of the game as Steve Sidwell came on to play out the remainder of stoppage time when he replaced the Chelsea number seven in the 93rd minute.


Liverpool still found time to test the Blue defence once more before the final whistle was blown and Chelsea guaranteed their place in the Carling Cup semi-final.


Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech; Belletti, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, Bridge; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Shevchenko (Sidwell 93), Sinclair (J Cole 57).

Scorers Lampard (58), Shevchenko (91)


Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Itandje; Arbeloa, Hobbs, Carragher, Aurelio; Sissoko, Alonso (El Zhar 59); Voronin, Lucas, Babel (Benayoun 73); Crouch.

Sent off Crouch (59)

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[Glen2712]

THE ALL-NEW, ULTRA SOFT adiPURE

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[Glen2712]

THE ALL-NEW, ULTRA SOFT adiPURE

Pardon me, Bros. But when I saw Lampard wore the new adiPURE football boots in white against Liverpool this morning and Kaka wore the black adiPURE against Boca last week, I could only watch in awe.


'Damn I've gotta get this pair of classic too!'

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[Glen2712]

No away-day blues for Olympiacos

The fact Olympiacos CFP finally ended their away-day hoodoo in the group stage to help seal a first passage to the last 16 since 1998/99 has given the Greek club hope they can continue their resurgent European form against Chelsea FC. "After our first away victory in the competition we won't be wary of our return match at Stamford Bridge," said coach Panagiotis Lemonis.


Form crucial
The 3-1 success at Werder Bremen in early October was the Red and Whites' first away win in 32 matches in the tournament. With the monkey off their back, Olympiacos quickly added the scalp of S.S. Lazio in Rome en route to finishing second in Group C. Chelsea present a stiffer challenge in the first knockout round, but not an insurmountable one. "In two months' time, it is the form of the teams that will be crucial for the outcome of the tie," Lemonis said.


'Great talent'
"At this stage of the competition there are no easy opponents. Chelsea have great individual talent but they focus more on working as a team," continued the 47-year-old. "They're very experienced at this level and I don't think Avram Grant's inexperience in the UEFA Champions League will matter. I'm happy because my players are keen to impress through hard work and collective effort. Our goal is to create a squad that will be consistent for the next three to four years. We don't need to do any serious recruiting in the transfer window."


Awful record
History does not favour Olympiacos, however, as their seven previous visits to England have brought just as many defeats, with only one goal scored and 24 conceded. In addition, Chelsea have an impressive record in UEFA Champions League home game, having lost one of their last 24 matches. Midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis said the tie is "60-40" in Chelsea's favour, adding: "The most important thing is the kind of shape we're in when the games come around."


Grant confident
Chelsea may have limited know-how against Greek opposition yet they know all about longevity in the UEFA Champions League, having reached the semi-finals in three of the last four campaigns. Grant spoke confidently throughout their successful Group B challenge about his side possessing the armoury to finally go all the way this term – and the Olympiacos draw will not have altered his thinking.

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[Glen2712]

Chelsea win Di Santo battle

Argentine on his way to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have won the race to sign Argentine hot-shot Franco Di Santo.


The Blues have agreed a deal worth $7million (£3.4million) with his club - Chilean outfit Audax Italiano, and the 18-year-old will move when the transfer window opens in January.


Di Santo started his career in the youth side of Godoy Cruz de Mendoza - but he then opted to switch to Chile and he has since flourished with Audax.


From 35 starts he has bagged 13 goals in less than two seasons, and has also shone for Argentina's youth sides after he opted to play for the country of his birth rather than Chile - who also wanted him.


Now Chelsea have beaten a host of clubs from around Europe - to seal a deal for Di Santo - who is free to move to England as he holds an Italian passport.


Interest
Indeed Chelsea are understood to have held off competition from nine rival Premier League clubs - including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal - who all expressed an interest.


"Everything is nearly agreed, there are only a few details to be resolved but there will not be any problems," Audax president Valentin Cantergiani confirmed.


"We only have to agree the fee that Audax will receive if Di Santo is transferred again in the future and that's all. All the rest has been arranged.


"We are exchanging the last documents."


Cantergiani admitted that Chelsea have been very good to deal with.


"Chelsea has been more than a year following Franco and all the negotiations have been all the time very polite.


"They want to add him their squad when the transfer window opens in January. As Franco holds an Italian passport he can be at once part of their team."


Happy
The player expressed his delight at the impending move to West London.


"My agent told me not to talk about this, but the truth is I won't go on playing at Audax," he admitted.


"Playing at Chelsea would be very nice. It would be fantastic."

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[no_faith]

as sum/many have won the prediction game again.
the awarding process came very slow due to sumtimes i have award the 'prize' to particular bro b4.

have troubles finding ppl, can chelsea bros all gather here, i wish to see wat are the pointers we have.
i wish to re-arrange the game competition.

thks for co-operation.

[Peter_North]

Chelsea QPR game got LIVE telecast or not ???

Can't seem to find leh.

[Glen2712]

Bro Peter_North, there's isn't any 'live' coverage for the match Chelsea Vs QPR.

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[Glen2712]

Damn, wouldn't it be nice if Sergio Ramos comes to Chelsea....... :dream:

Gung Ho (Or should I say he's damn bloody Garang!)






Fearless (Just look @ the way he took his chances scoring the goal!)






Astute Awarness (Move into critical position swiftly; prevented conceding a goal, Excellent In Scoring From Set Pieces Situations)






Awesome (Turn defence into attack, Possses Good Ball Controlling Skills and Flair)

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[Glen2712]

Drogba plans Blues exit

Milan lead the chase for unsettled Drogba

Didier Drogba has cast more doubt over his Chelsea future by declaring he plans to leave at the end of the season.


The Ivory Coast star first revealed his desire to leave Stamford Bridge in October following the departure of Jose Mourinho as manager.


Drogba has reiterated his wish to move on in the summer and says his mind has not changed from when he first admitted he wanted to leave.


The former Marseille star admits the exit of Mourinho has helped push him towards the exit door at Stamford Bridge.


"It comes from me, I said what I am thinking, that I wanted to leave," Drogba told Eurosport.


Problem

"The problem is that I say that I want to leave since two or three years."


"Mourinho's departure didn't help, to the contrary it made my desire to leave even bigger."


Drogba has been linked with a possible reunion with Mourinho at Italian giants Milan, but the striker says he is only concentrating on winning the African Cup of Nations.


"I am not going to speak about my next club and my major objective is the ACN and winning all the interests we have to win when I'll return for Chelsea."

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[ANDYSIAO14]

Anelka completes £15m move to Chelsea


Chelsea have completed the £15million signing of Nicolas Anelka from Bolton.

The London club had an earlier bid for the 28-year-old Frenchman rejected but returned with an increased offer.

Blues boss Avram Grant said after Chelsea's Carling Cup semi-final first leg win over Everton on Tuesday that he hoped to clinch a deal in time for Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Chelsea are without Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, who are away at the African Cup of Nations, while Andriy Shevchenko has an ankle injury.

On Thursday Anelka's advisor Doug Pingisi said the striker was keen on a move to Chelsea.

It is believed a bid in the region of £11million was rejected on Monday.

'He really wants to go to Chelsea,' Pingisi said in French daily L'Equipe.

'Nicolas is calm. He hopes that everything will be finalised this week.

'He has been waiting for such an opportunity for years. He appreciates the fact that he is at the top of the list of players wanted by Chelsea at the moment.

'For Nico, it is very important he finds a club that will allow him to express himself at the highest level.

'Moreover, this club is still involved in every competition, particularly the Champions League.'

Anelka's first English club was Chelsea's rivals Arsenal, who he signed for in 1997 from Paris St Germain for £500,000.

After moving to Real Madrid and then back to Paris St Germain, he returned to England in 2001, signing on loan at Liverpool. The Anfield side decided not to sign him permanently and he moved to Manchester City a year later. In 2005 he joined Fenerbache and 12 months later joined Bolton in a club record £8 million deal. -soccernet

[Glen2712]

You've got to be kidding moi. :sigh:

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[Glen2712]

Chelsea announce Ivanović arrival

Chelsea FC will make Branislav Ivanović their second signing of 2008, paying FC Lokomotiv Moskva a reported €12m for the Serbian international defender.


'Terms agreed'

"Chelsea can confirm it has agreed terms with Lokomotiv Moscow for the transfer. A work permit application has also been successful," the London club said in a statement. Ivanović's arrival at Stamford Bridge will follow that of the €20m Nicolas Anelka last week.


High praise

The centre-back, who is also comfortable at right-back, moves to the Premier League after two seasons in Russia with Lokomotiv, where he made 54 top-flight appearances. He had been touted as the "best young defender in Europe" by the Moscow team when he was transferred there from OFK Beograd.


Russian Cup win

His performances for OFK earned him the first of his eight international caps in summer 2006. Belgrade giants FK Crvena Zvezda and FK Partizan were then poised to battle for his services but it was Lokomotiv who secured his signature. Ivanović played a part in the Railwaymen's Russian Cup success last May, and featured in 26 of their 30 Premier-Liga games in the 2007 season. If registered, he will be eligible for the UEFA Champions League when Chelsea play Olympiacos CFP in the first knockout round.

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[Glen2712]

Originally Posted by Glen2712

Chelsea win Di Santo battle

Argentine on his way to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have won the race to sign Argentine hot-shot Franco Di Santo.


The Blues have agreed a deal worth $7million (£3.4million)....

Chelsea sign Argentinian teenager Di Santo


Chelsea have signed Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo on a four-and-a-half-year contract.


The Barclays Premier League club have made no mention of a fee for the Argentina Under-20 international striker.


He joins the Blues from Audax Italiano in Chile.


The 6ft 4ins striker has incredibly been compared to diminutive legend Diego Maradona. Di Santo scored 13 goals in 55 league games for Audax Italiano.


Chelsea had been reported to have agreed a deal worth more than £3million for Di Santo, who holds an Italian passport.


Chelsea reportedly saw off competition from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to sign the tall frontman.


He becomes Avram Grant's third recruit this month, following the arrivals of striker Nicolas Anelka – from Bolton Wanderers FC – and Serbia defender Branislav Ivanović - from FC Lokomotiv Moskva.

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[WRX_STI]

Go Chelsea!!!!