footiemadman007

Anyone know when it's official released though? (megastore online says "Available for delivery from 8/5/2008" but does that mean that its available in shops from then - or that's when the megastore plans to dispatch???!!) Anyone know for sure?

It's fine... it doesn't really matter what the shirt looks like in my opinion.. if you support the club, you buy the shirt and wear it with pride for the season.. anyone know when it's official released though? (megastore online says "Available for delivery from 8/5/2008" but does that mean that its available in shops from then - or that's when the megastore plans to dispatch???!!)

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! Ballack... finally Ballack manages to do something positive today... Great free-kick from Drogba/Malouda...

Stick the ball into the net!!!!!!!

Ballack f***s our best chance just now, when all he had to do was look up and square the ball... and also referee Bennett has booked JT for what? not being able to get out of the way of Owen going at high speed from 2 yards in front of him.. Bennett.. give the whistle a break!!!

JT saves us from going 1-0 down... captain fantastic!

Grant's line-up is definitely looking ahead to Sunday's Carling Cup final.. but we only need a scrappy 1-0 away win tonight, as we don't get defeated at the Bridge.. ever!

I don't take this as a level playing field from the referee - he has missed stone-wall fouls on our players time and time again in that first half and given 50/50's Fulham's way. I wonder whether this particular referee isn't up to the task of keeping the crowd off his back and that the Fulham fans are forcing his hand. The Fulham penalty wasn't a penalty and Kalou was "level" with the defender when he went through and went down over Niemi for a penalty which should have been.. Roll on the 2nd half - Fulham aren't a good team in the 2nd half, even under a new boss..

having surgery on it on Sun; surely he'll wear some kind of facemask to protect him as JT won't let a cheekbone fracture get in the way of England and Chelsea duties..

after the week we've had I'm just happy that we're ahead, we've scored and we've not conceded yet

what I expect us to get this season is the Carling Cup and a CL spot - also progress from the CL group stages at minimum..

We now need to find a goal from somewhere - if not two goals - and for that reason only, also because till the Tevez goal we've looked 'okay' in defence, I think Avram needs to turn to Wright-Phillips for the second half. The red card for John Obi Mikel was harsh and should've only been a yellow card if Dean had any sense. Then to signal two minutes of added time - the goal was timed at 47:30; now thats 2mins 30secs..

Team: Cech Ferriera Ben-Haim JT A. Cole Essien Makelele Mikel J. Cole Shevchenko Malouda Bench: Pizzaro Kalou Cudicini Wright-Phillips Alex

I don't think it was a "chelsea lie" as you put it Brit just because Grant has said that he knew he would be getting the job a week ago - you've got to think of it, after reading it again (without the sense of anger towards the clubs decision), as though Avram had a feeling of things around the camp and therefore wanted to see whether he could get the right Pro Licence just in case the situation worsened. As it happens the situation did and Abramovich gave Mourinho his marching orders. Something I picked out from the article: "Summer signing Florent Malouda said: "There was a different atmosphere in training today, more serious. "The new coach made much of the importance of physical power and also insisted we shoot more and from any distance. It was not a revolution in tactics, but he also wants us to be more secure in defence."" I am liking what I read there.. and also here: (apparently Mourinho's words) "Mourinho himself called on fans to back the team, saying yesterday: "I don't want the supporters to chant my name if they get a bad result. I don't want players to threaten to leave because I have left. I don't want demonstrations of any sort."" If we can keep the squad as it is and hope that they move on from this situation and give Avram the chance - perhaps all the players thinking of leaving should start to think of waiting till the summer and see where they've all come to - we might see this as the start of a new, strong, Chelsea; but without the guidance of Mourinho which every supporter is saying that we need in order to succeed. Now - lets back the lads against the Red Manc Scum and back Grant and Stevie C!! P.S. At least we still have Stevie C - who know how Mourinho worked and knows all the players!

We all keep reading these reports of the players being upset at the fact that Grant has been appointed as Mourinho's successor - and also that they're not happy with the fact that Mourinho has gone. But we have had nothing from any of the lads to say they want to leave. Anyone hope that the players come out and stay something over their futures? I am disappointed by the departure of Mourinho as much as everyone else is but I really think we all need the players - especially Captain Fantastic JT, Lamps and Drogs - to come out and confirm there positions!

unless Kenyon agreed something with Sevilla to bring Alves in in January; then I still don't really know a reason why we sold Diarra..

I have a sneaky feeling Diarra's transfer to Le Arse could have something to do with some minor agreements in the Cashley saga last season - I don't know why, but I just have a feeling that it does. Sad - of course - to see Diarra leave - and especially to Arsenal - but Maka just signed an extension and Essien is probably going to be the player to replace Maka at DM once Maka moves on so therefore Diarra needs (at the age that he is at) to get some first-team football, which I can see at Arse with half their defence injured. My only worry now is that Jose has left himself short of cover at right-back, unless Tal Ben Haim manages to develop some magical skills to play as a right-back; we only have Belletti and Paulo Ferriera at right-back.

1-0 FT Top of the League!

My membership card finally arrived earlier this week! Must say Valerie, that it is a nice one..

good signing in my opinion.. short-term fix but for ?3.7m I can't argue especiallly as we got ?25m for Robben - be better defending than GJ and PF atm and that right-back area has been one of the keys to unlocking us.. also, at 31-years-old he has experience in-and-winning the Champions League (remember guys he scored the winner v Arse-anal's in the 2006 final) and has played in one of the strongest leagues in the world (La Liga). Another point I'd like to make is that although he is Brazilian he holds an Italian passport therefore not using up a non-EU place - and there is still time to secure the signing of Alves, although it is unlikely that we will now go for him after signing Belletti..

What do you guys think of that fee?

Yes we should buy Alves - he is a quality right-back. But also keep PF and GJ, just in case he gets injured within the first couple of games.

Does anyone have any idea what the fee for Robben is? Abramovich wanted to hold out for ?27m for him to fund the deal to bring Alves in - but I've read on some places that the agreed fee is ?18m which is pants imo.. I'm quite pleased in a way that Arjen is off to 'no place in the team for you after all our 200 signings' Real Madrid because (as I think someone has already said) when he has played in the Blue shirt he has given 100% and he hasn't slagged the club off. The turning point when we all kind of knew that Robben was off was when he said that the contract negotiations had broken down when the Blues were out in America.

Maka still has an important role to play within the team. another piece of good news - taken from here - "18-year-old defender Sam Hutchinson has signed a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge"

I agree with you Star all the way.. Just one slight thing - we still have time to sign Richards from City AND we got Alex on a free - so we didn't pay over the odds for him.