Blogs
Napoli Vs Chelsea - Match Preview. Champions League
21 February 2012, 2:23 pm
Last 5 results: Napoli – WWLDD (in order from recent to previous) Chelsea – DLDDW Probable Line ups : Napoli (3-4-3) – Morgan De Sanctis, Salvatore Aronica, Paolo Cannavaro, Armando Campagnaro, Walter Gargano, GokhanInler, Christian Maggio, Andrea Dossena, MarekHamsik, EzequielLavezzi, EdinsonCavani. Chelsea (4-3-3) – Petr Cech, BranaIvanovic, David Luiz, John Terry*, Ashley Cole*, Raul Meireles, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge. * ind...- 20 February 2012, 7:23 pm
Ramires, leading from the front Last year the season began with our most notable signing, Ramires, failing to shine. For some fans it looked as if it was going to be another big money flop. However, this year Ramires has led the club from the front and has gone from strength to strength. Villas-Boas is one manager who knows Ramires well from his time in Portugal. He had heard and seen a lot of Ramires and even played against him and was aware of the Brazilian midfielder as he helped Be... A Christmas Gift for McEachran
20 February 2012, 7:22 pm
Christmas has just gone away. I guess everyone got many gifts from Santa and they have liked it all. And Josh McEachran is perhaps happy with his gifts too. I guess he had stuffed himself with lot of food this Christmas to gain some flesh for his slim body. So it was a happy time for him like every year, I hope......But was he really all around happy after this Christmas? I can guess he wasn't. Our 18-year old prodigy had found it hard to break into the first team this season, and that was ..."Go see the French lad, he is the star" - Will That Star Shine Once Again?
20 February 2012, 7:22 pm
Kakuta Secures Dijon Move This is how Michael Ballack described this talent from France when he played shoulder to shoulder with him in the reserves game for Chelsea after coming out of injury. This is the same player for whom Chelsea dug deeper and deeper and went through many troubles to sign him and bring to Cobham. This is the same player which is (yes, "IS") dubbed as Black Zidane. In case you still are unable to recall his name, to be honest, you are not the o...'Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the £50m of all?'
20 February 2012, 7:22 pm
"Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the beautiful among all?" Certainly, this can be a line from the fairytale, 'Snow White and Seven Dwarfs', and if you ask any Chelsea girl, that who is the most handsome player in the squad, they will say Fernando Torres. But looks dont count on football (except for merchandise and promotion purposes), rather beauty in football counts. Torres is handsome! Ok! His game is beautiful too! But not his form. I am not bothered by his lack of goals, whilst S...
Manager or head coach model? Ancelotti might not be on to a loser at Chelsea
22 November 2010, 3:06 pm
This weekend, Carlo Ancelotti compared his role at Chelsea to that of Ferguson at Man Utd, claiming his role was technical only: he is not the ‘manager’. This has helped kick-start the debate we love so much: should all power......Ancelotti gossip: there's no smoke without fire at Chelsea
22 November 2010, 11:06 am
Another weekend, another loss. Three weekends in a row, now: is losing becoming a habit for the champions? Well, no. But things aren’t pretty on the pitch at the moment. Off the pitch however, things are probably worse. Just as......Chelsea: don't believe the hype
18 November 2010, 4:12 pm
Part of the price ‘big clubs’ pay for their status is greater scrutiny of every win, loss, piece of individual genius and mistake. Up until recently, Chelsea experienced a very specific type of scrutiny. A huge 2010 saw Chelsea not......England lose: but surely Chelsea must be to blame somehow?
18 November 2010, 12:08 pm
England’s fortunate 2-1 loss to a rejuvenated French side last night saw another file added to the international side’s library of underwhelming performances. The collection has started to overflow of late. But it’s all a bit confusing. Normally when England......No excuses for Chelsea's insipid Sunderland battering
15 November 2010, 2:22 pm
Like last Monday, today’s journey into work took an unfamiliar feel. Same bus, same journey, same dreary monotony…save one detail. Normally my morning routine involves catching up with the latest football headlines on Sky Sports News, before casting my eyes......
Chelsea confirmed line-up v Napoli: No Torres
21 February 2012, 7:01 pm
Cech, Ivanović, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa, Ramires, Meireles, Malouda, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge Subs: Turnbull, Cole, Torres, Kalou, Lampard, Mikel, Essien. ...Dizzy Heights For Chelsea Supporters
21 February 2012, 11:00 am
If you’re reading this there’s a high probably you support Chelsea and an even higher probably you’re a decent sort with a bit of compassion and a few quid. Ok, I’m buttering you up a bit now but I’m after a favour – a little favour really because [...]...Napoli v CHELSEA: Champions League Preview
21 February 2012, 9:30 am
Venue: Stadio San Paolo, Naples Date: Tuesday, 21 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT When we can’t buy ourselves a win in the Premier League – or even in the cup against Birmingham – an away tie against Napoli is just what we need, right? Ok, so we’d probably prefer Northampton but then it wouldn’t be [...]...AVB Suffering For Past Mistakes?
20 February 2012, 12:00 pm
I was watching some old Chelsea videos at the weekend – well let’s face it, it was preferable to our highlights against Birmingham wasn’t it? With everything that’s going on at the club right now, particularly the pressure AVB is under and the (mis)reported chants for the return of Mourinho, there’s definitely a feel that [...]...CHELSEA v Birmingham: Confirmed Line-ups
18 February 2012, 11:41 am
CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Meireles, Sturridge, Torres, Mata. Subs: Hilario, Bosingwa, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Drogba BIRMINGHAM: Doyle Carr Davies Caldwell Murphy, Gomis Fahey Mutch, Redmond Rooney Elliot Subs: Butland, Caldwell, Burke, Spector, Asante, Reilly, Jarvis...
Chelsea Talk
FRIDAY IS PRESS CONFERENCE DAY
24 September 2010, 3:44 pm
In past days the press conference was accommodated in a student sports pavilion on rows of chairs that would not look out of place in the local school......ZILINA REVISITED
14 September 2010, 6:32 pm
The ground is much-changed from the one we played in seven years ago......NEW BOY FROM BRAZIL
20 August 2010, 4:14 pm
Bang in the middle he was showing early signs of a rapid change of direction with the ball at his feet......HAS CARLO PICKED HIS SIDE?
3 August 2010, 9:47 am
After three games that for one reason or another haven't shown us too much, Wednesday should provide an accurate gauge of where the squad is at......BACK ON THE ROAD...
1 August 2010, 9:44 am
It is finally tour time again, albeit in a reduced and rather more local situation than normal......
FA Youth Cup: Nottingham Forest 3-4 Chelsea
22 February 2012, 8:58 pm
Chelsea’s remarkable FA Youth Cup run continued in the most unlikely of circumstances as they turned a 3-0 half time deficit into a dramatic, late, 4-3 victory. First half strikes from David Morgan and Jordan Palmer-Samuels sandwiched a Nathan Aké own goal to leave Eoin Jess’ boys 3-0 up and firmly in control of affairs, [...]...Power and Responsibility
22 February 2012, 3:08 pm
An inevitable consequence of a spell of poor form or a season where expectations are not being met is the media’s take on the cause of the maladies. Typically, the woes will be attributed to dressing room discontent and the notion that the manager has ‘lost’ his players, no longer commanding their respect. True to [...]...A Question Of Philosophy?
21 February 2012, 1:22 pm
The next few months may well prove to be the most important of the Roman era. There are grave concerns from the terraces that this may be the season where the continual mismanagement of the club finally backfires spectacularly. The squad is bereft of the quality needed to truly challenge for the title. The robust [...]...Spotlight On: Napoli
21 February 2012, 9:58 am
So, Chelsea supporters, you’ve had a tough time of it recently. And now you’re off to meet Napoli in the Champions League, hoping against hope that this will be what brings your club back from the brink. Well, in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, I’m here to tell you — this tie just [...]...Reserves: Chelsea 3-2 Fulham
20 February 2012, 6:39 pm
A much-changed and much younger Chelsea Reserve team won a hard-fought local derby against West London rivals Fulham on Monday afternoon as goals from Romelu Lukaku, Ismail Seremba and Patrick Bamford secured a 3-2 victory. Fulham twice responded from behind with strikes courtesy of first-teamers Kerim Frei and Pajtim Kasami but were undone late in [...]...
Does Size Really Matter?
19 July 2011, 6:19 pm
The big question that every man always asks himself. Does size really matter or is it a myth? I am, of course, talking about footballer’s height. It has always been believed that each team needs to have a commanding goalkeeper, a couple of tall centre backs, a lanky centre midfielder and a towering centre forward. [...]...Why The Title Was Lost
4 June 2011, 4:11 pm
Some people say Chelsea had a bad season, some say finishing 2nd is good. Whatever view you may have the fact of the matter is that Chelsea did not win the league this season. There has been no shortage of excuses or theories as to why this was. Some fans (including Roman Abramovich) may believe [...]...On This Day 2004 (2nd June)
2 June 2011, 8:18 am
On this day; the 2nd of June 2004 Jose Mourinho became Chelsea manager stating “he wasn’t from the bottle, he was a special one”....Keeping The Ball: Pass Completion 2010/11
29 May 2011, 4:33 pm
One of the most famous clichés in football is ‘keep the ball’. This report looks at who would be in the 2010/11 Chelsea team based on this, both home and away in the Premier League. Home Premiership Games Pos Player Passes completed Passes Attempted Pass rate GK Petr Cech 389 602 64.6% LB Ashley Cole [...]...Managerial Differentials
25 May 2011, 11:59 am
Across all competitions Chelsea scored more goals per game under Carlo Ancelotti than any other manager in the modern era. The Blues also outscored opponents by on average 1.3486 goals per game under the former Italian. Carlo’s loss percentage is similar to fellow Italians Claudio Ranieri and Gianluca Vialli, Carlo had the lowest draw percentage [...]...
Newspapers
Faith in André Villas-Boas slowly eroding among Chelsea hierarchy
22 February 2012, 11:00 pm
• Defeat at Napoli tests Roman Abramovich's patience• Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard angry after starting on benchAndré Villas-Boas is still confident he will be allowed to oversee the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League knockout tie against Napoli next month, although the manner of Tuesday's chaotic defeat at Stadio San Paolo has spread alarm among the club's hierarchy.Roman Abramovich, who was not in Naples, was understandably unimpressed with the 3-1 reverse in Italy. The oligarch ha...André Villas-Boas must be given time if he is to rebuild Chelsea successfully| Dominic Fifield
22 February 2012, 11:00 pm
The manager is faced with the nearly impossible task of maintaining a challenge for trophies while simultaneously trying to replace an ageing squadAndré Villas-Boas departed the Stadio San Paolo as he had arrived, offering reminders of perceived support from above and expressing an eagerness to plough on with his project even as a first campaign as Chelsea manager unravels around him. This club is taking severe toll on his fresh-faced reputation, each traumatic setback accompanied with all too ...Next time Villas-Boas's Chelsea vision may get past the wastebasket | Richard Williams
22 February 2012, 6:28 pm
These matches in which the Premier League's top clubs see Naples and die expose a real problem for English footballHe is already the first foreign manager in the Premier League whose command of English is too extensive for his own good, and now we know that André Villas-Boas also appears to possess elegant handwriting. The sheet of hotel notepaper that found its way on to the Gazzetta dello Sport's website in the hours before Tuesday night's match — presumably fished out of a waste basket by ...Will English clubs' Champions League failure be a passing phase? | Paul Wilson
22 February 2012, 3:31 pm
Chelsea and Arsenal's expected failure to reach the Champions League last eight could mark a low ebb in English footballThe vultures are beginning to circle over the stumbling, disorganised remnants of Premier League participation in Europe's major club competition, waiting for the moment when life can be pronounced extinct and the bones of a once thriving enterprise can be picked clean, probably prior to being danced over.In case you haven't heard, should Arsenal and Chelsea fail to overcome th...Italian press hails Napoli's victory for financial prudence
22 February 2012, 1:11 pm
• 'Chelsea might have bigger names, but not the inspiration'• 'Chelsea's defence is a masterpiece of disorderliness'Gazzetta dello Sport described it as "extraordinary normality". A team such as Napoli – one with a wage bill a fraction the size of Europe's elite and who were playing their football in Italy's third tier as recently as 2006 – should not be able to defeat Chelsea as easily as they did on Tuesday night. And yet it did not come as a total surprise when they did."If you had sa...
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is torn on the future of manager Andre Villas-Boas
22 February 2012, 10:00 pm
Owner's camp is said to be split on the timing of the manager's departure....Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich: in pictures
22 February 2012, 11:55 am
In pics: The men who have worked under Roman Abramovich at Chelsea....Chelsea need Rafa Benitez's tactical genius to clean up mess created by Andre Villas-Boas
22 February 2012, 11:46 am
Chris Bascombe: Benitez not a unifying force, but his clarity of thought could be perfect for Chelsea....Chelsea's Gary Cahill says Napoli defeat was 'ridiculously disappointing' as defence faces scrutiny
22 February 2012, 11:35 am
New signing says Champions League defeat was "ridiculously disappointing" and admits fellow defenders must improve....Chelsea defender Gary Cahill renders Napoli defeat as 'ridiculously disappointing' after Champions League debut
22 February 2012, 11:35 am
Gary Cahill says 3-1 defeat was a Champions League debut to forget after Chelsea's defensive lapses....
Andre Villas-Boas is doing a Brian Clough: Will it end the same?
23 February 2012, 12:24 am
Andre Villas-Boas has managed to last longer than 44 days but there are echoes of Brian Clough's brief, tempestuous reign at Leeds United at Stamford Bridge right now....Frank Lampard won't allow Andre Villas-Boas to force him out of Chelsea
22 February 2012, 11:00 pm
Chelsea outcast Frank Lampard will resist Andre Villas-Boas' attempts to force him out of the club because of a £1.5million loyalty bonus in his contract....Andre Villas-Boas: Sack him? Or back him?
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
Andre Villas-Boas' future is under further scrutiny following Chelsea's 3-1 defeat in Napoli. Matt Barlow asks whether the Stamford Bride club should sack, or stand by, their under-fire manager....Paul Pogba closer to Juventus move
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
Juventus are understood to have outlined a four-year contract for Manchester United teenager Paul Pogba. The 18-year-old midfielder is also wanted by Chelsea....David Cameron gives FA ultimatum on racism
22 February 2012, 10:25 pm
David Cameron has given the FA two months to deliver a plan to combat racism in football. The Prime Minister urged football to address problems which could threaten to undo much hard work....
PSG target 'fuming' Frank Lampard
22 February 2012, 10:32 pm
Chelsea midfielder set to be offered reunion with Ancelotti...EXCLUSIVE: Spurs to tempt Redknapp with new deal
22 February 2012, 10:31 pm
Levy hopes contract and arrival of new faces will convince manager to turn England down...Pearce's young Lions set to go Dutch
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
String of senior England stars not being considered for next week's friendly by stand-in boss...Ivanovic admits: Chelsea have a lot of things wrong
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
Current crisis is hardest moment of defender's Blues career...Why the painful process of breaking up Mourinho's Chelsea cannot be put off any longer
22 February 2012, 10:30 pm
It has been promised, expected, for the last three summers. Instead, a series of Chelsea managers have put off the fateful decision, merely tinkering with what remained essentially the Jose Mourinho team. But as Andre Villas-Boas led his bedraggled and divided squad out of the Stadio San Paolo, their Champions League hopes hanging by a slender thread, the day of Stamford Bridge reckoning had arrived. No matter who is in charge, the 30-somethings who have been the foundation stones of the Chel......
Web and Broadcasters
Andre Villas-Boas defends Chelsea team selection
22 February 2012, 9:05 am
Manager Andre Villas-Boas defends his team selection as Chelsea lose 3-1 away to Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League last 16....Andre Villas-Boas: John Terry can make speedy Chelsea return
22 February 2012, 7:21 am
Chelsea captain John Terry can make a quicker than expected return to action, according to manager Andre Villas-Boas....Andre Villas-Boas defends Chelsea selection for Napoli loss
21 February 2012, 11:53 pm
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas defends his team selection after the Blues lose 3-1 to Napoli in the Champions League....Tuesday's Champions league photos
21 February 2012, 11:34 pm
Best of the action from Tuesday's Champions League matches...Napoli 3-1 Chelsea
21 February 2012, 10:35 pm
Napoli out-gun Chelsea to heap more pressure on Andre Villas-Boas and secure a healthy lead in an absorbing Champions League last-16 first leg....
Ivanovic calls for squad unity
22 February 2012, 3:51 pm
Branislav Ivanovic admits the Chelsea squad must unite behind under-fire boss Andre Villas-Boas and help to snap the club out of their current slump....AVB rejects Inter talk
22 February 2012, 1:55 pm
Andre Villas-Boas has shrugged off speculation linking him with Inter Milan and reiterated his commitment to building a successful future for Chelsea....Mata injury fear
22 February 2012, 12:00 pm
Chelsea will hope Juan Mata can play through the pain after sustaining a suspected broken finger in the 3-1 defeat by Napoli....Cahill suffers night to forget
22 February 2012, 11:28 am
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill will not look back fondly on his UEFA Champions League debut....AVB hopes for Terry boost
22 February 2012, 7:51 am
Andre Villas-Boas is hoping that Chelsea captain John Terry may be able to return from a knee operation in four weeks' time....
Wilkins: AVB must learn from Fergie example
22 February 2012, 2:10 pm
Under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas should learn from Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson's handling of his senior players, according to former Blues assistant boss Ray Wilkins....Zola warns 'fragile' Chelsea need quick fix
22 February 2012, 11:04 am
Former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola has warned his ''fragile'' former team they are running out of time to turn around their stuttering season....Napoli 3-1 Chelsea
21 February 2012, 11:53 pm
Napoli 3-1 Chelsea...AVB accepts speculation will grow after loss
21 February 2012, 11:51 pm
Andre Villas-Boas accepts speculation over his future will only intensify after Chelsea lurched to yet another defeat in that left them in danger of Champions League elimination....Cech: Mistakes not helping Villas-Boas
21 February 2012, 10:32 pm
Petr Cech acknowledged mistakes on the pitch are not helping Andre Villas-Boas or his Chelsea players after the 3-1 defeat at Napoli....
Blues must stick together - Ivanovic
22 February 2012, 3:12 pm
Branislav Ivanovic has urged his Chelsea team-mates to put their personal grievances aside and follow Andre Villas-Boas' orders to the letter....AVB advised: Follow Fergie example
22 February 2012, 2:17 pm
Under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas should learn from Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson's handling of his senior players, according to former Blues assistant boss Ray Wilkins....Wilkins tells AVB to follow fergie's example
22 February 2012, 2:01 pm
Under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas should learn from Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson's handling of his senior players, according to former Blues assistant boss Ray Wilkins....Liga - Lavezzi eyes Liga move
22 February 2012, 1:15 pm
EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea's tormentor Ezequiel Lavezzi says he could be tempted by the chance of playing in La Liga in future....Serie A - Lavezzi eyes England and Spain
22 February 2012, 1:14 pm
EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea's tormentor Ezequiel Lavezzi says he could be tempted by the chance of playing in the Premier League or La Liga in future...
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