Impresive start to the European campaign with a fairly comfortable 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen


No long review here - but it has to be noted that Essien and Ballack were magnificent and Lampard while not at his world beating best still caused a lot of problems for the Germans.
Essien was everywhere enjoying the free role on the right side of midfield with Makalele resuming the defensive midfield role and Essien got his reward with the 24th minute opener. Ballack's touch and vision in passing was magnificent and whetted the appetite for the rest of the season. The penalty was thunderous and showed why the Germans never lose a penalty shoot out. It was "the Drog's Ballacks" as Ballack converted a penalty from the foul on Drogba.


GILES SMITH


For any Chelsea supporters - in fact supporters of football in general, Giles Smith's weekly editorial on the Chelsea Official Website is a scream - a real piss take and very enjoyable read. Click here.


BLUES CLUES: LIVERPOOL


Liverpool obviously consider the game against Chelsea as more important than their Champions League clash with PSV as they rested five of their regular starters including Gerrard and Garcia.

While Liverpool are not in good form right now, and Chelsea have done a double double over Liverpool in the league these past two seasons, Liverpool are desperate and Benitez is a great tactician.
Chelsea are playing some fabulous football but only in spurts which gives teams a chance to compete right now as Chelsea still have to find their groove with all the new faces.

Prediction: 1-1 points dropped by the Champions in a fiercly competitive game. (Hope I am wrong and it is 5-0 to the Blues.)

This was another game we should have won comfortably after an inspiring first half display - but were made to work hard in the second half for our victory


The first half display was one of total control with the midfield combination exerting their dominance as Chelsea peppered the Charlton goalmouth with numerous chances.
The attention that defences are giving Shevchenko is giving Drogba plenty of space and he will be wondering how he only scored one goal in the first half.

Not that he was the only player guilty of squandering chances, an error that almost cost Chelsea some points in the second half. Essien was once again in great form breaking down Charlton's forward advances and executing telling passes to his teammates. Ballack too had a very good game, holding the ball well, some exquisite passing and a lovely shot inches past the upright with the keeper beaten.
Even Wright Phillips playing on right midfield gained in confidence as the game went on, playing his game of beating the defence down the wing and getting in some good crosses. Bridge had a great game on the left, looking dangerous as he surged forward as he has done all season. It really should have been 3 or 4 to nil at half time.


In the second half there were visions of Middlesboro as Charlton put on a battling display and disrupted the total control Chelsea had imposed in the first half. Hasslebank got Charlton back in the game with one trademark goals that we've all seen him score while playing at Chelsea over the years. His subdued celebrations actually got the Chelsea fans singing his name. Mourinho rolled the dice and brought on Ashley Cole for his debut and Kalou, bringing off the impressive Bridge and Wright Phillips. Seconds later Chelsea restored the lead with Carvahlo towering header getting a slight deflection and beating the Charlton keeper.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Kalou was pushed off the ball after another of his surging runs, but Lampard's penalty was impressively saved. It is probably time to give the penalty duties to Shevchenko - everybody knows the Lampard shoots to his left. Charlton continued to battle and I was glad to hear the final whistle as Dowie pushed three forward in an effort to get the equalizer.

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With the final group stages completed, Chelsea Players walk away with another two FIFA Player of the Game awards, three more goals and fourteen of the sixteen Chelsea players appearing at the World Cup are through to the last sixteen


Michael Ballack and Joe Cole won the FIFA Player of the Game awards for their respective performances in the final round of group stage games - bringing Chelsea's total awards in this category to seven. The nearest any other team comes to that total is Bayern Munich with three then there are eight other club teams with two awards, being AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Rennes and Guayaquil. Joe Cole's Goal was arguably the best goal of the tournament so far and justifies Pele's claims that he is good enough for the Brazillian team.

So as a reminder Lampard, Robben(2), Makalele, Essien, Ballack and Cole were the six players gaining seven player of the game awards.


On the scoring front Joe Cole, Maniche and Schevchenko all scored in the final round of group games taking Chelsea's goal scoring tally to eight. Arsenal sticking close in second place with seven goals.


Goodbyes to Didier Drogba and Petr Cech who will team up with the non world cup players a week earlier than any player making it to the quarter finals.


Chelsea are now down to fourteen players left in the World Cup plying their trade for eight different countries. Only one of the second round games pitches Chelsea players against each other in the Holland v Portugal game. Unfortunately for Ghana, Essien is suspended on two yellow cards and will miss the Brazil v Ghana game.


Hopefully Terry, Lampard & Joe Cole can help inspire England to victory over Ecuador whom I must admit I did not think they could perform below 7,000 ft - but they proved me wrong in their demolition of Poland and Costa Rica.


Come on England!!!!!!!