Great start to the season - a really polished performance from the Champions - some beautiful flowing football in the second half had ten man City runing around like rag dolls


Arjen Robben was my man of the match - he was here, there and everywhere - in a game of many good performances. Wayne Bridge played down the left like a man staking his claim on the left back position and was instrumental in the faboulous flowing football that resulted in the third goal - a sweet diving header from Drogba. Lampard and Essien took control of central midfield - Lampard scored the second goal - crisply taken drive which took a deflection and gave the keeper no chance. Essien had some wonderful surging runs producing a piledriver from 30 yards which was parried away by the City keeper. Terry and Carvahlo were steady in the middle and except for one or two minor incidents kept man City very quiet all day long.
Shevchenko played some lovely little touches and was unlucky with one of his shots being stopped by the hand of Dunn in the area - the referee must have been feeling sorry for the City team, and then having his injury time home debut goal disallowed for offside. There is little doubt that Shevchenko is going to have a good season with the boys in Blue.


The three youngsters thrown on for Chelsea in the second half Diarra, Kalou and Obi Mikel all added to the dominance of the Chelsea team and with all three under 21 - must be a big worry for the other sides around the Premiership and Europe. Poor Wright-Phillips - out of all the Chelsea players he was the one who looked most out of sorts - he got a lot of the ball but with the exception of a lovely move just before he was taken off, he really lost the ball too often - he seems to still have a confidence issue and it seemed to affect his game taking on players when he should have passed and passing when he should have been taking on players.


Anyway onto Wednesday and away to Middlesboro - site of the biggest drubbing for Chelsea during the Mourinho era. He will be desperate to get revenge for the defeat and Middlesboro coming off their woeful defeat at the hands of new boys Reading where they gave up a two goal lead in losing 3-2 will be desperate to get points against the Champions.




Blues' Clues
Should be a good game and will probably be close. Chelsea have to improve their away record during the second half of the season last year to keep the title at Stamford Bridge. Expect a 2-1 victory for Chelsea in a pulsating game at the Riverside



Related Articles: Never mind the Ballacks | Chelsea Home Centenary Shirt 2005/06 | Wankers, Jerks & Master Bates

You could not write a better script - John Terry sets an example by scoring the first goal for England in their drubbing of European Champions Greece.
England looked so much better than in the World Cup and were helped by McLaren's decision to leave out Beckham from the squad. It freed up Gerrard and Lampard who finally played well together.


It is of note that all four goals were scored by Chelsea and Liverpool players and it would seem that these two teams who have enjoyed such a rivalry together over the past 24 months with 11 games played and set to play each other again on Sept. 16 are likely to be the main contenders for the title this year. Man Utd have finally strengthened their midfield and may well pose a threat and Arsenal finished the season strongly - but with Ashley Cole still unsettled and Senderos still injured they'lll be a bit shaky at the back - expect some good scorelines!!

CANNON FODDER - unfortunately for the visiting Man City team they are going to be cannon fodder for Chelsea this weekend. Stuart Pearce had to actually play in one of their pre-season friendlies as they have such a small squad of fit players, and without the heroics of David James - Shevchenko is going to have a dream debut for Chelsea. 4-0 my prediction with a hat-trick for the Ukranian striker.


It is likely to be a very exciting title race this year - but if Chelsea have won the title by mid September again this year I will not be complaining.

This was a much better performance - it really was men against boys - Chelsea started the game with real purpose and really should have buried Manchester City under an avalanche of goals.


While the media continue to criticize and reflect on the controversy with the "Hand of Drog" rearing his Maradona-like silky skills - the fact is Chelsea could have and should have been 4-0 up by the time Drogba scored his second goal.


Chelsea are playing well and if they can start the next couple of games with the same purpose as they did today, then the back to back Premiership title will be ours on Easter weekend. Man Utd's next two games are at home against Birmingham and West Ham which will probably give them six points - but then they have Bolton away and Arsenal at home and they will drop points.

Which, with Chelsea victories at Birmingham and home against West Ham, would mean that we can clinch the championship with a win at Bolton on April 15th. If not, then Easter Monday at home against Everton.


Back to today's game - I thought Chelsea looked much better at the back with Carvalho back in place of Huth. Not that you would want to criticise Huth if he was anywhere near you - he is a man mountain in the mold of Mickey "Mickey's going to get you" Droy, but at 21 he is still learning and does not have the speed or skills of Carvalho or Gallas.


Gudjohnsen had a good game as both playmaker and could have netted a few as well. Drogba should have had a hat-trick. Great first goal and like he said in the post match interview -

"Yes, it was handball but sometimes this is the game"

- at least he is honest about it - shit happens - sometimes it goes against you (like Liverpool's goal-that-was-not in last years Champions league semi final) and sometimes it goes for you. The point is Chelsea dominated this game so much that if Drogba's second goal had been disallowed, Chelsea still would have won.