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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Chelsea threw this one away against a spirited Middlesboro side. The Blues should have wrapped this one up before resting on their laurels and lost a valuable three points


Middlesboro started lively but by half time Chelsea looked in total control of this game - after Shevchenko scored his debut premiership goal in the 16th minute after another brilliant move down the left from Wayne Bridge (his second good game in a row for Chelsea). Chelsea sprayed the ball around and played with the swagger of champions and had should have put the game beyond the reach of Boro in that time.


Unfortunately a different team emerged after the break (same eleven players though). We just did not compete with the same energy or passion in the second half and despite having a good goal disallowed and hitting the post allowed the Teesiders more into the game as it went along and two poor defensive moments cost us the three points - the first goal was a free header and the second goal four Chelsea defenders all capitulated together allowing the injury time goal - it is no wonder Mourhino is livid with the performance.

Barcelona again - the biggest rivalry in Europe is continued. The draw was not kind with Werder Bremen certainly no pushovers - any two from three with Levski Sofia propping up the rest. Man Utd & Liverpool will be delighted with their easy groups - although Arsenal will be stretched a lot further than last year with some tough opponents.


Matchday 1 - Tuesday Sept 12th: Chelsea v Werder Bremen


Matchday 2 - Wednesday Sept 27nd: Levski Sofia v Chelsea


Matchday 3 - Wednesday Oct 18th: Chelsea v Barcelona


Matchday 4 - Tuesday Oct 31st: Barcelona v Chelsea


Matchday 5 - Wednesday Nov 22nd: Werder Bremen v Chelsea


Matchday 6 - Tuesday Dec 5th: Chelsea v Levski Sofia


Also hot press - Chelsea and Adidas have unveiled their new Euro Champions League Kit. Click here to see it.

Blues' Clues

Blackburn away at the weekend has produced two close games over the past two years - with a 1-0 victory two years ago - when the Butchers of Black Pudding hacked at everything and caused Robben to miss a large chunk of the rest of the season. Last year Blackburn were victorious 1-0 against a Chelsea second eleven - the wednesday after Chelsea had wrapped up the Premiership. This season will be close again 1-0 to Chelsea who will be playing with a differnet staring 11 to the one that threw away the game on wednesday.


So after great results with Arsenal and Liverpool both dropping points at the weekend - we've gone and done it too. Hopefully we can get back on the winning streak again this weekend.


Related Article: Blues Clues

Here's a sample of what we've got to look forward to from Sheva next season (double click on image):

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The past two World Champions both got off to a slow start with the French dropping two points in an unispirational display against Switzerland and Brazil made to look almost mortal against a battling Croatia side


Claude Makelele became the third Chelsea player to gain the official FIFA 'Player of the Game' with his normal industriuos performance for the French. According to FIFA:

He was defending well in front of his two central defenders. He was winning the ball and making sure that he was giving it to a team-mate and also thinking about the best way to organise the play of his team. He’s been an example of fighting and creativity.

That proves that the game was a bunch of tripe - and Ronaldo gave a good impression of a fat Sunday league pub league player as he Donkeyed about in his atrocious performance for Brazil - which gives hope to the rest of the World. In fact he was even worse than Emile Heskey in his haydays for England.


Chelsea Players in Action: Day 6


Day 6 hopefully pitches Shevchenko into action for Ukraine against Spain and Ballack is now fit and should start for Germany against Poland.


With only four teams yet to play their first match in the World Cup it is noteable that no player from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Liverpool, Juventus or Inter Milan has yet to score.


I am especially looking forward to the drubbing of Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow who are making some outrageous claims about England and talking up their chances. The coach has said that if they can stop giving England set plays, then England will be unable to score - unfortunately for the Trini's the only way to stop the speed of the English team will be to bring them down otherwise it may just be a cricket score. That is unless Erikson does his normal 'get-a-goal-and-park-the-bus-for-the-rest-of-the-match policy

It seems like the writing is on the wall - Chelsea to dominate world football over the next few years - either that or we set ourselves up to do a Real Madrid - either way you will either love or hate Chelsea next year.


Transfers
With Kalou, Shevchenko and Ballack all confirmed and Obi Mikel very likely, Chelsea have strengthened their squad of players massively and with Ashley Cole or Roberto Carlos likely to follow then it would seem that if Mourinho can mold them into a cohesive unit as he has done so well in the past with the players at his diposal:

Then - watch out world!


Contrary to my last post, Shevchenko has been given the number 7 shirt by Chelsea and his website is Sheva7. Michael Ballack will probably adorn the number 13 shirt (see website Michael-Ballack.com).


The truly notorious and unreliable 'Daily Star' have Ashley Cole moving to Chelsea in a ₤20m move this summer as Roberto Carlos seems to be trying to get more out of Real Madrid before choosing Chelsea. In fact Chelsea have already given the down payment to the FA after tapping up Ashley Cole last summer.


Hypocritical Arsenal


Its funny how hypocritical the Arsenal management can be after making such a fuss over Ashley Cole last year, it now 'allegedly' transpires that the Arsenal Mafia secretly and deviously laundered money into Belgian side Beveren to gain control mischeviously contrary to FIFA and UEFA rules.
Well after all the fuss they made last year I hope they pay a comparable price to Chelsea with a large fine and mud on their two faces and stop being such whinging hypocrites in future. We all know shit goes on in the cloak and dagger world of player agents and with such large sums involved these days it it hardly suprising. It would seem that David Dein has been following the Juventus management style abusing his power within the FA to Arsenal's advantage (or Chelsea's disadvantage).


The World Cup

With Del Horno's injury there is no need for Chelsea fans to follow Spain any more who are now comprised of Liverpool, Arsenal & Barcelona players - so we can hate them instead. But we do have Ukraine to replace them. Let me predict here and now that The Ukraine will be the suprise team of the tournament and will do a Croatia/South Korea/Japan and make the Quarter or Semi finals.


With the World Cup just a week away, the excitement mounts - looking forward to tomorrow's drubbing of the Reggae Boyz by the England Lions - and then on to The World Cup where Chelsea players will dominate the proceedings.


Euro Under 21

Sorry to see Chelsea's last interest in the Euro under 21's die with the 3-2 loss of France to Holland with our exciting young midfeilder Lassana Diarra. He has been billed as the successor to Claude Makelele for both Chelsea and France.