After the amazing & exilarating fightback against Everton, Chelsea almost threw away the points against Wigan. The emotion after the game was relief getting a result at Wigan as opposed to the elation experienced after the Everton game.


After some positive results (Arsenal & Everton) where the tactical change of moving Essien to right back - Mourhino decided to experiment from the beginning with Essien at right back. For the first 30 minutes it seemed to be working with Chelsea creating the chances and taking a seemingly easy & unassailable 2-0 lead.


However, the Chelsea team as a whole decided that Xmas holidays had come early and lost concentration and spirit allowing Wigan back into the game - Wigan slowly came back into the game creating chances and eventually Donkey Heskey took full advantage of the fact that Terry was missing easily losing his marker Drogba for a last gasp goal for a 2-1 scoreline.


In the second half Wigan roused by the hope of their goal won every 50-50 ball, the crowd spurred them on and Chelsea were really missing the Bison Essien in midfield. The tactical switch of Essien to right back is fine if the team are all fighting to get back into a game - but does not seem to work when defending a lead.


Wigan were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser albeit a very offside Heskey - the linesman decided that Carvahlo who was off the field of play was playing Heskey onside.


This brought immediate tactical changes from Mourhino throwing caution to the wind once again - as he says one of these days Chelsea will be punished for throwing caution to the wind - but it has definately reaped its rewards in recent weeks with fightbacks and extra points against Man Utd, Arsenal and Everton. However, the change worked again with Chelsea creating chances once again and eventually reaping the rewards of Robben scoring his first goal for Chelsea and paying back Mourhino for getting his starting place back in the team.


Deja Vu for Wigan as Chelsea score their winner in the 93rd minute for the second year running. 3-2 for the Champions and hopefully a lesson learned about complacency. Kalou and Robben both impressed and scored thier first goals for Chelsea. Carvahlo was a rock in defence but Chelsea sorely miss Terry and Cech.


Bring on Reading on Tuesday - Chelsea need to make a statement of intent to Man Utd and with the contreversy surrounding the game at Reading where Cech and Cudicini were sterechered off it would be nice to give the visiting new boys a real drubbing - be ruthless Chelsea for a change. Essien back to midfield for this one please. Shopping list for January to include a right back and a central defender. Hurry back to fitness for Joe Cole, John Terry and Petr Cech. Merry Xmas to all Chelsea supporters in particular qand all fans of the beautiul game

A big week for Chelsea - one of many to come this season no doubt. Werder Bremen in Germany on Wednesday followed by the Manchester Buccaneers on Sunday.


The week started slowly with a comfortable 1-0 win over West Ham (if any one goal victory can be comfortable this was it). Great 25 yard free kick from Geremi sealed the points in a game Chelsea should have had dead and buried well before the final whistle.


It is easy to argue that Chelsea were saving themselves for the week ahead, with a one goal defeat being enough to see them qualify for the second round and a draw ensuring they win the group. Ballack returns to native Germany and with Lampard suspended will have the central midfield to himself. It's a Tough one to call with the game being so critical to the Germans, I'll go for the 1-1 draw - enough for Chelsea and keeps the second place in the balance with Barcelona missing a cutting edge without Eto'o and Messi will still be too strong for Levski Sofia.


The big game is of course this weekend's clash between the Blues and the Red Devils at the theatre of dreams. It has been a happy hunting ground for the Blues over the years - with Chelsea having the best record of any side in the Premiership at Old Trafford. Man United have a tough away game on tuesday as build up to the Chelsea game at Celtic and will want to avoid defeat for both morale and qualification purposes, but they do get the extra day of recovery. Obviously it is another game that could go either way but I am convinced that Chelsea are still the best team in the premiership and will probably win this one. It should be a great advert for the premier league with both teams going for glory, but Chelsea to emerge victors 2-1 in this one.


With a bit of luck and Mourhino's guidance by the end of the week Chelsea will have won Group A of the Champions League and will be back on equal points at the top of the Premiership.

A comfortable victory in the end against a team with spirit but who will definately be in the relegation battle for the entire season


Chelsea started off slugishly but improved as the game went on - Drogba will pick up man of the match for his typical centre forward Hat-trick performance - but for me Lampard was the man of the match his passing was exceptional and he took the midfield by the scruff of the neck. People complain that Chelsea's midfield is too tight but the midfield combination of Ballack, Makalele, Essien and Lampard is just too strong for most teams to compete with and Mourihno always has Robben, Wright Phillips and Joe Cole to bring on to add pace and width as the game progresses.


Shevchenko's goal was masterclass and he is about to start climbing the scoring charts - he may or may not catch up with Drogba who is on fire at the moment - but just as Drogba benefitted from defenders attention beiong given to Shevchenko - now Drogba has scored 14 goals so far this season defenders will be keen to give theior attention to him freeing up Shevchenko - plus as Mourinho states - they are getting to understand each others strength and feed off each other.


Two weeks to Man Utd - which will be a great match and I truly beleive Chelsea will win this one. Man Utd at present are on for a record points haul in the Premiership and seem irresistable against weaker opponents - but were outclassed by Arsenal a few weeks ago - and they will be outclassed by Chelsea as well.


England take on Holland in a friendly on wednesday with 18 squad players coming from Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs. Hopefully Mclaren will not make any more naive tactical formations and England can restore some pride.


West Ham Preview


Predict a win for Chelsea but the score is more difficult to predict. I feel this one will be close as West Ham are local rivals and have been giving fighting performances over past couple of weeks - along with fact Chelsea have tough week with a draw against Werder Bremen guaranteeing the Top spot and a seeded position in the last sixteeen followed by the Man Utd game the following Sunday. Chelsea win 2-1.

Wankers in Authority


UEFA Boss & Scandi Wanker Johanson really pissed me off this week in his claim that Chelsea need an alternative punishment than fines as it has no effect because of the owners billions. What about all the other big clubs? - like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utnited and the Italian Giants who have had piles of cash to exploit over the past fifty years and have never been treated any differently from more "normal" clubs.


Then there is "three yellow card" Graham Poll, who needs to be retired quickly by the FA - after his debacle at the World Cup where he had to show some poor bugger the yellow card three times before sending him off and embarrasing us Brits who always claim to have the best referees - Now he is stating that Chelsea need to be taught a lesson - not an impartial comment - before disallowing a perfectly good goal while Chelsea were already 1-0 up then sending off John Terry for What?? Then on Wednesday Everton (also playing in Blue) had McFadden sent off for saying "Fucking Shite" which Poll aparently thought was "Fucking Cheat" - obviously lost in the scottish dialect and sent him off. Referees get sworn at week in week out and either a rule needs to be introduced for zero tolerence like in rugby or get on with life. Poll needs to be retired as you can not have some biased emotional wanker out in front of 40,000 fans every weekend who has thin skin.


Spurs 2 Chelsea 1


If it's possible to be impartial - a great advert for the English Premier league, end to end footbal played at pace electric atmosphere. like Mourihno says they scored twice and we scored once so they won the game. But in all Chelsea played very well again especially the first 25 minutes and the last 20 minutes with only 10 men on the pitch and without taking away from a very good performance form Spurs - Chelsea deserved to take something out of the game. Essien is probably the best midfielder in the world right now.


Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 0


It was only a matter of time both John Terry and myself had been predicting it for the past few weeks - someone was going to get a drubbing at the hands of Chelsea and unfortunately for the 6,000 plus travelling Villians it was them who got it. O'Neill likened Chelsea to the best team in the world cup of 1982 - Brazil and also stated that chelsea were the best team in Europe right now.


Watford Preview


Well it's obvious really - with Chelsea slipping on the points last weekend, Watford too are going to get their arses whipped - it should be a comfortable 3-0 victory for the Blues - with no game in midweek there will be little holding back. Poor Watford. Actually Chelsea are looking stronger each week and O'Neill is not off the mark when he says Chelsea are the best team in Europe. It is looking like a great title race this year with Man United really stepping up to the new bar that Chelsea have imposed on the premiership and Arsenal (Couldn't score in a brothel) playing some really fantastic football too. Liverpool unfortunately not consistent enough this year - but likely to cause any of the big three poroblems in individual matches or cup games.


As a footnote - good to see Kenny Dalglish's son Paul Dalglish scoring the two goals to get Houston to the final of the US major league competition this weekend where they take on New England.

Well its now two out of three for Chelsea in the Pan-European version of the "super-classico". And if anyone accused Mourinho & Chelsea of sour grapes last year - the Catalans are really gushing the vinegar this year


Another great result for Chelsea, and a deserved point for a battling display against the European Champions, and without the heroics of goalkeeper Valdez - Barcelona could have been staring at the UEFA cup as a distinct probability. As it is they will have a real fight against Werder Bremen, but realistically they should scrape through against the Germans at the Nou Camp.


Lampards goal was exceptional a real wonder goal created form hours of practice at the Cobham training ground. If Ronaldinho had scored it the whole world would have been preening about the best player in the world - but the media in the UK just do not like giving Chelsea credit where it is due. Great to see Lampard in great form over the past few weeks.


Drogba's winner created by the ever impressive Essien's bursting run from deep inside his own half and Captain Marvelous Terry's back header summed up the teams never say die attitude which has them firmly placed as favorites to win the Champions league this year.


WEEK AHEAD


A visit to "Three point lane" on sunday to play Spurs who have not beaten Chelsea in any league at White Hart lane for 19 years. Last year to be honest Spurs played really well in both games and were handicapped by the red card for Mido at home and Gallas scored the wonder goal at Stamford bridge in injury time. Spurs have started slowly this season but are clawing their way up the table buoyed by some good results in Europe. Chelsea have looked awesome in their last few games and should win this one - but do not be too suprised if Spurs get a point form this one.


next week sees the visit of The USA's Aston Villa who have 6,000 travelling fans who have free transportation courtesy of new owner Randy Learner - well thats a lot cheaper than shelling out $20m for a decent player or the $150,000 weekly wage that a decent player would get as well - clever economics by the Yank and definately a real goodwill purchase with the fans. However Chelsea will blow away the villians whatevr eleven Mourihno puts out.


Hilario v Cudicini


I love Cudicini for his years of service but right now Hilario desrves his starting position - he has played with confidence and made some crucial saves. Give Cudicini the carling cup and hope he does not get sent off in the week before the final.