A relief to get to the end of this game with all three points intact. Chelsea never quite looked the real deal today and Blackburn, like Boro in midweek put up a spirited performance. But we'll gladly take the three points which keeps us on the heels of Man Utd.


It was good to see Petr Cech back in goal and he certainly added extra security at the back with his 6ft 5in frame dominating the goal area and he also made a crucial save from Benny McCarthy at a time when we were holding on to a slender lead. Didier Drogba also caused the Blackburn defence trouble after he came on (having been rested from the original line up due to a niggling injury picked up at Middlesbro). His physical style of play and strength ruffled the home side defenders and his goal in the 81st minute was a cracker, muscling himself past Ooijer before striking a sweet shot into the roof of the net past Friedel.


Having said that neither team grabbed control of the game in the first half - but Chelsea created slightly the better of the chances without really looking like scoring. Early in the second half, the penalty awarded for holding on John Terry (more like a rugby tackle) was only just converted by Lampard. Blackburn, like Middlesboro before them, came back more into the game and had Chelsea on the back footing. Petr Cech, as stated before, was a tower of strength for the defence and the introduction of Drogba gave Chelsea a more menacing look up front.

Anyway to win Championships you need to win games even when you are not at your best and Chelsea managed that. There were wholesale changes to the side with Cech, Kahlid the Cannibal, Ballack and Kalou all starting after the disappointment at Boro. There is now the break for the Euro Championship qualifiers before we play another bogey team, Charlton, at Home on Sept 9.

The Transfer window closes on Thursday and the questions still surround Ashley Cole and William Gallas. Wayne Bridge has been on fire for Chelsea so far in the season and Chelsea miss Gallas' composure in and around the box. Ashley Cole is no doubt a great player but it will be no big loss if we do not get him - although Peter Kenyon (Chelsea CEO) has stated that he expects the deal to go through at the end of this week.

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

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.

It makes my blood boil to see two former Chelsea heroes act like total wankers or, as our American cousins would say, total jerks


First of all William Gallas decides to take an extra week vacation and let down the whole squad. Then Ken Bates decides to report Chelsea to the FA and at the same time call for points deduction and a ban from Europe. Both actions are Sour Grapes and likely to be rewarded by hatred from the fans.

Ken Bates has always been what Americans like call an "Asshole" or a real pain in the arse. His negotiation tactics won him few friends outside of Chelsea, but certainly saved Stamford Bridge from the developers and he presided over the best period of success in Chelsea's history, pre-Abramovich, even if he finally steered Chelsea to ₤80m in debt at the end of his reign. His selling off to Roman Abramovich for a reported ₤140m made him a very tidy profit and a very wealthy individual. But it would seem that he is jealous of Roman Abramovich and his wealth and determined to bully the Russian Tycoon to greasing his palms with some more money.


While Chelsea fans are grateful for his huge contribution - they will resent him for what can only be described as guerilla tactics against Chelsea FC. If Leeds United ever get promoted back to the Premiership he will be treated with contempt instead of the cheers that he could have expected.

William Gallas and his Agent are acting like real wankers and Gallas needs to be made an example of. There is no space for the kind of out and out contempt that he's served up to his teammates by not showing up to preseason training. I was glad that Ballack got the #13 jersey - his number both for Bayern and Germany and I hope Gallas gets the maximum two weeks fine imposed on him. Then sell him off to Juventus.

The Chelsea team fell 1-0 to the MLS All Stars on Saturday - with the fitness level being the difference between the sides - Joe Cole's Injury will keep him out of the start of the season - but will give more of a chance for sombody else to shine - maybe Wright Phillips or the newly acquired Kalou who has a reputation for speedy wing work as well as being naturally left footed.

With two friendlies back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday against Feyenoord (a) and Celtic (h) followed by Sundays Community Shield against Liverpool and International friendlies next week, players will get a chance to get to full match practice before the first game of the Premiership at home to Man City.