Match reports
Daily Telegraph, Tim Rich: “Avram Grant’s attempt to convince the world that Chelsea were not especially bothered by the Carling Cup sounded false from the moment it left his lips. Not since Don Revie constructed his all-white machine at Leeds has there been a club who have set out so remorselessly to win everything. [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2214 views · 77 comments
- Tagged: Arsenal, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, David Moyes, Everton, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti, League Cup, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs
This weekend sees us visit St. Andrews for the first time in two years to play the other team that likes to call itself The Blues. For those with short memories, Birmingham City were our first game of this so far very interesting season. We won 3-2 on that day back in August and all [...]
Match reports
Independent on Sunday, Nick Townsend: “After a match comfortably won with goals in each half, from Juliano Belletti and Wright-Phillips, who is thriving in a more central midfield role, no one should rule out Chelsea’s claim to the championship.”
Sunday Telegraph, Patrick Barclay: “In attack … Grant had devised an interesting formation which was almost [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 3610 views · 152 comments
- Tagged: Aaron Lennon, Alan Wiley, Ashley Cole, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Claude Makelele, Claudio Pizarro, Dimitar Berbatov, Florent Malouda, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Spurs, Tottenham Hotspur, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: “After Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ayegbeni Yakubu had exchanged fine goals, this semi-final first leg appeared destined for a draw. But under pressure from the outstanding Wright-Phillips, Lescott headed into his own net and Chelsea, who had lost John Obi Mikel to a red card, celebrated as if they had won [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2801 views · 128 comments
- Tagged: Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Everton, Henrique Hilario, Joe Cole, Jon Obi Mikel, League Cup, Ricardo Carvalho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Sidwell, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
The Observer, Duncan Castles: “QPR, taken over in September by two Formula One money men and refinanced last month by an Indian billionaire, are on their way back to the top tier of English football. Their half-rebuilt team may still be one of Championship stalwarts and Premier League fringe players, their football not yet [...]
Match reports
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra: “The score, with a penalty for the visitors in the last minute, may have been tied up but this was a match in which logic unravelled to joyous effect. Only those with a vested interest can be immune to the delight of such a game. As the sides demolished one [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 2645 views · 65 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Andriy Shevchenko, Ashley Cole, Aston Villa, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Gareth Barry, Joe Cole, Jon Obi Mikel, Martin Laursen, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Phil Dowd, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Maloney
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, John Ley: “Chelsea achieved another milestone last night when they extended their unbeaten Stamford Bridge record in all competitions to 50. Already assured of their place in next week’s Champions League knockout draw, and against a sadly inept Valencia showing nothing of their past brilliance, this was a canter and the result [...]
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 1872 views · 59 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Arsenal, Champions League, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Petr Cech, Salomon Kalou, Santiago Canizares, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steve Clarke, Valencia, Wayne Bridge
Match reports
Sunday Times, Brian Glanville: “Chelsea, deprived of Didier Drogba, beat a passive Sunderland team without panache or excessive difficulty.”
Independent on Sunday, Nick Townsend: “Ultimately, it was a comfortable enough home victory, though there had been a period after the interval when Sunderland had suggested they may just fashion an equaliser.”
Sunday Telegraph, Duncan White: “Rattled [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 1805 views · 82 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Didier Drogba, Joe Cole, John Terry, Jon Obi Mikel, Peter Walton, Salomon Kalou, Sunderland
Unfortunately we missed this game and had to make do with radio commentary here in England because of a lack of any live television coverage. Leave your good and bad points in the comments.
- by Nick Benfield · Permalink · 2741 views · 46 comments
- Tagged: Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Carlo Cudicini, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard, League Cup, Leicester City, Michael Essien, Roman Abramovich, Scott Sinclair, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Match reports
Independent on Sunday, Steve Tongue: “A lot of water has flowed under Stamford Bridge since Eriksson took tea with owner Roman Abramovich in the summer of 2003 to discuss becoming manager of Chelsea. Jose Mourinho was given the job and the rest is history; or was until Avram Grant took over eight matches ago. [...]
- by Tony Glover · Permalink · 3287 views · 75 comments
- Tagged: Alex, Andriy Shevchenko, Avram Grant, Chelsea, Claudio Pizarro, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Javier Garrido, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Juliano Belletti, Ken Bates, Manchester City, Mark Hughes, Michael Essien, Mike Riley, Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Premier League, Ricardo Carvalho, Roman Abramovich, Salomon Kalou, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Sven-Goran Eriksson