Whilst the result on Wednesday was what the majority expected, the scoreline was a lot better than many feared. In actual fact, Pardew had us set up quite well, and for a man who is often criticised for his tactics, he deserves praise for last night. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some players who I’m scratching my head at, wondering how they are footballers, Sissoko for example, but that was better. Much better than Sunday.

Having said that, I’d probably rank Jose Mourinho as the most ruthless manager in the Premier League now and there is still every possibility of us receiving a nasty, hard, bumming on Saturday if we’re not absolutely, ‘on the ball’ for the full duration.

To me, Chelsea look perfectly positioned, just on the shoulders of Arsenal, ready to pounce, but happy to let the Gunners take all of the attention, for now, safe in the knowledge, that at some point, Arsenal will fuck up, probably on a boggy pitch somewhere, when their free-flowing football will be of no use whatsoever, and the well oiled, slick and efficient, Chelsea machine, will blow them out.

To be fair, Chelsea’s financial muscle should ensure that they are in a solid position all of the way through the campaign and with enough players in their squad to play serious teams in every tournament they compete in. Rumours that their Russian benefactor has had a change of plan read like weapons grade, horse shit to me, as in the summer, Mourinho lashed out ’30m on Willian from Anzhi, ’18m on Schurrle from Leverkusen, ‘9m on van Ginkel and also stumped up a wage package that brought Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi who was rumoured to be on around ‘200,000 a week, over in Russia. The only outgoings of note were the loan moves of Moses, Lukaku and the releases of Malouda, Benayoon and Ferreira.

On the road this season, Chelsea have had a challenging start. They drew 0-0 at Man Utd and 1-1 at Spurs, but beat Villa (2-0) and Norwich, (3-1) and lost 1-0 at Everton. They’ve won away from Stamford Bridge twice in the league cup, 2-0 at both Swindon and Arsenal, whilst in Europe, they have won away at Steaua Bucharest and Schalke, hitting 7 with no reply

The goals get spread around, with Oscar having 5, whilst the much maligned, Fernando Torres has 4, as does Hazard.

Van Ginkel is a long term injury and they are free from suspensions.

Team News

A different story altogether for us, as far as injuries are concerned.

I’m still yet to fathom out why Pardew got our hopes up last week about the return of Coloccini and Taylor. Both were still missing on Wednesday and don’t appear to ready for Saturday either.

To add to our woes, Paul Dummett has some form of injury (can t be a leg injury as he was sprinting off, only to turn around, sprint back and defend a corner, before coming off on Wednesday) and Haidara has pulled a hamstring in the same game. Jonas Gutierrez is still away for personal reasons whilst Sylvain Marveaux is still locked in the dungeon underneath SJP.

Krul seems likely to continue in goal, whilst the back four will probably read, Debuchy, Williamson, (who has been playing very well) Mbiwa and Santon.

In midfield, Pardew has spoken of fatigue but I expect he’ll stick to Tiote, Cabaye and Sissoko.

Up front, I expect Remy to return and I thought Ben Arfa was back to his exciting best on Wednesday when not asked to play as a central striker. Whether he returns to that stupid position or whether Cisse retains his pace, or Shola or Gouffran play, is probably all that Pardew still has to decide.

Injured

Massadio Haidara ‘ hamstring ‘ no return date

Ryan Taylor ‘ Knee ‘ not expected back this year

Coloccini ‘ groin strain ‘ doubtful for Saturday

Steven Taylor ‘ Hamstring – doubtful for Saturday

Dummett ‘ Unknown

Possible Team (4-2-1-3)

1.Krul: 2. Debuchy, 5. Williamson, 6. Mbiwa, 3. Santon: 7. Sissoko, 4. Tiote: 8. Cabaye: 10. Ben Arfa. 9. Cisse, 11. Remy:

Subs

Elliot, Tavernier, Shola Ameobi, Anita, Obertan, Gouffran, Sammy Ameobi

Referee:‘Lee Mason

History vs Chelsea

A bit of a mixed bag to be honest, on and off the pitch.

1983/84 1-1 draw in what was to be a promotion season for both sides Chelsea won the division whilst we finished 3^rd‘behind Sheffield Wednesday. Speedie for them, Terry McDermott for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8yqG0IfPYI&feature=youtu.be

1984/85 Back in the top flight, and joy at SJP with Waddle and Neil McDonald helping us to a 2-1 win. Kerry Dixon for them.

1985/86 Dixon again, Speedie again and Nigel Spackman, with Roeder scoring for us. 1-3

1986/87 Paul Goddard with the winner in a 1-0 win.

1987/88 Done them, good and proper, 2 for Mirandinha and 1 for Gascoigne. Chelsea managed to lose to Middlesboro in the play offs and were relegated.

1993/94 0-0, dull. Hoddle’s Chelsea were very poor.

1994/95 Andy Cole on fire, he hit 2, 1 each for Fox and Lee. See his stunner here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CnxRfSJUE

1995/96 A Ferdinand double in the league saw us to a 2-0 win. We started like a train. They would do us on penalties in an FA Cup replay after Gullit had equalised in the last minute of normal time

1996/97 Shearer and Asprilla were far too hot for that idiot Franck Leboeuf to handle.

1997/98 We did them 3-1 again with goals from Dabizas, Speed and Robert Lee. Di Matteo with their goal.

1998/99 Now under Gullit, we lost 1-0 to a Dan Petrescu goal

1999/00 Another 1-0 defeat with Poyet about to become a proper pain in the arse in a semi final later on.

2000/01 0-0.

2001/02 2 Eidur Gudjohnssen goals either side of an Alan Shearer header. 1-2.

2002/03 Woodgate’s debut, a fine 2-1 win, Fat Eddie Murphy with an own goal before Bernard lamped home our winner after good work by Viana.

2003/04 Ameobi and Shearer (with a wondergoal) on target for us after Joe Cole had put them ahead, but a Robert Huth stamp on Shearer’s bollocks probably put paid to Big Al celebrating his winner with his missus that evening.

See Shearer’s goal here’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbGR0zL_ios

2004/05 A win in the FA cup thanks to Kluivert’s header, a defeat in the league cup 0-2 AET and a league draw 1-1, when Babayaro celebrated with his Chelsea pals as they won the league.

2005/06 Brambles 1-0 volley earns us a place in The Interoto Cup. Stephen Carr red carded, Chelsea not arsed.

2006/07 Another 0-0

2007/08 0-2 Ballack and Malouda with the goals as they were just a bit too good for us. .

2008/09 Shearer’s first game as manager, but Chelsea were too strong again. Lampard and Malouda on target.

2010/11 Carroll’s walked in effort was cancelled out by Kalou. 1-1

2011/12 0-3. Maybe if Luiz had been sent off early on the score would have been different

2012/13 3-2 to us and possibly the last time Sissoko had a good game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_T5oE7f4M‘a complete radge of a commentator

Chelsea Fanzines

CFCUK’http://cfcuk.cfcnet.co.uk/

Gate 17′http://www.gate17.co.uk/

CFCNet’http://www.cfcnet.co.uk/

Predictions

0-3. But could also be much worse than that

Danger Men

Most of them. It would be splendid if our supporters could refrain from offering to wank Frank Lampard off, when the cunt wanders over to take a corner, from which Chelsea will be trying to score.

CHRIS BETTS’