It's coming...

very, very soon

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Preview: FA Cup Final 2009

So hey, we did better than the "best in England" against Barca, didn't we? Even Ronaldo figured out that we outplayed Barca, at least until he got on the losing side.

Now the team can unleash the demons that have been raging inside them as they saw the team they beat lift the holy grail that we have continuously failed to reach on poor, unsuspecting Everton. It won't be unsuspected, and Everton surely aren't poor, but it will still be a cracker of a finale, hopefully a better finale than the midweek "final of the century" which I ended up reading the latest FourFourTwo in. I was really schintallated.

It should be a good final though, and let's have a look at the game, Chelsea Blue style.

TEAMS
Do not read the ESPN Soccernet's Chelsea correspondent. He underestimates Everton.

Rule no.1: Do not understimate Everton.

They have drawn with us 0-0 twice this season. You don't keep Chelsea to a clean sheet for no reason. They are good. They finished fifth, for god's sakes! So Mr. Andy Thorhill, you can send the kids out and see Phil Neville try to lift the trophy. Have fun in that fantasy.

Whilst the smart and actual Chelsea manager who knows what he's doing picks a team that can match up to the best in the world (apparently).

CECH
BOSINGWA ------- TERRY -------- CARVALHO/ALEX -------- A.COLE
BALLACK
ESSIEN -------- LAMPARD
ANELKA -------- -------- -------- MALOUDA
DROGBA

I'd like to see that, or something similar, take to the golden Wembley grass. TCB Player of the Year A.Cole can tear up the left wing, feeding Florent's stylish little bon-bon on the back of his head. Personally I think the whole Chelsea team should adopt this hair style, as it seems to turn players into career best form.

Jack Rodwell, a player I've always rated at Everton, may start. If he does, target him! He's young, fairly inexperinced and is the player who could bring Everton to their knees if he doesn't do the billing.

DANGERMAN
Do I need to tell you? It can only be Tim Cahill, Hiddink's golden Aussie boy who fired Australia into the World Cup Round of 16. I'm an Aussie, and I f****ing love Cahill, but Saturday, I'd like to see him crying on the ground holding that silver medal. Sorry Timmy, I'll go back to loving you after the Bahrain game which'll see us at South Africa (hopefully!)

PREDICTION
Only Michael Platini could sabotage this one and give it to Everton, if Chelsea go out and play with the sort of passion that can only come from watching the team you outplayed and kept out until the 183rd minute go on and completely outclass their final opponents to lift Big Ears. If it's penalties, I'm hoping to see JT slot in the winning penalty and rip off his shirt and throw it into to the support and go wild, just to cure Moscow once and for all.

Good luck Chels!

Wembley here we come!

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Video: Anelka on the road to the Golden Boot

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Review: Nico scoops the Golden Boot

The Premier League wrapped up today with Chelsea securing over eighty points with a close win over Sunderland

SUNDERLAND 2 - CHELSEA 3

TEAM

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (c), A Cole; Belletti (Ballack 26), Mikel (Mancienne 78), Essien (Kalou 64); Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.

Goals Anelka 46, Kalou 73, A Cole 85

Booked A Cole 33

MATCH REPORT

My wish came true!

Anelka won the Golden Boot last night after a superb goal opened the scoring in an entertaining second half at the Stadium of Light that saw the Black Cats breathe a huge sigh of relief.

We almost scored early in the contest again when Essien headed Anelka's (?) cross into the side netting. However it was to be a scoreless first half in which we attacked, but did not finish. I feel that finishing is where we need to strengthen in the summer, as we could be looking forward to Man U in Rome this week if Drogba had put his chances in the net. Although some penalties would've been nice there..

Sunderland were playing like a Premiership team, and if they had gone down, I would be campaigning for relegation to be judged on performances, as Newcastle are, and play shite (how's that for pommy speak?!). They had chances, which Cech unfortunately looked a bit shaky on, but still remained the brick wall he is.

The second half began with Cech trying to be like Ronaldo, who was sitting on the bench in England's favourite place, Hull City. Unfortunately PC1 isn't quite the same as CR7, and Grant Leadbitter nearly converted.

Then Anelka secured his Golden Boot with a great goal which further pushes his case to stay next season. His finish smashed the top left corner.

Then the Cats equalised five minutes later, providing more cusp for why they are a Premiership team. However, sub Salomon Kalou took us back into the lead with his first goal for quite some time, a great touch followed up with a blasted finish. 1-2.

Ashley Cole wrapped up the scoring with the third and final game for our Premiership campaign, Sunderland going head over heels and Malouda providing Ashley with the ball to score. He said he wanted to score more goals, and that mission began tonight. Ashley, you are my Player Other Than Lampard Player of the Season, and you can expect a Chelsea Blue tribute to come in the offseason. To Bilic, Riijkard, Terim, Moyes or O'Neill, do not let him join Barca or Real! (I didn't mention Ancelotti, as that's how much I don't want him).

Sunderland's consolation inspired them to push for an equalizer which would've definitely kept them in the Premiership, but with Shearer not providing the goods it was the Cats day, and not a day to even be closely related to Newcastle United Football Club (or Middlesbrough, for that matter). Perhaps we should buy out St James Park for our youth = ) ?

Now, Everton awaits at Wembley, as all roads lead to London (not Rome, if you got the wrong memo)

PREDICTION OUTCOME
Well, I was off slightly (5-0!) but then again, only one per cent of IKTS players correctly predicted a 2-3 away win for Chelsea.

COMING UP
Everton in FA Cup Final at Wembley.

The countdown begins here, on The Chelsea Blue!
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SITE IN OVERHAUL - PLEASE BE PATIENT!

Please be patient as the site enters overhaul mode.

This is part of a bigger, better experince for The Chelsea Blue.

Stay tuned as this is just the beginning of our big off season project. More details shortly.

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Preview: The last slice

Here we are.

Thirty seven games that have been an emotional rollercoaster of sorts, thirty seven games that have determined our current fate in the Barclays Premier League this season. A fate that grants us third place, our first placing outside the top two since Roman rocked into town, unless Liverpool throw the dice away against Spurs.

Time for some serious metaphoring: This is the final slice of the loaf that has made up the bread and butter that has provided serious topping for Chelsea fans this season.

= )

Isn't it nice to have this game, as well as the Blackburn game, a game in which we don't have to worry about what's around the corner (apart from a FA Cup final), a game which has no real effect. A game in which the youth can come and play!

Now I'm not one to critque Hiddink's selection, but Bloody Sunday is begging for an injection of youth. Give them a chance to play Guus. You may want momentum ahead of Everton, but we need a future too (and you're not hanging around to see it, so this is the least you can do!).

Tonight I'm expecting CFC to rally around Anelka. The Golden Boot is one trophy we can take from them, and we need to do everything to make sure Cristiano doesn't saunter off, declaring he is the top ten best players in the Premiership.

PREDICTION
Chelsea 5 - Sunderland 0. We want second place!

BLOODY SUNDAY PREVIEW
I love the Bloody Sunday metaphor, if you didn't know. But I'm predicting Hull, Newcastle and West Brom to go down, and Boro to pull off the Great Escape, and breaking into Europa, in other words, chucking a Fulham.


It's coming...that big announcement will be announced very shortly.

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News: Chelsea fined for being right

It was to be expected - Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba have been fined for their role in the aftermath of that Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

CHELSEA FC / UEFA ANNOUNCEMENT

UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea FC, Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa in relation to incidents following the Champions League semi-final second leg against FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

"The club are charged with the improper conduct of their players and the throwing of missiles by their supporters, while Drogba and Bosingwa are accused of being in breach of the principles of sportsmanship by insulting the referee by making offensive comments.

"The club and the individuals concerned have been requested to file a statement by Friday 29 May. The UEFA Control & Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on 17 June

CHELSEA FC OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Chelsea Football Club will be responding to the Uefa charges issued today in due course, on behalf of both the club and the players concerned.

We would like to make clear again, as we did at the time, that the incidents in question were regrettable and occurred only because of the high emotions and frustrations which arose from the disappointment of a controversial defeat in such an important game.

We are all acutely aware of the responsibilities that lie with both the club and its players as regards setting a good example as role models and upholding the principles of fair play in football. Both of the players accept that and apologised honestly very soon afterwards for their actions.

Chelsea FC

Also, Michael Ballack has escaped disclipinary action for his actions, as "the matter was taken care of on the field". So for running, touching, yelling, screaming at the ref, sprinting down beside him, vehemently abusing him, Ballack gets a yellow. So when Overbo does the right thing, it's the wrong thing. And the wrong decision, well we know how those turn out.

Will Drogba stay on? Perhaps not, if he has a ban to serve out. More to come on that front

*HINT!*
Stay tuned to the blog for an exciting announcement...
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