Chelsea Fc Thread

[muckypups]

I second that TP.. where is Red? We miss him.. (sorry to post this into your thread Seapok, just following on from TP's comment)

[Seapok]

I second that TP.. where is Red? We miss him.. (sorry to post this into your thread Seapok, just following on from TP's comment)

No worries mate, I obviously don't know Red as well as most of the footie nuts here but he has seemed to have gone AWOL for quite some time now. Hope all is well.

[Seapok]

Mourinho salutes Chelsea courage

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the courageous manner of his side's title defence has made him prouder than their Premiership successes in 2005 and 2006.

Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates ensured United claimed the title for the first time since 2003.

"I have to say maybe I'm prouder now than when we were champions," said Mourinho. "All season my players have been heroes against everything.

"This was a game to remember and showed how big Chelsea are as a club."

Mourinho offered his congratulations to Manchester United, but could not bring himself to say that the best team had won the title.

"It doesn't matter, what matters is the team with more points is the champion," added Mourinho.

"I have to congratulate the champions, the players, the manager, the fans, the board; all the people that helped them to be champions.

Mourinho pinpointed Chelsea's lack of defensive cover for centre-back Ricardo Carvalho as why the defending champions had failed to win the Premiership for a third successive time.

"We had a big problem only to play all season only with Carvalho at centre-half but now is not the moment to talk about that.

"I'm very proud of my players. Normally when a team has a lot of success and loses a championship it's lack of motivation, not the same spirit or ambition, but it was exactly the opposite.

"My team was brilliant."

[Seapok]

Jose promises guard of honour

Chelsea will give Manchester United a guard of honour when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The Blues' 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Sunday ensured the Premiership trophy returns to Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson's side had beaten local rivals Manchester City a day earlier.

United applauded Jose Mourinho's men onto the pitch two seasons ago when Chelsea won their first Premiership title, and the Portuguese has promised to reciprocate the gesture.

"They did it for us and we shall do the same for them," said Mourinho.

"This is not a time for excuses. The title race is over and Manchester United are the new champions."

Despite Chelsea's best efforts, and Michael Essien's equaliser at Emirates Stadium, Chelsea were unable to get the win they needed against The Gunners.

Had they come away from North London with all three points, Mourinho was confident the Premiership crown could have been Chelsea's.

"I felt the title was still possible," added Mourinho.

"If we had won today, then beaten Manchester United on Wednesday, the gap would have only been two points going into the final game, when anything could have happened."

[Seapok]

Shevchenko to miss FA Cup final

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko will undergo groin surgery on Tuesday, meaning he will miss the FA Cup final against Manchester United on 19 May.

The operation had initially been scheduled to take place at the end of the season but the club's medical staff decided to bring it forward.

Shevchenko, 30, will also miss the last two Premiership games of the season.

On Wednesday the Blues face Cup rivals United, who won the Premiership crown on Sunday when Chelsea drew at Arsenal.

Chelsea then play Everton at home in the final league game of the season next Sunday.

Shevchenko, a £30m signing from AC Milan, has scored 14 goals in his first season for Chelsea.

His groin injury forced him to miss the Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Liverpool as well as the draw at the Emirates Stadium.

[Sunderland]

I quite like that young'un Essien. He'd look good in a Sunderland shirt. How much do you want?

[Seapok]

I quite like that young'un Essien. He'd look good in a Sunderland shirt. How much do you want?

Haha Essien is way out of your league son! you could probably afford 1 or maybe 2 of his toes!

[Seapok]

Terry braced for guard of honour

Chelsea captain John Terry admits it will be tough to lead a guard of honour for newly-crowned champions Manchester United at Stamford Bridge

on Wednesday. United afforded Chelsea a similar accolade at Old Trafford two years ago.

And Terry said: "Jose Mourinho has said already they will get the guard of honour which they did to us.

"Looking at some faces, it could not have been nice. We have to go through that and we fully respect them as players and individuals."

Terry added: "We will do that holding our heads up high."

Chelsea, who were last top of the Premiership in October last year, ran out of steam as they chased success on four fronts.

Having won the Carling Cup in February, Chelsea were hoping to land an unprecedented quadruple but a defeat in the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool put paid to that dream.

Their hopes of winning a third successive title were then wrecked by Arsenal and Terry admitted: "It is obviously very disappointing, when you look at the season as a whole.

"We played really well at Arsenal, especially with 10 men and were unlucky not to have been able to push Manchester United right to the wire in the end. But it was not to be.

"They are champions, and congratulations to them for that. They have been very good this year.

"You look at Man Utd, and their games - Everton away, Man City away - and expected them maybe to slip up in one of those games, but the one they did was against Middlesbrough at home the week before.

"It was similar with us, against Bolton at home - we were expected to win and then have a difficult game at Arsenal, which we did.

"The games we thought we would win and the ones we thought Man Utd would win, did not go that way.

"There was a little bit of a twist at the end but unfortunately we are not there.

"We want to get it back as soon as possible. It is the target for our whole squad and over the past few years that has been our main one.

"The Champions League was disappointing again this year, but we now desperately want the Premiership title back and we will be fighting again next year.

"I am sure they will sign players and strengthen again, a lot of teams will, but we will certainly push them all the way again.

"We will get the season over and then can fully assess it. No-one can take anything away from Man Utd.

"They have been awesome and some of their players have been fantastic this year. But from our point of view it was all very disappointing."

[Seapok]

Lamps levels cryptic criticism

Frank Lampard has warned that Chelsea must address their problems if they are to recapture the Premiership trophy, with the midfielder claiming that 'certain people' have jeopardised the team spirit at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues' failure to win at Arsenal on Sunday handed the title to Manchester United whilst ending Chelsea's two-year dominance of the English league, and key figures at the club have indulged in some soul-searching ever since.

Jose Mourinho appeared to suggest that some members of his playing squad have failed to display the necessary drive and desire over the past ten months in the aftermath of United's title victory.

Now Lampard has echoed his manager's misgivings, stating that those players who battled valiantly for a point at Emirates Stadium were the true embodiment of Chelsea's spirit under Mourinho.

"There have been problems at the club and they have to be addressed, simple as that," said Lampard in The Sun.

"There are things we have been battling against and we have to put them right. We cannot allow certain people to lose us the spirit that has got us to where we are.

"You will understand what I mean when you look at how we played at Arsenal, with 11 players all fighting to win the game.

"All our players involved in that performance can take pride from their efforts and look forward to better things.

"That's who we are and what we are about as a club, and next year we have to make sure we are focused on being champions again."

Speculation regarding Mourinho's future has also dogged Chelsea's season, even if the manager did state he will be staying in West London following Sunday's draw.

Lampard insists it is imperative for The Blues' ongoing success that Mourinho remains an integral part of the setup at Stamford Bridge.

"It's important for the continuity of the club that Jose stays," Lampard added.

"What we've done here in the past three years is a huge achievement and you cannot hide from that.

"Chelsea hadn't won the league for 50 years before Jose and then we won it twice on the spin. We've won two cups, gone a long way in others and played great football.

"That's a result of work done from the top to the bottom of the club. And we've got to make sure it continues in the same way."

[kopite]

no disrespect and that but something thats going around numerous reds forums.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=175903.0

[Seapok]

no disrespect and that but something thats going around numerous reds forums.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=175903.0

Interesting fairy tale!, I was just waiting for an appearance from little red riding hood!

[Seapok]

Chelsea v Man Utd

Stamford Bridge

Wednesday, 9 May

Kick-off: 2000 BST

Coverage on the BBC Sport website & BBC Radio Five Live with highlights on Match of the Day on BBC One

Chelsea will again be without Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben, both having missed Sunday's draw at Arsenal.

Boss Jose Mourinho has added young strikers Scott Sinclair and Ben Sahar to the squad to face the champions.

Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are among several players who will be rested as Manchester United keep one eye on the FA Cup final.

With the Premiership title sealed, Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make several changes.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Geremi, Terry, Boulahrouz, A Cole, Bridge, Essien, Lampard, Makelele, Diarra, Obi, Sinclair, Sahar, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, J Cole.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Eagles, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong, Saha, Lee, Shawcross.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA clinched their second successive Premiership title with a 3-0 win in this equivalent fixture last season. This time around they must relinquish that crown to their visitors Manchester United, in a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final. Jose Mourinho will be hoping to retain his undefeated League record at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are unbeaten in 61 home League games - 55 in the tutorage of the current incumbent. Indeed the Portuguese chief has masterminded a combined total of 93 home League matches without defeat - last losing on 23 February 2002 when FC Porto were beaten 2-1 by Beira Mar.

Although they're ending the season second best to the Red Devils, Chelsea are on a longer current unbeaten League run than United of 12 matches, they've lost fewer Premiership games (three to United's four) and conceded fewer goals (23 to 26). Victory will close the unassailable gap between them to four points.

Mourinho's only defeat to United was 1-0 in last season's trip to Old Trafford which ended their 40-game unbeaten Premiership sequence. They've since thrashed them in last season's corresponding fixture, and shared two goals in a classic game of two halves at the Theatre of Dreams in November. The Londoners have lost one of the last eight League clashes at the Bridge, winning the last three.

MANCHESTER UNITED will take particular pleasure in running out at Stamford Bridge as the newly crowned Premier League title winners. The club who've become champions of England for the 16th time, the ninth in 15 Premiership seasons and the first in four years, will revel in the fact of having arrested the title from the holders for the last two years.

Three points will give United 29 victories in a season for the first time. If they win both their remaining games, they will become the first side to notch 30 wins in a top flight season since Liverpool in 1978-79. They would also become the first team to register 30 victories in a 38-game campaign. Chelsea hold the current record with 29 in each of the last two title-winning seasons. Victory would also increase the Red Devils' lead over Chelsea at the top of the table to 10 points, and give them the physiological advantage ahead of their meeting at the new Wembley on Saturday week. They've already won four more League games than the Blues (28 to 24), scored 20 more goals (83 to 63) and have failed to find the net in two top flight matches to Chelsea's three.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are chasing a first point and a first goal in four visits to the west Londoners.

REFEREE

Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

CHELSEA

2nd 81 points

1. Drawn the last three Premiership matches against Newcastle (a), Bolton (h) and Arsenal (a).

2. Won nine and drawn three of the last 12 Premiership matches, since losing 2-0, away to Liverpool on 20 January.

3. Kept clean sheets in nine of the last 12 League games, and in 11 of the last 15.

5. Opened the scoring in more Premiership matches than any other club (27).

6. Kept 21 clean sheets in the Premiership (won 19, drawn two), and conceded the opening goal in only seven top flight games - better than any other club on both counts.

7. Will play 64 matches this season.

8. Not lost a home Premiership game under Mourinho (won 44, drawn 11), nor been defeated in the top division at the Bridge since a 1-2 reverse to Arsenal on 21 February 2004 (won 48, drawn 13). If they can maintain that run until the end of this season they will equal Liverpool's top flight record of 63 home League matches without defeat. Combining Mourinho's record with FC Porto, he is unbeaten in 93 home games in the English and Portuguese leagues (won 80, drawn 13).

9. Still to play Everton on this ground next Sunday.

MANCHESTER UNITED

1st 88 points

1. Lost one of the last 12 Premiership matches.

2. Won more Premiership matches this season than any other club (28), drawn fewer (four), dropped fewer points (20), scored more goals (83), at one every 39 minutes on average, and boast the highest aggregate of 109 goals (83 for, 26 against), at 3.03 per match.

3. Opened the scoring in 26 top tier engagements - only Chelsea have taken the lead more often (27 times).

4. Failed to score in just two Premiership matches this season, but on the longest current run since firing a blank of 18 matches. Missed the target in one of 31.

5. Not been involved in a goalless draw in the highest League this season, and currently on the longest run without a no score draw in the highest echelon (37 matches). Also, the only club to hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept - won 15 of 15.

7. Own the joint longest list of different scorers of Premiership goals this term of 17 players.

8. Second in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 13 points out of the 18, trailing Aston Villa (14 points).

9. Gained more top tier points on the road than any other club (41), scored more away top League goals (37) and equal with Chelsea on total of away defeats (three).

10. Wrap up their League programme home to West Ham on Sunday.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

CHELSEA

Didier DROGBA is the highest scoring Premiership player this season with 31 goals, 19 of which are League goals. The Ivory Coast International leads Manchester United's Cristiano RONALDO by two at the top of the table for the Barclays Golden Boot award.

If on the field from the outset, John TERRY will be making his 200th start in a Chelsea shirt.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Wayne ROONEY is Manchester United's top scorer with 23 goals.

RONALDO is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with 17. The Portugal World Cup star is two behind Chelsea's Didier Drogba at the head of the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

If selected in the 11, RONALDO will be making his 150th start for the Red Devils.

Paul SCHOLES is one goal short of holding the record outright as Manchester United's highest scorer of Premier League goals. He has netted 95 and equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy's total. Ryan GIGGS has scored 93 times in the Premiership.

GIGGS is a double short of 100 League goals.

When next selected in the 11, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premiership start - all for the Red Devils.

If he plays, Rio FERDINAND will be making his 150th Premiership appearance in a United shirt.

If he lines-up for the kick-off, Ole Gunnar SOLSKJAER will be making his 150th English League start - all for the Old Trafford club.

If he takes the field, Michael CARRICK will be making his 50th Manchester United appearance.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Chelsea 3-0 Manchester United

29 April 2006 - Ref: Mike Dean

Chelsea scorers: Gallas 5, Joe Cole 61, Ricardo Carvalho 73

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea

26 November 2006 - Ref: Howard Webb

Man United scorer: Saha 29

Chelsea scorer: Carvalho 69

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS

Home and away

League: Chelsea 36 wins, Man United 54, Draws 39

Prem: Chelsea 9 wins, Man United 8, Draws 12

at Chelsea only

League: Chelsea 19 wins, Man United 29, Draws 16

Prem: Chelsea 5 wins, Man United 4, Draws 5

The League figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches

[Seapok]

Ferguson lauds Mourinho dignity

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Jose Mourinho's handling of Chelsea's surrender of their Premiership crown.

Ferguson said: "Jose understands winning and losing are twins in a way.

"You have to deal with them in the same way. When you win, you don't gloat and when you lose you don't go bananas.

"He was very complimentary after their draw at Arsenal and I'll bring him a decent bottle of wine to make sure his tastes are looked after."

Blues midfielder Joe Cole has also congratulated Manchester United and revealed that there are plans to make sure the visitors are shown respect on Wednesday.

He said: "They clapped us out when we won the league, and that took a lot of dignity. I am sure we will repay the favour.

"There is a good rivalry between the two clubs. We have a lot of respect for them. They won the league and fair play to them."

Ferguson has rated this Premiership crown - his ninth as United manager - above his other titles for the way it was achieved.

He said: "There's a lot of satisfaction in the way we have won it, Chelsea were the most resilient opponents we have ever come across.

"I thought the signings of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevcheko were designed to win them the European Cup and I just kept hoping that was what they were concentrating on.

"I knew we had to reach 90 points, which is a hel_l of a total.

"We tried to instil into the players' minds that we needed to get off to a good start and stay with Chelsea. It was something nobody else had done in the previous two years.

"Not only did we do that, we got in front and stayed there, which was a fantastic achievement because this is a relatively new team, which will hopefully get better."

[muckypups]

I wonder what teams we'll field tonight..? No doubt there'll be a few players rested..

This article from The Guardian..

Dream team a perfect blend of Blue and Red

Chelsea dominate defence and United the attack in Kevin McCarra's pick of the Premiership's top two teams

A hybrid of Manchester United and Chelsea sounds as if it ought to be a monstrosity of a mutant. There is an incompatibility between the new Premiership champions, with their craving for goals, and Jose Mourinho's side, who sometimes look as if they will only consent to score when strictly necessary. That contrast, however, really suggests that each has what the other lacks.

While it would be unimaginable for Chelsea to drub Roma 7-1, there is little to indicate that United have the resilience to win at Valencia. Despite the fact that tonight's meeting will not see either team at full strength, the respective philosophies should still be visible.

As the FA Cup final could show more conclusively, they complement one another. If a composite line-up is selected the rearguard would come, broadly speaking, from Chelsea while the front end is United's. This, all the same, is more of a thoroughbred than a pantomime horse. The proposed side falls naturally into a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Goalkeeper

Petr Cech (Chelsea)

Few have so forceful a case to be considered the best in the world at their job. Much as Edwin van der Sar has brought reliability to United, Cech makes fewer mistakes and has recovered from a fractured skull to be as convincing as before. Lapses, such as being beaten by Carlos Tevez's drive, attract limited comment because no one can believe their eyes.

Premiership statistics: Games 19, Goals conceded 8

Minutes per goal 203, Clean sheets 12

Right-back

Gary Neville (Manchester United)

Even with his ankle problem he could have seen off all challengers from Stamford Bridge, so unsatisfactory have Chelsea been in this area. Whether selecting the disappointing Paulo Ferreira, the midfielder Geremi, or squandering a miscast Michael Essien in the position, Mourinho cannot be content. Sir Alex Ferguson must know how hard it is to get right-backs and he will be glad to have the Premiership's best in Neville.

Premiership statistics: Games 24, Tackles made 50

Tackles won 74%, Interceptions 24

Centre-half

Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

John Terry may have resumed after back surgery but the physical assertiveness has understandably diminished and he is not yet as commanding as he was. It is Carvalho, as Mourinho himself announced, who has been Chelsea's leading defender this season and Didier Drogba is his sole rival as the club's player of the year. The Portuguese brings the ball out smoothly and he has the gift of timing his challenges perfectly when lesser footballers would concede a penalty.

Premiership statistics: Games 31, Tackles made 68

Tackles won 85%, Interceptions 32

Centre-half

Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United).

While the smooth movement of Rio Ferdinand will always take the eye it is Vidic who has underwritten a long-awaited improvement of the back four. United have not had a centre-half with such focus for a long time and Ferguson was exultant at signing the Serb, who is dedicated solely to maintaining his vigilance and winning the ball in the air or on the ground.

Premiership statistics: Games 25, Tackles made 39

Tackles won 85%, Interceptions 11

Left-back

Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

He has not had a triumphant campaign, but his main competitor for the post in this composite line-up is also at Stamford Bridge: Wayne Bridge. Though Patrice Evra has been satisfactory for United, Gabriel Heinze is diminished. Cole has had knee-ligament problems, but while overlapping runs are less common at Chelsea he is a secure defender.

Premiership statistics: Games 23, Tackles made 74

Tackles won 85%, Interceptions 19

Holding midfielder

Michael Essien (Chelsea)

The £24.4m transfer fee no longer rates a surprised mention. Essien is one of the keys to a successful future for Chelsea. Considering the Ghanaian's dynamism a way would have to be found for him to break out of defensive midfield from time to time, although his tackling and steady use of the ball do equip him perfectly for the holding role.

Premiership statistics: Games 32, Goals 2

Total passes 1,682, Goal assists 3

Holding midfielder

Michael Carrick (Manchester United)

His old manager Martin Jol liked to highlight the midfielder's clever positioning as well as his passing and Carrick has proved a significant purchase for United. As he has become comfortable at Old Trafford there have been traces of adventure as well. His two goals surprised Roma and gave the home crowd a pleasant shock.

Premiership statistics: Games 31, Goals 3

Total passes 1,770, Goal assists 3

Attacking midfielder

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Some of the claims made for him will look exaggerated until, for instance, he dominates a key Champions League fixture, but Ronaldo has still been remarkable for his readiness to endure the fouls of defenders without becoming subdued. He beats his man repeatedly, scores regularly and lays on many chances for others.

Premiership statistics: Games 33, Goals 14

Total passes 1,172, Goal assists 8

Attacking midfielder

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Even in a patchy season his extraordinary gifts mean that he would edge out Frank Lampard for this position. It was typical of his bold confidence that it should be Rooney whose goals turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win over Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. .

Premiership statistics: Games 33, Goals 14

Total passes 1,131, Goal assists 11

Attacking midfielder

Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)

It is tough to decide between the Welshman and Paul Scholes, the other veteran whose form revived so markedly. Giggs, all the same, has been more menacing since his unexpectedly convincing evolution from winger to inside-forward. Scholes, by contrast, is commonly asked to sit deeper than he ever did before.

Premiership statistics: Games 29, Goals 4

Total passes 1,010, Goal assists 7

Forward

Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

The club might have floundered utterly without his 31 goals. Drogba has pace, strength, determination and skill, with his first touch a bit more dependable than in the past. As with Ronaldo, there was a dive or two, but the commitment of both deserved even more comment.

Premiership statistics: Games 35, Goals 19

Shots on target 45, Chance conversion 18%

No John Terry.. and Scholes, at his best, is a big player to leave out.. as is Joe Cole.. But it would still be a hel_l of a team..

[muckypups]

From The Independent..

Ferguson felt like 'shooting' Drogba

Sir Alex Ferguson will play the gregarious Glaswegian host for Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge tonight - "I'll have to bring him a decent bottle - make sure his tastes are looked after". What a difference a title makes. Only recently the the Manchester United manager claimed his Chelsea counterpart had no principles and Ferguson also revealed he wanted Didier Drogba "shot" for refusing to relinquish the crown without a fight.

Only with a ninth league championship secure could Ferguson voice his true feelings on this season's rivalry with Chelsea, whom United now confront in a contest that has plummeted from "title decider" to "FA Cup final training session" since Sunday, and for all the recent accusations thrown at Mourinho, the unwavering public confidence in his own players, the Old Trafford manager has revealed he harboured deep concern over the "most resilient" opponent he has faced in the Premiership.

In particular, it was the relentlessness of 31-goal Drogba that Ferguson believes dragged the title race into the final week, and whose prowess could yet haunt United when they go in pursuit of the Double at Wembley on 19 May.

"I kept saying to people, 'Will somebody please shoot Drogba' because his performances were unbelievable," admitted the United manager, who was unperturbed by the arrival of Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko at Stamford Bridge last summer as "I thought those signings were designed to get them the European Cup so I wasn't too concerned." On Drogba, however, he added: "I thought he carried their team and he kept getting these incredible goals, like the one he smashed in at Everton with the last kick of the ball. It guts you when that happens, and you say to yourself, 'He is incredible', but he had to play all the games because they couldn't leave him out."

It is ironic that Ferguson should cite a dominant centre-forward as Chelsea's great strength when United have triumphed without one all season, and it is a predicament their manager has warned may continue at Old Trafford given Chelsea's resources and the lack of viable, available targets. Although, Newcastle's Michael Owen, who could be available for £9m, may fit the bill.

Ferguson explained: "We watched Drogba. The price was about £25m and that was a lot at the time because he had only had one season in Marseille. But Chelsea took the risk and paid for him. He is a powerful lad, a massive physique. He has strength and plays every game. You look around the world and ask yourself where the strikers are. There are not a lot of them around. I think we would be quite happy at the moment to stay with the ones that we have got."

Not even Ferguson could have hoped to get away with that assessment. He has made plain his irritation at Louis Saha's injury problems in recent months, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Alan Smith are a supporting cast rather than a force equipped for a sustained tilt at the league or in Europe next season. His priorities are defined, but they do not include a like-for-like replacement for Ruud Van Nistelrooy, whose guarantee of goals did not compensate for the disruption Ferguson has implied the Dutchman brought to the dressing room and the style of the team.

"That is not what we have been thinking about," he said of Van Nistelrooy. "When you are building a team you need to think about balance. Speed is important to us. The way we play we need that in the team. At the moment we are looking whether we can get more speed."

Chelsea have promised to reciprocate the guard of honour they received as champions from United in 2005 tonight but, for Joe Cole, the disappointment of missing out on a hat-trick of Premiership titles will serve as extra motivation when the sides meet again in the FA Cup final.

"It was just not meant to be this season," the England midfielder said. "Sometimes in defeat you have to be graceful and say that over the course, maybe Manchester United did deserve it. We will crack on, we still have the FA Cup - we are down, but we are not out. It just makes me love Chelsea even more. We will come back stronger."

Ferguson felt like 'shooting' Drogba

He's not the only one! Drogba has been amazing this season.. and if memory serves me well some of the press were speculating pre-season that Drogba should be sold..

[Sunderland]

I quite like that young'un Essien. He'd look good in a Sunderland shirt. How much do you want?

Alreet lad. You've twisted my arm. You can have Tommy Miller, a bag of training jerseys and one hundred pounds and I won't even ask you for any change. Ha'way!

[Seapok]

Thanks for those posts MuckyP, I don't know what that bloke at the Guardian is on but I would have JT in there even if he wasn't 100% fit!

Cole sets cup goal

Joe Cole has set his heart on an FA Cup winners' medal to ensure a season of injury woe comes to a close on a high note.

The England midfielder has cut a frustrated figure for much of the current campaign with knee and foot injuries forcing him to the sidelines, but in recent weeks he has returned impressively to Jose Mourinho's first team.

Chelsea conceded the Premiership title to Manchester United on Sunday when they failed to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and while Cole admits it is a major disappointment after two years of dominance, he is looking to May's showpiece against the newly crowned champions with renewed optimism.

The FA Cup is the only domestic trophy Cole has yet to win and after a campaign of considerable frustration, it is one he is desperate to add to an already impressive haul of medals.

"It was just not meant to be this season," said Cole.

"Sometimes in defeat you have to be graceful and say that over the course, maybe Manchester United did deserve it.

"We will crack on, we still have the FA Cup - we are down, but we are not out. It just makes me love Chelsea even more, you win together and you lose together.

"We are disappointed, but there is the FA Cup still to play for.

"We are all fighting for each other - and we have always been about that. We will bounce back.

"This season is not finished yet. We have got one trophy and could still end up with two. The FA Cup is the only thing I have not won in this country, so I am really up for it.

"All the fight, all the effort in the gym, will be for that day at Wembley. I want to go and win something, to take the best I can out of this season.

"It has been tough for me personally, but I am over my injuries now and am getting stronger every game. Injuries cost us this year.

"No-one is going to feel sorry for us because we have a big squad. It was just not meant to be, and now we will pick ourselves up. We will crack on next year, I am sure."

[Seapok]

Clash of titans is now a phoney war

It has long been billed as the clash of the titans. But when it comes to kick-off time on Wednesdaynight, the line-ups are likely to underline the anticlimactic feeling surrounding Chelsea v Manchester United.

Pride and fear of embarrassment may yet play a part in final selections, but Sir Alex Ferguson has let it be known he has every intention of resting his superstars. Messrs Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes are all sure to be taking a back seat.

Wayne Rooney won’t be happy, but he is also destined to watch from afar as Ferguson keeps his cards close to his chest ahead of the sides’ next face-off — the FA Cup Final.

Jose Mourinho will play a similar hand but lack of first-team bodies will force regulars into the fray. Chelsea will also be anxious not to lose their Premiership record of being unbeaten at home under Mourinho.

HOW THEY MIGHT LOOK AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea

Carlo Cudicini

Lassana Diarra

Paulo Ferreira

John Terry (capt)

Wayne Bridge

Claude Makelele

Mikel John Obi

Frank Lampard

Joe Cole

Salomon Kalou

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Manchester United

Tomasz Kuszczak

John O’Shea

Wes Brown

Gabriel Heinze

Kieran Lee

Darren Fletcher

Michael Carrick

Chris Eagles

Kieran Richardson

Ole Solskjaer (capt)

Alan Smith

[muckypups]

If they are the teams then your mob looks better than our mob and that's a fact...! (keeping our powder dry for the Final at Wem-ber-ley I reckon...!! )

Oh, an afterthought; anybody know how many games a squad player has to appear in over a season to get a medal..? Because that might affect team selection on Sunday against West Ham which will probably have Paul Jewell spitting feathers...

[Seapok]

If they are the teams then your mob looks better than our mob and that's a fact...! (keeping our powder dry for the Final at Wem-ber-ley I reckon...!! )

Oh, an afterthought; anybody know how many games a squad player has to appear in over a season to get a medal..? Because that might affect team selection on Sunday against West Ham which will probably have Paul Jewell spitting feathers...

Its 10 Premiership games to get a winners medal!

Looking at our respective 1st teams our mob still looks better than yours!! haha

Chelsea

Petr Cech,

Paulo Ferreira,

Ricardo Carvalho,

John Terry (capt),

Ashley Cole,

Claude Makelele,

Michael Essien

Frank Lampard

Arjen Robben

Joe Cole

Didier Drogba

Manchester United

Edwin Van Der Sar

Gary Neville (capt)

Nemanja Vidic

Rio Ferdinand

Patrice Evra

Cristiano Ronaldo

Michael Carrick

Paul Scholes

Ryan Giggs

Wayne Rooney

Louis Saha

[mrbojangles]

Do me a favour tonight will you Chelsea. I'm off down the pub to watch the game with some of my mates (Some are United fans). They haven't stopped going on and on since weekend, so i want you to shut up em for me.

[muckypups]

Its 10 Premiership games to get a winners medal!

Looking at our respective 1st teams our mob still looks better than yours!! haha

10.. Thanks Seapok.. (blimey does that mean Richardson gets one I wonder..? )and I must say your squad does look impressive..however..

Oh, and Mr B... it might shut the Red lads up if we lose, but I suspect it'll only be temporary.. :D

[sumrit]

Oh, an afterthought; anybody know how many games a squad player has to appear in over a season to get a medal..? Because that might affect team selection on Sunday against West Ham which will probably have Paul Jewell spitting feathers...

Always used to be ten games, I don't know if its changed though.

[mrbojangles]

Oh, and Mr B... it might shut the Red lads up if we lose, but I suspect it'll only be temporary..

Yeah i know mucky, but a bit of quiet is better than nothing

[Seapok]

Chelsea 0-0 Man Utd

Newly-crowned Premiership champions Manchester United played out a tame draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho both fielded weakened sides, with the forthcoming FA Cup final in mind.

Chelsea looked more likely winners in what was mostly a low-key encounter.

United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was erratic, but made several saves and Kieran Lee also cleared off the line from Ben Sahar in the closing minutes.

Manchester United boss Ferguson has vowed to field his strongest side in the final league game against relegation-threatened West Ham.

And it showed in his team selection, which was very much a makeshift affair.

It led to the ludicrous spectacle of Chelsea captain John Terry leading a guard of honour for a side featuring Fangzhou Dong, Chris Eagles, Kieran Richardson, Kuszczak and Lee.

With the Premiership title decided, the game was decidedly uneventful until Mikel Jon Obi, still angry at an earlier challenge from Alan Smith, launched into a wild challenge on Eagles.

Referee Graham Poll booked Mikel, and the fear of a red card ruling him out of the FA Cup final led to him being replaced by Joe Cole at half-time.

Gabriel Heinze had United's best chance of the half, but he dragged a right-foot finish wide.

United were denied what looked like a clear penalty after 56 minutes when Eagles was tripped by Michael Essien.

Eagles was so incensed he immediately flattened Shaun Wright-Phillips, receiving a booking from referee Poll.

Chelsea finally had a spell of pressure when Wright-Phillips shot straight at Kuszczak after 68 minutes and Salomon Kalou forced a diving save out of the keeper two minutes later.

Dong had been quiet on his debut after three years at United, and he was replaced by Wayne Rooney with 18 minutes left.

Referee Poll, not for the first time, was centre stage, and he was involved in an exchange of views with Mourinho that led to the Chelsea boss momentarily leaving the dug-out.

Chelsea looked the more likely winners, and Kuszczak had to dive to his left to save a curling drive from Lassana Diarra.

Kuszczak was then fortunate to escape when he dropped Joe Cole's corner, but John Terry's header was smuggled to safety.

And from the resulting corner, the keeper's eventful night continued when he saved from Kalou.

But United held on and, as they have so often done this season, they left Chelsea frustrated.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:

"I'm pleased with the result because we were playing for a bit of honour and pride.

"Maybe when people saw the team they were expecting we wouldn't be bothered or that Chelsea were going to roll us over, but that wasn't the case.

"I have to be happy with a draw and some of our performances. We were good in terms of possession and confidence to play, although we tired markedly in the last 15 minutes and had to hang on a bit."

Chelsea: Cudicini, Diarra (Morais 88), Ferreira, Terry, Bridge, Makelele, Wright-Phillips, Essien, Mikel (Joe Cole 46), Kalou, Sinclair (Sahar 54).

Subs Not Used: Hilario, Geremi.

Booked: Mikel, Diarra, Essien.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Lee, Brown, O'Shea, Heinze (Carrick 65), Eagles, Smith, Fletcher, Richardson, Solskjaer, Dong (Rooney 73).

Subs Not Used: Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Scholes.

Booked: Heinze, Lee, Brown, Eagles.

Att: 41,794

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

[Seapok]

Do me a favour tonight will you Chelsea. I'm off down the pub to watch the game with some of my mates (Some are United fans). They haven't stopped going on and on since weekend, so i want you to shut up em for me.

Sorry about that, would of loved to have helped you out. Maybe if Vassell would have been more confident and buried that pen, tonights game would of been a lot different. Oh well there is always next season. MuckyP.......its only on loan!

[Seapok]

Savage blow for Sinclair

Scott Sinclair's full Premiership debut for Chelsea ended on a sour note as he broke a metatarsal against Manchester United.

The forward is extremely highly rated at Chelsea and was brought back to Stamford Bridge for the final weeks of the season after impressing on loan at Plymouth.

He climbed off the bench to impress against Arsenal and was rewarded with a start against The Red Devils.

Sinclair showed no signs of nerves and took the game to the United defence, but his evening was cut short by a tackle from Wes Brown on 54 minutes.

The forward was immediately replaced after being caught by Brown and Blues chief Jose Mourinho confirmed the extent of Sinclair's injury.

"He has a broken metatarsal and surgery is waiting for him," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

It was in the same fixture last season that Wayne Rooney's World Cup hopes were plunged into doubt when he broke a metatarsal.

[Seapok]

Carvalho set to miss FA Cup final

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says defender Ricardo Carvalho is almost certain to miss the FA Cup final.

The Portuguese defender damaged the medial ligaments of his right knee against Bolton earlier this month.

Asked what chance Carvalho had of playing against Manchester United on 19 May at Wembley, Mourinho said: "I'm not confident - he's only got a 1% chance."

Striker Didier Drogba is struggling with an ankle injury, while Scott Sinclair has broken his foot.

Sinclair, who made his first start for Chelsea against United in the Premiership on Wednesday, will require surgery after breaking a metatarsal bone in a challenge with Wes Brown.

"He has done well but surgery is waiting for him, he has a broken metatarsal," said Mourinho.

"I'd wanted to give him more playing time against Everton on the final day of the Premiership season."

[muckypups]

Funny enough Seapok the bookies think it's only on loan as well.. you're already favourites for the Trophy next season..!

Well.. the match went pretty much as expected, a low key reserve game almost.. I feel sorry for all those who fought for tickets assuming a titanic encounter and ended up with that. Oh well. there's still the Cup Final..

(I'm really looking forward to that..)

[Penkoprod]

The highlight of the match (and a BIG thumbs up to him too) was when Maureen tore into that pr*ick Graham Poll !!!!!

Penkoprod