Keep the Blue Flag Flying High **UPDATED** Carling Cup 4th Round vs Wigan @ Stamford Bridge

[saladguy]

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Welcome to Chelsea TV. You are watching Big Match Countdown as we look forward to the Blues' Premier League encounter at the Emirates this weekend. In the studio today we have legend Kerry Dixon and the Blues' very own manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. As ever our phone lines our open and today it's your chance to quiz Big Phil Scolari.

10 and a bit minutes later...

Ah ok it's now the time in the show for Phil to answer your calls. Caller number one your on Big Match Countdown!!!!

Shan: Hi this is Shan and I've got a couple of questions to ask Phil.

Presenter: Sure go ahead

Shan: How are you coping with the English language???

Scolari: Well it has not been easy however I feel confident with the language. I am able to hold a conversation the press and media fairly easily and more importantly to my players and my backroom staff.

Shan: You seem to be unbeaten yet you have hardly been scoring many goals. Against Sunderland you drew 0-0 yet you had more players in a match you should of won 2 or 3 nil. Isn't it time to sign an attacking player preferably a left winger.

Scolari: Well I don't think that there will be anymore signings this transfer window. However, if things don't go to plan I may have to reconsider my options next January. We aren't made of money and we have already splashed the cash on Sergio Aguero which is another fact to consider. As of the left winger situation I am 100% behind Florent Malouda and Joe Cole. They are very capable of producing the goods required in the Premier League and are both well suited to my style of play.

Shan: What's the situation with Didier Drogba??? Does he want to stay???

Scolari: Yes, probably. Well I hope so He's an important first team player and he's currently recovering well from a knee injury. He is likely to start against Arsenal! He's content with life hear and he's a top class professional. He's one of those special kind of 'matchwinners' which you can't take for granted. However of course if the right offer comes along from another club then I will have to seriously consider it.

Presenter: Right thanks Shan. Next caller your live on Chelsea TV!!!

Bibu: Hi Phil. I'm a huge Chelsea fan and I was wondering if you were planning on signing anymore big name players apart from Aguero.

Scolari: Not now. Maybe in January or probably at the end of the season. I've been linked with so many players recently such as Kaka, Elano and others. There is absolutely no truth in any of those stories.

Presenter: Ok lets move on to our final caller. Mani your live on Chelsea TV.

Mani: Hi Big Phil. I've realized in recent weeks you have been playing Michael Ballack almost upfront. What kind of playing mentality are you trying to create with Chelsea???

Scolari: We want to play like Brazil! :cool: Nah, I am looking for an attack minding approach and I am absolutely delighted with Michael's performances in his attacking midfield role just behind Aguero. If you don't attack you don't score. And if you don't score then you have no chance of winning. Simple Why did Mourinho play defensively??? Who knows!!! However somehow they managed to win two leagues, two Carling Cups and an FA Cup!

Mani: Do you think that Chelsea will win the title this season.

Scolari: We believe so yes. That is our main priority this season. Whether will do it or not we will have to wait and see. We face some stiff competition with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal hot on our heels.

Mani: And finally do you have any favourite players at the club???

Scolari: No. I'm not bias. My only favourite player is the captain John Terry. You can't favour players as it causes rifts in the dressing room and badly affects team morale. That's certainly not what we want during such a crucial season.

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Presenter: Well that concludes the Phone-In. See you after this short break!

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Good answers by Big Phil. and Good update mate. KUTGW

 

[Roofrom50]

A very good update mate, keep up the good work, as this story is going along very nicely.

 

[Zohaib]

good update mate

 

[Bibu07]

Great going so far mate.:hpraise

 

[Jaztheman]

Nice update there mate, very proffesional interview and answers by Scolari. He seems confident and optimistic of his future which is good for Chelsea and hasn't given away many of his January plans, or transfers.

Good presentation so far, Rob, enjoying this buddy.

 

[saladguy]

I'm really sorry for the lack of updates. It's just you know what it's like having tons of school work at all that.

 

[saladguy]

Abramovich 100% Behind Scolari

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Chelsea's Russian Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has rubbished reports that he will sack manager Luiz Felipe Scolari at the end of the season, if he fails to win the Champions League. Chelsea came just a penalty kick away in last year's competition from winning the pretigious prize with ex-manager Avram Grant subsequently axed. Grant's successor, the World Cup winning coach Scolari, is only a few months into the Chelsea job yet sources close to the club are suggesting that he may not be at Stamford Bridge come the beginning of next season in eleven months time.

Abramovich, 41, rarely speaks to the media (if ever), however this time he has decided to come out and speak publically about these latest reports. He was quoted as saying "It's nonsense. Completely rubbish. Phil is doing a great job, and three matches in and your suggesting he will get the sack???!!!!! Why would I comtemplate sacking a manager in eleven months time at this stage of the season. Especially since he is just a few months into his contract!!!!"

There have also been rumours that the Russian is looking to sell the club after being 'not in love with the club anymore' Abramovich subcequently said "I'm not thinking of selling up. I have spent over ?600 million since I took over in 2003 and I'm not letting it go to waste".

Likely Chelsea team to play Arsenal (in association with BBC Sport)

After the international break, the Premier League is back in full swing with a fierce London derby between the Blues and the Gunners.

It?s as if Scolari is spoilt for choice, with a fully fit squad and none of his team picking up injuries playing for their countries. However, with his recent unbeaten start the Portuguese tactician has opted to name nearly an unchanged side at the Emirates, with Carvalho playing instead of Alex. This means that Didier Drogba returns from injury however this means that Ballack starts on the bench. Aguero plays too.

 

[saladguy]

Last Updated: Saturday, 13th September 2008, 15.16
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ARSENAL 1-0 CHELSEA

Nicklas Bendtner's goal seperated the fierce rivals​

In a tight match Arsenal literally ‘bent’ Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season.

In the first half Chelsea started off brightly, with the first goal scoring opportunity for the Blues coming in the second minute when striker Didier Drogba’s through ball landed perfectly in Aguero’s path. He beat the offside trap and became one-on-one with Manuel Almunia, however he missed the target. Arsenal then managed to have chances of their own.

Most notably Bakary Sagna’s headed chance from Fabregas’ corner in the 25th minute. Arsenal were hit by some bad news on the injury front, when Ashley Cole’s tackle on Adebayor left him having to be stretchered of the pitch, leaving the first half with six minutes of added time. The Gunners came mighty close as Dutchman Robin van Persie’s long range effort hit the bar, leaving Petr Cech startled. The score was 0-0 at the break with the Arsenal and the visiting Chelsea all square.

Chelsea again started the half brightly when Deco’s freekick skimmed the right hand post. Despite Chelsea’s dominance throughout the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, it was the home side, Arsenal, who took the lead. RVP played through Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner who notched up his first goal of the season. It created by the Gunners’ trademark passing play on the 62nd minute mark.

The rest of the match was played at an even tempo with both sides closing each other down in the middle of the park. There was little joy for both Arsenal and Chelsea in the final twenty minutes with Gael Clichy receiving a second yellow card and Robin van Persie getting a slight knock, however in the post match interview, Wenger said that the Dutchman should be fit for their Champions League encounter against Werder Bremen.

Wenger proud of Arsenal players​

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Eboue, Nasri (Silvestre 70), Fabregas, Denilson, Adebayor (Bendtner 28) (Song 70), van Persie.

Goal: Bendtner 62.

Sent off: Clichy.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, A. Cole, J. Cole, Lampard, Deco, Malouda, Aguero, Drogba (Kalou 63).

BBC Player Rater man of the match: Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia.

 

[saladguy]

17/9/08​

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AS Roma 0-0 Chelsea

Deco came on as a late substitute​

In a match which was very boring, honours were even at the Stadio Olympico.

Before the match our chief pundit Robbie Earle had predicted a 5-0 win for Chelsea, however it was far from that.

There were few chances in the first half with the best effort coming from Chelsea’s Sergio Aguero, however his shot failed to test Julio Sergio. John Arne Riise is at Roma these days and the Chelsea fans didn’t let him forget about the infamous header which went into his own goal in last year’s semi-final, with continuous chants of “John Arne Riise……oohaah….I wanna know how you scored that goal”

Roma were left to play the rest of the match with ten men when Phillipe Mexes received a second yellow card in the 60th minute. Chelsea should of won it in the 93rd minute when substitute Deco’s freekick hit the woodwork.

On the injury front Chelsea will have to do without Ghana’s Michael Essien who could be out for several months. John Terry had to be taken off at half time however is injury is thought to be not too serious.

AS Roma

Sergio, Cicinho, Riise, Mexes, Juan, Aquilani (Panucci 58), De Rossi, Taddei, Vucinic, Baptista (Pizarro 76), Totti (Perotta 70)

Mexes sent off


Chelsea

Cech, Bosingwa, Terry (Alex 45), Carvalho, A. Cole, J. Cole, Lampard, Essien (Deco 85), Malouda, Ballack, Aguero

Man of the match – Petr Cech

 

[Jaztheman]

Roma against Chelsea in Roma, so Robbie Earle predicts 5-0? Twat.

Chelsea lost Essien for a few months but should have enough cover to replace him whilst he's out. A draw is a decent result. As for the Arsenal game, it seemed very tight all the way through and then Bendtner just scored a goal on the break. You haven't scored in the last two games so maybe you need to try something new.

Good presentation, mate.

 

[saladguy]

Roma against Chelsea in Roma, so Robbie Earle predicts 5-0? Twat.

Yeah, I had to think off some way to take the piss out of ITV's horrendous football coverage

 

[saladguy]

You haven't scored in the last two games so maybe you need to try something new.

Two games??? Don't you mean the last three games?? That's how much I suck at FM. I can't even score at home against Sunderland!

saladguy added 1 Minutes and 0 Seconds later...

Btw just to let people know, I've been updating the first post recently so you might want to check it out

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Poor result against Arsenal and Roma. Agree with you rob. Its difficult to score in FM 09. Even I am getting a lot 2-2 draws in my game. Anyways good luck. Sign some players for free like Ronaldo or Appiah..

 

[saladguy]

Last Updated: Saturday, 20th September 2008, 14.34
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TEAM NEWS – CHELSEA

Chelsea have made quite a few changes in their line-up as they host West Brom in one of today’s three o’clock kickoffs.

Chelsea have captain John Terry out injured after suffering a hamstring strain in midweek so Alex will partner Ricardo Carvalho in defence. In the same match Michael Essien was injured, however surprisingly he is fit to play and is on the bench. Wayne Bridge, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel play. Chelsea bench is very strong today with Carlo Cudicini, Sergio Aguero, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.

Scolari: Please don't say that I am underestimating and disrespecting my opponents by fielding a weakened side. I need to try new things out as we having scored in ages! Kalou will get his chance up front, and I'm going to see whether Deco is good enough to fill the boots of Michael Ballack.