[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:Wednesday, 31 June 2009
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Chelsea appoint Cocu as coach
By Paul Fletcher
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Cocu joins Rijkaard at Chelsea

PSV Eindhoven assistant coach Phillip Cocu has joined Chelsea as their new first- team coach after the clubs reached a financial settlement.

The 38-year-old Cocu joins Chelsea on a three-year deal, joining up with new boss Frank Rijkaard, after handing in his resignation on Monday. PSV Eindhoven had sought £3m compensation for the Dutch, with Chelsea offering £0.5m, but a compromise has now been agreed. Cocu spent 8 seasons at PSV, both as a player and as a coach.

Rijkaard's revamp of the Blues backroom staff has also seen Ernest Faber, another ex-PSV Eindhoven employee who has worked with Sparta Rotterdam, brought in as Reserves head coach and Johan Neeskens will be Rijkaard righ-hand-man who will handle youth and the reserves.

Cocu will work at Stamford Bridge alongside fellow first-team coach Dwight Lodeweges and goalkeeping coach Hans Sgers. Cocu had two years left of his current deal at Philips Stadion after signing a new contract in September 2007 after his retirement from Football.

The Dutch joined PSV as a player in 1995 and the midfielder helped the club win the League, Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super before joining Barcelona in 1998 where he won La Liga and the UEFA Super Cup. Phillip Cocu returned to PSV in 2005 and led PSV to three consecutive league titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 before retiring from football.

He went on to become Marco Van Baasten's assistant of the Netherlands National Football Team in April 2008. Cocu returned to PSV and has assisted Dwight Lodeweges and current PSV boss Fred Rutten.

[craguuscool]

I like, I like this a lot. Nice choice with R as manager, can't spell his name. Anyway, the little updates after it were good too, KIU!

[Ana_Garcia]

Rijkaard

Just kidding! Interesting choice though.

[saladguy]

Bad choice, again, Chelsea should have gone for David Moyes. He's a proven manager in the Premier League and I feel that he should have been given a shot at helping Chelsea win the league.

This post has been edited by saladguy: 05 June 2009 - 07:10 PM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:17th July, 2009
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Ballack signs new contract
By Paul Fletcher
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Michael Ballack celebrating a goal

Chelsea's German midfielder Michael Ballack has signed a new two year contract which will see him stay st Stamford Bridge till the end of the 2010 season.

Michael Ballack who joined Chelsea in 2006 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to AC Milan and Juventus. But Michael Ballack has put an end to the speculation by signing the new contract worth 13m pounds.

The German captain has made hundred-and-six appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, and has found the back of the net twenty times. Ballack has also made a total of ninety-two appearances for Germany scoring forty-one times.

Michael Ballack to chelseatv said he was delighted to sign a new contract and was thinking of ending his career with Chelsea. "Its great to sign a new contract with Chelsea. We are a very good club with great players and its an honor for me to play for such a great club. At the end of this contract I will be almost 35-years old and so that means I could also end my career with Chelsea."

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I had made a custom database which crashed and so I had to reinstall the game and patch it and make a new database. So the match I played is all gone.

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 10 June 2009 - 09:05 AM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:20 July, 2009
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Chelsea complete Tevez signing
By Phil McNulty
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Tevez signs for Chelsea

Chelsea have completed their first signing of the summer, with former Manchester United and Argentina forward joining the club on a four-year contract.

Carlos Tevez, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, Manchester City,Inter Milan and Real Madrid, has completed his move to Chelsea today for a fee believed to be around twenty-eight-million pounds, after the London club agreeing to pay the required amount asked by Media Sports Investments(MSI).

Carlos Tevez, 25, started his professional career with Boca Juniors and made his competitive debut for the club at the age of sixteen. He made a total of seventy-five appearances scoring twenty-six times for the twenty-three time Argentine Champions before moving to Brazilian side Corinthians where he was made the captain of the side.

Carlos Tevez featured fifty-two times for Corinthians and also found the back of the net thirty-one times. Tevez was named the league's best player by the Brazilian Football Confederation, becoming the first non-Brazilian player to win the award since 1976. Carlos Tevez was transferred to West Ham United by Media Sports Investments in 2006.

He played a very important role in West Ham United's survival in the Premier League in the same season. Tevez scored seven times for the London club in his twenty-six appearances which included the goal at Old Trafford, which secured top flight football for West Ham the next year. Lot of controversies revolved around Carlos Tevez's contract and after Copa America in 2007, Tevez joined champions Manchester United on a two-season loan deal.

Carlos Tevez played a pivotal role in Manchester United's double trophy winning season in 2007-08, by scoring some invaluable late goals. But since the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov in August 2008, Carlos Tevez started a handful number of games for the Red Devils and this role from the bench frustrated him. Tevez made a total of sixty-three appearances and scored nineteen times for the Red Devils before his loan came to an end.

Manchester United had to play twenty-six-million pounds to Media Sports Investment - who are the owners of Carlos Tevez - for the permanent ownership of the player. But the Red Devils decided not to do so, as they felt Media Sports Investment were asking a lot of money for Carlos Tevez.

A Chelsea club statement read "Chelsea are delighted to announce the signing of Argentina forward Carlos Tevez on a four-year contract. Carlos is one of the best striker around at the moment. He has a lot of pace and energy in him and also has the hunger to score a lot of goals for the club. He is regular starter for Argentina National Side and has also proved himself in the Premier League. We wish him good luck for his career over here at Chelsea."

Carlos Tevez spoke on his transfer, "I am very delighted and relieved to have got my future sorted out. Its nice to sign for a great club like Chelsea. They have some great players in the squad like Terry, Ballack, Lampard, Essien etc and most important thing they all have the ambition to win many trophies. I would also like to thank everyone at Manchester United especially the supporters who kept supporting me till the end and I would never forget you all."

The signing of Carlos Tevez has cast doubt over the future of Didier Drogba, as it is likely that the twenty-five-year-old Carlos Tevez would of only accepted a move to Chelsea if he could be guaranteed first team football, with a host of other clubs interested in his signature. Drogba, 31, has been linked with move away from Stamford Bridge throughtout the summer and the signing of Carlos Tevez has made the speculation more stronger.

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 10 June 2009 - 09:56 AM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:22nd July, 2009
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Bayern Munich sign Carvalho
By Paul Fletcher
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Carvalho signs for German giants

Bayern Munich have completed a thirteen-million pounds transfer swoop for Chelsea and portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho. The thirty-one-year-old has signed a three-year-contract at Munich.

Carvalho, was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer to the likes of Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan, however it was Louis Van Gaal's Bayern Munich, who he chose to join when the bid was accepted by Chelsea.

Ricardo Carvalho spent over five season's at Stamford Bridge since joining the club under former Porto boss Jose Mourinho from Porto. Carvalho started his career at FC Porto under Mourinho and won the Champions League in 2004. He made a total of seventy-two appearances for the Portuguese champions before joining Chelsea for a fee of nineteen-million pounds.

He performed brilliantly for the London club under Jose Mourinho and was named UEFA Best Defender of the Year in 2004. He played a major role when Chelsea won back to back Premier League titles and formed a solid partnership at the back with skipper John Terry.

After the departure of Jose Mourinho, Carvalho was one of the most consistent performers at the club. But the arrival of Alex from PSV and injuries led to his downfall and lost his regular starting place in the Chelsea side under boss Guus Hiddink. Carvalho has made a total of one-hundred-and-thirteen appearances for Chelsea scoring seven goals.

Carvalho has been a regular part of Portugal's setup since making his debut in 2003 against Albania. He has been capped a total fifty times by Portugal and has also found the back of the net four times. He was also the part of Portugal's successful EURO 2004 and FIFA 2006 World Cup campaign.

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 10 June 2009 - 10:29 AM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:1st August, 2009
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Fazio signs for Chelsea
By Paul Fletcher
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Fazio delighted to sign for Chelsea

Chelsea manager Frank Rijkaard has made Argentina defender Federico Fazio his second signing at Stamford Bridge for a total transfer fee around twelve-million pounds.

The twenty-two-year-old defender has signed a four-year-contract with Chelsea worth nine-million pounds from La Liga side Sevilla. Fazio started with his career with Argentine side Ferro Carril Oeste where he made a total of forty-eight appearances and scored three times.

Fazio transferred to Sevilla in January 2007 and spent the vast majority of the remaining season with the second team Sevilla Atletico, and help them achieve promotion to the second division. The following season Fazio was registered to the first team by Sevilla due to injury to key defenders.

Fazio made his Sevilla debut against Getafe in the 4-1 season opener at home and since he has played an important part for the club, making a total of thirty-seven appearances and has also beaten keeper and found the back of the net a total three times.

Fazio was an integral part of the Argetina under-20 side that won the Under-20 World Cup in Canada 2007. In 2008 he again played an important role in helping Argentina under-23 side winning the Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Manager Frank Rijkaard siad, "Federico is very good defender and is one of the best young players around the world at the moment. He will be the one who will fill the gap left by Carvalho. His main assets are his aerial ability and his no-nonsense defensive attitude. He also has some pace and is also physical which will help him deal with the best strikers present in the Premier League. I hope he plays his best football for us."

Federico Fazio also spoke on the transfer, " I am very delighted to sign for such a big club like Chelsea. Its like a dream come true. I am very eager to play alongside the best players like Terry, Essien, Lampard, Ballack at Chelsea and even Carlos Tevez who has recently joined the club. I would like to thank all the people at Sevilla for their support and also helping me develop as a player."

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 10 June 2009 - 05:49 PM

[Number 1]

Tevez is a great signing. Fazio could also do well.

KIU. This is good.

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:10th August, 2009
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Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd
By Paul Fletcher
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Ashley Cole celebrates his winner along with Frank Lampard

Chelsea lifted the Community Shield, thanks to Ashley Cole's strike that gave them the victory at the Wembley Stadium.

The left back made the venture into the Red Devils half and fired a low 25-yard drive past the reach of Edwin Van Der Sar. Frank Lampard had a volley blocked by Rio Ferdinand, while Carlos Tevez wasted a 12-yard shot for the Blues. Red Devils' best chances came from strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, who both had headers tipped over by Petr Cech.

Neither team played at 100%, which was not a huge surprise considering the fixture was just dress rehearsal for the start of the new season. With the start of the new season very close Sir Alex Ferguson chose to leave out five of his key players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, and Dimitar Berbatov from the starting XI. But by choosing to sacrifice the creative force, Red Devils produced very little threat for much of a game.

But the Chelsea side which looked strong on paper dominated the game. The Blues, under the new boss Frank Rijkaard, did not let the champions settle during the match, with Michael Essien forever snapping at the heels of his opposing midfielders.

Up front, Rooney was along with young Federico Macheda, who impressed many last season, looked rusty for United and were well shackled by Alex and skipper John Terry. Rooney, almost made amends for his largely lackadaisical first-half efforts by giving Red Devils a surprise lead after the break - but his bullet header from six yards was brilliantly tipped over by Cech.

Just a few minutes later, Chelsea went ahead through an unlikely source when left back Ashley Cole, who had a shot saved in the first half, rifled in a 25-yard angled shot from the left. It was a deserved reward for the Blues, who posed more problems in the Red Devils area, with Lampard's volley blocked by Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole just missing with a fizzing drive earlier in the game.

Carlos Tevez - playing against his old club - should have given his side a little bit more daylight following Cole's goal but failed to get a good connection on Florent Malouda's square pass from 12 yards, allowing Van Der Sar to scoop the ball away. Red Devils upped their tempo and 17-year-old substitute Nicky Ajose came close to bringing the scores level with almost his first touch but his low 20-yard shot was tipped away by the alert Cech.

Ferguson then added Berbatov to the proceedings and the Bulgarian almost gave the travelling fans from Manchester some cheer, only to see his powerful header tipped over by Cech once again. Manchester United kept pressing but Chelsea doggedly hung on to their 1-0 lead, as they have done so many times last season,and they start the season with winning a trophy.

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Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry©, Alex, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Drogba(Malouda 56), Cole, Tevez(Anelka 88).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Deco, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Belletti.

Goals: Ashely Cole 53.

Man Utd: Van Der Sar, Neville©(Nani 77), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park, Anderson, Fletcher(Ajose 64), Giggs, Rooney, Macheda(Berbatov 69).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Brown, Scholes, Carrick.

Booked: Vidic.

Att: 89,896.

Ref: P Walton.

BBC Man of the Match: Ashley Cole(Chelsea).

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:!7th August, 2009
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Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea
By Paul Fletcher
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Frank Lampard scores the first goal of the Rijkaard era

Frank Lampard's first-half strike ensured Chelsea the victory in the London derby in their opening fixture of the season.

Lampard scored with a long-range strike and was later denied by Carlo Cudicini, who also saved from Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole. Deco clipped the post for the Blues, while Michael Ballack and Michael Essien both headed wide. Tottenham's two best chances fell to Jermaine Jenas, who hit the target each time but could not beat Petr Cech.

The victory was Chelsea's first under new boss Frank Rijkaard since taking over the job from Guus Hiddink on the first of July. Chelsea started superbly - Anelka forced a good save with a vicious strike from a tight angle and Ballack missed the target with a header before Lampard struck with 18 minutes gone. But Tottenham rallied late on and Chelsea were hanging on at the end as the home team threw everything forward.

Lampard's goal came after Jenas lost possession in midfield. The ball found its way to Lampard, who shifted to his right to create the opening before shooting beyond former Chelsea stopper Carlo Cudicini. Ashley Cole delivered a series of telling crosses, one of which was met by Essien, but the African could not keep his header on target.

Cudicini saved a low strike from Anelka as the visiting team threatened to take the game away from Tottenham. But Harry Redknapp's side almost equalised when a cross from David Bentley forced a fingertip save from Petr Cech. And Tottenham finally enjoyed a spell of possession shortly before the break - though it was Lampard who came closest to scoring the next goal with a thunderous free-kick that Cudicini palmed clear on the stroke of half time.

Tottenham brought on Pavlyuchenko for David Bentley at the start of the second half. But it all seemed very comfortable for Chelsea, who knocked the ball around with ease until the 68th minute, when Tottenham finally opened them up.

A clever touch from Keane picked out Jenas in space but his strike was athletically tipped over by Cech. Jenas was to have another good chance after getting the wrong side of Essien but Cech denied him once more. Chelsea substitute Deco hit the post and Cudicini twice saved from Joe Cole - but it was Tottenham who enjoyed most of the late pressure without conjuring an equaliser.

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Tottenham: Cudicini, Chimbonda, Woodgate, King©, Bale, Bentley(Pavlyuchenko 45), Palacios, Jenas, Gilberto(Bent 77), Defoe(Huddlestone 78), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Lennon, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry©, Alex, Cole, Essien(Mikel 90), Lampard, Ballack, Malouda(Deco 62), Cole, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Fazio, Belletti.

Booked: Terry, Alex.

Goals: Lampard 18.

Att: 36,285.

Ref: S Attwell.

BBC Man of the Match: Frank Lampard(Chelsea).

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 11 June 2009 - 07:28 PM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:23rd August, 2009
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Wigan 0-1 Chelsea
By Paul Fletcher
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Malouda celebrates his winner

Chelsea won their second away game on the trot under new manager after narrowly beating Wigan.

The visitors were frequently troubled by Charles N'Zogbia, whose superb pass released Amr Zaki, who badly missed with his shot early in the second half. That sparked an Chelsea reaction, with Michael Ballack's shot saved by Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland, while Nicolas Anelka went close several times. And with three minutes left, substitute Deco's pass released Malouda, who poked the ball past Kirkland.

Wigan's best player was N'Zogbia, who gave Chelsea right-back Jose Bosingwa all sorts of problems with his speed and footwork from the moment he delivered an early cross for Zaki. N'Zogbia had Wigan's best first-half chance, but under pressure from Federico Fazio the Frenchman''s shot went wide.

The second half was an altogether more absorbing affair. N'Zogbia played a wonderful reverse pass to leave Zaki with just Petr Cech to beat, but the Wigan striker embarrassingly miscued. That prompted Chelsea to retaliate, Anelka releasing Ballack, whose shot was well saved by Kirkland.

The Wigan goalkeeper saved his side for a second time when he came out quickly to deny Anelka, who had been sent clear by Essien. Soon afterwards Joe Cole overhit his cross and Anelka was unable to connect with the ball as Chelsea carved apart Wigan for a third time. Wenger introduced Tevez and Deco to try and press home Chelsea's advantage, but as those two players adjusted to the game's rhythm, Wigan came close to taking the lead.

Lee Cattermole's shot was only partially saved by Cech, requiring Federico Fazio to throw himself at the ball to block N'Zogbia's close-range effort from the rebound. With the game seemingly heading for a draw Deco sent a curving pass over the Wigan defence to the feet of Malouda and the France winger made no mistake slipping past Kirkland.

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Wigan: Kirkland, Figueroa, Scharner, Boyce, Melchiot©, Torrado, Brown, Cattermole(Kapo 88), Koumas(Robson 72), N'Zogbai, Zaki(King 80).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Routledge, Watson, Bramble.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry©, Fazio, Cole, Essien(Deco 74), Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Cole(Tevez 75), Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Mikel, Alex.

Goals: Malouda 88.

Att: 25,051.

Ref: M Riley.

BBC Man of the Match: Charles N'Zogbia(Wigan Athletic).

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 12 June 2009 - 11:23 AM

[Fola]

This is quality work!
The amount of detail you put in is top notch!
Well done and lookin' forward to more updates

[Jonas]

Even though this is about Chelsea I gotta say I'm liking it. Keep it up. :thup:

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:29th August, 2009
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Clubs learn their Champions League fate
By Paul Fletcher
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32 clubs from Europe face off n the group stages

The draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League took place today in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Defending champions Barcelona have been given the easiest group of the lot as they are drawn along with Russian side CSKA Moscow, Barga and Greek giants Panathinaikos. Losing finalist Manchester United face tough opponents in Juventus, Anderletch and Israeli side Haifa.

Semi-finalist Chelsea face an easier draw in German giants Werder Bremen, Dutch giants Ajax and Romanian debutants FC Timisoara. Second semi-finalist Arsenal will face Spanish giants Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and Italian side Fiorentina in Group C.

While its an all British tie in Group D between Liverpool and Celtic along with Benfica and Belgium side Club Brugge. Last british side Rangers are drawn in a very tough group containing AC Milan, French side Lille and the Dutch outfit managed by Steve McCaren, FC Twente.

Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan are drawn in Group A along with Spanish outfit Sevilla, French champions Bordeaux and Russian side Spartak Moscow. And finally Group E, consist of Frenh giants Lyon along with Romanian side Steaua, Hamburg and Madrid rivals Atletico Madrid.

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Group A
Sevilla
Inter
Bordeaux
Moscow

Group B
Chelsea
Werder Brmen
Ajax
FC Timisoara

Group C
Arsenal
Real Madrid
Fenerbahce
Fiorentina

Group D
Liverpool
Benfica
Celtic
Club Brugge

Group E
Lyon
Steaua
HSV
Atletico Madrid

Group F
AC Milan
Rangers
Lille
FC Twente

Group G
Barcelona
CSKA Moscow
Panathinaikos
Barga

Group H
Man Utd
Juventus
Anderlecht
M. Haifa

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:31st August, 2009
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Chelsea sign Four
By Paul Fletcher
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Andres Guardado one of four signings for Chelsea

Frank Rijkaard has brought in four new quality players to Chelsea on the deadline day and has unveiled them today at Stamford Bridge in front of the fans. The four include a right back, a winger, a striker and a midfielder.

The first of the four signings to be unveiled was the Mexican winger Andres Guardado from Spanish club Deportivo. The twenty-two-year old was transferred for a fee of twenty million pounds and has signed a five-year contract with Chelsea.

Guardado, 22, started his career with Mexican side FC Atlas, and made his debut in August 2005 at the age of eighteen in the 3-2 victory over Pachuca CF. Since then he made a total of sixty-four appearances - in two seasons - scoring six goals. In July 2007, Guardado transferred to Spanish side Deportivo for a total fee of seven -million euros.

He was officially presented on July 24, with the team giving him the number 18 which he also used in the Mexico national football team. Miguel Ángel Lotina, coach of Deportivo, stated that Guardado was a key player, and admired his talent and character. Guardado played an important part in helping Depor finish in the mid table, which was enough to claim a spot in the Intertoto Cup, with subsequent UEFA Cup qualification, which marked Guardado's debut in European football.

Guardo was named the club's best player in 2007 and also in 2008. Guardado who has made a total of fifty-five appearances for the club scoring seven times, was linked with a move to Italian giants AC Milan before signing for Chelsea.

Guardado, is also a key member of Mexico's international team and has been capped a total of forty-one times by his country since his debut against Hungary in December 2005. Guardado has also found the back of the net six times for his country.

The second signing to be unveiled at Stamford Bridge was the nineteen-year-old Alex Teixeira Santos. The Brazilian has joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama for a total fee of five-million pounds and has signed a five-year contract with the club.

Alex made a total of twenty-nine appearances for the Brazilian club and has also scored five times. Rumours suggest that Alex Teixeira turned down a potential move to Manchester United and Everton and instead joined the London club Chelsea.

The third player to be unveiled at Stamford Bridge was Davide Santon for a fee of two-and-a-half-million pounds from former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. The eighteen-year old Italian full back has signed a four-year contract with Chelsea.

Santon who is a product of the Internazionale youth system made his senior debut against Roma in a Coppa Italia match and since then has appeared sixteen times for Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan including a Champions League debut against Manchester United where he played directly against Cristiano Ronaldo.

In March 2009, Davide Santon made his Italian under-21 debut against Netherlands but later in May he received his first call-up for the senior Italian team for friendly against Northern Ireland where he made his debut for his country and since he has been capped two times.

Last player to be unveiled at Stamford Bridge was the sixteen-year old Slovenian Harris Vuckic. Chelsea signed Vuckic from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee which is rumoured to be around four-and-a-half-million pounds.

Vuckic began his career at Slovenian side NK Domžale and has appeared fie times before he transferred to Newcastle United in January 2009 for one-million dollars. Vuckic is regarded as one of Europe's brightest talents and reports suggest he had underwent a trial at AC Milan before signing for Chelsea.

Vuckic made his international debut for Slovenia in the World Qualifiers against Poland and since then has been capped twice for his country. Vuckic has also made a total of eight appearances for Slovenia at under 17 level.

Rijkaard said following the signing, "This massive for the club, we have two super left wingers. Malouda is a regular member of the French National side and Guardado is also a regular member of the Mexican team. Guardado, he can also play as the left back if we need him to do so.

"Alex Teixeira is one of the bright talents present around at the moment. He has the potential to become the best striker in the world. Davide Santon is another great player and he also has the potential to become the best full back of his generation. He has great pace which is handy when goes front to join the attack.

Finally speaking of Haris Vuckic, he a very balanced player and he can also play as a striker or as a midfielder. He also posses the pace to trouble the defenders. I wish all of them good luck and hope, they play the best football of their career over here for Chelsea."

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:1st September, 2009
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Chelsea 3-0 Stoke
By Paul Fletcher
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Joe Cole celebrates his opener

Chelsea produced a superb second-half show to beat Stoke City and also won their first home game of the season.

Joe Cole put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot after 58 minutes following a foul by Stephen Kelly on French striker Nicolas Anelka. And skipper John Terry clinched the victory three minutes later when he powered home Frank Lampard's corner. Substitute and new signing Andres Guardado headed home his first Chelsea goal from Joe Cole's corner in the dying seconds as Chelsea turned on the style.

This win over Stoke City meant Frank Rijkaard fourth consecutive win including the Community Shield win at Wembley and his first win at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea striker Carlos Tevez failed a fitness test on an ankle injury, leaving Rijkaard to again start with Nicolas Anelka in the attack.

Anelka wasted the best chance of a tight first half. Malouda headed on keeper Petr Cech's clearance to set Anelka clear but he poked a poor finish wide. Two more chances came in the dying seconds of the first half, with Federico Fazio shooting straight at Thomas Sorensen and Stoke's Matthew Etherington shooting wastefully wide from Ricardo Fuller's pass.

Chelsea opened the second half with a real sense of purpose and Michael Essien should have put them in front after 49 minutes. Joe Cole's cross found Essien at the near post but he shot wide from only eight yards. Chelsea had burst out of the blocks after the break and it was no more than they deserved when they went ahead after 58 minutes.

Anelka's persistence was the key, with him beating Abdoulaye Faye before he was hauled down by Kelly. Joe Cole scored the kick, despite Sorensen getting a hand to the ball. Stoke City were under siege and Malouda was inches away from adding a second after Sorensen blocked a Anelka effort. But there was no reprieve for Stoke City, with Terry heading Lamprad's resulting corner past Sorensen. Sorensen was then called into action to push away a dipping 25-yard strike from Lampard.

English midfield man Joe Cole was orchestrating a fine second-half display from Chelsea and he almost got his second goal after 73 minutes when he turned a close-range effort inches wide from Malouda's return pass. He was involved again with another corner on the final whistle, Andres Guardado running on to Alex's flick to score with a far post header.

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Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry©, Fazio(Alex 89), Cole, Essien(Deco 77), Ballack, Lampard, Malouda(Guardado 90), Cole, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mikel, Ivanovic, Ferreira.

Booked: Malouda.

Goals: Cole 58 pen, Terry 62, Guardado 90.

Stoke: Sorensen, Kelly, Faye, Shawcross, Griffin©, Lawrence, Diao, Faye, Etherington, Sidibe(Kitson 70), Fuller(Soares 70).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Davies, Cort, Dickinson.

Booked: Diao, Faye.

Att: 41,730.

Ref: H Webb.

BBC Man of the Match: Joe Cole(Chelsea).

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 13 June 2009 - 06:55 AM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:2nd September, 2009
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Carling Cup third Round Draw
By Paul Fletcher
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32 teams in the third round

Frank Rijkaard's Chelsea will face Liverpool in the third round of the Carling Cup at Stamford Bridge, meanwhile holder Manchester United will face a tricky away tie at the Reebok against Bolton Wanderers.

Last season's runners-up Tottenham Hotspur face London side West Ham United at the White Hart Lane stadium, while Arsenal will face Roberto Martinez' Wigan Athletic at the Emirates. Relegated side Middlesbrough are drawn against fellow championship side Watford at the Riverside.

Newly promoted side Wolves will face Brendon Rodgers' Reading side at home, while Welsh outfit Cardiff City will face of Roy Keane's Ipswich City at home. Aston Villa face the new promoted last season's semi-finalist Burnley at Villa Park.

Championship side Sheffield Wednesday battle it against city rivals Sheffield United, while Barnsley will face Alan Shearer's Newcastle United at home. West Brom entertain Bristol City at the Hawthorns while Leicester City will face Sunderland.

Fulham will face this season's huge spenders Manchester City at Craven Cottage, while Portsmouth entertain Phil Brown's Hull City at Fratton Park. Finally Tony Pulis' Stoke City will face a difficult challenge in Everton at the Britannia Stadium.

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Middlesbrough v Watford
Wolves v Reading
Cardiff v Ipswich
Chelsea v Liverpool
Aston Villa v Burnley
Tottenham v West Ham
Sheff Wed v Sheff Utd
Barnsley v Newcastle
Bolton v Man Utd
West Brom v Bristol City
Arsenal v Wigan
Leicester v Sunderland
Preston v Doncaster
Fulham v Man City
Portsmouth v Hull
Stoke v Everton

This post has been edited by blues_for_ever: 13 June 2009 - 09:59 AM

[blues_for_ever]

Last Updated:2nd September, 2009
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Rijkaard wins Monthly Accolade
By Paul Fletcher
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Frank Rijkaard - Best Manager of the Month

The new Chelsea boss has become the first manager of Chelsea to win the the Manager of the Month accolade for a year.

Under Rijkaard, the Blues finishes August with three wins from three games in the Barclays Premier League after victories over Tottenham Hotspur(1-0), Wigan Athletic(1-0) and Stoke City(3-0). Chelsea also grabbed the FA Community Shield before the start of the season with a 1-0 victory over champions Manchester United.

The award also marks a dream start for Rijkaard in his first season at Stamford Bridge and goes some way to restoring the Dutch's reputation which had been tarnished following a frustrating year out of football after leaving being fired from the Barcelona job in 2008. He becomes the first Chelsea manager to claim the accolade since Avram Grant enjoyed an equally successful ending to the season in April 2008.

[Ana_Garcia]

Yay Guardado!! A mexican great to see, (My father is Mexican and loves Guardado )

Really good so far!