v. Spartak Moscow - The Ghost of Luzhniki

Chelsea travel to Moscow with a depleted squad with the injury list growing. Drogba, Lampard, Benayoun, Alex and Ramires all left at home for the fixture due to injury giving the likes of Zhirkov and McEachren chance to show their worth. Both  of the players impress me when they came on during the Villa game, making a decent impact and i'll be hoping that they do well during the match. Playing on an artificial grass pitch, it will be a bit difficult for us and considering the injuries, I'll certainly be happy if we can get at least a point there.

Prediction: Spartak Moscow 0 - Chelsea 2 (Terry to score from the spot :p)


Chelsea match against Spartak tonight will see us return to the Luzhniki Stadium for the first time since the heartbreaking lost in the Champions League Final to Man Utd in 2008. It was a very sad moment for all the Chelsea fans, players and our captain JT. We were a kick away from making history and winning the Champs League for the first time. But luck was not on our side, JT slips and his shot hit the bar allowing Sir Alex team to recover and win the trophy.

Hopefully we will go there tonight and performs well, erasing the pain and lament memories of the 2008 finals and maybe, just maybe we can go all the way in the Champs League this season. ktbffh

Liverpool lowest league position?

Another disappointing week for the Liverpool fans. After the ownership saga ended last week, it was hopeful that their fortune on the pitch will change as well and their season can finally kick start. It wasnt to be, a defeat against their rival, the blue half of merseyside, left them languishing in 19th place after 8 games. 1 win, 3 draws and 4 defeats the worst start since 1953-54 season when they eventualy

Not sure the final league position for them that season. Is that the lowest league position they ever had? What is the lowest final league position for Liverpool in the Premier League and the old first division? I didnt know that.



v Aston Villa - Patch up back line?



Hopefully Chelsea will pick up where they left off when they visit Villa Park to face our bogey team Aston Villa. Not having a good record against Villa, Chelsea will go into the game with a weekened back four. Captain John Terry pull out of the England team in midweek with a back problem, Alex injured during the win against Arsenal still have a couple of weeks on the sidelines, young Jeffry Bruma also withdrawn by the Holland under 21 team due to injury, leaving only Ivanovic as our recongnize centre back.

The good news is Bosignwa is back after missing for almost a year due to injury, but i think its too early for him, happy if he gets a few minutes just to built his match fitness. The question is who will partner Ivanovic, Terry and Bruma in a race against time to be fit, if both couldnt make it, maybe bosingwa has to start meaning Ferreira to shift to the middle, or maybe utility player Essien to drop back as a make shift centre back. A decision for the manager there. In Carlo we trust.

Knowing the player John Terry is, he will play even with one leg and i'm sure he will do everything to play in this match. Lets hope he recover quickly and fit enough to lead the team tomorrow.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea 2, but i do hope Chelsea can keep a clean sheet just for the sake of my fantasy football team. ktbffh

International Football - Boring boring weekend

Well.... I get through it, a weekend without club football. The 2 weeks international break is on with the Euro 2012 qualifying games and friendly matches played during the weekend and the next couple of days before the league resume.

When we talk about international games during the season, its hard to avoid the club versus country debate. With the importance of results in club football, the last thing managers want is their star players getting injured during the international break while playing with their national colours. Players getting back exhausted from travelling, playing too many games and involving in useless friendly matches has become and issue for club managers, but is there anyway to resolve the matter for the goods of the national teams, clubs as well as the players?

From a fan point of view, i think except from the World Cup or European Cup finals, the qualification games didn't really excites everyone. The matches usually are straight forward with most of the matches aren't competitive enough, for example Kazakhstan against the mighty Germans. Yes, maybe for some Kazakhstanis the prospect of seeing the likes of Klose, Schweinsteiger and co is intriguing. But for neutrals, a one sided affair between a nation ranked 126 against semi finalist of the recently concluded World Cup is not really stimulating much interest.

The club managers don't like it, the fans can do without it but the games must be played. Is there any other way to accommodate this international games into the football calender, is there any other format to make it more competitive and interesting for the fans. Its easier to moan and complain about it without prompting ways to improve the format or scheduling of the games, maybe we all just have to shut up and deal with it. KTBFFH

Liverpool FC - Demise Of A Great Club?

Seven games into the season, nobody would guess, nobody could imagine that Liverpool Football Club the most successful club in England, although the Man Utd fan will disagree (agree to disagree) dwelling in the relegation zone in the 18th spot. The mess that was drag and ringing around the club the pass few years have reach a new low.

It all begin when Liverpool agreed to a takeover bid from American sports tycoon George Gilett and Tom Hicks  in 2007. At that time most of us think, that is the beginning of a new era for LFC. Wealthy investor coming in, real resources, transfer funds, a new stadium and a strong commitment to the club was what the fans are hoping for, but that was not being materialized. Footballing wise, the club continue to progress finishing 4th in the first season of Gilett-Hicks era before finish just 4 point off champions Man Utd in the 2008/2009 the season after. That was when expectation became higher, the bar has been raised and the prospect of ending the club 18years drought of league title immense.

In the 2009/2010, the season which promise much, the season when Liverpool are expected to go one step better and claim the title didn't really happened. The club turmoil  became worse, all the promise made from the American owners didn't come into being. Rafael Benitez the manager at that time embarking feuds with both of the owners, deflecting the team performance on the pitch. The conflict between the owners and manager embroiled to a certain period when the fans was divided. The pro Rafa and the anti Rafa, Benitez was quick to get the support from the fans as he knew the expectation set was way beyond his team reach. He sparks the fans protest against the owner claiming he didn't have enough transfer fund to go out and get the player required for Liverpool to challenge for the title. But the anti Rafa will claim that Benitez had all the time to build the squad and wasting money (that was not much given) on several mediocre players. But as the seasons progress, Benitez support from the fans slowly decrease as his team performance turn upside down from 2nd place the previous season to 7th and failing to qualify for the Champion League subsequently ending his 6 years reign at Liverpool.

Coming into the 2010/2011, the Liverpool faithful protest against the owners still continued, they want the Americans out. The words of the club will be sell ringing from last season, but until now there isn't any conclusion on the matters. A few bidders has come in, but then just walks away. What are the intentions of the 2 owners? What do they want? Its unexplainable why not one of the many bids received is not accepted and taking so much time.

The performance of the players go the same way, after 7 league games into the season Liverpool are in the relegation zone. The manager they appointed, an Englishman in Roy Hodgson thought to be the Liverpool saviour to bring back the passion and glory back to Anfield quickly being questioned. Is he the right man? Do he have what it takes to manage a big club? The fans currently divided again. Some want to give him more time, some didnt like his attitude, his ambitions was said not at the same wave length as Liverpool FC should have and want the man to be remove quickly. Which group are you in?

Personally for me, as much as i hate Liverpool its sad to see such a club being in such a mess on and off the pitch. Roy to me is not the right man, but Liverpool has appointed him and kicking him at this time will only bring the worst out of the club. Give the man 1 season, Liverpool will not get relegated with the current squad they have. The players meanwhile should hold more responsibility, because the way they performed the last 7 games, shows that they didn't bother at all. Anything bad happen, the fans will all put the blame on the owners. These so called superstars need a kick up their ass, they're being paid millions week in week out to perform on the pitch and that what they are supposed to do. The ownership issue is another matter, and let put that aside and hope it can be resolve as soon as possible. On the pitch players should perform much much better because it seem like they are forgetting for which club they are playing for. Just a humble football fan point of view. KTBFFH

p/s: while i'm writing, news of Liverpool has agreed the club sale to New England Sports Venture has come out. not sure its a good thing or bad, time will tell.

"some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that" William 'Bill' Shankley

v Arsenal - Didier Did It Again

Chelsea went into the 2 weeks international break with a healthy 4 point lead over 2nd place Man City after Didier Drogba and Alex scored in each half to give Chelsea a 2-0 victory over Arsenal. DD magnificent form against the Gunners continued when he open the scoring in the 39th minutes his 13th goals in 11 starts against our London neighbour. Alex then seal the match with a thunderous free kick 5 mins from the end crashing any hope of a comeback for The Gunners.

The scoreline didn't reflect the game as Arsenal do cause Chelsea a few problems especially in the second half. New signing Marouane Chamakh with his areal threat causing all sort of trouble for the Chelsea back line, luckily not one of the chances been made count by the forward. Arsenal were once again without their inspirational captain Fabregas clearly look lacking creativity and they will be hoping the Spaniard can recover before their next game in  2 weeks time after losing 2 straight games in the league.

With Man Utd unable to collect full points at Sunderland, the gap between Chelsea and Man Utd which i think our biggest title rival has opened up to 5 points. Still a very long way to go but a good start to the season and topping the league early on is always welcomed. Now we can just relax, enjoy the international games and hopefully our players return from their national team scathe free. KTBFFH

v Arsenal - Condolence to Carlo Ancelotti and Family

When we all say that we truly love the game of football and how it is important to us, there is a time when we realise that as important it is to us, there are things in life that is much more important. Giuseppe Ancelotti the father of Chelsea manager Carlo pass away last Wednesday night at the age of 87. So, i would like to pass an honest and sincere condolence to Carlo and family for their loss.

Back to football. After suffering their first defeat in the league last weekend. Chelsea will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they entertain Arsenal at the Bridge. Chelsea once again will be without Frank Lampard, Salamon Kalou and Yousi Benayoun. Jose Bosingwa already featured in 2 reserve games is not fully fit after coming back from a long lay off. Meanwhile confidence at Arsenal is not that high either, losing to West Brom last weekend, and with first choice keeper Almunia, Fabregas and Vermalaen out with injury, it may as well be a good time to play the Gunners.

Drogba having a good record against Arsenal in previous matches is the key for Chelsea to get a good result on Sunday. Not playing the Champs League game on Wednesday and having a good rest, hopefully Drog comes back into the lineup fresh and raring to go.

Prediction: Chelsea 3 - Arsenal 1, Drogba to continue his hot streak against the Gunners.