The Chelsea Mashup: August 2012

Friday 31 August 2012

A Transfer Triangle

A Transfer Triangle
Vitalfootball: Chelsea: 31/08/2012 13:07:00
The future of Daniel Sturridge could take an unexpected twist today.

VitalFootball Feed: Chelsea
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/09/01/a-transfer-triangle/

Falcao shows inept Chelsea what might have been

Chelsea suffered Super Cup humiliation last night as Radamel Falcao showed them what might have been with a devastating hat-trick to help Atletico Madrid to a crushing victory.

Independent.ie - Soccer RSS Feed
Read more... Falcao shows inept Chelsea what might have been

Di Matteo rues poor start

Roberto Di Matteo admitted Chelsea was the architect of its own demise after it suffered UEFA Super Cup humiliation at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

The World Game
Read more... Di Matteo rues poor start

Roberto Di Matteo says Chelsea will not be bullied into selling David Luiz to Barcelona

Roberto Di Matteo has declared Chelsea are too big a club to be bullied by Barcelona into selling David Luiz.

Evening Standard - Football
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com

Real Madrid loan Essien from Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan Football news from ESPN.co.uk
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/09/01/real-madrid-loan-essien-from-chelsea/

West Ham sign Benayoun on loan from Blues

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun has made a return to West Ham, five years after leaving the club. ESPNsoccernet
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/09/01/west-ham-sign-benayoun-on-loan-from-blues/

Chelsea's Benayoun signs with West Ham

Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun has announced he's signed for West Ham United.

The Israel international returns to his old club on-loan after a busy day which included talks with Liverpool.

Official: Real Madrid sign Chelsea midfielder Essien on season-long loan

The Ghanaian midfielder completes a shock switch to the Liga champions and will once again link up with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu

Goal.com News - Chelsea FC
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/09/01/official-real-madrid-sign-chelsea-midfielder-essien-on-season-long-loan/

Manchester City rush through five deals as Michael Essien is reunited with Jose Mourinho

Manchester City signed five players for a total of £37m yesterday, while Chelsea's Michael Essien joined Real Madrid on loan and Southampton signed Gaston Ramirez.

- Premier League RSS Feed
Read more... Manchester City rush through five deals as Michael Essien is reunited with Jose Mourinho

Chelsea loan Michael Essien to Real and Yossi Benayoun to West Ham

• Ghana midfielder links up with José Mourinho again• Benayoun returns to club he left five years agoMichael Essien made one of the more unexpected moves on deadline night after the veteran Ghana international agreed a season-long loan move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.The 29-year-old will be reunited with his former manager at Stamford Bridge, José Mourinho, at the Bernabéu and will effectively operate as a replacement for Lassana Diarra. The Spanish champions have sanctioned the ex Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder's transfer to Anzhi Makhachkala.Essien, a £24m signing from Lyon in 2005, was a key member of the Chelsea team until su... Chelsea News
Read more... Chelsea loan Michael Essien to Real and Yossi Benayoun to West Ham

A look back at the window that was

The Summer transfer window for 2012 has now shut, and despite some last second trolling from Gigi Salmon, it doesn't appear that Chelsea will have any new signings to announce. With that in mind, let's quickly recap the changes the we've seen to the Chelsea squad. After the jump you'll be able to find the complete breakdown of what we've done this summer.

Permanent moves away: Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Jose Bosingwa (QPR)

First team players loaned: Michael Essien (Real Madrid), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham)

Signings: Eden Hazard (Lille), Marco Marin (Werder Bremen), Oscar (Internacional), Thorgan Hazard (Lens), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic), Cesar Azpilicueta (Olympic Marseille)

Prospect loans: Sam Walker (Bristol Rovers), Matej Delac (Vitoria SC), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid), Tomas Kalas (Vitesse Arnhem), Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse Arnhem), Jeffrey Bruma (HSV), Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag), Rohan Ince (Yeovil Town), Archange Nkumu (Yeovil Town), Ben Gordon (Birmingham City), Sam Hutchinson (Nottingham Forest), Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford), Josh McEachran (Middlesbrough), Conor Clifford (Portsmouth), Gael Kakuta (Vitesse Arnhem), Ulises Davila (Sabadell), Milan Lalkovic (Vitoria SC), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte Waregem), Amin Affane (Roda JC), Kevin De Bruyne (Werder Bremen), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion)

All told, that's six signings, three permanent departures, one loan of a senior player in the last year of his deal, one loan of a senior player with three years remaining on his deal, and twenty one prospects sent out on loan. The signings are definitely finished (unless we sign a player who is out of contract), but there are a few leagues in which the transfer window has not yet slammed shut. Sales could still happen, and loans could also occur to those leagues.

It's also possible that we'll still see some more loans to the lower divisions of English football. Championship, League One, and League Two clubs will be able to take players on loan again in about a week, so we might see a few youngsters added to the list. These loan roundups are going to be ridiculous this year, which I guess speaks volumes about the youth movement at Stamford Bridge.

I've attached a poll for you guys to chime in with how you feel about the window now that it's done. I know many of you will be a bit disappointed that we didn't have any signings today, but try to take a second and look at the window as a whole when you vote. After you vote in the poll, discuss away in the comments section below.

Poll

Rate the Chelsea transfer window

We Ain't Got No History
Read more... A look back at the window that was

Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid | Uefa Super Cup match report

• Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid
• Cahill 75; Falcao 7 19 45, Miranda 61

Chelsea have spent their summer in full-scale reinvention, a process undertaken at such lavish expense that there was an irony that they should endure the last few hours of the transfer window being scorched by a player they had once coveted. Radamel Falcao claimed the European Super Cup for Atlético Madrid at the Londoners' expense here with a first-half hat-trick that, even in a contest Chelsea might instinctively have dismissed as meaningless, will have shaken the Champions League winners to the core.

This was an ugly reality check, albeit one delivered with ruthless beauty, after all the giddy spending of the last few months and Chelsea's own sprightly start to the Premier League campaign. Instead it served to expose the defensive frailties that might undermine this team against opponents of real pedigree. Atlético, Europa League winners, are magical when they click with this one of their irrepressible displays until their concentration wavered, victory long since assured. The contest had actually been decided by the interval. Roman Abramovich had come to Monte Carlo hoping to watch his team hoist silverware again and set the tone for the months ahead. He must have departed with Falcao playing on his mind.

Chelsea's centre-halves will be haunted by the memory of confronting the Colombian. The treble registered before the break was his second in five days, following three in the 4-0 demolition of Athletic Bilbao on Monday, to swell his tally in European competitions to 37 in 40 appearances. This is a player scouted extensively by Premier League clubs in the past, Chelsea included, when he would have been available at what now feels a knockdown price, but he is out of most clubs' financial reach these days. Falcao had scored the last goal of André Villas-Boas' glittering year at Porto to claim the Europa League in Dublin, and registered two more for Atlético in the final against Athletic Bilbao to win the trophy in Bucharest back in May. He has long since been prolific, with Chelsea just the latest opponents to be scarred.

It was Chelsea's own sloppiness that invited catastrophe. Atlético had swarmed all over them from the start, their tempo blistering where Chelsea had sought to ease themselves into the contest. They simply could not cope, with this a defensive mess more reminiscent of the chaotic defeat suffered in this arena by Claudio Ranieri's side eight years ago. "We were well below par and fell to pieces," said Gary Cahill. "If we're honest with ourselves, everyone was below par. It was embarrassing at times and we let ourselves down. It was unacceptable."

They were outclassed for lengthy periods, unable to suppress Atlético's attacking verve. The Spaniards' captain, Gabi, probed from central midfield while Arda Turan and Adrian López glided menacingly. The speed at which Atlético counter-attacked was ferocious and their ability to drag Chelsea defenders out of position gave them space on which they capitalised ruthlessly. This was a slaughter at times. The weary prod against his own post by David Luiz in stoppage time at the end was the third occasion Atlético had struck the woodwork. By then Chelsea's back-line looked broken.

Falcao, inevitably, had contributed the other two near misses, thumping against crossbar and post either side of his opening two goals. Not that this was an occasion to be critical. The sheer brilliance of the chances he did take drew the focus. There was a burst on to Gabi's slide-rule pass and an astute clip over the advancing Petr Cech seven minutes in, the shot placed cleverly to by-pass the retreating David Luiz as the Brazilian sought out the goal-line. His second was arguably more impressive, a stunned collection and deliciously curled left-footed finish from the edge of the box after coaxing rare space from Ashley Cole. The ball arced gloriously past the full-back, over Luiz and Cech's out-stretched hand. Even Chelsea's players might have considered a spontaneous round of applause.

His reward was complete in stoppage time at the end of the period, Atlético breaking upfield from defending a corner with Arda Turan liberating Falcao behind Ramires. The shot scuttled through Cech's legs. Everything thereafter was a stroll. "Ours was a slow start and, if you give Falcao space, he's dangerous," said Roberto Di Matteo. "We should have blocked him before that. But we had a slow start and were never really in the game."

The goals exchanged after the break felt incidental, messy scrambles as defensive discipline evaporated. Miranda's finish was delicate, Cahill's thumped in frustration at an evening far from enjoyed. Fernando Torres, who had hoped this might be his night against the club who had nurtured him, was reduced to one scuffed shot wide and a rousing chorus of his name from Atlético's vociferous fans, who will always appreciate one of their own. Yet, in Falcao, they have still a player impossible to forget.

Dominic Fifield

Football: Chelsea | guardian.co.uk
Read more... Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid | Uefa Super Cup match report

Schurrle Wanted?

Schurrle Wanted?
Vitalfootball: Chelsea: 31/08/2012 13:06:00
Today, transfer deadline day, could see Chelsea spring into action.

VitalFootball Feed: Chelsea
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/09/01/schurrle-wanted/

Essien joins Real on loan

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien joined Spanish champions Real Madrid on loan on transfer deadline day.

Independent.ie - Soccer RSS Feed
Read more... Essien joins Real on loan

Frank Lampard is on the right track by ignoring the old-school route to managing at the top

Frank Lampard revealed this week he wants to manage Chelsea, but only Chelsea, adding: "I know it might sound a bit big-headed or selfish but I wouldn't want to go through 'showing myself' with a lower club." There's something to discuss with Uncle Harry at the next family get-together.

- Premier League RSS Feed
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/frank-lampard-is-on-the-right-track-by-ignoring-the-old-school-route-to-managing-at-the-top/

Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid | Super Cup match report

• Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid• Cahill 75; Falcao 7 19 45, Miranda 61Chelsea have spent their summer in full-scale reinvention mode, a process undertaken at such lavish expense, so there was an irony they should endure the last few hours of the transfer window being scorched by a player they had once coveted. Radamel Falcao claimed the European Super Cup for Atlético Madrid at the Londoners' expense here with a first half hat-trick that, even in a contest they might instinctively have dismissed as meaningless, will have shaken the Champions League winners to the core.This was an ugly reality check, albeit one delivered with ruthless beauty, af... Chelsea News
Read more... Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid | Super Cup match report

Competition important for Torres

Roberto Di Matteo insists it is vital that Fernando Torres faces serious competition up front this season amid reports Chelsea was still hoping to sign Andre Schurrle before the transfer window closes. The World Game
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com

Essien joins Real on loan

Chelsea have confirmed midfielder Michael Essien has joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan. Sky Sports | Football News
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com

ESSIEN LOANED TO REAL MADRID

Chelsea Football Club today (Friday) announces that Michael Essien has joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan... Chelsea
Read more... ESSIEN LOANED TO REAL MADRID

Chelsea loan out Kakuta again

Chelsea have sent young winger Gael Kakuta on a season-long loan to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem. Football365 | Chelsea
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/chelsea-loan-out-kakuta-again/

Yossi Benayoun joins West Ham on loan from Chelsea

Yossi Benayoun has joined West Ham from Chelsea on loan. Benayoun previously played for the Upton Park club between 2005 and 2007. Chelsea | Mail Online
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/yossi-benayoun-joins-west-ham-on-loan-from-chelsea/

TEAM NEWS: Transfer target Sturridge on bench for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid

The reported Liverpool target has been named on the Blues bench as Roberto Di Matteo's men look to add another European trophy to their collection

Goal.com News - Chelsea FC
Read more... TEAM NEWS: Transfer target Sturridge on bench for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid

SUPER CUP REPORT: CHELSEA 1 ATLETICO MADRID 4

A Radamel Falcao hat-trick sees the Blues go down 4-1 to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup... Chelsea
Read more... SUPER CUP REPORT: CHELSEA 1 ATLETICO MADRID 4

The Sturridge loan mystery gets cleared up

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Daniel Sturridge of Chelsea (C) is congratulated by Ashley Cole (R) and Salomon Kalou as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge on April 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

And now the Daniel Sturridge mystery from earlier becomes clearer. Originally, it was reported that the striker was not in the Chelsea squad to face Atletico Madrid (we're 1-0 down thanks to a Radamel Falcao goal at the time of writing, by the way), and then his name appeared on the bench. Magic! Here's what happened.

Danny Sturridge added to the Chelsea team at the very last minute tonight - would suggest any possible loan move is now off.
— Matt Lewis (@mattlewis27) August 31, 2012

So, for those of you who absolutely hated the idea of Sturridge going out on loan -- and I really don't blame you -- this is very good news indeed. No Sturridge for you, Liverpool! What impact this has on the possible signing of Loic Remy, whom Chelsea have been connected with all day, is entirely unclear. But, yeah, the big news is Sturridge looks like he's staying.

We Ain't Got No History
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/the-sturridge-loan-mystery-gets-cleared-up/

Arsenal look to strengthen midfield with loan deal for Chelsea's Michael Essien

Arsenal have made an inquiry for Chelsea's Michael Essien in a bid to reinforce their midfield before deadline.

Chelsea Football Club
Read more... Arsenal look to strengthen midfield with loan deal for Chelsea's Michael Essien

Chelsea, United spared as City get fiendish Champions League draw

August 31, 2012 6:34 AM

MONACO (AFP) - Fate largely smiled on Manchester United and holders Chelsea in Thursday's Champions League draw, but Manchester City found themselves drawn into a daunting group with Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.

RSS Breaking News - Sports
Read more... Chelsea, United spared as City get fiendish Champions League draw

Chelsea v Atlético Madrid – live! | Scott Murray

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65 min (aka The Schadenfreude Sixty Seconds): Mata and Cole try to combine down the left, but their passes aren't sticking. Absolutely nothing's going right for Chelsea. "Just think if Chelsea spend another £100m they might be able to win the Super Cup next season," deadpans Andrew Stricker.

63 min: The travelling Spanish are making a racket in the jaunty style. The English lot look thoroughly miserable, which isn't too surprising. But Chelsea fans should retain some perspective: things could be much worse. You could support Aston Villa, for example, as Mark Taylor explains: "It hurts me everytime I see Falcao score. In January 2009 River Plate offered Falcao to Villa for £7m. Martin O'Neill decided to go with Emile Heskey instead. I've never forgiven Martin for this."

60 min: GOAL!!! Chelsea 0-4 Atlético Madrid This is becoming extremely embarrassing now for the champions of Europe. A free kick to Atlético down the right. The ball's clipped into the area, then allowed to pinball to the feet of Miranda, just to the right of goal. He lifts the ball over Cech, off the skittering Cahill's buttocks, and into the net.

58 min: Cristian Rodriguez announces himself early doors, pelting down the left wing in acres, then fizzing a cross into the middle for Falcao. With his back to goal, the hat-trick hero takes the ball down brilliantly, and looks to turn through 180 degrees and hammer a shot goalwards, but Luiz is for once relatively near his man, and stubs out the effort at source.

57 min: Cristian Rodriguez comes on for Adrian Lopez.

56 min: Ivanovic cuts in from the right and threads a pass inside to Hazard, who continues inside before looking for the bottom-right corner. It's a weak effort, though, and easily snaffled by Courtois.

54 min: A corner for Atlético down the right, won by Adrian Lopez. Mario Suarez hammers a shot goalwards, but it's deflected out for another corner, which is plucked from the sky by Cech.

52 min: Atlético have an opportunity to break forward again, Arda Turan running with some determination down the left, but most of their men opt to sit back. They're not quite displaying the drive of the opening period, though you can hardly blame them for this. "If Barcelona still wanna pay an alleged £25m for Luiz, I'd get Roman to bung him on his super yacht in Monaco and bomb round the coast quick-smart," suggests the very wise Fraser from Reigate.

51 min: Koke is very close to breaking clear down the left from a deep position - so deep he's still inside his own half - but nudges the ball out of play. Chelsea, who had been pressing forward, were short at the back there. The ball is shuttled up the other end, where Torres drops a shoulder and tears down the inside-right channel. From the edge of the box, he sends a low shot flying across goal and out of play on the left. Not particularly good, but not egregiously bad either, and Chelsea haven't put together much else tonight, so this goes down as something of an improvement.

49 min: It's not really started, this half, but then you could argue that the match is already over, so.

47 min: Just like in the opening half, Chelsea pass it around awhile at the back. They're seeing plenty of the ball, but then look how that all panned out. "Do you see Premier League sides counter attacking as Madrid do?" asks Nick Thomas. "I think it is a good lesson for every manager watching tonight."

And we're off again, Atlético setting the ball rolling! An English side three down at half time in a European final? We've been here before. So nothing's impossible. Coming on, in the Didi Hamann role, Oscar. The Steve Finnan of the piece? Ramires. Can Chelsea turn this round? It'll be one hell of a task. "Knowing the Chelsea owner's love/lust/obsession with trophies, this performance might cost Di Matteo his job," argues Ian Copestake, in no way trying to start a brouhaha.

No half-time entertainment tonight, as you'll be too busy keeping track of the late moves on Transfer Deadline Day. But while we're on that subject, here's the latest gossip, courtesy of Paul Gordon: "I know this isn't related directly to the game, but it is Chelsea news. A friend of mine living in Cheshire claims to have just seen Michael Owen charge out of the stables of Manor House standing (STANDING) atop a galloping steed, fully decked out in knighty regalia (chain mail vest and that) chanting 'Chelsea 'till I die'. It seems he's headed towards the M1. According to Google Maps he should be on Fulham Road in three hours 38 minutes (in current traffic). Unless he ditches the horse soon enough he might not make Stamford Bridge before the deadline. Good to see he's showing a little more enthusiasm for the game than usual. Or it might just be a bizarre ritual he performs on his horses once every transfer window to keep them in shape, along with riling up my friend Strange Dave who stalks little Mickey and has been totally incorrect on Michael Owen's movement in every window since August 2005. Still, like a broken clock is right twice a day, a man with severe mental illnesses may be right twice every seven years."

HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-3 Atlético Madrid ~~Football~~ Falcao, eh? Bloody hell! The look on poor Fernando Torres' coupon as he departs down the tunnel!

44 min: GOAL!!! AND A SECOND HAT-TRICK THIS WEEK FOR FALCAO! Chelsea 0-3 Atlético Madrid A corner for Chelsea, won down the left by Mata. So what happens? You know what happens. Atlético clear, then stream upfield, down the right. Arda Turan is allowed to run at the area, and run, and run, and run, and run. He eventually rolls the ball out left to Falcao, who takes one touch and smashes the ball past Cech. In no way can it be argued that this hasn't been coming.

42 min: Atlético have streamed forward three times in the last two minutes. They can't quite make the right pass, so Chelsea get away with it, but they're in an awful mess at the minute.

39 min: Adrian Lopez is this close to breaking free down the left, but he's blown up (correctly) for offside. But once again the Chelsea back line are all over the shop. I've not seen Chelsea ripped to shreds like this since the days of ~~Andre Villas-Boas~~ Bobby Campbell.

35 min: This is a ludicrous double miss by Atlético. Arda Turan breaks clear down the inside right. He's offside, so what follows is a slapstick sort of justice. Turan draws Cech and slides the ball into the six-yard area, where Adrian Lopez waits to tap into an empty net. Instead, he somehow manages to kick the ball into his own back. What an adroit piece of clownsmanship. Still, the ball's hanging invitingly in mid air, waiting for Falcao, rushing in, to head home. The striker's not perfect - he's near it, but not perfect - and nuts the ball against the left-hand upright. Dear me, those were some real komik kutz.

33 min: This is a bit better from Chelsea, with Mikel attempting to dictate the tempo of play awhile just outside the Madrid area. It's a bonny period of possession, but they can't find a way through a determined back line, with only Ivanovic, bursting down the right, ever threatening to get in behind. Still, baby steps and all, and at least Atlético aren't Luiz-worrying down the other end of the pitch.

31 min: A free kick to Atlético down the right. It's lumped into the area. Cech, perhaps mindful that his defenders are running around like a circus troupe, races out to punch clear. It's just as well he did, because there were only red-and-white shirts near that dropping ball. Chelsea are, currently, a shower. "Whoever is controlling Luiz via his Playstation in the crowd is clearly drunk," chirrups ~~Gary Neville~~ Ian Copestake.

29 min: This should have been 3-0. Atlético pour forward, five on three. The ball's slid out right to Gabi, who glides into the area but hits a poor shot straight at Cech. Corner, from which Mario Suarez blasts a header straight at the keeper. Chelsea are second best by some distance here. They're being outplayed in an embarrassing fashion at the moment, with all sorts of gaps opening up at the back.

27 min: Luiz wins a challenge with Falcao! Yes, he really does it! A long ball down the right, the striker crashing to the ground, the defender making off with the ball. "Without wishing any ill on him, I can't help but feel Chelsea should be stronger with Mikel lying in the centre circle (16mins) than when he's 'playing'," quips Matt Dony. "Did Man U really get that angry over him going to Chelsea? It seems so hard to believe, now."

25 min: The Atlético fans are making one hell of a noise. And who can blame them? Chelsea look punch drunk.

22 min: A pause while Ramieres gets some attention for knee knack. He'll be OK, writes Dr Murray the quack, he's just taken a bit of a belt. Meantime, here's Dave Correia: "For those that didn't know prior to the match, but surely know now, Luiz could never handle Falcao when he played in Portugal and nothing has changed since he went to England."

19 min: GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Atlético Madrid. This is such a superlative finish by Falcao. There's a burst up the Atlético inside-right channel. Luiz can't stop the ball flying to Falcao's feet, just outside the area, though he probably should have cut it out. Falcao pauses for the ball to roll out from under his studs, nudges it to the left, taking Cole out of the picture, opens his body, and guides a beautiful effort into the top-left corner. Cech had no chance whatsoever, that was sailing serenely into the net from the nanosecond it left Falcao's boot. This, ladies and gentlemen, is football.

18 min: Luiz crosses into the Madrid area from the left. The ball's cleared, but only to Cahill, who has a half-decent dig goalwards. Ramires is in the way, and attempts to flick it on. But he's offside.

16 min: With Mikel lying around in the centre circle like he's down Monte Carlo beach on a towel, Mario Suarez sweeps a ball wide left to the dangerous Adrian Lopez, who bombs all the way to the box down the wing. He cuts inside and looks to have overrun it, but still gets a shot away from a tight-ish angle. Cech parries well. Chelsea want to watch themselves, they're all over the shop down that flank.

13 min: Cutting in from the left, Hazard looks to beat his compatriot Courtois with a rising drive towards the top-right corner. But there's too much juice in the shot, and it flies over the bar. Still, this is much better from the European champions.

12 min: Ramires sweeps the ball wide right for Mata, who curls in a cross towards Torres, on the edge of the area. He chests down for Lampard, whose low drive is deflected, then cushioned, by defensive legs.

9 min: Chelsea have responded well to that setback, with a couple of charges through Mata and Ramires down the right. Both times the player reaches the byline, but can't thread a cross into the centre. "Falcao's a force of nature," opines Deepu Sebastian Edmond. "For all the Messis and the Ronaldos, this man is going to end up with the most memorable youtube compilation of all time."

6 min: GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Atlético Madrid. Chelsea are rocking alright. Chelsea's back line is ripped apart by a simple pass down the middle. Falcao romps after it, picking up possession down the inside-left channel. He takes one step into the area, steadies himself, draws Cech, and dinks an exquisite chip towards the right-hand post. The ball hits the woodwork, and spins into the net, beyond the despairing tootsies of Luiz, who is sliding in at speed. What an amazing finish. Upfield, former charge Fernando Torres looks on in stunned disbelief.

5 min: Filipe Luis bombs down the left again, and lobs a cross to the far post, where Falcao hooks back. Cole cushions a header into Cech's hands. Chelsea are rocking here.

3 min: A first burst of play from Atlético, and they're so close to taking the lead. First Adrian Lopez takes a jog down the inside-left channel and scrapes a poor shot goalwards. It's cleared, but the ball's soon coming back at Chelsea, Filipe Luis being set free into the area down the left. He hacks the ball into the middle for Falcao, who belts a shot past Cech and off the crossbar. Falcao is then upended by Luiz in the breakdown, but that's not a penalty. Although it could have been. Be nice to see that again. Who'd be a referee?

2 min: Chelsea are knocking this around at the back a lot. Atlético have only touched the ball twice, and that's to throw the ball in and concede possession immediately.

They line up, having popped their fancy trophies on bespoke plinths. A pompous and slightly preposterous Uefa song is played - think anthem of despotic regime set to pulsating Europop beat - and then high-fives are exchanged. And then Chelsea kick off!

The teams are out! Chelsea in their all-blue strip with the all-new golden sheen of champions. Atlético are decked out in their famous red and white stripes - although they've had to change their blue shorts to red, the European Cup winners getting first choice. "The bench would suggest that Chelsea really should move for another defender before the day is over, no?" wonders Oliver Pattenden. Do you think they're made of money? Not everyone can throw it about like Manchester City. Speaking of transfers, rumours abound that Michael Essien - signally absent from the Chelsea bench - has been left out because there's a possibility of a loan deal. To, and you'll like this, Arsenal. Best to keep an eye out for that on our rolling Transfer Deadline Day blog. Meanwhile you'll note Daniel Sturridge is on Chelsea's bench, which suggests he won't be going to either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.

And perhaps the most relevant bit: the recent form. Chelsea have, of course, started the season well. They lost the ~~Charity~~ Community Shield at Villa Park against Manchester City, but did still score twice, although who doesn't against City these days? Then it's been a perfect start to their Premier League campaign: a win at Wigan followed by two more at home to Reading and Newcastle United. Atlético, meanwhile, drew their opening La Liga game at Levante, but sprung into life against Athletic Bilbao with a 4-0 win at the Estadio Vicente Calderón. It is ón!

Some bad news for Chelsea: Atlético have won their last 12 European matches. Thirteenth time unlucky? We'll see, but they don't mind playing English opposition: the culmination of their 2010 Europa League winning campaign saw them dispatching Liverpool and then Fulham.

Some more good news for Chelsea: They're undefeated against Spanish opposition, home and away, in their last 13 competitive fixtures. That Barcelona, the supposed greatest club side of all time? Pah! Valencia were sent packing in Chelsea's victorious European campaign last season too, 3-0 at Stamford Bridge during the group stage.

If the head-to-head record between these two teams is anything to go by, we're in for a cracker. They've only played each other twice, visiting each other in the group stage of the 2009/10 Champions League. Chelsea were the first hosts, and treated their guests most shoddily, skelping them 4-0, two-goal Salomon Kalou the hero (Frank Lampard and a Luis Amaranto Perea own goal the other scoreboard botherers). Chelsea looked like winning the return in Madrid, too, after a late Didier Drogba double blast, but Kun Aguero equalised in injury time, bookending the scoring having also notched the opener. So that's four goals guaranteed, then. Good-o.

Kick off: 7.45pm BST, 8.45pm in the local Monaco money.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Meanwhile the Europa League winners name Adrian Lopez in attack: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis, Mario Suarez, Gabi, Adrian, Koke, Turan, Falcao.
Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Raul Garcia, Rodriguez, Silvio, Cata Diaz, Diego Costa, Emre.

But as if to prove nobody's taking this totally seriously, Premier League benchwarmer Frank Lampard has been recalled to the line-up of the European champions: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires, Hazard, Mata, Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Romeu, Oscar, Moses, Meireles, Sturridge, Bertrand.

So OK, the curtain raiser to the new season of European club football never gets anyone's juices flowing. But a European trophy is a European trophy is a European trophy, an additional line on the old roll of honour, so there are worse ways to spend a Friday evening. Both teams have won this pot once before - Chelsea in 1998, Atlético two years ago - so whoever triumphs tonight will join a relatively short list of multiple Super Cup winners: Milan (5), Barcelona (4), Ajax (3), Liverpool (3), Anderlecht (2), Juventus (2) and Valencia (2). An achievement not to be sniffed at. It is on!

There follows a list of supporters energised - really energised - by the Uefa Super Cup:
1. ~~Chelsea~~
2. ~~Atlético Madrid~~

Scott Murray

Football: Chelsea | guardian.co.uk
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/chelsea-v-atletico-madrid-live-scott-murray/

Chelsea loan out two players

Chelsea sent out two fringe players on loan on deadline day, with Gael Kakuta and Nathaniel Chalobah joining Vitesse Arnhem and Watford. Chelsea News
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/chelsea-loan-out-two-players/

LADIES REPORT: CHELSEA 0 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

A late header from Rachel Williams was enough for Birmingham City Ladies to take all three points at Wheatsheaf Park... Chelsea
Read more... LADIES REPORT: CHELSEA 0 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Super Cup preview

Champions League winners Chelsea meet Europa League holders Atletico Madrid on Friday night in the traditional curtain-raiser to the European football season. Chelsea | Mail Online
Read more... Chelsea v Atletico Madrid - Super Cup preview

Sturridge Liverpool move rests on Chelsea replacement

Daniel Sturridge's potential loan move to Liverpool rests on the acquisition of a replacement forward at Stamford Bridge Football news from ESPN.co.uk
Read more... Sturridge Liverpool move rests on Chelsea replacement

Vitesse Arnhem to land Chelsea attacker Kakuta

Chelsea attacker Gael Kakuta is moving to Holland.

Kakuta is joining Vitesse Arnhem on-loan after several weeks of talks with Olympique Marseille.

Torres: Being Chelsea's first-choice striker has boosted my confidence

The £50 million signing from Liverpool endured a difficult start to his Stamford Bridge career but is now finding his form again this season alongside a number of new arrivals

Goal.com News - Chelsea FC
Read more... Torres: Being Chelsea's first-choice striker has boosted my confidence

A Michael Essien transfer update

We've had some chat about Michael Essien going out on loan over the past day or so, and it's never really made much sense to me. Despite injuries causing him to fade badly over the past few years, Essien's still a valuable commodity, and although the Blues could indeed send him out on loan to give him enough time to reestablish himself as a major force in a Premier League midfield, doing so would seem to directly help a potential rival while hurting us.

Normally, a loan would also allow us to get a player's wages off the books, but with Essien's deal signed during the Financial Fair Play grace period, that's not a real concern. The only benefit that could come from sending the Bison away is money, and that would only happen if we sold, not loaned. Which is why, I assume, the proposed Everton and Arsenal deals fell through.

Indications are that that's correct:

Essien was considered but Chelsea were only interested in doing a straight cash deal; would have been quite a coup had Moyes succeeded.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) August 31, 2012

I wouldn't necessarily rule out Essien going elsewhere, but his high wages are a difficult barrier to surmout for most teams, and there's no incentive to simply loan him to someone. Chelsea will need a deal that makes sense for everyone, or he's staying. As a fan, that's my preferred outcome.

We Ain't Got No History
Read more... A Michael Essien transfer update

Football transfer rumours: Chelsea's Michael Essien off to Arsenal?

Today's claptrap is an American aquarium drinker

It's here people. The day has finally arrived. It's early, to be sure, but dust down that imitation champagne bottle you have been saving for a special occasion, pull on those hats with the string and puff those annoying little noise-maker things until you are blue in the face and you have to sit down because you haven't done much exercise in a while and puffing those annoying little noise-maker things is exercise enough. Go outside, hug the first person you find, sweep them off their feet, kiss them slap bang on the lips and lie about how great it is to be alive on such a joyous occasion.

Stand in front of the TV, wipe away a tear and tell the kids that one day they will tell their children, their children's children and the uncle of your neighbours' children's children about this wondrous occasion. Turn on your favourite old-time tune, crank the volume dial to as loud as your dear old ookos can take it and dance like you mean it; and when that's all done, repeat the process till your blue in the face because you haven't done much exercise in a while and dancing is exercise enough.

It's here people. It's transfer deadline day. And even the morose, melancholy Mill – who likes to spend its days off, sunk below a desk with nothing but a copy of the 1988 Shoot annual and a gorgonzola cheese sandwich lest it has to talk to people it really does not like – cannot but curl its mouth in what you might term a pastiche of a smile. It's here people. It's transfer deadline day. Let's start then, shall we?

Michael Essien. Two words that used to strike fear into every pretty-footed midfielder that would come to the Premier League thinking they can twinkletoe their way through every defence that every English team could put up against him only to find the Essienator in front of them, and then above them, as they writhed in agony on the ground having being handed the role of victim No408 in the Essitron's production of The Reducers. Well, that was 2007 and this 2012. Nowadays, Essien can hardly make it off the Chelsea bench without suffering some sort of knee-gah! or thigh-ouch! meaning the Chelsea assistant team-picker Roberto Di Matteo has had to drape an arm around Essien's drooping shoulders and tell him, in his very polite, softly-softly approach that the Bridge is over, the Bridge is over, for him.

But the bad news does not stop there for the midfielder. It turns out the only club that are interested in paying the his medical bills are Chelsea's former rivals, Arsenal. Expect Essien to be hobbling on crutches through the doors of the Emirates at 23:55 which will be exactly five minutes after Arsène Wenger has blown the dust off his fax machine.

While there is not much good news for Arsenal fans these days, there is some excellent news for Stoke fans. When you are saying your thanks over breakfast this morning Stoke fans, say a special one for Málaga Club de Fútbol who look to have gone and done you the biggest favour ever known to mankind by beating your boys to the signing of a player Mark Hughes once deemed worthy of £17.5m. Yes, that would be Roque Santa Cruz the Mill is talking about; and old Hughesy wonders why he doesn't get offered the big jobs, eh?

Speaking of good news, West Ham are just rolling in it these days. They don't care who is looking, they don't care what people think, they have just sunk to their knees, smiled, turned on their back and rolled. Rolled, rolled, rolled, rolled, rolled. Not only have they caught and captured the hard-working, clean-living, goal-scoring mechanical monster that is Andrew Carroll, they have only gone and got the blossoming, midfield dynamo Yossi Benayoun. It was an easy decision for the aforementioned blossoming, midfield dynamo to make since the only other club interested in his services were Aston Villa and nobody wants to go there, not even Nicklas Bendtner.

On the subject of Bendtner, the Mill's absolute favourite person to write about, remember that time when he rocked the slicked-back Paddy Bateman look? That was funny, wasn't it? No? Oh. Well this is awkward isn't it? Anyway, moving swiftly on, Bendtner will be ready to make some intelligent runs with little end product and flash his underwear every time he scores a goal all in the colours of Juventus come the end of the day. Elsewhere, the "Arsenal strike ace", Marouane Chamakh, is cleaning out his locker, saying his goodbyes and deciding what clothes to keep and what to throw away before doing one to Besiktas. Like the transfer window when it closes, he will be sorely missed.

Ian McCourt

Football: Chelsea | guardian.co.uk
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/football-transfer-rumours-chelseas-michael-essien-off-to-arsenal/

MATA: SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Juan Mata is hopeful the Blues can emulate our European success of a few months ago and lift the UEFA Super Cup tonight... Chelsea
Read more... MATA: SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Fernando Torres: I am a better player for last season

Fernando Torres claimed yesterday that he would "change nothing" about last season at Chelsea, despite spending a fair proportion of it on the bench and telling an interviewer after the Champions League final that he had been mistreated by the club and experienced the "worst moments of his career".

- Premier League RSS Feed
Read more... Fernando Torres: I am a better player for last season

MATA: SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Juan Mata is hopeful the Blues can emulate our European success of a few months ago and lift the UEFA Super Cup tonight... Chelsea News
Read more... MATA: SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Cash-strapped Liverpool target Daniel Sturridge over Clint Dempsey

LIVERPOOL want to snatch Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea after loaning out Andy Carroll to West Ham.

Daily Star :: Football Feed
Read more... Cash-strapped Liverpool target Daniel Sturridge over Clint Dempsey

Competition key for Torres - Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo insists it is vital that Fernando Torres faces serious competition up front this season amid reports Chelsea were still hoping to sign Andre Schurrle before the transfer window closes on Friday night.

Independent.ie - Soccer RSS Feed
Read more... Competition key for Torres - Di Matteo

Reds eye Sturridge bid

Sky Sports understands Liverpool are lining up a move for Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge before Friday's transfer deadline. Sky Sports | Football
Read more... Reds eye Sturridge bid

RDM: Torres needs competition

Roberto Di Matteo insists it is vital Fernando Torres faces competition up front this season amid reports linking Chelsea with Andre Schurrle. Football365 | Chelsea
Read more... RDM: Torres needs competition

Arsenal move for Essien on loan

Arsenal are reportedly set to make a deadline-day swoop for Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien Football news from ESPN.co.uk
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com

Liverpool still keen on Sturridge

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes he is close to agreeing a loan deal for Daniel Sturridge - but Chelsea need to find a replacement before he is allowed to leave. ESPNsoccernet
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com

Goal.com's group-by-group guide to the Champions League draw

Real Madrid face Manchester City, while Chelsea are paired with Juventus - every team from Thursday's draw in Monaco, assessed in detail Goal.com News - Chelsea FC
Read more... Goal.com's group-by-group guide to the Champions League draw

Torres- Im better for Chelsea Blues

Fernando Torres has declared he is a "better player and better person" for his turbulent first 18 months at Chelsea but admitted he would not want to go through it again. Chelsea MAD
Read more... Torres- Im better for Chelsea Blues

Roberto Di Matteo says Fernando Torres need competition

Roberto Di Matteo insists it is vital that Fernando Torres faces serious competition up front this season amid reports Chelsea are still hoping to sign Andre Schurrle before the transfer window closes. Chelsea News
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/roberto-di-matteo-says-fernando-torres-need-competition/

Roberto Di Matteo says Fernando Torres need competition

Roberto Di Matteo insists it is vital that Fernando Torres faces serious competition up front this season amid reports Chelsea are still hoping to sign Andre Schurrle before the transfer window closes. Chelsea News
Read more... Roberto Di Matteo says Fernando Torres need competition

Chelsea don't need another ace striker

Chelsea fans, I have found, come in two camps. We'll call these camps 'Torres believers' and 'Torres skeptics' so as to avoid any pejoratives. The former side, obviously, believes in Fernando Torres as that £50 million (plus £50 million in wages) striker that the Blues acquired from Liverpool in January of 2011. Members of the latter are, well, skeptical. It's not much of a secret that I'm far more of a skeptic than a believer. That's ok. Neither is wrong. It's just a matter of faith.

I wrote the previous paragraph to set the scene. I'm sure I'll pay for it in the comments section, but hey, it'll keep me on my moderating toes. What I was trying to say is that I have pretty good credentials as someone who doesn't really have much hope that Torres will ever go back to what he once was, and that therefore my opinion that buying another striker to push him out of the lineup would be a bad plan doesn't just come from an overriding love for Torres the player.

Sure, I'd love Radamel Falcao or Edinson Cavani leading the line. Falcao would probably be my first option -- there's no finer finisher in the game than the Colombian, as we'll probably see firsthand tomorrow -- but the more-versatile Cavani would be a great second option as well. But for the prices either would command compared to the benefit they'd bring to the team, neither is a particularly good bet.

Chelsea need a striker, of course. With Romelu Lukaku out on loan at West Bromwich Albion, we're depressingly low on depth at centre forward (fifteen months ago the club boasted Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou, Daniel Sturridge, Torres and Lukaku as options up top), and it's very easy to see Roman Abramovich making a big money splash to turn this team from 'very good' into spectacular. But in reality, what the Blues need to do is to acquire a player who can act as depth rather than try to unseat Torres outright.

There's long been a school of thought, most vocally espoused by Carlo Ancelotti (I think), that part of the reason that so many centre forwards failed at Chelsea was because Didier Drogba 'ate them up'. Torres himself has indicated several times that he's far happier being the top dog at Stamford Bridge rather than battling for playing time, and no matter how likely you think it is that he goes back to being a world-beater, a you'd have to imagine that a happy Torres is significantly more likely to come good than a miserable one.

So, what if Chelsea did bring in a Falcao, just as their massive investment in Torres is starting to pay dividends? Well, there'd be a risk of Falcao not fitting in, or getting hurt, or all the other factors you think about when bringing in major talent. But there would also seem to be significant risk of a collapse in Torres' form alongside that. Spending a tonne of money on a big striker could easily make Torres far less valuable to the team. Sturridge would probably have a right old sulk about it too.

It's nice to imagine the club using the depth issues at centre forward as an excuse to bring in a truly elite player, but such a transfer would probably end up being even riskier than usual (and star strikers tend to be relatively bad buys anyway) thanks to the rather fragile Torres situation. If Chelsea want to improve their strike force, picking up a cheap Kalou-type option would seem to me to be a better play.

We Ain't Got No History
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2012/08/31/chelsea-dont-need-another-ace-striker/

Fernando Torres happy with his position at Chelsea after clear-the-air talks with manager and the board

Fernando Torres says he has learned from the nightmare start to his Chelsea career and is stronger for it.

Chelsea Football Club
Read more... Fernando Torres happy with his position at Chelsea after clear-the-air talks with manager and the board

Thursday 30 August 2012

Chelsea may loan out Daniel Sturridge if André Schürrle deal is done

• Chelsea hope to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker for £20m
• Liverpool and Spurs potentially interested in Sturridge

Chelsea will consider loaning out Daniel Sturridge if they can push through the purchase of Bayer Leverkusen's André Schürrle before Friday night's transfer deadline.

The European champions are hoping a bid of around £20m will secure the Germany forward after seeing an initial offer worth £16m rejected earlier in the summer. Leverkusen have insisted they are resistant to a sale but, with the 21-year-old thought to be attracted by the move, the possibility remains that a deal could be struck while Chelsea prepare to play in Friday evening's Super Cup fixture against Atlético Madrid, here in Monaco.

Schürrle's arrival would allow the London club to consider loaning Sturridge out in search of first-team football. The striker, who has been included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for the World Cup qualifying games against Moldova and Ukraine, is effectively serving as back-up to Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge but would welcome the opportunity to gain regular competitive action. Liverpool could yet revive an interest given Andy Carroll's loan move to West Ham United, though Tottenham Hotspur could pursue a player who enjoyed a relatively productive spell under André Villas-Boas over the first half of last season.

Chelsea will seek to move on Yossi Benayoun and Florent Malouda – both omitted from Roberto Di Matteo's squad for the game in Monaco – with the Israeli midfielder speaking to two clubs over a possible year-long loan move. Malouda has entered the final year of his contract though his wages have put off potential suitors. Michael Essien could yet be moved on if late interest emerges, though the Chelsea manager is conscious of a potentially draining fixture schedule ahead.

"It's important we try and utilise our squad and involve everybody," Di Matteo said. "About 99% of my players are internationals, so we have a very good depth to the squad. From September on, we'll be playing solidly – if we get through in the cups – every three days until March. There'll be plenty of games, injuries and suspensions: games enough for everybody."

Football: Chelsea | guardian.co.uk
Read more... Chelsea may loan out Daniel Sturridge if André Schürrle deal is done

Man City face ‘Group of Death’ as title holders Chelsea get Juventus in Champions League draw

Roberto Mancini's fears were realised tonight as Manchester City drew an incredibly tough draw for the group stage of the Champions League.

Evening Standard - Football
Read more... Man City face 'Group of Death' as title holders Chelsea get Juventus in Champions League draw

Falcao admires Torres, but doesnt fear Chelsea

Atlético de Madrid's Colombian marksman Radamel Falcao cemented his status as one of Europe's finest goalscorers with a three-goal haul in Monday's 4-0 win over Athletic de Bilbao and has already switched his focus to Friday's UEFA Super Cup match against English club Chelsea in Monaco. Leer

Spanish football // marca.com
Read more... Falcao admires Torres, but doesnt fear Chelsea

A ROUGH GUIDE TO GROUP E

With our European schedule for the rest of 2012 now decided, the official Chelsea website casts an eye over the three clubs we face home and away… Chelsea
Read more... A ROUGH GUIDE TO GROUP E

Swansea City 3-0 West Ham United | Premier League match report

Michael Laudrup, the Swansea manager, insisted there had been no progress over Scott Sinclair's proposed move to Manchester City, despite leaving the winger out of the side who inflicted an emphatic beating on West Ham.

Sinclair has told Swansea he does not want to sign a new contract at the Welsh club, and with less than a year left on his current deal he looks set to leave before the end of the transfer window. City have made an offer for the 23-year-old, believed to be around the £5m mark, but Laudrup says his omission from the squad is not a sign that a deal has been agreed.

The manager said: "Last week after the game [against QPR] I said it was no problem bringing him into the squad. He did a good job, he came off the bench and he scored.

"There are a lot of things going on around Scott and I spoke with him and we decided it was better for everyone that he did not participate at all in the game. We know things can move fast in this game but we will wait until Monday to see where things stand. We know it could go on until Friday evening. If he is still here after that he will be in the squad next Saturday, if he is not, he is not. There is a lot of interest in Scott. I really don't know if he will be here after Friday but everything is possible. It is possible he stays, it is possible he leaves."

While the off-field focus is on Sinclair, on the pitch Swansea turned in another impressive performance. Goals from Angel Rangel, Michu and Danny Graham secured a comfortable victory, although West Ham were guilty of gifting their hosts two of those goals thanks to errors from Jussi Jaaskelainen and James Collins.

Jaaskelainen could only divert Rangel's low ball across the box into his own net, while Collins, who had a torrid afternoon, was guilty of a woeful back-pass for Michu's effort. But Swansea made the most of those chances and their second-half display exhibited the swagger shown in their 5-0 victory at QPR last weekend when Laudrup's players looked superb going forward.

Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge suggested that Sinclair may not be badly missed as the pair revelled in the freedom afforded them by Laudrup. The Dane praised their displays: "We have small players in Wayne and Nathan who can turn fast with the ball.

"They are so fast turning with the ball and they create so many problems for defenders. They get in between the defensive lines and that makes them very dangerous."

Swansea were on top of the division in the afternoon, the first time they had been there in over 30 years. Laudrup knew Chelsea would make it a short visit to the summit later in the evening, but hoped the fans enjoyed it.

"It is great for the supporters and they have to enjoy it. I said it the other day, it's a dream, but for us on the pitch we can't permit ourselves to dream, we have to live in reality, but let's enjoy today."

Sam Allardyce readily admitted that the first-half mistakes from Jaaskelainen and the Wales international Collins had cost his side any chance of getting something out of the game.

The West Ham manager said: "We have been punished severely for two very big errors by Jussi and James. Mistakes by our two most experienced players, who have a huge amount of experience in this league, have cost us the game.

"We could not overcome them and Swansea ran out comfortable winners. We have to take it on the chin and make sure we don't make those errors again as in this league you will be punished for them.

"With James he just has to kick the ball back properly. It is a simple exercise, he could do it 1,000 times and not get it wrong. It looked like he stubbed the ball into the ground and it didn't have enough to get back to Jussi. And the first error was a gift as it was an easy save for Jussi and it went in off his arm."

Sport: Observer Sport | guardian.co.uk
Read more... Swansea City 3-0 West Ham United | Premier League match report

Silver lining for Chelsea's Torres

FERNANDO TORRES says that 18 months of misery turned him into a better player and man.

Daily Star :: Football Feed
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com