By Ollie Irish

Breathtaking improvisation by the Drog. Few players could have scored such a goal, and that’s why he wins Goal Of The Weekend over the likes of team-mate Alex and Man City winger Adam Johnson.

Outstanding assist by Ashley Cole also worth a hat-tip. We take Cole’s form for granted, but what a fine player has has been in the last couple of seasons.

Camp Drog says:

“Weeeeeeeee!”

                          

By Ollie Irish

Overall Chelsea didn’t play that well against Marseille (twas a classic 6/10 display), but even without Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard they were much too strong for the Ligue 1 side. French youngster Gael Kakuta caught the eye with a lively performance – shame he was taken off midway through the second half; I wanted to see more, but by then Marseille were threatening to score and Ancelotti wanted to consolidate his side’s 2-0 lead.

Whatever, there’s almost no doubt that Chelsea will make it out of their group. Zzzz.

Photos from the Bridge (click the thumbnails to enlarge). See if you can spot Lamps and his WAG…

Photos: PA

                          

By Ollie Irish

Photos: PA

Didier Drogba trained with Chelsea for this evening’s Marseille clash in the Chaaaaaaaampions League, but he won’t play against his former club as he is serving the second part of a two-match ban.

Prediction? I say Chelsea 1-0 Marseille

                          

By Chris Wright

There’s a good chance that this is flagrant horsesh*t, but apparently Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is building a £20 million ‘nightclub complex’ under Stamford Bridge so that he can ‘keep an eye’ on his wayward players.

The as-yet nameless club is said to be based on a club Abramovich fell in love with in America and, amongst other things, will feature a £150,000 waterfall at the entrance and big cereal bowls of cocaine for the Terry party.

I leave it to you, the Pies faithful, to christen this venue with a name befitting it’s tacky majesty. I’ve come up with a few (admittedly rather poor) to get you started.

How about ‘Drogba’s Dive’? or maybe the simple and understated ‘Infidelity’?

Let’s hear them folks…

                          

By Ollie Irish

This is just a hunch, but I am about to bet real money that both Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres will be playing in the sky blue of Manchester City next season, with Emmanuel Adebayor (definitely) and Carlos Tevez (possibly) nowhere to be seen at Eastlands.

Why? It seems clear from body language and words that Drogba wants a new challenge before he gets too old (he looked bemused at being taken off at Eastlands by Ancelotti), and City would pay him shedloads for a couple of seasons at least.

Ditto Torres, who by several accounts is very upset because Liverpool made promises to him about new signings that have not been kept. The Anfield club’s status and ambitions no longer match that of the Spaniard, who apparently feels like he was tricked into staying on Merseyside. Don’t shoot the messenger: that’s just what I hear.

I don’t say this to upset Chelsea or Liverpool fans, merely because I think in the light of City’s current forward roster and their enormous wealth, a double on Drogba and Torres to sign for City by the start of next season is a decent ‘hunch’ bet. I for one will stick a tenner on it and sit back…

I can also see Tevez ending up at Chelsea next season, with Adebayor somewhere in Serie A (one of the Milan clubs, I guess).

                          

By Ollie Irish

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba is set to have a whole football stadium named after him.

French fourth-division club Levallois Sporting has announced that its new stadium will be named after Drogba. The player will be present at an official ceremony on September 29 in the small town of Levallois-Perret, located on the northern outskirts of Paris.

Drogba played youth football for Levallois when he was 15, before moving to Le Mans in 1997. He’s very much the most famous player to play for the club.

It’s not a f**king disgrace.

                          

By Ollie Irish

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 10

Newcastle United's Sol Campbell rises to head the ball clear

Seven goals and for once Chelsea didn’t score all or even most of them. A stunning win for Newcastle, who weren’t at full strength themselves.

                          

By Ollie Irish

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 10

Former West Ham star Paolo Di Canio watches the game from an executive box at Upton Park

Photos: PA

Subtitled: Scott Parker vs The World.

Anyone still think Chelsea won’t retain their title? … Nah, thought not. With Essien back at their centre, they look IMMENSE and almost unbeatable. I thought new signing Ramires looked useful too – no signs that the Brazilian will struggle to ‘get’ the Prem.

As for West Ham, I can’t see Avram Grant making it to October. And I just feel sorry for Scott Parker, surrounded by journeymen and heartless mercs.

A side issue: Time to drop Rob Green, surely.

Goal Of The Weekend: Scott Parker, West Ham v Chelsea

                          

By Ollie Irish

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 10

Chelsea's Frank Lampard (left) is consoled by team mate Didier Drogba (right) after his shot from the penalty spot was saved by Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen

Photos: PA

AFTER a couple of six-goal demolitions, a 2-0 win seems rather tame, but to outmuscle Stoke and keep a clean sheet shows beyond doubt that Chelsea are made of the stuff of champions – again. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have now scored 31 goals in their last six home games, without reply. Amazing.

The win came at a cost for England (arguably), as both John Terry and Frank Lampard picked up injuries and will miss the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland. I can live with that.

                          

Zis never gets old

Here’s the full draw for the group stage of the 2010-11 Chaaaaaaaaampions League:

Group A: Inter (the holders), Werder Bremen, Tottenham, Twente

Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke 04, Hapoel Tel Aviv

Group C: Man Utd, Valencia, Rangers, Bursaspor

Group D: Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Copenhagen, Rubin

Group E: Bayern Munich, Roma, FC Basel, Cluj

Group F: Chelsea, Marseille, Spartak Moscow, Zilina

Group G: Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax, Auxerre

Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Braga, Partizan

So the balls have spoken – tough draw for Spurs, but there’s no doubt about the Group of Death: Group G. Poor Auxerre. Once again, Man Utd get a free pass. Barcelona too.

More reaction on Pies tomorrow, but feel free to comment here for now.

Which British club do you think has been drawn in the easiest group? Vote!