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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SCORES UPDATE

(9th) Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool (5th)
(18th) Everton 0-3 Arsenal (2nd)
(12th) Tottenham 2-3 Fulham (3rd)
(20th) West Ham 0-3 Man Utd (7th)

INTERNATIONAL SCORES UPDATE

Ivory Coast 5-0 Sudan
Cameroon 3-1 Libya
France 3-1 Israel
Latvia 0-4 Portugal
Rep. Ireland 4-0 Cyprus
Romania 1-1 Macedonia
Denmark 3-1 Ukraine
Turkey 3-0 Georgia
Italy 1-0 Norway
Azerbaijan 1-2 Wales
N Ireland 1-2 Poland

AUSTRIA 0-2 ENGLAND
Scorers: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard

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INTERNATIONAL SCORES UPDATE

POLAND 0-2 ENGLAND
Scorers: Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey

Holland 0-0 Czech Republic
Greece 0-1 Turkey
Portugal 2-0 Estonia
Faroes 0-2 France
Switzerland 0-1 Ireland
Moldova 1-5 Italy
Scotland 1-2 Slovenia
Wales 2-2 N Ireland
Bosnia 2-2 Spain
Sweden 3-2 Croatia

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK FIVE

CHELSEA HUMILIATED BY DEPLETED EVERTON

Everton 1-1 Chelsea

With the opportunity to catch up key points on first place against an Everton side who were only just hovering above relegation, Chelsea somehow contrived to not only give away a 1-0 lead, but fail to win a game which ended with the opposition down to eight men. In a patchy first half with many of Chelsea's regular performers looking tired from international duty (John Terry was not his usual self), Didier Drogba scrambled Chelsea in front. Things looked to be going from good to better as Hibbert and Kilbane proceeded to get themselves sent off for challenges of debatable ferocity. But somehow, this rallied Everton and, following a mix up between Gallas and Cech, Cahill fed Beattie to equalise and score the first goal against Shanyi's team this season. Chelsea huffed and puffed, even introducing Michael Essien for his first performance, but Nigel Martyn and Man of the Match winner Joseph Yobo held firm as Everton defended for dear life. Not even a late injury to Peter Koldrup could give Chelsea the advantage and, contrary to popular expectation, it wasn't the London Blues who left Goodison with their heads held high.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Martyn, Neville, Yobo, Koldrup, Naysmith (Pistone); Arteta, Hibbert (s/o); Kilbane (s/o), Cahill, Davies (Osman); Beattie (McFadden).

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Del Horno; Lampard, Makelele (Essien), J Cole; A Robben (Wright-Phillips), Duff; Drogba (Crespo).

OTHER SCORES

(12th) Bolton 2-4 Arsenal (1st)
(6th) Blackburn 2-1 West Brom (2nd)
(16th) Man City 0-1 Charlton (9th)
(13th) Sunderland 0-0 Birmingham (7th)
(14th) Tottenham 2-3 Man Utd (5th)
(17th) West Ham 2-0 Portsmouth (19th)

TOP OF THE TABLE
1.Arsenal (P6, GD 11, Pts 14)
2.West Brom (P6, GD 7, Pts 12)
3.Chelsea (P5, GD 11, Pts 11)
4.Fulham (P5, GD 4, Pts 11)
5.Man Utd (P5, GD 4, Pts 11)

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE UPDATE

CHELSEA COMFORTABLE AGAINST LACKLUSTRE RANGERS

Chelsea 3-0 Rangers

After the dismal showing against Everton on the weekend, Chelsea bounced back with a strong if unremarkable victory over Rangers in the first game of their Champions League campaign. The Scottish side suffered an unfortunate spate of injuries around the half hour mark, but Arjen Robben had already taken advantage of a fine ball from debutant Michael Essien. At the half, by which time Rangers had been forced to make three substitutions, Crespo teed up Claude Makelele on the edge of the area to fire in a heavily deflected shot which Shaun Wright Phillips may have a claim on. The second half was so relaxed Shanyi even brought on Robert Huth and replaced Lampard with Joe Cole, with few chances at either end (a Lovenkrands curling shot was the only ball to test Petr Cech all day). Late on, Terry was fouled when up for a corner and although Crespo's penalty was poor, Klos' save was struck confidently home by Eidur Gudjohnsen.

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): P Cech, G Johnson, J Terry, R Carvalho (R Huth), W Bridge; F Lampard (J Cole), C Makelele, M Essien; S Wright-Phillips (E Gudjohnsen), A Robben; H Crespo.

RANGERS (4-3-3): S Klos, F Ricksen (M Ross), Z Khizanishvilli, R Malcolm, M Ball; G Rae, B Ferguson (N Novo), M Tonge; S Arveladze, P Lovenkrands, T Buffel (H Namouchi).

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'NEW MARADONA' LOOKING FOR BLUES MOVE?

Argentine Barcelona prodigy and all round good egg Lionel Messi has been linked with a £10m move to Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window. The 18 year old, who has been a regular scorer for the Barcelona and Argentina youth sides, is rumoured to have been impressed with Chelsea's early league form (Obviously didn't see the Everton game then- Ed) and with Eto'o and Ronaldinho so immovable at Barca, believes he has the ability to edge out Drogba and Crespo, with Gudjohnsen and Carlton Cole both also subject to departure rumours. Shanyi has played down the link with a superb gallic shrug which had bistro waiters everywhere throwing up their arms in disgust. Meanwhile, teammate and Spanish international Xavi, is believed to have been approached by Liverpool and Manchester United, with a view to an £18m move next summer.

retired_sanantonio123

Good to read, keep it up

I just finished my first Chelsea season as well. Didnt lose 1 point in the Premiership.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK SIX

ARSENAL CRAWL TO THE TOP

It wasn't pretty, but a last minute goal by substitute Dennis Bergkamp gave Arsenal the push they needed to scrabble to the top of the table. With Reyes, Pires and Henry all woefully underperforming (combined with a rare excellent performance from the for-once-prepared David James), Arsenal looked out of sorts and uncomfortable. Arsene Wenger, so active on the touchline that a crease was actually seen in his shirt, looked on powerless as his side were pushed to the limits by a City team propelled by new signing Stelios from Bolton. Patrick Vieira's assurance in midfield was sorely missed, with Gilberto a decent but hardly phenomenal replacement. Luckily, Bergkamp popped up to turn in Bentley's cross, denying City (sitting 18th in the table) a crucial point and putting Arsenal at the summit, despite only playing to a standard that was very low indeed.

OTHER SCORES

(19th) Portsmouth 2-2 Blackburn (6th)
(9th) Birmingham 1-3 Bolton (8th)
(12th) Charlton 0-1 West Ham (14th)
(2nd) Chelsea 3-0 Sunderland (16th)
(5th) Man Utd 1-1 Aston Villa (11th)
(3rd) West Brom 2-2 Tottenham (15th)
(13th) Wigan 2-2 Fulham (4th)

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CHELSEA BOSS THANKS SUPPORTER

Following a 3-0 victory over Sunderland which put the season back on track, Chelsea manager Shanyi thanked RioHugo for his words of support. :cool: He hoped that other supporters of his work would come forward, but doubted that there were many and slunk off to bed, where he was met by Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johanssen and Keira Knightley making out (hey, if no-one's reading...)

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GEREMI OUTRAGE AT FIRST TEAM SNUB

Chelsea midfielder Geremi Njitap Fotso, a name only a mother could love, expressed his anger at being shifted from Shanyi's first team into the reserves. The contraversial and rather dashing Chelsea manager moved several of his first team players into the stiffs in order for them to keep up their fitness. Geremi, Glen Johnson, Robert Huth and Carlton Cole all played in the 1-0 win over Birmingham reserves, in which new signings Kerlon and Mikel John Obi played crucial roles, the former setting up the latter to score the winner.

"This is an insult to me and my ability" Geremi fumed, "I realised I might not be first choice this season, but hoped to be given my chance. If this horror persists, I will be contacting the relevant authorities. Or at least considering my future." That might not be a problem for the irate midfielder, since sources say Chelsea are already looking for a buyer willing to meet the £4m asking price for the 26 year old.

Geremi's chances of any first team football were dealt a further blow when Chelsea were drawn away at Arsenal in the League Cup third round today, meaning that Shanyi is likely to stick with his first team rather than delve deep into the gooey pit that is the reserve team.

mrsevans7177

This story is fun to read, but I fear it may be a tad predictable. Chelsea have the cash, the players and the muscle. Its hard to see you losing a game, which takes the shine off proceedings somewhat. Keep going if you want to, i'll still be reading, but IMO another team may provide better story fodder

retired_melanie_dhanpal

A good story so-far :thup: