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Actually, I agree with you. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a Chelsea fanatic and apart from a brief dalliance with Charlton (who I took into the UEFA Cup and 5th place) and Gillingham (got promoted- just), I tend to get bored of using other teams quite quickly. I'm only going to do one season at most of this (I have a feeling that it could get old for me and people reading) but I thought I could keep it interesting by doing it through a series of newspaper-esque articles and relating all the internal conflict and action, rather than just the results. If anyone has any suggestions how I could make the story more interesting, I'll consider it. I'm going to put down some of my tactical ideas and management techniques in the 'interview' which might give people ideas for their FM games, but all suggestions are welcome. Thanks for your support!

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK SEVEN

BOLTON FAIL TO INTIMIDATE GRITTY CHELSEA

(9th) Bolton 0-2 Chelsea (2nd)

If a team were ever likely to test Chelsea's resolve in pushing for the title, it was Bolton. Allardyce's men are the quintessential team of fallen stars who've learnt how to win the hard way and punish the ill-suspecting bigger clubs accordingly. The midfield, with Kevin Nolan running the show with limitless energy and enthusiasm, El Hatred Diouf combining his flair with saliva glands the size of an African elephant, Kevin Davies towering over opposition defences and new addition Nakata providing the grace, talent and celebrity, Bolton remain a handful for any side.

And they set out to show it too, outplaying Chelsea quite comprehensively in large chunks of the game. Pedersen testing the alert Cech early with a low drive from outside the area, Nakata a constant threat from free kicks and Davies causing William Gallas no end of trouble in the air, a 23rd minute effort ricocheting back off the woodwork as Cech could only look on. Shanyi, who had changed his tactics accordingly to break on the counter attack and flood Bolton's strength and height with bodies, was relieved by the half for the contributions of two key players. When Khalilou Fadiga (playing ahead of the injured Nolan) lobbed the ball to Diouf, who sidestepped Cech and seemed destined to put Bolton into a deserved lead, Terry recovered his earlier poor positioning to somehow make a clearance off the goalline from in between a panicky Del Horno and an eager Henrik Pedersen, in doing so possibly pulling off the defensive move of the season so far. Almost from the counter attack that followed, Duff and Robben exchanged passes before finding Lampard, who curled a ball into Essien's path. The Ghanaian, noticing Jaaskelainen was retreating after mistakenly coming for Lampard's ball, simply slotted the ball calmly into the far corner.

The second half was much the same, Radhi Jaidi arriving for Nicky Hunt and proving deadly from corners even for John Terry. Shaun Wright Phillips replaced the tiring Duff and Gudjohnsen came on for Drogba, whose strength and running had proven ineffectual against Ben Haim and N'Gotty. The game gradually opened up, even if Shanyi felt compelled to call upon Ricardo Carvalho to bring some energy to his back line. In the final move of the game, once again on the counter attack, Ferreira dispossessed Gardner, found Lampard who played a first time ball to Robben, whose cross was turned in by the unmarked Wright-Phillips.

BOLTON (3-4-3): Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Hunt (Campo), Ben-Haim (Gardner); Nakata, Jay-Jay, Fadiga (Jaidi), Speed; Pedersen, Davies, Diouf.

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

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SHANYI DEFENDS CRESPO OMISSION

Chelsea manager Shanyi defended his decision to omit former Milan star Hernan Jorge Crespo from his 16 strong squad following his 2-0 victory over Bolton.
"Bolton are a tough team to play against" Shanyi said, "You need to see how they are moving, how they are playing. With Drogba I have a lot of power and brute force, but that was ineffectual against Ben-Haim and N'Gotty. So, I had Gudjohnsen, who was able to open the game up with his superiour technical ability and allow us time to build more complex attacks to break them down, rather than just pushing and pushing relentlessly. In that sense, Wright-Phillips and Robben were my main strikers for the second half, Lampard and Gudjohnsen doing a lot of work switching the play and making room. Crespo is a fantastic poacher, but he is similar to Drogba and would not have given us as much on the field. Hernan is a professional, he understands these decisions." Some speculated that part of the decision might also been down to the fact that despite the Argentine scoring four goals since Shanyi took over, those four have only been scored in two games and his strike record has been rather erratic. Tabloids have predictably been linking Crespo with a £9m move to Juventus in the winter window.

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OTHER SCORES

(15th) West Ham 0-1 Arsenal (1st)
(7th) Blackburn 0-2 Charlton (8th)
(6th) Fulham 0-2 Man Utd (3rd)
(5th) Liverpool 2-0 Wigan (14th)
(17th) Sunderland 1-3 Everton (16th)
(11th) Tottenham 3-0 Portsmouth (20th)

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CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE SCORES UPDATE

DUTCH COURAGE SINKS PORTO AT THE LAST

Porto 0-1 Chelsea

A dire game played almost entirely in the midfield was won with a piece of quick thinking from Arjen Robben, who took a quick freekick before the Porto wall was set up and snuck the ball in off Vitor Baia's near post. Ironically, Chelsea's best player up until that point had been Frank Lampard, whose long range effort had struck the woodword with Baia stranded, and who had been forced off with an ankle injury. At the other end, Benedict McCarthy's refusal to play a pass or shoot from within 30 yards meant that Porto only had two real chances, one of which almost equalised when Tottenham flop Helder Postiga collected a dropped ball from the unworked Petr Cech and Del Horno had to get back and clear his deflected shot off the goalline. Crespo, who was restored to the side thanks to his excellent European effort, was at best a spectator throughout, and saved from substitution thanks to injuries and a fortunate booking for Essien (Geremi, fined a week's wages after an outburst last week, was given a brief cameo) forcing off Chelsea's three central midfielders.

Although Shanyi will be happy and relieved with the three points which take Chelsea top of Group H, the first match of any true importance will come when Chelsea face Juventus in two weeks' time. Few had given Porto or Rangers much chance in a group featuring such giants of their leagues and with Liverpool the first European Champions failing to qualify for the group stages, going out to Valencia, the following tie might not only be instrumental in judging the winner of the group, but possibly the Cup itself.

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, Del Horno; Lampard (J Cole), Essien (Geremi), Tiago (Gudjohnsen); Robben, Duff; Crespo.

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DOUBLE INJURY PRESENTS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGSTERS TO IMPRESS

Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen have both been ruled out of action for two and three weeks respectively after a training ground accident yesterday. Gudjohnsen, who comically slipped on a banana skin and landed in a wheelbarrow, which rolled down a hill and collided with Drogba, who was busy tending to his seven years in the making matchstick reproduction of downtown Venice. The injuries mean that Shanyi has called Carlton Cole and summer signing Mikel John Obi up from the reserves, and with only Hernan Crespo left as a fit first team striker, one of them is certain to feature in the upcoming match against Sunderland. In other news, Joe Keenan has returned from his month long loan spell at Brentford and has expressed his desire to earn a first team place at Stamford Bridge.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK EIGHT

COLE POWERED CHELSEA STEAMROLLER CITY

Chelsea 3-0 Man City

A great Japanese general once said "I do not know the key to victory. I only know how not to miss the right moment." Carlton Cole, in that case, might want to start looking up his family tree for Japanese ancestry as he struck the first goal for Chelsea in a relaxed win over an unthreatening City side. In the absence of Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen, and in the aftermath of a tough fought Champions League game against Porto, Shanyi gave several fringe players an opportunity to shine.

Carlton Cole made the earliest impact, a twisting run and shot only just parried by James, before Makelele's pass into the area was deflected in his path and he volleyed the ball casually into the back of the net. Wright-Phillips, pushed further up than usual, was effective on the right side of a three pronged attack and created havoc against his old club. In the second half, few chances were created but City had Zalayeta and Ireland firing well wide. In the last twenty minutes, Lampard struck home his first goal in open play and Crespo in the dying minutes, headed in from a Duff cross. Mikel John Obi came on for Frank Lampard in the last ten minutes and enjoyed an encouragingly assured debut.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Gallas, Bridge; Lampard (John Obi), Makelele (M Essien), J Cole; S Wright-Phillips, H Crespo, C Cole (Duff)

MAN CITY (4-4-2): James, Mills (Onuoha), Webster, Distin, Thatcher; Stelios, Croft (Ireland), Reyna, Jordan; Zalayeta (B Wright-Phillips), A Cole.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK NINE

HAMMERS SHOWN THE LONG PATH TO THE TOP

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

Rumoured to be subject to an Abramovich-esque takeover which would propel the Hammers to the top of the Premiership, West Ham were shown quite how much work will need to be done by a formidable Chelsea side who dominated from beginning to end. With phenomenal performances coming from virtually every player, Michael Essien in particular giving an outstanding show in Makelele's usual role (the Frenchman being ruled out through tiredness, and may have to fight hard to earn his place back). Glen Johnson came in for his third start of the season, Joe Cole continued following his Man of the Match performance against City on Saturday and Crespo spearheaded the attack in the absence of Drogba and Gudjohnsen. Lampard struck from 30 yards to put Chelsea in front, before Robben set up Crespo to head home. An injury took the England player out of action at half-time, replaced by Geremi, and Crespo stroked home the third soon after the break. Carlton Cole and Shaun Wright Phillips came on late in the second half to wrap up a thoroughly comfortable victory.

West Ham's impotence up front, with Harewood and Sheringham fading into insignificance against Terry and Gallas, will be a matter of considerable concern for Alan Pardew. Although the Hammers have several outstanding young talents in their side, including Anton Ferdinand, Chelsea targets Mark Noble and Chris Cohen, their strike force is looking woefully inadequate for the long season ahead.

West Ham (4-4-2): Carroll, Repka (Wright), Mackay, Dailly, Clarke (Cohen); Williams, Lomas, Reo-Coker, Konchesky; Harewood (Mikolanda), Sheringham.

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Cech, Johnson, Terry, Gallas, Del Horno; Lampard (Geremi), Essien, J Cole; Robben (Wright-Phillips), Duff; Crespo (C Cole).

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JOHNSON TRANSFER REQUEST REJECTED

England hopeful Glen Johnson has had a transfer request rejected by Chelsea manager Shanyi as the first cracks have started to emerge in his highly disciplined regime. Although Johnson began the match against his old club West Ham, he is believed to be looking for an England place and with Paulo Ferreira the established Chelsea first choice right back, his chances of proving himself have been limited.

Johnson, who Shanyi may allow to go out on loan in the winter transfer window, is one of several players who may be eventually on the way out of Stamford Bridge. Shanyi, who wishes to mould his own squad, is rumoured to be judging Johnson, Robert Huth, Tiago, Geremi and Eidur Gudjohnsen on whether they will be able to perform at an adequate level at the club. Rumours that Shanyi is keen to bring through young players such as Carlton Cole, new signings Kerlon and Mikel John Obi, Joe Keenan and Anthony Grant, will probably be of benefit to Johnson who has age on his side.
Johnson has, however, been unhappy since Shanyi told him at the beginning of the season that he would be a squad player and his patience has been running out.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK TEN

CHELSEA TOP WITH LATE BLACKBURN WIN

Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben secured victory for Chelsea to take them top of the league above Arsenal. Blackburn, whose defensive tactics meant that they failed to register a single shot on goal, were undone with a goal which bounced in off Robben's shin from two yards following a stunning cross from Damien Duff, which looped high over Brad Friedel. Chelsea slowed the game down and invited Blackburn onto them, introducing youngster Joe Keenan (which some fans have taken as an admission of the fates of Tiago, Jarosik and Geremi), who was a key player in the final minutes. He set up Essien, whose strike was parried by Friedel and the rebound converted by Frank Lampard, and had two excellent efforts of his own, one scratching the crossbar and the other parried by Friedel.

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

BLACKBURN (4-4-1-1): Friedel, Neill, Mokoena, Matteo, Gray; Emerton, Flitcroft (Thompson), Savage, Gamst Pedersen (Douglas); Jansen (Gallagher); Dickov.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LATEST

LAMPARD HANDS CHELSEA KEY ADVANTAGE

Chelsea 2-0 Juventus

An even game was won with two goals from Frank Lampard. Zlatan tested Cech early on with a stinging volley and Vieira's low strike also ensured the Czech keeper was kept busy. At the other end, Duff fired well wide when decently placed, Robben's lob soared over and Essien's powerful strike was well judged and collected by Buffon. Gallas' injury was a worry, but Robert Huth composed himself admirably to head clear an inswinging Nedved corner which seemed destined for the head of Trezeguet. The breakthrough came when Drogba, returning from injury and substitute Wright-Phillips combined to dazzle Zambrotta and win a free kick, which Lampard lobbed over the poorly placed Buffon. Juventus pushed forward, Del Piero, Emerson and Birindelli causing no end of problems, but a late surge from Chelsea yielded a penalty, converted by Lampard, after Essien was shoved over by Jonathan Zebina.

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

JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon, Thuram, Zebina, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi (Birindelli), Emerson, Vieira, Nedved (Chiellini); Ibrahimovich (Del Piero), Trezeguet.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK ELEVEN

CHELSEA KEEP FM STORY VERY DULL INDEED

Tottenham 0-2 Chelsea

Despite Martin Jol's eagerness to deny Chelsea's title pretensions before the match, the away side won thanks to goals from Damien Duff, a rebound from Lampard's strike, and Didier Drogba's late effort, which ensured that manager Shanyi's online diary was ticking over with no drama whatsoever. With only one goal conceded in fourteen games in charge, only two draws and virtually no new signings, fans would be forgiven for reading more exciting tales such as "The Life & Times of St. Pete's boys".

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson, Kelly, King, Bunjevcevic, Edman; El Hamdaoui (Routledge), Pedro Mendes (Davis), Davids, Jackson; Defoe, Keane (Mido).

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech, Johnson, Terry, Carvalho (Huth), Bridge; Lampard, Essien, J Cole; Wright-Phillips (C Cole), Crespo (Drogba), Duff.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE

1.Chelsea (P11, GD 26, Pts 29)
2.Arsenal (P10, GD14, Pts 24)
3.Liverpool (P10, GD11, Pts 22)
4.Fulham (P10, GD4, Pts 19)
5.Man Utd (P10, GD7, Pts 18)

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ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP

ARSENAL LACK OF DEPTH PAINFULLY EXPOSED

Arsenal 2-4 Chelsea

While readers of this particular story might no doubt have been hoping for an Arsenal victory for variety at least, the home side collapsed in spectacular fashion after dominating the first half and taking a 2-0 lead.

The loss of Patrick Vieira is a matter which has been regurgitated over and over again, but the lack of a clear leadership figure and a confident, solidifying presence in the centre of midfield. It had taken just two minutes for Jose Antonio Reyes to put Arsenal in front, only the second team to score against Chelsea under Shanyi, with a clinical finish beneath a poorly placed Cudicini. Chelsea threatened sporadically, Lampard trying to rally the troops with good distribution and several long range strikes which warmed up Morgan De Sanctis. When Robert Huth shoved Aliaksandr Hleb to the ground, possibly while considering how to spell his name, it looked all over as Thierry Henry rifled home the penalty past Cudicini, who looks no threat to Petr Cech on the evidence of last night's performance.

Shanyi made three bold changes at half time, pushing the attacks through the middle of the field where Lampard and Makelele had been Chelsea's best performers, forcing Hleb and Pires back to solidify an overworked Gilberto, and taking Lauren and Ashley Cole out of the game as Toure and Cygan had to deal with the three pronged strike of Gudjohnsen, Cole and Crespo, backed up by Joe Cole and Frank Lampard. With Makelele hanging back, threading passes around and Ferreira, Huth, Terry and Bridge cleaning up any long balls, Chelsea played possibly the most dominant forty five minutes against an Arsenal side under Wenger's academic eye.

The first goal went in from a killer ball by Lampard, curling in between Cole and Cygan to Crespo, who carried the ball around De Sanctis to slot home. Joe Cole then played a one-two with Lampard before playing a tidy ball to Carlton Cole, possibly playing his last game for a good while since Drogba and Gudjohnsen's return from injury, and the young English striker slammed the ball home to equalise. When Gudjohnsen set up Lampard to beat Toure and strike past De Sanctis, Arsenal brought on Bergkamp and Van Persie to try and pull the match back in their favour. Chelsea pulled Gudjohnsen back into midfield with Joe Cole and Frank Lampard, levelling the numbers as Arsenal tried a similar tactic to Chelsea's earlier. Bergkamp and Henry had long range efforts as Makelele strengthened Huth and Terry's position, before Carlton Cole broke, beat both defenders and struck the final insult for Arsenal.

ARSENAL (4-4-2): De Sanctis, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, A Cole; Ljungberg, Hleb (Eboue), Gilberto, Pires (Van Persie); Henry, Reyes (Bergkamp).

CHELSEA (4-3-2-1): Cudicini, Ferreira, Terry, Huth, Bridge; Lampard, Makelele, Tiago (J Cole); Wright-Phillips (C Cole), Robben (Gudjohnsen); Crespo.