Their thanks? Pulling out the Ric Flair rake of the eyes on Gael Kakuta. Clotheslining Jeff Bruma. And, to top it off, putting Jack Cork in a headlock and just going to work on the midfielder’s cranium. You’ve got to be kidding me.

Last weekend, in a practice match — note the word practice — Al-Ahli sparked a mass brawl with the Chelsea reserves following an apparent reckless two-footed tackle on Ben Gordon. What you read above is what followed.

The club did make a comment — “There was an unfortunate incident but it has been dealt with” — but offered no more. So that is that, I guess.

So, to summarize the point of this post, I say to hell with Al-Ahli.  You want a battle? Let’s set up the cage and broadcast this s*** live.

WOOOOOOOOOO.

Scott Sinclair
Destination: Wigan Athletic
Loan Length: Season-long
Man. Am I the only one who thinks this guy nis simply ever going to pan out?
Let’s face it, he’s never really performed on loan despite venturing to the lower divisions with more reckless abandon than Leeds. So what’s make you think he’ll cut it at the Premier League level? I’m asking myself the very same question.
Maybe he’ll surprise me us. I hope.

Michael Mancienne
Destination: Wolverhampton
Loan Length: Season-long
This one has been in the cards for a while now. Mancienne, who spent two months at Wolves a year ago, returns now for an extended stay.
The England U21 defender, who may also pop in midfield for Mick McCarthy’s side, needs Premier League experience and he’ll get it. It’ll be interesting to see just how much development we see from the youngsta in a squad that will likely be fighting for its life this term.
At the very least he’ll build character.

Imperious Chelsea blow Liverpool to bits

New Chelsea hero Branislav Ivanovic emerges from shadows

Benitez bamboozled as Chelsea stay in the zone

Mourinho’s former pupils turn on style

Hiddink has turned his extras into unlikely leading men

Carragher struggles in vain to hold back Chelsea’s onslaught

Is this fantastic news or what? Michael Essien made his long-awaited return for the Chelsea reserves last night in a 4-3 defeat against Aston Villa. Essien even scored the final tally.
Let’s hope the man of all men is ready for the battle. Up the Blues!

Ferreira joined Chelsea in 2005 from Sporting Lisbon. Injuries have meant his made pretty much no impact at the club since arriving. Let’s hope the young’n can spark his career with the switch.

So, Uncle Phil says he wants more English talent. And the papers, in turn, reveal Chelsea are targeting Gareth Barry. Hmmmmmmm.

Wasn’t it like a year to date that we were linked with the Aston Villa midfielder? And, like we need anymore midfielders. Earth to Uncle Phil: we need pacey — and effective — wingers. We need clinical strikers. Make it happen. Not this nonsense.

Mancienne to Wolves
Michael Mancienne has moved to Wolverhampton on loan until Dec. 29. The 20-year-old England under-21 defender has had zero run at Chelsea, and pretty much has no chance of breaking into the squad considering he’s currently sitting fifth at centerback behind EBJT, Ricky, Alex and Ivanovic.

A statement on the club’s official Web site said:
“Michael Mancienne has today joined Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan until 29 December.

The centre-back has become a regular fixture in the England Under 21 side in recent months and will be hoping to gain more first team experience while at Molineux.

Mancienne, 20, played 31 times for QPR last season, added to his 30 appearances at Loftus Road in 2006/07.

So far this season he has been an unused substitute three times in the first team.”

Dzagoev gots love for Chelsea
CSKA Moscow creative midfielder Alan Dzagoev has recently caught the eye of major clubs, including Real Madrid, thanks to his performances in the UEFA Cup.

The 18-year-old is supposedly a January target of Madrid. But Dzagoev isn’t interested in a move to Spain.

In fact,  he’s not interested in moving at all right now. But when he is, he’s likes the look of Stamford Bridge. Speaking to Sport Express, he discussed the recent rumors.

“I’m sure it isn’t serious. In any case, I expect to remain at CSKA for a bit longer. Basically I like Chelsea more. I have supported the team for four years already.”

NICE DUDE! In 23 games this season, he has scored 12 goals and added seven assists. Check him out, in moving pictures form, below:

Chelsea’s record £31m signing captained the reserves against Reading on Monday, in a match that likely left Sheva in awe — more for the in-your-face shock of playing in the reserves than the no doubt electric atmosphere at Griffin Park.

The Club’s repeated denials that Sheva is fit — he has supposedly been working through a back injury for the past two months — only enhance the mystery revolving the man, who hasn’t appeared on any official injury lists the last two or three weeks. Regardless, it was vintage Sheva against Reading (if by vintage, you mean old). The Ukranian failed to score. He wasn’t alone, though, as Pizza Man, Ben Haim and Sidwell also showed just how important they are to first team in a 2-1 loss.

Has it really come to this? One of Europe’s most prolific strikers amongst the reserves? I won’t lie, I continue to root for him. And I will always hold him in high regard, if not only for his professionalism during this whole debacle that Chelsea has been. But how long will both he and the Club allow this to continue? He’s got to move on — and hopefully save some face.

Incidentally, Chelsea’s lone goal was put away superbly — from what I’ve read/heard by recent signee Franco Di Santo.

For most Chelsea fans who were first made aware that the club had signed an 18-year-old Argentine named Franco Di Santo in December, their immediate thought probably revolved around Messi and whether or not this kid was the second coming. Well, think again.

Di Santo, at 6-foot-5, is more Crouchy than Messi. Purchased for around $7 million from Chliean outfit Audax Italiano, Di Santo needs some sandwiches — double meat. Other than that, he can supposedly hold his own on the ground and, unlike Crouch, uses his head as a weapon. According to reports, he’s more of a poacher than creator –think Ruud. His scoring record at Audax (16 goals in 69 appearances) is not very impressive, but since there’s hardly any video on the kid, it’s hard to judge just exactly what attracted us and several other Premier League clubs.

I bring all this up because Di Santo is supposedly joining the club next week, and I wonder just what path his career will take in London.

Will he blossom, or will he struggle to even get into the first team, say like Scott Sinclair or Ben Sahar? Don’t get me wrong I like them both, and each likely still has a promising career ahead. But how long will it be before they actually get a chance? And no, I’m not talking a few Carling Cup starts or the occasional 85th-minute cameo in the FA Cup? During their time at Chelsea, Sahar has made five appearances (all as a substitute) and Sinclair six — hardly enough to judge their impact.

Now the overwhelming sentiment from most Chelsea fans I have interacted with is that Sinclair has deserved a run in the team for a while. Sahar is a mixed bag; some feel he’s ready, others do not. Regardless, the kid has seven caps for his country and two goals. More caps for his country than his club? It’s not like Israel is the Faroe Islands, either. As it stands, neither has really seen extended action in any competition.

So is Di Santo in for the same? Unknown. Though he may be ready for the Prem, it’s highly unlikely. Thus he begins his Chelsea career in the reserves. Maybe he excels, maybe not. If not, do we loan him out (to QPR)? Does this become another story of young talent losing out to a world-class player with a world-class transfer fee? In fact, who’s the last Chelsea youth team player to actually become a regular first teamer? Yeah, John Terry. That’s it.

Of course, Frank Arnesen said his youth plan would start producing results in 2010 — with a player being promoted from the academy to the first team every year. Hardly realistic.  And even if that’s the case, why wait? If kids like Sahar and Sinclair are talented enough, which they look to be, why not give them an extended run in the side? As for Di Santo, it remains to be seen what will happen. I just hope these young men soon become integral pieces, rather than well-travelled substitutes — or better yet, talented contributors for one of our rivals.

Oh Yes!!! Essien’s last gasp winner against Valencia in the Mestalla, and Chelsea’s progress to the Champions League semi-final secured!!!

Oh my how times change and how quick fortunes in football can change.

Chelsea return to the Mestalla on Wednesday, without you know who and struggling for form and plagued by an injury list as long as your arm.

Lampard and Essien out, JT (might have to do a fine impression as the ‘Mask of Zorro), Bridge out (sent off in tonight’s reserve game incidentally), Carvalho, Ballack to name a few.

Players not in form. Sheva, Malouda, Alex perhaps. Players who have been out through injury and suspension – Mikel and Drogba.

I know one thing, Scott Sinclair isn’t in Spain – he has just scored for the reserves against Fulham and at this point Chelsea are losing, with Wayne Bridge having already been sent off!!

But although this is a Champions League group game, this game is not as important as the game back in April. A defeat in the Mestalla isn’t the end of the World, but after the Rosenborg debacle, a defeat will make qualification to the knockout stage that more difficult. However, this is Chelsea and this a ‘backs to the wall’ Chelsea that I know so well.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest that Chelsea come away from the Mestalla, with a win and a performance that Chelsea produced last week at Hull in the Carling Cup and then go to Bolton on Sunday and get stuffed 3-0, 4-0 or 5-0!!

Seriously it wouldn’t. Why you might ask? Well I have seen it all before. Flatter to deceive in the competitions that are ‘DEEMED’ important (as in Rich Boy and like me want the Champions League this season) and well ‘hell’ to rest.

Not me. I am a hardcore fan and have been ‘Since 66,’ and I have always wanted Chelsea to win anything and everything Chelsea can.

This year I said I wanted the Champions League more than anything else, if I am honest, after the last few weeks since Jose’s departure, Chelsea will be ‘lucky’ to win the Carling Cup!!!

But this is Chelsea and now we are David against Goliath and with no disrespect to Avram Grant – he has one serious job on his hands – despite being rich boy’s puppet for his Chelsea plaything – to win any silverware at all!!

On that note till tomorrow, Chelsea Reserves lost 3-2 to Fulham Reserves and that was playing with 10 men for the best part of an hour.

I WAS THERE WHEN WE WERE SHIT

I’LL BE THERE WHEN WE ARE SHIT (AGAIN)!!!!

KTBFFH