Being that it is the day of thanks, I thought I would swipe Daryl’s post on the main site and ask supporters/readers of Chelsea Offside what they are thankful for on this glorious day.

It can be funny. It can be endearing. It can even be downright filthy (please keep it within reason, though, people).

What am I thankful for? Well, here’s what I provided for Daryl’s post. It must have been perceived to be too funny racy for readers.

“I’m thankful for my glorious Blues, Mr. Abramovich — cheers, comrade — Juan Manuel Vargas and his glorious soul patch, hypercolor t-shirts, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Kid N Play, Jamie Carragher’s facial expressions, Gael ‘Cool Breeze’ Kakuta and, of course, Lady Gaga.”

Love me some Lady Gaga (straight face).

Oh, and be sure to take a moment to savor the CL departure of our good friends on Merseyside. Tear.

Group leaders Chelsea have travelled to Portugal in advance of Matchday 6 of the Champions League group stage . Second-place FC Porto will be the host. The match represents the first of a four-game gauntlet, one that features league matches with both Arsenal and Manchester City as well as a Carling Cup semifinal against Blackburn.

With qualification for the knockout stage of the CL already clinched, this match would seem an appetizer for the difficult stretch to come. However, a Porto win would see Chelsea dip to second with only a match remaining in the group. A quality result is certainly needed here.

Travelling squad (confirmed):  Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A. Cole, Zhirkov, Carvalho, Terry, Alex, Essien, Belletti, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Kakuta, Deco, J. Cole, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba

Analysis: Great to see Kakuta rewarded for his fine display on the weekend. I doubt he’ll make the squad, however, seeing as he was just out for the reserves. Drogba is unlikely to start, due to the rib injury, but a late run-out would be ideal. Ballack is also back, and could work his way into the starting eleven. So, too, could Deco.

Potential XI
Cech
Ivanovic-Alex-Terry-Zhirkov
Essien-Mikel-Malouda
J. Cole
Kalou-Anelka

Pre-match quote: 
“It’s four away games in a row and that’s the challenge major title-winning teams rise to. We know what it takes to win major titles and it is winning runs, periods when you keep on top, striding from result to result. If we beat Porto, we win the group with a game to go. Not many teams win in Porto but we can do it.
“Then it’s Arsenal and Manchester City in the league. Arsenal will be doing the maths; they are eight points behind with a game in hand. We’ve had some good results there since Wayne Bridge’s winner in the Champions League in 2004 and another one could cement our position at the top of the table.
“City are serious top-four contenders and, like Porto, are very strong at home. We have a great record there and these are the games when we can really make the difference. Victory, too, at Blackburn and we’re in the semi-finals. On the two occasions we’ve won the Carling Cup recently, we gone on to win the Premier League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2007. It’s the appetiser.”
-England’s Brave John Terry

But that hasn’t stopped the now-infamous French starlet  from drawing some conclusions on the Premier League after just one match. In fact, Kakuta reckons first-team football is a cinch — compared to youth and reserve level, that is.

“Yes, (it’s easier than the reserves) because the game is much quicker, you have more choice when you play, you can play one touch, two touch, so it is much better,” Kakuta told Chelsea TV.

“I wasn’t nervous at all. My fitness is good because of the ban I have been out for months, but I have worked double sessions every day and I feel good. It has been a little bit like pre-season, because when the boys finished I was still in, working in the afternoons.”

After a sparkling debut at home against Wolves on the weekend, who’s really to argue?

What the papers have been saying about young Kakuta:

• The Telegraph – Kakuta gives glimpse of future …
• The Daily Mail – Kakuta ready to storm Porto’s ‘Dragon’s Den’
• The Independent – Kakuta puts rare talent on display
• The Guardian – Quicksilver Kakuta gives Chelsea a glimpse …

Taken by me at M&T Bank Stadium. Jealous?

Alright people. Back from what felt like the longest international break in….well, ever, Chelsea will take on Wolves at the Bridge tomorrow, and will do so with what would have to be called a diminished lineup. But as we all know, one of the privileges of being Chelsea is your backups aren’t so bad.

Out: Drogs (suffering rib issues from Johnny Karate), Deco, Frank (Don’t put me in Coach again) Lampard, and Herr Ballack
In: Gael (Don’t hate me for getting us banned, guys) Kakuta, Nemanja Matic, Alex, and Fabio Borini

Projected Lineup: Now the way I do this is pick who I want out there, given the squad health and whatever else. It may not actually be that way, but this is more fun for me, and let’s you second guess and belittle my decision making abilities. And who doesn’t love that, right?

Mr. Helmet in net
J Belletti, JT, Alex, Ivanovic
Mikel
Essien Malouda
Cole
Anelka Kalou

Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Matic, Kakuta, Borini

Predictions: Even diminished, Chelsea has to be the big time favorite here. Not only that, but how hard is to beat a team with the lack of imagination displayed in naming your team, which resides in Wolverhampton, Wolves? Lazy.
3 nil to the Blues.

WHO’S WITH ME?

Move forward a couple of days. Now, we’re reading — via the Sun — that Inter Milan are looking to hijack the move. Or, perhaps you prefer the stories reporting that Roman Abramovich is souring on the idea of blowing a British record fee on the 21-year-old Argentinian.

So, I ask: What are you feelings on the man who is rearing Diego Maradona’s grandchild? Should Chelsea splash the cash on Kun Aguero? Let me know.

Sealed records, made exclusively available to Chelsea Offside, indicate Kalou won via side choke in the third round.

Kalou’s technical skills have obviously improved since this
exhibition bout with teammate Jose Bosingwa last winter.

“Things got a little heated but we are human and these things can happen to us,” West Bromwich Albion defender Meite said. “But in the end we understood that we have to preserve the spirit in the squad and so it’s all forgotten now.”

Kalou — who, despite still holding child-like weight (what do you think? 120lb or so)  looks to have added some sizzle (aka definition) to his frame –  admitted being in the wrong. S***, I’m just glad to see him show some spark.

“Meite is a big brother, I have apologised and he has accepted it,” Kalou said. “It’s a pity that it was between Abdoulaye and myself. We were punished and I have accepted that and that’s how we move on. You recognise your mistake and you learn – we’ve talked and its over.”

Talks between UFC head Dana White and Kalou’s representatives have yet to take place.

That move kind of backfired, eh? Sawyer had numerous discipline issues while at Southend, including being banned for a match after missing a team meeting.

Good luck to you son.

Following this weekend’s international break, the list of those on the treatment table has grown exponentially — and not simply from lining up for their respective countries.

Frank Lampard pulled out of England’s friendly against Brazil in Qatar before it even began. In fact, he was done immediately after de-boarding the flight. Yes, Super Frank could be out anywhere from three weeks to eight (according to reports) with a thigh tear apparently picked up because of poor seating on the airplane. Seriously? Maybe we should blame the FA for this farce.

Then there was England’s Brave John Terry, who also failed to make it safely into England’s squad for the Brazil friendly. A swollen ankle in training prevented his participation. Who knows how serious this is, and how long Chelsea may be without its captain.

And, now, I’m reading that Didier Drogba could be sidelined for up to three weeks with a broken rib? Maybe I’m late on this, but come on. The Sun suggests a scan by Drogba’s home nation, Ivory Coast, revealed the damage; that would appear legit considering the striker was held out of the country’s World Cup qualifier against Guinea on the weekend.

All this on top of the loss of fullbacks Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa. Bos will miss three months; Cole’s layoff is unknown, though we know — thankfully — that his injury does not require surgery.

Where does this leave us? Well…

Looking ahead two weeks to a pivotal match against second-place Arsenal, we could potentially be without Drogba, Lampard, Terry as well as Cashley and Bos.

Not good. Not good at all.

Off a defender, off a post, in the net. Mr. Anelka took care of business away for France, making their trip to South Africa look pretty likely. As Jack posted earlier this week, Nico likes being the supporting striker, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to let it rip on occasion.

Also in action today, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, and Paulo Ferreira all played as Portugal won 1-0 against Bosnia, as Hilario, who won his first callup for Portugal, didn’t make the bench. Maybe Wednesday, Henrique!

And oh yeah, I’m the new guy. Jon. How ya doin? I also write the DC United Offside page, so if you’re a Chelsea fan who wants to find an MLS team to follow…I think you can see where I’m going with this. I’ll be helping Jack make this one of the best Chelsea blogs on the intertubes, and I welcome your comments and suggestions for the blog.