As the holders, we find ourselves drawn at home to Ipswich. United get Liverpool at OT, so at least that’s one of them out, City go in search of their first bit of silverware at Leicester and Wenger’s little loves get a home tie against the less genteel Leeds. Here’s the draw in full:

Burnley v Port Vale

Coventry v Crystal Palace

Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday

Fulham v Peterborough

Doncaster v Wolves

Brighton or FC United of Manchester v Portsmouth

Huddersfield v Dover Athletic

Crawley Town or Swindon v Derby

West Ham v Barnsley

Reading v West Brom

Arsenal v Leeds

Sheffield Utd v Aston Villa

Leicester v Man City

Bolton v York

Blackburn v QPR

Swansea v Colchester

Wycombe v Hereford or Lincoln

Stevenage v Newcastle

Burton Albion v Middlesbrough

Millwall v Birmingham

Southampton v Blackpool

Watford v Hartlepool or Yeovil

CHELSEA v Ipswich

Sunderland v Notts County or Bournemouth

Scunthorpe v Everton

Man Utd v Liverpool

Hull v Wigan

Stoke v Cardiff

Tottenham v Charlton or Luton

Preston v Nottingham Forest

Norwich v Droylsden or Leyton Orient

Torquay v Carlisle.… Read More

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Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger are both managers under pressure at top clubs in English and world football. However, recent media comments show just how different the nature of the pressure they are placed under is at the moment.… Read More

Filed under: Managers, Rants, Reader's post | 7 Comments »

Don’t really know what to say about yet another game where we didn’t get what we deserved but there’s been plenty said anyway, so here’s a selection: … Read More

Filed under: Links, Match report, Rants | 9 Comments »

Well, he might be under scrutiny in the press and the Stamford Bridge door marked ‘manager’ might be threatening to start revolving again, but as far as Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel is concerned, Carlo Ancelotti is well and truly wanted.… Read More

Filed under: Current Players, Managers | 1 Comment »

We might’ve gone into this season with a smaller squad than we could risk. And we might have already succumbed to injuries to key players, notably with Frank Lampard missing out since August and our back four like ships that pass in the night, but Carlo Ancelotti insists his thoughts couldn’t be further away from the January transfer window when it comes to cover.… Read More

Filed under: Current Players, Ex Players, Injuries, Managers, Rants | 2 Comments »

Venue: St James’ Park

Date: Sunday, 28 November

Kick-off: 1330 GMT

Right, while the press are busy creaming themselves over the red lot, we still have a game to play and a chance to recover top spot as well as a bit of goal difference.

We were unlucky to face Foster in the best possible form last week and if it wasn’t for the Birmingham keeper, could probably have had a bit of a goal haul ourselves.… Read More

Filed under: Match Day, Preview | Comments Off on Newcastle vs CHELSEA: Preview

So the gravy train continues to roll at Stamford Bridge….albeit towards the door marked exit….with the news that the latest passenger waiting to disembark is sporting director Frank Arnesen. Of course it’s nothing we haven’t heard before, with his position said to be under threat as far back as 2008 but this time, it’s the man himself announcing his decision to get off at the end of the season.… Read More

Filed under: Managers, Rants, TCB's Best Articles | 6 Comments »

We’ve struggled a bit in recent weeks, coinciding with several of our key players missing out. Unfortunately though, going into tomorrow’s game against Newcastle, things haven’t improved. … Read More

Filed under: Current Players, Injuries | 2 Comments »

So Uncle Carletto has finally spoken out after the recent string of forgettable performances by our beloved Blues, and while his comments at face value seem pretty standard boilerplate damage control, when you piece them together it paints perhaps a bigger picture. To illustrate, here’s a timeline of sound bites provided by Ancelotti starting after the loss to Birmingham on Saturday:
… Read More

Filed under: Managers, Rants, Reader's post | 6 Comments »

Plenty of changes to the line-up as promised and a win, so here’s how it’s being reported:

Goal.com on how Malouda and Sturridge Spared Our Blushes

Fanhouse.co.uk think Malouda’s winner simply covers up the cracks

For the Daily Mail, it was a rollercoaster

SkySports report on a welcome win

And VitalChelsea just bring us a no-nonsense review… Read More

Filed under: Europe, Links, Match report | Comments Off on CHELSEA 2-1 Zilina: Reviews