only seven points

the race is back on. statements that the premiership was in the bag may just have ben a bit premature. consider this: chelsea has not had such a stretch of poor form in two years, and a draw against birmingham highlights what rough shape they are really in.

on the other hand, man utd have quietly gone about their business, and falling out of the champion's league is starting to look like a blessing. they've already got the carling cup, fergie's punitive benching of ruud is looking like a masterstroke, and they are only getting stronger and stronger in the premiership. between now and the end they only have two real challenges: a resurgent arsenal and a struggling chelsea. they can win it...and so a double doesn't seem an outrageous possibility.

and then there is arsenal. 5-nil against aston villa while tottenham and bolton both lost today. fourth place is a great race right now, and the arse are looking capable of scooping it.

who says the premiership's been boring since chelski bought the league? it's not over yet folks.

Chelsea and the US Connection

from the chelsea website:

Chelsea Football Club announced today (Wednesday) a unique long-term commitment to soccer in the United States.

Chelsea FC chief executive Peter Kenyon revealed at the World Sports Congress in New York that England's Premier League champions are to enter into a major strategic alliance with AEG, the operators of four teams in Major League Soccer, and stadium developers including The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and venues currently under construction in Bridgeview, Illinois and Harrison, New Jersey.

The partnership between Chelsea FC and AEG is the first of its kind by a top European club with one of the leading forces in United States soccer. The relationship will begin in the summer of 2007 with the staging of a tournament, which will take place every two years, involving Chelsea and a host MLS club.

But the alliance with AEG will also include a club to club relationship between Chelsea and MLS champions LA Galaxy, an agreement to enhance and market the Chelsea brand in the US and promotion of grass roots football activity.

this makes me giddy and fearful at the same time...giddy because i could possibly see chelsea play in north america (and we all know how easy it will be to get tickets to those games), but fearful because my dear chelsea, already tainted by a russian billionaire, will now be touched by american hands...

zounds!

here's a good encapsulation of the game between arsenal and juventus for anyone who missed the match. but what i have to say is personal.

wow!

just wow!

actually...wow & wow & wow!

and now we don't have to face zabina or camorannesi or vieira (most importantly) in the next leg.

did i mention wow?!

arsenal 2 - juventus nil.

p.s. cesc...uber-wow!!!