God’s chosen time for football – 3.00 pm Saturday – puts the boys in good heart this week, although West Ham are not the only ones hammered, as Dr Mart has one or two Guinness too many!

A good team performance highlighted by Malouda’s man of the match performance and Joe Cole’s dazzling cameo, has both the Stamford Bridge faithful and the FanCast crew in full singing voices. Even the proliferation of horse manure along the Fulham Road is discussed as well as Martin’s encounter with Wink Ball!

Joe Cole wins the plaudits in the Guinness moment, Drogba and the MHL combine well for the Celery moment, and there can be only one chant of the match against the caravan dwellers from the East!

We work out the game plan to beat Inter Milan on Tuesday including a non-biased Uefa Ref, an early goal and the crowd getting behind the team, as we look forward to chanting stand up for the special one at the start of the match and you’re not special any more at the end of it!

Chidge holds ‘clear the air’ talks on the most debated issue of the week – and makes a passionate defence and case for keeping Joe Cole and ends with a plea to his favourite player to keep the blue flag flying high.

One of Chelsea’s most proper Chels terrace songs is given an airing in “We’re out to show the world the way to Sing”. Not for the feint hearted, but West Ham get a name check…and all the rest!

Finally Dr Mart answers the questions of the week in “Dear Mart” and Chidge reads out some of the best posts from the week in “You’re on CFFC”

The Chelsea Football FanCast: God’s chosen time for football!

Download the show from http://podcasts.footballfancast.com/chelsea_fancast/ today!

At the time of his arrival, the Italian was faced with competition from the long serving and dependable Dutchman Ed de Goey, as well as the talented though controversial Australian, Mark Bosnich. De Goey was ageing, whilst Bosnich was on a path to self destruction.

Though not particularly tall for a goalkeeper, Cudicini’s agility and outrageous athleticism, combined with his stunning reaction time and typical bravery, meant that he had all the talent required to be a world class goalkeeper. His pedigree helped too, his father Fabio kept goal for Italian giants AC Milan, the club where Carlo started his career.

These traits were soon obvious, as he quickly dethroned the likeable de Goey, and showing himself to be one of the most capable goalkeepers in the land. His affable nature, wonderful ability and his often noted good looks, swiftly cemented his position as a favourite amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Season 2001-2002 saw Cudicini voted by those same fans as Chelsea’s Player of the Year. The accolade was well deserved, as he had been outstanding throughout the season in an inconsistent side, as was de rigeur at the time.

These were the halcyon days for Cudicini. His talent was recognised by the entire league, with the likes of Henry, van Nistelrooy and Shearer all left stunned by the Italian’s incredible ability to stop nearly everything that came his way. Coupled with that, was his unnerving ability to save penalties, with Gary McAllister, as well as Henry and van Nistelrooy, all unable to beat the Chelsea goalkeeper from 12 yards out.

Cudicini’s stock was rising, though the mere existence of Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Toldo and Angelo Peruzzi meant that international honours never came his way, a travesty of the modern era. Throughout season 2002-2003, he was recognised as the best goalkeeper in the league, and was awarded the ITV “Golden Gloves” award at the seasons end. Week after week, Cudicini made stunning saves, still leaving strikers nonplussed. Not only that, he was dependable. Mistakes were few and far between, and when they did occur, they were soon forgiven when he next prevented a sure goal. One particular save from Ruud van Nistelrooy was cheered by the Chelsea fans as if it we’d scored a goal!

Injury problems the next season saw the gradual decline in Cudicini’s playing time, as Marco Ambrosio deputised in crucial matches towards the end of the season, as the Blues crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of AS Monaco.

Then came Mourinho, and with him, the precociously talented Petr Cech. Initially signed as backup to Cudicini, the Czech quickly became first choice, with the crowd favourite providing a more than competent alternative. Cudicini remained second choice for the remainder of his career at Chelsea.

However, just last season, he provided a reminder of his incredible talent. He made 19 appearances due to various injuries to Cech, but the crowning moment came in the thrilling 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane. Having already made a world class save from Robbie Keane, Cudicini showed his talent and skill had far from diminished, with his stunning stoppage time save. Dimitar Berbatov looked certain to win the match for Spurs, but his fierce strike was incredibly stopped, Cudicini reacting lightning fast to stretch out a right hand and divert the ball around the post. Martin Tyler described it as an “astonishing save” and once more, the save was cheered like a Chelsea goal.

Throughout his years as second choice, Cudicini was never heard to moan about his situation. In fact, upon his departure in January to Tottenham, there was not a single negative comment to be said about his approach to training, whilst every appearance was still warmly applauded by the fans. His dedication, work ethic and professionalism were all exemplary, and Chelsea fans can consider themselves lucky to have witnessed the very best of Carlo Cudicini, a true Chelsea hero. He departed having made 216 appearances in total, keeping 101 clean sheets.

Carlo Cudicini, we salute you. All the best, you will always be a Chelsea legend.

WembleyCarPark.co.uk operates private vehicle parking in close proximity to Wembley Stadium, Arena, Fountain Studios, and Conference Centre.

Book now for the semi final!

• The rates are £20 per car, £40 per mini-bus/van or similar vehicle and £50 per coach – coach spaces are limited.
• WembleyCarPark.co.uk operate a pre-booking service which guarantees your space is reserved for your vehicle and attendants are on site to show you where to park and book you in. In order to book space it is best to use our web form which should be fully completed. We ask for the details in order to phone late arrivals and to ensure wherever possible (for football events) that fans of the same team are parked together.
• If you click here the page will display directions and details about the parking and the ways to get to and from the allocated area.
• When visiting Wembley it is a good idea, particularly if you are travelling a long way, to bring food and drink (cool box) to the event. If events over-run it is frequently the case that kiosks have closed and a supply of food and drink can make your journey away from the stadium much easier. We have all heard the stories of costs of food and drink at various venues so it is probably best just to suggest you bring adequate for your needs before and particularly after the event.

If you have any queries at all please do not hesitate to contact WembleyCarPark.co.uk. They will respond quickly if use email and they will be pleased to deal with any enquiries you may have.

If you would like to book immediately online then please complete the online booking  form.

If you would prefer to contact them by telephone they can be contacted on 020 8795 4837 or by fax on 020 8795 4841.

If you are using Sat Nav systems then Boxer House, Second Way, Wembley, HA9 0YJ is the best Sat Nav link.

[ Football Fancast ]

The lads celebrate our seemingly annual trip to Wembley as Chelsea put a spanner in the Potter’s wheel. A thorough and professional job is done on Stoke and their aerial bombardment repelled. We are particularly delighted that John Terry silenced the Stoke boo boys – all together now: “John Terry, knocked you out!!”

Lots of candidates for Man of the Match as Dr Martin and Chris try to nominate the whole team, as well as popular nay surreal choices for Guinness and Celery moments and Chant of the Match. All will be revealed!

Jez Walters from CFCnet is our special guest, and he takes the time honoured “60 Second Fan” challenge. We sing his favourite Chelsea song in “We’re out to show the world the way to sing!” – a very fitting one on FA Cup days to boot! Jez also tells us how the CFCnet web site got started, why it’s important to remain independent from the Club and the vital service it provides to supporters old and new from far and wide, and closer to SW6.

Ross get’s to debut his Goal of the Month section with the contenders being Drogba’s free-kick v Hull, his second against The Arse, and his goal against Wolves, plus Ballack and Kalou’s goals against Cardiff. Tough call but we announce the winner.

All this plus the irreverent and irrepressible Dr Martin in another session of “Dear Mart”; Chidge with the best posts of the week in “You’re on CFFC”. And last but by no means least ChelTel mentioning ‘catharsis’ at least 7 times!!

The Chelsea Football FanCast: Wembley’s our second home!

AS SEEN ON WWW.THISISLONDON.CO.UK
CAN CHELSEA RECOVER FROM UNCONVINCING RECENT FORM?
Words by Mark Wheeler

AS SEEN ON WWW.CHELSEAFC.COM
TO HULL AND BACK
WENGER NEEDS AN OPTICIAN
A GAME OF TWO HALVES
CHELSEA FANS AND THE MEDIA
HIGH DRAMA IN THE SAN SIRO
Words by Jez Walters

REMEMBERING OSSIE
Words by Mark Worrall

PRE MATCH INTERVIEW MANCHESTER CITY
Words by Peter Sampson

MATCH OF THE DAY
Words by James Edwards

AS SEEN ON MAXIM.CO.UK
Words by Rowan Farnham-Long and Martyn Landi

All previous editions can be found on this link [http://www.clubcfcnet.com]

It’s full time in the final of the World Cup, and the game is drawn. The England team have played their hearts out, but need a final push to deliver a repeat of 1966. You’re the manager, and it’s up to you to fire them up and inspire them to win. What would you say? Well, here’s your chance to tell us, show your support for England, and win the chance of a lifetime!

As The Official Beer of the England football team, Carlsberg launches it’s “England Team Talk” competition, calling on the nation to show their support for the Three Lions ahead of this summer’s World Cup Finals. You can enter your Team Talk in a number of ways at www.englandteamtalk.com (see for more info). Those uploading a video Team Talk can win the chance to meet some of the England players and deliver their words of inspiration in person, at an exclusive day at Wembley Stadium, or see them train in Austria. If that wasn’t enough, others will also star in the next Carlsberg commercial, seen by millions across the country. Get filming, get writing, and get behind the England team!

The contest is now open to entrants, and accepts submissions until 30^th April. In addition, there will be weekly prizes, including England tickets, signed England shirts and cases of Carlsberg.

Still not clear? Let Ray Stubbs explain all: www.youtube.com/EnglandTeamTalk or become a fan of the Carlsberg For England Facebook Page that launches shortly.

If you want to meet the England team, and send them off to S. Africa with your Team Talk ringing in their ears, enter now!  www.englandteamtalk.com

Much moaning on the FanCast this week as the CFFC crew dissects a bad day at HQ. Mike Dean, no width, no pace, schoolboy defending and no energy are the key villains other than Tevez and Bellamy. At least the loyal supporters who stayed to the bitter end did their bit as the team gave it a go in the last 15 minutes with a 3:1:4 formation!

Tough calls for Man of the Match and Guinness moments – even Mike Dean gets an ironic nomination, but a rip roaring Eng-er-land gets the nod in Chant of the Match, and the (Proper) Chels support gets the Celery moment for their defiant singing in the face of the Wayne Bridge boo boys and early leavers.

And on a similar theme, a terrace favourite featuring a certain vegetable better known as a tickling stick is sung to cheer us all up in “We’re out to show the World the way to sing!” We also look back at a more honourable defeat in Milan last Wednesday but have a hilarious ‘Tale from Milano’ from Paul and Ross (Paulo Rossi collectively!) to enjoy.

All this plus Dr Martin giving us some much needed therapy in Dear Mart answering questions on smallest Chelsea players, Malouda’s role as left back and inevitably, do we care about Wayne Bridge? Finally, in “You’re on CFFC”, Chidge has some unintelligible and hilarious posts from somewhere in the Far East, San Diego. Arizona, Australia and Hastings!

The Chelsea Football FanCast: The Referee’s a w**ker!

Peter Osgood – The King of Stamford Bridge

“Out from the Shed, Come a rising young star, Scoring goals past Pat Jennings from near and from far.

And Chelsea won, as we all knew they would, And the star of that great team was Peter Osgood. Osgood, Osgood, Osgood, Osgood. Born is the ki-ing of Sta-amford Bridge!”

Thank you for some truly memorable moments and being such a great part of the history of Chelsea FC.

If you’re heading out to Milan, you’ll probably find it useful to know how to get around, where to go drinking, and what to expect from Italy’s second city. The Football Supporters’ Federation has teamed up with CFCnet to bring you the low-down on all things Milan.

Getting Around
Getting around Milan is pretty simple, since it has a well-organised and reasonably efficient public transport network. The Metro has 3 lines, MM1 (Rossa/Red), MM2 (Verde/Green), and MM3 (Gialla/Yellow). There are a further 3 lines under construction, but these won’t be open until well into the next decade. There is also a network of overground trams, as well as a bus network.

Single tickets cost €1 and are valid for up to 75 minutes. You can buy one and two day tickets (€3/€6 respectively) for use on all public transport, and we’d recommend these for nipping around town, as well as getting to and from the ground.

The San Siro
The stadium is located in the west end of the city, unsurprisingly in the district of San Siro (which lends its name to the ground). Although officially renamed in honour of Guiseppe Meazza, a great of both Inter and AC Milan, it is still commonly referred to as the San Siro.

The San Siro is reachable by metro and by tram. Take the metro line MM1 towards Molino Dorino and alight at Lotto-Fiera2. By tram, simply get on line 16 from Cathedral Square.

The largest ground in Italy (current capacity just over 80,000), it was constructed in the mid 1920s as a home for AC Milan. Its first match, in 1926, saw Inter defeat AC Milan 6-3. Inter have been tenants at the stadium since 1947.

Food and Drink
A great deal of the nightlife is found around the Navigli quarter, which are the man-made canals in central Milan; near Piazza XXIV Maggio, and also in the Brera quarter. Cafés and bars are liberally dotted around the city, though, so you’re never far from getting a pint.

If you’re staying for a couple of nights, it might be worth familiarising yourself with the Milanese tradition of ‘apperitivo’, which roughly equates to ‘happy hour’. The locals will often head out in the early evening, typically between 7 and 9, to have a quick cocktail before heading out to dinner, or heading on for the rest of the night’s drinking. Many bars will offer special deals at this time, and also lay on free buffet food – it’s a great time to fill yourself up cheaply! 

If you’re looking for more of a typical footie fan experience, then you’ll probably stumble into an Irish bars.

Pogue Mahone’s Irish Pub (if you’ll forgive the rather rude Gaelic) is found on Via Salmini, near to Porta Romana station on MM3. Serving up Guinness and Murphy’s, along with a couple of lagers, it has the ubiquitous English-style pub grub too. Find out more at http://www.poguemahones.it

Alternatively Matricola on Viale Romagna is touted as the first ‘official’ Irish pub in Italy. It does decent food and a reasonable pint of Guinness – head to Piola on MM2. If you’re looking for a Sports Bar, you could do a lot worse than Four Four Two, on Via Procaccini. Check out their website (www.fourfourtwo.it) for more information.

As for some local grub? Well, pizza and pasta are ubiquitous throughout the city, but if you’re after something a little different, then keep your eyes out for ‘cotoletta alla milanese’ and ‘ossobuco’, which are local specialities (pan-fried, breaded veal and stewed veal shank respectively).

Milanese cuisine tends to differ from the rest of Italy in that rice is more traditionally served with dishes than pasta. Tomatoes are also not as evident as in many other regional cuisines of Italy.

About The City
You’ve come all this way, you might as well pay at least a cursory glance around the sites. The Duomo, on which work started in 1386, is the third largest cathedral in the world. Its stunning gothic architecture is not to be missed, nor is the chance to ascend to the roof for some spectacular views over Milan (for around €5). At another of Milan’s churches, the Santa Maria delle Grazie you can see Leonardo da Vinci’s famous ‘Last Supper’. If you want to see this, however, we’re advised that you need to reserve well in advance.

If you don’t get in to see that, you can always pop along to Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Milan has more museums and churches than you can shake a stick at, though, so whatever your interest you’re likely to find something to suit your tastes.

If all this culture-vulture stuff isn’t for you, then how about some shopping? Milan is a fashion-mad city, which would explain why it’s home to the oldest shopping arcade in the world. The grand Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II houses shops, cafés and restaurants. It’s well worth a look.

Visit our website, or email us for more information – www.fsf.org.uk, or info@fsf.org.uk

Once purchased this rare collectors item will raise much needed funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust as Frank has kindly donated 100% of his commission to the charity. www.teenagecancertrust.org

The iPod is available in 3 sizes 8GB, 32GB and 64GB. Each is embellished in 24ct Gold. Currently there is a very limited stock available due to an amazing demand.

You can buy the iPod touch directly from the Gold Genie website [www.goldgenie.com/franklampard] or by calling 020 8 804 6200. It’s also available from Micro Anvika which is situated on the 3rd Floor of Harrods.

There’s also a Frank Lampard Blue iPod Nano available on the [www.goldgenie.com] web site.

Gold Genie kindly gave us an 8GB version of this precious item to give away as a competition prize. The competition winner has  been contacted as the competition finished at midnight on the 12th of February 2010. The winner is James Flude from Edwalton in Nottingham.