Do I start at John Terry making his 350th Chelsea appearance or Ricky Carvalho starting his 100th Chelsea League game?

Do I start at Avram Grant's (The Stupid One) 50th game in charge - if you remember his first game in charge was at Old Trafford back in September?

Do I start at my 'self-imposed' strike of not going to Stamford Bridge until 'The Stupid One' has gone?

 

No, none of the above. I am going to start with offering and sending condolences to Super Frank, to his dad and to Frank's sisters Natalie and Claire following the death of Pat, his beloved Mother on Thursday after being ill with double pneumonia.

The official Chelsea website sends their own sympathies by saying that Pat (Mrs Lampard) was a very familiar face to many people at Chelsea FC. Her unswerving support for her son's career was evident at virtually every game that Frank participated in regardless of where it was being played, she would always be there to watch him with Frank's dad. Pat will be deeply missed by everyone at Chelsea.

RIP Frank's Mum.

Obviously Frank will not be available for today's game and it is very likely that Frank will also miss the Champions League 2nd Leg against Liverpool next Wednesday - Frank come back when you are ready. Football really does pale into the background when you hear about news as tragic as this.

In memory of Pat Lampard it is reported that both teams will wear black arm-bands tomorrow.

It is the 'Stupid One's' 50th Chelsea game in charge and it was first game in charge was at Old Trafford back in September when we lost 2-0 and had Obi sent off which Grant remembers only to well in his pre-match press conference yesterday afternoon at Cobham.

He said, "It is an exciting week for everybody, we have worked hard to come to this, and we want to enjoy it. My first game I was in charge was after two or three days and one of those days we could not train.

"I don't think we played bad at Old Trafford," Grant added, "We lost to the referee in this game.

"I remember the stoppage time at half-time, the red card, the penalty that was not a penalty. There were a few strange decisions that game.

"I don't like to speak about referees most of the time but in this game I remember this referee."

On tomorrow's referee (Alan Wiley) Grant said, "I always expect a fair referee and I think it will be okay most of the time. I understand that referees can make mistakes but when it is too many mistakes against one team in one game?" (AND THEY THINK ME AND DIXON ARE PARANOID.. ED?)

Grant continued on the theme by saying, "I haven't said anything since then, only this time."

After Man Utd's 'overhyped and under-played' 0-0 draw in Barcelona on Wednesday, the Man Utd squad stayed overnight and trained in Barcelona on Thursday before flying straight to London to prepare further for today's lunchtime clash.

It was announced that Vidic had trained and could be available to return to defence. This time round it was SAF's turn to criticise and moan about the schedule his players and team are facing.

Oh well SAF - Shame innit, we have had to put up with 'hectic' schedules all season.

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