Monday 29 January
Everton U23 2:1 Chelsea U23
Another frustrating night as Daishawn’s first-half equaliser didn’t turn things around. There were positives as Kasey Palmer returned from injury to play the whole of the second period.
The FA Cup fifth round draw paired us with Hull City at home. A pairing that is probably too dull for television.
Charly Musonda will play for Celtic until the end of the next season. Brendan Rodgers should get the best out of a player who is developing nicely.
Tuesday 30 January
In just before the window ends is Emerson Palmieri, a left-back from Roma, signs for a bargain £17m. The price could be so low because Emerson has barely played after recovering from a knee ligament injury. Cover on the left has been one of Conte’s main concerns since last summer so he will be pleased with this one.
Wednesday 31 January
Michy Batshuayi joins Borussia Dortmund on loan for the rest of this season as Arsenal snap up Aubameyang for a cut-price £56m. The rumour is that Olivier Giroud will take the District Line to complete the triangle.
Weirdly with the match tonight against Bournmouth we have allowed our only fit striker to walk out the door before securing a replacement… until Olivier Giroud signed on the dotted, only too late to play tonight.
Chelsea 0:3 Bournemouth
We pick our moments and a clearly unprepared side who had trained with Batshuayi as spearhead folded against a determined and inventive Bournmouth side. We were rubbish. Barely scratching the paint at the other end we watched on as Bournemouth plundered simple goals.
It was the most disgraceful Chelsea performance in a very long time and made the club a laughing stock.
Many Blues blamed all our transfer market ills on Michael Emenalo but since his departure we have stumbled further. As Arsenal have recruited Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang, and United have Sanchez, we fiddled around and ended up with two players who have barely kicked a ball all season and Olivier Giroud.
Dumping off Batshuayi despite his goals per minute average and only hours before kick-off suggests that one arm of the club isn’t aware of what the other arm is doing.
Thursday 1 February
Chelsea 0:0 Manchester City
A missed opportunity to catch the hitherto perfect City but we had our chances.
City ‘keeper, Karen Bardsley, was stretchered out of the action with only a few minute on the clock and when things finally restarted we created the better chances but City’s new goalkeeper, Ellie Roebuck, produced a string of fine saves most notably from Drew Spence in the second-half. Ji So-Yun was probably our best play having transformed herself from number 10 to midfield maestro, she pulled all the strings and made sure City couldn’t generate much in attack.
Friday 2 February
Chelsea U23 1:0 Leicester City U23
We needed to be strong and well organised to defend Daishawn Redan’s birthday goal and Jody will be very pleased with the committed tackling and blocking that won these points.
Sunday 4 February
London Bees 0:10 Chelsea
Women’s FA Cup progress in rather more emphatic fashion than was strictly necessary. Briefly, goals from three from Erin Cuthbert, Ji So-Yun, Fran Kirby, two from Katie Chapman, Millie Bright and an own goal… apologies if we missed anyone out.
