Dr Evil's plans for world domination

"The first objective is to own London. When we talk about internationalising the brand the first thing we want to do is get critical mass within our own territory. I don't think there are any boundaries in terms of attracting supporters. Chelsea is synonymous with London. There's this automatic recognition that Chelsea is London and London we want to become Chelsea." (more)

The most dangerous man in football, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, is given a platform by The Independent to set out his stall, which includes a London-wide project with Adidas to lure kids into supporting the money boys. While I don't think he's quite sussed the complexities of the capital, it's enough to send a chill down the spine.

Meanwhile, a Mr A Curbishley has jinxed Charlton's chances of success in the League Cup against Blackburn. ""I think a Premiership side is going to win the competition so there's no reason why it shouldn't be us." Oi, Llewellyn, NO! Any more of that talk and I'll book my holiday that week after all...

From heroes to zeroes

Ooops. So it all went pear-shaped yesterday against Bolton with a depressing inevitability. If our defeat proves anything, it really is that without Darren Bent, out of the squad with an illness, we have a problem. Jay Bothroyd didn't look suited to being the single man up front, and wasn't able to capitalise on any of his chances. A frustrating afternoon started with us being in control, which we relinquished as the second half wore on and Bolton resumed their physical style of play.

So it's back to the old chestnut - why can't we win at home? I'm reminded of a season a few years ago when we had a marvellous away record and a poor home record - the expectations and nerves in the Valley crowd seemed to pass onto the players as the game went on. Yet away from home, there's no such pressure on the players. Indeed, yesterday's crowd noise seemed to die off as the game wore on - it's a nervous, jumpy Valley once again.

Despite their atrocious result at Middlesbrough yesterday, I'm not hopeful our home form's going to improve anytime soon since our next game's against Manchester United. Instead, I'm banking on our away form for an improvement - starting up at Blackburn on Sunday.

After the Lord Mayor's show

After the excitement of Stamford Bridge, and the stunning publicity coup of having Prince William down at Sparrows Lane, what better to bring us down to earth than a home draw against Blackburn in the League Cup, ahead of a match against Bolton?

I'd actually booked a week off work for the fourth round, just in case, and after Chelsea came out of the hat I was very tempted to book a little holiday for that week, because we weren't going to win that, were we?

Blackburn at home's an anti-climax after Wednesday's heroics, but still offers us a way through to the last eight. I know some will laugh at me for this, but at least it's not Palace or Millwall. I like an easy life around here, ta. Still, Millwall v Birmingham promises to be a nice tie played in the best spirit, especially for those of us that remember smashed-up Birmingham coaches going through Greenwich in a convoy one night in May 2002...

As for today, I'm expecting a swift bump back down to earth thanks to Big Sam's boys. It's never an easy one to call, so I'm going for a slightly disappointing draw.

Chelsea 1-1 Charlton aet (Charlton win 5-4 on penalties)

Ladies and gentlemen, the Stephan Andersen versus Dean Kiely debate is over.

A wonderful, just wonderful night in which every man gave his all. I think I need a few days to get over this. Perhaps the blue-clad children who packed out the East Stand at the Bridge have been taught a lesson. As has the child behind me in the Shed End with a John Terry badge on. A football team or a lifestyle choice? I know which I'd rather back. And to think we didn't have our first team out as well. Now, let's not blow it next round, eh? On that note, I'm off to prepare to walk on air tomorrow. Goodnight.

In case you don't want to buy the morning papers: cafc.co.uk;BBC Sport; Sky Sports; The Times; The Independent; The Guardian; Daily Telegraph, chelseafc.com.

Chelsea Blog: "An enjoyable game… until the penalty shootout!"

Clearly scared of Charlton

Chelsea's England fullback Glen Johnson has resumed training after breaking his wrist punching a wall, media said on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old, who is out of favour at Chelsea and also with England after a poor performance in an August friendly, is reported to have hurt his hand after losing his temper at home. (more)

I'm assuming Jose will field players with a mental age of more than five tonight, although an appearance by Carlton Cole can't be ruled out, I suppose. Hey-ho, off to the Bridge...

Bromley 2-0 AFC Wimbledon

Proper reports: AFC Wimbledon, Bromley FC, The Big Tissue.

As a contrast to Wednesday's trip to Stamford Bridge, a journey to Hayes Lane to see how the Dons are adapting to life in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Three-and-a-half years after I wandered along to AFC Wimbledon's first-ever game, their scores are now in decent-sized print in the Sunday papers, their league table gets on Sky Sports News and their half-times buzz through on the Grandstand videprinter.

But on a windy night, the Dons struggled against a speedy and physical Bromley side, not helped by a poor defence and a midfield which seemed increasingly unwilling to battle for the ball. Things started off entertainingly enough, with Bromley mounting frequent attacks on the Wimbledon goal, but as the match wore on, the finess wore off and the elbows went in. Off the pitch, police moved in to divide AFC fans from an increasingly fractious encounter with their "Brom-er-lee" counterparts - was this a small team aggrieved at a big shark in their midst ("You've got no history..."), or Palarse fans getting narky with their old neighbours? We suspected the latter. (Although here's an alternative explanation.)

Nic McDonnell's goal at the end of the first half focused matters on the field, and with the Bromley fans moving away from the Dons fans in the second half, it felt like the momentum was with the away fans. As the half opened, manager Dave Anderson passed behind the Bromley goal, raising his cup of coffee to toast the fans. As he turned to watch a scramble at the other end of the field, Bromley's Sam Wood fired home a second. The coffee went flying.

It didn't get much better from there onwards - on top of an injury to New Zealand international Shane Smeltz, the Dons' Matt Fowler was sent off while preparing to deal with a corner, after what may have been a clash of elbows, but may have just been the wrong man in the wrong place in the wrong time.

To the sound of the ludicrous marching music which Bromley's matchday announcer specialises in, the home team left the field having asserted their dominance. AFC Wimbledon are in no way struggling in the league - the defeat leaves them seventh - but their experiences so far suggest they'll need a fair bit of patience as they try to rise through the leagues.

Pompey chimes

Great result last night, wasn't it? Even a woeful hangover's not going to wipe the smile from my face. Good to see Darren Ambrose get a full game at last - the lad's quality, no doubt about it. Good also to see Dennis Rommedahl get a goal - wasn't it a beauty? With Danny Murphy and Alexei Smertin in sharp form too, it means we can face Chelsea in the League Cup with a bit of confidence about us.

The match was also good because we came back from a dreadful first half - last season's team would have just curled up and died. It remains a nagging worry that teams may have sussed us out - cut off the supply line to Darren Bent and smother the midfield, and we're in trouble. But last night's second half shows that needn't be the case. Good work, and I'm looking forward to Wednesday now, rather foolishly.

Pompey, pah

You won't hear anything from me about the Portsmouth game because I refuse to pay £26 to sit in a dilapidated old dump on Saturday teatime just so Rupert Murdoch can make some money. If you don't like games being mucked about for TV, don't pay to watch them on TV. It's as simple as that. When we're forced to play on Friday or Sunday nights, it'll be those who are coughing up £7 to watch it on Prem Plus who are to blame. Don't encourage them - don't pay to have the game we all follow screwed up by TV.

I'll be watching it in the pub instead, and then staying there. But please feel free to add your thoughts about the game in the comments below. Come on you Addicks!

The ego has landed

Thursday afternoon in Greenwich...

The Blessed David's "soccer" academy gets its finishing touches.

If the little twerp's on our turf, there'd better be something in it for us. But even then, it still leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

(No Rebecca Loos jokes, please.)

Kiely's decline?

Snuck into the reserves' game against Portsmouth at half-time (proper report here, 3-1 win to us, Lisbie, JJ and Fuller scoring) to see one of the most painful things I've had to watch in a long while. Not the game itself, which chuntered along rather well with Charlton very much on top - Barry Fuller's thumping goal a treat to see - but the terrible spectacle of Dean Kiely knowing his form's slipped. Badly.

Our reluctant 2nd/ 3rd choice keeper had a shot straight at him in the 65th minute, which he spilled horribly. As the seconds felt like whole minutes, the ball was left invitingly for a Portsmouth player to whack into the back of the net. Deano crashed the ground, looking like he wanted it to open up and swallow him. He didn't really look the same after that.

It could be a long way back for Kiely, if ever, unless Stefan Andersen loses his form dramatically. Along with his compatriot Matt Holland, he's reached an uncomfortable crossroads in his Charlton career. Those interviews he gave declaring he was ready to return to the first team sound a bit hollow now... Darren Ambrose looked pretty damned sharp, by the way - hopefully I'll see him on my pub's TV on Saturday.

(While I'm here - not Charlton-related, but what is going on at QPR?)