Both myself and Steve are both fairly new to the site (I joined in February, Steve in June) yet it feels as if we have been here forever.

But enough of that, I'm going to talk about exactly what you want me to talk about- Chelsea! It's been an eventful year for the club, with a run to the FA Cup final in the early part of the year. Unfortunately, we were beaten by an Arsenal side who were almost invincible! Still, it took two of the best cup final goals in recent years to beat us and, had JFH been more than 50% fit, who knows what could have happened... This was followed by several of our players representing their respective countries at the World Cup, although none of them progressed further than the Second Round. England were eliminated in the quarters thanks to a David Seaman blunder (the first of many!).

All the talk in the summer was linked to our reported £97 million debts, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Eidur Gudjohnsen and William Gallas all being linked away from the club. In the end, the only serious exit was from Sam Dalla Bona (who I can report has been out of action lately due to splinters in his arse- too much bench warming!), although Slavisa Jokanovic was put out of his misery and released from his contract. In came Quique De Lucas on a free and that was our transfer dealings!

With the start of the season fast approaching, pundits were queing up to write off the Blues. Rodney Marsh actually tipped us to be mid table this year. And with only 30 mins gone against Charlton we were 2-0 down. That turned into a 3-2 win and we have barely looked back since. Stunning home form (bar a defeat to West Ham) and resiliant away form has taken us to second place.

Quite a year really... In a table published in the newspapers yesterday, Chelsea had the 4th best record in the Premiership in the year 2002. The teams above us- Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. And who says that there's a crisis at Stamford Bridge?

So, with so much to come in 2003 for the club, it looks as if we are going to have a lot to cheer about, hence a lot of things for me and Steve to write about. We hope you have enjoyed the year as much as we have...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!