'A Good Going Rover' with Vital Chelsea

Next up for the interview section here on Vital Blackburn is Merlin of Vital Chelsea. We always treat you guys well but we didnt have an edition of 'A Good Going Rover' for the derby last week for fear of a mini riot!

But we are back (in black) and Merlin is up for the hot seat. You know the drill, cup of tea, sit down etc etc...

1) So how is the season going for Chelsea? Are the fans happy?

Reasonably! We`ve had a couple of hiccups on the road - at Wigan and Aston Villa, but apart from that everything is rosy. A win against you lot, on Saturday, will take us back to the top of the Premier League and our qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League looks almost assured. All we`re lacking is one really handsome victory to improve our goal difference!

2) Is Carlo Ancelotti measuring up well in comparison to the very well liked Guus Hiddink?

They`re difficult shoes to fill. Guus came in and rescued a season that was going badly off the rails and also took us to a FA Cup triumph as well. He was also well liked, had a great rapport with everyone and we didn`t really want him to leave, but Russia called too loud and he wouldn`t break his agreement with them.

Ancelotti is slightly different but he has that aura about him that commands respect and he`ll be given time, unlike Scolari and Grant, to build a dynasty.

3) What is the current Chelsea fan consensus on Roman Abramovich?

Don`t believe all the crap you see in the papers about Roman having fallen out of love with football, if that was the case why would he go to Griffin Park, Brentford, on a Monday evening to watch our reserves?

It`ll never be forgotten what he's done for our club, much in the same way as you`ll never forget what Jack Walker did for you lot.

Just because he`s not that visible on the television, doesn`t give interviews and is rarely seen in public doesn`t mean he`s any less of a fan than us.

In short Roman is a diamond geezer!

4) Is there any Rovers player that you feel could pose a threat tomorrow evening?
That Samba chap! He`s tall, he`s powerful and our frailty from set pieces worries me!

5) Which trophy would you sacrifice to win the other and why - Premier League or Champions League?

You certainly pick them! You know we crave a victory in the Champions League Final and a little part of me would love to see us, in May, stuff Real Madrid in there own backyard but then I`d prefer to do it as Champions of England! Nothing beats winning the top league in your own country, thirty-eight games of hard craft, grinding out results, overcoming disappointment and driving onwards and upwards. So I guess it`ll be the Premier League for me then!

6) What`s your opinion on Big Sam?

Bit disappointed he shaved off that moustache; he`ll never get a job in a Village People tribute band now! I often wondered if he regretted leaving Bolton to go to Newcastle, he was relatively safe at Bolton and he jumped into a job that was a no win situation. If you give him a fair crack of the whip he`ll do well for you - hang onto him and give him time.

7) Can you please send an email to Carlo Ancelotti asking if we can keep Franco Di Santo till May please?

I think the answer would come back the same as the one you already know about. Franco will be coming back to SW6 in January to offer cover for Didier Drogba who will be away on African Cup of Nations duty. But, I`ll give you a tip, if he`s not broken into the first team squad by then, ask about a young Italian striker we have on our books - Fabio Borini, scoring is second nature to this guy!

8) And finally can I grab a prediction from yourself?

Easy, 2-0 to Chelsea, goals from Drogba and Anelka!

Let me be the first to say thanks and good luck to Merlin and Vital Chelsea for the rest of the season. Just have all the luck in the world as of 8pm tomorrow or so...

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.