Despite the disappointment of defeat at the Bridge to Liverpool last weekend – and, to be fair, Chelsea hassled and fought to the bitter end for an equaliser that never came – there's still a surprisingly buoyant mood.
Everyone knows the limitations Frank Lampard is working under. He has one hand tied behind his back thanks to the transfer ban, and he's doing his best to give the next generation a genuine chance to shine.
The return of N'Golo Kante last Sunday, and the superb individual goal he magically conjured up, showed Blues fans what they'd been missing for weeks.
The only real mystery was why, moments before kick-off against the Scousers, a giant banner celebrating Eden Hazard was manhandled across the Matthew Harding stand.
When you have a storage room full of giant banners, it's an understandable mistake to select the wrong one.
'What the flipping heck is that?' chanted the Liverpool fans at the Shed End (I think those were the words – Merseyside accents can be difficult).
Games come thick and fast. Chelsea host Brighton this weekend, with the Seagulls posing more of a threat than they did last season.
What banner can Blues fans look forward to seeing unfurled this time? Jose Mourinho's Blue & White Army? John Terry for captain? Peter Bonetti for England? Eddie Niedzwiecki is my Scrabble score? Ted Drake for prime minister? Gianfranco Zola for Bake-Off?
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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