PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V WATFORD
TALKING POINTS
This time of year is a time for reflection and the counting of blessings, and it has to be said that whatever the misgivings over recent form, the Blues lie top of the table and are well-placed to succeed in all remaining tournaments. No team has won the oldest club competition, for which we compete this weekend, more times since 2000 than Chelsea's three. In fact, victories at Wembley, under Gianluca Vialli in 2000 and Guus Hiddink in 2009, top and tail the decade.
Even stripped of our four elite African players - three now at their pre-Africa Cup of Nations training camps - Watford know they will encounter a side - and supporters - determined to enjoy a great day out in May and lift the old trophy once again.
KEY STAT
2009 brought more Chelsea goals - 122 - than any year in the last decade, 41 wins have only been surpassed in 2005 when we achieved 42 from three fewer games.
The calendar year just passed consisted of 61 games in all competitions, 41 of which were won, 14 drawn and six lost. Fifty-four goals were conceded throughout 2009.
It is also the end of a decade that has been the most successful in the history of Chelsea FC. The Blues gatecrashed the cosy duopoly of Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League and have been the top flight's most consistent London side since the start of the 2000/1 season, with 753 points accrued, 14 more than the Gunners' 739, and second only to United's 784 to date. Liverpool have gathered 676 points over the same period.
In all competitions our Noughties record (1 January 2000-1 January 2010) is: played 566, won 344, drawn 133, lost 89. 1019 goals scored with 458 against. In this decade we won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and three Community Shields.
The Blues also reached the semi-finals phase of the Champions League five times, and for the first time in the club's history appeared in the final of Europe's elite competition.
In personal terms, Blues midfielder
Frank Lampard has notched up more games than any other Premier League player: 348.