Champions League draw

yes please....eagerly waiting for that.I dont have any sites other than ole ole from office.
Greatly appreciated

Lovely. Thanks very much, UEFA.

[sigh]

Oh christ, not again.

Yes, yet again! Third time in the last four years!!!

liverpool and then barca! We like to do it the hard way anyway so i'm still optimistic; Rome here we come!

Actually it's just hitting me, we're fucked. Roman's dream is put on hold for yet another season.

Small ray of hope; we're at home for the second leg against Liverpool and potentially Barca.

By the time we negotiate those ties, we'll be unbeatable in an anti-climactic final. Good thing is the Drogs and the Bison are back, on form, and will terrify Fat Bennie and his boys. How do they contain them two and Lamps and then get past Ricci, JT and Czec. No problem, we'll do this.

But United get the easy route, no doubt about it.

Final: Man Utd vs Chelsea..

Well, we have an opportunity to fix all the Scolari's mistakes. We can beat Poo in the CL, beat Arsen-Anal in the FA Cup and then beat Man USA in the CL final and FA Cup final.
KTBFFH!!!!!!

How utterly uninspiring and unexciting.

Man U and Arsenal get byes to the semi-final, we get royally fucked over. Again.

I completely refuse to believe it's random. I'm no Carol Vorderman, but I'd be interested to know the mathematics behind us continually getting them in the draw.

What's the point in having the draw anyway? The competition manages to introduce new levels of farce without a ball being kicked.

Some might say I'm bitter. I'd agree...

cool going for ManU atleast....But i Wanted ManU to give bak a 4-1 to pool.Missed a chance.

"How utterly uninspiring and unexciting."

I agree. One word: meh.

Homer Simpson also springs to mind: 'Booorring.'

Rick Parry, while trying to remain positive in front of the Sky cameras, seemed totally dejected.

Habs is right - some comfort in having 2nd leg at home against 'Poo like last year - and in semi if we get there.

What is this doom and gloom around this blog?! We have an opportunity, after they beat us in the league on Stamford Bridge, to show that we better!!! This is the only way I see it.
Keep your chins up, my dear Chelsea mates!!! Stronger the opposition more valuable the trophy!!!
KTBFFH!!!!

Reply to Fiftee:

How utterly uninspiring and unexciting.

Man U and Arsenal get byes to the semi-final, we get royally fucked over. Again.

I completely refuse to believe it's random. I'm no Carol Vorderman, but I'd be interested to know the mathematics behind us continually getting them...

Utterly, utterly ruined my day. Until this news I'd been a chirpy cheeky cockney chappy. Now I'm a mixture of Morrisey, Leonard Cohen and Miserabiist-in-Chief, Roger Waters.

And I'm with Fiftee, anyone tries to convince me that this wasn't FIXED, FUCKING FIXED, FIDDLED, PRE-PLANNED, BENT is going to incur full CT Wrath circa the 1978 version who used to frequent The Shed.

I am now working on a full game avoidance strategy as I'm over 50% sure that my cardio vascualr system is not up to yet another potential night of dour, dull football punctuated with moment sof utter dismay or orgasmic levels of joy.

Personally, in the true tradition of 'glass half empty' and as Habs so eloquently but accurately put it.......we're fucked.

Once we knock them out of the CL and finish ahead of them in the league, their double over us will mean absolutely fuck all. We're not the same team they beat twice this season and they know it.

Second leg at home. Bring them on. Let's end their season early.

Reply to Peregrine:

Once we knock them out of the CL and finish ahead of them in the league, their double over us will mean absolutely fuck all. We're not the same team they beat twice this season and they know it.

Second leg at home. Bring them on. Let's end their season early.

Thanks God, finally somebody who sees the things in the right way!!!!
KTBFFH!!!!

No team is underestimated.but,the way forward is easy for The Blues 'coz the team is now at stable condition.The only thing i believe is that at least one goal should be secured in the first leg at Livpl's home.

Well at least, (you say to yourself) Mike Riley wont be the referee?

Probably not, but wait, they've sampled his DNA and are trying to find the closest match on the UEFA panel

@ltb
I may have a cert to say I'm one of the appointed, but I've now joined the ranks of the (bitterly) disappointed.

One minor saving grace - at least last season's CL fixtures with them produced some goals and a modicum of excitement, as opposed to the numerous soul-sapping games that went before.

Aside of anything else, I'd just like a meaningful, business end CL knockout game against non-English opposition. Not too much to ask, is it?

We just have to accept our annual draw against Looserpoo, is a tradition we should all be proud of. It's a double act that's as British as Morecombe & Wise, Little & Large, The Two Ronnies and Cannon & Ball... Oh God forbid!

Another two games that will fill me full of dread.

Reply to BlueMe:

No team is underestimated.but,the way forward is easy for The Blues 'coz the team is now at stable condition.The only thing i believe is that at least one goal should be secured in the first leg at Livpl's home.

I agree that we need to score at Anfield - we saw the importance of Riise's own goal last year and Liverpool will almost certainly be playing 4-2-3-1 for the entire tie. They've already knocked us out with a phantom goal and penalties; the only cheap way past us they haven't used us would be away goals. Their scoring at the Bridge has become a lot more likely since Torres' arrival.

I wouldn't swap Torres for Drogba. I wouldn't swap Gerrard for Bison OR Lamps. I wouldn't swap any of their backline for ours. I think they have it over us with their midfield shield: Mascherano is better than Mikel at this stage of his career. As for the rest of their team I wouldn't want any of them near our training ground let alone first team. Which leaves the managers. And despite his undoubted skills in plotting a boring and stifling route past superior opponents (last Sat's one-off notwithstanding) I wouldn't swap managers. Guus will love this challenge, as will the boys. We should too.

i saw the draw while drinking a cup of coffee, after my weekend shopping in the local supermarket - and as soon as i saw us drawn against 'pool i started laughing - only to be smiled back by a really hot chick that was sitting in the direction of the telly.
now, what does a married man do when that happens...? nothing, my friends - but it felt nice...and then i remembered the draw and the moment was gone.
i am sure that we can beat them over two games - but i just dread watching the faces of gerrard and benitez all over again, with the usual bs they share with the journos - who are have the most difficult task of having to write something new about this tie - that wasn't written 38476 times in the last 5 years.

oh, and pitty that riise went to roma...;)

Reply to dannybrod:

I wouldn't swap Torres for Drogba. I wouldn't swap Gerrard for Bison OR Lamps. I wouldn't swap any of their backline for ours. I think they have it over us with their midfield shield: Mascherano is better than Mikel at this stage of his career. As for the rest of their team I wouldn't want any of...

x2

I've decided the CL is like small town wife swapping parties in the 70's(forgive the non pc references).

All very daring and exciting at the outset, but after a few years, you just find yourself knocking up against the same ol' gals and get's difficult to keep your interest up.

Reply to Fiftee:

How utterly uninspiring and unexciting.

Man U and Arsenal get byes to the semi-final, we get royally fucked over. Again.

I completely refuse to believe it's random. I'm no Carol Vorderman, but I'd be interested to know the mathematics behind us continually getting them...

I agree with you: There's no way this is random

Reply to Blue_MikeL:

Well, we have an opportunity to fix all the Scolari's mistakes. We can beat Poo in the CL, beat Arsen-Anal in the FA Cup and then beat Man USA in the CL final and FA Cup final.
KTBFFH!!!!!!

Plenty of opportunities for our boys to earn their keep :)

Reply to BlueBayou:

I've decided the CL is like small town wife swapping parties in the 70's(forgive the non pc references).

All very daring and exciting at the outset, but after a few years, you just find yourself knocking up against the same ol' gals and get's difficult to keep your interest up.

Speaking from experience? If so do share....

Come on chaps - WTF - Chelsea Tony suck it up buddy. Aside from a phantom goal (we should have hammered them at the bridge but for some poor finishing) we have been the better team.

This yr we have drogs angry at his last final, essien back wanting to take it out on everyone for not being able to play for so long. Frank pissed that he was taken the piss out of in red nose day by Mr Corden. Riccy back and Cech back to his best.

No doubt we will win this.

It wont be pretty though.

Actually, this time, I have a positive feeling. We are on Form, the Essien is back and Drogs is looking good again plus the second leg at the bridge!!!! Yes! i actually feel good!! Come on Chels!!

if eufa could buy back the tv-rights for that game then at least it won't be shown oversees as a game of football.

Reply to BlueBayou:

I've decided the CL is like small town wife swapping parties in the 70's(forgive the non pc references).

All very daring and exciting at the outset, but after a few years, you just find yourself knocking up against the same ol' gals and get's difficult to keep your interest up.

Excellent analogy.

i've just had the shock of my life. turns out 'moffat' rhymes as 'muppet'

i'm now 'spencer'(for good).

We do miss Grant's magical CL draw touch. I am worried about Barca though. We should get through Liverscum though.

all Goose has done is lubricate a screaching jauggernut machine. and Fat Jaffa is going to (un)screw it. ;-b

We're perfectly capable of beating 'Poo over two legs, that's not what everyone's so depressed about. It's the numbing tediousness of it. This is supposed to be the alpha male of club football competitions, the great glamorous festival occasion that spans the continent and brings together the giants of the European stage etc etc etc etc [copyright C. Tyldesley], and instead we end up having to face off yet again against a team we are almost bored of hating, while knowing that we'll be unable to emit a good solid stool for 48 hours before each game.

Silver linings:

1) it's not the semis. So there's not quite as much tension.

2) if we get past the 'Poo our reward will be a proper European tie.

The most appalling thing is that there will be three English teams in the semi-finals, again. That's why I don't believe this is fixed. If it was fixed they would leave no possibility of a repeat of last year's final, and they would have drawn the four English teams against each other.

Another expensive month what with Arse semi-final, Newcastle away, Liverpool home and away.

But why's everyone moaning? Just think, you could support QPR

portooooooooo....
i believe

Groundhog Day....!

No need for doom and gloom though.... We are a far better side than we were earlier in the season, and reckon we will beat them.

Jeez...
this is really starting to be annoying...
I don't think that we can't beat them...I think we can, I just...well...third time in four years...

anyway
(we have to) keep the blue flag fly high :)

This is going to be Goose's first real test tactically. I'm worried about Lenon's speed&skill , the artisty of Modric, a quick Bent and the best tackling DM, in Palacios. I don't see our fluid and formless setup coping at all. I don't believe our standard eleven suits all occasions, hence my lineup for today would be:

Cech; Bos, Alex,Ter, Cash; OBI,BELLETTI;[1 of(Lamps, Ballack,Deco)];Quaresma,Drog,Kalou

at half time, the boys and Hiddink knew man-u were 1-0 down and one man down. We had a chance to close the gap to just four points even if man-u had won their game in hand. Now you can bet liverpool will be three points above us tomorrow.....not one effing goal! not one! oh well.......

Watching that game, we were shocking. No pace, passion or ideas. It was like a bad Avram or Scolari game and part of the blame must be put at Guus' door. The Belletti decision was wrong and he waited too long to make changes. What's the difference in losing 1-0 or 2-0 when you know anything but a win will put us out of the title race? When we went for it in the final 10 mins we created some half chances but we didn't deserve anything from today. The 4-1-3-2 was exposed by Lennon as i feared it would be and we looked slow and unbalanced today. I did think that the team would show more fight knowing the Utd result but we seemed to accept defeat.

So that's title definitely over and on this showing Rome looks very distant indeed.

We could close the lead to ONE point!!!!!!!!! Damn This is the story of this season, we do not take opportunities!!!!

Bloody hell. Losing to Spurs is bad enough, but after Fulham did the business it's even harder to take. Sickening in fact.

Hard to gauge from radio commentary, but it sounded like we played really poorly. Guus' honeymoon is over.

WE ARE TOTTENHAM, SUPER TOTTENHAM, WE ARE TOTTENHAM, FROM THE LANE :D

ballack's the new malouda. why is he playing ahead of mikel, and what happened to kalou?

Most disappointing; sounds like we were fairly poor save for the last 15 minutes. Not sure what Mikel and Kalou have done; surely better options than Ballack and Belletti?

Similar to last season really - not taking the chances when the opportunity arises; coming up 5-10% short when it matters is the mark of a 2nd / 3rd placed team unfortunately.

Reply to KaiserJonny_II:

Most disappointing; sounds like we were fairly poor save for the last 15 minutes. Not sure what Mikel and Kalou have done; surely better options than Ballack and Belletti?

Similar to last season really - not taking the chances when the opportunity arises; coming up 5-10% short when...

Totally agree. We are almost there but are just not good enough to be no. 1 anymore. We're almost good enough to be Champions and we're almost good enough to win the CL but in the end we just aren't quite good enough. We seem to bottle it in the title race when it comes o the must-win, end of season games and as we'll see in the CL, we'll put up a good fight but in the end come up short. Some of Guus' decisions are baffling but ultimately the squad isn't worthy of winning the biggest trophies.

Some one opens the door for us, but the best we can do is walk into the frame.

PL over.

What is worse than feeling sad and angry after your team lost the game, and probably the chance for the title?
I feel empty.
Very empty.
This was probably, our only opportunity to come close Man U ...and now its lost...
It was happening last season ...they lose, we lose.We win , they win. They draw we draw.
It is annoying. There is no club in the universe that I hate more than Manchester United ( ...I hate them more than Arsenal or Tottenham or Liverpool)
But ...lets face the facts...

1. Our team is too old...its its the same team for three years in the row...little changes happening, but thats not enough.

2.Now please... do not hate me because of this , like you dislike Moffat, but our best player, the player who could change the game in a minute-Frank Lampard is not the same guy anymore...I am saying this , not because of the game against Tottenham, there is no reason, but because of all the games this year. He is simply , older and worse than before. He can score against Hull, but can't score against Manchester United,Liverpool or Arsenal... That was possible before...now its not.

3. I don't like Mourinho very much... I now, I am a traitor... hate me... I know he is funny, elegant and good manager, but he inherited the squad from Ranieri, had all the money of the world to be the best...and he used it wisely and was the best for two years...So, I don't think he should come back...

4.Ballack And Malouda- two players who do suck (ballack was good last season, this season he is horrible) but always play. God knows why.

I don't know if its going to be better next season, I doubt it.

We should concentrate on CL now...

And one more thing... We are blaming the managers ...Scolari was horrible, but it wasn't all his fault.

Its the team that requires changing... no matter that we can still beat some strong teams, team needs to change...Of course, Terry is irreplacable and some other players ...but the team needs to change.

If we change managers like we did until now, we will never win anythig.

Hiddink is a good manager.
But he isn't a wizard...and I have a feeling that Zola is the only one who can take us out of this hell...

SARAH.......dont worry, if you have a persoanl dislike of someone then you dont have to like them but facts are facts, yes he lost against man-u in the Cl but his squad, which i watch every week is full of old players of which at least 8 need to go. BUT guess what...he still has not lost a league home game, now nealry 7 years and is going to win a third title in another league and has already won cup. Now, even if you dont like him, fine but if you basing things on facts then he is still the nbest manager in the world simple as, even FIFA/UEFA facts say it...still, we need to move on. maybe we can still win it with man-u losing rooney and shcoles for three weeks!!

DIO... Yes, he is a good manager... But ...listen... RaNIERI was... weird manager , he still is. He knew one thing (Ranieri) to find the talents. Terry started with him, he bought Bridge, Joe Cole ,Duff, CLAUDE MAKELELE and Gallas.
Mourinho bought Carvalho,Essien ,Drogba,Cech and Robben.
They were really useful.The rest stuff he bought ...was...most of them were just waste of money and time.
Now he is in Inter. Whole squad is MANCINI-MADE.
He bought Muntari ...yes, that was smart. Mancini( the player) ...he is not playing.Quaresma- disappointment ( I knew that well happen) . What did he do with Inter? Yes, he didn't lose a home game, he didn't lose it with us ...thats magnificent. BUT... Referees are really helping Inter in Serie A. It was like that when Mancini was here, it is like that now.
Inter is going to win Serie A 100 %. But Mourinho was brought because of Champions League. Mancini also won Serie A.

I can't say I hate him: How can I hate a man who brought us so many trophies, he showed class, style and didn't allow anyone to ''mess with Chelsea'' . But, I don't adore him...I think he made mistakes and I don't think is the best manager in the world. I think sometimes, with his statements, he goes over the limit...

He did one thing I can't forget.Selling Robben.I miss him more than mAKELELE , my favourite player. Makelele, got fine replacement called MIkel and Essien can play on Maka's position... But...Robben was class, no matter how many times he was injured... He is one of the best left wingers (if not the best) in the world and I can't watch him in Real Madrid shirt...Especially , that Robben didn't get a decent replacement. MALOUDA? WTF?!

Don't get me wrong... EverybodY makes mistakes...its normal. But Mourinho didn't want to confess that he made some mistakes and didn't want to change things around...When they required changing.

Anyway...I would like more that he stayed than having Grant and Scolari, but I don't think of him as a hero or God.

If anybody reads the comment above ...well...you guys are patient :)

Sarah, no problem with any of your comments. I think we all understand your passion and why today feels so bad. For me it is indicative of an ageing squad in part but also of players who simply aren't good enough - Malouda is my hate figure above all.

I do agree...a new man at the helm and some fresh new players....btw I hear Quaresma made a good difference today so can some explain why he isn't starting?

Quaresma did offer us the width we were clearly missing but he was erratic and Gronkjaer esque in his crossing. His constant step-overs and diving were also pathetic and kind of showed why he was a flop at Barca and Inter. The move to bring on a winger was correct but it came too late and we should have seen Kalou on the pitch in a 4-4-2 when trying to grab the win we needed.

we cant win every game..not's not reality but really, knowing what was going on at fulhma with a ten men....my hate figure has for some time become ballack...Malouda and the feminine kalou in a mans game are as we know useless most of the time but ballack is really starting to annoy me rotten every effing game. once he loses the ball he runs back and fouls his man..and Man-u fans talk about Berbatov looking lazy, well surely ballack is the same....and the problem is he is in midfield where we need to close th eopposition down fast.
@ Sarah, i agree that Jose sometimes overdid with his words but so what if he inherited Ranieri squad, what has Ranieri won in nearly ten years? and as for Inter, well, they were given the league three years ago, no competition the next year beacuse of the relegated big sides and only won last year in the last 30 minutes. This year they are 7 points ahead and as for refeering decions, try looking at those awarded to Juventus and Milan this year..quite disgracefull after the scandal........

Had to watch it in a Tottenham pub!

Frustrating because on the other screen I could see Utd losing.

We simply didn't create enough, just too conservative.

I am gutted, simply gutted.... damn season of lost opportunities. I do agree with somebody, who said above: "Hiddink lost tactically".

Two words really... "missed opportunity"

Reply to Fiftee:

How utterly uninspiring and unexciting.

Man U and Arsenal get byes to the semi-final, we get royally fucked over. Again.

I completely refuse to believe it's random. I'm no Carol Vorderman, but I'd be interested to know the mathematics behind us continually getting them...

This is Platini's way of trying to get the Final they all wanted last year!!!! ManUre vs Barca

Reply to Clive:

Two words really... "missed opportunity"

Well, Clive finally we agree with each other "Missed opportunity" ... nothing else.

Reading the above reminds me of Danny Baker's 'Bi-Polar' comments from a week or two ago.......

For christ sake..... We were poor, Tottenham were no better, they got a goal with their one chance, and we hit the bar with ours.

Not sure why he started with Belletti, Lampard was anonymous, he seemed to play Anelka as the focal point with Drogba on the wing (an unmitigated failure) and, in my opinion, when he brought Quaresma on, he played him on the wrong wing (He has been far more effective on the left, to date).

Real opportunity missed, but the Mancs now have to play next couple of games without Vidic, Scholes and Rooney so there is still a (very faint) glimmer of hope..... I just hope Liverpool don't nick the league from under both our noses.