Champions League Final: Manchester United 1 - 1 Chelsea (aet; Manchester United win 6 - 5 on penalties)

In the end it was Terry's slip that meant that Man Utd won the European Cup and Chelsea didn't. Both teams deserved to win, there was no clearly better team.

Cracking game, thoroughly depressed to lose though.

Unfortunate! Played well in the end!! Just that luck had to be a part of the game.

Cruel game of football. I think we deserve some recognition for what we have achieved this season even without silverware. Lets take a break from Chelsea. Give ourselves a few days to recover and get behind the boys again. Looking forward an exciting summer of transfers. Hopefully some decent players coming in will reduce the pain bit by bit.

Cheers.

John Terry….You miss a penalty…u miss a dozen penalties…and then go on to miss again next year finals too…..We will still love you like always! Hats off to the blue brigade.. Heartbreaking, but football isn’t always fair.

I feel like utter shit, I never want us to be involved in a penalty shootout ever again. Five shootouts, five loses and three of them against United, and what is it with the woodwork that saves them in Champions league finals?

The conclusion to the end of our season has left us all deflated, and us much as I'll read the rallying calls from some of our bloggers, it will make no difference.
This defeat will take a while to get over in it's manner, and if it's proved one thing to every other football fan and pundit out there, then money doesn't guarantee you trophies.

Also one great highlight which the camera picked up was a great big Chelsea banner(it brought a smile to my face anyway) which read, "Scouse Free Zone"

Im with u Clive, I feel utterly shattered by coming so close to the width of a post to winning our first CL Cup. It doesn't matter that 2 months ago none of us believed we would get this far under AG, the fact is we lost on penalties again, we missed a golden opportunity to cement our name in history and we will never be able to win the 2008 CL league again. Sure we will be up there again next year barring a major walkout of players, but that thought doesn't do anything to diminish the terrible feeling after losing again to Man U on penalties.

Come on the Chels... JT enjoy your summer holiday and come back bigger, stronger and more determined next year to win it.

KTBFFH

The scouse free zone sign was quite heartwarming. I don't like blaming ref's. Its an excuse but I need something to blame given that the men in blue deserved to win. That cunt ronaldo solidified his inability to play in big matches, his goal was a joke as essien for god knows what reason refused to jump...ronaldos other contribution being one darting run to cross. Player of the year against Fulham and Wigan and such but he's worthless in big games. But the ref! Did you see lampard get hauled down in the box, Joe cole kicked in the face, malouda on the 6 yard box tripped by that shithead ferdinand. Oh the agony. We had quality saves by Cech. They have a fucking post that denied lampard and drogba 2 amazing shots. Poor Terry slipped, over excited and planted to hard, man u won because of some rain. Ill give it to them they are a good side, much better than the scouse fucks we so often encounter but that pretty boy half gallon of gel ronaldo doesn't deserve a medal. Despite scholes blindsiding maka I respect him for at least consoling our boys. Oh well, I'm done ranting. Next year it shall be ours

I feel drained, emotionally, mentally and physically. I had put my all into this final and I felt numb at the time. I couldn't feel anything. We were so close. So close...

But it's over. It wasn't meant to be. Lady luck was not on our side and we just have to accept it. And I dont blame this on John Terry. No matter what happens, I still love him. It wasn't his fault. The fact is that it just wasnt our day.

I thought we were amazing today. I really cant blame this on anyone. Not even Avram. We were just so unlucky. Those who think that we will just fade away after this are sorely mistaken. We've comeback from worse. The players have immaculate characters and it will take more than one cruel loss to pull us down.

I'm just trying not to think about it. The more I do, the worse I feel. It's best just accepting what happenned and looking forward to next season. Like what Jang said, lets take a break from Chelsea and come back for an exciting summer. I'm sure it will be. Lots of departures and arrivals. And we will be up there next season, challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League.

Enough said. The European Cup will be ours next season.

KEEP THE BLUE FLAG FLYING HIGH... and UR STILL THE BEST JOHN TERRY!

So it came to this.......

I really felt it in my gut that we had this one. When Chech stuffed Ronaldo I was so Elated! In the end, we missed 2wice!!!

I know we were the better team in the 2nd half. Essien should have been played in his natural central role. Who knows if the "Beast" would have had a better outcome.
I'm proud of my "BLUES" & will continue to Always support them.

No matter what the outcome is........

Tell the devils, Never to confuse 'winning' with 'victory'.

John Terry doesn't slip, and we go from inconsolable to the inconceivable. That's how close this was. It couldn't have happened to anyone worse- not only does Terry deserve his reputation, his deflection of Giggs's shot was frankly miraculous.

I'm sure it will not take long for the knives to come out, but for now I stand in awe of a "trophyless" season. One minute away from deciding the Premiership on goal differential. One misstep away from winning the Big Ears. One poor result away from taking the Carling Cup. Playing 'the best team in europe' off the pitch in the second half.

Perhaps it hurts a bit more because we were always so close, but this season truly was an incredible body of work when all is said and done.

Random thought- I'm impressed with Belletti taking such a smooth penalty when he found out he was fired only days before...

Emotionally shattered this morning. We thoroughly deserved to win last night but I suppose that's football. No recriminations, no regrets but I think that what makes me feel worse is John Terry missing his penalty - no one should have to feel that way, especially not JT.
It's been a dizzying ride this year but as Jang said a break will do us all good.
Next season we'll be bigger, better & bluer.....

i am just so disappointed, because we deserved it, as much as manunited did. it was so close...

we shouldn't feel like losers. losers are those that stay down, and don't come back. we will. some players will leave, new ones will come, and next year we'll come back stronger and more determined. and a little bit luckier, i hope. ;)

i just can't but keep wondering, what might have happened, if we ALL just stood behind the team and the staff through the season, instead of constant bitching and moaning and pressuring them, especially AG. oh, well...maybe it's just me.

PS drogba IS a loser. i can't wait to see the back of him.

Great game... pity that it did not go the right way for us... but our team gave us a performance that we can be proud of... it has been told that we were the lucky team in this years CL! some luck we have! lol...

regarding Drogs, he is usually a cool man and pulls people away in confrontations... m sure Vidic must have said something to make the Drog mad... but to react like that gives the ref no option... hope this was not his last act in the sacred Blue... but if it was, then thanks for the memories Drog, you have been great for us...

and while watching on last night, I was praying that the last substitution we make was Cudicini for Cech... Cudicini is nt the shot stopper Cech is... but he has almost a 50% success rate at blocking penalties... which i think is awesome for any keeper to have... why we do not use him, well, who knows, mayb he aint doing the same in trainings!!! lol...

looking forward to mext season already...

KTBFFH...

Absolutely gutted. I agree no rallying calls today will make me smile.

Great write up Nick - i dont agree drogs won his battle though - i thought vidic/ferdinand had him very quiet and in their pockets. I was so disappointed with him, the only contribution other than a great one off shot which hit the post was getting sent off. Useless.

The rest of the team were warriors out there. Anelka looked like he didnt want to be there when he stepped up.

Chin up JT - it happens to the best of them. If the gods hadnt decided you were going to slip - it was in!! Van der sar went the wrong way!

I guess onwards and upwards but right now that is hard to think about.

Yep close as that. Manyoo are a fantastic team with some great players, great team spirit, a great manager, great coaching staff and stability we don't have. Yet, a lapse of concentration at home to Wigan and JT's slip on the wet grass is all that divides us. I don't begrudge them their double. Though I think we outplayed them for most of the game once the first half hour was over. We will be back. Our record in the Champs League is actually very good when you take into account the amount of times we've qualified for it. I'm sure we will be back in the final again and again over the next five years and we will win it. Oh, and, almost forgot: we played with some style didn't we? Passing the so-called masters off the park. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Good things will come of this defeat.

The sun is shining here on the Med, reckon it'll get to around 24/25 today. Just that alone makes me think perhaps the world isn't that bad. When AG took the reigns I publicly said here we would not win a trophy this season, and just for once my prediction was right. But boy, what a run in. I doubt English football will ever see the likes again with 2 teams pitted against each other to the death and that alone for the neutrals and cynics shows the healthy state of English football. Like I said in the previous post - the positive PR gained from being plucky losers must have Greenberg/Kenyon rubbing their hands with glee. The club everyone hates is redeeming itself by losing and doing so with dignity. I may be a cynic, but if that means next year or the year after that we complete a Grand Slam to the respect of the press/media/sponsors/neutrals then today will merely be seen as a stepping stone to a greater calling.

Oh how times change, just 7 short years ago I was thrilled at being in an FA Cup Final and like everyone else, such are my expectation levels unreasonably elevated these days, it could seem a s if a disaster season has hit us. But Arsenal have won nothing for 4 years, and United have had the odd barren year. I guess that what life at the top does for you. I still feel that the departure of JM derailed us when a season was under way and had he departed after the FA Cup final then maybe things might have been different.

In all fairness we ran the season closer than I expected and this is is no doubt down to the players AND the interim management team, but after raising the bar 4 years ago, we have sat back and let Man Utd hurdle the bar. Last nights defeat was no different to settling the game on the toss of a coin. I once said that JM made our lads to a 'guard of honour' in order to make sure they knew how rotten they felt and to never let that happen again. Well, as a tactic it seems to have failed dismally, because runners up in 3 competitions is masochism taken to the extreme and the scars will not be easily removed from the players no matter how much filthy lucre is thrown at them.

My fear is that, like England, this may serve us to pull our horns in and become even more cautious and guarded in big games. Of course it could always send s the other way and galvanise us to push even harder, but despite what the 'blue evangelists' may think it will be even harder next year. Make no mistake, Manure will re-invest and build on this, Arsenal may be hurting but Wenger will be determined to prove his philosophy is viable and they will be stronger again. And then there's Liverpool - surely Tubby will want to make that concerted effort to win the league...and remember if Liverpool finish above fourth, then someone else moves down.

I'm starting my post season review now, but of course will leave a decent amount of time before allowing that particular can of worms to be aired publicly. For now, the first thing I would do if I were AG is withdraw all Chelsea players from the forthcoming England farces. Fuck Capello - if he thinks England would be better without our boys then so be it, but we all know England would be worse without them. Our boys need a rest and some well earned playtime to try and help heal the physical and mental scars of this season. Come on Chelsea, do the right thing and let the boys have a decent break.

It's hard to know what to write, because I don't really know how I feel.

From 1 - 1, we were the best side in it. No doubt. Hit the woodwork twice, one or two dubious challenges from them went unpunished (particularly Ferdinand trying to decapitate Joe Cole with his studs).

But what does it matter. For all the 'we were better', 'should have been a penalty', 'Ronaldo was anonymous, completely anonymous' comments we can come up with it changes nothing. I won't feel any better. We lost. End of.

There's no point even saying I dont blame JT. We wouldn't have even been going to penalties were it not for him - that surely was one of the best clearances of all time. The bloke can be shit for the rest of his career, but will always be an utter Chelsea legend. I feel really sorry for him, one of the most dedicated and commited players on the pitch week in, week out; he had the balls to step up and take the penalty. His whole season has been a torrent of injuries and disappointment and ended in the cruelest way possible. For him, I think I'd rather have lost 4 - 0 in 90 minutes than on one kick. It's a horrible thing to say, but I'd rather anyone other than him was the one to have missed. He simply doesnt deserve to live with it. He'll bounce back from it, undoubtedly.

It was a crap journey home from work last night, all the fairweather Man USA fans made their way out of the woodwork and into my way on the commute home. In Norwich. Everywhere I looked, there was another faded red retro ManUSA shirt (maybe they dont sell current ones out my way...). Sky's coverage started at 6, and Chelsea finally got a mention at 6.55. I was beginning to wonder if ManUSA were actually playing against anyone else, such was the almost offensive lack of Chelsea.

And so through the pain of 120 minutes (and penalties) we end up with Richard 'I could be Teen Wolf' Keys in the studio and, incredibly, they're going on about how the best team won. I'm wondering if my Sky box is broken but no. ITV are the same. Maybe it was all the Kronenborg Cru I drank; Maybe it was the lack of food or my comparitive love for Chelsea and hatred for ManUSA but I'm sure we were the best team.

And it still counts for absolutely nothing.

Oh, and Didier, close the door on your way out. You were 5 minutes from a 'thanks for the memories' type recollection of all you did for us, but you erased all of that in one girly slap. Which kind of sums up half your time with us anyway.

It really pains me to say this but when will our time to be kings of Europe come? This is definately not the last final for us but i hope i have a life spend long enough to see Terry our any future captain lift Elven Ears.

Would like to add to the bad, the referee – absolute disgrace, so many wrong decisions all against us…shocking

Lampard and Terry are simply legends, they symbolise Chelsea and they make me proud to be Chelsea fan. Drogba just the opposite! He is not fit to be in one team with those guys.
Expecting big changes in the summer!

Just one more thing. Sometimes you have to suffer the bad in order to relish the good. This is such a time, remember that one day we will know the good again.

I am off for a long bike ride into Beziers along the Canal du Midi in the warm sunshine.

I will be wearing my 04/05 Premier League Champions watch and my Chelsea shirt with utter pride and every ounce of defiance in my body.

Coz we are THE Chelsea
And we are THE Best
We ARE the CHELSEA so FUCK ALL THE REST.

*wipes emotional tear from eye, gulps once again to prevent heartfelt sob, takes deep breath, saddles up and rides on*

I loved the 2nd half, other time was a bit boring. I have to say those referees were really strange. Of course Drogba didn't have to do that and Terry didn't have to shot the last penalty. But maybe it showed we were a bit inexperienced in CL. JT may suffer a lot this summer but I always have faith in him. He's the IRON MAN. Whatever happen to Chelsea this summer, there's bound to be a fresh new start when the new season begin.
HAVE FAITH.

It may be too early at the moment,we're all hurting and angry but we have to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off.

We can all point the finger at someone or something,I moaned about the ref all night,all we can do move is on and vow to return even stronger next season.

We will ALWAYS be Chelsea fans it has never been an easy journey and it probably never will be.

Manure we're not the better team,they just had more luck than us.It is possible that we may never reach the final again but we are built of stronger stuff than most teams.

I'm sure that the mistakes made this year will be rectified next season.
We will never lie down and let people write us off.
We wll be like a wounded lion,hurting and ready to fight

WE ARE CHELSEA,WE WILL NEVER DIE.

I AM PROUD TO BE A CHELSEA FAN,SO SHOULD YOU.

The cruel ... cruel game of football.

No worries, we have Bosingwa in the next season.... GO CHELSEA!!!

If we can further improve our standards of play from this season with more cutting edge built on our solidity in midfield and at the back, im hopeful that another beckons. We need to keep our strengths and improve the weak areas. Thats the only way up. Thats why i really hope that the spine of this team stays intact. Then we can put some young quality players around this experienced backbone. Thats why im looking so forward to this summer.

My untouchable spine:

Cech
A.Cole
Carvalho
Terry
Essien
Lampard
Ballack
J.Cole

Now we need 3 more quality and relatively young legs to fill in the void. Drogba is pending.

Despite scholes blindsiding maka I respect him for at least consoling our boys

agree to the core: noble gesture. Have Horseface watch it clockwork orange-style. i may dislike scholes' tackles but that's sportsmanship.

who has the nerve to take a peep at some MUSA blog?

Bluetone - what was the italian opinion? good final? enjoy it? or bitter no itai's were there and slagged us all off?

Anyone else impatiently waiting for the start of the season ???

August 16th can't come round soon enough...

Fifty - i love the transfer time - i cant wait to see who we roll in and roll out!! Then i will be chomping at the bit.

I am now very worried for my last team. Chels lost everything, England lost everything, can italy put it right or will they too (typically) go out on pens at the Euro.

@ 26 Fifty - personally I'm quite looking forward to Euro 2008 first.

Probably due to being born north of the border I don't think England's absence renders the tournament lacking in interest even if we will be denied their traditional plucky exit in quarter/semi finals - though having both Austria and Switzerland there highlights the downside of this joint-hosting nonsense.

Still feel just sick about last night - with my only consolation being that for our long term improvement at least this won't paper over the cracks and disguise the changes that need to happen.

TG - don't wait too long with that end of season review - can't help thinking that events may start to move fairly rapidly from here.....

Munks

Live commentary by Dossena, predictably droning praise on MUSA. Back in the studio though Collovati was full of praise for JT, and generally they thought we had been unlucky.

Everyone agreed it was a great final. no bitterness, thank god.

EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE · 10:46 AM · 22nd May

Probably due to being born north of the border

Extrablue coz you're Rangers too? or Dundee? :)

I just can't bear a trophyless season for my beloved Chelsea, but then I have not expected too much since 20 September 2007.

God bless Chelsea FC!

Jesus Christ loves you all...

27. BlueMunkeyfeet · 10:42 AM · 22nd May

can italy put it right or will they too (typically) go out on pens at the Euro

i have a feeling it could be Germany's year. France possibly. Portugal maybe. Holland why not. Italy unlikely

I disagree entirely FIFTY... not with your general assessment of JT because yes he is indeed a legend and always will be. My disagreement is that I think it was a mistake for him to even contemplate taking the penalty himself, as captain he should have had the balls to pass the chance to someone more likely to put the ball away.

And yes Simont 20 September 2007 was a black day indeed. I'm not going to get into whether Avram is qualified, what he knows about football etc etc he knows more than me! What I will state without any fear of contradiction is that Jose was a man who knew how to inspire his troops to rise to the big occasions. How many time has that spirit been missing this season.

@ 30 Bluetone - no, my local team was Kilmarnock - jeez them, Scotland and now Chelsea for nearly 40 years I sure know what suffering with your team is like!

Gutted. Absolutely gutted. Got an exam later today but I can't think about anything other than this. Hurts so much.

I still love Chelsea to death (perversely, more than I would have loved them even if we'd won), but it feels like someone's torn a chunk out of my heart.

Gutted.

#27

Yea agree. So far nothing beats the summer where we signed Sheva and Ballack. But this summer could prove decisive. We need quality and not quantity. Yet we need to buy correctly. David Silva or Villa could ease my pain alittle. Even a Veloso or Quaresma would be cool.

I'm a bit 'meh' about the Euros, obviously due to us not being involved (I think the Dutch have a good chance, but I dont want Van Der Vaart to sparkle too much or we wont sign him...). Would however be nice for one of our players to experience some success this summer, so I'll take France for Nico, Maka and Florent, Germany for the Rolls Royce or the Czech's for Cech. Sorry Riccy and Paulo (and Jose) but your anonymous-against-us-again, wannabe big-time charlie team-mate Ronaldo who's expected to win it single handedly will disappear.

I just want the Prem to roll around again so we can try and put right what happened this / last season. No trophies hurts, and you know JT's already chomping at the bit to put things right.

The changes that will happen at the club, be it players and / or managerial, need to be made as soon as possible. We need to get the season off with a flyer.

34. Emma · 11:14 AM · 22nd May
"perversely, more than I would have loved them even if we'd won"


Same feeling here, hun. and it's not perverse, its perfectly human. I'm hurt too, but not bitter. It was a magnificent performance, one to be really proud of.

i firmly believe that the core of the team has the personality and determination to turn this blow into added strength

#42

I expect more desperation and hunger of a wounded tiger next season. Could be a blessing in disguise though.

Lordy, this fucking hangover is going to take some shifting.

One of the great European Cup finals, it has to be said; we really did come that close - anyone want to join me in lobbying UEFA to get thinner paint used on goalposts next season? Lot of neutrals seemed genuinely impressed with our performance (2nd half, anway) and believe we were pretty unlucky.

The players deserve their break - very glad JT isn't involved in the Euros, poor guy needs a break from football right now; he has the character to bounce back, but that will have taken an awful lot out of him. So do I, come to think of it - I've aged considerably in the last 24 hours!

#44

No doubt our bionic man needs a break. Mentally and physically. He's been injured all season long and this summer is just perfect for him to recuperate and be ready for next seaon. Hope he has a nice holiday.

44. Jonathan Dyer · 11:43 AM · 22nd May
I’ve aged considerably in the last 24 hours!


JD
i must have overrun my expected lifespan

Well it was meant to be Drogs to take the 5th but we all know where he was! For all his slating of rooneys perception (in his mentality) of him - why oh why did he do that. He was slow, there was one point where he just stood there rather than going for the ball - we were great in the 2nd half and i cant help but think that if drogs had delivered his "i am great in finals and made for this stage" that we would have scored.

No point dwelling - i agree that this could be a blessing - players will like what they saw about our side which should make acquiring the better ones a bit easier. JT et al will be desperate to avenge this and in my humble opinion there is nothing better than disappointment to fuel the hunger.

Did you all see Roman?? I love this man - you just know he has had a taste and wants more - dont be surprised if you see him signing off silly bids to get the players we want. Come on Roman £100,000,000 for messi - bargain :)

Bluetone - that is good - i am glad they changed their view of boring boring chels. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Will be interesting to see what effect - if any - the summer off has for all the English internationals in the league next season. Will all the European imports start the season tired already.

Should we buy more English players like Sidwell and SWP...........

......I'm back. Still feeling the effect of that Kronenborg Cru obviously, that's some strong stuff for a weeknight.

No doubt the Euro's will see £10m put on top of the price of all the players we want to sign. Get to an ATM Roman, that card's gonna need to take a hammering....

Will be good to see a new front 3 next season of Messi, Ibrahimovic and Ribery!!

i think the blues give their 200%. it takes my breath away when we hit the crossbar, not once but more than that. we should win the cup but luck was not on our side.
i critises the first half tactics by making essien to the right defence where he absolutely best as centre midfielder. but when the second half, i am in agony since we control the manu, even alex ferguson cant sit comfortably, create so many chances yet did not score. i hate penalties. i really mean it!
chelsea shows that we are the greatest more than any other clubs in the world, even more than manu.
poor JT..i pity him..go strong JT, we're gonna need it next season. BRING HOME THE TROPHY!
CHELSEA THE GREATEST!
KTBFFH!

All I can say is that we deserved to win this game and the boys really played their hearts out. JT - your a hero. End off.

I have to say that I actually want AG to stay now - i think he has proved he can play with the big boys and does have the tactical nous to match even Fergie.

Will we ever win the CPL - who knows but I always preffered the PL so hears hoping we do it this coming season. If ManUSA did not have Ronaldo then we woukld have won the PL as well!! So here's hoping he leaves this season.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Penalties suck ass!!

So sad.....

It wasn't meant to end that way, but having watched my beloved Blues for 30 years, we have come to accept the cruel twist of fate.

So very proud....After a frankly dreadful first half, we totally played them off the park.

For me, this season is a big disappointment, because despite winning nothing, I don't think it is too much of an exageration to say we could, quite possibly should, have won everything.... League, Carling, FA and Champions League.

But we didn't. Congratulations to Utd, who were equally deserving of their success this year. Let's hope this isn't the total break-up of the squad. Sure, it needs a freshen up, and a few new faces to inject some pace, but lets be sure not to throw away the chance to be sitting at the 'Big Table' again in the very near future.

Not so......Carefree....... But still Keeping The Blue Flag Flying High!

Chin up guys, its sickening, I know, to listen to mancs prattling on about how it was fate and how they deserved it, but the unbiased observer of our wonderful game will know the truth, they got lucky , we did,nt.Apart from a few notable exceptions our team did us proud.Lets learn from this and come back and win it next year.CAREFREE

"But the strength of a club is how you return when you have that little knock back"

Frank Lampard

Turning "devastation" into "little knock back". Frank, you're the man. Extend his contract to 2078 NOW

Back home.

Couldn't get any pictures inside the stadium because unable to get an internet connection.

Moscow won't be on my list of city breaks because it's a bit 2nd world and the food, my most important criteria, is light years behind Italy.

However the Russians were friendly and helpful and no sign of the trouble forecast by the tabloids. The only time a punch up looked likely was at the airport on the return due to the incompetence of Thomas Cook which resulted in me and about 30 others returning to Gatwick instead of our departure airport of Stansted.

Really hard luck guys. I watched it at home with a mate and my 12-year old son (Vice-President, beer and crisps, although he was only allowed to share the crisps).

The game was far better than I expected. First half was all them - and had it still been 1-0 at half-time, I don't think they'd have needed the extra time to win - but the second half, and large chunks of extra time, was all you.

Unbelievable end. You had it won, until the big man slipped. Gutting, but a great football evening.

As you seem to be wondering how the greater football world saw things, here - in case anyone is interested - is what it says on my favourite Dutch newspaper site this morning:

"VAN DER SAR HERO OF MOSCOW
Manchester United and Chelsea brought out the best in each other until deep into the night in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow"

In the body of the report it says, among other things, that the stadium was magically transformed into a British football temple last night, and "after a dreamy overture the final quickly turned into a rock opera, in which the principal players confirmed their reputations." (This lad may have been at the space cake, I think.)

And, besides Rijkaard and Mancini, they put Hiddink's name back in the frame for next year, albeit not with any great authority.

So, hard luck again, and thanks for a great night of football (and beer and crisps).

im a villa fan but have been routing for chelsea all the way thru the champo league... i hate manchester utd scumbags they are jus pure glory hunters... and id like to tell john terry to keep his head high and i sincerely hope he becomes england captain again soon unless barry is.
thanks

I felt so sorry for John Terry. We lost on a slip, that's it. All cup competitions can be defined by things other than the actual football as happened last night. For once even the media have largley kept away from the Man-U deserved it 100% rant. Still, we lost. No cups this season. Gallant losers maybe but still we are losers of all competitions with a squad of plus 200 million.....
@Nick, I and many others here are awaiting your post-mortem with anticipation. and for us to have our say on the personalities.....It's time to pay the ferryman.......

What is it with allowing central defenders, who obviously are brave enough to volunteer to take penalties, to go ahead and do it? I am unhappy about forwards and midfielders who shirk the responsibility - and managers should insist that they do it.

Pete,

He despatched one against Portugal in 2004 with such aplomb I guess he felt confident. And he is just so utterly everything Chelsea it was obvious he'd have taken one whatever.

They'd been practicing them all week. Until Drogba bitch-slapped Vidic, he was up for the fifth one. Although I wouldn't have been that confident in him taking it either......

Afternoon Mark

Cheers for the photos - very much appreciated; here's hoping for next year in Rome - a CL win and some decent grub thrown in for good measure would go some way to making up for last night...

How was our support out there? Came across well on TV, especially second half and e/t.

Doffing my cap to JD and his reference to Eisenstein's classic in his build up piece and as we bid Moscow a tearful good-bye, it only remains to view last nights performance through the prism of 20th century Soviet Cinema.

So here goes:

Chech - The Diamond Arm – Gaidai 1968
That double save in the 1st half and he saved a penalty

Essien - The Steamroller and the Violin –Takovsky 1960
The violin sang sweetly for a time but there was only ever going to be one winner in that collision.

Carvalho - The Humpbacked Horse Ivanov-Vano 1947
Not always pretty but very effective. Tackle on Ronaldo revealed a disdain for show ponies. Along with JT held it together when times were hard in that first half. A true great. He has to stay.

Terry - Moscow Does not Believe in Tears – 1979 Menshov
There is nothing we can say. An immense performance.

Cole A - Painful Indifference – 1983 Sokurov
Indifferent to that ankle, he got on with it, closing Hargreaves out and pinning Brown back second half

Makalele - The Nutcracker - Stepantsev 1973
Well you saw the state of Schole’s head. Integral part of a midfield that dominated the 2nd half and ET. A true ballbreaker.

Cole J - Adventures of a Dentist – Klimov 1965
Of late Joe has spent too much time in the chair but last night after half time he got the mask on, the drill going and inflicted some real pain.

Ballack - The Great Citizen 1938
His shooting was not his best but along with Lamps he took them apart. Towering strength.

Lampard - The Enchanted Boy 1955 - Polkovnikov/Snezhko-Blotskaya
Yes he can deliver in the big games, unlike some.

Malouda - The Alive and the Dead – 1964
Has come back from the dead and was very alive 2nd half when we started overrun them in midfield. Think he will do well next season as he seems to be settling.

Drogba - Irony of Fate – 1975 Ryazanov/Petrov
Yes I know I should have selected The Idiot 1958 but that would have been too simplistic a summation of such an enigma. It can’t really end like this can it?

Subs:

Belletti - Queen of the Gypsies – 1975 Loteanu –
Seems like he’ll be on the move again.

Anelka - At Home among Strangers – 1974 Mikhalkov
But is he?

Kalou - Hedgehog in the Fog – 1975 Norshteyn
A prickly customer for defenders but can he find the net? Good penalty under pressure.

Anyone who says mancs better team and deserved to win are baised manc fans at heart.

Ok we did not turn up for 35 mins first half but when we did-we did in fact play them off the park.

As for Fergusons bum-chum Ronaldo-best player in the world my arse! What did he do in game?
His Goal was hardly best ever seen as Essien aint a jt is he?

And Essien when leaveing him in his wake to bomb forward created lamps Goal so dont forget that those who blameing him.

JT is Mr Chelsea so don't blame him for the miss-blame the pitch blame Drogs and who's to say drogs would have scored?

Anyone notice noone said anything about Anelka's miss-took it as if couldn't be arsed-in a strop because did not start? mmmmmmmm?

Will take me a longtime to get over this.

I love this club

We will be back!!!

PS what the fuck the press like-all gloryhunting man utd fans today-sky sports news-ffs are they owned by utd???

Trusty steed is now tethered up and is enjoying a feast of fresh WD40. I have also been fed and wined/watered.

Music Therapy lesson 1:

Riding along the tree lined glory of the Canal du Midi I set the iPOD to Bullet in a Bible by Green Day. Great fuck-off music and then comes a track called St.Jimmy, sang with Billy Jo Armstrong's best in-your-face punk rock, we hate the world, it hates us gusto and energy. The last lines summed it up for me.....forgive the poetic lyric licence.......

"Its comedy, and tragedy
It's St Chelsea
And thats our name.......

.....long pause.........

And don't you FUCKING wear it out!"

I sang along very loudly, much to the bemusement of the day sailors crusing the canal.


Music Therapy lesson 2:

Riding back after reaching Cap D'Agde, whereupon a light cold beer and fresh peach were consumed I felt the anger and frustration disappear. All that was left was anguish and I needed something to get rid of that. Cue a certain Mr Ian Gillan and his fine popular beat combo called Deep Purple. Cue their "magnum opus" live album Made In Japan. Cue Child in Time. Cue one of the most seminal rock voices in Gillan screaming, banshee like in utter anguish. Cue BlueTG sitting by the canal joining along with full gusto.

Music Therapy Lesson 3:

Anguish subsides nicely. Make fresh salad but ruin it by putting most in a fresh French baguette with ham and mustard. Turn on new satellite TV system in mobile....sorry.....holiday home. Find Virgin Classic Rock and sit back. Mr Blue Sky from ELO comes on, a classic pop record that has one purpose, to make you feel good. It works a dream, the smile is back, the pride is full on. I'm already planning next season.

I want to call my trusty steed Champion (as in The Wonder Horse...although its a bike) ....am I just showing my age?

Sometimes your team loses and you feel sad and frustrated with yourself for putting your emotions on the line...some other times you feel sad and sorry for the team...

Yesterday, it was purely a case of the latter for me...

My heart goes out to the blue warriors who gave everything last night...we were just a kick away from glory!

JT should hold his head high, the gods stubbornly refused to give it to us yesterday...

Mark...thanks again for the pics, it brought flavour to the blog for this final match.

Tony,

Please dont christen it 'Champion' just yet. Can we try and avoid all things that may curse our challenge next season, just for a few months at least.

The same goes for people planning trips to wherever the Champs League final is next season. There's a long way to go yet. I hope JT gets the chance to rectify last night, but suspect in the grand scheme of it being a cup completition, we could have a long wait.

I'm happy to accept that the Fine City of Norwich in which I live is a bit weird. Last night, my journey home was littered with al sorts of scumbags in various ManUSA shirts. Today I popped out at lunchtime for a sarnie and must have seen about 10 Chelsea shirts (as in people wearing them - I wasn't in a sports shop before you ask)!!!

@ Fifty

How about as a tribute to this season.....Silver?

*gets tin hat from cupboard*

Blimey, it's all gone a bit Gene Autry on here today. That said, a few appropriately titled C&W tunes for Tony's musical therapy program might be in order, as follows:

I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better
Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life
I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
I'm Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life
You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat

After you with the tin hat, TG...

Fifty - I have to console myself with thoughts of Roma - otherwise I'd be having Kremlin related nightmares!

its started LINK

Absolutely Gutted. We dominated the 2nd half and ET and once it went to pens it was inevitable. When was the last time Chelsea won in pens? We lost v Red Scousers in CL SF, Man U in CS & even v Charlton in CC. Lamps was the man of the match from both sides - absolutely incredible. Unlucky with the chip at crossbar as was Drogs. Upset at JT's miss - he had a fantastic match again, especially that brilliant clearance. Let's be honest we would have been nowhere near CL Final and taking the Premiership to the last day without him. The club was in an absolute mess after Jose was "sacked" and he got everyone together which was almost an impossible task considering Jose's influence in Chelsea and his relationship with most of the players. JT & Lamps are true legends at this football club & we couldn't give a f*** what others think. I also don't understand why everyone is concentrating on JT's penalty miss only (he was not even supposed to take the pen as Drogs was the 5th penalty taker) and it was Anelka's miss which handed the title to Man U anyway. However, in in the media you wouldn't even know that Anelka missed a penalty! Strange...

Not sure why Malouda played 90 mins either - he was absolute rubbish and Kalou scored 11 goals for us this season (and he missed 2 months because of the African Cup.) Joey was poor as well, and to be frank if he was not a Chelsea fan during when he was a child he would get a lot of stick - no one wants to blame him for anything! He was fit and available for the entire season (possibly the only player for us this season!) and he scored 10 goals for us in a 4-3-3 formation. How he can win the Player of the Season is beyond me really - well, "he's a Chelsea lad through and through"...great! Lamps missed quite a lot of matches because of injury and other reasons and he still finished as our top goalscorer with 20 goals and with the highest assists as well. He was not even nominated (in the top 3) for Player of the Year!

Anyways, hopefully Lamps, Drogs & Riccy will stay at the football club but I wouldn't put my money on it. I have a feeling all 3 might head for the same football club. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen.

Keep the Blue Flag Flyin High!

JD,

Rome eh? Group trip for a scrap with the police and / or local Ultras then....

BMF,

Robinho is a name out of the blue. As the article says, its probably his agent trying to get better terms from Real.

Brazilians and the Premier League seem to provide mixed results.

Obviously Emerson Thome was inspirational...........

Rome certainly could be a colourful occasion...!

Took Robinho a while to settle in Madrid so the culture shock of London and the PL might be a bit much. Does rather smack of an agent on the make.

Afternoon JD

Hmmmm........some more perhaps? All in some way applicable to our beloved Chelsea. I can't vouch for the looseness of the connections though as I'm on the Vin Rose again.........sorry I'm sitting in the bar drinking hooch liquor, talking with he bartender and waitin' for the Sheriff to show his darn face agin.......

You Stuck My Heart In An Old Tin Can And Shot It Off A Log

You Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Banister Of Life

Why Don't We Get Drunk And Screw?

Trainwreck Of Emotion

There's A Tear In My Beer

Thanks To The Cathouse, I'm In The Doghouse With You

The Bridge Washed Out And I Can't Swim And My Baby's On The Other Side

Overlonely And Underkissed

Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill

Overlonely And Underkissed

Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill

Make Me Late For Work Today

Mama Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Baby's Head)

I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy

and my favourite......

You Can't Have Your Kate And Edith Too

*Kevlar flak jacket now being worn*

I`m a Liverpool supporter and you can guess who i supported yesterday, I felt for Chelsea as if Liverpool was there, after the first 30 mins You dominated the game and had to win it, but MANCS are experts in stealing finals and the story repeated it self last night.. I feel for Terry (one of my favourite players) too..

Tough Luck n welldone for showing character, maybe next season the battle will be between us 2 and we can play proper football like we always do.

Respect

YNWA

@ KOP - a sensible Liverpool fan? Blimey, cheers........who'd have thought that. Agree about Mancs stealing finals , seems to be a trait of theirs...witness the Fa Cup final against the gooners a few years back.....don't tell me the best eam won that!

very very painful...could sleep last night...just heart beating fast....skin crawling all over ....very depressing. and that sight of Terry hiding his face....and of him being consoled by Avram just freaking got to me ma...

Do you know what *garbs tin hat* - i want Avram here next year - he has won me over with his softly softly approach. I like his sarcasm "usually by now chelsea would be on holiday" he said before the start of last nights game.

LINK

interesting article and one that makes me think we were also very loyal to jose - just because he is softer in his approach doesnt mean he wont deliver what we all want. I have to say that he deserves next year - fail again and he must go but surely he should be given the opportunity to show what he can do with HIS players he will buy over the summer.

Ah, the power of movies and music to lift the spirits of the depressed football fan - good to see BB/JD/TG leading us all back from the depths.

@77 BMF - well now - I think we need that end of season review from TG soon to kick start that debate again?

Still distraught after yesterday and the fact that we have lost another final. I'm feeling lost at having no trophies to celebrate for the first time in years, and i'm physically and emotionally drained. I'm tired of feeling champions league pain every summer for the past 5 seasons and whilst not being reduced to tears this time unlike every other semi-final, i was feeling numb whilst looking at Fergie lift another unjustly won trophy. While trying to revise after the match for antoher exam this morning, my mind was spinning at all the ifs and buts and how JT and Lamps deserved a winners medal. I couldn't get over the image of Lamps and JT hugging each other in the rain for about 20 mins after the final whistle, or Roman's passion and despair at our defeat at 2:00am Russian time. I hate losing, especially when we don't deserve to, and yet we have to move on somehow. We must now acknowledge that this season was a failure in terms of results. Our team has a world class and passionate core: Cech, JT, Ricky, Ashley, Lamps, Essien, Ballack and J Cole (despite his rubbish end of season form) but it also has a lot of crap around the edges. We used to play amazingly efficient, winning football under Jose and i was comforted by the fact that he has NEVER lost a final in his career. But now we seem to bottle it in the final stages (Carling Cup, CL, and League campaign against Wigan and Bolton) and now seem to play just efficient football which results in nothing in terms of trophies. We need new players, a return to winning football and a new manager. Fergie has only reached two CL finals in 20 years, showing how difficult it is to reach it. That is what makes defeat so hard to take. It took us 5 years to get past the semis and we lost it. For all those who say that we'll make up for it in Rome, well it won't be so easy. But Fergie nevertheless has won two more European Cups than Avram. He may have been lucky to win it on pens, but however you look at it he has won the two biggest trophies this season, whilst Avram has brought us 0. More than that he has cost us the Carling Cup Final, the Barnsley fixture and the League against Wigan. I don't care that he is a nice guy, because nice guys finish last as shown by his results. He must be shown the exit door and he'll be joined by a whole host of rubbish players, headed by Didier.

KTBFFH

I think the frank discussions in the board room about our appointment of Avram will be a lively debate between Roman and his multitude of advisors. Perhaps it could have the analogy of medical specialists deciding on the rights and wrongs of it all.



The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the owner had a lot of nerve, and the Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.

The Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted; the Pathologists yelled, 'Over my dead body, while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, the Radiologists could see right through it, and the Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, 'This puts a whole new face on the matter.'

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water.

The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists left the decision up to some asshole called Peter Kenyon.

Our best chance in this cup came yesterday and against Liverpool over the last three years I'm afraid to say and as much as it would be great to get to Rome or any other final, something inside tells me we will not win it for a few years now. The team needs rebuilding. I would rather have had portsmouth win the Cl than Man-U going on about the great team, busby babes et all, complete utter tosh when in reality we were one slip away from it all. makes me sick to be honest. the big question of course is why with a team of 200 million plus we have NOTHING in the cabinet? we will have the chance to have the great debate very soon on here about him, Roman and Kenyon and not forgetting the spineless Bruce Buck. For now, I'm almost speechless to be honest. Nothing, fuck all this season. Money can buy you success, just put your mate in the job! yeah right!!!

Clive - genius my friend - genius

Absolutely devastated for the boys. Mancs caught us out with their formation for the first half hour, but once we found our feet we performed excellently. We played football that was great to watch and if any team was going to win it in normal time it was going to be us. We were unlucky not to score a second and I didn't think we got our fair share of decisions from the ref.

I'm massively disappointed in Drogba...more disappointed then annoyed really. He's a big game player and has come good for us so often in the past. But how the hell could he do something so stupid in what was most likely his last game for us? I don't doubt he would've taken the last penalty, so he had the chance to be a hero for us and go out of the club on a high note. But he blew it. Saying that, it wasn't entirely his fault...why on earth anyone decided to get involved over something so trivial as Tevez's refusal to give the ball back to Cech I'll never know.

As for JT, what can you say? I'm completely gutted for him. If it hadn't been for his clearance we wouldn't have got to penalties. The fact that he was so dominant just 10 days after dislocating his elbow shows that the man is capable of overcoming any sort of physical blow. I'm confident that he has the same ability to come back from any psycholgical pain even stronger. He deserves to lift the CL and I hope he will do so before long, and hopefully more than once.

This really hurt, but knowing what it feels like to lose in the final only makes winning it all the sweeter. KTBFFH!

Dio - we will be there next year - the pain of this final will drive them through - in terms of how far we have progressed, we have either stayed the same or improved EVERY year so...........

@JD

The atmosphere was great - probably 8.5/10 compared to 3/10 for the Carling Cup Final. The crowd were trying at all times to support the team and there were some good ring leaders ensuring the chants got a kick-start. Having said that as a general principle Northern fans tend to sing louder than Southern fans.

@Dio

Better get to the final next year. I've just promised my wife a week in Rome!

listen guys, if we get to the final, I will be first in the queue for tickets. what a glorious CL final that would be in rome!!!! a proper football city only two hours away and familiar to us all as a meditarranean city but let's be honest, apart from having to go through again and beat Benitez, Ferguson, Wenger et all we will have JM to contend with at Inter so let's hope we dont meet him before the final!!

Great analysis, Nick. I'd love to know what Vidic said to Drogba. I was gutted but proud at the end. The press seems to ignore how well Chelsea played, but it was a classic fight, like Frazier v Ali.

88. Ian Shaw · 5:57 PM · 22nd May

it was a classic fight, like Frazier v Ali

exactly same thought crossed my mind!

Come on, Rom - start sorting things out now. Don't let this Grant staying / going drag on. Maybe then we can regain our sense of direction...

Everytime i see that JT Pen i cant help but laugh seeing him cry was quite good to but hey its only because he never showed that sort of emotion when england got kicked out he didnt look botherd at all which is why he shouldnt be england captian

I have to addmit i thought over all u guys deserved the win but JT trying to be cocky and the big man and hero is what messed it up kalou could have took that pen but no JT wanted it his way and his way failed maybe this will be a lesson for him never to take a pen again especialy when its for a trophey

One of the greatest games iv ever seen

Drogba so so silly disgraceful to the game of football dives like theres no 2moro whinges at everything and i hope chelsea get rid of him cause im sick of watching him fall over all the flammin time very very clumsy or just plain thick

Lampard great man and deserved it after the last couple of weeks he has had off to join jose at inter ? I think so

Anyways im a villa fan what do you think our chances are of signing sidwell and is he really any good i no he is obviously not as good as the first team players but in terms of being decent what do you think ?

JT JT JT You messed it up son

^ parody??

The game was contested equally.All chelsea happens should feel good about the result.When a team plays well ,puts opponent under pressure and doesnt score ;normally they pay in the penalty shoot out. Happened again
Grant showed that he has some tactical knowledge at least... Essien playing on the right side might be waste but who else could play there.Paolo and belliti would have been invisible for ronaldo.
Before the game started everybody knew we were equal except for there 1special player Ronaldo.Drogba showed that he still got passion sometimes those emotions get the better of you
So fans chin up ,we will be back.
The fans should stop going back to the JM times... get over it. Before he left we were out of the league and playing badly in champions league. If people had to judge barcalona manager on what he has done then he would still be in the job.

@ DAN

Hope Chelsea get rid of Drogba because you're sick of seeing him fall over? Hope Chelsea get rid of him because he's such a threat in the box and scares all other teams in the Prem to death when he's anywhere near that area i think you meant to say. Bet you wouldn't object to seeing him play in YOUR colours though would you? Can imagine it now; "Oh god no!! Please don't sign Drogba to Aston Villa!! Yes, we KNOW he's an amazing goal scorer but that doesn't matter..he falls down too much!!" Yeah, DAN..whatever..

Also, you won't get anyone agreeing with you here about how crap you think JT is..no doubt the perfect choice for England Captain is Gareth Barry? Oh please....have a word with yourself!!!

Sorry guys, the upset has worn off slightly and now i'm left in a very bad mood.
Could be due to the baiting i've had to put up with from dirty Manc fans all day..

@ DAN

Regarding Sidwell..you're welcome to him. One more tosser in your team shouldn't make much of a difference!!

@JD and TG
Very much enjoyed the musical interlude chaps. Nothing like country for a good song title.

@Clive
A medical tour de force

Its all good therapy

We're nearly through the first 24 hours.....

Dan, JT took the pen when nobody else wanted to, its not like he stopped the others taking it because he wanted it himself, He just showed the balls and courage he had, You found him crying funny? Well that just shows what a lifeless scumbag you are, It just shows how much he CARES for Chelsea Football Club

Just got home from Russia and am emotionally amd physically exhausted. What injustice, JT of all people. We need to reflect, pick ourselves up and get back in the title race. Let's hope Roman's new girlfriend doesn't talk him out of liking football !

Why didnt he cry when england got knocked out then ohh yes because no passion for his country which is why he shouldnt be england captian rio all the way at least he looked gutted when england got knocked JT was o well never mind we will try again

Anyway BlueLollipop we cant be that bad we beat u this season and drew the other

Your getting me wrong aswell i dont hate jt its just that he shows no passion what so ever for england rio for captian

As for drogba id rather have gordon brown up front for my team at least he would stay on his feet more and not cry at everything that gose against ur team is full of brats all need to speak to the ref when he blows his whistle

I seen a chelsea fan on sky sports saying he is sick and tierd of it and claims half the chelsea fans are the first to tell him to get up just proves his a big girls blouse if even ur fans are sick and tierd of it

Get rid of avram the twat hardley ever smile misreable little man you lost the best thing that could of ever happend to u and thats the special one do i need to say his name (JOSE) (MOURINHO)

DAN, I dont think he cried just because he missed, Also due to the fact that hes had a terrible season dominated by injuries and he came back 10 days after dislocating his elbow and made one of the best clearences of all time and took us within a inch of winning the UCL, Rio Ferdinand? What has he done to deserve the captaincy? Vidic makes RF look better than he is. No matter what anyone says about JT we will continue to support him because without him we wouldnt have got to the final or taken the title race to the last week of the season. Youd rather have Gordan Brown up front than Drogba? At least Didier has been a consistent goalscorer for us and Aston Villa havent had a player who has scored more than 13 goals in a Premier League for at least 4 years.

Come on lads, be positive. I think we have a decent chance in Rome. We are not the only team in the rebuilding process. Actually, we dont really need a major overhaul. Just keep the spine intact: Cech, Terry, A.Cole, Essien, Lampard, Ballack and J.Cole, build the team around them with 4 more top class players which complements the spine and add more cutting edge. How can the amount of set backs this year not spur the boys on even more next year? We can still do it again, but we need new signings. Thats for sure.

Cech
Bosingwa
Riccy
JT
A.Cole
J.Cole
Essien
Ballack
Lampard
Van Der Vaart
Anelka

#102

Alot of central midfielders LOL. We need a left sided winger who can cross and has pace to burn. =)

An absolute must is keeping hold of Lampard and Carvalho......

We can rebuild and tinker around the edges, but Jang is right... The spine of the side needs to stay.

Good as he is, we will get over Didier going in time, and it seems that word out of Chelsea today is that he will be going.

We have some absolute stars in our side, and I wouldn't swap Cech, Riccy, JT, Ashley, Essien, Lamps, Ballack for anyone is the world. Build the side around them and we will be fine.

Still undecided about Avram... Reality is that whoever comes in next will struggle to live upto Jose in our memories, and if we make a high profile signing that doesn't take us as close as Grant has, where will that leave us?

Was anyone from the blog in the Fulham Rd after the game?

Are the press reports of trouble accurate or is it just the Daily Mail trying to give Chelsea a slap again?

If we can keep our spine, theres this small matter of adding things around them to complete the team. Positions vacant are right back, left winger and striker. We have Bosingwa already so this makes the task even simpler. A left winger and a striker. But either one if them or preferably both must have a creative element to their game because we have sacrificed a traditional playmaker for Lampard and Ballack. My list of players to get are: Silva, Aguero, Villa and Berbatov. We need 2 more creative players in the team.

The day after the tragic night I feel somewhat calmer and ready to move on. The hurt will never be forgotten (just ask JT) but time to look forward to what is to come. Heres my take on 'where to now'...

Still believe either Rykaard or Laudrap will take the reigns as manager and AG will move back to where he really wants to be.

Super Frankie will pen another deal.

Drogba will depart and like others on this blog have indicated - thanks Didier for some memorable goals and good luck wherever you end up. Yes you can be frustrating at times with your moaning and 'all fall down' style of play, but you did deliver some stirring performances and generally have been a good player over your time here.

Sheva will stay ! Yes I reckon he will play a different role next season and prosper playing behind a front man particularly in Europe.

Anelka will get a new front man to work with and will get more game time after having a good preseason.

JT, Lamps and the Coles will get a well earned rest over the summer and come back fresh, injury free and raring to go.

Cech needs to review this season and take a long hard look at some of his play. He still made some important saves but was not in the form of previous years. I hope Cudicini stays to become his coach and replace that other clown.

Malouda and Kalou will prosper next season. Kalou is only young and still learning. Malouda needs time (and game time) to adjust to the pace of the EPL.

SWP is an enigma who has indicated he wants to stay but on current form is always going to play second fiddle to a fit Joe Cole.

Who comes in... for me we only really need a new centre forward to replace Drogba and maybe some backup for other positions in midfield (Lamps and Ballack) are not getting any younger.

Finally, would be good to see some of the youngsters getting a run during the year maybe in the cup competitions. As the reality is no team will win the quad so playing a 'younger team' particular in the League Cup would give a chance for these younger players to show their stuff.

Thats my 2 penny's worth. Time for lunch !

KTBFFH

Hi everyone, Am from Malaysia. For single view fan from Malaysia, I would like to say that football is about everything. Football is life. We fought hard to win and deserved to win it but the reality is that Man U currently King of Europe?. Does the ladyluck has turn us over? I hate to think the fact that we lost to them twice in this season and it will be remembered contionusly and written as part of history. No one will remember the runner up because people will remembered as team that loose. 60% football fan in malaysia are red devils and to live among them are just pure gutted. They will brag about this until we win over them with rematch in another final.AC Milan had done this last season when they won UCL by beating Loserfool. Revenge is sweet and i am hoping this to happen as we prove to beat the curse with Loserfool in semifinal adn I want to see this in future.

I am shatterd with this season perfomance but I'm still proud with the boys. I am hoping that we will bounce back and make a better impact. The new manager should be appointed and this time he need to do the impact in just one season to heal this tragic feeling. Though, I am glad that they will be planning a friendly match at malaysia in pre-season and personally I am welcoming them as my true heroes...

KTBFFH

LINK

A piece from the club website about festivities in Red Square.

Note the comment that Michael Laudrup was playing for the Chelsea Old Boys..... Now I wonder what Michael was doing in Moscow, and not Bryan????? Perhaps finding out about his new First Team squad?

Only time will tell, but you heard it here first!

@ Greenlight

Noticed that too, he is my first choice. A manager on the way up with buckets of media appeal, just what RA wants as long as he says 'yes sir 3 bags full sir' when required. Serously, I reckon the players will respond well to Laudrup and his brand of football.

Absolutely gutted by the match....can't believe we lost it :( :( :'(.....vidic is one big sob....the match being being littered by sooo many "what if's"....but i'm sure....there will be vengeance!!!

Dan,

Let's get this right. You've got a problem with JT captaining the country because he didn't cry when we lost two years ago.

Even the most short-sighted of football fans must realise JT is one of the most committed players. Outside of our club the feeling is he's either the most over-rated player ever or a great defender, but commited nonetheless. The man eminates pride and passion. And was immense on Wednesday night. Unlike Rio.

And just to prove you're wrong, here's a link that to the England V Portugal game :

LINK

"1846 BST: England's players are inconsolable. Rio Ferdinand is in floods of tears as Portugal celebrate their win. John Terry wipes away his tears..."

So there you have it. It hurts to have to prove this about our leader, particularly because of what happened Wednesday, but at least it proves that you're completely wrong.

Now jog on.

QUICK QUICK SIGN THE PAPERS!!

Chelsea could sign Barcelona's talented Mexican teenager Giovani Dos Santos in a swap deal for £14m-rated Florent Malouda. (Daily Telegraph)

also

Chelsea have decided to sell striker Didier Drogba, with the club's patience snapping with the petulant star after he was sent off in the Champions League final. (Daily Mail)

Terry's tears have been a regular feature over the years.

Hope somebody from United comes out and puts a stop to all this Terry-Tevez spitting nonsense. It's pretty obvious there's no spit - unless a) it's invisible; b) the referee, who was staring straight at the incident, didn't think it worth a card; c) Tevez, who had spent most of the game flying into a rage at the drop of a hint, takes a remarkably blase view of getting coated in phlegm.

As for the game, am I the only one who doesn't mind losing on penalties? After such an epic, evenly matched game, it would be far crueller to lose any other way, surely. I'd rather that, then what Bayern experienced when they were robbed by United in 99.

I also think that this might be the better result for Chelsea in the long run. It showed up exactly what needs to change with the team - attitude and creativity - and I think it is more likely to ensure Roman's continuing interest than if we'd won. To come so close and not make it - he'll have a burning desire to put that right.

I reckon we're going to be spending an unappetising amount of money this summer...

Also, Lampard - easily our best player. Absolutely brilliant performance and dignified interview afterwards. A lot of those idiots who have been slating him in recent years should eat their words. He's not Ronaldinho, but he's a Chelsea legend.

And finally, how the hell did Rio avoid a second yellow, at the very least, for that kung fu attack on Joe Cole? Thought the ref did okay generally, but that was a very slack decision.

#114

You're right. That 100m warchest will hopefully bridge that 'gap' between us and the Manures.

I feel like Alan Partridge...

Dan. Dan. Dan. Dan. Daa-aannn. He cant hear me. Dan. Dan. Dan. He's gone...

@ FIFTY

You're right. What an a***hole he is!!! What's he doing on a Chelsea Blog anyways? Hopefully, Nick has blocked him. I can't stand it when people start running down any of our boys, it really winds me up. Ok, A .Villa won one/drew one with us but they don't make a habit of it do they? Think he only came on here to wind people up and he succeeded with a few of us.. he needs to f**k off and get a life!!!

I see the tabloids are full of the "hero" that is Horse Face and also mocking JT for missing his Pen. No piss taking about Horse Face missing HIS though..oh good Lord no!! That just WOULDN'T happen now, would it?

Why do you call Ronaldo 'horse face'? He doesn't look anything like a horse.

In fairness, The Mirror has printed this in it's piece about the past week in sport :

"THURSDAY

JOHN Terry's missed penalty the previous evening decided the destination of the trophy.

Sorry, I almost believed some of the rubbish trotted out in print and on radio and TV yesterday where you would have thought it was the England captain's slip-up (or slip-down more exactly) that had cost Chelsea instead of Edwin van der Sar's save from Nicolas Anelka.

I can't feel too sorry for Terry. "Captain Courageous" he might be, but this is the guy who when the opposition kick the ball out on the halfway line for one of his players to receive treatment then courteously boots the ball deep in to the corner for a throw instead of knocking it back to the other teams keeper.

Nice guy John. You'll get over it.

Oh, and remember and thank Didier Drogba for making you take one of the kicks!

As for Anelka, you probably had the world hoping you missed that final kick. Or if not the world, certainly the supporters of Arsenal, Manchester City and Bolton.

Again, you'll get over - probably when you receive your next signingon fee"

Not all glowing (though when is it) but at least someone's happy to realise that JT isn't the reason we finished with the silver medal.

YES dan tht wat i like to hear! Aston Villa boys! Avram Grant has took alot of stick deservedly so..... what has he won is the question not how many finals he got too.... and as for gareth barry being captain of england im sure if he was playing for chelsea he wouldve slotted that penalty as cool as you like! message me back when you beat us chelsea!! 2-0 4-4!!! who was mourinhos last prem game against yes thats right us!! i respected chelsea til some twat started slating gareth barry!! so screw you!! (I still hate the glory hunting pricks man utd tho)

#121

Nice to have you here. Spice things up alittle eh?

121. AVFC james · 10:45 AM · 23rd May
who was mourinhos last prem game against yes thats right us!!

You Villa fans are easily pleased, uh? it's understandable, given your recent record

Villa fans -

What are the chances of hanging on to Barry? He's a Villa boy, through and through, isn't he?

Can you do us a favour and report Rafa for tapping up!

119. Peter · 10:38 AM · 23rd May

"Why do you call Ronaldo ‘horse face’? He doesn’t look anything like a horse"


Because calling him Cristiano Ronaldo could be deemed offensive

@ PETER

I call him Horse Face because I think he DOES look like one..he's certainly got the same teeth..Why do rival fans call Lamps Fat Frank? He isn't fat in any way! So there you go..i hate Ronaldo, so i'll call him what i like..

@ AVFC

You respected Chelsea 'til some t**t started slating Barry..don't get too upset about HIM..he's leaving you for Liverscum soon anyways!!!

#126

Nice one! =)

Am so disgusted with these guys who critic joey. the guy had a wonderful game .WE SUB HIM WE END UP LOOSING IN PENALTIES ASK ROBBEN ASK MOUR ASK ANELKA..... the linesman on the righthandside made some very inconsistent desicions at one time he even appeared to have given a penalty for ferdinands kungfu attack just to revert his stand.made some wrong choices also against evra(corner)/joe cole and cristano(corner)/joe cole cristiano/ essien etc.
The big games are usually won by the amount of pressure you assert on the REFEREE (MANU GOT A RED AGAINST ALL TOP4 IN THE LEAGUE) it quite unfortunate for us Grant cant do that..MOUR did IF YOU ARE STUPID YOU WILL THINK TALENT WILL WIN THIS GAMES BUT lets be sincere its also the refereeing not just talent and them REFS ran the show..... DROGBA might be a very good player but under extreme pressure he CRACKS foolishly .lets take examples of us against Barca,ACN, and UCL final he does have a knack of getting stupid red cards.I HOPE CECH CAN JUST HAVE THE BRAINS TO REALISE THAT 80%OF RIGHT LEGGED PLAYERS PLANT PENALTIES ON THE RHS OF THE GOALKEEPER VV LH PLAYERS. ITS NOT JUST PLAIN GUESSING and THOSE WHO TRY BEING CHEEKY END UP FUMBLING...

Always thought that Tevez looked the most equine of the United squad...

Teves looks reflects his personality 100%

As long as Van Nistelroy is playing, there will be only one horseface in European football.

Tevez looks like a boiled Zola.

Ronaldo just looks like a tart.

129. prodicky · 11:06 AM · 23rd May

interesting use of punctuation there. creative i'd say

JD

Tevez?? I prefer to call him Frankenstein's monster!!

He looks like a throwback from the days of the Caveman!!

Or a Neanderthal man..the list could go on.

@ Peter

I've also noticed on (ugly) close up shots that Ronaldo plucks his eyebrows..
They're too "shaped" for a fella.

They're shaped better than mine in fact!!

JT is a real chelsea legend and will always be. There's always next season.

Calling Tevez Frankenstein's monster would be an insult to Frankenstein's monster. Just like how calling him a pea brain would be an insult to peas. Ugh, what a sight. Has to be a candidate for ugliest human that ever lived.

My current mission in life post the CL final is to watch Portugal crumble at EURO 2008, to see Argentina getting thrashed by Brazil like they always do in the World Cup qualifiers, to see Ana Ivanovic win Roland Garros and well, I cant think of anything else.

Well I see a number of suitably gnomic quotations from Kenyon scattered liberally around the online editions of the papers today and this item suggesting the end for Avram is nigh:
LINK

I'm gradually getting over Wednesday's disappointment and find myself agreeing with a lot of Blue PeterThe Great's comments above [@107]- the one that surprises me is that I'm now thinking this was just one hissy fit too many from Drogs and it might be time to look for a quality replacement striker to play alongside Anelka [ he seems to be doing his own whinging too today]- though I also think we need a quality winger in case Malouda doesn't step up in his 2nd season.

Interesting times.....

PS Why have we suddenly been invaded by all these mouthy Villa fans - not because of Sidwell surely?

People,We lost the finals, they didnt win it, thats how i see it, because as much as those guys were better in the first half, we hung in there and almost drove them out of the stadium in the second half and extra time as well, life is cruel, football is cruel..losing a cup finals by penalties is the cruelest thing that could happen, and the penalty being missed by the most favourite, most liked is worse and really hurts,the guy who missed it is Mr.Chelsea ! and the damn rain in Moscow, the stupid pitch..the grass.. it was a lottery and we lost it, except the prize was too big and THAT hurts.
Also, I want to whine about the bad decisions, corners which were not giving, we just lost the momentum during those times! How many times have we not seen our guys attacking and attacking and pounding the opposition with one move after another until they submit,we just go on and on, we lost that momentum because of a few bad decision by the referee on the sidelines.
I am in the mood to complain about the commentators, God..why do we have to listen to their views about 'the best team'? just a quick question does Chelsea TV in London/England have a different set of commentators?
Next rant is about Grant, it was a great team to start with, but when everyone could see Malaouda was not having the desired effect, he should have been replaced, maybe by the 55th minute or 60 minutes, I am sure we would have gotten that elusive goal, and then Makelele should have been replaced by John Obi.. just my instincts..what should have been..
final whining is directed towards all the guys(including you Tony) who are complaining about a season without trophies, come on guys, did you think of this the day JM left us? the minute after we lost to the spuds after Carling cup final?, did you think about this moment when we lost to Barnsley?!!!did you think about this when we were languishing at third place in the EPL(on points) and bloody scousers almost catching us(holy moly that thought just made me vomit!), we tried, we did good, we did more than good, its all a part of the game.
Also, on another note, I dont think Manure was elated that they won, they looked that the torture was over finally, they are just NOT built for these kinds of fights, it was more a sense of relief rather than that of joy, it was more like..'Oh God we survived it', Damn it, If the "Best' team cannot 'beat' us in 120 mins, is that really THE best team in their history?? bollocks!!Deep down Old Purple nose knows that he scrapped through, I will be damned if he acknowledges it, Scholes was a gentleman and he acknowledged our fight.
Dont even want to start about Crynaldo..he fell like a little girl when Riccy tackled him and then he cried!!!my blood boils when I remember that sight.
Last but not the least is to all the Chelsea fans at the riot near station, guys, its not necessary and its sad, our loved ones could be hurt in this, I just hope that those who were hurt are better now and proudly showing off their scars(sorry!! a poor attempt at humour..didnt come off well).

True Blue, We are the Chels, Go Chelski,KTBFFH

@ EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE,

I suspect the invasion is more to do with bragging than any specific Chelsea reject.

Much like Liverpool, living on past glories is all that keeps Villa fans going. I believe somewhere in the dark ages of English football they may have succeeded in Europe where we didn't.

@ Fifty - you may be right about the Villa fans as I hear senior citizens are increasingly enthusiastic users of the internet.

cheer up

LINK

I don't know what Villa fans are doing here anyway, where they involved in some way? As far as Dan and his comments go they are somewhat baffling, perhaps he's getting worked up about the England Team because that's Villa's fans only chance of footballing success, as Villa have won fuck all for years.

Is it just me or? I think Jose would have made a brilliant tactical change and win the match for us.

@144 - yeah like geting Drogba to stay on the field

@144 or get some sand around penalty spot so Terry will not slip...
just let go, ok

I think that Tevez looks like a mad rugby player whos been thrown in a washing machine

LINK%20troll.jpg

Tevez, yesterday.

LINK

Ronaldo, yesterday.

Think the Villa fans are just stupid not to realise they are on a Chelsea fanblog..

AVFC said he was ok until some t**t started slating Barry..well go onto a Villa fansite then you daft git if you want to hear people saying good things about him, that's all i can say about that!

PETER

Love the pics..the resemblance is really uncanny..

The second one doesn't look feminine enough to be the "God of football"..

Anelka, what a d***head, he went up there with the body language of a loser, missed, then he was SMILING about it.
Someone correct me, but I'm sure he actually smiled before covering his mouth with his hand.

Let's look on the bright side, at least we don't have to grit our teeth through the slimeball toad gloating about how he singlehandedly won the Uefa Champions League for Chelsea. If there's one positive that's got to be it.

I reckon Carvalho would have tucked that winning pen away - we can all say now, but:

Ashley Cole - almost saved
Lampard - almost saved
Terry - missed

We should have left it to a European instead of one of our English boys.

Too f****** shattered to dwell on all this.

(Dont really wanna get into the namecalling but, Bluelollipop - funnily enough, since I've read you calling him it, 'Horseface' seems more and more appropriate )

Have you won the european cup! the european cup the european cup!! nah never have never will... im easily pleased yes thats because we did u ova this season haha so why dont you go and cry about your champions league somewhere else! you lot probz onli started supportin chelsea when roman took over... looks like your glory hunting hasnt worked then! haha villa til i die and yes i do go on the villa blog dipshit maybe u shud look it up and see what real fans are like not bloody glory hunters... one last time have you won the european cup! haha BLUELOLLIPOP barry is villa through and through and btw precious frank lampard off to inter ey! thats what i say to that! www.avfcblog.com

CASHIF

Only (printable) name he could have!!!
Trust me, i could think of a LOT worse!!

AVFC

How fu***ng old are you??!!!

Get a life and f**k off onto a site where someone actually gives a shit what you say!!!

About the changes over the summer and all the talk about playing pretty football.

What's the point when we can overpower teams the way we did in the second half.
That's what I love about us. We outbattle teams, and we can play when we need to.

If we could keep a regular starting lineup and allow that understanding between players to build, those occasional moments of great passing can become more and more frequent until it's the norm - AND we can still out-power, out-battle teams physically.

two or three additions only please, and those below.

Sidwell (3-5 mil)
Sheva (free)
Drogba(?)(20 mil)
Benhaim (2-3 mil)
Shite-Phillips (6-10 mil)
Makalele (some sort of coaching role?)

Goodbye and Good luck.

@154 Lollipop - I clearly got it wrong earlier - it must be the kindergarten age group we've attracted not the OAPs.

@ EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE

Spot on there..what a moron!!

I was waiting for the predictable reply of we won the European Cup. All I can say is if the highlight of their season is beating us, well you have a surpassed yourselves, congratulations on a hugely successful season.

Just a quick question when did you last win silverware, you're becoming more like Newcastle everyday.

CLIVE

Well, that's the $60,000 question isn't it? Unless he looks it up on Wikipedia, i fear you could be waiting a while for an answer from him!!
I thought the "you've only been fans since Roman took over" was more predictable than the "when did you win the European Cup?" line..I must admit, he threw me on that one!!

a day before ECL final... i was thingking, if i were chelsea manager here is my 1st eleven to play Drog and Anelka up front, Kalou,Ballack, Obi mikel, lampard, joe cole, essien, asley cole terry, riccy with essien play at the right back (and cover up right winger if joe cole running foward...)

Why malouda? we have the pacey kalou. obi is far better than makalele.. i dun understand why we waste anelka's striking talent on the wing role..

and avram tactical changes.. anelka for joe cole?? come on!!... anelka shud replace makalele, kalou for malouda!

Another name is being linked with the club - Dick Advocaat, the head coach of Zenit FC that just won UEFA Cup and Russian league.

omg i just read like 20 or so comments..and only one person mentioned anelka in the CL final...he has only scored like twice this season(which for a supposed full forward is pretty bad) and he looked like he didn't even care when he missed the penalty!poor JT was SO unlucky and we all know we were clearly the better team...but we WILL win next year-but not with anelka as our main striker!!

Breaking news on SSN is that Peter Kenyon has been in talks to offer Robinho £25million to come to Chelsea in the summer.

Mickey-

Assuming you are putting Cech in goal, you have 13 players in your starting 11.

On that note, what are the odds of us going three at the back next year with two defensive mid sort of players in Essien and Mikel playing in front of Ash JT and Bos?

I only suggest this because Riccy was pretty vague about his future with us before the final and I can't believe we would sell Lampard and nobody else in the midfield seems to be leaving. Can Essien play as a forward?

@ 144. Jang - "Is it just me or? I think Jose would have made a brilliant tactical change and win the match for us."

Most Chelsea fans thought so, except the usual Toad worshippers of course!

Israel's FIFA world ranking jumped from position 44 to 26 soon after AG left as Israeli national coach.

We can therefore look forward to a very bright future for Chelsea when the Toad is finally roasted!

evan,

haha... apologise!... so i must say this is the reason why RA never pick me as a chelsea manager LOL. well, i hav to put mikel on the bench.
(Chech- asley,terry,riccy-kalou,ballack,lampard,j.cole,essien-Drog,Anelka)

up your chin terry!!! Jose Mourinho, what say you? i know your heart may still at chelsea and the club lost in the ECL cup final, any comment??

Come on Chelsea!! RISE THE BLUE FLAGSSS!!!

Anelka : I was told we would play 4-4-2!

I've just read the report in the Times...

Nicolas Anelka criticises clueless AG

Tony Glover.......

Absolutely phenomenal rant mate...

LINK

You must have woken up in one hell of a bad mood today! I think a few of our new Villa buddies might have come looking for the CHelsea blog on the back of your efforts!

SimonT, Cant agree more with Anelka in that interviews, Toady has never played him how we shouldve, It was supposed to be 4-4-2 with Nic and Drogs up front but AG never gave him a chance just like he froze out the likes of Sidwell, Pizarro, SWP and Mikel for long periods of time

144. Jang - “Is it just me or? I think Jose would have made a brilliant tactical change and win the match for us.” Yeah like play Drogs and Anelka up front that wouldve destroyed the Man-Ure defence

LINK

I cannot take this anymore

Hopefully this will be Chelsea fc next season, I hear we will play 4-4-2 finally
1. Petr Cech
17. Jose Bosingwa
6. Ricardo Carvalho
26. John Terry
3. Ashley Cole
10. Joe Cole
8. Frank Lampard
13. Michael Ballack/5. Michael Essien
16. Rafael Van Der Vaart
39. Nicolas Anelka
7. Andriy Shevchenko

Coach : Michael Laudrup, Assistants : Gianfranco Zola/ Steve Clarke

173, Typical anti chelsea media crap, It kills me to see things like that, They wouldnt have done the same if Ronaldos miss had won it for us

A @truebluejoe

I agree with you about the lineup for the most part, about Shevchenko, I think if he is paired with a strike partner with pace he can still help a lot, I don't agree about Anelka though, I think he showed in the final that he is still "Le Sulk", even if he was being played out of position he should still give his all for the team and not cry about it.

The Robinho story is starting to look more legit, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, Sporting Director Predrag Mijatovic and Robinhos agent Wagner Ribeiro met about the possibility of Robinho leaving the club and agreed that they would let him go if a "big offer" came in, supposedly to help provide the money for a mammoth bid for their top transfer target Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer. They are also looking at the possibility of signing Ricardo Quaresma if the deal for Ronaldo doesnt materialise. Seeing as how they will proberbly want to spend big to try and win the Champions League next year and Robinho not getting much time in the team as of late due to the form of ex blue Arjen Robben. I dont know about you lot but I think Robinho would be a great buy especially if we send Malouda to another club in the summer and with a probable switch to 4-4-2 and Drogba, Pizarro and Shevchenko all likely to leave then Kalou wouldnt be stranded on the wing, Also R#10 could be the key to bringing "attractive football" to Stamford Bridge, LETS SIGN HIM UP!

176, Andrei, JT and Lamps cried too but is anyone branding them "The Sulk", I think Anelka just needs more time playing where he should be under a manager that will use his striking ability well and not leave him stranded on the wing, I totally agree about Sheva, Hes proven that he still has much to offer us but not as a lone striker, Maybe give Sheva and Kalou a go. Salomon could learn alot from Andriy and become world class. I would like Sheva, Kalou, Anelka and Di Santo as our forwards for next season unless you consider Robinho a forward. I guarentee we would see the best from NA and Sheva if we played them both up front in a 4-4-2 either together or with Kalou/Di Santo, KTBFFH

@ Bluetruebluejoe

Good points there, has anyone read the sun today, according to them Roman and Jose are on the mend: LINK

So I hope this is a joke (from the world's most reliable source, Wikipedia):

"Since the loss in the Champions League final to fellow Premier League team Manchester United, there has been intense speculation circuling in regard to the future of Michael Essien. Essien, a life-long supporter of Arsenal, is said to be in talks with the North London Club. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is keen to recruit the Ghanian international to replace the position left vacant by the departure of Mattieu Flamini to Italian side AC Milan. It is likely that Essien will sign by the end of May, with the transfer fee reported to be in the region of £15million. Essien speaking of this proposed move to Arsenal stated to media channel Skysports News: 'Indeed this is a move that is interest. Arsenal are big team and I respect a lot of them. I hope my future will be resolved soon, but it is certain that I want to stay in the Premier League, that is what I am for sure. Essien has been made available by Chelsea, along with a number of other senior players, as Chelsea aim to rebuild their squad around John Terry and Frank Lampard."

Anyone seen any other reports of this? I'll cry if this is true.

Stowe, I almost guarentee thats not true in fact I read an interview with Essien in a reliable source (chelseafc.com) that he used to be a manchester united fan but is now a chelsea fan through and through and I hear that Arsenal want Samir Nasri, I hope thats not true but im certain that Essein WONT go to Le Arse

Andrei, Good article "One senior official has confirmed the prospect of Mourinho returning HAS been discussed, But it is more realistic the ex-Porto chief will go back to Chelsea after the NEXT manager has served his term." I pray to god that its true.

Also some good news for SimonT, "Grant is negotiating his pay-off from the club, which is in the region of £5million. The Israeli had three years of his £2.4m-a-year deal to run and has decided he wants to find another manager’s job rather than go back to being Blues director of football. He has said thank you and goodbye to players over the last two days." A 5 Million pay off is ridiculous what the hell were Kenyon and Abramovich thinking when they have him a huge 4 year deal? He was never going to last

Stowe, You found that on wikipedia? Proberbly some bored Arsenal fan having some fun because I never read that about Essien. He was a Man-Utd fan, Besides Arsene Whinger wont spend big and Essien has said numerous times that he wants to end his career at SB

Stowe, Just read that on wikipedia, Its obvious that somebody has put it on there just to annoy Chelsea fans, Look at all the other info about him and it has links but the story about him joining Arsenal has none so its been done by someone whos created an account and posted that trash on there

@Stowe - A perfect example of why you shouldn't believe anything written on Wikipedia.

If Essien had said that on Sky Sports News it would be in every newspaper in Europe today. Think about it. Why would we sell him at the peak of his career (he's only 25) to Arsenal for £15m when we paid £24.4m? It's laughable.

Essien is as important to Chelsea as both Lampard and Terry, if not more so because of his versatility. He's one of the best midfielders in the world and we have yet to see the best of him in his preferred position.

If Arsenal offered £150m I wouldn't sell him.

Edit: LINK

--

Edit: Assistants to join Avram Grant on way out.

"Essien has been made available by Chelsea" What a load of rubbish, we wouldnt sell him for anything especially not for half what he paid for him because hes worth way more now and to Arsenal? Oh please

That one hurt. I really think the whole game came down to Drogba, Ferdinand and Vidic kept him at bay, and he let his frustration out in one of the dumbest things ive seen in a football match. rooney's words were prophetic, whereas liverpool got the uncontrollable beast in the semifinal, man u got the diving, complaining version, and our team suffered as a result. while i agree that we were the better team from about 35 minutes on, most of our shot attempts came from our midfielders taking shots from outside the box trying to force something. not to mention drogba would have definitely been a penalty kick taker. if he leaves now, i really dont feel any remorse about letting him go, and i think we can finally change our offensive style and get the pretty football RA wants. i really think villa is our best bet, but we will see this summer, wont we?

Yep. I figured as much (and thankfully Nick I don't believe anything I read on Wikipedia) but it seemed at least worth noting.

#173

Those are just some cowards who hide behind the computres and do such things. Have sympathy on them so dont mind it.

My team would be:

---------------------Cech-----------------

Bosingwa-----Carvalho-----Terry-----A.Cole

J.Cole-----Essien-----Lampard/Ballack---Silva

------------Shevchenko-----Anelka------------

I can feel your anger out there. But would you please try to calm down? Please,everyone's had gone under pressure til now,that goes the same to our team. Please don't look down on them. At least the team tried their best. Even under a new coach. Have you not notice that cfc had went this far,by trying their best to fix anything they can? Let the past be past.And look forward to it and take the failing as a lesson to learn. Avram is not that bad and he's new to cfc and i read sumwhere that even alex fergie had told the media that he should be with cfc for 10 year longer by now. It proves that,this is just a beginning for cfc. And i did heard a rumour not so long after(i couldn't remember when)that Kaka,the brazilian striker,is going to be in cfc,later. Is it true? Doesn't matter whom but as long if the person's willing to put cfc right back to the spot then that sound fine by us,fans.And one more thing,i do really,really do hope,for the team to reconsider their mistakes that they had done so far.Don't make it as an excuse. There shouldn't be a penalty shootout if cfc they did extra more careful. For the players stayput onto their positions and focus to where the ball rolls,do a little help if can but don't be too self-centered to do it alone like proving like they can. This team needs a state of understanding to proof that they could do it far much more better next time. Defending is the priority. Then the striking will do later after that. Throw all those (over)confident in the heart & try to change it into cautious later.Don't look down upon any other team whether they're strong or not.Learn to read the rivals moves&try know how to tackle it in a good way if theres a chance. This tactics' tips & advices i hope to spread it for anyone out there trying to give our beloved beautiful team that never known failure if you by chance happens to meet them or blog with them sumwhere else or in sum other time,pls send the message. So...go,go,go blue team & go,go,go for the fans,too! Remember,that sadness won't bring anything good back.And try to strive forward & focus what's still ahead of us.That's what we BLUES are.^'

Having let a few days pass before posting and, of course, having been on the road the last three days, tis time to reflect.
Considering the turmoil in the early part of the season, whether we have silverware or not, this has been a good season for us!!! Remember it was only 5 years ago when the moment the last League game was over, all the players went on holiday. If you forget the 3 seasons under TSO, when did we last have 3 runners up spots??? NEVER!! I know a lot of you won't agree with my sentiments but I can remember the days when our season was over by Xmas!! (A bit like Liverpoo's are now)
My only complaint about the game that hasn't been said already is 'what a nasty little fukker Tevez is'
I was on the road at 4am Thursday morning and eagerly awaited Talksports 6am programme to see what was said. Brazil and Birani both said the same thing ..... a great game and we were the better team. (Unlike that absolute shit Chiles on the 4pm programme). I heard an interview with RedNose that held a comment within it that hasn't been reported on here. During the interview RedNose stated ' I was just pleased to get to extra time'. Now despite all the shite the press have printed about the 'right' of ManUre to win etc, RedNose knew the real scenario. They were under terrible pressure and lucky to get to ET.
As an aside, Johnny Vaughan on Capital Radios breakfast show never made it in for his 6am show!!! LOLOL Denise Van Outen stated at 0612 she had had a text from him saying he overdone it on drowning his sorrows lol. If anyone heard their show Wed morning, it was one of the funniest ever. He kept introducing these weird tracks and then when it started, it was Blue is the Colour lolol. I heard BITC 4 times between 7 and 8 PMSL
Unfortunately, the moment Anelka's kick missed, I turned the telly off as I just knew I couldn't watch the presentation so missed the hugs between our players etc. I did see the picture of Avram and JT on the back of the Mail though and appreciated Avram's reaction to JT. Looked like a big ole Daddy hugging JT.
I fully expect the next month to be full of press speculation as we sign another 55 players including the full Spanish first and reserve teams.
I also hope the Avram situation is resolved one way or another very quickly.
Now my most controversial point ........ despite the way he has played in the past (and remember he has only been prolific for ONE of those seasons), I hope NEVER to see that tart Drogba in a blue shirt again unless it is playing out his contract in the reserves. (Dons tin hat)

2 important things that needs to be done right now:

1) Settle the managerial post ASAP. Hopefully before the end of this month.
2) Lampard and Drogba - Get them to sign! Hopfully before Euro 08 starts.
3) Buy and sell players - Squad refining.

179 Andrei......

READ THIS LINK....COULD IT REALLY HAPPEN!

LINK

WILL JOSE REALLY COME BACK....... FUCK, HOW MUCH PRIDE WOULD ROMAN HAVE TO SWALLOW FOR THIS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

LINK

I have one more

Did anyone listen to Graham Poll on the Eamonn Holmes show on Radio 5 this morning? I have never heard so much anti-Chelsea venom from one person in such a short period. What is this guy's problem??? ...or am I just over-sensitive at the moment?

It's too late to apologize... It's too late...

Chelsea could have 4 bloody Cups by now instead of the empty cabinet!

This season was a campaign full of hard lessons. Painful learning curve but i hope that as a result of all these setbacks and heart breaks, the lads will become alot wiser.

Sweet Jesus!! Is it true?????

Is it possible?

Will Jose be returning to the Bridge? If so - then our board has done something right for once!! Bring back the King!! He would not have lost the CPL final!!

There is no bigger manager then Jose ... He will grow our fan base and win us trophies!!!

I'm so giddy at the thought of TSO returning ... Please Roman - spin it any way you want it ... Just bring the King back to the Bridge!!!

People!! I long also for TSO return, but since when have THESUN or TRIBALFOOTBALL been reliable news sources? I wouldn't get drifted by such news at the moment, on the other hand, I heard Mancini was on the way but can't remember where I got that actually :)

One step at a time lads. First and foremost, the board needs to clarify Toady's position as manager first. Im waiting Kenyon...

Spot on as ever JANG :)

#200

After we know Grant's position, then we will find the desired manager, after which we will get the players he needs. I really wonder who bought Bosingwa. Roman or Grant?

@JANG
Possibly Clarck and Kenyon, since as reported TSO was interested in him, siriously, I think TOAD has no clue for determining who's a good player and who's not (remember his opinion about Gerrard?)

Sorry for the typos

#202

Jose bought Jose? LOL Interesting theory though...

@204
sorry, had something to doin the office, boss was calling.
If Jose bought Jose, do you think TOAD will get us a frog-team? who are the players that fit that category? :)

Essien to Arsenal? A load of Bollocks.
We can get a lot more out of Essien if we let him run forward more often.
He is a box-to-box midfielder more than a 'holding one', we've seen him scoring goals in the absences of Lampard and Ballack.

In a midfield 3, having Essien as the defensive one is wasting his qualities, moreso than having him at right back.

#206

My mates are starting to convince me that the game has evolved. 4-4-2 may not nessecarily work anymore. Its really about 5 or 3 players against 2 in midfield. That extra man makes the difference. But why is it that both Arsenal and Chelsea or Man U play a somewhat similar formation at times yet we are branded a boring team? The answer to that is the mentality. We can play 4-4-2 and still be negative! So i woulnt mind who comes in as long as there is a significant improvement in the team's cutting edge abd ability to make openings against any defense on this planet.

For me, we have a striker in Drogba who's ability to play that lone role is 2nd to none. If we can keep him, i hope we can pack the midfield with players who can create, someone like a Hleb, Pirlo or Kaka. Creativity comes in many form. But i firmly believe that we lack the ability to pick out a killer pass. It can be a cross, long or short through ball. I would like to take the Barca team 2 seasons ago as an example. Eto plays as the lone striker. But why is it that it seems that he's not alone of left isolated upfront on his own despite being deployed in the lone role all the time?

We need to get that kind of services to Drogba. Essien, Lampard and Ballack could be the main stay in central midfield. Or else sacrifice either our no.8 or no.13 for a genuine playmaker. If not, we need more creative players who can beat full backs out wide. Those come in the form of wingers. We have J.Cole who IMO is somewhere between a playmaker and a winger. So we are lacking another on the left. Thats where we seriously miss Damien Duff.

If the intention is still to keep the spine of this team intact, we only need a better left winger. Thats what i concluded after some analysis and looking at the players we have who can still contribute a couple more seasons. Im sticking my head out here and say: All we need is just a QUALITY creative attacking player who can make a difference to this team.

We can choose to:

1) Keep and tweak around this team for 1 or 2 seasons more as Kenyon/Buck mentioned.

2) Start rebuilding. Its never too late? Our spine is ageing apart from Cech, Terry, Essien and J.Cole. Lampard is 30 soon, Ballack is 31 along Drogba. Makalele is already 35 damn it and he played 120 minutes. Wonder whos going to replace Carvalho 2 seasons later.

So you see guys, we have loads of potential problems ahead. If we delay rebuilding the team, we are going to become both Real Madrid and AC Milan combined together. Would be interesting to see how the club manages all these issues. Or can they foresee all these problems that lies ahead?

Forgot to include another point: We should start rebuilding biy by bit. Introduce new players gradually into the team and when the time is ripe, let our older players go. After a transitional period of 2 to 3 seasons, we will have a brand new team ready and hungry to win trophies again.

E.g. Ivanovic for Carvalho, Di Santo for the center forward's role, Kakuta too and etc. If we need to go out and buy one, im sure we will. Most likely it would be a striker and a playmaker because as i have mentioned, Ballack, Lampard and Drogba aint getting any younger. Maybe next season would be abit too early to replace them all but sooner or later, we need to.

I think something that that would really help us or any other team is the ability of a player to go both ways, use either foot. I know there are supposed to be set-ups that are really big on training to make players comfortable using both feet, but surely there should be more focus on it. Shouldn't we be seeing more of these ambidexterous kind of players around?

How much of a difference would it make if we had someone in midfield who is agile enough to turn and lay passes off of either foot.

Diference beteeen us and them -
More options, more movement, more flexibility and understanding between players - and of course, there are the players themselves.

I don't see why we can't make it work with the addition of a couple of players and some proper 'coaching'.

Jang - yoright, it is worrying. Makelele, Ballack and Lampard is an ageing midfield, but...

Mikel
Essien
Lampard / Ballack / Joe Cole

...Doesn't look too bad, right?

(I'd like to see Kakuta and Di Santo get some 1st team experience, whether it be on loan or with us)

About the Arse and Manc systems - They are 4-2-3-1 (interchanging positions) ours is more of a 4-3-3 / 4-5-1

Now if we were to play 4-2-3-1?

------------Cech-------------

Bosingwa--Ricky--JT------Cole

--------Essien---Lampard-----

Joe Cole---Pizarro-----Kalou/Malouda/?

------------Anelka-----------

Chelsea sack Avram Grant

Avram Grant has gone - official

Rejoice. RA's finally made a good decision!

Now just bring back Jose.

This has finally brought me from the depths of despair after Wednesday to a relative state of glee.

Well done Lynne - just beat me to it :-)

Now we can seriously start with the ideas of who the new boss will be. Would love to see JM back, although the realist in me says that won't happen.

To be honest Michael Laudrup would be my number one choice, ahead of Rikjaard. Rikjaard did well for a couple of seasons with Barca, but to be honest I put that more down to the genius and quality of the players he had at his disposal. He never struck me as a manager who could make substitutions or alter things tactically to change games.

Mancini is another interesting one, and what about Scolari? No top experience in club management but his international record is impressive, might be worth a go.

I was beaten again. Cheers Lynn

I've added a quick post as a place to discuss this (welcome) news.

LINK

It was always on the cards - I'm glad I haven't done the post-season review - it was scheduled today but an excessive amount of Vin Rouge last night with a Man Utd supporting friend in France put paid to me doing anything but surfing the net and moaning loudly.

I fee a bit sorry for the guy because at the very least I'd hoped he would go back to D0F and act as bridge between players/owner/Arnesen and new head coach - but as we have been speculating the most likely reason is that he didn't fit the profile the club want for the brand. It also seems that Kenyon was once again the playing the smiling assassin.

Praise the Lord!!!

#220

You're damn right about Kenyon. He did that to Jose last year.

He Habs just read in one of your posts, that someone has been impersonating me?

Yes i am a footy player and from the team that you bloggers support.
What so unusual? Anyway you guys should be happy with the events of last week or so.
Now wait to see who replaces the previous manager.
BTW only by a wisker your favorit manager didn't join again.