FA Cup: Chelsea 3 - 1 Huddersfield Town

Saw the goals...they were good and well taken. Lets hope the trend continues against stronger opposition

My real worry now is how AG's going to handle the issue of selection in the coming matches...lets go for the win outright in greece

still in with a shout on all four....

And a wonderful piece Mark...do keep it up

Always Blue!!!

Can we safely say that our super frankie is back? or is it too early? Anyways, I don't care how he plays as long as he gets in the scoresheet. I dont want ronaldo to be highest goal scorer...So super frankie ..go...

Alex, It was a good point u brought. I was also wondering how is AG going to accommodate all the players since everyone is returning frm african cup nations and injuries. What a bad timing guys ...who's gonna be in defence? Alex n Carvalho or Terry and Carvalho? (guessing carvalho would be an automatic choice). I guess obi would the holding midfielder. But how about other guys? lampard, essien, ballack, malouda, joe cole, wright philips... n whos gonna be the striker? drogba, anelka, kalou, shevchenko... will it be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3? well lots of thinking to do for AG. I wish them luck in whatever formation they play n whoever plays.

Blues forever

That Frank is rubbish isn't he??!!

Seriously... Until such time as other players can manage 20 goals plus a season every year, can we just stop discussing whether Frank Lampard deserves to be in the side.

It is a ridiculous argument for anyone to suggest that Frank is not worthy of a place, and as well as Ballack has played in his absence, the decision is simply, do we play both, or do we play Frank?

Let's be practical though, it was only Huddersfield.......Still, least it wasn't Barnsley.... Is that the sound of history being written at Anfield?If they lose in the Champions League this week, I reckon the Fat Spanish Waiter might get his P45.

[...] Player Ratings for Chelsea vs Huddersfield Town Match can be obtained at Chelsea Football Club Blog. [...]

@Greenlight,

If Frank puts pen to paper and plays well against top notch clubs then who is going to be hating Frank... but if Frank holds the club at ransom twidelling away on the signature for an improbbale amount, and then puts in a piss poor performance against top notch clubs...like the way he played at Liverpool...Sorry mate out with Frank...Simple as that...

My question would be did the strikers play well yesterday??? Not even one...why??? Midfield interplay? or were the just sh*t????

Oh and Beni is a cake thief...

Fate has finally caught up with him...

Disingenuous and woefully inaccurate as ever Jose. Good to see you're back on form.

@ JOSE MUSUMBA
You need to shut your gob mate and give your arse a chance!!!

Congratulations to SUPERFRANK on your century+1....hope there are many more to come....
Up the Chels xxx

Ladies and gentlemen bloggers, lets take a step back and look at things in a different light. Whatever our views are on players, tactics, formations etc etc... there's is no doubting that our boys who put on the shirt whether they're good, bad or indifferent, will mostly do the job that is asked.
Lets be thankful we're not supporting the rascally scouser team, that claim to have the most passionate and knowledgeable, supporters in the land. Whatever most us feel about AG,and his credentials there is no doubting that "our professionals" are just that, professional. Whatever mess that is going on at Liverpool, it's quite obvious that their players don't seem to want to play and try and save the "fat ones" job.

My only fear is are we going to have another summer of Stevie Me disrupting and hogging the media with yet another possible transfer saga. Then we're going to have our blogs filled with can Lamps/Ballack/Gerrard play together? oh dear!

Super Frank has been and will always truly be a Chelsea legend, that's for sure. Am so glad to see him bagging in his 100th goal as well.

The thing is, it's up to Grant to see his choice of midfield players: Lampsy, Ballack, Mikel, Essien, Makalele, and Sidwell (well he's probably off the table). I'm still interested in the combination of Lamp and Ballack.

Always Blues!

Stop being sensible Clive :-)

If Inter beat the Scousers this week, my (Evertonian) boss has stated that we can have the day off to get drunk with him.

Save Rafa! Yanks to stay!

Save Rafa! Yanks to stay!
That should be our next blog JD, because the possible alternative at Anfield in the summer could leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

And if you do get the day off JD make sure your boss pays ;-)

@Clive
Surely that would leave a bad taste in all our mouths ......... and surely even TSO wouldn't do that to us knowing how it would upset everyone. Anyone but them, TSO.

Quite a predictable match that was only made more exciting when Huddersfield equalised because Chelsea woke up and looked alive.

I think our response to conceding at home, and Liverpool's response, can be compared, and that'll partly explain why Liverpool are doing so craply.

When we were 1-1, we carried on playing, trying to force the ball past the line (several offsides showed our attack-mindedness) and finally we earnt that deserved win. Even though the side we fielded was far from a full-power one, we had our base: Terry and Lampard, and the balance of bit-part Chelsea players and important ones was just right.

Rafa Benitez, on the other hand, started with Gerrard on the bench, completely patronizing the Barnsley squad, and by the time Stevie Me came on, it was too late.

So, who woulda thunk it, Avram Grant, quite the tactician!

And the Utd-Arsenal match was an absolute pisstake. I was hoping for a draw so that the replay would tire them both out, but seeing Arsenal get utterly humiliated was one of the highlights of my Valentine's-less week. Lol.

101 Super Frank plus Bionic Terry are the English spine of Chelsea FC! Lamps has every right to negotiate a better pay deal just like any other employees in any industry. No Chelsea fans should have any good reason to hate him.

@ JD

Just getting started...

@ Lollipop

Now that your arse has been doing it for awhile...need some company...Sorry you are just not my type... Language and mindset

@ James H

I do not think that a Lampard Ballack partnership will yield great dividends..It may get you a one off game but these two players need to be let loose to control the midfield...otherwise you will have two players either getting in each others way or trying not to get in each other's way...

How about trying to bring on one for the other???? One plays 45 minutes full burn out and the other does the next???? It could work...

@Simon T

And how much was he being offered that he turned down?

Negotiating a better pay...Please!!!

Mr Musumba, we're not in the position to know how the actual pay structure is negotiated. No one should judge Lamps by what they read in the paper.

@Emma

Liverpool's fate was sealed last week... This is the curse: Any club that nick points at Stamford Bridge will not play in the FA Cup! It's the price they have to pay!

6/10 is a bit harsh for JT. I thought he was really good in his comeback match. Sinclair also played better than 5/10 and should be considered above Pizarro if Drogs, Nico & Kalou are injured/rested...

@ Simon

Oh and how much is he being offered now on his current contract 80,000 pounds? There is fact and there is rubbish in the press...

It is public information what these players are paid...

I will wait and see what has been tabled...

And for your information it is not only Lamps I have beef with...Sheva, Ballack etc...as long as a plyaer who purportedly claims to love the club takes the same club paying him millions to the cleaners...It just prooves one thing...unlike a job where you have to make ends meet...these guys are being paid to meet their egos...ridicullous if some one is paid over 100,000 pounds a week and wants to re-negotiate an offer to about 120,000 pounds...FACT

These players forget that unlike Beckham who is a global trademark...it is because of the number of shirt numbers that sell tha player...

I have been buying the number 8 shirt since Lampard began to wear it for us...but not last year and not this year and for sure not next year or the year after...

I love chelsea through and through and I feel cheated when one of our own thinks they could just butter their bread a little thicker because we have RA on our side...Just not right, it is just not right...

We all have needs but all needs should be within reason...

It is public information what these players are paid…

Utter f*cking nonsense. Seen Frank's wageslip have you then Jose? Got a copy of a set of accounts that states how much he is paid? No, you've just read about it in the papers. Two very different things. He and the club have agreed to speak in the summer and other than that, very little has been said by either party.

Lamps is nearly 30 and this is likely to be the last contract he signs with this (or probably any) club. Personally, I don't think we should be throwing a £130k a week, 5 year deal at him (or anyone of that age, and I'm not convinced anyone else will either), but I certainly don't blame the bloke for trying.

I'm of the gleeful opinion that anything but a good result in the first leg of the champs league fixture will see rafa fired. i find the prospect of them being tropheyless at this stage of the year rather pleasing (if inter were to knock them off).

didn't see the game, just read the bbc report. damned time zones. glad to see some old faces back, monsieur frankie and uncle terry. congratulations to frankie on the century.. not often an englishman scores a century (nor holds the ashes for that matter, but thats a different kettle of fish ;-)...)

a nice 3-0 result mid week then a 4-0 trouncing of the spuds come sunday will do me just fine, thank you very much! frankie to score all 4? why not. why not indeed.

ps jose, why have you been buying the number 8 shirt year in year out? for as long as i can remember you have been pissing and moaning about how shite he has been playing for us...

I don't think beating Huddersfield takes the hook off our boys, not when we struggle to draw with Liverpool while ManU thumps Arsenal. It frustrates the hell out of me watching ManU bring in promising young players like nani, anderson, and carrick who perform well in high pressure matches while we add old curmudgeons like ballack, pizz, and sheva and on the whole they are nowhere to be seen. I weep for the future.

@Jose

There's no point for you to feel bitter about footballers getting paid too much by Roman's money! I felt very much bitter when a Tory MP paid his sons with taxpayers' money - that's my bloody money!

Can I have your No. 8 shirt, if you don't mind? :-)

Yea I was just interested in seeing their partnership indeed. No offense but they might turn good.

You have a point though.

I saw it said last year that Lampard is being asked to hand over his merchandising rights to the club in return for £20,000\week, which is the same deal Shevchenko and Ballack signed. But Lampard currently earns 50% of £100k\week from merchandising. Give up £50k to get £20k? No-one's that stupid. It's the club who are being greedy and holding Frank's loyalty to ransom. He sells most shirts for the club and only wants the same share that players (and Jose) normally had.

I tend to agree with JD's point. Frank should be rewarded, as someone mentioned on the Liverpool report, for his loyalty and excellence and be allowed to stay as long as he want. Maybe even transition into a coaching role like we're doing with Makelele. But does that mean we should give him 130,000+ a week? No. Again, don't blame him for trying, but we've got some serious things to figure out and if Drogba leaves as I suspect he will, serious money to spend.

Always blue.

My crystal ball is telling me the next round of FA Cup maybe like this:

Chelsea vs Bristol Rovers
Portsmouth vs ManU
Cardiff vs West Brom
Barnsley vs Middlesbrough/Sheffield Utd.

You'll also see pigs are flying in the sky... :-)

@Dylbo

1. Just shows how far back your memory serves you (1 year)
2. Just been on this blog this year
3. Just thought "Let me write something"

Which ever the case is...some of us have been supporting this club longer than a year...

@ SimonT

You evil one...the stars seem to be point that way for me too...

How refreshing, no mention of Grants shirt or suit or other piece of clothing :)))

@ Simon: Hope you get that prediction right as you did last time.

Congratulations to Lampard! Whatever some say, he and JT are Chelsea symbols!
Interesting few days coming up though, interesting what team will come out tomorrow
I recon- Chech, Bellety, Corv, JT, AC, JM-O, Essien Lampard, JC, Drog, Anelka

Jose - i agree the weekly pay is rediculous but when your career is over by 35 and you have 50 years potentially to fund your family i can see why these chaps are looking for the big pay out. They arent the most intelligent of people and as such cant expect to earn anything over £40,000/year in another profession. Dont hate the player - hate the game my son!!

If i was them i would be doing the exact same thing - they love the club but hey when you contribute to make the club millions why not expect a little back.

COME ON LOLLY - where are you - waiting for you to remind me of the following:

Frank scores 2
Frank sets up 1
Frank is man of the match.

I knew when i wrote that post he would have a stormer.

*it was only huddersfield* - thats the only thing i can cling on to!!

Hmm, can't criticise Frank's football this week, so people are having a go at his silly money? Next week maybe he'll donate £2 million to Oxfam, and then people will have to say he has a bad haircut or something.

If we've got to pick on one of our own players, let's at least choose someone who deserves it. (No, not Kalou.) I recommend Cashley. Gooner, prat, not as good as Bridgey -- is there a better candidate?

i say - lamps off to barca, lassana diarra back to chelsea:
LINK

no, not really. lamps is one of our symbols. he should stay and continue doing what he dose best. so he had a bad spell, so what...name one player in a current squad who didn't. remember zola? he had some periods when he didn't perform at all, and was still voted the best foreign player ever to play for chelsea. give frank a rest. and a rise ;) it's not your money anyway, so why should you worry about it.

Couldn;t give a shit what the footballers get paid - that;s their business. I get much more wound up by the fortunes earned by not particularly bright button-pushing monkeys in the City. At least footballers have talent and make people happy (unless you are Jose Musumba).

Come on, we all know that Grant is going to pick Ballack and Lampard together on Tuesday, don't we? Terry will start as well and Anelka will be on the bench or out wide. He won't break from 4-3-3 cos he can't afford to give up that extra man in midfield.

Always been amused by the wages debate - Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton get paid at least four times as much to play golf and drive cars respectively; no-one bats an eyelid. Because football was once the domain of the working man, the wages are expressed per week and everyone views it as some sort of obscenity. All very strange. Don't particularly care as long as they earn it.

I agree - apart from enjoying winding up Lolly - sorry :)

Frank is great - the trouble is he was so consistant for the first 2 seasons jose was manager that we all expected him to do something great every game.

Limetree thats not a bad shout - his hair cut is quite dire - maybe he should consult with beckhams people.

I would personally like to see this team trot out on Tuesday

Petr C

Belletti Riccy C John T Bridgey

Mikel

Lamps Ballack


Shaun WP


Anelka Drogba

With Kalou, Ivanovic, J Cole, Malouda, Maka, Alex and Hilario on the bench

Munkeyfeet - you forgot Shevchenko!!!!

And, more seriously, Essien.

LOL - how could i forget Essien!! He is my favourite player - rubbish

*slaps himself*

Shevchenko would be in the stands if i had my way.

See we have too many bloody players - seriously who needs this many.

Ummmmmm - stick ballack on the bench and put essien in there.

That work?

Munkeyfeet

Would have Essien ahead of Lamps (puts on tin hat) and Joe Cole or Kalou ahead of SWP.

That's a great team - and an incredible bench!

Hmmmm, I'd go for

Cech
Belletti - Carvalho - Terry - Cole (pace useful against Lennon)
Mikel
Essien Ballack
Cole Drogba Kalou

subs: Lampard, Anelka, Alex, Ferreira, Cudicini

v harsh on SWP I know.

Time to show some b*lls Avram... :-)

Cech
Alex Terry Carvalho
Mikel
Essien Ballack SWP
Cole
Anelka Drogba

Carlo, Lamps, Belletti, Sheva, Bridge

Absolutely suicidal, but we'd be bloody entertaining...

There are 7 subs in Europe, but don't pick Shevchenko for one of the berths because he's been left behind.

Criticise Frank's headwear? Surely not...

LINK

Oh...

Three at the back and no wingbacks. That's, er, brave....

(NURSE! THE SCREENS!)

Be bloody good fun though.

JD that would be great - like the milk cup with no offside - bring that puppy back!!

That link shows why he should be dropped.

Lolly - not so proud now are you HUH HUH HUH

@ All

The draws are out and guess whom Manu are up against....?

My Manu mate is throwing a tantrum about us having to use the back door to the finals...hehehehehehe (chuckles in a devilish voice)

on the team set up for the Olympics...

Cech
Belleti----Carlvalho---Terry----Cole
J.Cole----Ballack---Essien---Lampard----Malouda
(SWP) (Mikele) (Anelka)
Drogba

Begin with a 4-5-1
End with a 4-3-1-2

What are the mancs complaining about - they've got a home draw!

Simon got one perfect draw :)

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers v West Brom

Barnsley v Chelsea

Now that is the game we must NOT loose - Barnsley!!!

Jiko, my crystal ball needs some polishing!... :-)

So.....in all likelihood..had Tubby's team not capitulated against Barnsley...we'd have been off to Anfield........

Don't know if I could have stood the excitement.....

In 1997-98 season, Chelsea beat Barnsley 6-0 at their home ground; Vialli scored 4 in that match!... Hopefully Drogba can do the same (if he's not rested).

I'm happy with the draw. I was watching it on the telly and I'm one of those who either wants some other team to deal with Utd, or for us to beat Utd in the final, so I was really hoping not to draw them. When the guy picked up the number 5 ball to reveal a home draw to them, I was thinking "please not Chelsea, please not Chelsea."

I reckon we'll be just about OK against Barnsley. Chelsea know how to show competitions like this respect, at any rate.

Wouldn't it be a real surprise if Grant continues to delight us all with his attractive attacking football and use Anelka as a winger for the rest of the season?

Not a popular thing to say of course, but watching that united game and the kind of stuff they were playing just shows how drab we are. Not once were they content to play out the game and settle for the score they had. Up to the final whistle they were making chances looking for the fifth.
I don'r blame Abramovic for looking as miserable as he does.

And on the line-up, Balack and Lampard doesn't work. But they'll both play with Essien in there as well and a lone striker in Drogba with Anelka as one of two wingers. We'll just keep boring the pants off everyone...

Congrats to Lampard for a finely taken 100th goal. Finely taken too.

Cashif i couldnt agree more - I loved watching that game - arsenal fell apart and started trying to kick people - nani took the piss brilliantly and united played the football abromovich wants to see week in week out. I agree with him - we are fooking dull as dishwater compared to that.

Lets get the shexy football going.

*grabs the tin hat from Anthony* and waits for the bombardment of "i dont care how we play as long as win" comments

Hi MUNKEYFEET,
I do believe you get naughtier by the day!! Enjoy winding me up?? Now why on earth would you wanna do that to poor little me?! Would`ve replied to your comments earlier but was nursing a rather nasty hangover yesterday, DID, however post a comment yesterday morning to a certain person here that tends to bore me more than a little, before collapsing back in bed. Celebrated Frankie`s century +1 on Saturday night a little bit over-enthusiastically i think!!! As for his headgear....that guy could wear a bin bag over his head and he`d still be delicious!!!! What did you mean it was "only Huddersfield?". It was "only Barnsley" and look what happened there, even PNE made David James earn his wages yesterday. See it`s our turn with Barnsley now...we`ll show `em what it`s like to get a good pasting!! p.s Ferriera has just signed a new 5 year contract with the Chels.

The return of African player means AG should play 4-4-2 formation with Drog and Anelka up front, Ballack on the left, Essien playing alongside lampard and Joe Cole on the right. Billeti right back, Carvalho and Terry centre back and A.cole on the left.. Goalkeeper - Chech

Sub:
Cudicini
Kalou
Sheva
SWP
Alex
Mikel

AG should play Sheva if he is fit, seeing as how he has scored 2 in his last game and is our most in-form striker at present!

What can we read into Paulo Ferreira signing a 5 year deal?

@ mark

that he's good enough to sit on the bench and not complain.

I admit to not being very impressed by Ferreira. He`s made way over 100 appearances since joining us but can honestly say i can`t pick out a "memorable" performance, he`s practically non-existent in my opinion when he plays. Have to say one good thing for him though...he can throw a long ball!!! Not saying he`s a bad player, (when he plays) but not saying he`s great either. Can name worse!!

@lollipop
Well Paulo is one of those players that does not glitter when playing
however it is a RB or LF better at RB makes very few mistakes when defending,
yes there is not the exuberance at going forward, but he is a very solid defender, and sometimes you need a better defender than a good defender/attack like belletti
I like beletti a lot, seen him since he was a brazilian player befor goignt o Barca, but I still like (if I was manager) to be sure I ahve a solid defender in either side of the defence just in case the opposition has a good right/left winger.
It is no coincidence that they renewed his contract, lolli believe me when in form there are few left/right back in europe of the same calibre, but it is debateable
just my opinion, there were a few continental teams after him but no longer since he has signed another 4/5 years contract.

If Frank wants to go he can go, no problem. I do not want to know any details of his payment. The only thing I know is that he has not signed anything yet, as simple as that. Now let's continue; as a matter of fact Lampard is not a good midfielder. He scores this is true, but as a midfielder he first of all has to provide strikers with balls. This is something that Lamps rarely does. Actually our luck of penetration is his fault. If you need prove take a look on our games when he was out injured. To my opinion only blind can not see it!!!! You love to Frank is heart warming guys , but take your pink glasses off.

Isn't Lampard our top assist maker most seasons? The problem with a lot of the criticisms of Lampard is that none of them hold up when you look at the stats. Now, I don't think he's the be all and end all but a) he's more than just a huff-and-puff goalscorer; b) even if he wasn't, 95 per cent of teams would kill for one of those.

That said, I would not have put him straight back into the team last weekend. I get the feeling Grant is going to drop the ball with his selections for a while, but we'll muddle through.

Can't believe Gallas has escaped punishment for that sly kick at Nani. That really is taking the piss. What does an Arsenal player have to do to get charged by the FA? Two footed tackle from behind is okay (Fabregas v Cole); kicking a player in the back of the leg after they've made you look stupid is okay (Gallas v Nani); punching a player on the back of the head in a cup final is okay (Eboue v Bridge); headbutting your own teammate is okay (Adebayor v Bendtner).

Have they been charged for anything since their disgrace at Old Trafford when they attacked Van Nistelrooy? I'm not sure even United get away with as much as they do.

Still, we're the bad guys remember.

"Lampard is not a good midfielder"???? Bears do not poop in the woods. Nor is the Pope Catholic.

What is it about Frank that makes people unable to see what a good player he is? It's the same (pass the tin hat) with Gerrard up at Liverpoo. Always getting flak but no manager would ever ever think of dropping him ... oh, except a mad Spanish cake addict.

I fear Grant doesn't know what the best team is. On the other hand, watching the replays of the game on the telly, there were lots of shots of the bench and in most of them AG was leaning forward looking serious while Ten Cate and Stevie Clarke were looking at each other and grinning behind his back. Perhaps they know something (everything?) he doesn't.

@ MARCO
As i said, don`t think Paulo`s a bad player..(WHEN he plays), just don`t think he`s anything special to write home about either. I`d rather see Belleti in that position personally. That`s just MY opinion though. I don`t think Ferreira looks the most confident of players when i`ve watched him on the pitch, that`s all..

I don't mind Paulo, but I am very surprised they gave him 5 more years...... Seriously, I can see us having a squad of about 100 by 2013 if they keep giving out these long term deals to squad players.

The Barnsley draw is great, and I wholeheartedly agree with JD that I am grateful we don't have to meet the Bin Dippers again... At 3 am (Australian Time) it is hard enough to stay awake, without having to endure the footballing equivalent of water torture!

As for all the Frank talk.... The usual suspects (Mikel, Jose) have been quick to slate him but as usual they only see the negatives do not see what he does provide to the team.

What the last month or so has proven though, is that we can change things around and play without him, which will infinately improve our one dimentional play, so long as AG makes good use of his substitutes bench. Grant is going to have to tread very carefully though. There are a lot of excellent players in the squad now, and as much as they are all on better money than they will get elsewhere, some of them will not be happy if they are not playing week in week out.

The hardest thing is going to be keeping the younger talent happy (Mikel, Essien, SWP, Alex). We have already let go of Diarra and I would hate the younger players to leave in search of 1st team football.

@Greenlight
"The usual suspects (Mikel, Jose) have been quick to slate him but as usual they only see the negatives do not see what he does provide to the team."
I am not too quick to to slate Frank, if you trace the posts on this blog you can see that it is second year in the row I am saying the same thing.
@Peter
As for the stats, they are not in his (Frank's) favour btw. He has scored most of his goals from penalties. Subtract penalties and it all will look different.
@limetreebower
You don't have to fear GRANT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HIS BEST TEAM IS!!! However, the real test for Grant starts only now and will continue for the next couple of month, till the end of the season actually. He had great excuse since the moment he started, there were lot of injuries and African Cup. Now everybody is back AND HE MUST DELIVER!!! And when I say deliver I mean win teams like Man Utd and Arsenal and not some low opposition, which our players can win without manager at all.

Mikel -

'I am not too quick to to slate Frank, if you trace the posts on this blog you can see that it is second year in the row I am saying the same thing.'

That is exactly my point mate. After 2 years of saying the same thing, still without substance, it is perhaps time to accept that noone has stepped upto the plate and scored the goals that Lampard provides.

As for the point about penalties, it don't have the stats, but I would suggest that he would still be among the top 3 highest scoring midfielders, even if you took the penalties out!

LINK

Interesting Lampard / Vialli article in today's Guardian..... Doesn't sound to be like he gives a toss about the money, he doesn't exactly need it, and I think he will eventually do what is best for him and his family. I think he would like to stay at Chelsea, but if it doesn't happen, so be it.

Avram to rest Terry and Lamps per the Guardian. I like the move but I've got to say I'd like to see Drogs and Anelka in the same side which ain't gonna happen--maybe for the return leg?

cheers for the link greenlight. one of the other stories was about obi one..

LINK

would be nice to get some currency back, especially considering his talent. would really annoy the shit out of the mancs i would imagine.

Cheers Dylbo....

How funny would it be if United have to surrender the moral high ground and return the fee they received for Obi Mikel!!

Time for them to eat a bit of humble pie!

LINK

Oh my word - JD you wanted him to show balls - here ya go - no Frank or JT - Mikel will be happy ;)

Anelka on the bench!

We were all potentially wrong!

@ Cashif &Munkeyfeet - Do not know how long your memorie is guys, but I think is bit early to start sucking MU #### and glorifying they pretty football and so on. To do that you just have to look one week back. Manchester derby, remember that? About Arse, what can I say -we play Tottenham, we win 2-0, Tottenham play Arse next game… do you remember the result?
So I do not think that one particular game tells us how great MU are.

Interesting team selection if true. Is it anywhere else, cos the Guardian is not famed for its accuracy in this sort of thing?

If we believe today’s papers - "Chelsea face Olympiakos in the Champions League last 16 but the Blues boss is prepared to leave the two superstars on the bench.
Grant does not want to risk the pair, both recently back from long injury lay-offs, ahead of Sunday’s Carling Cup final with Spurs." - is that brave, sensible or gamble? At least Balack- Lampard talk is postponed for now :))

Unfortunatley or not depending on your point of view, Lamps will probably move in the summer. If you read between the lines there is a memorable comment in the editorial above. "whatever happens from now, I will always remember my 100th goal" mmmmm.... hardly a , i'll be here till the end like Terry is it? I would not like to see him go but it looks that way. Also, how the Mikel saga has finally shown the media for what it is. A Chelsea hating pro MAnu, Liverpool and Arsenal luvvies. They used that saga to beat us with and now it look as if Chelsea were right all along. Do I hear the media apologising? not a chance! JM was right, the ingrained support in this country in the media is for the other three teams and they dont want anyone to break up that cosy triangle. makes me sick, what's the use, we and other clubs will always have a mountian to climb in this country to be accepted as one of the leaders within the footbal hierarchy whoever is in charge. And the same applies to Europe and UEFA. It makes you wonder about some of the decisions in the past three years sucha show come we always play our semi final in the CL away? what are the odds when the balls drop in the draw three years in a row. Can someone enlighten me.....

I mean, the 2nd leg in the CL semis. Sorry for the typo! Must still be delirious after Liverpools defeat!!!!

"Reggina are furious after they lost starlet Vincenzo Camilleri to Chelsea.
Manchester United were also chasing the 15-year-old defender, but The Blues have won the race for his signature" - looks like Someone is building under 18 team as well :)

@Greenlight

I do not like talking Lampard before he plays...but since you have brought him up...I do not slate him for no reason...I have stated when he has played well and sure have stated it when he has been poor.

Unlike a lot here because someone was good, he can not be bad. I call that living like a "liverpoolian" i.e. living History...If you notice History has not won Liverpool any cups...

What am I saying? I earlier mentioned how I used to buy Lamps shirts...He lacks ability on the ball like most midfielders but he puts in an energized performance...when you look at Zidane, Zola, Ronaldhino and then look at Lampard...the difference is not hard to see...Am I being hard on Lamps???

Let me see...He did come second to Ronaldinho once and lifted us with exquiste goals scored with wondorous goals (yes Mikel most are penalties but a goal is a goal)

My problem with Lampard is his ability to bring others on board. He is not a link player. I love seeing the ball moving through the middle and not zinging over the top all the time. When you look in house...Mikel is far a better link ball player in the middle of the park so is Joe Cole, and Ballack. The ability to maintain the ball on the ground as a midfielder creates a big problem for the defenders especially when you can drive the ball forward like Carlvalho does or Arteta, Gerrard and fabregas...This lampard can not do because even while at West Ham, Carrick was a far ball passer in the middle of the pack than Joe Cole, and Lampard.

It is not beef with Lampard...it is beef with his game. His biggest strength from seasons past was the Lampard Shot which seems to have waned... his goal return is high but how about his contribution in creating for others?

@Jiko
I'm not arsekissin man U mate. The truth is we dont know how to entertain. You'd have to be pretty stupid not to accept that we are 95% of the time it is just shite watching us play. Unbearably frustraing with all the talent and money at our dsposal.

As exciting as watching a bowl of water evaporating on a hot day.

Looks like the end of Seva. Left behind in London today. Would have fancied upping his european goals tally against the Greeks.

still waiting for the start of shev....

@cashif - Somewhat agree with you, but that are the players JM brought in to suit his stile of play.
Still I think we play slightly more attractive than last year. Anyway I think MU just had a day. That is it. This can not make me sorry for myself being a Chelsea fan and I got the feeling you guys got too excited about MU win. Bet you it will not be like that when they come to the Bridge :)

Sheva is in Athens, yesterday on Russian Sport Channel he was seen in training with the others in snowy Athens! British press is rubbish!
COME ON YOU BLUES!!! 0 - 5

@All

So the FA has different rules for Arsenal...Gallas not Red Carded...Hmmmm now there is a thought...Kicking out at an opponent lest it is a martial arts sport is not condoned...

Just shows the hypocrisy in the FA and it's so called league...total rubbish if you ask me... had it been a Chelsea player we would have seen a ban, a fine or both...

I remember a hand off the ball act by Essien and what did he get? A Red Card... I guess like the saying goes...Not all the fingers are equal...

@ Jiko

I am not arse kissing Man U - yes they had one shit game against City but how many Man U games are great to watch. How many of ours are like paint drying.

Last year they won the league with style and that pains me!!

With our cash i agree with cahif - we should be the barca of london - instead the north end of london is and that pisses me off even more.

Sell off the JM style players and lets get Shexy - yes we might lose a few but hey everyone does but a least i might get off my seat more than once a game - and that is usually to stop the cramp.

Funny as always Dylbo...

@Jiko
We don't have the type of players that Barca do. Of course. And you're right, JM did bring in his brand of players to implement his brand of football, but surely, even with these players we can do a hell of a lot better?

We have someone who can be used as traditional playmaker in Joe Cole (IMO) if he's used through the middle. And there are players who can carry the ball. For me, it's down to the coaching more than the type of players. It's not as if they are all 'functional' players who aren't technically adequate. I'd like to think I'm being reasonable in believeing more interplay between players in the attacking third can be instilled as part of our make-up with the players we already have.

We showed more adventure when Grant first took over, but now that he seems to have realised it's a lot easier and less riskier to stifle teams and get the results it looks like he's discarded the 'attacking footbal' mantra and is getting away with being not very attacking at all.

@Munkeyfeet.

Nice to see someone agreeing

Malouda over SWP?

Garbage.

Come on you Blues.

@ STOWE

Think you can read my mind...
Still think we`ll win though, 1-0..

Cashif - its like one mind LOL

We again dont seem to be able to string more than 3 passes together!!

@ Stowe and Lolli - I agree totally - SWP is obviously being rested.

That was farkin' awful. Dull, dull, dull. Play like that on Sunday and we'll get slaughtered. Avram needs to start coming up with some answers and sharpish.

Hmmm...ok...no.win. What a very, very, dull, dare i say boring (?) game. Gawd, i`ve just lost the will to live watching that!! At least they didn`t score against us though. I`d say it was an evenly matched game and thought Belletti, Riccy and Alex all put in good performances. Rest of the team were practically invisible but did seem to wake up a little when Nicky Anelka came on. Hopefully, it will be a different story at Stamford Bridge in a couple of weeks. See the scum have won their match by 2 goals...then again, they were only playing against 10 men...T***ERS!!!

Having seen the two fouls that Materazzi was sent off for, I can only assume that the referee was actually Zidane's sister / mother.

Suits me - keeps Rafa in a job.

Didn't see the game over here in Australia.... Was it really as awful as it sounds?

Load of shite. I can see the review post being somewhat brief.

I'm still shaking with excitement...

Malouda sould be kicked out for being the biggest wuss to pull on a Chelsea shirt. And SWP playing out wide? It's better playing with 10 men than that

Pure GARBAGE

Did Materazzi actually make contact with Torres the first time? If he did, i must of missed it! As for the 2nd "foul"...VERY suspect indeed... think he hit the ground a bit late, even carried on running for a few seconds before going down. Fernando has settled into the scum`s style of play perfectly. Whoever writes the Chelsea post here later has got quite a task on there hands, will you all be fighting for that job...or drawing straws?!!!

I had a choice tonight...write my Open University assignment answering the following "How might Descartes account of thought conflict with the claim that animals have sensations? How might this conflict be resolved?"

....or watch the match.......

I chose the assignment....it seems I chose wisely indeed.

I fell asleep. Really.

Materazzi and Inter got the short end of the stick in that game. Gross refereeing in the first half.

By half-time I was actually hoping that Olympiakos would score one, just to make us come out and play.

Ballack picked a bad time to have an off night. The wingers did nothing (partly because it seems Cashley and Belletti had been told not to go forward). Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Not embarrassing incompetent rubbish like the game against Liverpoo; just hideously dull.

Oh but I forgot -- "we are playing better now, not like before" [copyright A Grant]. So that's okay then.