Photos: From Russia With Love

Mark - you legend! Hope the journey goes well.

Re: photo 1.

I dont recognise any of the first team squad, yet they've all got the away kit on.....

As a Liverpool supporter I really hope that Chelsea win this game which promises to be the most boring Champions league final in History (A la FA cup final 2007)

We dont want you to win because we repsect you or like you any way, becuase we dont, actully we hate you with a passion. We want you to win becuase we hate Man Utd more.

If you do win - it will be meaningless anyway. So make the most of your day in Sun Chav boys - Roman's already losing interest, and then you can return to your rightful position in English football as a small club who never wisn anything.

Your mums

I see the Merseyside School for the Mentally Gifted has kicked out early...

Aww, they are lovely.

Am in the middle of A-level exams at the moment but will make the time to watch our boys tonight.

ktbffh!!

Steve P's bit should be split in three.

The first two paragraphs should be read, and appreciated for their bluntness but also honesty - we're all aware this is a battle between two equally hated clubs.

Paragraph 3 is a complete yawn-fest. It must be nearly a week since someone said Romans going to walk. How very dull. Much like it's author

Paragraph 4, a not-at-all original, thinly veiled, trying-to-be-offensive statement proves Steve P is actually a child. Or has the mental age of one.

Next!

Good luck with the A-levels Emma. What fool scheduled them for such an important week, eh? :-)

Steve P - i am laughing my arse off at the "your mums" comment - that is actually brilliant.

However I would rather be making history than having to live off it.

When did you last win the league you moron?

And i think your american owners will get bored far, far ahead of our russian legend.

Can't be bothered, if some Liverpool koo-koo has written something.
Actually I am pretty much in the zombi mode right now. Can't do anything just sitting here and starring at the monitor. Can not concentrate on any of my daily tasks. The only thing I can think about is the coming game.
KTBFFH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'If you do win - it will be meaningless anyway.'

Keep telling yourself this Stevie, you might even start to believe it.

And your mum, mate (as we put it down here in trendy London).

I have to say Stevie P's post has cheered me up, I do enjoy reading anything that comes from the self proclaimed most knowlegeable fans in football. How is htsiroy spelt again?

@ Stevie P

Without wishing to rise to the bait........ Why don't you fuck off back to your hubcaps, you scouse wanker!

I will be a liverpool fan until the day I die!
Good luck to Chelsea for tonight! No sarcasm intended!

Shit club no fans ... how many unsold tickets did you muppets return.

Liverpool make history not purchase it ...

Dear BlueChav

You dont know how to spell History, because you haven't got any.

You can try and buy it if you like - but it just doesn't mean as much.

Oh my aching sides. The bitterness at not being part of the biggest game in English club football history is really starting to bite up on Merseyside, isn't it?

Go on, now tell us how many times you've won it and see if we give a flying f*ck.

Bye bye Steve P, been lovely while it lasted...

@STEVE P

How did you escape?

Here....Shouldn't you pricks be at work?????

Or are you giving the dole queue a miss this week in case you bump into...

John Arne Riise

Guys why do you pay attention to Steve P, he is like Steve G just dumber

Can wait for the rest of Mark’s picks

Steve P - not buy it? you make me laugh - how much for torres? How much for babel?

and YOU still dont challenge.

jealousy is a bitter pill. Look at YOUR spending and compare it to ours. Its NOT OUR fault benitez buys lots and lots of Choc tea pots.

History - you chaps need to make up a lot of ground as your history will become relic in a few years. Fuck me how long since the league.

Bouncer - you are right - YOU try to purchase it and FUCK that up too - great choice in owners by the way!! Last time you boys were anything like a BIG team was in the 80's. But dont worry NEXT year you will challenge for the league.......where have i heard that before!!

besides if we are a little team and we finish above you EVERY year for the last 5 years what does that make YOU.

Sorry guys - its the fiery italian in me, i just cant help it.

What would you do? I'm in the South of France with full wi-fi access in my mobile home, sitting on the terrace with a 5-litre chilled container of Rose in the fridge and a glass in front of me.

1.) Go to the holiday parc bar and watch the match
2.) Walk 25 mins into a small Irish owned French bar and watch match
3.) Hope the poxy French satellite dish installer who was supposed to be here at 10:30 this morning arrives this afternoon
4.) Turn off my laptop, my mobile phone and my Blackberry, drink the wine, pass out at 10 mins before match, sleep all night, wake up tomorrow and then check the result.....

Guess which ones winning?

Afternoon TG!

Got to be option 4, in my humble opinion - no use in subjecting yourself to any additonal stress whilst on holiday...

We're veering from moments of extreme tranquility to abject terror back here in Blighty. But all is well, otherwise!

TG - has to be option 1 or 2 - you would regret not watching our moment of glory.

Hi JD

Up until getting the wi-fi access some 55 mins ago I had been living in a world of Gallic tranquility containing cheap drinkable wine, proper food and blissful ignorance of anything to with football or specifically tonight. Then I found myself drawn back to our beloved site and in less than one hour I now find myself feeling sick, shaking and generally waling around under a cloud of purest nausea.

I now feel like an actor who is unable to mention Macbeth and refers to it as "The Scottish Play".

From here on in, tonights game is now referred to as "The Russian Match"

Never before have I wanted a Tardis as much as today.

united according to skysports news is 4-3-3

Van der sar
brown - vidic - ferdinand- evra
carrick- hargreaves - scholes
ronaldo - tevez - rooney

us

cech
essien - riccy - jt - a cole
ballack - maka - lamps
j cole - drog - malouda

All the best to everyone. Lets hope our team makes us proud today.

You dont know how to spell History, because you haven’t got any.
@Stevie P
Yet another Scouse moron who mixes up history and success. Remind us again what division you were in before the Moore's money came piling in?

If you want to lecture us in history go and swot up on some of your own.

#27

So did A.Cole made it in the end? How fit is he? Im not in Britain so i cannot watch Sky.

Liverpool make history not purchase it …

@Bouncer
Yes you certainly are, I think you just might beat Utd's record for waiting longer than 20 years to win the English title. And in all probability they're likely to beat your record of 18 titles as well, so all in all you can keep your fucking history!

Anyway WTF are Poo supporters doing on here, I half expected some cocky Utd fans.

Ignore the scousers, let them vent their worthless bitter fury, displaying all the class and dignity we can expect from followers of such a historic club.

Anyway, I think United going like-for-like in midfield is in our favour, cos we can outmuscle them as we have so many times in the past. Still so little to give between the two sides, though. Gonna be very tight, isn't it?

Anyway, I think United going like-for-like in midfield is in our favour, cos we can outmuscle them as we have so many times in the past. Still so little to give between the two sides, though. Gonna be very tight, isn’t it

Bloody hell Peter mentioning football has got me all nervous again, the scousers are a therapeutic diversion.

jang - the reports were that yes he is fit. I imagine he has a pretty strong cocktail of drugs in him though. bridgey is on standby in case.

Malouda got the nod over kalou as he is slightly more defensive. That was from their inside source.

#31

They are making history - 18 years and counting. =)

#34

If he is deemed fit then so be it. I dont want a partial fit A.Cole on the pitch. Looks like Malouda is going to defend more than he gets forward tonight.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Gestalt therapy.

Great clip (2nd one) on JT in The Chicago Tribune of all places!!!

Goose bumps, chills, etc., etc.
Bloody nervous to say the least.

C'MON YOU BLUES....

LINK

Dropped this on the previous page, not knowing that the train had moved on...

I wonder whats going thru the players’ minds…like DD, hope he’s hungry enough to silence Vibitch and Looney…JC should know that he has a major role to play in providing quality service to DD et al, no theatrics please…the one player that worries me in the Manure team is Scarface, (or is it Scarneck?) I see him as the real threat if he gets to play…

Little tricks playing on my mind…would I want an early Chelsea goal, knowing that it often makes the team drop a gear and invite pressure?

Or would I prefer to have a stalemate till mid/late 2nd half for Chelsea to take the lead?

Cant make up my mind on both…guess any would do, so long as we win…

The world will be watching (even in the war and quake torn lands of Africa and Asia), for the duration of the match most parts of the globe will be still, and focused on football…all we ask is that the players GIVE IT THEIR ALL AND PLAY FOR EACH OTHER…cos if they do, then not even two (2) manure squads can stop them…that much I believe…

And one last thing….if I were AG and this game for any reason runs to penalty kicks (which I pray it doesn’t), I’d bring in Carlo and take out Cech…that is bound to throw a psychological blow in the Manure camp…besides, Cech has shown he’s not a penalty stopper so we have nothing to lose in trying Carlo…I sincerely pray that it doesn’t come to this though.

This is our date with destiny, a destiny which would be in the hands of 11 men for about 90mins plus…we are due another round of joyful tears and I pray the boys in blue oblige us…

Spuds had their laf, so did Pompey and Manure…I want the last and longest laf…

Always Blue!

FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE TO SEE TERRY WITH THE TROPHY!! IT'S A DREAM!

A special shout out to Chelsea fans in the US who will be watching this afternoon on ESPN2 either at home or at a bar. I have been a Chelsea fan since I watched the 1970 FA Cup final at age eight, and endured the 1970s growing up in London before moving to the US. I was in England in 2005 for the first premiership win, and back in Ohio to watch that great 3-0 win over Man U, to win the second premiership title. But despite those memories I'm a total wreck today. I don't see any work getting done. Now I have nothing to do but make sure both my kids go to school in full Chelsea gear (there is quite a little Chelsea contingent among the eleven year olds in my small Ohio town), and that every good luck charm I can think of is prepped and ready to go. Come on Chels!

Good to hear from you, Chris. Whereabouts in Ohio are you?

Up till yesterday, i felt that time was dragging...that the hours were not running fast enough...

Suddenly the tide seems to have changed, 7.45 seems to be approaching at high speed!

Hi JD (and thanks for the commentary this year). I'm in northeast Ohio, small college town called Oberlin.

And one last thing….if I were AG and this game for any reason runs to penalty kicks (which I pray it doesn’t), I’d bring in Carlo and take out Cech…that is bound to throw a psychological blow in the Manure camp…besides, Cech has shown he’s not a penalty stopper so we have nothing to lose in trying Carlo…I sincerely pray that it doesn’t come to this though.

@Alex
I may not see things from your point of view most of the time, but I certainly agree on the above, as a matter of fact I mentioned something similar last year before our loss to Looserpoo. The only problem with that possible substitution would be it would limit us to two outfield changes during the game which isn't the best scenario to go into the game.

As you said, we don't want to see it go to penalties, it's no way to win or to lose, and besides the anguish a shootout would put us all through isn't worth thinking about.

And please everyone who's at home or going out this evening to watch the game, everything worn must be blue, of course shoes are the exception. Some come on Lolli get your fine blue lingerie on and post a pic up to Nick. ;-)

The nightmare scenario for every travelling fan has come true for some:

LINK

This must be even worse than losing I guess

Thanks Chris

Vaguely recall the name of Oberlin; have two old school friends out in Ohio, one in Lancaster and one in Nelsonville (at Hocking College) - bit further south from where you are, I think?

(But neither of them Chelsea fans, so we need concern ourselves with them no longer...!)

Maintaining Zen calm.

Ommmmmm...

Ommmmmmmmm....

Ommmmmmmmmmmmygodwe'reinthefreakin'championsleaguefinal...

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmakawhatwereyouthinking...

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Worrying Portents Part the First

Haven't had a lunch hour at work for 2 days.

As it is a special day I went to the pub with 2 cockney 'pool fans.

This was on the basis that this would be the final lunch hour in which they could claim to be the last English team to lift the CL. We would be next - a hand over ceremnoy if you like.

Only had 2 pints but on returning I felt the need to pass water, headed for the first floor toilet, beaten to it by the only Manc fan in the building.....

Fuck me, Moscow's ugly.

Is the stadium covered? Or can it be covered?

@49 Peter - hey c'mon, the area around Wembley stadium is a wasteland too!

Yeah, I was just thinking that to be honest. Fair enough!

Moscow is not attractive. Bit like Milton Keynes minus the flora and fauna.

Boys Does anyone know if vidic is fit i read he didnt train last night??

LINK

Richard - he is starting. didnt train as a precaution.

our messi fund is sorted after tonights win

LINK

and Alex - i concur with you on Cudicini for Cech in the event of a pen shoot out.

Waiting in North Carolina. Wish I could be there with you Mark. COME ON THE CHELS!

@57 BMF - Sorry, can't agree we should limit ourselves to 2 subs during 90mins plus extra time just for that - anyway, can you make subs after extra-time final whistle, it would be a crazy disruption to make a GK sub in last few minutes of play pre-penalty shoot-out?

Anyone heard this rumour put out on BBC London that ze German might only be on bench to allow Essien to play in mid-field and put a better defender [Ferreira?] at RB to counter Ronaldo if he plays down that wing?

Just read this on the breaking transfer gossip section of the Beeb website :

"Florent Malouda's agent has denied that the Chelsea winger is on the verge of moving to Barcelona after the Catalan press claim that he met with Barca's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain about the France international's future.
(Setanta Sports, 1515 BST) "

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Maybe as part of a swap deal involving Messi...............

BBD - yeah very true - i agree but Cech is useless at pens - has he ever saved one in the 4 years he has been here?

ze german has to play. I for one will be gutted if he isnt - if we get good deliveries then with lamps and ballack arriving late - Man u should be very worried.

What is the appropriate response to the email message I just received from the guy in the office above mine complaining about 'Blue is the Colour' blaring out repeatedly? Headphones or a more pithy "Fuck Off"?

Its a conspiracy! The Satellite man is here (just the 6 hours late, quelle surprise!). But just as I thought I'd be forced to watch the damn thing in the comfort of my own (mobile) home.......the idiot Spanish who built it decided to put a coax connection in the living room, but merely coil it up the roof space instead of putting it somewhere connectable!

So now I am negotiating in broken French with the man....TO DO WHATEVER IT FUCKING TAKES BUT GET ME THE RUSSIAN MATCH

"Faites celui qu'il les foutues prises, mais obtiennent m'aux parties de football russes !"
According to Babelfish.

I feel fate twisting the knife already......

He doesn't even want a glass of wine...how very un-french!

Reading some of the posts from the loserpool fans has really cracked me up, Stevie P, Bouncer and Shaunred and proberbly all the same person, Maybe TG should check their IPs

27, If thats the line up then I got 11/11 in my prediction

Pick up the cup! Today must be our day! Champion it!

damn it - i should have taken that half day to get down to the bars at SB - loads of us are down there apparently :(

All systems go here mon amis!

Hide or watch....hide or watch.....hide or watch

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhideorwatch
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhideorwatch
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhideorwatch
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhideorwatch

Sorry Greenlight.....not working for me.

Aaaaah un autre verre de Rose Syrah, pour moi?

Vous etre trop amiable!

Good luck anyone here! Can not bear to dream even…but it will be better than a dream….I believe!

Haven't slept since Monday night. Been trying to find work to take my mind off things but unable to concentrate. Walked around Sheffield all afternoon with local young friend who supports Blades and wants Chelsea to win because he hates Manyoo but is actually going to watch Girls Aloud tonight at the Arena (or Ashley's missus, as he puts it) tonight and wants the scores texted to him (you guessed it, he's gay...stereotypes are stereotypes because they often contain a truth). Thinking about what to eat right now but not hungry. Will take a bath soon to try to relax. When my dad first took me to the Bridge in 1964 he had to hold me up to see over the heads of a throbbing 66,000 crowd to watch us beat Liverpool 4 - 0. I have often wondered why he took me there. He was Irish and didn't particularly like them but they were the nearest to where we lived. But I nagged him and he caved in and took me and one of my brothers who, after a further few trips on our own, decided he didn't much like football. I had to go on my own for years before I gathered friends around me. Chelsea were a second family where I grew through my teens and learned stuff parents don't tell you. I especially loved midweek nights after work standing under the tall lights, with the monkey nuts in those brown paper bags the old guy used to hawk around, and the smell of ciggies and banter and watching my heroes like Bobby Tambling and later Charlie Cook and Ossie. Oh god! 44 years a Blue and finally we are at the top table and i can't take it in without feeling sentimental as hell. I just want all the boys to do us proud, win or lose. Especially Joey Cole who is a true Blue and used to watch from the West Stand with his family as a kid. People can hate our club. They can call us super chavs and spivs or whatever. But we have family, community and roots like any other club and are built on the same foundations. In fact, enduring the years and years of non-success and troubles on and off the pitch makes us proper supporters who never attached ourselves to this club because we won things (unlike the trophy obsessive history geeks of other clubs) but for the honest companionship and shared experience of supporting a little haven of colour in West London. Oh god! 2 hours to go. KTBFFH

The Scouse comments were just as expected really, although the thick twats are a bit late with their comments..Get a job you useless wa***rs!!! Working for a living will take your mind off things!!

@ MARK

Loving the pics..why aren't you on any of them though? Enjoy your time in Moscow and any other Blues fans that happen to be there tonight..

I'm SO excited but have worked myself up so much today that i've got a splitting headache now. Stress!!!

Hope tonight belongs to us everyone..fingers and toes crossed..

GOOD LUCK CHELS, DO US PROUD XXX

Just noticed a couple of good omens mentioned on the BBC website:

1) In the previous two same-country Champions League finals, the team finishing lower in their domestic league has prevailed. AC Milan (v Juventus) in 2003 and Real Madrid (v Valencia) in 2000.

2) the Blues won their first European trophy on 21 May 1971 with victory over Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup, exactly 37 years ago.

Mark/ Nick - keep those pics coming, isn't technology wonderful sometimes?

@ EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE

I'm a big believer in good omens, so thanks for posting that. It's made me feel good x

I'm actually really pleased that MARK is posting pics of Chels fans in Moscow. My Ma has been watching SSN all day and she says their coverage has just been on Man Ure and their fans all day..I've been watching since i got home from work at 5pm and i have to say she has a point. To anyone who doesn't know any better, you'd swear blind that the Mancs were the only English team in the Final FFS!!!
Considering this is our first time in this Final, you'd think our lads would get a bit more coverage than what they're receiving at the moment..

Note to Sky Sports News ; "you are biased tossers!"

I've switched over to sky sports 1 now anyways..oh God! Andy Gray!!!!!

Mark, great pics, typing ability now failing........just heard on Sky News that they've sent the aircraft nup to 'disperse the clouds'! Cloud-dispersal technology? In Russia....where were they last summer?

@ BlueLollipop

"Note to Sky Sports News ; “you are biased tossers!”"

I love it when you talk dirty :-)

@ TONY

You get worse!!! Hope you're enjoying your stay in France x x

fifteen security checks later and i finally made it. @lollipop did not put me in the photos because i didnt want to get you over excited before the game

Good to see you didint get stuck in Gatwick like some poor supporters.
PS Youll have to let everyone know how many times you checked you had packed your match ticket.

@ MARK

Spoilsport!!! Go on...show us what you look like! Say "cheese" for the camera!!!

15 security checks? God!! Imagine how many there would've been if the scousers had gotten to the Final!!!

Doesn't bear thinking about!

Is there any British-based media not totally biased against us - I'm contemplating just watching pictures from ITV/Sky with commentary off to save my blood pressure - doubt any of the radio stations are any better and they're always out of synch with TV pictures which is weird effect?

>Mark...

Thanks for the pics...another dimension to this great blog!

Boy!....think i'm running a temperature already!

Apparently I am suffering from

'poltronnerie vile' or utter cowardice

a condition I've known about for some time and usually bought on by massive games such as tonight, but can also come on when we get awarded a penalty or we concede a penalty. I first realised I had this in a previous life when my amateur hypnotist mate made me relive a few previous ones after we consumed around 12 pints of Guinness, followed by a single malt and a Doner kebab swimming in Chilli sauce. The hanging in the 16th century was unpleasant, as was the Victorian sweatshop, but being James Dean was OK. However running from the loud bangs, screaming like a 5 year old at Flanders is what made me realise what a bottler I am.


Whether I watch tonight will come down to a coin toss, best of 3....which side is the head on a €2 coin?

Maybe I should lay off the Syrah.......

I hope and pray that Ashley is 100% fit because otherwise we haven't got a left back to replace him.Surely it would have been a good idea to have Bridge,just in case.

I feel like I could have a heart attack at any minute and we haven't bloody kicked off yet.

Come on boys,make us the happiest fans in the world.

BLUE IS ALWAYS THE COLOUR!!!!!

@ TONY

Are you drunk Sir?!


Or just slightly barmy?..

@83 - Bluelolli

Hmmmmmm.........a bit of both methinks.....with any luck I'll sleep through the game and if we win I've recorded it at home to watch stress free if we win or delete if we lose

@ TONY

Sleep through the game?! Now i know you are truly mad!!!

Is anyone posting on here during the game? I can't go through tonight alone!!..

I'll come on at half time at least - earlier if we have a long stoppage while some Manure player gets stretchered off.....

@ EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE

Nice one..i'm shaking like a leaf!

Here we go guys..the moment of truth..

Essien was skinned badly by Ronaldo then,the bastard's too afraid to go up against Ashley,hope it's not a sign of things to come.

A typical Paul Scholes challenge and somehow the ginger bastard comes off worse for a change.He got booked,not sure if Maka did also.

1-0 Ronaldo,poor marking and very soft header,Essien lost him for the cross

oh my god - cech - man of the match save...........

We're just hanging on,needed a Cech double save to keep us in the game.Carvalho lost the ball in the left wing position and they broke quickly.It's all Manure and we're struggling big time.Our only attempt on target was a Ferdinand header which Van Der Valk had to save.We are not doing ourselves justice at all,they've completed twice as many passes as us and we'll do well to go in just 1-0 down.

why is grant just sitting there? come on man - get up and inject some passion, energy and belief!!!

Gotta take Maka off,he nearly gifted Tevez the second goal,cross from right which he slid and missed and Tevez sliding behind him just failed to get a touch.
Poor Ballack free kick,at least Ferdinand got booked.


Lamps 1-1 COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNN

COOOOOOOOME ONNNNNNNNN

YEAH! Super Frank did it again!

Carvalho catches Ronaldo,bad challenge and booking.
Half time 1-1

Seems to me, Maka is NOT having one of his better games. Is Obi on the bench??

Bad challenge?!?! I thought it was excellent! :)

SUPERFRANKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good summary Lynn - Ronaldo is getting so much space - Essien can't seem to cope with him - but would Belletti do any better? I thought we were never going to start playing.

We're lucky we're still in this.

How are you holding out Lolli?

notquiteasgoodasballackfrankkkkkkk!! thats right isnt it Lolli

Hey blueboy - i agree its shameful - we need to start the 2nd as we finished the 1st!! otherwise its trouble!

I, Bluetone, being of sound and disposing mind and memory........


**just in case**......

Sorry to say that Maka's been very poor,not passing well,giving away free kicks and has been booked.I'm afraid that Mikel is always a tackle away from getting sent off and would rather see Essien play there.Problem then is Ronaldo against Belletti.Too many players haven't got involved in the game Malouda,J.Cole Ballack are just drifting in and out.
Would like to see Kalou have a run against Brown,who's always good for a rash challenge or two.

EXTRABLUE BLUBOYDAVE

I've just had to be revived after suffering a multiple heart attack!! Don't know if i can cope with another 45 minutes!!

MUNKEY

The same Ballack that missed a header right in front of goal you mean? Is that the same Ballack we're on about?..

when you say sky are Manure-biased, you should hear the italian commentary

Bluetone - what are they saying? Did they enjoy the 1st half?

Yup lolli - i dreamt we would go one down to ronaldo and win 2-1 in normal time with ballack scoring the winner!! so lets just wait!! :)

BLUETONE

Does that mean it's good?

Jeez old Purplenose is berating the ref on the way out of the tunnel for the 2nd half now!!!!!!!!!!

MUNKEY

I'll bet you a tenner he doesn't..Drogs will score our 2nd.

done!

Why are we isolating Drogba?We boot it upfield and even if he wins it he's all alone.
Essien has a great chance,he outmuscles Ronaldo but blazes over the bar.

We've had 11 shots and only one on target,Ballack charges through and it's his turn to blast over the bar.
Hargreaves has joined Scholes and McFergie in the red nose gang now after a tussle with Maka.
Not sure where Essien's supposed to be playing,he's in their pen are more than ours at the moment.
We are coming more into the game but must be aware of a quick counter attack.

We've gone right off the boil and let them back into the game,Joe Cole seems to be playing right back behind Essien at the moment,very strange.Just got a bad feeling that another mistake will cost us dear.

Drogba hits outside of the post,bit unlucky there,why hasn't Tevez been booked?he's been throwing himself about and has been very lucky so far.
Another good move,Malouda down left and only good challenge stops Drogba having a chance.
We've now had 17 shots to their 7,Ballack goes for a two point conversion and balloons one over the bar.
Giggs is warming up,please don't make it his night.

Ferdinand does his karate kid impression and just misses Joe cole's ear,looks like we're heading into extra time and Manure are finishing the stronger.
We need a big shout from JT to keep us going because I don't think Grant will do it. Extra time here we come.

LYNN

Your commentaries are great!!!

Agree, think Duck Bill was attempting to decapitate Joey for God's sake!

Extra time and i'm feeling VERY nervous.

Time for Sheva to make Roman's day?????????

Are you still with us Lolli?

EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE

I'm here hun, don't know if my heart will hold out though!! Wonder what the odds are for Man Ure getting a pen in extra time?

Kalou comes on for Malouda

Just got a bad feeling that the ref,who has given them every 50-50 decision,will end up costing us the game.

Bollocks!!!!
Lamps turns and hits the bar,please don't let us rue that thick piece of wood and I don't mean Ferdinand.

Joe Col goes down with cramp.
Sky shows the Russian Army putting on Manure shirts for after the game.
Please don't bring Anelka on and play him wide again.

Another surging run by Essien but corner comes to nothing

Shit!!!!!!!!

My crystal ball's red hot,on comes Anelka and off goes Cole,guess where he's plaing?

Shrek goes off after very poor game,Maka again passes to a red shirt and Tevez tests Chech with a long shot.
Every tackle and decision is going their way,we need some luck badly.

Rain pouring down now and nearly end of 1st half of extra time,we need something to go our way very soon as I can't face penalties.

End of 1st half.

COME ON BOYS,WE CAN DO IT
BLUE IS ALWAYS THE COLOUR.

my nerves arent holding up very well here...

I say again - Time for Sheva to make Roman’s day?????

This is going to penalties :o(((((

We have had 23 shots and cant remember Vandervalk making too many saves,at least make him earn his money boys.
Every 50-50 ball the ref gives to them,anybody would think he doesn't like us.

I will not be able to commentate if it goes to pens as I will be throwing up in the toilet,sorry in advance.

Drogba sent off for flicking Vidic's cheek,that's fucked it.

Did the Sky commentator really just say "Avram Grant wasn't aware for some time that his side were down to 10 men"!!!!!!!!

Pens I'm afraid,I may be back later but I somehow doubt it.

COME ON BOYS
WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only the eternal optimist in me is stopping me switching off the TV - I'm struggling to block out the memory of the pen shoot-out against Liverpoo in last year's semi - we can do better than that surely??

I can't believe this. Wait, yes I can. All too easily. How does this always happen? Penalties, again and again, prove to be our downfall. And I don't know what Lubos was thinking with that Red card. A straight red for a tiny flick to the face in the middle of a massive fracas? That's just insanity. Drogba could have been the difference in these penalties.

Well, at least we didn't lose. We managed a draw, really, and could have finished but for a pair of strikes to the woodwork. Well played, boys, and we'll see you next year.

AG messed up the game.His first eleven is pure trash.This is where a good manager comes in.In the big games[finals] AG has always show that he is no manager.Starting Maka and Malouda messed up the whole thing.Peace my brothers...its really painful.

I'm so upset. Seeing JT cry is making me worse. He has NOTHING to be ashamed of or feel guilty about.

He led us to the Final and we were runners up in the Prem..

CHIN UP JOHN....

WE'LL DO THE DOUBLE NEXT YEAR!!

WELL DONE BOYS, I LOVE YOU ALL XXX

Tell you the truth lads...Jose Mourinho left with all our tropies.Peace to that good man.

Sorry to say this, but thats a sympathy vote for us. Like England, everyones new favourite 'plucky' losers. No trophies, no luck. I enjoyed the good times, I fear it may be some time before we see them again.

It's still the crappiest way in the world to decide a game of football - though I thought for a few seconds there might be a God after all when Ronaldo missed his penalty

Lolli - Good to see you survived and are thinking positively about next year already

Chaka - let's leave resurrecting the Avram Must Go campaign till tomorrow

Thanks to JD/Nick/ Mark for a terrific blog - hope we get a few more pics tomorrow

Tony!!!!
THAT was really uncalled for and so below the belt! wrong man..its wrong.. and I really dont wanna use th F word, coz I respect you and this blog.
We had it in our pocket the second half, and tonight,the way the guys played and carried themselves in the game, we dont have to hang our heads in shame or rue about the trophies, IF the entire game was like the first half, agreed..But Tony..Chaka and all you trophy hungry folks just cut it out and chin up..
Be Proud...to be Blue..

What can I say? JTs expression summed it all up, We lost but only on the lottery of a penalty shootout, It must be very hard to take for them as it is for all of us but we have to accept defeat in a game that we deserved to win as hard as that is to do

I couldn't watch the pens but still gutted for the boys.
Just had a feeling the ref would influence the game,as Ben says if Drogba had been on the pitch he may have made the difference with the penalties.

Now is not the time to blame anyone, Chelsea fans can hold their heads high with pride because we have nothing to be ashamed for.
We will be back next year stronger and more determined
Congrats to Manure for doing the double but they know we will be breathing down their necks next year and if they slip up,we will be ready.

I am a proud Chelsea fan tonight,even in defeat.
We showed we are as good as Manure and only bad luck stopped us from being Champions.

To JT and the boys
You did us proud and we all love you.

EXTRABLUE BLUEBOYDAVE

Was fantastic to see Horse Face miss a trademark penalty..

Poor John..he was so unkucky to slip when he did..

Agree about the AG baiting..let's just get over this night first.

We should've won tonight guys, ok, Man Ure were more dominant in the first half but we were the better team by miles in the second..i'm still upset. May have to book tomorrow off work because i don't think i can face the inevitable shit i'm gonna have to endure..

No doubt the press will be full of how they deserved to win the game and the rest of the crap..

Can't get over Drogs being sent off..

Terry oh Terry. Chin up lads. The world hasnt seen the last of Chelsea.

@ Shyam - Tough, its how I feel. One can't help Slimy Greenberg and Co will revel in the 'plucky loser' PR as they desperately try to build 'nice' Chelsea, and how must Kenyon be feeling? All that lovely brand exposure and HIS team won.Call me cynical if you like, bitter as well, but chuck the word realist in there as well.

On the performance, we were shit first half, face facts, but were by far the better team second and in extra time BUT Makalele showed his failings tonight, and Drogba didn't deliver. My head is fucking held high tonight and LUCKILY I won't see a Man Utd fan for at least 7 days, but believe me after watching numerous England penalty fuck ups and now 2 in consecutive seasons from us I'm pretty fed up. The boys were great tonight but failure is still failure and we will be remembered or forgotten as runners up in 3 competitions out of 4 and that hurts like fuck. Great for a club like Newcastle, shite for a club with our ambitions.

And I'm not anti-AG baiting tonight.... but.................aaaah forget it. I'm off to chuck my Cuban Victory cigar in the bin unopened.

Just so stupid to kick off a barney over where the other side kicks the ball out of play for you.

JT's penalty and the other twice we hit woodwork were just fractions of an inch from winning it for us

I was just switching ITV off [to begin recording Desperate Housewives for later] when surprised to hear their pundits actually daring to suggest we might have deserved to win - hadn't they read the script?

And couldn't we find someone better than Peter Kenyon to lead the team up for their medals

We all have to go through hard times like this as football fans, I feel very upset about how it ended but if you had told me after Jose was sacked that we would reach the champions league final and take the title race to the last day of the season then I wouldnt have believed you, It has been a difficult season in more ways than one but we can still be very proud of how far we came, Lets just hope that the lads can pull through this and stay with us and bring more success to Chelsea, Drogba should not have been sent off in my opinion and if the referee was right to send him off then Tevez should have gone too because he was slapping our guys tonight on more than one ocassion but lets not look back at what might have been because the important thing is that we hold our heads high and come back stronger next season, KTBFFH

Just got to work... absolutely shattered to lose that way and especially for JT to miss his pen after slipping. The boys showed their class though and this will definitely not be the last time we grace the CL final IF we can keep the core of the team and bring in some new blood.

In a way this loss should be the sort of desperate feeling to spur the boys on next year to put one over the Mancs again. Our time will come and JT you will get your hands on that trophy before your retire from playing.

Whatever you may think of the northern bastards.. you have to take your hat off to them doing the double again. Over the year they have been the best team - the results are what counts.

Where to from here... right now I don't care. At least the English lads will get a summer break to get themselves fit for next season. I am sure RA and his suits will start ringing the changes... but whatever happens the mighty blues will be back bigger, stronger and hungrier for success and I will be tuning in again in August for more exciting, nail biting, frustrating and hopefully winning football.

KTBFFH wherever you are !!!

Guys its not that m not proud of the boys.I hold them high for their efforts.But the truth got to be told-AG is not a sound manager.He gets confuse in finals.Thats why we lost both the carling cup final and the champion league final.It is in big matches like this that a sound manager comes in and influence the game.But in AG's case,he just keep making wrong decisions in such matches.Who doesn't know that Maka is not the right Chelsea player to pick to play holding midfield when chelsea wants to win a game against ManU?Who doesn't know that Kalou is more deadly than Malouda?Why wait till the end of the first 90mins to make your sub when players like Joe Cole,Malouda,Maka when not their better self?Why wait till the last quarter of extra time to draft Essien to the middle when he looked more threatening any time he progressed from the start of the match?The count can go on.My brothers I believe God gave us today's match but we failed to co-operate with Him.Roman please get us a quality coach

Bloody hell, losing like that really hurts!

I would not blame the lads...

I only wanna roast the Toad, and his worshippers!

#149

Actually, im quite eager to see the reactions in the next week or so. How will Lampard, Terry and the rest deal with this disappointment. Whether AG keeps his job and of course, NEW SIGNINGS! Come on guys, its not over yet. Our journey to ultimate glory has just began.

Chaka, I really don't think Maka was the problem. I might be the only one who thinks he played well tonight on this board. I do agree that AG was problematic with his picks- Essien shouldn't play right back (he was, unfortunately, at fault for Ronaldo's goal) and Malouda shouldn't play for us, period.

That said, we were one unlucky slip away from being the champions. Not that everyone would sing his praises, but AG wouldn't be getting as much stick for those choices if things had come off. Frankly, for all of his "brilliance" I didn't see Ferguson do anything too spectacular tonight either.

There is a manager out there that can lead us to CL victory. I don't think it is Grant. Perhaps it wasn't even Mourinho. (I pray to god we don't get Sven this summer...) but he is out there.

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong here- that the result shouldn't even have been close with the second half display?

This wouldn't hurt as bad if we were just blown out.

#150

Bosingwa will stop this Essien Right Back nonsense. That's a major start...

Absloutely gutted. I think there's a lot to talk about when it comes to penalty selection but that's probably a topic for another day. For now, I'm proud of the performance but absolutely miserable at having lost it.

Always blue.

@Tony..Like i felt, you are taking it a tad too hard mate, but thats the way you are I think, a realist!
At this moment, nope.. All i wanna think is this evening, ok, lets say we lost after the dismal performance of the first half, then whatever you had to say I would just lap it up and probably throw in a few punches of my own and all of them BELOW the belt.
Just that line about 'not seeing any trophies...' didnt/doesnt seem right, just my two cents.
And YES.. I agree to all that you say about Kenyon and the money games involved, but in my opinion ALL the guys had their hearts in the game except Anelka, he really is not cut out to be a Chelsea player, he lacks the sharpness and 'that thing', and crynaldo's penalty Cech stopped..and Terry missed the penalty cos of the freaking rain/grass/shoes/...
Isnt it all about being a Blue fan? taking it in the right way? All I am saying Tony, what you said was wrong timing.period. I rest my case.

Lamps reaction : "Beyond cruel? Yeah, it was. This is the Champions League. United done it ten years ago by winning in the last minute, and I think we dominated the game, Credit to United, though - they took control of the first half an hour of the game and could have gone more than one-nil up, but after we woke up, we got playing after half an hour, look at how many chances we had. We hit the bar and the post. We were the stronger team for sure. We were on the driving seat in penalties and then John slipped - it's very cruel, but that's football. How's John taking it? You can see him out there - he's Mr. Chelsea. He's Chelsea through and through, the captain. He wants it more than anyone at this club. I just want to say that not many centre-halfs will take a fifth penalty. That's testament to his character and nobody at Chelsea at all will criticise him for that. At the end of the day it's a game of football, John's the man, what's done is done... we'll be back. Now? I feel emotionally drained. It's been very tough. I've been hanging on for the last couple of weeks to prepare for the biggest game of my life, but it's almost become not that important. I'm just disappointed for my teammates - they've been fantastic for me in these times, since the Manchester United league game... I wanted to be a part of winning with them, but it's not to be."

Ridiculous to even attempt to turn this into an anti AG fest!

Of course Makalele was going to play...no way JM would have left him out of this game either..and Malouda has proven himself in the last few games to be a solid, reliable, more defensively sound alternative to the unpredictable Kalou...

If anything , this game plays squarely into the hands of AG's supporters...I really don't think anyone can rationally argue with the original team selection (all the pundits agreed that the team almost picked itself.)
Then...after a piss poor first half display, something was said to the lads to make them turn it around and ENTIRELY dominate the rest of the game...how one can even begin to lay the responsablility for the subsequent pen. shoot out loss at the manager's door is beyond me!

Time to cowboy up everyone. We were sh*te for the first 40 mins but we hung in there as we always do. Whoever sorted it out for the seond half deserves some real kudos. If it was AG or AG let SC or HTC sort it out then fair play.

Lets face it we played them off the park 2nd half. I know I've drunk too much London Pride but everyone who has texted me says the same (and none of them are Chelsea fans). We battered them. Rio F went down just over the hour with cramp. What does that say?

But that was 75mins of Chelsea showing that we can mix it up any way you like.

I hope we don't break up this team. Yes one or two are close to past their best but there is at least one season left in the core of this team. We saw quality all around the park tonight. They outplayed what is supposed to be one of the great teams MU have produced. We beat them physically and outfootballed them. The game is 90 mins and they were only good for 45.

We just couldn't get that second goal. How many times have we said it? But we went for it, hit the woodwork twice and surely Malouda (who I thought played well) should have had a pen.

Dress it up whichever way you like but Fergie has won two CL trophies when over the whole game they haven't been the better team.

I will never blush again when we sneak a dodgy win.

Oh JT you only had to bury it! But thats life and no blame.

I am proud and heartbroken.

I arrived home and in the living room where I charge my mobile there were 2 Fireman Sam figures standing proud in their blue jackets, left there I suppose by the boy before he went to bed.

Being the completely sad bastard that I am, before I sat down to type this, I moved their left arms to a salute.

Remember we lost 4-0 to this lot at Wembley in the FA Cup, we didn't deserve that and look where we are now. AC Milan pissed away a 3 goal lead, came back and won it a couple of years later

Its just another step along the road.

As the legendary Gram Parsons said 'Sometimes all you can do is sing gospel music". I'm with you there Gram.

"Further along we'll know more about it, further along we'll understand why...."

Goodnight.

I'm off to sleep the sleep of the righteous.

I dont think we should blame anybody, It was nobodies fault. The players gave their all, We hit the woodwork twice and really should have won the game but we didnt and we have to get over it and come back strong that ever next season whoever the manager I will still support Chelsea and the some of the players should have that attitude aswell, Defeat is very difficult to take in these kind of circumstances but like Lampard said thats football and we have to move on

Its just plain bad luck. I dont know what we have done to accumulate such bad karma but no point crying over spilt milk. The entire world will have their watchful eyes on us, looking at how we are going to react from a season of setbacks as this. Lets look forward to the summer, fine tune the squad, replace the manager if needed, allow the players to have a good deserved rest and then set off again. We shall be the wounded tigers waiting to be unleashed come August.

Cheers. =)