Premier League: Chelsea 6 - 1 Derby County

maybe derby could do us all a favour and 'do a barnsley' and knock over scum this week.. or at least cause a few concerns... a 1-1 draw sure would help us.

good result, but as we all know, games against derby are not the sort of games a manager should be judged on- unless he loses said game...

Totally agree with your observations and assessment Tony, especially the wierdness "...and yet I feel oddly hollow about the whole thing." Mmm, must be the fact that it was to be expected against the bottom team, and as an apology for last Saturday, but won't get fooled again into thinking the corner has been turned and normal service really is resumed.

Normal service implies a consistency where an expectation evolves, but it's hope more than expectation when it comes to the upcoming 'important' matches, with an expectation of dispatching anybody below us in the league. So, it's probably the nagging thoughts in the back of my mind that there are many things yet to be resolved, that won't be until the summer, so I can't relax and enjoy until then.

ACan't must be absofuckinglutely out of his mind by his substitution what, tacts? With Ballack pairing up beautifully in midfield with super Frankie, he put DD on, weird Sub. number 1. Maka has been exquisite as well IMO, holds the ball and makes accurate passes, why on earth AC would ever bring on Essien, who, btw looked so lost after ACN? Another strange sub. And clearly, clearly we can see Joey could have linked up with more goals, creating more chances for the strikers if he were to stay full 90 (indeed I think he got the energy and the mentality), but stupid bloke Can't just swapped him with Sheva, very weird. I would have sub in Sheva/Didi (either one) with Anelka, who hardly got a shot on target plus missed numberous times to score. What a waste.

It happens that the lads weren't celebrating after bags and bags of goals, probably the post-Can't-ism was still in the air, and certainly it will be if he keeps his arrogance yet inappropiate post match talks, like: We will win the premier league, see we win Derby (for heaven's sake only Derby) 6-1.
Stop that Grant, we (or at least most of us) are fed up with this kind of talks. Just do your job quietly, and let the boys do their part. My feeling is the same as well, strangely weird, and the scoreline/performance got me completely muted. I don't think there is much to "celebrate" over the fact that 1st, its against a team of disgrace, no offense, but still, manage to bag in one goal. 2nd, we can all sense there might be something eerie going on to our club.


If Roman is bloody stupid to sell Lamps, Didi (though he really shows not as much interested in staying here), what, Cudicini?, Maka (more likely to be the age prob, but who cares, he's way better than Essien at the mo), but not SWP, or Malouda...we would be as fucked up after him sacking Jose.

The Barnsley and Spur pains still exist, but let's just KTBFFH!

Oops, one more point: It might be right here though, that winning is all about the players' enthusiasm not the manager's credit, and YES! Losing, esp. to Barnsley and Spurs was the fat old Bloke's fault for sure.

Not playing Lamps due to a mysterious injury? What a laugh.

Hard to fault the display but, like Tony, I am left with an empty feeling of 'so what?' I don't want to be down on Grant because the result is a good one, however it will be the next two away games against Sunderland and Spuds that he will earn his money and so will the players.

Lampard and Cole both really excelled and the silence from Mr Musumba over the last few days has been deafening.... Come back soon Jose (Musumba that is!)

I think a bigf problem for GRant is that he, like many fans, no longer have any idea what the best side is... Last week we all screamed for Belletti and Bridge.. They were rubbish and today Cole and Ferriera looked great.

Equally in midfield. It seems clear now that Lampard, Ballack and Cole should all start. But that leaves us choosing 1 more from, Maka, Obi, Essien, SWP, Sidwell and Malouda (God Forbid!). So many options, but the players are not getting enough time to form partnerships with each other, and the substitutions 15 mins from the end, smack of trying to keep everyone happy.

I would start with Kalou and one of either Drogba or Anelka upfront. His form since returning from the ANC has been really good and I like his no-fuss approach, even if he can be frustrating on the ball at times.

Still, for now a good night. The next couple of weeks will go a long way to deciding whether this year is going to be a write-off, or whether AG will manage to pull the proverbial out of his arse.

Nice review Tony, pleased to see you get to do one after a win for a change!!

I personally don't care that it was only Derby, it was a win that closed the gap at the top by 3 and 5 points, respectively ,and that's what i care about. I'm just pleased Avram found his brain that had obviously gone AWOL over the weekend and didn't pick the same team that played Barnsley!! Phew!

I've always had a soft spot for Joe and am always happy to see him in a starting line-up.
NOTE TO AVRAM: NEVER, EVER, leave this guy on the bench when fit to play..

Lampard..;see above comment ( OR make up stories that he's injured either AFTER he's declared himself fit, you moron!) I can't express how much i adore this guy (think you all know by now anyway) and as Tony says, seeing him and Ballack together has got to be the best midfield partnership in the Prem at the mo..?
I suppose i shall have to return Lampsie's phonecall after work this afternoon and accept his marriage proposal..after last night i've fallen in love with him all over again.

P.s Tony your MOTM is spot on

MUNKEY;-You agree?

I was at the Bridge last night myself and it was a very fun night of good footie, where Chelsea could have really done something about their g.d. compared to ManUre's and Arse's, by going into double digits of goals.

But it would be churlish to say that when I had such a good time. Lampsy's penalty calmed the nerves somewhat (by 15 minutes gone, I kept saying "Why haven't we scored? This is bloody Derby County!"), and Kalou's goal before h.t. sealed the game. After that, there was about a 20 minute spell in the second half when Chelsea just totally went for it, and Lamps completely deserved his four goals (could have had a fifth if he hadn't hit the bar in the first minute.)

I'm sorry to say that I wasn't one of the loudest fans ever. Sorry! It's just not my style, I love Chelsea and I was jumping around with frustration each time Cole could have scored and didn't, etc, I was shouting Ballack's name, I happily answered "Kaloooouuuuuu", etc, but for the most of the match, I was sat down in my chair, watching. I had a long day at school. Hope you understand. ;)

And obviously my Man of the Match goes to the one, the only, Frankie Lamps. 4 goals, could have had more, and like you said, commanded the midfield with Ballack.

That said, Grant out.

Oh, I realise I didn't say much about what I thought of the players' performances.

JT and Carvalho were so cool and at ease with each other at centreback, Paulo bombed forward a couple of times, Ash had some good moves, Makelele did his holding role well, Ballack and Lampsy completely commanded the midfield, Joe Cole, though frustrating, was a joy to watch, and Salo was one of the fasted runners and the hardest workers on the pitch, albeit making the odd mistake. I did expect more from Anelka though, who looked asleep during some points when Chelsea had the ball in the penalty area.

The substitutions were just bizarre. As I said, Grant out.

Last night just proves that 6 isn't necessarily more satisfying than 1. If you were tracking the game on the Internet, pressing F5 every few seconds, you'd probably have thought this game was exciting. Far from it.

Don't agree with your rating of Anelka. He was never where he was supposed to be, always drifting out to the wing leaving the middle empty with no forwards left to pass it to.

Kalou played well and has reached a level of consistency where I'd pick him before Anelka and Drogba on current form and enthusiasm.

To cap an odd evening at the end the crowd starting booing (yes we were 6-1 up at the time) as Essien kept passing back to Cudicini instead of facing the direction he's supposed to be facing - forward.

Also think you're making too much of the substitutions. Who cares. At 6-1 I wouldn't have cared if he'd replaced Carlo with SWP. If you can't give players a run out and massage a few egos at 6-1 when the hell can you do it. The situation with Grant is that he's written off and you'll find fault with anything. You don't like the way talks at interviews but at least he turns up for interviews, which is more than can be said for Ramos, who clearly can speak as much English as Benitez but just can't be arsed to face the press.

We all know that Grant isn't a top coach, or even a coach, but for the love of all that's holy between now and when he's fired can we stop nitpicking. Next week if we win 6-1 and he makes no substitutions you'll probably be saying you didn't like the way he walked off the pitch because he stepped forward with his left foot instead of right.

I

if anelka doesn't score in a game like this...i'm not sure he'll ever score, again.

Mark, looks like you got up too early go back to bed.

Tony, why wait until your daughter is 18 to date Riccy, I'm sure she's sensible and mature enough to go out with him now. Come on you know it makes sense Chelsea needs him to stay. ;-)

On the game last night, my only concern is that Anelka didn't get in on the scoring act. If there was ever a team for him to fill his boots, then Derby was it.

I have to say i dont know what all the moaning is about. So he stuck on a few dodgy players at the end - he probably thought we are 6-1 up - they can go on with no pressure and just play and that might just get them over this rutt they are in. If he hadnt would you all be saying - why didnt he rest the big players with important away games coming up and give those struggling a chance?!?

Lolli i dont agree....no i do - him and ballack were bloody great. i spent most of the game trying to softly explain the merits of deoderant to the 6'2" 18 stone mad man that had appeared in the seat next to me. It didnt work - he glared - i thought shit and then lamps scored and we ended up jumping up and down together - not in a gay way but more of a "i will leave the deoderant remarks alone if you dont make me your bitch" kind of way.

Anyway i now love Frank! No seriously i always have admired him, my cat is named after him! But i want this kind of effort every game and not the effort that sees him drift out of a game too easily when we need him most.

Still think it was player pride rather than grant show down talks.

My rumour of essien seems truer than ever after last night - i agree with mark it was awful - very negative.

Hey Munkeyfeet - did you also get up too early? Clive told me off for saying what you've said!

Tony,

I'll go as far as 99% in agreement, but I think you should have included the continued inability to keep a clean sheet in the bad. Derby offered absolutely nothing going forward, yet as we scored 6 it's easy to not care about conceding 1 (this may be because I had CC and Paulo in my Fantasy Footy team, but who knows....)

I'm disappointed for Anelka (another of my FF Team !!) but he had the chances. A weak finish that Roy Carroll puffed to Joe Cole summed it up - I'm worried that our strikers just aren't doing it at the moment. We've got an out-of-sorts Anelka - albeit one who looks like he just needs a goal to get firing -, A whingeing DD who looks half-interested at most. A Ukrainian so laden with Pounds sterling and Pringle sweaters no-one recognises him, and a Peruvian who no-one wants to see again. Ever.

Good to see Joe Cole in mesmerising form, and Lamps running the show as well.

In the good, maybe you should have included Avrams managerial master-stroke in resting Lamps on Saturday ahead of last nights key clash ;-)....

Mark I did actually - the Mrs had to be into the city by 8:30 so i got a rude awakening.

You?

Although i agree with the fact grant isnt right - do you not think it smacks of the "transition boyfriend". You know the girl dated a bit of an arsehole previously but loved him to death as he showed her how to live (the fans on mourinho). They split up and go for the opposite type of person for safety (chelsea appoint grant) - the woman takes it out on the man (fans against grant)who keeps going but eventually paves the way for the next man to come in with such relief he gets the support needed (mancini in and we love him).

basically grant is a rebound, a tragic mistake.

Good review Tony. Agree with most of the points only would like to add to the Bad my 10-er on 4-0 at 7/1 prise was gone on 63min…Oh, well! Serious now:
1. subs did not make since to me,
2. It looks like there is a jinx on the new strikers coming to the club. Now Anelka can not buy a goal.
3. That boy Essien. Did the Derby goal came from him AGAIN?
AG could make 100 different combinations in assembling the team, but I think Essien, Sid and Maluda should not be considered for a while. I would give a lot a consideration before including Drog, Pizza, and SWP. Looks like Sheva is going back to Milan, pity our managers could not get the most from him especially Grant. So in defence there are obvious choices that could be equally good on the day. In holding role Maka or Obi. Ballack Lamps and JC should be untouchables. The rest he (AG) could play with.

Bay the way looks like Mancini is staying at Inter
LINK
so the SO should look elsewhere – Real M ? Poor Roben!

My whingeing about the substitutions isn't so much to do with which players were taken off and which were put on, as to do with the fact that the resulting XI had no idea *at all* what they were supposed to be doing.

There was quite a telling little moment when Sheva came on for Joe. Kalou came running from the left towards the sideline where AG was, clearly looking for instructions. AG waved one hand at him, pointing vaguely in some direction. Kalou looked confused (even more so than usual). Grant waved a bit more. Kalou ambled uncertainly in the direction his hand seemed to be pointing. Then AG turned around and tossed his hand up in the universal, "Oh, fuck it" gesture. In other words: we're 6-1 up, who cares.

My point is that after the substitutions the players apparently didn't know what system they were in. Should that ever be happening?

On the plus side for AG: it does seem like he has settled, more or less, on a basic first team. I'll happily give him credit for this as we were all saying that it was going to be hard for him after the end of the ACON. The back four is JT and Riccy plus Bridge/Cashley (I don't like Cashley and never will but he had his best game for us last night) and Paolo/Belletti (Paolo is much underrated I think, perhaps because he looks so mournful). Sorry Alex, you were great when you played, but I think AG's done the right thing here. Then the tricky midfield issue has been resolved: Frank and Ballack plus a holding midfielder make the midfield three. Credit again to AG for making this work. More credit to him for apparently settling on Kalou and Cole as the first-choice wingers, with Anelka (who I thought was poor -- kept drifting away from the goal and passing backwards when he was too deep anyway) or Drogs between them.

Meanwhile: I think we should form a volunteer SWAT team and start breaking into basements in the Cobham area to see if we can release the real Essien from the lightless hole where he must be bound and gagged, so we can expose this impostor.

i mean - subs did not make sence to me. Too early for me I guess :)

@Munkeyfeet - up early everyday due to the school run. Normally at my desk working by 7am, although I work from home so this is a bit of a cheat.

Maybe I woke up grumpy because my wife said that "even though the records show you're a six it didn't feel very satisfying"

@ Mark
'
The situation with Grant is that he’s written off and you’ll find fault with anything. You don’t like the way talks at interviews but at least he turns up for interviews, which is more than can be said for Ramos, who clearly can speak as much English as Benitez but just can’t be arsed to face the press.

We all know that Grant isn’t a top coach, or even a coach, but for the love of all that’s holy between now and when he’s fired can we stop nitpicking. Next week if we win 6-1 and he makes no substitutions you’ll probably be saying you didn’t like the way he walked off the pitch because he stepped forward with his left foot instead of right.'

Sorry mate, but thats cobblers. Read the review again. I haven't picked on Grant, haven't called for his head, merely questioned why he did what he did, as I have done with every previous Chelsea/England manager. Yes, 6-1 is a good time to do it, but there is a counter argument to say if you can put a team to the sword then do it. If it ain't broke......

Tony, Tony, Tony.... Of course Carlo played it out to feet. Derby didn't have any players in the Chelsea half. If you recall, I told you it wouldn't be like that against Barnsley and it wasn't. Carlo kicked virtually everything on Saturday until the last few minutes when Barnsley dropped back to defend their lead. And not wanting Cech back? I think you have got your wires dreadfully crossed here. Cech is head and shoulders above Carlo as a keeper.

As for Joe Cole - he did have a good match last night, but to say he would have terrorised any defence is going a bit far. Derby were shocking. I don't remember Cole terrorising the Barnsley defence, or the Liverpool defence.

@ Mark - sorry, that retort seems a bit rude and against the spirit of the blog. I have got the excuse of little sleep...I was up until 01:30 writing it, with a socially relaxed wife and mother out-law keeping me company! So, I am a little chippy today.

But I did try to avoid the 'Grant must go' hyperbole, hence my attempt at a Churchillian last paragraph. I stand by the view that like LTB, make changes for good reasons, but it was worrying to see how we went from knowingn each other to complete strangers.

Can I be in the SWAT team that rescues Essien?

@ Eth

Wrong wrong wrong. I do watch you know, and yes cech is a great keep, but he'll NEVER be the best until he stops hoofing the ball every time. It has nothing to do with who you're playing. How often does Almunia or VDS hopelessly punt he ball forward? Schmeichel was great and he rarely hoofed it. it's just one aspect of Cechs game that is wrong and needs fixing. He's young, he'll learn.

As for your comments on Joe Cole - didn't terrorize Barnsley? I take it you didn't see that game then. he did have a bad game against Liverpool, but everyone does from time to time, and every player had a bad day against them. he is still our most creative player, and yes, like all of them he can be frustrating.....like Ronaldinho never pissed Rijkaard off or Ronaldo and Rooney don't annoy Fergie. Joe Cole should be cherished because he has yet to reach his peak...but when he does I reckon he'll be awesome. Oddly enough I think kalou has that potential as well.

i'll go for a mission impossible kind of approach and set up a SWAT team to elevate Pizarro's status to Robert Fleck's

would surely be an improvement

Morning all. Some very good points Tony (and one or two from the gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, most notably Martin Samuel).

I'll come clean now - I left at half time for the first time ever (and I certainly wasn't alone in doing so), much to my shame. Ha ha, you missed all the fun JD.

Well, I suppose so, if you like that sort of thing. Tony, soulless and hollow are two words you've used - I'd say you were being uncharacteristically reserved and rather polite. The Bridge was as dead as I've ever seen it; I was surrounded by largely unfamiliar faces in my usual seat who seemed more intent on nattering amongst themselves than bothering with the game. Alistair Darling needs to raise taxes some more as there seem to be an awful lot of people that can afford to shell out £50 plus to go out for an evening and ignore the main event. The amount of pointless hot air spouted in SW6 last night was a bigger environmental threat than carrier bags and gas guzzlers.

Football wise, personally I thought we were generaly pretty dismal in the first half; Anelka seemed to spend a fair bit of his time ambling about in midfield which is fair enough given how the opposition were hassling in the centre, but it didn't make for much of a spectacle. Lampard however looked very sharp for a man recovering from injury. Joe Cole was pretty impressive too.

But the opposition? Where do I start? Jesus wept, I know their accountants will be jolly happy at having landed the Premiership cash windfall and subsequent parachute payments, but on the basis of last night and their overall contribution to the season, they should seriously be charged with fraud. I've seen some sh*te at the Bridge in the past (some of it wearing a Chelsea shirt), but I'm struggling to think of a team as bad as that. I thought they'd struggle when I watched the play-offs last season, but to borrow the tired chant - Premiership? You're having a laugh.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it all, but presumably that is the kind of spectacle Scudamore and co. are looking to export; seeded big team against struggler, lots of goals blah de blah. They're welcome to it on the basis of last night. I may have missed 5 goals, but it could have been 14 for all I cared. That isn't sport or competition, it's a fucking joke.

But misery guts hat off and big Chelsea smile on; fair enough - in the big scheme of things, a great result which keeps us well in the hunt. Three very interesting league games coming up in the next week or so - fingers crossed that the right Chelsea pitches up for ALL of them.

@ETH
I think you're wrong with your observations on Carlo's hoofing the ball, he did as much passing out to the defenders as he did kick. And if you watch the match again, he mostly kicked when the ball was passed back to him and he was chased down by their forwards.
As a matter of fact Barnsley put most of their players behind the ball, and hoofed the long ball up to their version of Heskey, which was a tactic that obviously worked well for them, they were quite content to let Chelsea have it in their half.

@Mark
I wasn't having a go at you for what you had written, I just detected a little grumpiness in your writing. ;-)

@Tony - no need to apologise, I've got a thick skin and can take a rebuttal. Now where did I put the number for my therapist ...

Re your lack of sleep spare a thought for Avram. He's asleep during the day and only wakes up with the moon and he's not getting tetchy!

Avram Out...

I must be mad saying this but it has taken me this long to find speech after the loss at Barnsley...I jumped up shouting when Lampard scored...

Is this Lampard back...or is it an Avram????

I think we need to release Essien and Drogba this summer...Their hearts left with Mourinho let their bodies follow...you can not be piss poor and hope for a place surely not at Chelsea...

LINK

A good read.

He's got his head screwed on, look at the name he suggests as a replacement for DD ;-)........

Very workmanlike 6-1. Made me wish JM had let the team roll opposition over from 2-0 rather than close things down. Cole, Kalou and Lampard superb. Derby atrocious. Essien why? Shocking substitutions, but also meaningless. Disappointed with continual lack of Mikel action. Essentially nothing changes until Arsenal.

Oh can I just spare a few words for our friends at Tottenham, the terrible football club?

Ha ha ha.

@ JD

You're right. I was being reserved and polite. It was the worst match atmosphere I've experienced - at times I thought I'd accidentally gatecrashed a dinner party in Sloane Square. It was much the same for me, unfamiliar faces abound and people seemingly oblivious to the main event taking place. I guess that's what success brings and seems to highlight the wisdom of Roy Keane's famous 'prawn sandwich brigade' comment. I bet if you asked Gooners and Scousers they'd probably agree.

tony - at least you didnt have a man mountain sat next to you - seriously i kept looking round for his harley!

Did anyone watch the everton match? My word now that is support - makes us look like a bunch of mice.

We seriously need to turn the bridge into a cauldron of noise - first thing he should do is take £5m of that £100m and lower the bloody prices!

@ Fifty

Thats a surprising choice ;-). You know I agree with that....

Give a load of tickets to spotty teenage hoody/herberts from Battersea and Wandsworth - that's where the noise comes from. I see loads of kids wandering around SW London in Chelsea merch, but hardly any at the Bridge.

I mean, anybody who was at the CC final must have noticed that the Spurs support was a hell of a lot younger (and a hell of a lot louder) than our lot of middle-aged seen-it-all-befores.

I am a fan of other team from other country but we use almost same color theme.
This win against Derby in my opinion is actually against Grant career at Chelsea. If this team can win like this, why he couldn`t manage some of that magic prevoisly when it mattered.
I saw it as a sign that some of JM injections are still working and Chealsea squad feared across the world is still there. Just not let it vanish completely, make some "erase and rewind" moves.

> Oh can I just spare a few words for our friends at Tottenham, the terrible football club?

We await the inevitable choruses of "your season's over la la la la la laaa..." at 3PL next week...

@Peter.

This maybe a contraversial view but i think many chelsea supporters don't have the time or inclination for weekly football matches. Whereas teams from a poorer georaphical area are more then willing to spend most of their money on football matches. Looking at football through class society I think that's why Liverpool, NewCastle, Manure, Sunderland et al have much more dedicated fans....because they have nothing else only football. In the more deprived area's of England top football teams are more sparse so each clubs support increases when the distance is greater between each club.

That's my theory anyway. Why do i support Chelsea? It's my local club in West Ken since i was a young lad.

K.T.B.F.F.H

Chebeef - you are partly right. Most of the people that fall into the middle class category see it as not the "done thing" to jump up and shout. We should be making noise and supporting - it doesnt mean you need to shout swear words but just a few whoops or claps would be better than just sitting there - though judging by the look of some of the people near me their diamond rings probably hinder them from lifting their arms for too long to clap and cheer.

I think it has a lot to do with community spirit - those from a less rich area (is that politically correct - trying to avoid the word poor!) will generally be more outgoing as they dont conform to societies standards of politeness - i am not saying they are inpolite - merely less inward - not standing on ceremony is probably more apt.

When i cant be bothered to hike up to the city i watch reading - they have the same issue unless you are sat with the hardcore lot - and that part is bloody good fun and you can see what it does to the team esp when things arent going well - that is when the team need the cheers.

If RA lowered prices you would see the less well off people come along and that would up the noise - but at £45 a ticket not including beer/burger/program etc it is an expensive day - when that is prob the same as a good night out where they will view that as a guaranteed way to always score!! isnt that right LOLLI!! ;)

London is big enough to home many teams, its the cost of supporting them that determines the crowd make up. make it too expensive and you will get lots of people sitting there in silence. I dont think age or number of supporters makes any difference.

And if we cant lower them why not introduce songs/chants that all can join in with - that way include them into it. At the end of the day noise is noise - its only the first time you start cheering you might feel self conscious but if everyone around you starts too it breeds that louder form of support. Once it is established it will become the norm.

Sorry for the rant but it pisses me off how quiet we are and then we wonder why the team dont lift the game!

@Monkeyfeet, this is was i was trying to say.

I think my views are slightly hypocritical in some ways. But yes the tickets are too expensive for me. Personaly 9 time iout of 10 I would prefer to spend £100 on a meal with my girlfriend then two tickets for a match. Alot of people think this a waste. But I beleive you are what you eat; today i'm a lasange and chips!!!

@ Tony. You aren't suggesting that anyone played well for us against Barnsley are you? Are you saying Carlo's distribution was good against Barnsley?

@ Clive. Barnsley were all over us on Saturday. Whenever we had the ball they closed down high up the pitch. We were forced in to playing it back to Carlo to clear up field on numerous ocassions.

Munky - some good points, but Peter nailed it earlier when he mentioned the average age of our fans; has a certain amount to do with class, but I know plenty of what you'd describe as 'middle class' fans who used to sing with the best of them - simple fact is they're much older now and aren't as inclined. Add ticket prices which are prohibitive - 20 years ago, you could pitch up as a 16 year old with your cash in hand and watch the game - now? Membership, ticket prices etc. coupled with the fact that kids have far more to spend their money on nowadays - you get the drift.

When you compare us to some of our opposite numbers in Europe, we aren't a patch in terms of vocal and visual support. Very difficult to know how to change it without appearing to be trying to paint an atmosphere on which would look terribly false (in my opinion, at least).

That said, even in the last 5 years or so there has been a very noticable change in atmosphere at the Bridge. Much quieter and a significant increase in the number of people who seem to be there to say they've seen a Chelsea game and little else. Like Tony says, the price of success I suppose. I don't consider myself to be the most vocal of fans, but last night's atmosphere was an embarrassment.

I'll echo the 'hollow feeling' point.

Lampard in hungry mood, Derby shambolic, an embarrasment to the Prem.

Joe Cole working his magic,

KALOU... where are all the haters?


An expected result, good scoreline but that doesn't make up for what's happened.
We'll probably scrape a win at Sunderland, but not the next game.

JD - you are right but you can start to change it bit by bit - need to get you oldies ;) to regain the fire in your belly!

True enough Munky - and frankly what we need is to see some better football and whilst we're about it, some less zealous stewarding - I've seen people threatened with removal for standing up to sing and so on - it hardly encourages the partisan atmosphere that the club presumably wants.

As an Australian who has only been to one game at the bridge (although i have stood at the corner flag on the precious turf) i can see your point JD. my game was the 01/02 season where we knocked sunderland off 4-0 in a drizzly affair (after doing a couple of 4-0 numbers on the spuds.)

i wouldnt have known diddly squat in terms of songs except for the fact that i was drilled for months on end before hand to learn the songs and history- hence giving me an understanding as to why the fans love their club so much. my apprenticeship was via an old fella who pissed away his days in the boozer i worked in. someone who dedicated his life to the club.

going to see chelsea was great, but walking eagerly towards the ground watching a 50odd year old getting excited by the sight of the bridge and the singing of the songs did more for my love of the club than any games i have ever watched.

sadly- with the corporate world, and as you say, youngsters having more to spend their money on, these sort of punters are being lost to the game with no one to replace them...

i see it in australia with all sports. Aussie footy, the terraces are gone; anything mildly violent is gone and its all very family orientated. better to fill a stadium with wealthier people than to fill it with poorer money. money, money bloody money.

cricket- we used to sit on the hill at adelaide oval and watch the older cats getting pissed as and join in with them when they would chant "members are wankers" because the members wouldnt join in the mexican wave. now we can only drink light beer and the bloody mexican wave is gone?!?! for f*cks sake.

i would be interested to know if attendances have gone up in fizzy cola league over the last few years and weather it is down to old school punters looking for real atmosphere? that is certainly happening in aussie rules footy. instead of wathcing the national league, more and more people are heading out to the local leagues. i think old school fans are sick of seeing overpaid pretty boys and just want to see a decent game.

i dont know what the answer is, i just felt like having a rant.

I sit in the East Upper, notoriously the quietest area of the ground (and I think the most expensive apart from the corporates -- no coincidence surely). So I'm used to fans who tend to watch the game relatively passively, rather than standing up and singing (although they're by and large long-term season ticket holders down where I am, near the front, and no one's telling me that they not "real" fans). But last night was weird even around me. It felt like a training game. No one seemed to have any involvement at all. I think it's because Derby were so pathetically hopeless that there was absolutely no sense of a contest. I mean, I've seen plenty of rubbish teams at the Bridge, but I've never before seen a team that looked so utterly resigned to defeat, right from the kickoff. You got the impression that they've been losing week after week for so long that they just wait for it to happen again.

Sitting down for the start of the second half, the young Polish chap who this year has the seat a couple down from mine said something to the effect that "Okay, we watch for forty-five more minutes, then we go home". That's exactly what it felt like. A strangely pointless exercise for all.

I think we need to lose a home game. (Helloooo, Arsenal!) It's been so ridiculously long. You turn up, sit down, and wait for us to win. There's no energy before the match.

The standing up is a strange one because last week at the Olympiakos game I was in the Shed Lower from my usual upper seat. But for the whole game we were stood up and nobody told us to sit down, and I wish they had because I'm too old to stand for the full 90 mins, a bit like Sheva I suppose.
Although I did sing and shout with the young contingent that were around me, and I always do more or less.

@JD - Apparently at Highbury Library they used to have a mic and speakers which recorded any crowd noise and amplified it. Ha ha...

Now that's fake!

clive - you want to get yourself one of these ;)

LINK

@ MUNKEY

MY Lord!!! Let me know where you go to have a good night out on 45quid!!

Always take £70+ out with me on a Saturday night, £100+ if i'm going to a club and don't have much change from that either!!

45quid??!!!......

Lolli - i wasnt talking about me and my perma tan, my mate toni, branco and my fake D&Gs!! I was talking about your cash in hand, bottle of maddog 20/20 or white lightning before the night has started type of person.

Maddog??? Do they still make that, or 20/20? for your information as well, i don't drink cider! Strictly a red wine girl....in pints!! Ha! Ha!

Sorry, thought you said you wore (fake) Armani..you come across as more of a Burberry boy to me!

Oops! Better be careful there, don't want any horses' heads anonymously delivered through the post now do i?!

'maddog 20/20'

Do they still sell that!? Lethal stuff. Turned the skin orange. Should slip some in the pre-game Bovril- that would get the atmosphere going.

I think the problem is complacency (and a lot of it stems from seeing us win the FA Cup in 97 - the atmosphere has never been the same since then because for a lot of us, it was the culmination of all our footballing ambitions) and the age of the crowd, who were priced out by Bates in the 90s so a generation of kids (who would know be in their 20s) never got to go the Bridge. I used to go to Highbury at least once a month cos it was cheaper for U16s and I couldn't afford to go the Bridge unless I bunked in at half-time.

I could rarely persuade my neutral friends to come to Chelsea with me, cos it was cheaper at Arsenal, Charlton or Palace. Simple economics.

And that's still the problem now. How many 16-24s do you see at CHelsea? That used to be the lifeblood of the Shed.

@ CLIVE

How old ARE you exactly??!!!

How old ARE you exactly??!!!

You should never ask a lady her age!

@Cashif,

"KALOU… where are all the haters?"

Hater, no. Just massively unconvinced he's good enough for Chelsea. Even after last night. Sheeesh, all he did was dangle his standing leg at it ;-)

@ CLIVE

Oh..Ok.
So how old ARE you exactly??!!!

How old would you like me to be Lolli??

Oh, i dunno..bout 40-45..rich!

*did i really just say that?*

How shallow..

I'm sure you're devastatingly handsome, no matter how old you are Clive!!

@Lollipop
You're a gem and you've made my day! ;-)

You're very welcome sweetie pie! x

hugh "clive" heffner

c/o the playboy mansion

haha

@ DYLBO

You leave my Clive alone!!!

@ CLIVE

Did you say you're wife was going out at 8?...

sorry anna nicole sm.. i mean lollipop.. it was a slip of the tongue...

anna nicole sm...
she's dead ain't she????

@ DYLBO

Were you implying there that i'm a money hungry/ prey on older, rich gentleman type of girl, or that Clive is roughly around 106 years of age..give or take a few year?

"my clive" - LOL - hits refresh to see if anything more meaty has developed

and lolli - i dont wear burberry - or stone island or anything else chavtastic for that matter.

@Clive and Lolli,

You do know this isn't a dating website right. :-)

@ MUNKEY

Just fake Armani then yeah?
At least now i know what you spend your 45quid a week on!!

@ CHEBEEF

God!! I didn't realise! Wondered why no-one was answering my e-mails!!
Even sent you one after seeing that pic of you yesterday!!
Never realised you were " The Hoff!"

if we put clive and lolli next to each other at the bridge it might be one way to raise the temperature!

certainly create some noise!

@ MUNKEY

What ARE you implying? Please specify..

I couldnt possibly - not until after the water shed.

Did you say you’re wife was going out at 8?…

She's away until tomorrow evening with work, and I'm taking my daughter to school at 11pm as she's off to Belgium on a school trip for 3 days. What did you have in mind??? ;-)

Bloody hell Lollipop...... I'm probably old enough to be your dad, and be classed as a dirty old pervert by fellow bloggers!!!!

Besides I think Munkeyfeet is getting jealous!!

@ CLIVE

Don't worry your gorgeous self about that!!
Older men are more classy, mature, know how to treat a woman, have manners etc etc etc..
Younger men are NONE of the above.
LOL

See you at 11.30!
I'll ring your phone twice and then put it down..make sure she's left the house first before i come 'round

You're a wicked girl ;-)

@ CLIVE

WICKED?
MOI?

Nah...slightly naughty maybe...not wicked. xx

@ Peter

At the bridge last night during half time, the announcer didn’t fail to mention that Tottenham were (then) trailing on aggregate. When he said the names of players that had been booked, there were ironic cheers.

emma - how far did you have to scroll up to find a blog that was football related!!!

Talking of scrolling up and down, when I'm out and about I sometimes check in on my mobile. After Barnsley there were 300+ posts and it's a long scroll. Maybe Nick could put the newest posts at the top, or should I rotate my phone?

mark - snap - i do that on the ascot to waterloo train which stops everywhere - keeps me amused!

Mark, If you had an i-phone it wouldn't make any difference if you turned your phone upside down.

At least the mood has lifted somewhat guys. Seems like you'd all been having lover's tiffs this morning, disagreeing then apologising right, left and centre.
Good grief!!!!!!!!

More speculation on Lamps not being offered a new contract yet. Apparently, Chelsea have told him they have something lined up for the summer, if he hears nothing by then, he's still got a year left on his contract which runs out summer '09. He's said that the club has told him they'll be in contact a few times to discuss matters but as of yet he's heard nothing and he's getting increasingly frustrated. He ain't the only one!

Can anyone explain why they don't offer our top scorer a new contract please because i don't get it...

@ Munkeyfeet:

I would join in with the banter but it's a bit out of place for me to butt in, no? :@)

I was having a discussion with some of my friends (read: girls at my school who don't know anything about football) about Lampard/Gerrard the other day because we didn't have anything else to talk about. The vote was something like 6-1 in favour of Stevie M. Humph.

Chelsea need to do everything they can to keep hold of Lampard. Just cos. And Riccy too. Heck *I'll* go out with him, if that's what it takes! (not that I'm a catch or anything. But I'm 17. And female. So that *should* do it.)

Sorry, that should go:

"The vote was something like 6-1 in favour of Stevie Me. Humph."

@ EMMA

It would be great to get some female back-up actually...think i'm slightly outnumbered on here! Don't wait for me to shout for help, please!

Regarding your Lamps/Gerro vote.. were you voting on footballing talent or looks? which in both categories i'm afraid Stevie Sh*****d is outclassed on both..

@ Lollipop
Tell me about it! Gerrard has the Scousiest of haircuts ever, it looks like it was done for a fiver by some dodgy Liverpudlian barber. And those frown lines make him look about 40, especially when he’s hassling the ref.

As for playing… don’t even get me started.

Peeps, Nick puts a lot of personal time into running this blog and I'm sure he's always looking for ways to improve it. I like the idea of latest post at the top if feasible, because on the mobile it can be a bit time consuming getting to the last. I've got one or two other ideas, such as the ability to edit a post before submission to remove the horrific typos fat fingered buggers like me tend to submit!

As for the photo's...well this 45 year old with *enough* money (yes, Lolli..that's for you!) , my own view is that it might put people off, could make us targets at The Bridge, but more likely would leave our female contingent utterly devastated at what they've missed out on.

Now, back to the football.....

@ Clive

'Bloody hell Lollipop…… I’m probably old enough to be your dad, and be classed as a dirty old pervert by fellow bloggers!!!! '

You're a bloke, hence the description is apt by default. It's down to 1000's of years of genetic programming, so fighting your lecherous tendencies is utterly pointless. You can't beat nature.

I think Lamps will stay because he knows he is at a good club with fans who adore him, and he has player seniority and respect. I don't doubt a clear out is required , starting with Malouda, Pizzaro, Sheva, Drogs possibly, Tal Ben Haim. I'd keep Belletti until we can blood a newbie, and Sidwell deserves more than one season to prove himself. SWP can also have one more season to find consistency and level , and to confound Ethical...I'd be inclined to put Carlo in as goalkeeping coach/third choice, jettison Hilario and sign a promising youngster as the number two to Cech with a view to putting some pressure on him. For the 5 out I'd give Sinclair a bash, bring back Sahar and Mancienne, buy David Villa (was that a smile Fifty?) and then for Malouda I'd see if Drenthe fancies a shot at us, or maybe Quaresma or Benzema

@ Emma and Lollipop...

We smart women need to stick together. Anyone who thinks $tevie Me is in any way superior to Frank Lampard--be it skill, personality, brains, importance to the team, or looks--clearly has their head so far up their own or his arse that they do not merit another minute of our time. I feel sorry for the poor wasters if that is their standard for what a good footballer and person should be.

As for the club, if we don't reward Lampsy for everything he's done for Chelsea and do our best to keep him here until the end of his career, well, we'd deserve everything we'd get. Which, without his goals from midfield, would be a fat load of nothing. Kenyon, how about earning your money by offering Mr. 107 Goals a nice new contract forthwith? Better yet, how about we just give him your salary instead? Now that's money well spent!

@ Clive

‘Bloody hell Lollipop…… I’m probably old enough to be your dad, and be classed as a dirty old pervert by fellow bloggers!!!! ‘

You’re a bloke, hence the description is apt by default. It’s down to 1000’s of years of genetic programming, so fighting your lecherous tendencies is utterly pointless. You can’t beat nature.

Yes Tony, you're quite right, it's nothing to be ashamed of so I'm going to turn into Mark who has the "Carry On" innuendo down to a fine art. I just hope he will run free courses for fellow bloggers who want to sign up!

Back to football, I quite like to see Van de Vart and Drenthe and certainly Benezma. But we all know if Chelsea start showing any interest their prices go up, so it's a case of will RA and his money be parted.

@ TONY

Agree with the "emergency STOP" button. Think i mentioned it to J.D last week when I posted a rather embarrassing comment. Shan't repeat what i said but felt like a bit of a t*t when i saw what i'd typed! The new comments at the top of the page also sounds like a good idea. I don't check into the blog on my mobile personally but i can understand people who do getting frustrated at scrolling through all the comments to get to the most recent ones. Especially as we had something like, was it over 300 comments on the last article? Or maybe put comments on screen daily, like a diary?
Whatever Nick decides to do..if he does or doesn't choose to change it..i think he does a fantastic job. This blog is the best football blog around and to bring people together daily from all around the world, who've never met, to talk about something they all feel passionately about..CHELSEA..is great. He should be commended for it. As should the regulars who write the articles, your great self Tony, J.D, Mark etc. Give yourselves a round of applause and a pat on the back. Keep up the great work all of you.

@ CLIVE

You're a gent...stay as you are!!!!!

@ TONY

45 and rich? You're my kinda guy!!!

Agree with your "clear out" list apart from Drogs, who i'm desperately wanting to stay. He's had a couple of "off days" ok, i'm sure we can forgive him for that. Tiredness maybe?.. (hopefully) I'm sure he'll rediscover his form soon enough. Don't think we should write him off just yet. DO think we should play Anelka more up front as well though..just IN CASE Didier decides to go.
Don't think we should keep Sidwell either. He's crap. Fluffs up too many times for my liking. West Ham want him apparently. Let 'em have him i reckon.
Thought we'd put in a bid for Benzema? What happened there then? Haven't heard any more of it.
There's also "no interest" in Diego either according to the official site. Even though reps have watched him play, the club has stated they don't want him.

@ EMMA

You'd call that a haircut?! Pity he doesn't grow his hair longer..over his face preferably..he's got a face like a robber's dog!!! Convenient really, considering where the scumbag comes from!! He does need to go and get the "style" finished at the barber's though,yes. Starting somewhere near the throat area would be a good start! You speak of his frown lines..ain't they weird on a bloke of his age? My Ma always comments on that point also. And yes..she hates him ALMOST as much as i do!! Carra's just as bad. How can you have so many d***s in one team?!

@ LEFT FOOTER

Wow!! You're a girlie!!! I thought you were a fella with that name..sorry babe!!
Agree..Lampsie is a legend in my eyes.
First Chels midfielder to score 4 goals and is currently joint in the scoring charts with Hilsdon on 107 goals. His record for most consecutive appearances is outstanding and isn't it something like 17 goals so far this season he's scored? And that's with 2 injuries that he's had to cope with, keeping him out for nearly 3 months.. To say i adore Lamps is an understatement.

Do you play footie yourself with that name you have?

lamps will be going, his wife's already looking for a place in barcelona and is staying with Gudjhonson! Anyway, let's get real, Lampard can see the writing on the wall and He's not going to stay while Grant is here, which is a bloody shame. He is a winner who wants to challenge and with Drogs off as well as others, I dont see him wanting to stay. he may love Chelsea as he says but he also wants to win trophies. Players of his calibre are not happy just drifting. Hence gerrard criticising Benitez every time they have a rubbish game and go further back. and in any case, he recently said after scoring his 100th goal, "Whatever happens, i'll always remember that goal" hardly and endorsment about staying at Chelsea. Basically he wants parity with Schevchenko and why should'nt he? Comapre his record with Chelsea to the golf player getting paid 130k a week pretending to be a footballer!!! i totally agree with him. He should go and get a new challenge while the likes of Grant and Sevchenko are around. Oh and before anybody goes on about Henry at Barca, in reality he never really wanted to leave Arsenal and does'nt have a spanish wife. His wife is English. All factors which can make a difference as he said in today's papers regarding only seeing his child 8 times in a year. Wont be a problem for Lamps....

@ DIO

I don't agree. Lamps has stated numerous times that he wants to end his career at Chelsea. look at it this way, he's 30 years old this June, most footballers retire around the 34/5 years old mark, yeah? Can't imagine for the life of me that he'd want to uproot at this stage in his career just to go to Barca/Juve/Madrid/Etc Etc. As well as trying to integrate himself into the team, (which as you say about Henry, can prove to be difficult if you don't settle in a foreign country-Crespo anyone?!), he has also got to familiarise himself with a different style of play. All at 30 years old..i really don't see it. I think SuperFrank will be a part of us for a few more years yet..besides, he wants to equal Osman's gaolscoring record!!! His GIRLFRIEND (not married yet!) may well be in Spain staying with Eidur. Wouldn't read anything into that either. Seeing as Elen's family are Spanish and Eidur and Frank are still best mates, that doesn't really come as a great shock.
As for Sick-note Sheva...don't get me started on that waste of space..No comparison there i'm afraid, so i won't even bother to type anything..

OsGOOD not Osman. Who's Osman???!!!!!

Nick...get that STOP button set up..fast!!!

Osman is a bloody terrorist who tried to bomb Shepherd's Bush!

yeah...but is in disguise now as an Everton player...i recognise him!!!

@ Lollipop...

No worries--I'm not sensitive!

Lamps is indeed a legend. Even when he isn't playing well, which is not as often as some would like to believe, I'd still have him in the side just for all that he brings to the team. He and JT really are the heart of the squad and Chelsea will be the worse if either of them ever leave. I still think he'll stay, though.

I am marginally less rubbish with my left peg than my right, but to say I actually play would be stretching the facts a bit...

@ LEFTFOOTER

Agree with you 100% regarding Frank and J.T. As you say, they're the spine at Chelsea, irreplaceable. There's no better midfielder in the world and no better Captain in the country IMO.

Hope J.T retains his Captaincy at England also. Gerro ain't fit to lick his boots!!

Speaking of England, got my new England Shirt today, number 8 LAMPARD naturally. Have to admit it doesn't look as good on me as on him though!!

Take it we're not gonna see you in Chelsea Ladies/ England anytime soon then?!

OMG! This blog now looks like a Lily Allen Show!... Nick, you should rename your blog as Lolli and Friends! LOL!

Chelsea are having this yo-yo pattern: lose a big game and then thrash a lowly team to seek some comfort afterward. We used to only expect the best during the Mourinho era, but now, we Chelsea fans can only hope for the best, and must prepare for the worst! I can't stand it anymore!

Just when will the Emperor sign the dead certificate for that dead man in black?

Dio, on the lampard and his lusty situation- that's been happening ever since the rumours of frankie going to barca started coming out, so maybe a couple of years? As lolli-alicious said, his missus is spanish. Fair enough that she owuld be looking for houses in spain.

Buying a house now, especially when you're on frankies wage, when you have 5ish years left of football seems more like a retirement plan than a career change.

only time will tell..

I think lamps should go - rubbish.

Nothing better than a chick who loves football - provided they dont neglect their duties ;)

right that should kick today off nicely! :)

@Munkeyfeet
You haven't gone far enough, AG to stay for the next 10 years, sell Terry, Riccy and Joe Cole, and we should all be secretly supporting Liverpool from now on!

Oh and one more thing all female football fans should get their UEFA pro licence before commenting on anything football. ;-)

By Ron Burgundy in anchor man:

Ron: "I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel towel out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am. You're just a woman with a small brain. With a brain a third the size of us. It's science."

A year or two back I was on my way to Morgan City (South Louisiana) for the annual Shrimp & Petroleum Festival when I fell into conversation with an old Cajun at a truck stop. When it came time to leave I went to shake his hand only to see that both his hands were wooden. He noticed my hesitation and said, 'ya, I fished dat swamp way over there and one year I went down to check my lines you know, when a gator jumped out and took ma arm clean away below de elbow see. Well, I suffered the world o' pain there fo a while but a man's gotta make a livin'. So back I went de next year and didn't dat ol' gator take ma other arm, no. The pain, lord the pain. But now you see I go back down to dat swamp and I laugh at dat gator cause he can't hurt me no mo', I only had 2 arms and he got 'em both. Now you son you got a problem 'cause every year you gotta play dem scousers in de CL and every year you can feel dat same pain over and over' (with suitable apologies to natives of South Louisiana for a very poor interpretation of their speech)

Oh God I don't think I can face it.....

Christ almighty !!!

Get to work, fire up the blog to read the discussions about Frank and Riccy's contract situation and I have to pile through a hundred-odd posts based around mating season.

Re: blog amendment suggestions, should we look at setting up a sub-blog for the flirting and leave the main page for the footy ??? I dont care one way or another, but as soon as posters called 'Jezza Kyle', 'Jerry Springer' or 'Trisha G' (she lives in Norwich you know. Oh, you dont care...) turn up, the trouble begins....

@Tony,

Agree with the clear out names you mention, Maka will be a gonna as well. Definitely want to see Sinclair back, and Mancienne. Not sure about Sahar - he's not doing much at Sheff Wed by the sounds of things.

Obviously my non-homo-erotic love for that bloke for Valencia still exists, so he can replace DD. On the left, not sure Drenthe's the solution (nor is Malouda), and Quaresma is one of those amazing one game, Robert Fleck the next, type of players. That means I can't actually name anyone to play there...

Would love us to sign Van Der Vaart, but he can really only play in the Lamps or Ballack role, and they're not going.

Anyway, off to plot the 'happy with' and 'not happy with' scenarios ahead of the draw at 12.

@ Monkey,

Harsh!

Fifty,

No one has mentioned David Bently as a winger, he's young, likes to attack, decent free kick, had a good season and is used to the rough and tumble of the premiership. I think he'd work well down the right.

Chebeef - i have been having that same arguement with a few colleagues - i like bentley - he is like beckham but can beat a man!

Back to the singing topic - IF we get Liverpool we should all take a shot of brandy for the vocals and sing like we have never sung before.

Oh right, i get it..the usual snidey comments..women can't enjoy fotball etc.
Sit down guys, because this might scare you all to death...women have been allowed to vote for just over, what is it now..? A hundred years?!

Sorry that i offend so many people..didn't realise..

Better get back to the kitchen i suppose!!

On a final note, SCHALKE toda, please..

Chebeef,

Maybe, although I was discussing the left wing. Joe and SWP are good enough between them to have the right covered (and I'd certainly have Joe over Bentley).

Could play a right footer on the left England-style, but we need a decent left footer.

Blue Bayou - is there much Chelsea action out there in Louisiana? Didn't strike me as much of a Soccer State when I was out there a few years ago.

I get the feeling we're going to flog Mancienne, cos we have a lot of decent centre backs and I'm not sure he's good enough.

Be nice to see Hutchinson, Bertrand, Cork, Di Santos, Stoch, Sinclair get the odd run-out in the CC next season, or before the end of the season if we're safe for a CL spot.

Not sure about clear out cos I don;'t think any of our players are that bad they HAVE TO GO (except Shevchenko - and Ben Haim, cos of our sudden CB surplus), but I'd like to see a new creative midfielder, a winger and a couple of strikers. If we get them, then Pizarro can bugger off as well. We don't need drastic changes, but we do need to bring down the average age.

Oh, and a manger.

Has he gone yet?

women have been allowed to vote for just over, what is it now..? A hundred years?!

Quite. And just look at the mess we're in as a result.

*ducks*

Morning all. So, in an attempt to pull things back round to football, are we going to be playing Liverpool at Anfield or the Bridge first then?

And Blue Bayou, we salute you.

Lolli - 1918 was the year - a year of bad decisions! :)

Quite. And look at the mess we're in as a result.

That'll be down to the male contingent J.D. A worldwide culling of men is long overdue..

MUNKEY

Go away!!

I reckon we will get arsenal - at the bridge first.

liver to get barca

United - schalke

LINK

I bet Liverpool are desperate to get us...

I think there are enough baby Bentleys in the car park

I reckon we'll get Arsenal, Bridge first.

Man USA v Barca

Liverpool v Roma

Schalke v Fenerbahce (exciting)

Where's that soothsayer...ANTHONY?

This is not the time for him to be silent

Re: the telegraph article link in munkeyfeet's post

Giles Mole (not his real name surely) refers to the 'whopping' £19.8 million we spent on Ricardo. Well that's a spiffing £10 million less than Rio cost and Riccy being the top hole chap he is never forgets a drugs test (well not so far anyway). Hats off to him eh Giles!

p.s re: my earlier post, I feel a bit of a heel as the nearest stretch of swamp to my back door is actually Hackney Marshes not the Bayou Teche.

Ladies and Gents...
Caaarm down, Caaarm down, as our usual friends from the Wirral say. Whoever we get of the main lot we're likely to go out anyway.

Nice one Clive!
I recon Fener or Roma is what we get...I wish

ah... would not mind to see MU-Lpoo for a change

my prediction

Chels ManU
Arse Barca
Schalke Pool
Fenerbahce Roma

Will be nice to see Henry against Wenger as well :))

Bayou

*Shrimp & Petroleum Festival*?

the counterpart to the annual "Clocks and Chocolate Festival" held in Zurich?

The rehearsal draw threw up...
Chelsea v Schalke
Liverpool v Fenerbache
Man Utd v Barca
Arsenal v Roma

My prediction:

Chelsea v Fenerbahce
ManU v Arse
Liverpoopoo v Barca
Roma v Schalke
Flying Pig v Cheese Moon

I hope we don't get an English team - just feels a bit of a letdown really. Anyone bar the Scousers would be fine with me.

Here's hoping for CFC vs Schalke/ Fenerbache

Arse vs. Barca
ManU vs. LiverScum

Why not Pool? i think AG's incompetence may end up being his strength: totally unpredictable. Rafa always knew what he got with JM and they ended to cancel one another out in a chess-like battle of wits, more to the advantage ot the weakest team.

Ok, jus' killing time before the draw

I'm feeling oddly optmistic, so:

Chelsea-Fenerbahce
ManUre- Liverpoo
Arse - Barca
Schalke - Roma

That would be the best. eva.

(Won't happen though)

bluetone, good point!
true blue that was exactly my wish as well ;)

I don't wanna watch the bloody videos.. just get on with the bloody draw!

and we off

arse v pool!

roma v utd

Arsenal get Liverpool! So one of the English sides will get out of the way! Yay!

no t too shabby!!!!

Fenerbahce

1 Arsenal v Liverpool
2 AS Roma v Man Utd
3 Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona
4 Fenerbahce v Chelsea

I knew we would get the Turks! Welcome to Hell!

whats the size of Avram's lucky star?

Delighted.

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

-- but --

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

what in blazes are they doing, DRAW THE BALLS GOD DAMN IT!

I wonder what odds Barca v Chelsea final

Ok, I got my first wish – Feners
Almost the second
Bit disappointed for MU though
Good overall I recon

alright folks, in full...

Champions League quarter-final draw:
1 Arsenal v Liverpool
2 AS Roma v Man Utd
3 Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona
4 Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Champions League semi-final draw:
1 Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea
2 Schalke/Barcelona v AS Roma/Man Utd

Home in the second leg in both quarters and (potentially) semis. Can't ask for more than that - great draw.

Right, so we're into the semis. But there we'll have to play Poo or Arse.

Eh.

Not a bad side, Fenerbahce - Zico is a decent coach too. Confident we should go through though. Kezman plays for them now...

Great draw for quarter final...not a great draw for the semi's

If we go through the quarter final (which we should), what's the betting we crash and burn if we get Liverpool? (which we will)

Nice draw and at least if we get to the semi we're at home second.

arsenal fans in office much gloomier than scousers.

I should probably retract my last statement or I'll jinx us.

Rome police must be shining their batons

Hope Tranaldo gets hurt.

Rome police must be shining their batons

Is that a euphemism of some sort?

Imagine Grant gets to the semis and wins against Lpool
Would not that be something :)))

Oh, should not have said that...sory

As I said before we could well fluke the CL

Yeah Jiko

It'll be called a Miracle!!...

:) yeah loli may be! Will not be a surprise though :) can you read the stars is in there

as bluetone said: Why not Pool? i think AG’s incompetence may end up being his strength: totally unpredictable. Rafa always knew what he got with JM and they ended to cancel one another out in a chess-like battle of wits, more to the advantage ot the weakest team. - and this is a good point :)

'think AG’s incompetence may end up being his strength'

This should be our new club motto. 'Strength through incompetence!'

So when we get to play the Scum in the semi's, can we somehow arrange to kidnap Fernando and inject him with some of our Michael Essien Zombie Serum?!

Just a thought..

Sonds good:) Peter
Price for all english final CFC - MU ?
Anyone knows what the the dates for the 1/4?

Are we at home in the 2nd leg in the semis ?

yes dio

"strength through incompetence"

applies only to Liverpool. not sure it does to FenerBarnsley

Strength through incompetence

I like it. However, I'm just redrafting the company report and accounts statement (the fun I have...) which was originally written in German; the context isn't worth explaining but the following phrase was used (translation):

"Doomed to a surprising comical failure".

Enough said.

we know arsenal will get beat by Liverpool. They've got the manger but not the team. benitez will just defend at the emirates and then go on the breaks as usual. dogdy b&%$$ds!!!! always the same with them. UEFA really need to llok at teams who by Xmas are out of their leagues and concentrste soley on the most prestigious cup. Not right is it

Whoever is drawn first is ALAWYS at home, 2nd leg is away..

think 1st legs played 1st and 2nd april, 2nd leg a week later

blimey, germans do have humour!

i do think all Chelsea fans disregarding the current arguments between us about Grant really hope we do Liverpool at the Bridge. Quite frankly, even if we dont win the final, in the words of Keegan, I'd just love it if we beat them!!! I REALLY WOULD.... COME ON CHELSEA KICK BENITEZ OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll give Grant a BIG CREDIT if he does!!!!!!!

"strength through incompetence"

It's quite near the truth with AG, especially where his wife is concerned, it should be......
Strength through Incontinence

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry could barely hide his disappointment after the draw, saying: "We'd hoped to avoid an English team. But an all-English tie was bound to happen and it's happened to us. At least we've avoided a trip to Turkey. - is he realy honest?

from the beeb

1237: An anonymous texter points out that as well as those three matches against Liverpool, Arsenal face Chelsea and Manchester United in the league in the next seven games.

nice one

I fucking hate Parry and so do most Scousers. People slag off Kenyon, but Parry is the real tosser.

Arse are up against the shit river stream! Hope we take advantage of that starting tomorrow at Sunderland

Parry didn't cover himself in glory with his comments on the ticketing arrangements for the final last year - all very partisan, but a twat nonetheless.

Arsenal's calendar does look pretty lively.

Am I alone in disliking this format where you know your route to the final? It takes the edge of anticipation away I feel, particularly this draw should we manage to get past Fenerbarnsley (very good JD)

In the old song the bear is climbing up the mountain and yes he knows from bitter experience that in all likelyhood when he reaches the top he will see another mountain but as he climbs he can at least dream that there will be a lush green wooded plateau when he reaches the top.

Think how much better he feels than we do as we sing the song, our voices dulled by the knowledge of the sad inevitability of his journey.

He clings to a contingent view of his fate while we are engulfed in a grimly deterministic understanding of what awaits.

Why can't we be bears and not singers eh UEFA?

You'll probably never hear these words from me again.

Come on Arsenal!

Personally I think Arsenal or manure are the only teams capable of dumping Liverpool and Benitez on his Zeppelin sized arse so I am VERY happy with this draw.

So happy, that I'm prepared to wear an Arsenal shirt if the games are on different night!

Yeah, I don't like knowing the route either.

Parry also made some comment last season after the semi along the lines of '250m for the league cup, i hope roman is happy with that'. once again, the accusations of liverpool 'lacking class' where few and far between. And where did all this 'class' crap from anyway? This is football, not fucking polo, and if you know your history you'll be aware there's been no 'class' in football since, well, ever really.

parry also totally screwed up over the hicks/gilette deal so he could guarantee himself a job and is now desperately trying to extricate liverpool from it having realised what a cock up he made.

@ Blue Bayou

Seriously, can I have several pints of whatever you're on?

Am with you on the pre-planned route to the final, it's akin to the argument of free will and whether such a thing exists, or is life pre-planned from the start...in which case whatever decision you make, even last minute changes of mind were all part of the plan and you were always going to do that.

Or something like that.

Parry also made some comment last season after the semi along the lines of ‘250m for the league cup, i hope roman is happy with that’.

I remember that, but ignored it because the man is a loser, who's backed a loser and won't admit his mistake.

For me £250m for 2PL's, 2 CL semi's, 2 CC's, 1 FA Cup, 1 CS seems a snip. I think I'm gonna go away an compare Liverpools 10 year player spend against ours. Back in 3 years or so........

he must be on a massive dose of David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. along with some pints that is

you must all be

we must all be

Here's a dilemma, would anyone prefer us to get knocked out against Fenerbahce now, or get dumped out again in yet another semi? I don't know if my fragile constitution can take that!

JD,

"Not a bad side, Fenerbahce - Zico is a decent coach too. Confident we should go through though. Kezman plays for them now…"

You didn't mention that one time Brighton and Hove Albion (bought because someone won £250,000 in a fizzy pop can) and Sheffield United legend Colin Kazim-Richards also plays for them.

Probably for obvious reasons, actually........

Why is everyone so cheerful? Even the possibility of another semi against Liverpoo is enough to make me want to drop one of Blue Bayou's weighty analogies on my head.

On the plus side -- I was just walking my kids home from school and who should come driving past in his shiny black turbo sport vehicle but Juliano Belletti! Judging by the way he was going up a residential street, I think he may have been having Ayrton Sennaish Brazilian fantasies about the start of the F1 season.

Being rational, I suppose I have to admit that it's great to have the home leg second for both ties. We won't fluke the cup, though. Even if we squeeze through the semi, our luck will run out against Barca or (hideous thought) Man U in the final.

And if we get knocked out of the quarters by Kezman, AG is gone faster than Juliano Belletti in Putney at one o'clock in the afternoon.

I personally would've liked to get anyone other than Fenerbahce or Schalke if i'm honest. Yes, even one of the other 3 English clubs. Let's be honest, Schalke and Fenerbahche are hardly teams to s**t yourself over competing against. Wheras if we'd played Barca, Man Ure, Arsenal, Roma or the Scum in the quarters, we could of held our heads up and said we'd got through to the semi's after beating a strong, feared opponent and go through with confidence that we could get to the final.

EVERY English team wanted Fenerbache or Schalke and we got 'em. There's gonna be choruses of how "the balls were marked" for us to draw them..

My Bro, a Man Ure fan has just sent me a text concerning the draws.."Hmmmmmm...good draw for the Chels Sis..." That's all he said.

Says it all really..

UNBELIEVABLE with the LUCk that Avram Grant has, this is the best chance for Chelsea to win the Champion League.

Realy a easy easy team, first time ib the CL knock out games , no experience a team full of old players , well Avram Grant the troffy is being given in a plate for chelsea to win.

LINK

See what i mean?! It's already starting....

Loving the metaphysical/literary criticism bent this blog is taking. Unfortunately, all my knowledge of philosophy comes from Monty Python (Greeks 1 Germans 0).

Footy Player it is a chance, but would not say "is being given in a plate for chelsea to win."

we aren't going to lose, we are to win both legs against fener, take out either liver or arse in the semi and tonk man u or barca in the final. in addition we will win the prem league on the last day. sign david villa, modric and van der vaart and we will be singing grants name at every game!!!!!!

its amazing how far you can dream on the slow train to waterloo!

still chuckling at bluetone - shining the batons. lol spag police are worse than the convicts!

god kenyon is boring

LINK

I'd buy him, he looks a good bet for the future.........

Mmm.. my intial Woot! over not getting Liverpoo and getting Fenerbahce - didn't Anelka have a stint with them? - has been tempered by the realisation that *if* we get past them, and I don't think it's a certainty, it will throw up either Arse in the semis, who will remember that match from from four years ago when Bridgey silenced the library - maybe that's an oxymoron - and Claudio was misty eyed at the end, two moments that I will NEVER forget and enabled me to walk on air for the rest of the day, or the team with a 'history' against us in CL semi-finals, so it's a double-edged sword with either of them having some motivation/confidence beyond the ordinary, and if we make the final, AG will be seen as achieving what TSO couldn't, oh dear, the emotional complexity of it all =)

Aside from the guarded euphoria about the draw I have to agree with Fifty's comment from 9:43am, social banter is brilliant if you're contributing but tedious if you have to scroll through it when disposable leisure time is at a premium... *dons asbestos suit* =)

As Bluetone said above the Arse's next seven games will provide them with the opportunity to put their money where there mouth is, in particular that irritating little donut-scoffing Cesc Fabric Ass, and should it be them in the semis then the match at the Bridge in a weeks time will have extra importance, assuming the two that precede it are won.

The optimist in me says a Chels v Barca or Manu final with a flukey win that gives AG four more years and those players currently comtemplating a move a chance to go out on a high with a medal, arggh.. so many mixed feelings.

On the video link I've send early on there is an interesting comment on Lampard
What you make of it?

i nodded off. what did he say?

'Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was equally happy to have avoided an English side in the draw, adding: "I'm delighted.

"There are no easy draws at this stage but we wanted to avoid an English side and we've done that.

"Despite a couple of disappointing results of late, we've complete confidence in the team and coaching staff to ensure we have a good end to the season."

In philosophy and history, there is a concept called "unwitting testimony" which in essence just means that you look at what ISN'T said as well as what is said. Now, if I was a student reading Kenyons quote from that perspective I might be minded to read something into the statement about the coaching staff ensuring we have a good end to the season.......not much of a 'witting testimony' to anything beyond this season though..is it?

Tony I was surprised David was still with Bburn this year and I believe will not be for long more there.
Hope we get him

Looks like Ricky is signing a new contract - "Portugal defender’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been in talks with the Blues over a new contract and only minor details remain to be ironed out. "

Minor details like salary, length of contract and royalties presumably?

Minor details like salary, length of contract and royalties presumably?

And ruff size.

LINK

Ha ha...LOL

Those Sky Sports interviews have their own fascination don't they, though not in an informative, entertaining or even useful kind of a way.

I love the 6th form work experience bloke putting on his 'serious matters of great import voice' then asking people to speak 'for the record' in answer to some inane two bob question. It's as though this is footballs answer to Hansard and old hands like Kenyon aren't quite happy to rattle of the same old lies and cliches knowing they'll be able to bluster they're way out of anything they say at a later date.

I must say Parry looked distinctly rattled. Like a man who realises they heated up the wrong balls and they should have been going to Schalke. And he's already whining about the final being in Moscow

Did I hear Kenyon use the word contingent?

If ever a team and a player were made for each other, it's Bentley and Man U. Chippy, self-regarding, smug, flash, yobbish prat that he is. I bet he's off there to be "the new Beckham".

Great news about Percy. If you squint, Paolo looks a bit like Baldric, too. (Squint *hard*)

I saw Baldrick in Sheffield the other day. He's older than Clive and his arm round a woman younger than Emma. Dirty old fossil.

I saw Baldrick in Sheffield the other day. He’s older than Clive and his arm round a woman younger than Emma. Dirty old fossil.


That's always been my cunningplan to use this blog to trap young women into my lecherous arms.

@Tony
Didn't Kenyon always answer when questioned about Ranieri, that he was someone who had a long term contract and had the support of the board.

@ Clive

Yeah, but Ranners wasn't exactly one of Roman's mates was he?!?!

I am really concerned about tomorrow now, as a seemingly favourable draw today
might cause a celeberatory reaction hence a let down!!

LINK

Please, please, please let this be the famous 'kiss of fate' from the board.

Not sure I could stomach watching him in charge for another 3 and a half years.

Can any season ticket holder explain what's going on with the Fenerbahce home leg tickets.

Members can now buy tickets but season ticket holders can't reserve their own seat! Did I miss the selling of tickets to season ticket holders?

@Mark
Can't help you on the ticket front, but good news on the movie front. They're making a new Carry On film so loads of new material for you.

Ok panic over - they now removed the option for members to buy tickets.

@Clive - it's the other way round, I'm a freelance script writer for the film and the producer's said if I submit some highly quality material I'll get plenty of insertions.

it’s the other way round, I’m a freelance script writer for the film and the producer’s said if I submit some highly quality material I’ll get plenty of insertions.

They must have been reading this blog then, I wonder if the new film will football related, any guesses for the new title.... Carry on Talentless Manager

Tempted to say it's another semi final for us- but the way we've been lately, anything could happen...

Liverscum wll be kick out by the Arse... A shame we won't have be able to exact revenge.

Re: Avram's Luck

Sorry to put a bit of a dampener on things, butAvram also received excellent draws in both the League Cup and FA Cup and it hasn't exactly led to the trophy cabinet filling up!

It's def a semi-final place for us, no doubts on that one whatsoever.

It's AFTER that we have a tendency to screw up.

Basically, we're gonna beat Fenerbache..The Scum will beat Arsenal..at which point deja vu will make an appearance.
Don't believe for a millisecond that Arsenal will get through to the semi's. Ok, they're unstoppable in the Prem, whereas Liverpool always seem to do really well in Europe. Weird really, shouldn't it be the other way 'round if anything?

Man Ure will t**t Roma..again and Barca will totally slaughter Schalke.

So, The Scum against us means we crash out. Barca against Man Ure means (i think) Barca go out...can see penalties maybe involved there..it'll be tight between those two.

Which will leave The Scum v Man Ure in the final..

Man Ure win Champions league......Again....Bastards..

At which point we'll have to listen to Lord McFergie droning on until we play the competition again next season about how his team are the best in Europe.

The End.

Wow Lolli, and I thought I was a pessimist.

I pin my hopes on Barca.

@ Lollipop
Have to say I can completely see where you are coming from, might have to take my betting tips from you from now on!
Try and be a little bit more positive though, we are going to get past Fenerbache, surely. If not I can definitely see AG being given the old heave-ho before the end of the season.
Like you say it's after that, that we struggle. Sometimes I think that we are the domestic version of England, constantly getting to the same stage and then mucking up. Saying that even England won the World Cup and we have a really strong chance of doing it yet again. The draw really couldn't have been better for us this time, we miss Barca and have the possibility of getting revenge on the Scousers, fingers crossed it will happen this year.
I'm staying positive, get your Winter garments ready, a trip to Moscow may well be on the cards boys and girls...

@ LTB

Sorry to be all "doom and gloom" but just don't see us getting past Liverpool- (know it'll be them tossers!). The whole situation has a very "Groundhog Day" feel about it for me..worrying..

@FBM

Yes, England did win the World Cup...in 1966! Afraid i wasn't 'round at that time to witness that either! Would be thrilled for that to happen again in my lifetime..
Still would've preferred a bigger team in the draw today. Give the lads something to get their teath into.

Kenyon backs Grant for long haul
"Please, please, please let this be the famous ‘kiss of fate’ from the board."

Fifty, I know what you mean, I'm getting hopeful now...

Kenyon fully supports Mourinho - 20 April 2007

Well AG must be the NEW son of God, another easy draw, now is fate trying top tell us that after all AG can win an easy draw?
I hope so, cheslea, for sure , has the players and the squad to win the CL, you do not need a top manager with the players we have, however after so many EASY opoportunities, SURE AG will send the turks packing.
Regarding the semis I have a feeling Arsenal are the next, at last AG will be playing an equivalent team to chelsea.
Lets wait and see.
But FENER geeeee is this LUCK or is this LUCK??

Hi Everyone

I know this might sound a bit of doom and glooom but I seem to remember the same sort of feeling when we drew Barnsley in the FA Cup. Still maybe old Boris has finally worked out which is the best team to put on the paddock

@ Lolli

I foresee a miserable exit in the semis also -- but I hadn't (yet) plumbed the depths of horror involved in predicting that Man U will end up with the trophy.

Still, it's not all bad news:

LINK

I've got this nagging feeling we're going to fluke it. (And it wasn't me that posted the full and correct draw on a website 90 mins before the real one) ;-)

@Clive

You sound like a broken record...Grow up...

I can see how much you dislike Avram...trust me it is not as much as you sound as an irritant...Think before you type...or rather act your age...well that is if it is like you say it is...

@the rest
Nice draw but that is as far as it gets. The boys need to want to win it and no more of the run arounds....

I see us in the finals but after all the CCC and the FACup mishaps...these boys owe us...in the least the Premiership or Champions League...A trophy is a must this season...I want it for Ballack, Kalou and Carlvalho...Playing their hearts and souls like they hve done...

Oh and I do remembe some calling Kalou - Clueless...where do their reign???come for and receive thy humble piesssss

Going for a 4 - 0 win over sunderland...

Jose you obviously haven't done what you agreed to do last time, so here is a friendly few words for you. It's a bit rich for you telling me I sound like a broken record with your rants about Lampard. Anyway just such the fuck up, I for one wish you had done what Henry did and fuck off somewhere else!

I apologise to Nick JD etc.. for my rant and foul language but this arsehole has been nothing other than rude to lots of people on this blog, and I'm not taking any more crap from him.

@ Jose

Oh and I do remembe some calling Kalou - Clueless…where do their reign???come for and receive thy humble piesssss

That'd be me then. I'm so sorry. How could I have been so wrong? The man is a genius. A footballing IQ higher than any that have come before or since.

So much better than Torres.
Or Ronaldo.
Or Adebayor.
Or Messi.
Or Henry.
Or Kaka.
Or Tevez.
Or Rooney.
Or Fabregas.
Or Pele
Or Maradona
Or Cruyff

You see Jose, when you comment like that you invariably open your mouth so wide you could easily fit both feet in it. When I called him Kalou-less he deserved it, in the same I pan any other Chelsea player who doesn't put in the effort, or the work rate, or makes stupid decisions, or just generally plays shita dn doesn't deserve to wear the shirt.

Look at my reviews and articles and you'll see that my vitriol can be easily spread over the whole team. No one is safe, I don't have favourites and I don't just single out Kalou. I criticise and rate on performance and form, which would probably make me a fucking good manager.

Unlike you.

Tony,I don't know why you waste your time on the obnoxious little t**t. His posts are bordering on someone who craves attention by being controversial and argumentative without any any great footballing knowledge or substance.

I don't have any Delusions of Grandeur, and don't try to pretend that I have infinite knowledge, and certainly know my limitations unlike that fool.

I'm still f**king seething from his personal attack on me and I shouldn't rise to the bait, but I'm taking no further crap from this fool.

Ok huys back to the football!!!! what is the score today? i think, Dery (and I know what your'e all thinking!) may get a goaless draw. Remember sunderland at Old Trafford when they were playing for nothing and had a worse record that year than Derby at this satge....I might just be tempted to put a tenner on it... the odds are worth it. As for us, I just dont know anymore, yes we should win it but......I just dont believe as I used to, even for these games...Still. hopefully even a one nil will do me.

@ Clive

I think it's fair to say we welcome all sorts here, including a wide variety of opinions, plus we have some fun...even our Carry On moments brighten things up, despite being off-topic. What I find a bit grating is the personal attacks used in order to disagree or to win a point of debate. In philosophy it's referred to as the 'ad hominem' argument, which is the reduction of an argument to personal abuse unrelated to the topic, and it's the sign that the game is up in truth.

I don't want this blog to turn into Arseblog with it's comments running into the hundreds, most of which are either just plain insults, or banal rubbish. It's Nicks baby, and me and JD just babysit from time to time, so the best thing is, as you say, to ignore his personal jibes and carry on adding to the discussions.

Just seen the team......no Anelka...not even in the 16........and this is good man management?

Yeah.. taht's right, let's see all the confidence seep out of Nicholas Anelka as well.

We are like a desease we are...

Get in there.. JT!!!

@Tony
I agree with you totally, I don't think I've ever attacked anyone with personal abuse, and if people ever thought I had attacked anyone, I would be the first to apologise. (apart from my recent rant)

Anyway Terry has scored his first PL goal in nearly two years!!!!

1-0 up!!!!!! reading 1-0 up at anfield!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! man-u still o-o!!!!!!!!!!

liverscum just equalised uuurrrgggg

Hope Torres gets injured.

Um, was that evil of me?

Not at all Emma, but bear in mind most of Torres goals have come against poorer teams. I'm not saying he's rubbish but he's only scored two goals against top opposition.

Course not, He'll have scummy blood running through them veins in a bit, with the scummy haircut and he scummy accent as well.

Keep hoping is what I say.


WHY do we keep doing this?
All the urgency has gone after the goal.
Ballack strolling about losing possession...

And the one against us was when we had Benhaim playing...

I was counting that one Cashif the other was Milan

I find Torres highly overrated, it really pisses me off when everyone bums him incessantly. That said, he has scored some really important goals for Liversucm. But I still hate him and hate how everyone says he'd "Walk into chelsea's starting XI". No thank you.

Feck it.

It wasn't pretty, but we won.

Gotta feel bad for Derby and Reading in their Premiership matches though.

@ TONY and CLIVE

OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Steady on guys! Put your handbags away!! See Jose managed to rattle your earrings more than just a little there! Ha! Ha!

LTB
Thanks for that link, it made me smile. I'd be thrilled, as i think most Chels fans would to see Zola back at the Bridge someday..where he belongs.
He's always shown an undying loyalty to Chelsea AND the fans, and i find that incredibly heartwarming. What a guy. Fingers crossed, eh?

Great to see J.T on the scoresheet today. It's about time as well!! The gap is closing at the top and it's looking more and more possible that we may yet get the Prem back. I seriously hope so.

@ EMMA

Agree about Torres, i don't like him either. Not a great fan of Fabregas but if you asked me if i'd be happy to see ANY/BOTH of them in a blue shirt, honestly? It would have to be a big, fat, yes!!!!

Can anyone believe Man Ure only beat Derby by 1 goal?!

Oh dear...

Well done Chels xxx

Zola to manage us - perfect solution

@ Tony

Hmmm interesting that you actually tried to compare Kalou to the world's best...and how does Adebayor get on that list????

The thing is you have failed to recognize when he comes good..and while we are on the opinion on how you always place a player in the bad when he fails to come good..only one name comes to mind...

@ Clive
Sorry if I went over the top was one of those mornings and I guess I was getting a bit overboard ther my apologies.

@all
Nice win three points behind Manu with a possibility to go second if we win our next two games...