Premier League: Portsmouth 0 - 1 Chelsea
Tuesday, 03 March 09, 03:56 PM · Comments (172)
Apologies for the lack of a proper review of the match. I didn't see it. There was no live television coverage here in England. I did manage to catch audio commentary on the majority of the game though.
Guus Hiddink made two changes to the side that beat Wigan 2-1 on Saturday. Jose Bosingwa returned from a one match suspension to take Michael Mancienne's place at right-back and the much maligned Florent Malouda came in for Nicolas Anelka, who missed out with an injured toe.
Portsmouth had 10 days to prepare for the game, whereas we were playing our third in the space of six days after victories over Wigan on Saturday and Juventus in the Champions League last week.
Obviously it's very difficult to judge a game when listening to audio commentary, but the first half sounded much like the weekend performance against Wigan at Stamford Bridge, in that we started pretty slowly and Portsmouth had plenty of possession in the opening period. We imposed ourselves on proceedings after about 15 minutes but couldn't put the ball in the back of Pompey's net in what were described as difficult playing conditions. David James made a couple of saves and Petr Cech was called upon to make one from a Sean Davis shot. Condensed first half highlights here.
I spent much of the second half chatting with a friend online and only had one ear on the commentary so didn't jot down many notes. I heard mention of "five across midfield" and "holding on to what they have" and "precious point" and "Chelsea need to be patient" and "Cech saves Chelsea again!". Hiddink's decision to replace John Obi Mikel with Juliano Belletti with more than 30 minutes to go caused me to utter "eh?". Ricardo Quaresma replaced Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole did something to his old mate Jermaine Pennant and almost talked himself into a yellow card. I lost focus for a few minutes and went to make a cup of tea...
While I was in the kitchen Didier Drogba scored! Looking at the video, it was a good finish. It was his first goal in the Premier League since scoring against West Brom on Boxing Day. Referee Phil Dowd gave Pompey a free kick that wasn't a free kick in the 88th minute which was cleared. Pompey continued to press but couldn't break us down. Another free kick deep into added on time was also cleared, this time by Drogba. Dowd blew his whistle and another hard earned three points were in the bag.
Pompey haven't beaten us in the top flight since 1957. We have put nine goals past them in league and cup this season.
I'll leave it to those who were lucky enough to see the game to judge the good and bad and player ratings. My radio commentary Man of the Match goes to Frank Lampard. Ha!
I'll add the usual match reports and links as they become available.
In other results, Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 at Anfield, while Arsenal beat West Brom 3-1 at the Hawthorns. We remain second in the table ahead of Liverpool on goal difference, and four points behind Manchester United who have two games in hand.
Match reports
The Times, Matt Hughes: "Guus Hiddink had insisted that Chelsea would not give up the pursuit of Manchester United until the very last kick of the season, and his players were as good as his word last night. A match that appeared to be ebbing away from the visiting team on a sodden South Coast was settled in their favour by a 79th-minute goal from Didier Drogba, who appears a player reborn under their new manager."
Daily Telegraph, John Ley: "United may have two games in hand – one on Wednesday night at Newcastle – but the intentions from a battling performance in difficult conditions were apparent, that Chelsea are refusing to give up the title lightly, with Drogba claiming his first League goal of 2009 and only his second in the Premier League this season."
The Guardian, Dominic Fifield: "Didier Drogba, so anaemic for much of this campaign but resurgent in recent weeks, provided the game's pivotal moment only 11 minutes from time, gathering Jose Bosingwa's cross and cushioning a curled finish low and beyond David James to squeeze out the advantage."
The Independent, Sam Wallace: "Another case of deadly Didier and golden Guus, a double-act that is turning into a beautiful friendship. The moodiest striker at Chelsea has now rescued his new manager twice in the space of a week and last night Drogba kept alive any fading hopes his club might have of the title."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "On a filthy wet and windy night on the south coast, Guus Hiddink's players were made to work hard by a well-rested Portsmouth side but the single goal wins keep on coming. Petr Cech was another hero on the night with a couple of fine saves and numerous commanding catches."
The goal
Related links
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
172 Comments · Add yours
Just back from the pub - apologies I don't have time for a review.
In essence, we were the better side, Pompey had the better chances, it was wet, Drogba's goal was well taken.
I think that covers it.
I had a chance to see some of the game.
We were inches away from scoring early- Cole had a cross in to Drogba that he missed by only a few inches, with the keeper beat. There were other good scoring opportunities as well.
Pompey were playing a high pressure defense, so most of the attack consisted of lumping balls to the wingers and then playing back inside. Even so the team looked fine.
Defensively things were tougher. The foul standard was rather biased towards Pompey. We would get whistled for small fouls, while they could hammer us and get away with it. It made defending quite tough. It seemed every time they had a decent chance I wasn't looking...
The Mikel-Belletti subsitution may have sounded odd, but it made sense. Pompey were mostly blasting the ball over the top or going down the wings. Belletti seemed to give better distribution through the middle.
In other news, Malouda looked less than worthless, but by no means good, and Kalou had quite a game for himself. He had some inspired final balls in the first half, so much so that the recipients weren't expecting them sometimes. I think there really is something to him, and the idea of selling a promising young player at this point when we are worried about a geriatric team is madness.
All in all I think it was the right result. David James had some good stops, and was a bit lucky with a very wet pitch. Right now we just aren't getting luck to go our way, and yet... we are creating goals and winning games.
The team was extremely excited with the win at the end- the pitch was noticeably flooding at the time. More of a character game than an assessment of where we are tactically I think. Things could have really gone against us and ended the title chase, but some committed defending kept us afloat. Something to build on I think.
the game was on myp2p via sopcast or mediaplayer! just for he future guys
Watched the game on some good quality stream on the internet. Outputing it on my 23 inch computer monitor made pretty nice picture, quality was not bad at all. We started as usually; missing good chances in front of the goal, bad passing from time to time and suffering counters from the opposition. Nothing new in general, guys, nothing new. However, after 20-25 minutes everybody realized what is different and new – the weather!!! Torrential rain multiplied by traditional English wind from the Atlantics. In the words of the Virgin Mary “It was really bad outside!!!” add to it referee who tried to pull all the strings he could to let Pompey win! Boy I am telling you it was bad!!! One of us wouldn’t even go outside in such weather, but they played the game!!! Almost not moving ball, players sliding like cows on the ice, all over it one wanking referee and somewhere there, form one of the corners of Fratton Park, good bunch of the Chelsea supporters making them as vocal as possible!!! The song was running through the weather and blood in one veins become ice!!! “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelse, Chelse, Chelsea, Chelsea!!!” “One man went to mow, Went to mow a meadow….!!! Well done guys, seriously whoever was there, can say with proud after sometime on a cold evening in 10-20 years from now: “O, boy, that game with Pompey??!!! What do you know! I was there, I have seen it like I see you, mate”. It was the epic game, game of characters, game of the man. It was the game of football!!! Although our manager Hiddink has surprised me with extremely puzzling substitutes, we still have succeeded to win. However, I do not want to discuss the negative points, because they were mostly from management side and not players, to my believe, of course. Drogba’s goal fantastic, particularly considering when it came, some unbelievable drama. However hero of the game Peter Chech! What a game, what a performance simply one of the heroic performances of our Peter!!!
Keep the Blue Flag flying HIGH
I strongly believe that Kalou must be kept in Chelsea. He is improving drastically, I have to say!
Thanks Mark25, Be_Champions and Blue_MikeL.
Dio - We'll have to adopt a system where visitors to this blog who are watching internet streams of the game post the URL and software they're using in the comments of the most recent post, especially if they have English commentary. ;) It's sure to help out those fans who struggle to find live streams.
Okay, just checked myp2p.eu for the first time in a few weeks - I didn't realise they were back and linking to Premier League games again. I thought the pending legal action had done for them. Good news. ;)
To get a bit techy, I use Windows XP Pro via Parallels on my MacBook Pro. I have SopCast installed. Quite a few of the live streams work fine but some don't display a picture. The same stream on a PC running SopCast works fine however. Anybody else experienced this issue?
Yea, also watched it on internet stream. Agree with analysis above. Thought we were heading for a nil nil but Drogs finish was incredible, meeting a Boswinga low cross from out on the right with a curling shot from left of the box that went around defence and keeper and into the right of the goal. two saves from Czech were match winners. Some sloppy play throughout but periods of complete domination. Quaresma looked very good when he came on for last 20 mins. Should get a start. He looks up for it and worked to win balls back.
I'm going to record the game from Sky Sports tonight as they seem to be showing the extended highlights, also tomorrow afternoon...unfortunately Virgin media don't carry the 'match choice' red button option.
I'll add my tuppence worth in then.
I listened as well but its damn hard to make out the reality despite how good 5Live are. What I can vouch for was the foul weather down this way tonight, truly abysmal with torrential rain and near gale force winds PLUS its bloody cold.
As BE-Champs says much more of a character test than a tactical one. My golf partner is a Pompey fan (as are most of my mates this way)so this should make Saturdays round a bit sparky.
Many thanks to all who've posted their reports and impressions.
As fansincethe 60s says in the Wigan game thread, it sounds like a very well-taken win, on a very "English" night against very "English" opposition. Not surprised that Arse beat West Brum, since Brum do insist on playing proper football, which as everyone knows is the way Arsene wants teams to play against his lot, so they can win without having to try too hard. But with Arse picking up three points a win was useful for us. Nice to keep up with 'Poo too though really that's just a point of pride isn't it? The difference between 2nd and 3rd isn't all that terribly significant.
It's good to see the spine of José's team (Cech JT Frank Drogs) playing well again. It's been a while. The series of one-goal victories does make one rather misty-eyed with bittersweet nostalgia.
Just watched video of the goal. Terrific wallop but whose brilliant idea was to to leave Drogba, of all people, so blissfully unmarked?
Well you know, he's an overrated whinging striker who can't finish. Toxic to the team, a real morale killer. What is the point of marking him anyway?
Goal Link.
LINK
Game was on live here in Australia, but unfortunately work intervened and I could only see the first half.
The first half was pretty much more of what we have seen for the last couple of weeks. Disagree with the comments above on Malouda, who linked well with Ashley Cole and put in a couple of very good crosses, which might have been converted had the pitch not played so fast in the first half.
Kalou also played well and Drogba seems really determined to make amends for the last 6 months. Nice to see!
I don't mind the swap of Mikel for Belletti..... Belletti has proved he can play the role, and in my opinion offers a bit more going forward, and clearly by that point we needed to push on and find a goal.
Important result, given that Arse and Pool both got 3 points. Can't see Newcastle getting anything out of Utd tomorrow, but we can only hope they slip up soon.
Well done Chelsea.... Good win in trying conditions.
Just for pedantry's sake: Quaresma was actually the one providing the cross in for Drogs to fire home, not Bosingwa.
I watched the game, and Quaresma was far and away the best player in yellow on the pitch in the twenty or so minutes he was on - in space again and again, actually beating his man consistently and crossing in instead of the usual Kalou/Bosingwa approach of cutting inside. He provided the difference in approach we needed and it led to the win.
Hopefully, Guus will see that if we're going to go with wingers, Quaresma should be the first choice (if we're sticking with Drogs and Anelka as the other two up front) followed by Kalou.
I stand by my opinion that Kalou is more useful up front (Watford away, that volley against Tottenham in the FA Cup, any set piece goal he's scored) than out wide, although, now I think about it, some of his assists over the past two years have been sublime (for Lamps at Middlesbrough last October, Joe Cole goals last year against Blackburn and West Ham...).
Nevertheless, my best memories of Kalou are of him scoring goals rather setting them up; his contribution from the wing has lower impact on me compared to, say, Lamps, whose ball for Drogs in the 6-0 demolition of City last year still gives me shivers of a sexual nature. :)
Also, I really hope we go for a 442 sometime soon with something like this:
Cech
Bosingwa, Ricky, JT, Ash
Quaresma, Essien, Lamps, Kalou
Drogs, Anelka
Unless we clear out some central midfielders in the summer though, I don't see it being likely. According to the ever-reliable Mirror, Bruce Buck says we're looking at about five in, five out over the summer. Who do you think's going to go?
My guesses for out:
Miniero (his contract ends anyway, doesn't it? Should he count?)
Ballack (on a free)
Malouda (need I say more?)
Ivanovic (who I wouldn't be surprised to see playing for a Champions League quality Italian team - vastly underused by us, in my opinion, and I really hope he doesn't go, but someone has to go so Mancienne gets his chance...)
Ferreira/Belletti are the only other two I can think of, and I don't want either of them out yet!
In then (this will get slightly Fantasy Football!):
Quaresma (if all goes well... Wingers are the biggest thing we need IMO)
Ribery (one of the top three wingers going, alongside Ronaldo and Messi... We need players like this again if we're going to win the league)
Benzema (again, very idealistic! Long term Drogs replacement, and we need to get there before someone else does)
I don't think our squad needs that many new players, to be honest... Just a new striker and one or two new wingers, and I think we'll be set. Maybe we won't even need those if Di Santo and Stoch get their chance and step up!
Bertrand should become an option at LB behind Ash and Ferreira, as we need the back up there and he does look like the long term Ash replacement.
P.S. I've only just noticed how well PSG are doing again since Maka went there - second in the league, only a few points behind Lyon! He's even their captain.
Most of what needs to be said has been (though I was much less impressed with Kalou today), but two points from watching the game:
1) the substitutions show that Hiddink is trying to win the games at any cost. He knows that anything less than a win means giving away the title, so I expect the rest of the season, at least in PL games, to be exciting affairs.
2) the players showed incredible energy and motivation in the last 20 minutes, leading up to the goal and then defending it. The pressure when we had the ball, and the urgency when we didn't were completely different from the lackluster performances of the period up to AS.
We weren't great, and Portsmouth had some chances, but you can't fault the drive and the spirit now on display.
Great performances from Cech, Terry, Mikel, Ballack, Cole, Lamps and Drogba today.
Oh, and who is the wanker that the crowd kept chanting about?
I watched the whole match as it was being broadcast on FSC. Malouda actually played reasonably well today. He had a couple poor touches, but got stuck in once or twice and did link quite well with Ashley Cole (the highlight being a flick up and over his own head that landed perfectly at a running Cole's feet).
In all honesty I thought Kalou was pretty poor. For the life of me I can't remember any of the good crosses he put in, because I really don't think there were any. Malouda had a much better game. I'm not giving up on Kalou or anything, since he has played well of late, but he really seemed to struggle with the conditions. Quaresma was absolutely brilliant, and worked seamlessly with Bosingwa (and it was Bosingwa who crossed the ball for the goal).
As to transfer talk, I'd much much rather see Alex leave than Ivanovic. I think Alex has really peaked, and aside from the Liverpool match I can't think of any truly great performances from him this year. Ivanovic, in contrast, has looked remarkably composed and confident when he's played, and I already rate him higher than Alex. Lest we forget, our best performance this season was when Ivanovic was playing (Villa at home).
I didn't see the game, but having checked the chalkboards, LINK both Ballack and Frank made not even a single open play pass through the middle into the box. Do we deserve to win anything from crosses and cornerkicks only?
Malouda was much better than Kalou I thought, and Queresma was better than both of them, Lampard was good, the defence pretty solid (though absolutely agree with all those who say they'd take Ivanovic over Alex) and Cech was excellent. Solid win, no frills, old school.
Reply to moffat:
I think I speak for more than just myself when I say, how about you stick your chalkboard up your arse, mate.......?
Ballack and Frank both played perfectly fine in very difficult conditions.
And we deserve to win when we keep the opposition to no goals, and manage to score for ourselves. On both counts, it was job done for the 4th game in a row.
Reply to Greenlight:
Hear hear.
Also, it was great to see us scoring from a decent cross into the box rather than trying to go straight through an overcrowded penalty area.
Reply to Greenlight:
The best comment on here for weeks. I think The Grauniad should be strung up by its software packages for inflicting chalkboards on us.
They just encourage geeks [and trolls] to produce endless tediously incomprehensible diagrams supposedly "proving" their opinions aren't just blind prejudice and bias like the rest of us.
As for the game - I may not know much about art, but thought even a reasonably good internet stream became an approximation to an Impressionist painting with large blurry sections on my modest 19 inch screen caused by all the raindrops on Sky's cameras.
Another great result and a few moments suggesting Quaresma may turn out not to be a waste of space yet.
'They just encourage geeks [and trolls] to produce endless tediously incomprehensible diagrams supposedly "proving" their opinions aren't just blind prejudice and bias like the rest of us.'
I like Be_champion's ones, even if I don't totally understand them.
Reply to PeteW:
Me too. The difference is Be_Champions looks at the Chalkboards objectively whereas The Trolls head to the Guardian's website with a fixed agenda and create one that apparently proves their prejudiced viewpoint.
Truth does hurt sometimes, doesn't it?
Any proof that Frank&Ballack don't create [enough] chances between them is rubbish, isn't it?
"Ballack and Frank both played perfectly fine in very difficult conditions."
What difficult conditions? Isn't pompey only 3 points off releg.?
"I like Be_champion's ones, even if I don't totally understand them."
"even if I don't totally UNDERSTAND them"
Need i say more?
Reply to moffat:
You really are a fucking moron; as you stated, you didn't see the game and thus have absolutely no idea how we played (or indeed the conditions which incidentally didn't refer to Portsmouth's league position), but still choose to pursue your ridiculous agenda through the use of a statistical gadget that means precisely fuck all when used in isolation.
Just ignore the fucker!
The twat is just a carbuncle on this blog. He serves no useful purpose.
Ok, but what difficult conditions, may i ask?
what difficult conditions????
if i can't use stats. then how am i suppose to back up my views?
LINK
58% poss., 0 real scoring chances create and you start thinking maybe they just let us have all the balls knowing we'd do nothing with it.
Ballack&Frank (1)don't defend(or win back the ball), (2)don't link up with the attack, so what good are they? I don't get it? I've seen a couple of Manure's 1-0 draws, they aren't as desperate.
my next material would be on the next match report.
Reply to moffat:
This is the problem mate, you have not seen the game. Chalkboard will not substitute the game. Because of rain, very strong rain, the speed of the play reduced dramatically. I do not have to explain you how rain influences the game; ball does not bounce, players are sliding and not running. I have mentioned all these things in my very emotional mini review :) Generally by the time we were moving the ball to Pompey's part of the pitch the whole opposition team was there. It was simply impossible to open up game through the centre. This the reason why you do not see the passes to the dangerous areas of the pitch on your board.
I do not think that you can bring objective opinion without seeing the game and looking only on boards.
Moffat,
Go and troll your ridiculous agenda against Frank here : LINK
'you start thinking maybe they just let us have all the balls knowing we'd do nothing with it. '
In which case they were wrong, because we got the ball, did something with it, won 1-0 and they're still deep in the relegation dogshit. Or, more likely, you're wrong and don't know what you're talking about.
Reply to chelseablog:
Thank you both!
Yes, I'm just trying to use it to help me understand what I'm looking at. The chalkboards are very limited, and they provide a modicum of insight into the game on top of being able to see it with your own eyes.
For instance, this week's "winning" chalkboard is Van der Sar's goal kick distribution. What is alleged is that by passing it short, rather than booting it, Man U retained more possession. Looks like a great conclusion, right?
But it isn't. If the opposing team concedes the short GK in order to retain defensive shape, then that is the natural move for VdS to make. However, if a team relies on high pressure, cutting off that short pass, a goalie is forced to boot the ball deep.
So rather than being some sort of tactical innovation, it looks like the team Man U played did what most teams do, which was take the cyanide and curl up in the fetal position. I mean- short passes from the goalie as an innovation? You mean VdS doesn't want a 50/50 ball in midfield screaming back at him if his team can't retain possession?
So, chalkboards are at best a tool, and they are merely holistic, not situational. They rarely "prove" anything.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
"The chalkboards are very limited, and they provide a modicum of insight into the game"
Depends on what kind of information you need from them. They show for instance that frank made only 3 passes to drogba in 93 mins, all near the centre circle.
This COULD be one of the reasons(bad weather aside) why we create few chances.
Please everybody, read post #28.
To everybody!!!
Stop calling people names just because they have got different opinion!!! Seriously guys, I believe we are all adults here, otherwise go and join 606 board. Moffat has got an opinion, his vision of the game and he stands behind it. If everybody on this board going to have the same opinion there will be no point to meet here. The only in common thing for all of us is our beloved Chelsea Football Club!!! About all the rest we can have discussions.
KTBFFH
Reply to Be_Champions:
There was one posted recently that I liked which showed where each player had been positioned by averaging out their locations on the pitch.
It gave a fairly real approximation of what formation is actually played. Can't remember who posted it or when, but I'd like to see more of them if possible (hint).
My feed was of the impressionist variety as mentioned above but that's probably down to me using a media player emulator thingy but the myp2p.eu site had a few alternatives so I hope to get that sorted sometime.
It looks as though the character element is back with us big time and as that's the main thing we'd lost things are definitely on the up.
Looking forward to the next few games.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
There you are, hippy legacy contd.
2. Peace, Love and Understanding Mo
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Bollocks to that. Hate and war!
Reply to fansincethesixties:
You probably meant Hippie :-) I definitely do not reject it! Well, I am coming to this board to talk to Chelsea supporters and to hear to Chelsea supporters. I know there are people around who have created icons for themselves and want everybody on this board to pray for it.
This is wrong, nobody should be vaccinated against critics.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
We do however, have every right to fling brickbats and abuse at the single subject bores who persist in finding new and exciting ways to prove their increasingly ridiculous and obsessive viewpoints.
I'm off now.
Going to have a proper conversation with someone who's got Dementia.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Sometimes that non-violence, Gandhi style bullshit just won't do. When you've got an idiotic c*nt on your hands the only thing you can do is verbally abuse it. That's the only way it'll learn. And anyway he hasn't got anything in common with real Chelsea fans judging by his extremely insightful comments so we can insult him as much as we like.
Grasshoppers:
A wise man once said: When a troll grumbles in his sleep, do you let him wake you up?
And if he wakes you up, do you rattle the bars of his cage to send him back to sleep?
[cod pseudo-oriental accent a la "Monkey" recommended]
Way to go Habs and KJ.
How boring would life be if we all went through it wearing blue tinted evangelistic glasses and agreeing.
I liken it to a pub debate and , well to be truthful if one twat was as annoying and myopic as Moffat in the pub then I'd happily deck him and take one for the team.
Thats the real Chelsea spirit.
I was at the game......I didnt dress overly appropriately for the conditions. I cant comment as i spent most of it checking my fingers hadnt turned blue, and due to the severe shakes i was seeing two of everything so for all i know frank and ze german might have had a stormer or indeed Moffat might be bang on.
You think moffat is annoying - try 90 mins in an old windy stadium with rain thats coming sideways and you are there in a fleece jumper! Yup that was a poor choice.
I think how we got the result is not important - we got it and we should be happy with that.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Tony and Habs
Mostly Tony though. I did not want to go this way nevertheless, your ridiculous bravado (A pretence of bravery, before you ask) is simply pathetic! As person who served in two different armies in two different countries and have seen, so much violence that you have not seen in films I can tell you it is all crap!!!
Real Chelsea spirit Tony? Do you mean to get drunk in pub and start to push people who look different or think different?
You are pathetic git (mildly offensive word), as simple as that. Habs is young and I believe he will understand it one day, but you definitely not right.
In case Nick invites me to write a future report and in order to improve my performance and service to fellow bloggers your feedback on my report in post #1 would be appreciated.
Was the report
a) too long
b) about right
Definite a)
What's with all that "in essence" stuff? Superflous verbiage.
Also you could have referred to Drogba as "Drogs", but noooo, you just had to use that whole extra letter.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Mikel. Why don't you fuck off with your poxy pompous pious platitudes. I was fucking joking you complete wanker. I couldn't give a flying fuck what you've done or seen and you can stop with the crap flinging at me.
Grow up - until you do if I never have to read any more your shite then it'll be a day too soon. I WILL not take lectures or be told off by the likes of you.
Reply to Mark25:
b.)
I thought it was Shakespearean in its tone and timbre.
Perhaps next time it could be done in the Haiku style.
Ah, flame wars; it wouldn't be the Internet without them! 'The real Chelsea spirit' is obviously 'hatchets and hammers, carving knifes and spanners'; how we long for those days again... Or not. :)
I also admit that I was talking bollocks, for the record. I think it WAS Bosingwa that crossed it in after all... Erm!
Er I'd like to take a second away from the violence, and just say well done to Chelsea. Er... Well Done Chelsea! And Mark, I think your review was spot on, as usual. Good job.
Geordies, but gave some by scoring first, but it was not for a long time, unfortunately :-(
Geordies gave some hope by scoring first, but it was not for a long time, unfortunately :-(
Reply to Munkeyfeet:
I was getting cold even by looking at it over the internet!!!!
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Very predictable response, unfortunately........very predictable.
Fuck me trollitis is spreading on this blog!
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Mikel, don't get me wrong..... everyone is entitled to their opinion. But for Moffat to come onto the blog week after week and slag off Lampard, based on not actually watching any of the games is ludicrous.
He has made his feelings known, we are all aware of them, but unfortunately no amount of dots on a Guardian chalkboard will get many people agreeing with him.
Nobody here (with the exception of Lolli (!) believes Lampard is the best creative midfielder in the world..... However everyone will agree that he is more than worth his place in the Chelsea team.
Always happy to have a rational debate with others, not happy reading the same shite being spouted by the same person week after week.....
Reply to Greenlight:
Actually i think Lamps is the best midfielder in the world! I can't think of another midfielder better than him seeing as Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka aren't midfielders.
Reply to haberdashers:
I think Lamps is easily the best midfielder of his type in the world, that being a more restrained centre midfielder that pulls the strings from further back on the pitch and arrives late in the box.
I had a typical Lampard vs. Gerrard debate with a City-supporting friend a few weeks ago, and found myself stating that the comparison of the two is futile because they're different types of player. They may technically occupy the same space on the teamsheet (and I would be very surprised if Lampard and Gerrard don't get the two centre mid spots in the PFA Team of the Year this year), but their styles are vastly different.
I can't remember who said that England have the best number 8 (Lampard) and the best number 10 (Gerrard) in the world, but they weren't far off. Gerrard tends to get more of the plaudits here because he's more typically 'English', irrespective of the fact that he's a dirty diver: bombing about the pitch, dragging his poxy team through the mire week after week after week. Lamps is decidedly more patient, continental and tactically aware, which is why he's better suited to international level.
LINK
Football agents do talk shit...... I reckon Drogba and his agent are both as mad as each other!
I watched the pompy game and have to agree with Moffat that Ballack did nothing all game. I really think that once Essien comes back and Guus sticks with our 4-3-3 formation then it will be Ballack who is dropped and not Mikel.
As for Deco - I think his time is over at Chelsea.
I for one really want us to start playing a 4-4-2 formation with Essien and Lamps in our midfield with Mikel as back-up until Lamps retires.
We have the wingers in Malouda, Quesrs, J.cole and Kalou.
We just need another striker to cover Drogs and Nic and a LB to cover Ashley. Hopefully it will Bertrand as I am a strong supporter of bringing in Youth players.
Reply to Greenlight:
Speaking of Lolli where has she gone!
I agree - state your opinion - but no need to become a broken record.
Tony et al i think you should have a gander at this one chaps LOL - remember the breathing!
LINK
If people want to cope with stress, then this guy should be running the workshop for it. :-) LINK
and if you dont i will have to call my friend Terry........
LINK
you have been warned!
Reply to TrueBlue007:
We do have the wingers, but I would just omit one name from your list and add another: J.Cole, Kalou, Stoch and Quesrs.
Since when has Joe Cole been a winger?
I'm now wonderring if Terry Tate was playing at the JJB last night?
Anyone see MOTD last night? Some of the worst tackles I've ever seen, particularly Cattermoles assault on Scott Parker. Made me wince.
Reply to Clive:
"A winger is an attacking midfielder who is stationed in a wide position near the touchlines".
LINK#Winger
Formally there is no such position as winger, at least Chelsea web site (and others) do not classify anybody as winger. Formally there are strikers or midfielders. Nevertheless, among those there are players who can be deployed in wide attacking position and these regularly called wingers.
I'll say it again Joe Cole isn't a winger
Reply to Clive:
??????????????
"Actually i think Lamps is the best midfielder in the world!"
Who is(do you think is) 2nd best then?
Reply to Clive:
Delirium is an acute and relatively sudden (developing over hours to days) decline in attention-focus, perception, and cognition.
The core features are:
Disturbance of consciousness (that is, reduced clarity of awareness of the environment, with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention)
Change in cognition (e.g., problem-solving impairment or memory impairment) or a perceptual disturbance.
Slavisa Jokanovic. Closely followed by David Hopkin.
As I said before Trollitis is spreading on this blog
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Shut up you tart.
Reply to Clive:
Start counting from yourself.
Ahhh, David Hopkin.
Starred in one of my favourite films - Goonies : LINK
O.k so that Google link didn't work - I need edit !!!!
The thumbnail top left is Sloth, sorry, David Hopkin.
I think I may have said a while back that Blue_Mikel is not a troll. I wish to retract that statement unless he sharpens up.
Regarding Moffat, I don't think I've ever seen him praise a single Chelsea manager, player, performance or tactic. He hated Mourinho, Grant and Scolari, hates Terry, Lampard, Ballack, Essien and Cech.
There is absolutely no point engaging with his arguments, because as soon as you present him with evidence, he folds like a wigwam. Greenlight's 61 says it all.
And no, Joe Cole is not a winger.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
I would like to reiterate the points from post no.52. they are soooo accurate.
On a different note, missed MOTD last night so I am not up to speed about all the Taylor / Ronaldo business; just handbags I presume?
One is ugly, one is rubbish. Bit like the exchanges on here, really...
Taylor went for a bit of a forearm smash, around the neck level, Ronaldo flapped around like a fish out of water holding his head.
FFS, why won't someone just give him a proper smack. Maybe Cattermole could - when he's back from suspension - try the same challenge from last night on Ronaldo.
Give him something to really moan about.
Is Cattermole due to play again this season - I think with the accumlation of cards he's up for about 5 games plus whatever the FA fancy adding on for good measure?
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
To think I described him as spirited and passionate!
However, perhaps he could really give Ronaldo something to moan about.
Still bemused as to why Manure get all the plaudits for 'champions' football when they seem to have adopted our very own 2005/6 model of play....i.e grind the opponents down and do the bare minimum required. Looking at the criticism for us not 'lighting up Fratton Park' it becomes clear just how much adoration and arslikhan culture for manure there is in the media.
@ Clive - its hard to keep calm isn't it? I've now got a fully operational troll filter ijn place........lets see how long it works.
LINK
I hope it is not because he has read Tony's note on Chelsea spirit!
Reply to ChelseaTony:
If it does work Tony, then please feel free to share it, and I promise to keep you in Guiness or Cider for 12 months ;-)
Reply to ChelseaTony:
You will be interested to know that the Beeb have finally burnt their boats with SAF. They openly used the word "grind" to describe a Manure performance.
LINK
The match report by Phil McNulty is the usual puff one would expect, but hey the truth is leaking out.
The media are full of pictures of a prone Ronaldo, post handagging by Taylor, but strangely subdued about the Ultimate Fighting Championships at the JJB. In the short highlights om MOTD, we saw Parker studs up raking a leg in the first half, Neal's studs up shocker on Catermole, followed by his ninja destruction of Parker. In between Cole gets sent off for not very much at all.
I believe that overstrapping of the ankles may be at the heart of the "studs up problem" as they are unable to fully flex the ankle when the leg is fully extended (as well as being a limp wristed fop, I experienced weak ankle problems myself during a long and completely undistinguished sporting career.)
Then again perhaps it's just an attack of Souness Syndrome.
Talking of Manure, they have won lots of games 1-0, failed to score in the San Siro and scratched around against a relegation threatened Spuds outfit (shorn of their only vagualy useful and fully mobile defender and any capable forward)for 120 mins to no useful purpose.
Conscious I suppose that it's time to get the myth making and "greatest team ever" nonsense fully into overdrive and to drown out to those who might start to question whether the football experts are exhibiting partiality, Kevin McCarra in the (Manchester) Guardian dedicated reams of newsprint to explaining why they're not scoring as many goals but are still brilliant.
LINK
“Pass the sick bag Alice”
Keeeping the ball and wearing down the opposition is the secret apparently.
Of course this is not to be confused with Chelsea's trophy winning sides who, in adopting a similar approach, ground out every result and were the footballing Antichrist.
Reply to PeteW:
Have ever said anything bad about Joey, Bridge, Obi, Belletti?
its been almost 3 months since Malouda and Deco have been out of the team either for making Lampard look like shit or for making thhe team play crap football. we've played worse than a pub team in their absence. my insticts tell me one of obi or ballack is the next scapegoat while that bloke whose only contribution is to get first to every rebound gets away with it. If essien&lampard had worked out as a partership ballack wouldnt be a chelsea player.
Reply to moffat:
Moffat i dont profess to be a great admirer of lamps - he tends to disappear in too many games for my liking.
But to knock Essien - are you crazy - plays in any position, strong, fast, never moans along with steve clarke - the biggest factor in our drop aside from scolari creating politics!
J cole is not a winger - he is an attacking central midfielder who cant shoot! lol
A brief forage around the compost heap of sports reportage has thrown up a few scraps
From the BBC sound archive
"The sound you make when you haven't got 2 pennies to rub together"
LINK
and
LINK
but fear not our chief scout is getting it sorted
LINK
From the “I know I shouldn’t ‘cause he’s some mother’s darling boy” desk, a headline and picture that makes you cry out, “Jesus be careful with the door lads! Hasn’t he suffered enough damage as it is!
LINK
(I expect God to exact a terrible revenge on me)
From the “Don’t some people get it all and wont this make moffat even more of an admirer” desk
LINK
Now back to the studio
Reply to BlueBayou:
I'd never really considered how desperately unattractive Franck Ribery is. He looks like David Mellor after an altercation with Tiger Woods' 5 wood.
Strange discussion on who is winger who is not continues. Probably I should restate the definition and it will end it, I hope. Just as I said above
"Formally there is no such position as winger, at least Chelsea web site (and others) do not classify anybody as winger. Formally there are strikers or midfielders. Nevertheless, among those there are players who can be deployed in wide attacking position and these regularly called wingers."
Some players can be deployed (positioned) in wide attacking position. Thus for instance Joe Cole who is midfielder, or Kalou who is striker, or Stoch who is striker can be deployed in this position, in other words, if one wants they can be used as wingers. As simple as that. In general no one is winger, because formally this unit does not exist it is virtual definition as I said any striker or midfielder positioned out wide called winger.
And I thought he was a reformed character LINK
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
I'll bet you're a riot to sit next to at dinner parties.
Reply to Mark25:
He is reformed. There is not a single mention of him allegedly having to pull out of slapper to throw up last night!
Let's face it. How many of us wouldn't go out and "let our hair down" whilst our missus is half way up Mount Kilimanjaro.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Some people find my company quite pleasant, some not, which is probably true for anybody amongst us.
Back to the case of who is winger and who is not. I think that before somebody calling one of the players winger, or anything else at all, this somebody should define what winger is and that is what I did. I believe this is the civilised way of arguing and discussing. Discussion on the level, just because I said so, does not impress me at all.
It may be worth looking at the term “winger “ through the prism of quantum physics in as far as it can exist and not exist at the same time. However I have no idea what all that’s about really so I have compiled the Plain Man’s Guide to the Disappeared Winger”. (a fiver from all decent bookshops)
In the same way that no Census form or other official documentation, no official statistics or other means of classifying people use the term "wanker", modern football nomenclature refuses to recognise the “winger”.
Yet we perceive some of those around us to be wankers (not in the literal meaning of the term) and indeed openly discuss them on this basis. The official classification or position does not exist yet we all have in our mind a commonly held set of attributes that define "the wanker". Now some of us might lay more emphasis on one attribute than another but there is a degree of common ground.
And so it is with the term “winger”. At one time in football there was literally the position of “winger”. He was generally a pacy, tricky individual, possessed of a good cross with a predilection for avoiding the rough stuff, being somewhat prone to going in and out of games and contributing little to defence.
This was in the heyday of the MW formation (I think that’s how it’s defined) and as formations changed and the role of the midfielder changed so the term fell out of formal use. However in the mind of the fan certain wide mid-fielders are still categorised as wingers because they are seen to possess the singular attributes associated with the position. Others don’t fit that category and are seen as either attacking or defensive mid fielders perhaps having some wing like attributes but not sufficient to be seen as fulfilling that persona. For it is a persona as much as a role.
In modern life there is no role specified for the wanker but the role still exists.
I hope this helps clarify the debate.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Mr D - my sister in law has just voted that as one liner of the day. Sometimes less is just so much more....
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
What makes you think he gets invites?
Reply to Agh57:
I have an answer to this...........but i can't say it in case she reads the comments.....
*Unfurls crisp white linen flag and attaches it to shiny pole*
"In modern life there is no role specified for the wanker but the role still exists."
That should read the persona still exists
I use the 106 bus. It always comes along it 2's as well!
Reply to BlueBayou:
The role of wanker does still exist and for me is persona independent. However, there is little doubt that research proves it is very gender specific.
Proved by the following scenario
Walk into any crowded pub on a Friday night, circa 22:00.
Stand at door and shouted loudly 'Oi Wanker!'
99% of all blokes in the pub will look up from their pint or stop their conversation and answer
'What?'
No more questions M'lud.
@109
Speaking of willy wagglers:
Ronaldo is getting worse.
Since winning that award thingy our media seem reluctant to call him a cheat any more.
Add to this the refs reluctance to do anything that might harm the Red Devas chances of being seen as the 'best team in the Uni' and we have a recipe for blatant and unrestrained fraud.
In his early seasons it was public opinion that forced him to moderate his unseemly behaviour but now that his influence is no longer there he appears to feel that he can do just whatever he wishes and unfortunately that's not to play good football.
Every match now he attempts to get someone sent off and why not, I suppose? Having been quite successful so far he's probably thinking it's an easier way to win than having to do good stuff on the pitch.
The Taylor incident is just last night's example. Rondivo cut across T (no attempt to play the ball) who used a forearm to push him away. R then went through his death throes while waiting for the inevitable card which manu tried to change to red.
The TV comentators thought it worthy of that colour too until the replay when the cheating was clear. Needless to say it wasn't mentioned again - not even in the post match talk.
Why won't they call him a cheat?
The sums of money involved in Football these days means that he's not just gaining a little advantage for his team. He's potentially depriving genuine sportsmen of their livelihoods.
If it waddles like a duck...
Reply to Mark25:
We're well aware of his cock-ups, but at least he didn't hit anyone unlike a certain Scouser.
Reply to haberdashers:
Just had to insult the Indian community in this phrase...
I think a blog adds quality by the ability to listen to honest opinions when delivered. Moffat is quoting a source which source are the result of us name calling supporters quoting? Our hearts?
Ballack and Lampard are great players and having them on the field even when they are playing shit is important but it is true they did not support link play in this particular match...
Hearing your runts about non-violence, Ghandhi style bullshit just turns my stomach and raises the question...How different are you from the worthless pieces of crap that shot at the Sri Lanka Cricket Team. You are not any better and yet you are British.
God help us all!
Reply to Agh57:
I didn't realise Cheryl was up Mount Kilimanjaro but I can imagine when she told Ashley he replied "I've always wanted to Mount Kilimanjaro, who is she?"
Reply to Jose4Chelsea:
WTF is all that supposed to mean?
It's like shaun of the undead meets invasion of the bloghackers.
How many of us had an alien encounter recently and how long have the rest of us got?
Reply to fansincethesixties:
An opinion is just an opinion. I am not going to waste my time explaining something as plain as that.
Might resort to the Villa suppressant tactics and just talk away to myself for a while...
Reply to Clive:
At least it wasn't outside a gay bar!
Reply to Mark25:
The report was fine, might help if you managed to watch the match next time though.
I'm off to enjoy a walk outside before what ever's affected some of us reaches South Croydon.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Bye
Nurse, the screens!
Reply to fansincethesixties:
The last time I walked the streets of Croydon in 1998. Is there anything new there since then?
I think the Whitgift Centre might have had a coat of paint since then. And the tram is very pleasant and rather useful, if you like that sort of thing.
Reply to Jose4Chelsea:
Utter bollocks. It's a fucking insult to even compare the two. Grow up.
Reply to Jose4Chelsea:
What the fuck are you on about? Why don't you get down from your high horse and stop talking like an overreacting twat.
Even South Croydon isn't safe, unless you cut the phone lines. (Can you still cut phone lines? It makes me think of daring Dicke Attenborough baffling those fiendish Nazi chappies with a pair of garden shears, in black and white. Probably technology has moved on since then. Where was I? ...) It spreads via the internet, you see.
LINK
A propos of BB's analysis, what happens when someone appears to occupy the semiotic terrain where "winger" and "wanker" overlap? Would this be a reasonable explanation for the existence of C. Ronaldo?
Reply to limetreebower:
Very good (although how does one know that one isn't oneself in that catgeory?)
As to your point on C Ronaldo you are on the right track but he is in fact even more a special case as he incorporates winger, whinger and wanker. Indeed some may go so far as to say winger, minger, whinger and wanker. The poetic possibilities are endless.
Reply to Jose4Chelsea:
Er... What?
I was just browsing Amazon.co.uk and came across this little snippet from this book LINK:
"When Britain gave football to the world, she also gave it a distinctive terrace culture, rich in humour and foul in language."
A few people who take time to comment on this blog (I don't usally - good blog though) are missing the sense of humour. Perhaps Gordon Brown should introduce a Humour Test to his whole Britishness thing? Too far? ;)
God help us all! (Why did God not give everyone a sense of humour?)
Yours,
Just Another Internet Fucktard Who Loves Chelsea But Hates Trolls, Especially Trolls Without A Sense Of Humour :)
Reply to GetASenseOfHumour:
Well said Sir!
Reply To limetreebower
A propos of BB's analysis, what happens when someone appears to occupy the semiotic terrain where "winger" and "wanker" overlap? Would this be a reasonable explanation for the existence of C. Ronaldo?
Spot on!!!!!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOOL What a great remark!
Reply to Clive:
Second that.
It's good to know that there are others of sound mind out there even if we don't hear from them too often.
---
The walk was fine but I'm quite close to the burbs. No sign of whatever was afflicting the guys here though, so should be safe to continue.
Croydon's applying for City status, maybe they'll get a football team and an oil billionaire to buy us (the city, not the team). Sad to say it's not the town it used to be by all accounts - I'm an immigrant from slightly nearer SW6 so can't say 1st hand.
Lets just say we have our issues.
Talking about the effect of the Internet on people, that must be what the www stands for: whinging, wanking, winger - non other than Cwistiano Wonaldo (1985 to date).
Ashley says sorry LINK and it goes to show that even footballers can get into a minor difficulties without ending up in a full-scale fracas.
Seems he, whoever was with him (JT & co) and plod, all managed to keep things in proportion.
How many of their more Northerly counterparts could've taken this knock to their egos without resorting to handbagging somebody?
Jose Musumba is back as Jose4Chelsea.
Reply to Paulite:
You are correct. That explains everything.
Don't tell Fiftee, but David Villa sould be up for grabs!
LINK
*tentatively sticks head above parapet*
Is it safe yet? Have all the crazies gone back to South Croydon or thereabouts?
Haha, if only.
I think the days of us being in for that type of player are long gone.
PK can only trundle out the 'we'll be self-sufficient in 2010' gubbins for so long, and spending £40m+ on David Villa just doesn't fit.
Bruce Buck did comment that up to 5 players could be leaving in the summer and the same number coming in, but the maths involved doesn't add up.
I think we only have a handful of players that would attract the sort of money we'd need for Villa, and most of them will be staying. The ones we get rid of (Malouda, Alex, Deco, Ballack etc.) will probably only net us enough money to sign replacements of similar value - we'll never make enough to buy Villa unless we sell JT, Cech, Lamps, Essien and Ashley and replace the others with Championship players.
"I think we only have a handful of players that would attract the sort of money we'd need for Villa"
B4 wasting that sort of money on a new striker don't you think you should get lamps&ballack to:
(1)create goal scoring chances ,
(2)stop playing against each other?
Why are you ignoring the real problem?
;-(
Reply to moffat:
Badgers. Badgers everywhere. Run for your lives!
That's it, I'm off. I can surely bear it no longer.
I'm going up to lie atop the mountain and wait for the angels to come and bear me away.
(in case I'm still there tomorow someone send me up the result, ta)
Reply to BlueBayou:
Well take a couple of badgers with you. They could do with the exercise.
Reply to Fiftee:
Don't give up hope, Fiftee - remember that teasing little other sentence in Buck's interview:
"But of course if an appropriate player comes then money would be made available from the owner to buy him."
As long as Roman stays as happy as he's looked since Hiddink arrived the coffers may still open occasionally.
I thought I'd mention that it's Red Nose Day today.
Are they not satisfied with giving the moaning twat a knighthood? Did they have to name a day after him?
pass me those badger leads I know where the door is....
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
As long as said badgers can bite the balls off you know who...
With all these concerns over the blog-snatchers I almost forgot we've got a game tomorrow.
Anyone know anything about Coventry (apart from it's location close to the M6)?
Chris Coleman's in charge so we can expect a tough game, for although they're mid table he's surely going to try and prove that he's still PL material.
Plus they've not got much else to play for.
All in all, the games since Gus took over have been kind: allowing us to fight our way back into shape before the real end of season nitty-gritty begins.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
They have a (relatively) shiny new ground. And we're on the telly too.
Quite like Chris Coleman actually; Mourinho always seemed to think there was something about him that might make a pretty decent manager one day.
Reply to BlueBayou:
When you're an average newspaper hack, TV commentator, or PL referee, every day's a Red Nose Day!
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
I see we are the stupid o'clock game tomorrow.
12.30 is too early. Players always seem to have difficulty getting to the pace. Unlike mere mortals they're not used to morning kick-offs where there's more alcohol than blood in you and a vague odour of fag smoke (and woman if you lucked out)still clings
Although if you go to the game or watch it in the pub a whole afternoon opens up in which to get trousered I suppose.
(wistful sigh)
It's great to be on terrestrial TV. But bang goes my excuse to visit the pub and not come back til night time.
Oh, why is life so complicated?
Talking about the early start:
Wonder if AC will be 100% fit after his recent night without sleepl (or perhaps that's not such an unusual occurrence in the Cole household).
In any case, the whole team seemed to be out quite late and possibly under-estimate the opposition.
They'd better win or questions will definitely be asked.
Reply to BlueBayou:
I thought it was next Friday? That's when the TV 'extravaganza' takes place anyway.
Reply to Fiftee:
I don't know if you're aware of this but timing is everything in good comedy. That's why I'm not funny.
Thank you for pointing out my error I will recycle the joke next week on the appropriate day.
BBC are reporting Paulo Ferreira's out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
Guess Ashley will defo. be playing tomorrow now.
I saw this headline and had to have a read
“Let's wipe out toilet paper.
Using tissue after you've been to the loo is bad for the planet. Washing is the greener option – and its more hygenic too.”
LINK
Strangely the first thing that occurred to me was the impact that an end to the humble toilet roll would have on football fans, in a “toilet roll throwing” capacity as opposed to arse wiping if you see what I mean.
We would still have our celery but what would everyone else do? Then I started to think about when we last saw serious usage of the stuff. You know goalies spending half the game clearing unravelled toilet roll from around the area and so on.
Is it me, or has it really disappeared from the fan’s arsenal as it were? I suppose all those pre-game searches make it hard to smuggle in a family pack. Perhaps it’s more common in the lower leagues?
Reply to BlueBayou:
I'm resisting the urge to follow that link.
Anyway, it's good to see that Arse have managed to get back into the news for something other than playing like crap.
Not sure if the Beeb are making it all up, or have a load of inside knowledge, but they reckon both Carvalho and Essien are in the squad for tomorrow.
BTW Before this post closes:
I've seen a few replays of Did's goal now and it really was an excellent strike.
Also showed that good wing play isn't just about humping hopeful crosses towards some big bloke in the box.
Pity Phil couldn't grasp that when we were still leading the pack.
Reply to Fiftee:
Even to suggest it means that they must be close.
Reply to Fiftee:
Apparently not - the official club text service says exactly that, plus the Paoulo news.
Not too much of a worry there because Ivanovic can play there, although he's been horribly underused thus far....
Were you all too busy badger-watching to notice the latest innovation on the official website - live video coverage of pre-match press conferences, it's got its own link on the menu on the home page and everything.
The Beeb got all their news straight from Hiddink's own mouth from that earlier this afternoon.
@CT - I don't think Ivanovic is happy playing left back, Ashley better keep fit, unless Hiddink thinks Mancienne can cover LB too?
Reply to blueboydave:
Badger watching - can't wait for Springwatch or whatever it is with lovely Bill Oddie and all those cuddly little animals
Thanks for the tip on the press conference btw.
Does anyone else think Guus has certain badger like qualities?
Oops there's me bus, must go.
Just make sure that bus isn't being driven to South Croydon.
I know two facts about Coventry:
1) The University of Warwick is there. Warwick's a pleasant little provincial town. This is presumably why U of W has students. If they called it the University of Coventry, no one would go. (Speaking as a former member of the teaching profession, I'm surprised they haven't tried this.)
2) The fictional town of Middlemarch in George Elito's novel of that name is, apparently, based on Coventry. If the novel had been called _Coventry_, no one would have read it and it would be crap.
ummm that should be George Eliot. George Elito writes crime novels about mafia syndicates in Palermo.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Keep up to date BB; Mr Oddie is taking early retirement from seasonal/watch. I think all that badger baiting has worn him out.
Reply to limetreebower:
Warwick Castle is not so far from there, very nice and interesting place. Warwick University has got very good business school.
LINK
Paulo is out till the end of the season...:-(
Doe anybody know what happened to Nic? The guy on TV says he is injured.
Why are the Cov fans booing Ashley?
Classical Drogba!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bing bong. Who is this at the front door? Ah, it's you, yawningly comfortable professional win! Welcome back, you've been missed.
Here is my latest insight into long-term planning the Chelsea way.
1) Pay close attention to the financial collapse of Iceland.
2) Appoint a temporary manager.
3) Wait for the enforced sale of West Ham and the subsequent resignation of Zola and Clarke.
4) Hire Zola and Clarke in the summer.
Genius, no?
LTB.... Seems fair enough to me, if they cannot persuade Hiddink to stay on!