Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 0 Chelsea
Saturday, 21 March 09, 07:30 PM · Comments (205)
Match reports
The Observer, Duncan Castles: "Guus Hiddink had been making a habit out of the sturdy single-goal victory as Chelsea manager, gradually racheting up the pressure on Manchester United at the summit of the Premier League. A run of six domestic victories ended at White Hart Lane as the Dutchman fell to a 1-0 defeat - his frustration increased by the knowledge of United's aberration at Fulham a few miles south-west."
Sunday Telegraph, Trevor Haylett: "With Manchester United’s capitulaton there was the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the Premier League to a single point but in a manner that had the home faithful crowing all the way down Tottenham High Road, Chelsea also met defeat and that could prove crucial in the final reckoning."
Independent on Sunday, Jason Burt: "Because of a delayed start – a suspect vehicle meant the match kicked off at 3.30pm – Chelsea knew what had happened at Craven Cottage. It made it all the more annoying for Hiddink, whose ire must have been directed at lacklustre displays by Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka in particular. Still, Spurs were indebted to two outstanding saves late on from Heurelho Gomes."
Sunday Times, Nick Townsend: "In recent days Chelsea have reminded you of the rogue truck driver in Steven Spielberg’s film Duel. They have promised a relentless pursuit, driving their quarry to distraction and constant glances in his wing-mirror. That image stayed in the mind yesterday as events across London at Craven Cottage filtered through. Yet despite the rare act of neighbourliness from Fulham, who subjected Manchester United to a second consecutive league defeat, Chelsea failed to capitalise. And like the denouement of the movie, you suspect that the Blues’ title aspirations crashed and burnt here."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "It was an afternoon of huge frustration, with Man United suffering consecutive defeats long before this delayed kick-off was over."
The goal
“We’ll always have spuds and eejits,” (from “Memoir” by John McGahern novelist 1934-2006)
“Three Point Lane” is starting to get to me. Those long unbeaten years seem to be coming back to bite us on the backside. Our tilt at the title suffered there last year and now this.
We knew we had to win every game and four of those games were London derbies. As Wenger has pointed out, it's difficult for London teams to win the league precisely because of the number of derbies we have to play.
But think of a derby and you imagine pace, intensity and passion. These were all curiously lacking in the first half. Was it the delayed start? I don’t know but the late kick-off was just part of what was unfolding as a strange afternoon. Once we got into the ground, it was soon abuzz with news that Fulham were 1-0 up against 10-man United. For some reason it was shortly rumoured to be 2-0. Why? Who knows?
However it served to rekindle some of the atmosphere that had leached away in the confusion and waiting around. We sensed an advantage. But it wasn’t just the bladders of experienced fans, who found the well-timed journey between pub and ground thrown out of kilter, that seemed to suffer strain.
What seemed a conservative line-up; lacking Carvalho (another worrying injury), with Belletti, Essien and Lampard ahead of Ballack holding, Drogba and Anelka up front, certainly played with a lot of caution. Spurs had also set out to contain and the first half passed in a bout of shadow boxing. At times Essien seemed to sit as deep as Ballack and while looking lively, never got into the bullocking form of last week.
What few chances there were mainly fell to Spurs and several came from casual or misplaced passes. They were pressing hard but as long as we kept focused we retained possession quite well. But there was no end product for us. We were too narrow and there was no service to Anelka and Drogba.
“We can’t let ‘em score first,” said a mate of mine and he was right. It had that feel. We would struggle to score.
We expected a change from Hiddink at half time. If not of personnel, then of approach and formation. We expected our boys to put the squeeze on, step up five or 10 yards and take the game to them. But no it was the Spuds who stepped up a gear, we were loose and unfocused and bang, one nil down. We failed to clear our lines convincingly, the ball came back, was put out wide, then cut back to Modric who floated into an enormous gap on the edge of the box, between our back line and midfield.
Quaresma was brought on and seemed set to make a difference as he put in a superb cross that Lampard nearly squeezed in at the far post. We waited for things to start clicking, but it was all so much huff and puff. Spurs managed to isolate Quaresma and double-team him with no overlap from Bosingwa or a midfielder moving out to help.
Some service did get into Drogba who started to create problems but we seemed strangely disjointed. We couldn’t get a real grip on the game. It was summed up when with maybe 10 minutes to go, Ballack broke up a move close to the edge of our box sprang forward with options to the right and left and managed to pass it straight to a retreating Spurs defender.
Yes we did create some chances late on. Gomes made a couple of good saves, Alex hit the bar, we had one cleared off the line as things got frantic. Fulham had won 2-0 but it couldn’t have mattered less.
Hiddink has gone back to basics and set out the team to play to the strengths of what he sees as the key players. Width has been a problem all season and we can get bogged down trying to go up the middle against reasonably well organised teams. But irrespective of tactics and formations, we need to play with bite and intensity. With our recent form I’m sure Spurs were waiting to be run over by a bus. But we turned up in a clapped out two-door.
Why? I have absolutely no idea. I cannot explain why we seemed to lack drive today. You will all have opinions on who should have done what to whom but the bottom line is that we turned up without looking to be in the frame of mind to get the job done. We were often a yard slow and lacked any real rhythm.
I can understand the first half where we perhaps made sure we gave nothing away, but the start of the second mystifies me.
You would not have thought that Manure could lose two in a row. It’s a pity we couldn’t take advantage.
Yes, there will always be the Spuds but today we feel like the eejits.
So to the player ratings, which can be nothing other than expressed through the medium of the humble potato.
Player ratings
- Petr Cech - Boiled - steady if unspectacular but a staple.
- Jose Bosingwa - Microwave Jacket – not as good as the oven baked version we’ve had before.
- Alex - Lumpy Mash - some smooth bits but lots of chewy bits.
- John Terry - Proper Chips - you know what you are going to get.
- Ashley Cole - Soapy Boiled - a little watery and crumbly in places.
- Juliano Belletti - Smash - has to do when you don’t have real mash.
- Michael Ballack - Cold Roast - very good when hot but not when not.
- Michael Essien - Crinkle Cut Chips - steady fare with that bit of extra class.
- Frank Lampard - Roast - could have been a bit more crispy.
- Nicolas Anelka - Dauphinoise - complex dish, creamy, needs the right setting.
- Didier Drogba - Spicy Wedges - lacked the sour cream and chive dip.
- Ricardo Quaresma (sub) - Patatas Bravas – tasty but can it be more than tapas?
- Florent Malouda (sub) - French Fries - you’d rather have chips.
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205 Comments · Add yours
First - I have lots to say......I wrote the season off back in November and now again - a refresh is needed but just like Man Utd did it needs to be calm and focussed. I have some small-ish inside news which will probably be hideously wrong.....but watch out for Rijkaard (Hiddinks close mate and a certain german blonde chpa who is highly impressing the hierarchy )
Today was bad but Cider and Rioja can work wonders.......next season is when it all changes!
This really confirmed the end of what was a great Jose side. We looked old, slow and simply second best. The Utd result made things worse but the team shouldn't have needed the crowd to scream out that they're losing 2-0 to perk them up a bit. This summer will be a huge one for the club with large changes in the squad and management and the next appointment will be crucial. I'd be happy with the young and talented Klinsmann although he would be a risk just like the other potential appointments; Ancelotti, Rijkaard, Bilic, Jose? Rijkaard would be a strange one for me. With great players he's a great manager, but Chelsea need discipline and without it (see Avram and Scolari) we kind of fall apart.
As for today, well i thought we were awful. Maybe it was the late kick-off but in the end we ran out of ideas. I feared us lining up with a 4-1-3-2 against an in form Lennon and our lack of width was at times painful. Belletti had a shocker and should never have started and when we played with an orthodox 4-4-2 for the final 15 mins, we actually started to put some pressure on Spurs. Kalou and Mikel must wonder how they've upset Guus, but knowing that only a win in every game from now until the end of the season will do, i didn't understand why he sent us out in both halves so cautiously. I know Utd had a bit of a disaster but i did like the way they went for it when 1-0 down. Fergie said fuck it, a 1-0 loss is just as painful as a 2-0 loss so let's pile forward. He took off defenders, despite having 10 men and tried to get a goal. It may have ended in disaster but at least he tried it for more than 15 mins at the end. I would have loved to see Guus respond immediately to Modric's goal by making some bold decisions and going for it. In the end we kind of accepted defeat in the game and the title race rather pathetically.
Liverpool will no doubt batter Villa but who'd like to see them win it? Painfully i'd rather cheer on Fergie than Rafa.
Shocking performance by Belletti and Ballack. I wonder why we still use this pathetic system. Why not play 442 with Essien Lampard Quaresma Kalou? Thats what we needed to win the bloody game!! Where is the passion Chelsea?
why are we so annoyingly disappointing just at the moment we're about to climax? just imagine being just 1 point away if we had gotten it right.......well, guess maybe it's lost once again.
It was fantastic at 'the lane' yesterday. Time for a name change for you lot I think. 1 point from your last three visits. Smug pricks. Oh how we laugh.
Reply to stoney:
Fuck me that's rich you lot calling us Smug!
Reply to Clive:
Yup. And I'm loving every minute of it.
Must be quite nice to secure your Premiership safety against a team that owned you for 18 years. Well done!
Hiddink must have someting against Kalou. Why not even bring him in as a sub we have seen he can dig us out of such situations (See game vs Stoke at the bridge). Please Mr Hiddink, I have never taken Korea to world cup semi's but you have to use your players well...
Reply to stoney:
Are your club going to be releasing a DVD of yesterday's victory, like they did the last one?
Reply to Peregrine:
Yeah, hopefully. It'll make great viewing. Especially the bits showing chelski fans sneeking away early from a stuffin.
Reply to stoney:
Is that no 10 on your avatar your IQ? run along and play there's a good boy, this is an intelligent football blog not 606.
Reply to Clive:
Don't like it when the football boot is on the other foot do you.
Like you Tony, I'm revising my revised hopes. By Christmas I was down to praying we'd stay in the top four. Then the Guus bounce ridiculously convinced me we could challenge for some trophies. I'm now reminded of several endemic problems with the squad - particularly age and hunger. Most of these guys have domestic league medals. What they crave is the Champions Lge. Having been reminded on Friday of the task ahead of them to win that trophy, I can see why most of them would have overlooked the matter of winning the Premiership. But, like Blue_Bayou says, who can really explain a performance like that. Just think what a win against the Spuds would have produced, in terms of pressure on the Mancs, causing even further panic in their ranks. So, if it really is all change in the summer, let's hope there's some continuity with Hiddink at least staying close in some way. I don't think another root and branch change like happened with the appallingly arrogant and unprepared Scolari (who clearly thought his own genius would be enough) is any answer.
By the way. You've got to love Spud fans haven't you? Nicking points of us is the highlight of their season. Look out for an open topped bus ride around Upper Edmonton this afternoon.
Reply to stoney:
Bloody hell! I've supported this club for over 40 years so I know what it's like to have boots on other feet.
Stupid ratings again!
Good Ridance!
@ Blue bayou
it seems you've pissed moffat off.
Jobs a good 'un sir...well done.
Goose doesn't know our players. I would to see him taking his frozen brain back to moscow.
Just look at Essien's position for the goal. What a filthy scumbag!
"And as for those people who can’t cope if their team loses. Give me strength. If you get all teary-eyed just because someone from Latvia, playing in a town you’ve never been to, for an Arab you’ve never met, against some Italians you hate for no reason, has missed a penalty, how are you going to manage when you are diagnosed with cancer?"
Some perspective from Jez Clarkson in the Times today. It's an otherwise amusing piece on his first trip to the Bridge last week (encouraged by young son) and becoming a Blue. Interesting note about Lamps and the shirt signing at the end, I think.
LINK
OK - it's own up time. In a rash moment of optimism on Friday evening I put Carvalho and Drogba into some of my Fantasy teams with the inevitable results of yet another injury and an inability to hit a ball anywhere near the goal respectively.
I took solace by watching all 90 minutes of Fulham v ManUre on Football First where the Winker and Rooney vied forcefully to see who could get sent off first.
It seems Old Purplenose has continued his refusal to speak even to Sky now from last week - so here's an interesting suggestion from today's Observer for the Beeb/Sky:
LINK
Finally another in my You Can't Get The Staff series as the Beeb's Football Gossip column cut and paste merchants can't even get the right week's papers anymore as this item from today [yes today's] column shows:
"Man City centre-back Richard Dunne has added extra spice to his side's clash with Chelsea today by accusing Blues striker Didier Drogba of "conning referees". (The People)"
Does anyone know why Kalou is not involved anymore after scoring consecutive goals and assists + winning Man of the Matches? Why is Belletti, Malouda & Quaresma playing ahead of him? It's just baffling, really. In most of the games that we lost this season, he hasn't featured in any of them (Man U, Spurs etc).
Lets hope the Villa does the double in the next couple of weeks against ManUre and Red Scousers!
KTBFFH!
The first and the last and the most important Guus mistake was midfield selection! He tried to fix it, but too late. The use of Essien as holding player is not clever, Mikel should continue his holding role and Essien paired with Lampard, if it means Ze German should be benched it is okay with me.
Now about similarities and differences. Let us compare the first 8 games of Scolari and Hiddink, it might be interesting.
Scolari started brightly he has won 6 and drawn two of his 8 starting games, by the way one of the draws was to Spuds at Stamford Bridge. Team has scored 20 goals and conceded 3.
Chelsea under Hiddink has won 6, drawn 1 and lost 1, scoring 10 goals and conceding 4.
At the beginning draw to Spuds was considered as catastrophe now we made step backwards and lost to Spuds.
We are going down simply rolling down the hill. Our players are old and each of our new managers achieving less than the previous one.
We cursed Scolari, and gave lot of praise to Hiddink, but take a look is he really better? One more thing; Guus has all the players at his disposal, Scolari had heavily injured squad.
I hope that I am going to be proved wrong and Hiddink will bring as silverware...., but take a look it is not us who revived the title race it was Liverpool crushing Man USA. We have not done anything this season so far, just free lancers using the circumstances created by the other teams.
We are simply bad and that is all. However, as I said I want to be proved wrong by the facts of course.
I think the interesting situation that may arise should Poo win today. Is how jittery will Utd get? they certainly look vulnerable at the moment, two games six goals conceded.(our goal difference is better than theirs)
And of course Liverpoo, do they concentrate soley on hunting Utd down for the title? or will Rafa put the CL before everything else?
I still think there are a few twists left in this run in, but how poor the consistency of all the top four teams have been this season.
It should be remembered that we'd pretty much kissed goodbye to the league before Hiddink arrived anyway; to have even been thinking about some sort of late charge was pleasant, but ultimately unrealistic. The guy is a caretaker manager - nothing more, nothing less - he has inherited a reasonably decent squad that needs renewing in the summer when the new man arrives. He was brought in to steady the ship and keep us in the CL money spots for next season; anything else will be a bonus.
And the doom merchants are getting way ahead of themselves; we're by no means a bad side - top 3 shouldn't be beyond our capabilities, but we're not title challengers and unless we encounter a few strokes of luck, the CL is unrealistic to say the least. If Guus can take us to Wembley for another crack at the FA Cup and keep us in the top 3, he'll have done a fine job considering.
the game was shown live here in croatia and the pundits were obviously rooting for spurs - because of modric and corluka. but, they have shown the replay of corluka stopping lampards ball - and it definitely was a handball. that's also what the papers are saying here today. i am surprised no one in england mentioned it...
now, i agree with some of the posters that the title race is over for us - but can that offer us some advantage over liverpool and manu in the CL?
Hate to say it but Liverpool showed us how to perform when you know only a win will do. 5-0 against a pretty good side and none of this lazy, slow or cautious football. Would still hate to see Liverpool join our select group of League winners though.
this result, accompanied with Liverpool's thrashing of villa, has made me literally sick. We threw away an amazing opportunity to get back in the race.
We didn't seem to want to win at all during the first half. Someone needs to take Bosingwa, Malouda, and Quaresma aside and teach them how to cross. It's seriously infuriating seeing three men in the box and having every cross overshoot them by fifteen yards. We had a few chances but overall just poor finishing and almost no buildup at all.
It pains me to say that if Essien, Joe Cole, Deco, Carvalho, and Kalou hadn't gotten injured for such long periods of time we would be running away with it. Such bad luck.
that being said, we're still in the FA cup and the champions league, (granted we play both pool and arsenal, two teams that have really started to click lately) and we're going to secure another champions league spot for next year.
Whoever the next manager is I hope they bring in emerging talent like Mourinho did, in order to build a tight-knit, skilled squad, one that is focused on winning trophies for years to come.
Piss poor performance from the lads in blue and tottenham deserved the win. I cant really think of one chelsea player who had a good game except maybe essien. A shame we couldnt jump on the chance to go only four points back with man united losing to fulham.
Ive been coming on here for some time now and this is the first time Ive commented, and Im not surprised tottenham fans are taking the piss at us. They always seem to be the stupedest and most arrogant bunch whenever they get a result against us(them and liverpool). Grats to them on the win, but they can beat us all they want to, at least we are in the running for titles this season.
Reply to BlueMark:
Maybe, Sir. But unfortunately your arguement doesn't hold water when, you yourself, cannot spell 'stupidest.'
A nice try though...
I watched Goals on Sunday and MOTD this morning. One valid point Kamara made was that the team never seemed to get going until they knew the ManUre result and they suddenly realised the win was important. I had already thought that the team was possibly conserving energy for the forthcoming CL games. Lets face it, until that result at Fulham, EVERYBODY had practically conceded the PL to ManUre so maybe Kamara was right.
Only problem is the Scousers have just totally tanked Villa and I would hate to see them lift the PL.
Good piece by Clarkson, by the way LOL
Reply to WhoFramedRuelFox:
Might be an idea to learn how to spell 'argument' before lecturing others on spelling.
A nice try though...
Reply to WhoFramedRuelFox:
And, oh joy, I get to be the first to sustain this bout of pointless name-calling by noting that you don't know how to spell "argument".
Now let me proof-read this post *very* carefully ... Yep, looks okay.
Curse you KJ2, curse you!!!
Reply to limetreebower:
It was an open goal... :-)
Just read that Clarkson piece, which was brilliant. Everyone seems to be able to talk to Roman apart from us! At least we've gained a famous and loud mouthed fan who'll be able to tell everyone how great Chelsea are on Top Gear and in The Times. His writing of how he has come to love football and all the strange rituals that surround it was hilarious.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
A fair point well made.
:)
*wince*
But you can't tell someone they're stupid, then spell stupid wrong. The irony is not lost.
Reply to WhoFramedRuelFox:
Equally, you shouldn't try and create an argument to back up your own stupidity, if you can't spell argument!
Are we on a wild guus chase?
Hiddink should be sober when it comes to team selection and obvious substitutions. he should stop those dressing room grudges and just field kalou and mikel .Even though kalou said he was interested in joining arsenal ,it was quite normal for a fact he is constantly being benched for no good reason , this benching has brought frustration to him. and i think he aired it in the right way ,instead of just having a kiss my feet attitude that malouda like players have , we all know kalou has had some drastic improvements this season. grudges should not be encouraged at all
we have seen these things happen in Barcelona fc and the results have had disastrous consequences on title ambitions.which led to rikjaard being sacked,mourinho too had a problem with joe cole and robben and he ended up producing shit results in the end. what am saying is for any team you need a match winner and a big match player and a player who can change the tempo of the game and in Chelsea ,what we can contend to now is accepting the fact that kalou is not that badly off in striking such a balance from what we have seen from him this season , hiddink should understand he was brought to win matches that's his first priority .you don't win matches by having grudges with players i can't figure out why he is constantly benching kalou bearing in mind joe cole and deco are injured he has no creative player in his squad. except kalou! .but the narrow minded troll goes ahead and in he brings Malouda for Essien.shit happens at stamford against Mancity and another predictable loss follows at white hart lane, hiddink is doing a scolari and it tends to be very frustrating .
People misspell words on accident sometimes it happens. Typical online wanker who wants to act like just because you misspelled something your whole argument isnt legit. Funny as hell though that you turn around and misspell something yourself. Oh the irony in that.
The general consensus I take it is, that our outside title challenge is now over?
So do we think Manure will bottle it and let Looserpoo in?
If so, then in supreme optimism and hope we're not out of it. Long shot yes, worth a small punt? I think so.
I'm with KJ_II on this - the league was effectively over before Christmas and despite this setback, things have improved. Liverpool, it has to be said look pretty darn good at the moment but I still think United will recover from this wobble and take the PL crown. So, we can still finish an easy 3rd which considering the last 2 seasons of utter chaos and turmoil is still a decent finish, especially with the ageing squad issue that Sir Rednose so aptly forecast.
So we have 2 good rumours, 3 if you include the GH staying option. Frank Rijkaard (big pal of Hiddink and in all likelihood in constant touch with him over players etc)or the allegedly much admired Mr Klinsmann. I'd still plump for Moyes (highly impressive on Goals on Sunday) but either of the other 2 could make decent longer term (5 + years) options. Klinsmann always seems very level headed and pragmatic, plus he has Bayern playing some good stuff. I quite like the idea that he shunned the high speed/luxury cars when at Spurs, plumping instead for a good old Beetle.
The worst option, which for me would be a nightmare and make us (even more of..) a laughing stock is the rumoured option about re-appointing Hiddink in November and leaving Ray in charge until then. I like Ray, he's a calm influence, but he would not be up to the job for 4-5 months and the damage would be done by then. One of the hacks (don't know his name but apparently a CFC fan) on GoS suggested GH would come back but as a Director of Football, which suggests a marginalisation of Arnesens role, but seems to indicate Rijkaard as favourite.
I'm not sure we have enough for any of the comps now as it does seem that big game malaise is quite embedded in the team.
*returns to half empty glass*
Include me in the 'it was already over' camp.
We'll continue to give it a good go under Hiddink, but it's not as if he took charge with the team in the healthiest position.
Unfortunately the realisation is it's a 2-horse race. And certainly a case of the lesser of 2 evils for who we want to win it. ManUSA get my vote, they're just not as up their own arses as Liverpool are starting to get.
Still, I guess we wont be seeing the Villa fans who were here a few weeks ago. Talk about capitulation. They may as well have not bothered yesterday (although Freidels red card was refereeing fussiness at its best).
A treble I'm going to put £10 on just to keep rest of season interesting. Prices at William Hills:
Champs League: Chelsea 5/1
Premier: Liverpool 5/2
FA Cup: Arsenal 7/2
Daft, I know, especially the first one, but stranger things etc
Is it worth reading these comments, or are they filled with monobrow Spurs fans crowing over their success like typical supporters of a small-time club?
@CT - I couldn't believe the spin some of the media were putting on Hiddink's comments about his November get-out clause as meaning he could come back as manager then.
Apart from the minor problem you mention of what the hell do we do till then there's also the slight matter that Russia surely have a decent chance of qualifying through the play-offs even if Germany win their group - and then we'd be writing off another season before Xmas.
Interesting that you favour Moyes - who was a popular choice among fans in a poll somewhere before I recall. Would his low-key, low profile pragmatism really appeal to Roman - and does anyone know if he is still stalling on signing his new contract offer at Everton?
Reply to blueboydave:
I believe he's signed a new one at Everton, but they're skint and want a new stadium so any decent compensation package would do them. As for the 'low key' bit....I get the impression that's exactly what RA wants and not a return to the combative nature of the TSO period.
Happened over to the club website briefly. I had not appreciated what a horror of a week we had against the Spurs
Reserves lost 4-0 Monday
Youth lost 5-0 Saturday am
Big Boys lost 1-0 Saturday pm
Blimey
LINK
Some more bad news
That brings me to the reality that Stevie G knows when it matters and I can not say the same about our Mr. Fantastic...Lampard
Oh Lord.
It's back.
We're all feeling despondent, the gap will never be closed, we're running out of time and games.
To comfort myself and keep alive an idiotic belief that it 'aint all over I've been watching this.
Start at about 2.30 and watch.....that's how to close a gap. They've only ridden 168 miles at about 28mph...
LINK
I'm sure Guus, being Dutch knows his cycling and will be showing the boys this to drive them for one last push...
And with some highly original, incisive and cutting comment, too.
*yaaaaaaaawn*
Time to run for the hills, it's back!
But that Anelka injury could be a blessing i disguise. It'll force Guus' hand into abandoning the narrow 4-1-3-2 and return to the 4-3-3 which suits Didier. I hope this means we can finally see Kalou and Quaresma starting together but i fear we'll see Belletti and Malouda starting.
As for who'll win the league, i'd still push for Utd. Liverpool will drop points as our CL tie approaches as Rafa rests some of the big boys while Utd will stumble over the line, just as we did in that second title winning season.
It's like those cheap horror flicks where the undead rise from the crumbling ruins of their tombs and start to walk abroad again.
btw just for my peace of mind his he/she/it moffat disguised as musumba or is moffat musumba's disguise, are they both hnrey, is moffat hnery?
actually do I care? no, but I remeber that either insulting God or being sexually explicit made one of 'em vow never to return, except they have.
I know you've all been waiting with bated breath...
... so here are my rambling and incoherent thoughts on this.
First- Biggs- where do you live in Croatia?
Second- Can't believe I agree with Moffat. Essien was completely asleep on the goal. Strolled in, didn't mark anyone, had tons of time to get in the play, didn't. Not holding midfielder material.
So, I predicted it before, and here is our banana skin. I think the fitness training is getting to the team, and they don't have the spark currently. This is what happens when you increase training load. Not sure it excuses the result, but it does explain it a bit.
Sure we lost the league early in the season, but here we had the chance to get back in it. We didn't. Hanging on for 3rd would be nice, as long as the run in is comfortable.
Something needs to happen with team selection. Newcastle is a great place to try. They are truly hopeless. Enjoy being the new Leeds!
The pressure is on at Man U. I think that for all of the talk of dodecatuple, they will be happy to walk away with whatever they can get this season. I think that means our chances of the FA cup are quite favorable. With suspensions, injuries, league pressure and CL in the mix, I think they might just drop the FA cup, either now or in the final.
Liverpool is a disappointment to me. Here I was thinking that Real Madrid would come to their senses and call Tubby home. Instead, he gets a new deal at Anfield, and things are looking up for pool. They look good, not great right now, but chances are really falling for them. Strange that Route 1 is working for them against "good" teams. I haven't seen Reina play this well in a long time, maybe ever. He can actually deal with crosses now.
I detest him as a sportsman, but Gerrard had quite a game. How two penalties gets you a "hat trick" I'll never know. Still, I can't fathom how he strikes the ball as hard as he does. One day I'll have to learn how to do that.
Reply to haberdashers:
The whole season Didier tried to convince that the best system for him is to play up front with Anelka. Howeevr, seeing Kalou and Quaresma starting together is very promising.
We lost the league some time in January, no question about that. I do wish people could avoid the Manager Must Go syndrome every time we lose a game. It's especially strange given that the chap Is Going Anyway Whether We Want Him To Or Not.
A top-three finish won't be that bad given the obvious problems with the squad and the owner's confusion over the direction of the team. In an odd sort of way this whole year will have to be written off as a twelve-month delay in the process of replacing the "win now" mentality with the "create a successful club" mentality. Will that process actually get under way this summer? The only encouraging thing for me was that when Mr Big was sacked, RA referred to the fact that he was worried about the future of his Chelsea "project". If he's begun to think of it as a "project" rather than a crazed ego boost, perhaps we'll actually get a long-term view in place.
Now excuse me while I fetch garlic and holy water to fend off the undead.
PS God is dead. I luv sex. Frank is good at football.
Reply to limetreebower:
Quite. Given the managerial upheaval, generally poor acquisitions we've made since Sheva and his dodgy knees pitched up and the overall uncertainty about what direction the club is taking, we find ourselves in a surprisingly decent position considering.
Where we go from here once Guus departs at the end of the season is another matter entirely, but barring disasters we should be in the CL for another season and hopefully the new man will be given some cash to move things in the right direction for the medium to long term. Things could be a lot worse.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
My thoughts this season-
Nick a trophy. After that...
get a manager and a youth program. We need someone who can help kids make the transition from youth team to senior team, and we need to develop a reputation for developing players so there is an interest in joining the youth team.
This was my one reservation about Mourinho. He doesn't seem to do that. Perhaps he isn't in one place long enough, and that is the problem. So the Rijkaard rumors- we'll, he's not my favorite, but we need to have solid players on Chelsea that we don't buy.
We could do worse than the dutch. Guus has always had a rather good eye, and I feel Rijkaard will be fine as well.
I really would like to ask this question of the regular contributors to this blog. What would the reaction to this performance have been if Scolari had still been in charge? All sorts of vitriol thrown in his direction, I don't doubt. For a start, no one would have forgiven him if he had put Ballack in the holding position. And anyone remember the Carling Cup Final and how stupid it was of Avram Grant to stuff Anelka out on the wing in order to accommodate both him and Drogba in the same team? Hiddink is no magician and we cannot expect him to be. Nor can Essien's return transform a team that is over the hill into world beaters, Lampard can't carry the team every week etc, etc. Scolari had one thing right: it is not possible to put Drogba and Anelka together in the same team (other than as a desperate measure when losing with 10 minutes to go). Everyone said Scolari didn't have a plan B. Show me a plan B with the players at his disposal. If Hiddink has had an impact, it is the normal impact that a new manager has on players who have ceased trying. Why did Scolari lose the dressing room? It wasn't easy to envisage him making a "Once more unto the breach, dear friends" type of speech before an important game, was it? It is difficult to be a great orator when you have only a very basic command of the language. Was that the real problem?
Ultimately I believe the players are just not good enough anymore. Jose Mourinho is considered to be almost a God-like figure on this blog but he inherited a squad with players at their peak and bought, very expensively, other players also at their peak. Maybe he had it easy
Reply to Tim:
Good thoughts Tim, and you are probably right with most of what you say.
Hiddink made errors on Saturday (most notably, playing Belletti, forcing Drogba wide in the first half) and should be accountable for them, but equally, as I have said all along, the players also need to be accountable.
When you are on 100 grand a week, you don't get the luxury of having an off week.
I do think though that Anelka's injury and absence will actually help us..... It will free up room for Drogba and allow us to play either Kalou / Quaresma on the wing.
Some fair points, Tim. Hiddink got certain elements of his approach to Saturday wrong, no question. It's ultimately how he learns from them that will dictate how he is ultimately judged during his short stay; he's been pretty spot on up until now and given the almost lunatic approach we've had to management in the last 18 months, the fact that someone with his track record was prepared to come in (he's obviously being well rewarded, of course) and steady things was fairly handy.
The key difference with Scolari was that when he made mistakes, it was very often the case that they simply weren't dealt with in the following games; often really basic stuff which became very frustrating for the fans (and probably the players) very quickly - defending set pieces and so forth. I suspect there were many other things that didn't help him; language, lack of experience in European club football and so on. His appointment was simply a gamble which didn't pay off.
The point about Mourinho is fair enough, but having great players at their peak is one thing, turning them into winners is another entirely. It has been quickly forgotten by many, but the culture at Chelsea for years was basically one of serial failure at the highest level, the odd cup or two - very nice, but any sniff of a bigger prize was usually blown spectacularly. That's an extremely difficult thing to change, and I suspect Roman is going to have to spend a lot of money (or more than he already has) and, we hope, have the patience to realise that it won't be an easy thing to get back.
And spending big? Just what most winning teams do these days (and have generally done in the past), United being a classic example - win a trophy or two, go out and spend £30m on another top player, bring in some kids for the future. It keeps things fresh, the squad on their toes and sends out a message to everyone else that you want to stay on top. This summer, they bought Berbatov, we bought Deco - enough said.
Reply to Be_Champions:
i live in zagreb, the capitol.
some of you have been mentioning bilic as a possible manager. well, i believe that he is not yet fit to do a chelsea job. bilic was a fairly succesfull as u-21 coach, and it was him that introduced modric, corluka eduardo and some other young players to that team. he is doing well with the national team (apart from that robbery in zagreb a few months ago - but it was the refeere's fault, anyway :D) and is one of the most popular croats alive, today.
but, he lacks managerial expirience in a club, least of all the size of chelsea. so give him some years before he is fit for chelsea. there are many rumours about him signing for a german or english cclub (west-ham) but for now he is commited to take croatia to south africa. i would like to see him in chelasea, but not in at least 10 years. for his own good.
On a lighter a note I think all our players need to follow these simple instructions to guarantee us success in future penalty shootouts...
Scientists have come up with a formula for taking penalties that, if followed correctly, has a 100% success rate. The shot should be 65mph, you need a run-up of five to six paces from the edge of the area, approach the ball at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees and the ball must cross the goal-line at exactly 0.5m below the crossbar and the same distance inside the post.
Or just get more German players :-)
Reply to TrueBlue:
If what I thought was true I think it is very bad. Why Kalou didn’t play? May be b'cos he is an African and already two Africans are on the pitch. If the continental selection will be the problem then it is better to put that into consideration when buying players.
I hope Guus will run into problem of wrong selection which is one of the problems his immediate predecessor ran into.
Reply to Tunde:
Correction of the second paragraph
'I hope Guus will not run into problem of wrong selection which is one of the problems his immediate predecessor ran into.'
Reply to Tim:
Tim, all these points have been expressed on this blog more than ones. Yes, true some people on this blog think Jose is God and pray for the returning of the Messiah. Habs is probably one his most devoted Apostles. I am myself have been under constant onslaught from blogers for blasphemy against Saint Jose. However, look on the message 24 on this page, look on some other messages from previous pages. We (well , at least some of us) do know what is going on and not afraid to say that Emperor is Naked.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
What you've been under 'constant onslaught' for is talking abject nonsense and rewriting history; there is difference between that and the truth, and not a particularly subtle one. Sadly, you don't seem to have the mental or intellectual capacity to realise that, which is why you get so much stick.
I've been looking at the chalk boards and they prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Moffat and Blue Mike haven't got a clue what they are talking about ;-)
Seriously, after all the debate on here about the use of chalkboards for argument purposes, having looked at them all they conclusively prove is that whoever compiles them has too much time on their hands.
I've been looking at the chalk boards and they prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Moffat and Blue Mike haven't got a clue what they are talking about ;-)
@Peter
I think most of us could have told you that without having to go to all that trouble in looking. ;-)
Reply to peterh:
And Clive.
I believe that you both forgot to take your memory pills today, if you find at least one message where I talk about creating chalk boards I will eat my humble pie. Funny loonies, not news for me at least.
Reply to Tim:
Reasonable points you make there Tim. I think KJII is right though. The problem with Scolari was not just about tactics or formations, it was that the basics were disappearing. Organisation, fitness, mentality, all appeared to be suffering.
I was resigned to letting this season go and seeing whether, given players more of his choosing, provided funds were available, he could start to get results. It is reasonable to say that he perhaps did not have the players to do what he needed, but then I don’t see how just Robhino was going to cure that problem.
Yes he was unlucky with injuries. So was Grant, but he had Clarke to keep things in shape. So even if Scolari did not have the players for his preferred style and was afflicted by injuries, that should not have led to a lack of focus, fitness and organisation. Perhaps he should have recognised, as Mourinho and Grant did, the importance of someone like Steve Clarke to the set up. They both made mistakes in tactics and formation but kept the basics in place.
As I said in my report I thought as soon as I saw the line up that it seemed conservative. Belletti and Cole on the left seemed to there to control Lennon. Fine. And we know from what has been said in the past that Hiddink prefers to work a one go, one stay system with the full backs. But we didn’t try and take advantage of the right hand side where the roving role that Modric plays would leave some room until Quaresma came on. Boswinga hardly ever got forward.
That’s why I think the Drogba / Anelka pairing didn’t work because one of them was supposed to use that right hand side space but they didn’t seem happy doing that with the exception of one or two moments. Drogba isn’t a wide player and we need him up the middle and if anything Anelka drifted left to where a more attacking Belletti /Cole should have been. (If my memory serves me right)
When we were a more conventional 4-4-2 late on things got better, partly because Spurs were natural dropping deep to hold what they had but the 2 could play a more conventional pairing.
I still think the jury is out until we see them playing as a more conventional 2 up for a couple of games.
From what Hiddink has said post game, he seems to have sacrificed width to try and dominate the centre of the field and combat the impressive Palacios. By breaking up the play before they could get Lennon and Modric into space seemed to be the aim. To a great extent it worked, but when we broke up the play instead of a rapid counter we seemed laboured and didn’t get clear of markers.
Be_Champions may be right and we did mention this a few weeks back, that an increase in fitness work would mean a flat spot and the benefits would take 3 or 4 weeks to kick in. He’s only been on board just over a month so it could be a few weeks yet before a bit of zip gets into the play. Perhaps the lack of intensity on Saturday was down to that. Who knows?
Reply to Clive:
I believe you are searching through the blog pages to find me talking about the chalk boards :-) Do not bother yourself I never did. You just showed your incompetence yet again Mr.10 metres LOL!!!
P.S. peterh before you say something you should at least understand what you are talking about, otherwise you are in danger to become Mr. Clive 10 metres.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Stop it, you're killing me.....
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
I have not started it Tony. I never did.
LOL :-D
Reminds me of that "Geoffrey Howe's 1001 Greatest Jokes" book I got for Christmas one year. Laugh? Well, almost...
LINK
Next year kits. This is interesting for a change.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Look here Bluey, if I can take a moment to duck the handbags that are flying around and re-iterate the point that was made once before on a previous post, it was me who made the erroneous claim that the wall should be 10m, not Clive.
Now I worked hard to be stupid enough to make that mistake and I'm not having you deprive me of my moment of glory.
If you continue to refer to Clive as Mr 10 metres then I shall have to assume that you are using that measurement because you know something about Clive that only Mrs Clive can vouch for.
Our kit looks like some Batman shirt with this breast design. I hope we shall not follow the pattern for Superman for the shorts.
Interesting article here from today's Grauniad (sic) - seems to indicate Rijkaard as chosen one, with an Ajaz scout coming in. Emulating the Ajax system would be a huge bonus to us going forward.
LINK
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Agreed, slightly odd looking thing and maybe our players should play in Superman style pants....God no......that has conjurd up an awful image.
More to the point......2 new kits every year? Very fan friendly.....
@BB
As much as I would love to have 10 meters, it would certainly get me work in the porn industry, or perhaps the freak show in a circus. ;-)
Talking about freaks, why do I get stalked by the trolls on this blog?
Reply to BlueBayou:
BB
Well, I am glad that 10metres point has been cleared. From now on I shall not call Clive 'Mr10' metres, moreover I am even ready to apologies for the false allegation I made, suggesting that Clive does not know the distance to the wall. However, it would be nice, if Clive follows the pattern and take back his accusations about me and "chalk boards" or whatever it is, as I never referred to this invention and actually never used it ;-)
You see BB how simple things are.
KTBFFH
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Not fan friendly at all, but I am not going to buy this Batman stuff, unless I need Helloween costume.
That KIT IS HORRIBLE. WTF - the nicest one we had was the black 3rd kit when we had duff etc.
I understand Guus giving his opinion on any young cheap deals BUT why are we allowing him to provide huge input is beyond me - surely get the next manager in place now - pre-contract - let them spend the £100m where they want - buck says we want to build and have a long term manager so back it up - and get Guus to advise on any Russion or Dutch hidden gems.
Re the kits; as the article says, they are just proposed designs as to what teams *might* be wearing next season; the likes of adidas & nike produce almost hundreds of prototypes, mock ups or whatever which make it onto the web - doesn't mean that they are what the team will be running out in next season (I certainly hope not anyway, it's bloody hideous).
Reply to Munkeyfeet:
It all seems strange, but from the other side, if the rumours about Hiddink's Football Director appointment are truth it explains the situation.
Reply to limetreebower:
The league was lost when we caved in at United, IMO. We're the only top four team they've beaten this season.
A top three finish wouldn't be that bad, but since 2003-04, we've finished first or second. A cup win this season would smooth over the transition nicely, but to end the season with nothing and finish third would be our worst season in six years. If that doesn't spur Roman to instigate stability and bring in a long term manager with some new players, I don't know what will.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
The Sunday Express was pushing the "Rijkaard + Ajax scout recommended by Hiddink" story at the weekend - and, I think, suggesting Arnesen would become Director of Football. I can't find the link now as the story has been updated today on the Express website with that element not now stated.
Before we get lots of diatribes on the new kit link - isn't that column supposed to be a joke?
Reply to blueboydave:
I have to say that if Manure turn out in anything with a big V on it as per those photos I shall be turning the sound down and replaying in my mind Eddy Waring commentating on't rugby league Batley v Keighley circa 1974 - rain, 4 foot deep mud, " aye aye there's an uuup and under from Keighley"
(sigh)
How are we due another home kit? Isn't the one we're wearing now only in it's first season? They'll never release a new one again next season.
Unless it's sponsored by Commodore, then I might buy it....
Edit.
Was just trying to remember if any games stood out from last season that reminded me about the kit.
It was worn in Moscow.
'Nuff said, time for a change.....
Good news for us as we're going back to the US for pre-season and this trip will also see the return of Jose:
LINK
A tournament with Chelsea, Inter and Milan sounds great.
LINK
So here's your run-of-the-mill ManUSA up a financial creek without the means to propel themselves type story and it's all fine.
Wo betide it was us, I'm sure it would be plastered everywhere.
Speaking of ManUre's finances - isn't it one of their wheezes not to include CL home games in their season tickets but make purchase of these compulsory for season ticket holders?
I discovered this morning that we seem to have adopted the same wheeze for the Liverpoo quarter-final. No doubt this will be dressed up as a convenience to fans while the box office is busy selling FA Cup semi final tickets, but I can't help wondering, as Giles Smith's excellent column today states, if it's because we're all so fed up playing 'Poo in CL we need to invent new ways of keeping interest up?
Or even worse, a precedent setter for following ManUre's practice for group games next year?
The Graunid is yet agin keeping the Chelsea storyboard going
Hiddink reaffirming his intention to leave - just how many times do the press not understand him when he says he's going?
LINK
And this - Drogba having an 'I love this club' moment? Well thjat might be pushing it...
LINK
Persoanlly, despite his return to some sort of form at 31 with a dodgy knee I reckon we can learn from Terry Henry's ill fated last season at Arse and let him go for new blood.
Re-reading my comment.........with that level of typo, surely a phone call from The Grauniad can't be far off?
I mean just how far does a guy have to go to prove his journalistic suitability?
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I hope we sell him (Didi) while we can. I understand we wouldn't get a lot for him, but it is better than keeping him instead of some young and talented player.
Christ re-reading my #100 comment .....the last sentence makes it sound like Dr Bayou might be in for DD.
Dr BB - My good Sirs, I have an offer to make regarding that fine specimen of a man Squire Drogba
PK - Why good sir, we may be willing to listen to such an offer....do you have Gold? Silver? Diamonds. What do you offer for such a fine steed...
Dr BB - Sirs, I am of the medical persuasion with expertise in the re-awakening of those not quite with us. I even have a certificate sir! I do not deal in such material goods. No sir...my offer is far more tempting
PK - Pray, what could be more tempting than fithy lucre or precious metals and stones
Dr BB - Sir...I offer you a vial of the freshest new warm blood available......I cannot divulge it's source
PK - New blood huh? Fresh new blood? Hmmmm..tha t might keep the Sheriff of these good parts appeased.
Dr BB - then it is a deal?
PK - Sir, you have yourself a deal. What this estate needs is fresh new blood.....and the Sheriff will see that I can build on the strength of his riches. Oh....and we'll chuck that fuckwit donkey Malouda in as well..........
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I've just found some marbles. Are they yours by any chance? Let me help you back onto your trolley.
You've obviously been overcome by an attack of the vapours, you have an excess of blood. Come to my chambers at 5 and I will apply leeches.
It's been a disturbing day all round.
I read a Richard Williams column in the Guardian and agreed with some of what he said.
I particularly enjoyed his querying of the hat trick scored by one Mr Gerrard MBE. 2 penalties. Bah humbug.
Our own gentle Frankie Boy scored his first Premier hat-trick last season with both left and right foot in free play (Derby at home). And scored a penalty to boot just to show he can do that as well.
And yet those lickspittle lackeys at the Palace leave his prowess unrecognised. The restoration of the "Commonwealth of England" cannot come soon enough. The New Model Army would have known a quality player when they saw one.
Here is some worthwhile proper football reading.
LINK
Was just about to post the same link. Wilson is an excellent writer.
'Gianluca Vialli has a theory that the right-back was always the worst player on the team. '
Ha, this has always been my theory too (and I am a right back). Basically, if you can stand up and kick the ball with your right foot, you can play right back. If you have brains, skill, strength, height, pace and touch, you'll play somewhere useful.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Good article, definitely worth reading. Explains in a way our formation against Spur. Guus tried to emulate what he did with Russkies. Hmm, did not work, though.
What little I did play was often at left back.
No, I'm not left footed.
But as a right footed player I can trap a ball further than Jimmy Floyd could kick it.
I am the exception to the theory because at the level I played, if there wasn't a left footed player available they put me out left on the basis that I might as well use my left foot because it couldn't be any worse than my right.
(sigh)
Reply to BlueBayou:
I think we were clearly taught football by the same (evil) man, BB. I am ridiculously left-footed (fnaar etc.) and was forced to play at RB by a games teacher who wanted to 'cure me of my left footedness' - his actual words, the bastard.
I like to perpetuate the myth that had he been prepared to accept me playing in a free role on the left (as the good lord clearly intended me to), I may well have been the answer to England's left sided problem.
(Said myth is of course complete and utter bollocks, but one's childhood dreams are a very precious thing.)
On the Salary Cap/Luxury Tax
LINK
"The Financial Times reports that a delegation of no doubt very serious looking, suit-wearing types from UEFA were recently in the US on a fact finding mission where they held talks with Major League Baseball on the advantages of their so-called ''luxury tax'' and how a similar scheme could be introduced in European football.
In short the premise would see European football's richest clubs effectively subsidising smaller, less affluent sides by having a tax levied against them for paying exorbitant wages to star players.
UEFA would hope that as well as seeing the riches of elite level football trickle down to smaller clubs, the idea would also encourage clubs to curb their spending, thus resisting the temptation to borrow beyond their means and become saddled with dangerous levels of debt.
As part of MLB's collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and the team owners, a pay threshold is set for total annual player salaries ($155m for 2008).
Under the terms of the CBA, if a franchise exceeds the agreed level they must pay a tax of 40% on what they spend over the threshold. The monies are then pooled and redistributed through the MLB's Industry Growth Fund, which helps support and promote the sport.
In a UEFA variant, any limit on wages would presumably be agreed between UEFA itself and the European Club Association (the body which represents 137 clubs, including giants like Manchester United and Real Madrid) and all pooled monies would be redistributed to smaller teams.
How a team would qualify for the subsidy and exactly how much each team would receive from the pool are just some of the problems the luxury tax could expect to face in any future consultation, and that's before considering such thorny matters as the total salary limit itself, or what the taxable percentage would be."
So, a luxury tax may be coming. I don't see it as a bad thing. Keeping the league / UEFA healthy is a good thing long term.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Right footed here...but way to petite (back then) for defensive duties. Showing off/giving away my age but I was most usefully deployed in the position known as Outside Right...so the tactics most commonly deployed back then were 2-3-5....which is odd because it was the 70's so looking back its weird how 4-4-2 wasn't used widely at my school or the scout team. Anyway, I digress........there used to be a program on called George Best Soccer School or similar. it was shown in the slot just before the news and after kids main programming on the BBC. In that program he was asked by a schoolboy how he played with both feet and he replied that he spent hours just running round a pitch on his own passing from foot to foot and then every now and then using the normal to shoot and then the other.
So impressed with this I decided to do the same and after a while it was surprising just how easy it became...a learned behaviour. The teacher was well impressed as was the Scout leader and so I became the boy who could play outside left or outside right. A sort of modern day Arjen Robben without the pace or the ability to swallow dive when a toenail broke.
Reply to Be_Champions:
Cue the day the big clubs tell UEFA/FIFA to stuff it and form their own league.......
Reply to ChelseaTony:
That's a rather likely outcome as well. Hard to see where this one goes...
Reply to Be_Champions:
This looks very good from our point of view as we are constantly reminded that we are a "small" club.
I look forward to the annual ceremony where representatives from Manure, Arse, Poo, Spuds, Villa, City, Everton, Newcastle, Soonerland, you know all the 'big' clubs, line up outside the Bridge to pay us their contribution, for which we are of course eternally grateful and will receive in forelock tugging gratitude.
Being a small club without history does have its advantages after all.
I assume it will be like this although the thought has occured that we may end up scrabbling in the gutters along with the likes of Honved, Ferencvaros (with their English manager and several Engilsh players?)and Dukla Prague for the few coins thrown by the passing greats
Bon Soir
Completely agree with Wilsons piece, full-back is the most important position.
Currently a right-back who's playing at left back because my left foot is less shit than anyone elses (if that makes sense). I even played centre-back a few weeks ago, despite being 5-foot-8. Clearly, I like to believe I'm the heartbeat of my team, although my food-and-beer physique doesn't necessarily prove that thory.......
Interesting rumour in the Sun this morning - if Guus stays Van Der Vaart would be interested in a move. Wanted him to come before he went to sit on the bench at Real. He's got age on his side, would be a great signing IMO.
*theory* even.
Tonys keyboard disease has somehow travelled through the interweb and infected my keyboard now.
Reply to Fiftee:
As age and body shape start to go against you it's important to get a more central position in the team.
I always look to Jan Molby's man of the match performance in the '92 Cup Final against Sunderland where a clearly rotund figure stayed within the centre circle spraying pinpoint passes and pointing and shouting a lot.
Except for the pinpoint bit its a role I have cherished on the odd occasion I make it onto the green stuff.
Indeed I am eagerly awaiting Wilson's article on the role of the clearly unfit bloke who points and shouts a lot and it's centrality to the modern game. It's one role that probably wasn't developed in Brazil.
"It's one role that probably wasn't developed in Brazil."
Have to agree Bayou.
Can't imagine the Samba boys finishing a game and then disecting the game, minute-by-minute, in the clubhouse afterwards, with a bottomless pint glass of lager, topping it off with a kebab / pizza / Indian / Chinese on the way home.
It's strange that I love football so much, yet it's the inebriation on a Saturday I look forward to more than breaking some fancy-dan opposition winger in half.
Reply to Fiftee:
A brief survey of the social habits of English professional footballers in the last 50 years would tend to suggest you are not alone.
A prediliction for chucking large amounts of wedge in the direction of the bookies would make you the complete pro. ;-)
Reply to Fiftee:
The inhebriation you mention is more akin to rugby players, probably before, as well as after a game.
As far as the food side of it, one of these should do nicely... LINK
Reply to Clive:
"In addition to weighing in at more than double the US daily recommended caloric intake, the Fifth Third Burger contains nearly 300 grams of fat, 744 milligrams of cholesterol and more than 10,000 milligrams of sodium, the paper said."
Quick, get the chalk board!
Surely we've got something to beat those pesky red-necks with?
Reply to fansincethesixties:
You've done it now, you've mentioned chalk boards. It will end in tears let me tell you, probably mine!
Don't mention the chalkboards.
I did once, but I think I got away with it.
Hmm.
That's right, but I've been away for a while and kinda forgot what could be lurking out there!
Quick change of subject.
Saw the Clough Documentary last night and was particularly taken by the loyalty and affection of the people who knew him.
Nobody seemed too bothered about his achievements being highlighted but everyone was concerned that his character and good nature should not be diminished.
Was also struck by the similarities between him and Jose, especially their willingness to stand up and take the flak for the team.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
You should know better JD
Chalk boards and trolls, are like Pavlov and his dog. The mere mention or site of them, will get trolls salivating.
Reply to Clive:
That's an interesting thought.
Maybe we could construct a chalkboard which showed what subjects bring the Ts out and just avoid them, or maybe post those comments before logging off the PC for a few hours!
Contd.
And then, for laughs on a slow day, post a bit of troll-bait and then just reel em in!
OK, so that's the plan, now where's a cb expert when you need one!
(I'm off now to pick up the missus btw).
Check the Slovakia squad for Saturday game, unfortunately Miroslav did not make even bench. It's a shame that we do not play him IMHO.
Highly praised recently by many football specialists website.
LINK
I know this is off topic...but just one thing...
whatever happens, we should pray that Anceloti doesn't come. He is the luckiest manager in the world... and is totally avarage.
btw, I heard that Hiddink recommends Zhirkov to Abramovic... He is a good player, definitely better than Malouda
Stoch ,showed potential, but Scolari always gave him 5 minutes to play...Same for Di Santo...great player for his age, but he wasn't getting a decent chance...I think our young players who have big potential (mancienne,di santo, stoch) can't really get into the first team because of the players with big reputation , but small skill (Ballack...absolutelly sucks this season...and he had really fantastic previous one...and Deco...horror)
I see the Statman column on the official website has had another go at explaining UEFA eligibility in practice which I reproduce in its sheer stunningly full stupidity:
"why Scott Sinclair, who joined in 2005 is not able to be registered as a 'club-trained player' having completed three years registered as a Chelsea player.
The answer is that with loans to Birmingham, Palace, Charlton, QPR and Plymouth, Scott still hasn't totalled three years with Chelsea. And his time with previous club Bristol Rovers was not long enough between the ages of 15 to 21 to become an eligible 'association-trained player'
Scott is close to three years though and may well qualify next season.
also ask why Michael Mancienne is able to register as a 'B-list player' in our squad given that he had two loan spells with QPR which means he doesn't fulfil the continuous two-year rule required for the B list.
That's because Michael did have an unbroken two-year spell with Chelsea between turning 15 and going out on loan at QPR."
The column also has an interesting list of average home attendances since 1986/87 which is a vivid reminder how long it took us to get crowds back to decent levels after punters voted with their feet during the Vinnie Jones era [91/92] and were reluctant to return.
Finally I appear to have entered a parallel universe when I wrote entry no. 99 above. The item in the News section on the website saying season ticket holders would automatically be sent 'Poo CL home tickets has now disappeared and reverted to the standard deadlines for applications - another Stalinist re-writing of history?
Bayou,
Still doesn't make sense (he is a Chelsea player, plain and simple) but not sure it makes much difference.
He may well qualify next season, but will he get a chance? Stoch's still here and not playing, why ship out Sinclair if he's not deemed good enough now?
I hate weekends like this one. No 'proper' football, just England tarting around in some ludicrously expensive new kit tomorrow in a friendly, then Sheva will give JT and Rio what for on Wednesday.
And I dont have Sultana Sports to watch it. Which isn't a bad thing....
It's good to see how much DB really wants his England place back.
Not content with spending several of his own millions to stay in Europe he's now using the sort of mind manipulation so loved by his old boss surAlF.
This is a mail story but was the closest I could find to the one in todays Metro (same crowd anyway).
LINK
He's managed to call Rooney an animal and compare him with disgraced head butter Zinedine Zidane while still insisting that that he (Rooney) should continue as is.
Presumably he's hoping R will punch the ref next time he's sent off and get banned for life, thus ensuring Sneaky Balls an England place until he retires.
Splendid! You'll go far grasshopper.
Actually, that assault by ZZs well worth another look:
LINK
Go Wayne Go!
I see we are being linked with a summer bid for Messi? Ignoring the fact we don't have the cash anyway - why would we even consider spending £100 million on one player when we could overall our squad with at least 4/5 quality players for this amount of money.
Reply to Sarah:
I of course defend your right of opinion and, agree neither Ballack or Deco have played consistently to a high level this season (Deco is purely going through the motions). But to suggest they are of "small skill" is nonsense. The plain facts are that our "young guns" are not playing because they simple are not good enough for the premier league!
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
"Check the Slovakia..." didn't they separate, back in the 90's?
Reply to biggs:
Was it a joke and I suppose to laugh right now like crazy? Lol extremely funny.....
Reply to fansincethesixties:
You do not have to go as far (close) as Zidane mate. I believe everybody remembers Beck's escapade in 1998 against Argies, which cost England place in semis - pure stupidity. What is amazing is that now one stupid former Manc encouraging another Manc to continue to be stupid. Well, apple does not fall far from the tree in this case apple has fallen on the tree.
In the interests of clarity and let's face it English is a language that very much militates against such a thing, but hey ho let's try: when Zidane's offence is referred to as a head butt does the head refer to the weapon or the target?
If I tell you that person A head butted person B do you naturally picture someone's head coming into violent contact with another's head?
I think you do.
If I tell you that A butted B, do you still picture the head as the weapon?
I think you do.
I would therefore suggest that Zidane was guilty of a chest butt.
In terms of violent intent I think a chest butt comes way below a head butt in that the intention to seriously injure is much less pronounced (unless you are a ninja and can stop the heart with one blow).
I say this because I think it would be wrong for us all to remember Zou Zou as someone capable of a Glasgow kiss. He was above such viciousness and merely expressed his frustration.
On the subject of butter I'm a "slightly salted Lurpak" man myself. Although for emotional reasons I will take Kerrygold.
@ Biggs
Very sharp.
Error Clearing corner
@ Fiftee
You meant to refer to BBD I think
A wonderful piece in praise of Zidane's chest/head butt.
LINK
Reply to BlueBayou:
Extremely lame, but do not worry soon your friends will come and praise you.
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
And set a double varnish on the fame
Reply to PeteW:
Thanks P. He's obviously a "headbutt" man.
Of course Zidane was Zizou not Zou Zou. Where did I get that? Probably a dancer from the Moulin Rouge, lost years in Paris, broken heart, blah blah.
Reply to Blue_MikeL:
Like all great artists I am possessed of an overweening ego and driven single mindedness. As a result I don't have any friends.
However I am possessed of a large and adoring public and I'm sure he'll be along any minute
Reply to PeteW:
Like the song we're all too young to remember:- Poetry in motion
@ Fiftee
You meant to refer to BBD I think
I did.
But I get it wrong more often than not. It's not a one off thing, I am always quoting one of you two and referencing the other.
I'm waffling aren't I? I'll go now. Have a good weekend all, come on England.
A nation expects. Maybe.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Did you have to bring up that old chestnut?
Reply to BlueBayou:
Midnight is close, but Hermann did not come yet...
The Queen of Spades (opera)
That would make a certain defence if it had gone to trial:
But it wasn't a head butt at all, but a butt with the head on the chest therefore a head butt to the chest but not a butt to the head so no head butt but a chest butt instead, mlud.
Case dismissed.
What is with our luck with strikers? I cannot remember one committed striking pair since Eidur and Hasselbaink.
Trite, just my opinion, we need a clear out, I ache and am very drunk.
Alex
Juliano
Sahar
Malouda
Deco
Ballack
Hilario
Mineiro
Pizarro
Sinclair
Should this not get us at least 10 million? I would rather have a Kevin Phillips in my team than this rubbish. Enough is enough. These blokes don't deserve to wear the same jersey Zola wore.
And this junk just makes me angry!
LINK
His knee hurts?? Smoke some crack! You don't need sources do you?
Saw some of the England game. Random thoughts:
I know they change the kit far too often. This one, however, is great. England should stick with it.
Stewart Downing looks worthless. I doubt he'll command much money or at least end up on more than a mediocre team if Boro go down. Doesn't mean teams won't overpay, however...
LINK
Nice goal by Didier in the compilation (his second goal). I'm hoping this is indicative of a return to form. Cheeky penalty as well.
Kalou scored as well, but it doesn't appear that the ball would have gone in against better opposition.
Can anyone please explain this?
I know it's tribalfootball but it seems direct and clear
LINK
Reply to BlueMania:
Probably all stuff and nonsense but at least you found something to post.
I've been trawling on and off all afternoon and couldn't find a thing - ended up doing some work.
Can understand it for an away International when all the journos just get sloshed-up in a hotel somewhere, but when it's a home game?
As it happens, did chance upon this image of the International Space Station taken from the ground which might interest somebody out there.
LINK
The guy's an amateur who tracked it manually, looks almost like an April 1st. but it's been around for a few days already and should be legit.
Reply to BlueMania:
Come on - Sheva is only on a 1-year loan at Milan, who presumably are not impressed enough to be willing to take on his ridiculous wages on a permanent deal again.
Unless he finds another club he'll be coming back - same situation as Pizarro at Werder Bremen.
Reply to blueboydave:
Silly me...
I think it was just a dream I had that we'd sold him for good...
Haha, this is worth a read, if only for your inevitable laugh at the end :
LINK
Florent Malouda expressing a wish for the club to keep him at the end of the season. Wonder why? Couldn't possibly be because any potential suitors would be pissing themselves at how much money we're paying for the most ineffectual left winger ever.
Also, I think this quote is wrong “My wish is to remain at Chelsea. I express myself so little on the subject, but that is what I want to do.” Substitute the word 'subject' for 'pitch' and it's more accurate.
Reply to Fiftee:
I believe he should be sold without any doubt. He had two seasons in Chelsea and proved nothing, so what is he going to prove now? Of course he wants to stay, he is getting nice pay, hardly plays and even when he plays he doesn't do a lot. I am really scared that all our useless players acquired, mostly, by TSO are going to stay with us forever as nobody really going to buy them.
Reply to blueboydave:
Does this mean that we have to take them back?
But this snippet reminds us of what might've been.
LINK
It's odd to note that AS is 'only' 32. Consider what Teddy Sherry achieved at 33 despite hardly being in the same class.
A pity his wages are so high or he might be the perfect player to bring off the bench.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Well if he's as keen on fund-raising as your link suggests I guess we could pack him off on the next slightly contrived mountain climbing charidee event and hope he forgets to come back.
Another year older, spent playing spasmodically in Serie A, isn't likely to have improved his adjustment to EPL even as a super-sub. I think we have to give up on him, sadly.
Reply to blueboydave:
I guess you're right.
Oh, why are straws so fragile and yet so clutchable?
Geez, Slow day.
Damn, this weekend just got a whole load tougher. Newcastle away has never been easy but playing a side fighting for their lives who've just seen the appointment of their hero, a certain Mr. Shearer as manager, means we're in for a very tough match. Plus the fact we're not exactly in the greatest of spirits after the Spurs defeat.
Having thought about it, our players should be really up for it this weekend and i'd love it if we beat them. Newcastle have always thought they're bigger than they really are, so helping them get relegated would help lighten up another disappointing season. But the return of Shearer will dominate the press, those famous Geordies will be in full voice and the players will of course raise their game.
Morning all Blues,
I was just thinking, who will be playing the internationals from the squad today? as far as I can count:
France, England, Germany, Czech...
meaning: Malouda, (maybe)Anelka, JT, Lamps, Ballack, Cech
Plus Guus also has a game with Russia, how much time does this leave us to get ready for the game?
Fingers crossed that we don't get injuries as well, it's gonna be a tough weekend I think.
KTBFFH
Shearer to take over at Newcastle???
Look at the date.
BlueMania.
Malouda isn't playing for France, he didn't get picked. I guess their manager actually did some research and watched him ;-)
I get the feeling by the sheer volume of coverage that the Shearer story is a goer, despite the date. Have to say, it's not ideal ahead of Saturday. Their idol, in charge, team will be up for it.
Our lot will be knackered from tonights games. Could well be the final nail in the title-challenge coffin.
Reply to Fiftee:
I reckon Spurs have already hammered that one in.
As for Shearer.......it's Newcastle ffs, so it'll end in one way only. Tears.
April Fools!
Gus is going to Newky and Shearers coming here!
No that's not even remotely funny.
btw: I can't find my coat...
Now this is funny: LINK There's something about those Wallace the hermit accents...
Me like I think it's a bit cynical though.
If it is legit which looks likely (unlike his scything scissor tackle on WayneB a few seasons back):-
He takes over when the season's at a stage where if they stay up he's a hero if they go down it's not his fault.
He starts when his next opponents have all been on International duty (do Newhassle still have any Internationals?).
Anything less than losing by three or four goals will be seen as a victory in his first game, and if they get even a point against us then it's knighthood time on Tyneslide.
If he's worked this out for himself, then congrats, but I guess that there's an agent somewhere who's booking a big Champagne meal for this evening.
This is shaping up to be the most bizarre football-related sentence I'll ever type, but here goes :
"Aren't Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood a better option?"
Reply to Fiftee:
You're right, that was a bizarre sentence.
With them going flat out to show for their new mgr and us on a hiding to nothing (although three points always comes in handy) looks like the best thing about meeting them now is that it's not midweek and minus three.
Though that far North, who knows?
Shevchenko looked younger and fitter than when he played for us - maybe I'll grow my hair a bit longer?
Clearly he got on well with all the Chelsea boys because it was quite a 'love in' at the end.
Reply to Mark25:
To be fair, most of the Chelsea pensioners looked younger and fitter than Sheva when he was at the Bridge.
Clearly not an unpopular chap though; always wonder about the thoughts of players in the situation JT and Frank have just found themselves in with Sheva - surely a fleeting "shit, one day I'll be like him, knees not up to it anymore and just hanging on in there..." thought goes through their heads?
The Shearer stuff is slightly unreal; have been in France for a few days and haven't had much sight of news of any sort - got on the plane, saw it in the papers and genuinely thought it was an April Fool for a minute.
Basic French for Lithuanians Lesson 928
Deja Vu (dayjar vew)
Saturday, 28 March 2009
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying
Lithuania 0-1 France
(HT 0-0)
Ribery (68)
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying
France 1-0 Lithuania
(HT 0-0)
Ribery (75)
3 recent results demonstrate why they have need to have some sort of pre-qualification to stop small nations out of their depth getting hammered.
Poland 10 - 0 San Marino
Bolivia 6 - 1 Argentina
Liechtenstein 0 - 1 Russia (ooo our Guus loves a 1-0 doesn't he)
And finally....
Thinking about the Shearer situation
A couple of thousand years ago around this time of year, tradition has it that big crowds welcomed the saviour into the city of the chosen people.
A week later they crucified him.
I believe we all eat chocolate eggs to commemorate this (?)..
So now there's not much to stop Denis and Gus (the Poyet version) taking over at our gaff in the summer...
a domani
I hope to God Ashley Cole never plays that badly in a Chelsea shirt. He was fookin' awful last night; really, really bad.
Thought England looked comfortable, if lacking that real dnager up front. I like Crouch, but he's more Bambi than Rambo. That's the real concern, nothing up front.
And despite hating Liverpool and ManU, I have to admit there's an extra something in the way Gerrard and Rooney play together. Thank God they're not in the same domestic team.
After the game, I was flicking through the channels, and on ESPN Classic, they were showing England being taught a lesson by the Dutch at Euro '88. Dont remember it that well, but my God the Dutch were a good side.
Reply to Fiftee:
Only saw the last 20 mins or so but I thought it was all Chelsea.
Manu didn't have a bad game and Portsmouth were OK, but poo were largely absent. Of course things may have been different earlier, but that's how it looked towards the end.
Yes, considering their relative numbers, Holland have produced plenty of top teams at club and country level and quite a few world class players.
Plus the odd manager of note, too.
Reply to Fiftee:
If I remember rightly you work for Aviva. Heard the news about the lay-offs. Hope you're surviving (unless of course you are entitled to a huge payoff and a pension of around £7 million).
This 'break' has been like a little holiday but I'm bored now. So, just a few comments to try and liven things up before we play the barcodes tomorrow.
1.) Sven will NOT be our next coach - RA will have seen him for what he is - an OK manager who is happy to coast in his roles. Nah, its Pompey, Newcastle or Sunderland which is the only one of the 3 that isn't in Keystone KopsVille
2.) Shearer will NOT be the coach at Newcastle next season because I reckon that's where Sven might be. One things for sure... how depressing would it be to be a Newcastle fan to find out the long term plan is for Happy Joe Kinnear to be the option......it would be like Chelsea announcing Howard Kendall as our next coach.
3.) F1 - seems to have wrested the titles for Most Discredited Sport and Biggest Basket Case Sport in one foul swoop. I'm not a huge watcher, but the whole Hamilton 'you're 4th...no, you're 3rd.....ooops...you're disqualified' bollocks makes the FA look like the slickest administration outfit ever invented compared to the FIA. The whole decision is akin to say.....us scoring an offside goal (like we did against Newcastle) and then having the FA dock us points, ban our strikers and fine us for not being honest.
4.) Southampton could be out of existence by August - most of my friends are Pompey fans and they see this as a delight. I don't get it...surely you want your rivals to survive so you can have the 'derby' game and to take local bragging rights and 3 points? If they go out of business then who are Pompey's local rivals? Unless Havant and Waterlooville transform themselves into a league tema....Brighton? Hardly a local rival.....
5.) I don't do predictions but.......fuck me we should win tomorrow, Shearer effect or not. 2-0.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Morning TG
Hope all is well; where have you been then? Just spent a few days in Cannes (work related) which was quite pleasant, even though the weather was relatively sh*t.
We should beat Newcastle tomorrow, Shearer or no Shearer - lest we forget, they are bloody awful and down there for a reason.
F1 is rapidly becoming a joke; thought the bloke covering it on the BBC news last night had it sussed - closed his report with "a place on the podium now seems to be little more than a negotiating position..." or words to that effect. About right in my book.
Local rivals thing is right; yes, we'd laugh if Spurs went down, but who would we rather play every season, them or a bunch of no marks like Wigan who bring 800 fans who start seal clapping and singing "Easy, easy..." every time they get a corner? No contest.
Ho hum, back to work...
Bayou,
Cheers.
Alas, I'm in the 'pool' that's affected (despite director assurances 3 weeks ago there'd be no redundancies). Unfortunately, no £7m pension to look forward to.
Not like I'd just sold my house and was about to pay the deposit on a new one was it. Oh, hang on....
I don't know. I go away for a few days and escape football and Chelsea FC (it is possible, just) only to return to a world gone mad. England won two matches. Sheva scored a goal. Argentina lost 6-1. And Alan Shearer is managing Newcastle United (how brave of him: he won't be blamed if they're relegated but will be hailed as the Second Coming if he manages to keep them up). A world gone mad I tell you.
I'm refreshed and ready for what is sure to be a hellish, why-do-I-put-myself-through-this six weeks or so. Can't wait.
@Tony - Agree; F1 a joke.
@Fiftee - Your employer spent your £7m pension on TV adverts. Sorry to hear you're affected by the redundancies.
Anyone else joining me in Tyneside tomorrow?
@Tony
Oh so right on F1 at the moment, I've been a fan as long as I've been a Chelsea one. I'm afraid it's gone way beyond a joke, it's more akin to the WWE than a sport, and it somewhat saddens me to watch it deteriorate like this.
Reply to Clive:
Afternoon Clive, KJ_II et al
I did worry that SGE would turn up on our doorstep especially with Leech Superior Athole Still on the case - the statement about SGE being interested in a'good PL club that is challenging' was laughable. Athole mate, I'm also interested in doing the same and what's more I'll settle for .....£200k per year?
I'm confident that we've already got our man and its Rijkaard, Klinsmann, Bilic or Moyes. Now what if Moyes were to leave Everton and SGE were to take hios place.....wouldn't that suit both parties? Come on Roman...broker the deal!
After the F1 race on Sunday i thought 'hmmmm maybe this could be interesting again....no ITV.....no ad breaks.....Martin Brundles pit walks.....Murray Walker.....Eddie Jordan (a true blue)...and of course the imperious use of The Chain as the theme' and so it transoired at first. A gripping race with a downbeat finish under the safety car, but like alot of others I was thinking I could add it to my current TV sporting interests of football, cricket and golf. But then along comes what can be best described as utter farce - not immediately but some time after the race had finished. They do seem to have forgotten the very essence of the word 'race'. But the one thing it does send a warning signal out is the use of technology to retrospectively make decisions. Football and most other sports would die if this kind of crap went on.....surely F1 can only go the same way. Contrast it to the 'off the peg' Indy Car series which used to be edge of the seat stuff with the like of Zanardi, Blundell, Franchitti overtaking and having photo finishes.
F1 is a shadow of the true racing car sport it once was. The FIA are now the single biggest clueless fuckwits in the world of Sport, and considering other bodies they're up against like the WBA/WBC/WBO/FA/UEFA/FIFA/ECB/WCB/R&A/USGA/RFU/IRFU etc thats really going some.
When they had Keegan they called him God. Now they have got son of God, but should we be scared?
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I know this is a site concerned with feetballs, but as its quiet at the moment, I know you chaps will help me out with this F1 business as I am looking in from the outside.
I know there's politics, conspiracies and all sorts associated with the sport and it takes a brave man to try and follow some of the arcane rules and practices but can someone explain the following to me and correct me where I've got it wrong.
You're not supposed to overtake when the safety car is out. Correct?
Trulli spun off the track therefore Hamilton went past him. I take it that doesn't constitute passing while the safety car is out?
Hamilton then slowed down to let Trulli pass. Why? Being sporting perhaps?
Trulli then finished 3rd, Hamilton 4th.
This I understand.
Now VMM then lodged an appeal against the result (Correct?) Why? They forced Trulli to pass? (the radio conversations seemsto suggest this)so why then object?
If the stewards reviewed the race why did they penalise Trulli for passing when the car in front slowed down? How slow does the car in front have to be before you're allowed to pass when the safety car is out.
What did LH tell the stewards first time around? Did he hide the fact that he'd slowed down to let Trulli pass? Surely any review of the tape would show this?
I can see why the stewards decisions are confusing and annoying people as Trulli probably shouldn't have been done in the first place, but I don't understand why VMM are seen as victims in this. I know they have problems with the FIA over the spying business and a lot of people feel Ferrari and others get the benefit too often but didn't VMM create this situation themselves by objecting to a result they themselves had brought about?
Am I missing something? It's difficult to tell from the press or blogs as everyone seems to be in one camp or another.
All very confusing, it has to be said. One of the reasons why all the Tevez business is worrying in terms of precedent; all disconcertingly close to having key results decided by a panel of men in grey suits as opposed to on a footbal pitch.
On the F1 thing, is it just me that finds Lewis Hamilton easy to admire as a prodigious talent but incredibly difficult to like as a person? He has that very 'media trained' manner (clearly drummed into him from a tender age, much like Federer actually) that is so devoid of any real personality that he just comes across as incredibly one-dimensional and charmless? Don't think the tax exile thing helped his cause much, either.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Afternoon KJ_II
Apart from the physical similarities, Hamilton does seem like a clone of that other utter vacuous personality void sporting behemoth...Tiger Woods. Being a golfer I know that most of the people I know at the course admire the sheer talent, drive and will of the man, but few would willingly share a round or pint with him. Most would rather drink with or play against Colin Montgomerie or the like.....those with some personality.
Of course working for Mclarens chief sponsor it was interesting the sheer lack of moistness amongst many at his post championship visit to our HQ.
Perhaps we Brits prefer our sporting heroes to be flawed, maverick, unpredictable, womanising, hellraising, unconventional, unhinged and occasionally crap but generally geniuses.
Hurricane Higgins
Brian Clough
James Hunt
George Best
Harvey Smith
Ian Botham
Jimmy White
Paul Gascoigne
Andrew Flintoff
Graham Hill
et al.......
@BB
The whole episode is somewhat confusing but you're correct in your interpretation. What it eventually boiled down to, Mclaren where uncertain as to whether Lewis was correct in passing Trulli while he was off site seeing on the grass.
They tried to contact Charlie Whiting the race director for confirmation, but did not get a reply. They then decided that Lewis should let him back through to make sure he wouldn't incur a penalty.
The crux of the problem was that the stewards then thought that Trulli had passed Hamilton under the SC which you're not allowed to do, even though Mclaren had told him to slow and let him through.
The radio transmissions between car and pit were not used as evidence, or listened to at the time (stewards oversight) of the Trulli penalty being administered. Also Mclaren and Hamilton did not volunteer the info at the time, thinking that they could probably get the extra place and point.
So in effect he was DQ because they were slightly economical with the truth, and witheld information.
But I think the fact that they tried to seek clarification of the situation at the time with the race director, just shows that the rules can be just as confusing for the fans as well as the participants.
The consiparcy theorists will certainly think had the cars been red, and Italian, they would have just reveresed the positions to the original finishing order.
Hope it's made it as clear as mud for you.
Reply to Clive:
Thanks for that.
They need to make the rules more straightforward.
VMM were guilty of sharp practice it would seem and are paying the price of making the stewards look more stupid (if that were possible, which will always attract a heavy punishment, fair or otherwise.
Anyway back to worrying about tomorrow.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Why worry - trust in the very rare CT prediction. Newcastle are rubbish.
Agreed CT, very weak team and the raised expectations and general hoo hah surrounding the game should ensure an up and at 'em approach from the barcodes that will make them perfect fodder for the counter attack. It's all down our players attitudes. Good game for wingers with pace. Q must play. Feed Anelka. The rest get stuck into the headless chicken Geordies.
Oooooh...I actually called it right for once!
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I think you need to call it more often Tony.:-)
Reply to Clive:
Couldn't do that Clive, I'm the worlds worst gambler! Wished I'd had a punt today on Mon Mome though at 100/1.......
Reply to ChelseaTony:
You, me, and most other punters today I should imagine. Any chance you can guess six numbers for tonight? it's still not too late.