Chelsea (H) - Sat 28th Aug 2021 (5:30pm)

[Trumo]

On to our third match of the season (or 'Matchday 3' and the Premier League call it as part of their general Americanisation of everything).

 

What do I want from our lot? Creativity. Youthful exuberence. Know-how. Attitude. Bravery. Lung power. Yer ma. Accuracy. Tenacity.

 

I don't ask for much.

 

Last season's fixture came amidst that awful early 2021 run where we were losing pretty much every week. We just couldn't lay a glove on Chelsea and if they had forwards who could stay onside, they might have won at a canter. As it was, it took a solitary goal from Mason Mount before half time to effectively seal the points. Under Tuchel, Chelsea didn't tend to concede very many, and they'd always had attacking depth under Lampard. We had just been decimated in defence and the midfield and attack simply weren't functioning.

 

But back in 1990, it was a different story. Liverpool were hunting down an 18th title (who knew back then that it would be 30 years before the next one?), and Graham Taylor's Aston Villa were the title challengers. Defending champions Arsenal were well off the pace, and Man Utd's manager was only keeping his job thanks to an FA Cup run, back when FA Cup runs actually meant something. Chelsea visited Anfield in April 1990 and came away with a 4-1 twatting. Ronny Rosenthal's unpredictability and eye for goal saw him get on the scoresheet again, with Nicol bagging a brace and Rushie grabbing the other. Kerry Dixon got Chelsea's consolation goal. Rosenthal is the perfect example of a player who shines at a club when on loan but tails off after signing permanently. The unpredictibility of spring 1990 transformed into general erraticness once we signed him for £1m. The following year, Kenny saw David Speedie as a more viable option, and months later Souness decided to break the transfer record to get Dean Saunders in. Anyway, Rosenthal's form in spring 1990 was pivotal towards us reclaiming the league.

 

 

In April 1990, the number one movie at the box office was the live action version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or Hero Turtles as they were known in the UK). I remember going to see it maybe a couple of weeks after it had come out, as I was a huge fan of the cartoon version back then. It had practically usurped Thundercats as a favourite. The film was just OK I thought, and I suspect it has not aged particularly well. There is barely anything I remember about it. The cartoon had a certain sense of fun that is largely absent from the film. Not the best film to come out in 1990 by a long shot.

 

 

We've started the season with maximum points from 2 games, and those are points we'd be expected to get. It's actually hard to know whether we can extend it to 9 from 9 for the fourth season in a row. Chelsea are a different proposition to the previous couple of years. There is more defensive solidity about them, and they've added a goal threat by spending just shy of £100m on Lukaku. He's had the GDP of a small African nation spent on him in transfer fees - I think I read somewhere that the figure is even higher than the two big transfer fees Barcelona and PSG spent between them on Neymar.

 

Anyway, we know they pose a threat. But a lot of people seem to be of the opinion that we don't, simply because of the money they keep spending. We play to our peak and, to put it simply, they STILL won't be able to live with us. That's what we have to aim for, and look to get the job done. There's an international break afterwards, so go into that on a high. Not a won-the-league-in-September Everton high, but the high that comes from feeling you are back on track after 2020/21's disaster.

[Pete]

Let’s get out there and twat them!! (My mantra for this season). 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I expect us, Chelsea, and the two Manc teams to swat aside most of the league this year. The important stuff will come down to the head to head matches.

 

Just get these cunts beat, Reds.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

Ninja Turtles would still win one of the GF's movie polls.

[m0e]

30 minutes ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

I expect us, Chelsea, and the two Manc teams to swat aside most of the league this year. The important stuff will come down to the head to head matches.

 

Just get these cunts beat, Reds.

I don't. I think that's exactly where Chelsea and United will drop points, and why they won't win the league.

 

Hopefully they can put a dent into City, as well as into each other 

 

There are only 2 teams who have proven they can get 90+ points regularly, and those are the 2 who will challenge for the league.

[Anubis]

Get in. Get the three points. Give Tuchel a wedgie. Get out.

[johnsusername]

COWABUNGA! 

[Creator Supreme]

0-5

[Kevin D]

A Saturday evening game with the European champions. The second leg of the semi final was the loudest I've ever heard Anfield.

 

I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.

 

I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.

 

I hope I can make it across the border.

 

I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand.

 

I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.

 

[alles ist gut]

4 hours ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Ninja Turtles would still win one of the GF's movie polls.

Also beat Carlos Alberto out of the right-back final

[an tha]

I fucking despise these horrible, horrible twats.

 

They are obviously though sadly an excellent side though and this is going to be a really tough test - they are going to be right up there this season for my money.

 

We'll need to be better than we were at Norwich and today, but i expect us to be.

 

 

[VladimirIlyich]

12 hours ago, m0e said:

I don't. I think that's exactly where Chelsea and United will drop points, and why they won't win the league.

 

Hopefully they can put a dent into City, as well as into each other 

 

There are only 2 teams who have proven they can get 90+ points regularly, and those are the 2 who will challenge for the league.

Rafa challenging again?

[aRdja]

Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota

[Aventus]

I can see Chelsea being right up there at the end of the season because they have a good manager with great squad depth.

 

We're the better team, with the better manager though, plus we're at home. Looking forward to this, I can see it being a good game. 

[Bobby Hundreds]

Roman Abramovich Football club are currently riding high I hope to fuck we beat the oligarchs hobby.

[Captain Howdy]

1-1

[dockers_strike]

Absolutely no reason we shouldnt win this. Might have settled for a point if it was away but as we're at home, I only see one winner.

 

Fuck the pundits who think we're just a Leicester and wrote us off before the season started. The reds are coming up the hill, boys. Again!

[JagSquared]

2 hours ago, aRdja said:

Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota

Might be too soon for Fabinho 

[magicrat]

Feel a draw coming on for this game unfortunately  1-1

 

[TD_LFC]

10 minutes ago, magicrat said:

Feel a draw coming on for this game unfortunately  1-1

 

I'd take 17 points from the opening 7 games to be honest (19 if being greedy given we're playing at home in the two toughest games).

 

At this point in the season beating Norwich, Burnley, Leeds, Palace and Brentford and drawing against Chelsea and City would set us up nicely.

 

 

[YorkshireRed]

A Chelsea fan once criticised my outfit outside Stamford Bridge. On reflection, he was correct. I’d not chosen well. 
 

They’re still a set of loathsome cunts though. Superior fashion sense or not.

 

Smash ‘em Reds. 

[sir roger]

3 hours ago, aRdja said:

Alisson; Trent, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota

Think it will be this , but Keita rather than Thiago.

Not sure about the Fabinho situation.

[Babb'sBurstNad]

42 minutes ago, YorkshireRed said:

A Chelsea fan once criticised my outfit outside Stamford Bridge. On reflection, he was correct. I’d not chosen well. 
 

They’re still a set of loathsome cunts though. Superior fashion sense or not.

 

Smash ‘em Reds. 

What were you wearing?

[YorkshireRed]

2 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

What were you wearing?

It wasn’t completely my fault and bare in mind it was a good few years ago.

 

I’d cunningly arranged a work trip to coincide with a midweek match at Stamford Bridge. Unfortunately I’d travelled down in work clothes and for some unknown reason had only packed black jeans and a black jumper as evening wear. This would have been bad enough but, other than work shoes, I only had a pair of white trainers. 
 

The actual words used by my Chelsea nemesis went along the lines of; “You look like a fucking girl”.

 

We probably lost as well but I’m buggered if I can remember. I was traumatised. 

[sir roger]

The white trainers ruined your audition for the Milk Tray gig as well.