Ha, ha, ha!!! Who said their internal wrangles wouldn't be a problem?

[Section_31]

Crouch in the ECHO

 

"We haven't said a single thing about Chelsea and have been concentrating solely on ourselves," said Crouch. "If Mourinho is talking about us again, we're obviously on his mind.

 

 

"We're confident when the season starts we'll show what we're about. How many teams in the Premiership will be playing with two out-and-out wingers this season? We've got some of the best passers of the ball in the world, never mind the Premiership.

 

 

"There are no better passers than Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, and everything we do at the club is all about receiving the ball and playing a good style."

 

Good lad..

[Paul]

Word, Crouchinho lad.

[Dirk]

If you all didn't know already, not that I like to be vocal about it or anything but I fucking love Crouchie, me.

[Captain]

I said their internal wrangles won't cost them the title. I see nothing in that article that makes me want to change my mind.

[theghost]

peter crouch can do everything, including twat jose mourinho in the mouth for talking bollocks

[Sangria]

If we finish above Chelsea we win the league - it is as simple as that.

It will be a very hard task. The optimists amongst us say that the new arrivals at Chelsea could upset the harmony etc. Have a thought if they gel - if they do we are in serious shite.

They can afford injuries in any position and not be put out. Can we ?

 

I do think we can win it but I think it may be asking to much.

[Paul]

If we finish above Chelsea we win the league - it is as simple as that.

It will be a very hard task. The optimists amongst us say that the new arrivals at Chelsea could upset the harmony etc. Have a thought if they gel - if they do we are in serious shite.

They can afford injuries in any position and not be put out. Can we ?

 

I do think we can win it but I think it may be asking to much.

My hopes of the title don't depend upon Chelsea folding; they depend on our new boys clicking, our old boys continuing their form of last season and injuries not being too devastating. Rafa can take care of the first two, but the last is impossible to avoid.

[Sangria]

My hopes of the title don't depend upon Chelsea folding; they depend on our new boys clicking, our old boys continuing their form of last season and injuries not being too devastating. Rafa can take care of the first two, but the last is impossible to avoid.

 

That is the worry Paul they can afford the injuries we cannot. We can in certain positions but not in others. Arsenal and Man U will struggle with injuries as well.

Chelsea will not.

We need it all to fall into place. What I have seen so far our signings have looked good. I think Speedy has yet to find his form but after three friendlies it is far from judgement day. All signings should get at least a season.

[Paul]

That is the worry Paul they can afford the injuries we cannot. We can in certain positions but not in others. Arsenal and Man U will struggle with injuries as well.

Chelsea will not.

We need it all to fall into place. What I have seen so far our signings have looked good. I think Speedy has yet to find his form but after three friendlies it is far from judgement day. All signings should get at least a season.

I think Gonzalez is going to be absolutely class, but I do think the adjustment to English football will be hardest for him and Aurelio.

[Captain]

All signings should get at least a season.

Which they can't, if we're going to win the league this season.

[Guest TK-421]

peter crouch can do everything, including twat jose mourinho in the mouth for talking bollocks

 

I'm loving that!

 

Dude, I stayed in Seattle when I was 15 for 6 weeks. My step-mother is from there. I consider myself part Geordie, part Scouse and part Seattle grunger!

 

Went to the Kingdome a couple of times when it was still there to see the Mariners. They won one game and lost the other.

 

Have never really got into the Seahawks until recently, I used to follow the Houston Oilers as they were my team on John Madden Football on Sega's Megadrive (Genesis to you). Warren Moon was the QB I think he did a stint with the Seahawks.

 

I fully intend to return to Seattle at some point, it's great apart from the rain!

[Sangria]

Which they can't, if we're going to win the league this season.

 

That is one of my points in regards to the mountain that is ahead of us. Our signings need to gel and we need to stay injury free, in certain areas.

 

I do think it is possible but it will be one hell of a fight. We need to hit the ground running - a start like last year and it is bye bye. I have confidence that will not be the case this year. Can we sustain it over the season that is the hard part. Also as we all know, we must take points of the top sides, again we are capable of doing this.

We need it all to click. I as much as anyone want this to happen.

[RoboRiise]

"...everything we do at the club is all about receiving the ball and playing a good style."

Peter Crouch.

 

"Football is a simple game based on the giving and taking of passes, of controlling the ball and of making yourself available to receive a pass."

Bill Shankly.

[Paul]

The Translator sure is a genius at motivating players and building team spirit, isn't he? Even if Gallas leaves, he'll have friends he leaves behind in the squad who won't like the way he was treated - regardless of his own guilt in the affair. This tit-for-tat management style looks like it's been lifted straight from Mourinho's kids' playground at school.

 

Mourinho gives Ballack Gallas' lucky No 13 shirt

 

By Chris Hatherall in Los Angeles

 

The Independent, 3 August 2006

 

A remarkable dispute is brewing at Chelsea after Jose Mourinho gained revenge on the wayward defender William Gallas by taking away his lucky No 13 shirt and giving it to Michael Ballack instead.

 

Gallas, who incurred the wrath of Mourinho by failing to turn up for Chelsea's pre-season training camp here, had expected an £80,000 fine for his misdemeanour, which his agent still describes as a "misunderstanding ". But rather like a cheating husband who opens his wardrobe to find his suits and ties cut into pieces, Gallas had a shock when he sat down to watch television last night. What he saw was a beaming Michael Ballack holding up his new Chelsea shirt, with Gallas' own No 13 printed on the back.

 

The number is special to the Frenchman because he has worn it ever since arriving in London from Marseilles in May 2001.

 

Anyone tempted to think it was all a coincidence was quickly convinced otherwise by Ballack's own comments on the subject. "Initially, I wanted 13 and I was sad because it had already been taken," said the German midfielder, who wore No 13 for Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. " I had accepted No 19, but two days ago the coach came and said, 'OK, it's fine for you to have the 13 after all'."

 

That change of heart coincided with Gallas' failure to turn up in America and his agent, Pierre Frelot, is not impressed. He said: "It is not possible for them to give Ballack the No 13 shirt without talking to William first. William has been wearing that number for five years and it is the shirt he expects to be in. As far as we are concerned William's absence is still a misunderstanding. I am very surprised they haven't waited to hear the explanation of the player first before taking action against him."

 

It is unclear whether Gallas, who asked to leave the club in May when he heard Milan were interested in him, will play for Chelsea again. He is due to join his team-mates on Monday, in time for a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord the following day, and Chelsea still want him to sign a new four-year, £70,000-a-week deal but the shirt saga will make talks even tougher.

 

Ballack has spoken of the potential of his midfield partnership with Frank Lampard after three training sessions together, even though critics say their styles are similar. He said: "We haven't talked about our compatibility, we only met two days ago, but in every training session we're closer in terms of tactics."

 

Arjen Robben gave Mourinho a scare yesterday when he hobbled out of training with a twisted ankle. However, Mourinho said: "It doesn't look much."

 

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is set to name Chelsea target Ashley Cole in his squad for next week's Champions' League third qualifying round with Dynamo Zagreb. The squad must be lodged with Uefa by tomorrow and Cole will be furious if he is forced to fly to Zagreb.

 

Arsenal are holding out for £25m and are prepared to wait until the transfer window closes on 31 August to conclude the deal.

[Captain]

I'm sure Ballack is well pleased.

 

As for Gallas, I thought it was the case that he doesn't want to sign a new contract. With one year remaining on his current deal, I expect him to leave Chelsea.

[aws]

I'm sure Ballack is well pleased.

 

As for Gallas, I thought it was the case that he doesn't want to sign a new contract. With one year remaining on his current deal, I expect him to leave Chelsea.

 

The problem for Gallas is that , unlike any other club, Chelsea could happily afford to leave him on the bench for a season as a warning to the others.He'd go on a free next summer but what do they care?

[Dirk]

The problem for Gallas is that , unlike any other club, Chelsea could happily afford to leave him on the bench for a season as a warning to the others.He'd go on a free next summer but what do they care?

 

 

In monetary terms it doesn't effect them and I can see them doing that. However, it doesn't send out pleasant signals to future recruits. If they adopt the hard line stance it could begin to get difficult for them to find players of the required calibre to sign for them. That's before you factor in SWP.

[Guest ISeeThroughYou]

In monetary terms it doesn't effect them and I can see them doing that. However, it doesn't send out pleasant signals to future recruits. If they adopt the hard line stance it could begin to get difficult for them to find players of the required calibre to sign for them. That's before you factor in SWP.

 

 

As has been proven this summer with the signings of Shevchenko, Ballack, Kalou, and the imminent arrival of Ashley Cole.

 

Big players will always be atrracted to unlimited funds, guaranteed trophies and a winning team and manager. They will always be confident enough in their own abilities to expect to play, and for every one player put off by the cunts that run and manage Abramovich FC, there will be 10 more that aren't.

 

Have some more straws.

[Stouffer]

Gallas has gone up massively in my estimation.

[Redexile]

That is the worry Paul they can afford the injuries we cannot. We can in certain positions but not in others. Arsenal and Man U will struggle with injuries as well.

Chelsea will not.

We need it all to fall into place. What I have seen so far our signings have looked good. I think Speedy has yet to find his form but after three friendlies it is far from judgement day. All signings should get at least a season.

 

On paper the theory looks good but if you check their results historically they have battled to win games at times when they have put out weakened sides . Some of this will come down to luck for example Fatboy could be injured, Ballack could be suspended etc and they could be up against a full strength , Liverpool Arsenal, Spurs ,Man U. I which case they would battle to win.

[Paul]

As has been proven this summer with the signings of Shevchenko, Ballack, Kalou, and the imminent arrival of Ashley Cole.

 

Big players will always be atrracted to unlimited funds, guaranteed trophies and a winning team and manager. They will always be confident enough in their own abilities to expect to play, and for every one player put off by the cunts that run and manage Abramovich FC, there will be 10 more that aren't.

 

Have some more straws.

Pomposity and arrogance are singularly unendearing traits. Why adopt such a resolutely anti-social posting style? You have strong opinions and can knock a sentence together. Why not cut out the bombast and engage in some good humoured debate? It's pretty obvious you're one of the "previously banned"; the fact that you're back suggests there's some attraction for you here, so why not try and stay this time?

[Guest ISeeThroughYou]

Pomposity and arrogance are singularly unendearing traits. Why adopt such a resolutely anti-social posting style? You have strong opinions and can knock a sentence together. Why not cut out the bombast and engage in some good humoured debate? It's pretty obvious you're one of the "previously banned"; the fact that you're back suggests there's some attraction for you here, so why not try and stay this time?

 

It's a bit trying with so much "paedo/ gay/ prick/ cock/ aids/ twat" vitriol coming my way, with little or no reason behind it.

 

Some of the posters on here seem genuinely loopy.

[RedKnight]

It's a bit trying with so much "paedo/ gay/ prick/ cock/ aids/ twat" vitriol coming my way, with little or no reason behind it.

 

Some of the posters on here seem genuinely loopy.

 

I'm not loopy, I just think you're a cock. Your style of posting is akin to a stranger coming into my house, kicking their shoes off and demanding to be fed.

[Guest G Haase]

It's a bit trying with so much "paedo/ gay/ prick/ cock/ aids/ twat" vitriol coming my way, with little or no reason behind it.

 

Some of the posters on here seem genuinely loopy.

 

Don't abuse our player(s) and you won't get it, simple as. Cunt.

 

Say hello to the fat paedo for me.

[dave u]

Your style of posting is akin to a stranger coming into my house, kicking their shoes off and demanding to be fed.

 

 

That's a great way of putting it.