craigLCF

I think it's a thin line between over-protective and supportive. I couldn't give a shit about reinas howler yesterday, not because we were already beat but because I think he tried to keep possession of the ball in an attempt to get it back up the pitch quickly to try and keep alive the feint hope of getting something out the game, obviously what ensued looked and was pretty awful from him. I don't think there's any way it would've happened if we were level or ahead in the game. What i'm trying to say here is, I'm glad we have the mentality of gambling if the situation requires it. During rafas time at the club we came back twice amazingly against milan and west ham but on the other side of things we have had 2 terrible results 4-1 to chelsea and 3-0 to everton. I think all of the results are the result of gambling but if you didn't you'd lose them all, so i can live with it.

Cahill also, just after the headlock on alonso, flew into the back of finnan very wrecklously as he guarded a ball going out for a goal kick. I don't think he got booked for that either. Dirty little shit. You could clearly see finnan told him what he thought of it during the highlights.

He needs a montage. http://youtube.com/watch?v=zixAjmrmn6g&mode=related&search=

I think the quote you're trying to remember is, "if we had anelka he could have scored 2 or 3, infact very easily," I nearly pissed my pants laughing when he said it. It's one of those infurating things that everyone knows happens but is never dealt with. If anyone was unlucky it was Hreidarrson because his elbow was a reaction to an earlier one by davies, if davies had been sent off then, Hreidarrson couldn't have later looked for revenge, not that i'm saying what he did was ok but still the point stands like.

I have never seen anyone with as little self awareness as that guy, it's hilarious. What the fuck goes on in his head... "Drogs is brilliant player and honest man, everyone must foul drogs to stop him winning, everyone hates drogs because he is fantastic but drogs is the best and will show everyone!"

Christ, you must be kidding? That's some irony right there. It pisses me off that he's always talked about as a character, he's just a gobby sore-losing twat. I can't understand how certain fannys on sky can laugh seeing him needing to be escorted away by the police whilst screaming his head off at the ref. It's disgraceful that refs should have to put up with knobs like him, professionals should know better. The guys a complete moron, i think the reason he was screaming his head off in the aforementioned incident is because the ref wrongly gave a throw to the other team and a minute later they scored, in warnocks head the throw was to blame. Total penis

I think the point about selection is right in that if we picked crouch and pennant we would've won even with the injuries because we would've scored more than one but had it not been for the injuries (especially riise) we would've won with rafas selection anyway. Rafa had Tuesday in his mind and no manager picks a team with the mindset that 2 injuries could occur. We'll come back, in a week with a couple of results under our belt everyone will be perked up again

Like everyone, i'm gutted with the result but not as gutted as I was with the chelsea 4-1 or fulham 2-0 last season and that was followed by an immense run of results. If we repeat the trick of about 10-12 wins now i doubt anyone will complain. Let's just wait and see how things pan out. I'm really surprised loads of folk don't think it was a penalty i'll admit i was amazed we got it but it was definately a pen. In fact I'm sure someone, i think aws, brought this up on this very forum a short while back talking about how refs won't make decisions unless they are forced to by someone going down which in turn encourages players to dive and punishes honesty if you stay on your feet. The sad thing is that ref is taking a lot of shit for making a brave but correct decision. The injuries are badly timed if they both miss everton and chelsea, they are the kind of sides who will put balls on top of a full back who isn't particularly strong and try to take advanage. It's yet to be seen whether they'll be out though obviously.

That is bang on, in a scottish cup final last year i remember a hearts player getting through on goal only for a defender to clatter into him from behind, knocking him off balance, but he honourably played on totally off balance, he managed to round the keeper but missed staggering all over the place. The ref later gave nothing. From a chelsea point of view, you just know that given the opportunity half their lot would go down like a tonne of bricks. Did anyone see the dirty look essien gave momo later in the game one time when he put him on his arse? I think essien like to dish it out but he can't take it back, bit like his manager really.

Aside from it being a terrible decision. I think consistency is what we want. You either referee all pre-season games normally or you are really lenient in all re-season games. Essien and Lampard committed red-card offences on sunday and got off lightly. There's clearly not a level playing field, i hope we avoid that amsterdam tournament in the future, it's not worth the hassle. Personally, I favour banning the chelsea twats as well :D

I agree that they could have problems with lack of depth in their squad at points in the season. He said gallas is no longer an option and huths on loan to boro with a view to a permanent deal. He has Terry and carvalho and that's it so he's in a position where he can't afford an injury in that area. Also up front he has Shevchenko and Drogba but Drogba has been mouthing off about leaving a little similar to Gallas so there could be trouble ahead in that area to, especially if Drogba is noting Gallas behaviour, he could follow suit. If they call mourinhos bluff and say fuck you we choose to rot in the reserves, he'll only have himself to blame. He's known since well before the world cup that both wanted a move. Now I know some will say they signed a contract and should be noble enough to see it out, I agree, but from Mourinhos perspective why keep a player who doesn't want to play for you? He could easily have sold them and replaced them ages ago. Of course the down side to this is if there is an injury they'll just sign a replacement. They could probably sign the likes ledley king for a small fortune very easily if they wanted to. Hopefully they get hit with injuries just as the window closes, Bastards!

Speaking of him, did anyone see swp lift his shirt after scoring against celtic the other day to reveal a "we love you rui" shirt and run over with the other chelsea players to him. When i seen it i thought that's fairly pathetic it must be his birthday or something but later mourinho said there was no reason for doing it other than they love him and wanted to tell him. I then reconsidered "pathetic" to "bi-curious."

On sky sports news last night they were discussing some back page story and i noticed a smaller story in the corner with the headline "Kop ko'd over Duff." Didn't see that one coming eh?! Newcastle are a total joke, always trying to solve their problems with quick big money fixes. When are they gonna sort that defence out? I bet Shitus Shambles still plays a good few games for them next year.

Yep definately bollocks. We have Kewell, Gonzo and Riise for the left. Also Chelsea wouldn't sell to us. I thought it might have come from them though to try and get a few more million out of spurs or newcastle because if they thought we were in for him they might up their offer to rule us out as we'd likely be his first choice. Newcastle showed with owen they're a pushover in the transfer market but then again it's hardly like chelsea to try and save money is it so i dunno. Definately bollocks i'd guess though

I had a good laugh at this to. Better than Didi for less than half a million, good luck fathead. Also, how's dioufy doing these days sam? Not seen him for a while.

I watched kuyt play for holland against italy last year i think. He looked a brilliant finisher even with half chances. Torres is obviously very good as well but I don't see rafa spending the fee that would be needed to acquire the likes of these players.

Yeah, I don't think he's that bad, good enough for the likes of city. It's just that where we are going with rafa doesn't allow for average prem players. I used to think he would stay as a good squad player but benfica convinced me otherwise this year, he really isn't good enough. I'm surprised people are saying he's one of the worst ever, I guess it shows how good the rest of the team are if djimi looks that bad next to them. I mean he'd arguably look like maldini in a defence with the likes of babb, kvarme, etc

Typical nonsense from the blueshite. Collina and another ref were name-checked by Moggi (the main culprit in the match-fixing scandal) as being far too "objective" and he went on to suggest they should be intimidated so that their fairness would be compromised. However, given that Collina was kicked out of serie a for the dubious reason of being in an opel advert (milans sponsor is opel) im guessing he didnt give in to Moggis threats and was ousted by Moggi through these alternative means. In fact hes about the only guy who isn't corrupt in all this I would've thought but I suppose the blueshite will believe whatever suits them. Also hi everyone ,I'm new