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As far as I'm concerned, Rafa can take his rotation and shove it. Torres should be starting every game when he's fit, and of the three others start the one most in form.

We completely flattered a team we should have scored 3-5 goals against.
 
This season is going to be close, so draws against teams like Birmingham (who we should be putting to the sword) are going to kill Liverpool's title hopes, even if they have a good record against Arsenal/Chelsea/Man U.

Stop the bloody rotation.
 
As for the Chelsea link, I'm afraid all I can do is grin, laugh, and love it. :D

That's OK. I don't mind... was just trying to illustrate what can happen when the owners of a club — any club — start to believe their own propaganda and what the people around them are saying.

That's why José and his amazing coat are far better out of it. And I shall stay a Chelsea supporter because that's what supporters do; but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it either.
 
WHat does everyone think will happen at old trafford today. I could see Ferguson really try to hit Chelsea while they're down, I could see 3-0.

Also, do you think Chelsea are glad to have an away game for their first match A.M.? I would imagine that large sections of the crowd support their former manager and that Terry could have got a torrid time from the home fans at Stamford Bridge
 
That's OK. I don't mind... was just trying to illustrate what can happen when the owners of a club — any club — start to believe their own propaganda and what the people around them are saying.

That's why José and his amazing coat are far better out of it. And I shall stay a Chelsea supporter because that's what supporters do; but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it either.

I agree - Jose is better out of it. Basically, this whole problem has been caused by Roman, and I would be very worried by that as a Chelsea fan. A big indicator as to why I don't want this Russian who is buying up shares in Arsenal becoming our owner - what if he starts to do what Abramovich is doing at Chelsea, and messing around with the team? Blaugh.
 
...I would be very worried by that as a Chelsea fan.
I'm very worried by the situation at Chelsea and I'm not a Chelsea fan. Irrespective of club loyalties, as a football fan I always get concerned when stuff like this goes on at clubs*, the idea that someone can walk in waving wads of money and then balls the club up so spectacularly leaves a rather unpleasant taste in the mouth. Chairmen come and go, so do players and managers, the ones who are left with the mess are the supporters who were following the team long before it was fashionable to do so.

*Unless it's Leeds, of course. ;)
 
As a football fan I always get concerned when stuff like this goes on at clubs, the idea that someone can walk in waving wads of money and then balls the club up so spectacularly leaves a rather unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Don't you think "balls the club up so spectacularly" is a bit of an overstatement at the moment? This is a major event, sure, but it's clearly part of a strategy to bring someone else in - there's no way on earth that Avkram is seen as the long-term replacement for Jose and thus it's way too early to see how the rest of this saga is going to play out - and that includes players coming in and out.

Without Abramovich there's little doubt that Chelsea would be miles away from being the team they have been in recent years (they were in hideous amounts of debt under the last management, remember) and I guarantee most Chelsea fans would take this lot of events and all their silverware over the last three years, over any other plausible alternative.

Also, if reports are to be believed, it wasn't so much Abramovich as it was John Terry who really put the knives in to Mourinho.

@XIII - In the Arsenal case I think I'd prefer it not to happen as it's a different situation to pre-Abramovich Chelsea (Arsenal = lots of success already, amazing manager and a healthy, happy football club).

But you'd have to think with Dein playing some part in such a buyout, you wouldn't have the comparitive parasite that is Kenyon involved, and so it would play out slightly differently.
 
It's all too easy to write of Chelsea now, but I don't think (On yesterdays showing) this is a good time for the club. Liverpool, well... What can you say, Bentiez will be their downfall, if I was him I'd certainly have left Torres on the bench :rolleyes:

So that leaves Arsenal and United, Arsenal have a strong first 11, however a shallow squad (I think) and a inexperienced squad on the whole. I personally don't believe the lack of experience will be a problem unless they start loosing a few, then doubt sets in with the young lads. However, a couple of injuries and they could be looking thin on the ground. They are performing well at the moment and certainly are the team to beat at this stage.

United are still not looking good. Not in the final third, however, beating Chelsea yesterday was huge. That will boost the lads even further and I was impressed with Rooney/Tevez up front and I'm glad to see Tevez getting his first United goal. The back 4 is rock solid, Wes Brown is finally performing and needs to if he is to keep Gary Neville out of the team. The Manchester United Juggernaut is building speed though, especially as we doubled our goals yesterday. ;)

It's early, but we should be getting more of an idea soon.
 
Don't you think "balls the club up so spectacularly" is a bit of an overstatement at the moment?
My saying that wasn't so much an observation of Chelsea at the present time – although they seem to be wobbling at the top of a very slippery slope at the moment – but a more general statement about the ability of people to take over a club and wreak havoc.

In recent years there are plenty of examples of clubs which suffered at the hands of their chairmen for one reason or another. The murky goings on at clubs like Wrexham have been well documented, and from a personal point of view it's only a few years back that an incompetent board and chairman nearly took Hull out of business.

I'll tell you one thing though – I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Stamford Bridge boardroom at the moment. A Russian speaking fly, obviously.
 
My saying that wasn't so much an observation of Chelsea at the present time – although they seem to be wobbling at the top of a very slippery slope at the moment – but a more general statement about the ability of people to take over a club and wreak havoc.

In recent years there are plenty of examples of clubs which suffered at the hands of their chairmen for one reason or another. The murky goings on at clubs like Wrexham have been well documented, and from a personal point of view it's only a few years back that an incompetent board and chairman nearly took Hull out of business.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. I just jumped on the Chelsea aspect of course :eek:.

I think in any business with lots of cash involved and massive egos (like the ones of those who often take over football clubs...), there's potential for it to go seriously awry. Leeds is a prime example ;)

I'll tell you one thing though – I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Stamford Bridge boardroom at the moment. A Russian speaking fly, obviously.

Would be dodgy though, you might get slurped off the wall by that big fat, blobby toad - aka Peter Kenyon.

In other news - Arsenal announce record profits, and Mihir Bose writes a good post!

"Landmark times at Arsenal". Oh yes :D
 
I still think Liverpool have arguably the best squad, and that the league title is within reach if Benitez can pull his head out of his rear.

That linked article was pretty depressing from a Chelsea point of view; if it's even partially true this is going to be a tough season for Chelsea fans, and a player exodus is almost certain.
 
I still think Liverpool have arguably the best squad, and that the league title is within reach if Benitez can pull his head out of his rear.

That linked article was pretty depressing from a Chelsea point of view; if it's even partially true this is going to be a tough season for Chelsea fans, and a player exodus is almost certain.

Really? I'm not so sure, we look awfully skint at the back now with Agger injured. And another striker - would have liked to seen Pongolle stepping up, he hasn't look too bad when he's made brief appearances.

For me, Crouch doesn't do enough and Kuyt has been a tad wasteful.
 
Apparently Mr Abramovich is going to be in attendance at tomorrow's match – and of the 24 tickets we've given to Chelsea for their directors, guests and dignitaries ten of them are going to be used by Roman's bodyguards.

I mean, I know Hull has a bit of a reputation for being rough but come on, it's not that bad a place. :D
 
Really? I'm not so sure, we look awfully skint at the back now with Agger injured. And another striker - would have liked to seen Pongolle stepping up, he hasn't look too bad when he's made brief appearances.

For me, Crouch doesn't do enough and Kuyt has been a tad wasteful.

Crouch looked pretty good partnering Torres today, if it weren't for a couple wayward crosses he might have scored. Of course, Gerrard and Riise each gave Torres fantastic balls in that Fernando finished with class.

Voronin looked wasteful in the draw against Pompey, he had two or three clear chances but couldn't finish. Kuyt is just taking up space right now...at any rate none of the strikers will reach their potential if they ride the bench 2 out of every three matches...

Benitez should be starting Torres every match so long as he's fit. If he has to rest him, he should do it during cup matches or Champions League qualifiers - the league title is more important.

Jaffa Cake said:
I mean, I know Hull has a bit of a reputation for being rough but come on, it's not that bad a place.

Moscow is much worse, I'll wager. ;)
 
Apparently Mr Abramovich is going to be in attendance at tomorrow's match – and of the 24 tickets we've given to Chelsea for their directors, guests and dignitaries ten of them are going to be used by Roman's bodyguards.

I mean, I know Hull has a bit of a reputation for being rough but come on, it's not that bad a place. :D

I remember when the Birmingham team coach had a 'far sale' sign thrown through its window by some 'fans'. I don't think anyone could throw a sign high enough to hit Romans helicopter!
 
No complaints really – a defeat was the most likely outcome so we weren't massively confident about blazing our way into the next round. In the end, Chelsea's better quality showed, especially in terms of finishing and defending.

There are plenty of positives we can take from tonight too...

  • It earned us a shedload of cash – we profited to the tune of £350,000+, apparently. That's another new League Two clogger we can buy.
  • When we played Chelsea in the cup back in 1999 we lost 6-1. Tonight we lost 4-0 – irrefutable proof that we've improved slightly over the past eight years. This is encouraging.
  • It proves once and for all that Damien Delaney isn't a left back. Hopefully Mr Brown will take note and make changes to the side accordingly.
  • On the other hand, Samuel Ricketts demonstrated tonight that he is quite, quite fantastic.
  • Okocha is now capable of a full 90 minutes, and Pederson made his first start.
  • I got to shout a lot of obscene abuse at John Terry for 90 minutes. Ace.

On the downside, I've got a sore throat after all that shouting. :eek:
 
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