bar24rat

New manager, an Italian , so be sure the search is on for the new stars to replace the old. There have been few Italians at chelsea, one very notable magnificent exception, one will be remembered for his 43 sec goal and a CL victory and one I can remember passed his best. Expecting more from that source but await the end of the Euros.

surely fat lady has finished singing on that one

His time is over. We hoped it would be more productive than it was. The fat lady has sung her song and now let us RIP

On Saturday I was surprised when he was caught in possession on two occasions plus one potentially catastrophic pass across midfield. Nowhere near the scale of the pass by the sub that resulted in Mikel's moment of splendour and the new sainted one's goal but evidence that sometimes speed adjustment to premier league could take a few games. However evidence to date has been excellent.

Sorry- another time!!

Indeed. A Tore Andre Flo day to remember

Correct the spelling errors and find a " mole" to sneak it onto a United site. Then watch the "fun"

Lots of votes cast either for one half, or one save(albeit a superb match winner), or one brilliant goal. Overall , for 95 mins, Ivan was outstanding

As a 11year old, I was at the Wolves game, Easter 1955. Only remember specific moments but was one of the boys behind the goal when Billy Wright punched out his shot. The referee did take an age to award the penalty, nobody understood why it took so long. Peter Sillett converted the penalty to the same corner that Frank Lampard's was saved by Joe Hart. Sillett's was harder and faster. Seamus made many important contributions that year. RIP

Probably the majority of the Anti-Rafa fans were the same ones who were supporting the 16th minute group chanting RDM's name. Have they ever stopped to think that Chelsea were on a downward slope, and increasing the rate down it, when de Matteo was sacked. The board clearly thought he was not the man for the job. Sacked by WBA is hardly a creditable CV. Goals were being shipped! Yes we had CL success but not with any kind of PL system. Rafa was not the wisest choice, he was on a hiding to nothing, but surely he was right to ask the fans to support the team. Celtic would never ask Walter Smith to be their manager-obvious reasons

Sorry omitted the word "never" as 3rd word of last sentence in previous post

Whatever anti-rafa feelings you hold , acknowledge that there was a clear improvement in defensive concentration on sunday. One of the reasons RDM lost his job at WBA as well at Chelsea may have been connected to his sides losing goals. He never seem to have defence in mind unless you play as we did in the last games of last season's CL. That would succeed over a season where the emphasis has to be both on scoring AND defending

Inevitably ,not a popular appointment. One of the most hated men at Stamford Bridge. Let's be realistic! RdM was only ever a fill-in . Was he given the manager's position as the thank you for his successes but was never going to be a permanent appointment.In the latter stages of his time at WBA, the side shipped goals as they played to stay in the premier league. Without JT we have done the same. In the CL success we won by 11 men defence , never a successful method in the premier league. Lately every attack against us has suggested the strong possibility of a goal, last night there could easily have been more than 3. If Benitez improves our defence , we prove to be solid as well as attack minded and success comes, will then be the moment to judge, to criticize or to applaud! Does a club really exist for the fans ? It will always claim it does but that must be doubted. If Chelsea did, then Benitez would not be there whatever his record may be

drop it now

Ken Bates was a great fan of Claudio. I agree with those saying he got Blues on the CL treadmill and deserves his part in Chelsea's recent history. Let's hope he lasts longer at Monaco than he has at some of his more recent stopovers.

We should and must go for a win. For the club's status, for supporters, for simply the fact that we would be the first london club to do so after the CL success, because the players will want to, and for continuity. There is no reason for not giving it the best shot, no league games for a fortnight. Fail to understand the negativity of some!!!

Found the game listed on this site www.vipbox.tv/sports/football.htm other options could be www.freefootball.org www.thefirstrow.eu

1949. I was 5! No recollections at all. Loz's grandfather took me every fortnight; we lived in Fulham 20 mins walk to SB. No covered terraces only a tin roof at the shed end , the east stand and a small tatty version of the Matthew Harding. Big highlights and memories are being behind the goal on the grass when Peter Sillett scored the penalty v Wolves( Billy Wright et al) Easter 1955 and Eric Parsons' double to clinch the title in last home game. Roy Bentley was the captain, the trophy was presented in the East stand with the minimum of razzamatazz. I remember the team and the day as clear as a starry night sky.

Staying with number 1 son in Cornwall,not a football enthusiast. To say I leaped across the room to grab him would be an under-statement( he hadn't even watched the match until the penalty shoot-out). Then the real supporters got involved as my mobile started ringing and dancing round the room began. Calls with Loz and other son Peter put the real gloss on the day.

apologies Blue Winter, got my generation estimates very wrong.

Similar generation to Blue Winters I surmise. First visit to the (near) original SB as a 5 year old in 1949. I was at the spurs home game last season, the same thing happened and continued on Fulham Broadway after the game. We seem to have a minority of morons amongst supporters- were they the same group who reacted shamefully to the requested silence in memoriam to Hillsborough? Identify,Ban and prosecute

"Goal or not? Who cares! Atkinson should just have said- "It was a goal, if you don't believe it. then check in the paper on monday morning"

Chelsea must be trying to build a new team capable of winning the PL again . The need is consistency, hitting top level more frequently than in this season and therefore avoiding the low points of this season. On that basis Kalou does not fit he bill to be in the first picked. Certainly his attitude is better than that of Sturridge by far and his contribution in defence is superior. Not a "whinger" when he loses the ball,( which he does too often). Sturridge usually sits on his backside in disbelief. RDM is probably playing Kalou for his overall effort and contribution rather than as a real threat to the opposition. He'll probably score the winner v Barca or Liverpool ( unless he gives away another penalty), we'll all welcome him back and hope he gets a new contract. However I think not.

The debate over Torres continues "ad infinitum.". Bringing him on after 70mins approximately cannot surely give him any chance of creating a positive response. An honest assessment of the lead-up to Kalou's goal has been given by Just and Loz. At least Krol(?) was not able to keep Kalou's shot out. If he had done so, we would have protracted our "squeaky bum" period. Our success rate in the last 10 minutes has been very poor. However I have read few comments on what I call "The Sturridge disease." - a recurring illness having the symptoms of failing to convert numerous 1 on 1s with the goalkeeper. Any one of them would have produced a sigh of relief and a degree of relaxation. AVB clearly prefers Drogba. Yesterday DD scored a welcome goal - we had already spurned 3 or 4 gilt offerings by then- made a number of apologetic facial gestures, twisted into opponents thereby losing possession, made a number of misplaced passes -with one clear exception- and looked in need of the rest when it came.

That was almost amusing! Brollies at dawn next. Can I be second for both parties? Even better the "maitre" with the power to shoot both if needed