mickyg

After the Ukraine game, it was great to see JT ans Sheva together - you could tell they like and respect each other.

Watching Czech/Poland game... Cech growing a beard!

Great power goal from Torres, minute 4 versus Ireland. Very sharp getting the ball as well.

I think you're right.

Not sure if this is the right place, but thought it would be good to talk about current and ex-Chelsea players in the Euro. Just saw Shevchenco's two goals (so far) versus Sweden - well done that man! Chelsea's english players did pretty well versus France I thought. And Pter Cech must wish he had our defence in fron of him again!

1) Go flat out to get 4th spot. Forget about the CL final for now - that will come later. Focus 100% on the Liverpool game and then (if relevant) the Blackburn game, Do this even if there's a risk that by playing someone it might possibly harm their CL final availability or performance (through injury or fatigue), One argument here is that the best way to prepare players is to let them play games - not rest. Another argument is that we should always go flat out for the next game as a matter of pride. Another is that if we win the next two Premiership games, that will put us in a valuable "winning mentaility". 2) Accept that there is a pretty good chance that we might not finish in the top 4, so go for it - but not totally in the way we would if that was all we had left. Think about resting or only half-using key players - but take some risks. 3) Forget about 4th spot as realistic. Focus entirely on the CL and only play a player in the last two Premiership games if we think that it will mprove their CL performance. Are there some other choices? Which would you pick? For me, the best choice is 3).

They must have had 90% possession over the last 20 mins.

I guess it must all come down to the close calls - i.e. player X had a twinge in his right leg yesterday in training. Tomorrow, we're playing Blackburn and if we beat them. then coming 4th is a 60% chance. And without player X we are less likely to wing. But if he plays and pulls a hamstring and is out of the CL next week, then we're x% less likely to beat Bayern. I wonder if managers and teams think this way ("Moneyball")? In the NFL, coaches ALWAYS say the cliche "We are just focused on winning the next game." But are they always? Different structure to soccer though.

I agree that's it a tough call. I wonder how Roberto and the squad approach these choices? Will they go full-out in the Premiership because we know we might lose to Bayern, and so we have to try as hard as we can to get fourth spot (or even third - I don't want to give Wegner anything)? Maybe they feel there's no trade-off - i.e. even if we go flat out for the Premiership and don't make 4th, it doesn't matter much, becuase we'll be fine by 19th May?

I have been thinking about which is the more likely way we can qualify for the CL next year: beat Bayern or come fourth. I think it's a toss up. But if we focus too much on the fourth spot, we might harm our chance in Munich. To me it's a no-brainer. Forget about the Premiership. Forget about fourth spot and only play players in the last three games if we think that by doing so, it will help them be better in the CL final ( i.e, through better match sharpness or fitness). If not - then rest them. No point in risking injuries. Same thing for the FA cup - but lower priority than the CL. What do you think?

Great collection - thanks.

So Bayern it is... How much of a threat do you think Robben will be? Is he better now than he was when he played with us? What are myour emories about him?

Now that we can breathe again, it is interesting to think about the impact the Barca game might have on the tactics of top-level teams. Somewhere around minute 60 of the game, I almost began to relax (well sort of). Seems strange, because if someone had told me at the start of the game that Barca would have 70+ percent possesion and that the game would be played almost entirely between our penalty box and the half-way line - well,I would have been very worried and almost resigned to a defeat. From Barca, we saw a constant stream of sillfully accurate passes, from left-to-right and right-to-left. But yet, there were no shots and no good crosses, It almost became monotonous (like Arsenal on steroids). I can understand their reluctance to cross - because we had the height advantage. Also, shooting from 20 yards out against Petr is not a good poker play for their perspective. Plus, I think a lot of their goals come from Messi collecting in the 25-yard rangeand then making a penetrating pass to a runner in the penalty area who goes on to side-foot in past the goalie. So I can see that that's the way they hope to win and why they tried to do that. But we seemed to precude that option through sheer numbers - if not by the technical defending talent of our team (which was actually very good) . Does all this mean that the Barca model has reached the end? That Chelsea has cracked the code (as well as Real Madrid) and now others will as well? But Barca have a fabulous record over the last few years by doing what they do. So maybe what happeneed against us was a one-off? Perhaps it was nerves? Or was it "luck "- i.e. for 99% of similar games, given the shot totals, the ball would have gone in at least a couple of times for Barca? Will this change how other La Liga teams play them? Is this how we should play QPR on Sunday? (!!!) And what has Jose been thinking as he watches all of this?

So now this scenario becomes more likely! If some all powerful genie said to me today, you have two choices: A) Aresenal will finish 3rd, Chelsea will finish 4th. So you don't have to win the CL to qualify next year. B) Aresenal will finish 3rd, Spurs will finish 4th. You've might win the CL. Well, I might even go for choice B) just for the laugh value if we win the CL and Spurs are denied.

... is to open a bottle of beer and watch the whole game again. During the live game I suffered through a sore stomach, followed by a deep feeling of depression when they scored their second, all the way through relief when Messi mised the penalty (the turining point I think) through to absolute elation when Torres scored, it was intense and exhausting. I'm here in Boston US and now I'm on minute 42 of the replay, ("Chelsea's hopes are crumbling here" is the current commentary as Barca score), but I know what's coming! This is a chance to focus on individual players off the ball, to enjoy knowing that the crowd will be silenced and so on. Bliss. My wife thinks I'm crazy though - "you only just finished watching it- what's going to change". Ha! Happy day.

Does anyone think Paulo's good enough?

Whatever happens now - I'm proud of them

Maybe that takes the pressure off in a strage way. We might attcke better.

Ref seems Ok so far

Nasty for Pique

Assuming we are not going to be in the top four this season, then one very nice side-benefit of winning the Champtions League would be that the fourth-placed team would be denied a place in next year's CL. It would be such a laugh! Who would you most like to deny?

Mikel can be so infuriating.

We're trying to lull Barcelona into a false sense of security.

I blame Malouda

What a save!