ethicalstrategy

I'd echo those sentiments. I was really torn between wanting them to lose and at the same time appreciating that they deserved at least a draw and played some very good football going forward. No doubt the turning point was Gattuso going off. He absolutely smothered the Utd midfield in the first half. After that they more or less had the run of midfield. Dida's keeping was very suspect - the last goal was worse than Canizares' effort against us. For once, Rooney really did step up and played really well in the second half - certainly outshone Ronaldo. Kaka took his goals with a touch of class and looks oh so dangerous whenever he gets the ball. I'd say the match is finely balanced. Should be a great match next week to decide who will play us in the final!

Very nicely put Mrs Dean

Details now on official site: http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomeP ... 67,00.html They reckon 85-90% of non corporate season ticket holders will get tickets I like the fact that away season ticket holders get first stab at reserved tickets of ?95 - there's a reward for loyalty!

Since I can't remember winning a penalty shootout since 1990 I suggest you start watching them again!

We can definitely agree on that!

I would think that it would be more likely to work in our favour to be honest. and I definitely think he was doing what he always does - deflect attention from the players. He sees it as an important part of his job and it is as predictable as Xmas. It doesn't matter if it was because we were poor or not, he just wants all the attention on him - not for his own vanity but just to ease it on the players - and they must be feeling it.

Quite Right. I thought Ballack was as good as ever in this match.

Don't mistake the fact that I try to see things for what they are as me not wanting to win just as much as you do. I just don't believe for one second that anyone out there wasn't trying to do their best or that they didn't want to win. I was really dissappointed we didn't win yesterday, but I didn't feel that I had to take it out on the team. I haven't raised the white flag at all. I still think it's there to be won. I'd only raise the white flag if I thought the team had given up.

No blaming Ballack and Sheva for this one!

You think that he would score that 7 times out of 10? I can't see that. It's the first time I have watched that goal and I would say 1 in 10 wouldn't be a bad effort in those circumstances. Even just in practice with no other players I bet you 5 out of 10 hitting the net would be good from there.

Come on! Don't you get it yet? Really? Look at the back pages today. What does it say? Chelsea had a stinker or Mourinho moans about penalties? He is protecting the players from criticism and making sure that the pressure falls on him. He has done it enough times now - I'm surprised the press hasn't worked it out - or maybe they have but they just can't resist the story!

12 hours after the end pf the game I have finally calmed down and realised that the title/theme of my heading was maybe wrong...like you and some others have said, it's was more the most disappointing/frustrating performance of the season...i still can't understand, as tired as the players obviously are, why they showed such lowsy passion and desire..i mean what's the point in fighting all those months, all those last minute winners in the hope of a utd slip up, to come out as lifeless and as pathetic as that? after west ham, where we played good footy and showed all the right characteristics, how can we go so far the other way...that's why i wonder whether the champs league is the priority after all How about this as a thought? Perhaps the players didn't deliberately go out to play badly. Maybe the strain of constantly having to win to keep pace with Utd took it's toll. Psychcologically it's a different situation having to win at all costs rather than wanting to win. I'm sure that the Utd fans are spouting all the same stuff about losing to Portsmouth and drawing at home to Middlesboro. I remember after Utd lost at Newcastle - yes, you heard me right, Utd lost at St James' - that we went to Aston Villa and put in a very similar performance to the one yesterday. Of course I wanted to win and I'm sure all the players did too but it didn't happen. I'm not prepared to be too critical though. To even be where we are now is remarkable given the pressure we have been playing under. The situation now is that we have 3 home games and 1 away game left. Utd have 3 away and 1 at home. Generally, we have a stronger squad and less injuries than Utd. I think we will both drop points in the last 4 games. Whether we can win it still remains in Utd's hands. 4 wins from us will definitely be enough. 3 wins and a draw might do it but I suspect we will lose on goal difference. Whatever happens, I think we have done remarkably well - as have Utd. If they do win it then I will have no complaints. I certainly won't be moaning about lack of effort or passion from our players - that would just be absolute bollocks!

He looked "a tad vulnerable" for most of the first half. No doubt he gives us something extra going forward, but it is at the expense of our defensive security. I'm not saying thats wrong - but it's a choice that has to be made. Which is why we will see Cole picked to play in the big matches against the top opposition.

Just listened to the 60 seconds lifted from the longer interview that will be on tonight on the Big Match Countdown. Kenyon confirms that Mourinho is our manager - that didn't come as a surprise! He stated that he has the full support of the board - that's either comforting or worrying dependent on your point of view. He said Chelsea would not be sacking Jose and that he has a contract until 2010 - he didn't say that they might make his life a misery so that he leaves on his own accord! He said we have been linked with about 14 new managers and that we hadn't made any offers to anyone - yet?? A very strange interlude. Why Chelsea TV felt it important to broadcast this in the middle of some important Teleshopping I really don't know. I guess if Chelsea say they won't sack him and Jose says he won't leave unless he is sacked then that could be interpreted as being good news! Edit: Blimey, you lot are quick. There is a transcript of the important parts on the official site now.

Official Site now saying that part of the interview will now be shown at 3.15pm to day. I presume that he will have something interesting to say.

WooHoo! Problem is I can't remember what I said for the other matches!

We could go back to when all the televised matches were on BBC & ITV - basically, the FA Cup Final! I know that ITV did show some live league games for a short period before the Premier League was formed, but fundementally, there was never any live football on terrestial tv apart from the odd international and the cup final.

got it now - don't know what the problem was. interesting piece. he looks quite relaxed.

Am I missing something here? I've downloaded it but it just keeps dissappearing. or is that the joke?

Thank god we didn't have another nailbiter! An excellent performance last night and for once we converted our dominance in to goals. Is it a coincidence that the perfomance came with Sheva out injured and Ballack on the bench? I was surprised that Essien played the holding role with Mikel on the left. I would have prefered to see them the other way around so Essien had the chance to get further forward. Also interesting to see that SWP really is much more effective on the right of the diamond with license to roam behind the front two. He is hitting form just at the right time for us. Credit to him for hanging in there and finally proving that he can compete at the top level. Brdge showed us why he is second choice behind Cole for the big matches. Going forward he is exceptional but defensively is lacking. You can be sure Ashley will be playing against Rooney, Ronaldo and Gigs. I had a feeling that Cech might make an error - all this talk of him being invinceable worried me. All keepers make mistakes. It's how they handle it that sets the great keepers apart. I'm glad he has got his out of the way and that it didn't hurt us in the end (although, as errors go, it wasn't the worst I've seen by a long way. I think he was done by the ball dipping just as he went to parry it - should still have done better though). Another win against Newcastle and we will be in for a real storming finish to the season.

I think the article can be taken with a pinch of salt. According to them we have a lengthy injury list - at the moment it is made up of Robben! I think he hurt himself when he collided with the defender while trying to get the ball back after the miskick. Hopefully it won't be anything too serious.

West Ham will be looking to complete their own treble tonight, having beaten Utd & Arsenal at home already this season. They may find us a little harder nut to crack! Jose has been talking about playing his best team rather than rotating but I still expect some changes from Sunday: ---------------------Cech Diarra--------Ricky--------JT-------Bridge --------------------Mikel -------Essien------------------Lamps SWP-------------------------------------Joey ------------------Drogba Subs: Carlo, Cole, Ballack, Kalou, Sheva We are due a comfortable win and I really hope we can produce it tonight. If we can get through this match and Sunday's against Newcastle then I really think we might do it.

your right, there is something wrong with you. Kent of all places. to be fair, it does depend on the bird!

Another nervewracking afternoon. I really hope we can have a few comforatable wins to ease my nerves. Maybe we are saving them up for the triple header against Utd! Some observations: Lampard looked much happier in the 4-3-3 formation with some players out wide to provide a target and to stretch the midfield and give him more space. Joey played an excellent first half but part of our problem in the second was that he faded. I'm not sure why Jose didn't substitute him a bit earlier. I've no idea what was happening with Sheva. He has been looking better and better over the last couple of months but he was really off the pace yesterday. The other player who looked completely lost in the second half was Maka. As soon as Jose put Mikel on we looked much more comfortable. I think he is going to be seeing a lot more action before the season ends. Others have mentioned JT being a bit off form and I must agree. Hopefully it's just a temporary thing. Another match winner in a crucial game from Ballack and a good overall performance from him again. 10 matches to go and at least 8 wins required to scoop the lot

I am amazed that anyone would mention an englishborn player as a possible striker for us! There isn't anyone who is anywhere near the required standard - just look at the bottom of the barrel we are scraping for the national team. Johnson? Bent? Defoe? My arse!