ethicalstrategy

Interesting piece from Oliver Holt in the Mirror: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/holt/ I tend to agree with all that!

Is it rude to suggest this for the memorable quotes section?

And they`re all black - just proving a main fitness rule. I didn't know they were all from New Zealand!

Back to the football: A very strong and composed performance tonight. There was no way jose was goin to have a repeat of the first half performance at the Bridge. Mikel was excellent and gave us a lot of control. He is so comfortable on the ball and has so much time. Tactically we snuffed out Berbatov & Lennon and although we didn't create a lot we really never looked like conceding. JT looked a lot more mobile than he did on Saturday and that will hopefully continue as we get to the sharp end of the season. Diarra was excellent at right back. I was worried after he was booked so early but he played with his head and pulled out of a couple of challenges that might have got him into more trouble. SWP had another good game. The goal was terriffic but all round he played well. He seems happier not having to just stay wide and run at people. Consequently he actually did run well with the ball. Cole was made to look very silly by Jenas at the start of the second half but also made a couple of very good defensive clearances. Drogba gave his usual 100% and his lay off for SWP's goal was class. He defended well towards the end but on the whole looked a bit out of sorts - as he has done for the last few games. Sheva had an excellent game and scored a sensational goal. Did you see the look on Drogs face as the ball flew past? 13 goals. What's the betting he gets to 20 before the season ends? Imagine how many he might score when he isn't playing like a conference player!!!! The penalty gave me palpitations for the last few minutes but they never really threatened again. Great win. Bring on Watford!

I'm definitely with Butch on this one. It will be difficult but it is possible. In order to do it there are a couple of things that must happen: First, we must beat them at the Bridge. If we can't do that then there is no way we will win. Secondly, Utd have to draw 2 matches. That is not out of the question. In fact with the injuries they are starting to get it is looking more and more possible. Lastly, and most difficult, we have to win all our remaining matches. Away to Arsenal and Newcastle look to be the most likely problems. All of the postponements mean that we will have a lot of matches shoehorned in at the end of the season and it would be remarkable if we could do it, but you never know with this team - you just never know!

but would she?

its also harder to run faster when you are dribbling a ball!!

I see that as quite a positive

What else do you know about my country?? Sorry! I didn't mean it like that. I was just suggesting that with his power and influence that he could probably get away without having to give up as much as might be the case over here. No offence meant!

It was done under russian law in the province where Roman is governor. I'm guessing it was something like, 2 donkeys and a washing machine! On the other hand it explains why he has suddenly decided to tighten his belt in the transfer market - and why he has looked like he lost a pound and found a penny for the last few months.

Ferreiras problem is that he is exposed by anyone who can run at him. I find it slightly surprising because he is quite quick. Diarra has been the one who looks best suited to the right back role. He is very comfortable on the ball and can be a force going forward too. In this role he has more margin for error than he does in front of the back four and, all other things being equal, I think he will be first choice for the remainder of the season. Further forward, I think Essien playing back on the right of midfield, either in a diamond or a three, will give us some more dynamism. Both Robben and Kalou can play wide on either flank and Joe is hoping to be back at some point this season too. I think we have options if we can avoid multiple injuries in the same position.

What about the goal JFH scored for Charlton against us ? Everyone is going to make a mistake at some time. Life is much harder when you are playing with a different partner every game and even more so when that partner is a midfielder or full back playing out of position. I would say that Vidic has been fantastic for Utd this season but I still remember him letting Henry free to score a late winner against them. I still rate him highly though. Carvalho, for me, has been excellent this season. Better than the last two seasons. And don't forget, he played centre half for almost all of that time too.

True. If they were just innocent bystanders. Otherwise, let's hope that a baseball bat to the head has knocked some sense in to the ignorant bar stewards!

Maybe not doing the same job as Maka but playing at the base of the diamond. I refer you to the Carling Cup Final and the CL match against Porto where he was instrumental in changing the game playing in that position after replacing Maka. He was able to give us some control of midfield which had been lacking previously and which we saw again yesterday. Maka breaks up the play but if the opposition put someone on him it prevents him from getting play moving and that disrupts our whole rhythm. Mikel can retain the ball well and distribute it better. Two different ways of skinning the same cat!

At the replay his ban will be already finished Oops! Quite right. I hadn't realised that we already played 2 games! Doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself

I'm pretty confident that Mikel would have played in that position if he had been available. I also think he would have done a better job. For me, Diarra has won the right back role for this season, but he couldn't cope with Defoe and Lennons pace and movement. But Frank and Ballack didn't help him. They seemd to think that it's his job let him get on with it. Mabye right to do so at the begining but once he was obviously in trouble we still let the Spurs midfield just keep waltzing in to our last third unchallenged. One bonus of the replay is that Mikel's ban will finish quicker. I think he will be key to whether we win the league or CL.

Some very interesting interpretations of yesterday's game!! I find it very hard to assess properly as we went for it big time as soon as we conceded the second goal. As a result we didn't keep the same formation for more than 15 mins at a time. That is bound to cause a degree of confusion for everyone. We definitely started slowly and Jol had Spurs lined up to cause maximum trouble for us. Ferreira is a real liablility against pace and I felt it was right to take him off. Diarra couldn't cope with Lennon and was exposed badly. although he had no help from Lamps or Ballack. That had a knock on effect for the Essien/Carvalho pairing. I know that Just has been laying in to Ricky but I have to say that Essien was the one who was more of a problem. I do agree though that Ricky has been a little too keen to bomb forward in the last couple of matches. Remember against Porto towards the end when he wanted to take a throw in the Porto half and Drogs grabbed the ball off him and demanded he wnt back to his own half? I felt we were in the game when we equalised but the own goal was just terrible and was down to Essien making a very poor decision. After that we were shaken and too gung ho looking for the second equaliser. Robben lost the ball and our three man defence was out of position and before you know it we were 2 down. I thought Jose did make some good decisions in the second half. Removing both Cole and Diarra once they were booked. He realised that we were always going to be susceptible to the quick break as we pressed and needed players who could afford to break it up and take a booking. Cech did well to keep us in it from a couple of breaks and I'm convinced he got a touch to Defoe's shot at the end which hit the bar. Kalou took his goal very well. It wasn't easy that's for sure. Overall we showed that we have a lot of fight and bottle and I really was confident in the second half that we could do it. I reckon by the end we had a goalkeeper, two centre halfs, three attacking midfielders, three wingers and two strikers on the pitch!!!!!!! The crowd was great - fantastic atmosphere - but I don't need too many matches like that lol. Nice chant at the end for the Spurs boys: "3-1 up, and you f**ked it up"

Diarra If you want to have a go at anyone that's where the main problem lay. Not saying Ricky didn't bear some responsibility but you have to remember that we were playing with a makeshift centre half whose positioning and decision making are nowhere near perfect and that makes his job much harder. You must also acknowledge that on the whole he has been excellent for us this season. But Diarra was chasing the ball like a headless chicken and showed that he is nowhere near ready to take on the Maka role.

I'm not sure thats true though. I think Jose would have been happy to keep him both in his first year and thisyear. It was Crespo who wanted to go back to Italy. I don't hold that against him as he was never anything other than a model professional when he was here.

Official response from CFC http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomeP ... 23,00.html A complete fabrication

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomeP ... 93,00.html looks like someone was listening. well done CFC

I would say that the ref didn't unduly influence the game in anyone's favour and generally let play flow. I would say that make's it a good performance compared to 95% of the refs we see at the Bridge.

Come on admit it. You are really Stuart Hall aren't you?

I'm intrigued by the situation here. Until last night I had never seen him play, but on that evidence he looks to be very, very good. I have read in a numerous places that he was an option for Jose in the transfer window to provide additional firepower at centre back but that Jose didn't want to take him. I am presuming that this was some kind of political decision rather than a comment by Jose on his ability. I heard that the deal which led to us buying Alex and then "renting" him to PSV was brokered by Arnesen. I would certainly be happy to see him at the Bridge next season if last night was anything to go by.

I voted Drogba because not only has he played fantastically but he is a leader for our side.