ethicalstrategy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFt7gtqlP1Q The whole thing on Youtube It was pretty messy but wasn't anymore than a big scuffle until the Valencia sub went and punched the Inter guy and broke his nose. Then it all kicked off. It is partly amusing but also a bit sad too.

Mine going to the Spurs match on sunday

Is Roman? I guess that the answer to that is no. But he is bigger than Jose. Perhaps we should use the Harry Hill solution --->>>> FIGHT<<<<---

You were watching a different game to me then. Granted Porto made life difficult for us in the first half - particularly when they played the man on Maka but in truth they created nothing apart from the goal. Quaresma took it well but it was a bit of a howler from Carvalho - he was three yards behind the rest of the back four when the pass was played. 2nd half, we were lucky that the keeper made a hash of Robben's shot, but we were already looking more purposeful and it was a lot more than just fitness or passion that won us the game. We just upped the tempo and the pressure as the half went on and Porto had no answer. I was expecting that the last 15 mins after we scored would be very nervy but in fact they never threatened another goal and we ran out fairly comfortable winners. You can't expect at this stage of the competition to stroll through ties. All the teams are capable and most of the managers pretty shrewd. Jose was able to answer all the questions that were asked of him both in the first leg and last night. I do agree that we will have to play better in the next round but I think we can rise to the challenge.

I'd just like to add composure to the mix too. He seems to stroll like Ballack but at the same time retain the ball and play the right passes. He also really zips the ball around rather than just rolling it. I am for the first time seeing what all the fuss has been about him. I was extremely impressed with him and it is a pity he will miss 4 games now for the sending off in the cup final.

well we were outplayed for 45 mins at cardiff, but not in the 2nd half. tonight we were in control in the 1sy half without ever really playing that well. The introducion of Mikel though really made a difference. Even more than his reading of the game though is his ability to create a self belief in his team that is incredible. Sadly, we won't be seeing him after this season

It seems that the Chelsea - Man U game could be moved (end of the season?) because it clashes with the FA Cup dates. Almost certain to happen. At least one of us will get through. Probably both.

Amen to all that!

I know what you mean Bluenut, but I can't believe that they will finish with 99 points so they will have to drop points somewhere. Obviously 3 at the Bridge, but it doesn't take much to draw a couple - usually when least likely. How about they lose at home on the last day to West Ham to let us nick it? At the moment I see us as being 3 points behind - after we win our game in hnd and beat them at home. So not such a big gap.

lets's remember what happened to us - Before xmas we had two ucky wins against Everton and Wigan with late goals. I remember taking a big sigh of relief after both. Then what happened? Two home draws against Reading and Fulham, both with the away team equalising late on in a somewhat fortunate manner. So, Utd didn't drop points against Liverpool, a game where you might have thought they would. They still have 9 other games where they need to draw just twice. If they win all theirremaining matches they get 99 points - 4 more than our record. I don't see that happening but if they do it then hats off to them. As far as our match against them, well it's odds on that it will be delayed for the FA Cup semi's. At least one of us, and probably both, will be involved. It may mean that the league match gets pushed back right to the end. Could be quite a climax. The main thing for us is to keep winning - 10 games left, 30 points to play for. 10 wins andwe will have 93 points. I'd be surprised if that wasn't enough.

i'm not getting my hopes up too much. you can always rely on liverpool to let you down. the equation is simple: we MUST beat Utd then they have to draw two matches. I don't care which matches they draw. chances are they will be when least expected - maybe in the manchester derby or away to everton. of course this all supposes that we win all our remaining games. won't be easy but we can do it. if liverpool do manage to turn utd over then all to the good.

one down, 3 to go well done didier

Latest from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 407973.stm Frankie confirms that Adebeyor didn't punch him! No doubt the FA will charge Frank now for questioning an offical!

Read this and thought it was a very fair assessment of the game and all that surrounded it. So let's see. The Game: Brilliant football, especially in the first 20 minutes, that was a joy to watch. I felt that initially, some of our fire went out after Drogba's quick equaliser; but it was still on tiptoe balance. But when Robben came on, and when Terry was injured, we got rattled. Robben made our defence even leakier and Terry's injury pretty much disabled Diaby, and our midfield began to lose control and sharpness. All in all I think Chelsea deserved the win, even though on another day we could have won it, and we need to be proud of our youngsters. Drogba's equaliser could have been decided either way (and indeed, Adebayor was offside when it was exactly the same situation), but if that had been us we wouldn't have complained. The second goal was a cracker too. Denilson was ineffectual, by the way, and Eboue was useless when he came on, wasn't focused at all, and Hleb didnt have an opportunity to do much; but other than that, everyone was excellent. Almunia should have saved the equaliser, but ah well. The Brawl: I'm not too concerned about talking about who did what and why it began and all, since we probably would never know the full story. What's important is: Toure: It's probably a good thing he started it all, because more than anybody else, he will sit down tonight, know that what he didw as silly, and apologise to his teammates and make sure he doesnt do it again. There is no question about that. Adebayor: There was a strong sense of indignation and injustice that made him act so uncontrollably. If I guessed that, for example, Webb sent him off for hitting Bridge when it wasn't even him, and Adebayor in fact got more abuse than he gave out, then I probably wouldn't be far off the mark. (Or at least, Adebayor THINKS that he got more than he gave out.) He's a passionate guy but hopefully Thierry will have settled him down a bit - you have to learn to live with what you see as crazy decisions by the ref and villification of you by the media that is now inevitable, to be a top player. Cesc: Hopefully AW will have a sit down with everyone and have a good talk about discipliine, but especially Fabregas. IN the brawl and everywhere else, he did not help. Think it was a dive when he clutched his face too, the replay showed the hand hit the chest - though I'm not 100% sure. I think what's important here is we move on, AW keep a tight rein on discipline, but make sure to recognise the achievement of the youngsters. Oh, and consider the tactical implicaitons of losing ANOTHER striker, losing Walcott anyway, losing our best defender and an extra yellow for our playmaker. And let's not forget: Firstly John Terry, who might have suffered as bad an injury as one suffered by Cudicini or Cech. It's a horrible thing to happen to anyone and we should wish him a speedy recovery. But also Diaby - I feel sorry for him. As I said before, the last thing he would have wanted to do after coming back from the Sunderland crunch was to inflict an injury on someone else, however inadvertent. Diaby must be feeling so low right now, especially after watching the Brawl and the loss. Hopefully it doesn't have a long-term effect on his football mentality.

Val, I was just about to post on this exact thing. At the time I thought he was stretching things to say they were in 4 competitions. By wednesday next week it could and should be none! Oh how I will laugh!

Correct! I believe kicking the opponent in the face, accidentaly or otherwise, is normally deemed to be a foul.

oh come on, all frank was doing was trying to stop mikel doing something he might regret. of course once fabregas grabbed him and tried to remove his head he might have got a bit upset! the correct cards should have been yellows for mikel and for toure and probably in the end for frank. red for fabregas and for eboue and possibly for adebayor

go and watch the match again - you may need to stay in for extra maths homework!!!

Cech really is THAT good. Anyone want to tell me that Carvalho isn't a top class centre back? JT was never fit to play - thank god he is ok and that we got away with it. Frankie looked like death warmed up and played pretty much like that too. Big credit for turning out, but he shouldn't really have started either. Mikel will be a top top player. Unlucky to be sent off although his original foul was very cynical. Didier Drogba, La La La La La Didier Drogba La La La La La. Ronaldo has been great for Utd but don't tell me anyone other than Didier should be PFA, European, African & World player of the year - Now there's a quadruple! Fabregas is a c**t. As is Andy Gray. Mourinho knows what he is doing. Made the right changes at half time and won us the cup!

nah we don't need them to lose 3. two draws will do it. that will put us 2 points behind and then we beat them and hey presto we are champs again. never expected them to drop points today. if they beat liverpool then my confidence might be debted a little!

There has always been an unlevel playing field and there always will be. At the moment we have the benefit of an owner who can afford to invest in the club in order to bring it to a point where it can compete at both a domestic and global level. I don't see that as being any different to how Liverpool or Man U were able to establish themselves as dominant forces in previous decades. The people moaning the loudest are the one's most threatened. Imagine you saw a property that you liked and which you felt could be just what you wanted, but that it was in a poor state of repair. You buy it at a relatively cheap price recognising that to start with you will have to pump a fair amount of money in to get it to how you want it. After that your costs get less as you only need to maintain it. I'm sure that some people will be happy for you with your nice new house, but there will be some neighbours who resent the fact that yours is now better than theirs!

I'm in the west lower and it's noticable how many more youngsters there are for the cup matches.

Well I am supplying one young man (14) and one young woman (11). As you can tell by their ages the really enjoyable part of that was some time ago!

Difficult to say if the pitch has yet been dug up from that view!!! It looks pretty much like it did on saturday.

Final point. It's unlikely that ticket prices will fall whilst the ground is pretty much full for all the games. Lastest news that prices are being frozen for next year is positive.