ethicalstrategy

I'm just looking forward to having a match. It seems like ages since we last played. We should be fit and rested, but we do have to have a little part of one eye on Sunday as it is a very important match. Tonight's match is important too, but we have a 2 away goal cushion and it's unthinkable that we would screw it up. Inter last night were only the second team in CL history to overcome a defeat in the home leg to go through. More details

Don't know enough to say one way or the other to be honest, but I'm not sure why his allegiance or otherwise to Barca would make any difference to what he was saying. His view was that if decisions were being made right now then there was a strong likelihood that Jose would be coming back to the Bridge, but that may not be the case come the summer depending on what happens between now and then at Madrid.

Listening to Graham Hunter on Revista. Suggesting that Jose has been talking to Roman and there is a strong possibility that he could be back at Chelsea next season.

At the risk of embarrassing myself even more than usual, I just happened to catch a bit of American Idol the other day. This guy was singing. I was gobsmacked that he was 16. If you like good ol' country music then you'll love this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HifqJvS-F8I

Many good points Dorset. Winter is a real Rio/Stevie G champion and so his article is no surprise. He conveniently forgets that a) how they feel about it is not particularly relevant and b ) that neither are fit to play anyway! Phil McNulty has a dreadful article on the BBC website. On the other hand Martin Samuel and Ollie Holt, both proper journalists, have written and spoken very positively on the topic.

Torn apart by two full backs playing in midfield. Oh dear, oh dear.

Joke midfield from Utd. If Arsenal don't win they need shooting.

Van Aarnholt is 1) out on loan at Leicester and 2) injured.

/deep breath OK. This thread is driving me mad, so I have to get this off my chest! 1. Torres is clearly a top striker. But he has been out of sorts for a while through a combination of injury and dissatisfaction with his lot at Liverpool. 2. He is trying to regain fitness and form whilst settling in to a new club in a new part of the country. It will take time, especially as the club has been struggling for form for the best part of 4 months. But all other things being equal he should prove to be a good signing (although whether he is worth £50 million will always be up for debate unless he can do a Ronaldo/Messi and score at more than a goal a game) 3. The manager is caught between two stools. He is trying to please everyone and is ending up pleasing no-one. He needs to know his own mind and take a decision and have the balls to take the fallout and see it through. 4. Torres is not being given the cold shoulder by anyone. Players are not refusing to pass to him. That is just total and utter bollocks. I can't believe that there are so many people on here who keep spouting it. Even the subtitle to this thread is pathetic. Torres can't score because people are going out of their way to stop him? Never heard so much nonsense. \and breathe

I was thinking more ahead of Bosingwa or Ferreira. Maybe not anymore, but at his best there are few defenders I would rate more highly.

Still looks too good for Spurs. I wouldn't mind him playing right back for us. He still managed to make Dawson look half decent!

I'm presuming that Copenhagen can't be as bad again as they were in the first match. On the other hand they do have to score twice so we should expect a reasonably open game which will suit us. We mustn't be complacent and should look to kill the tie off in the first half. I'd go with: Cech Ferreira Ivanovic Terry Cole Ramires Essien Lampard McEachran Torres Anelka Let Essien hold and Josh play in behind the strikers. I don't want Bosingwa anywhere near the starting line up. If Alex is fit then Ivan can switch out to right back.

After Gareth Bale, of course. No arguments from me that Messi is the best player, although whether he could do it on a wet wednesday at Stoke.....

Nicely summed up by Martin Samuel Article And Xavi illustrating why I find them so unbearable Article

You know the answer to that already don't you?

It's a balance though Nibs. I was frustrated by the way we played the other night too. To be honest, the most impressive part of Barca's game for me is the way they press the ball when they do lose possession. I still think they are very one dimensional. They play in a very uncompetitive league. When they play better teams in Europe they aren't so impressive. Their away record in the CL is poor. They did win it a couple of years ago but only after the Ovrebo incident. It wouldn't surprise me if they get knocked out again this year. When we were at our best under Jose I reckon we were a better all round football team.

That's harsh on Kalou! I've no love of Arsenal but I would have loved it if they had beaten Barca. The constant w**kfest over them is unbearable. The last thing they need is a helping hand from the officials, and yet, at the first sign of trouble off goes an opposition player. Drogba back in 2005 for being fouled by Valdes, Motta last year after Busquets play acting. Van Persie last night for shooting! And let's not even mention the unmentionable at the Bridge. And when they do lose they don't go quietly. Eto'os accusations. Their reaction after Inter beat them last year. Nothing in any of that to like at all. They are also arrogant beyond belief. "More than a club" must be the most pretentious slogan ever concocted. I know they are a great team and, at times, play great football. A lot of the time though it's just boring watching them play keep ball. Then we get to the passing. Apparently the number of passes you make in a game has replaced the number of goals scored as the measure of victory. Not last night, although the score was level until Van Persie went off, but in general. I'm sick to death of hearing about passing. On it's own it means nothing. For me football is about so much more - passing, tackling, defending, attacking, shooting, scoring, spirit, determination, grit, temperament, luck, tactics. Anyway, apart from that I couldn't care less one way or the other!

That would be a great stat if Frank hadn't been out injured for 4 months and was true!

And who was the leading goalscorer in the Premier League last season? And which forward had the most assists in the Premier League last season? I think you know!

Wenger in bust up with ref in tunnel. Long ban I say. Just like Drogba got.

Very unsatisfactory. I hope they feel embarrassed at all the help they keep getting.

Bendtner you f**king donkey. What a chance.

Lovely move but finish was fortunate. Sagna got a slight touch which beat Almunia.

Penalty. Stonewall ( unless it was for us when it would be soft )

They're never going to hang on