just

Here's my pick since the Roman revolution. 1. Sheva. I don't care about the money. AS has been a footballing hero since I saw him play live in '99. I had followed his career closely since then and knew he was not the same player he was in his youth. I felt he would struggle in the EPL and be ridiculed because his cost. He has and it hurts to have to watch it. 2. Veronimo You didn't have to be Mystic Meg to see how it was going to turn out with the Baldy One. A hugely expensive flop at Man U. A very expensive flop for us. A fish out of water in the whirlwind of any EPL midfield. 3. Cashley Cole I rate Cash a lot higher than many people do on here. He is a truly astonishing athlete. But we didn't need to buy him. We already had a quality left back in Bridgey and there is very little to choose between them IMO. All we really needed was a back-up to Bridgey. Chimbonda would have been ideal and alot cheaper. 4. Kezman I hadn't seen a great deal of him before he signed but what I had didn't impress me that much. He was at PSV for a long time and many of the top clubs in Europe had had a look at him at some time or other and decided to leave alone. We should have done the same. and lastly, a controversial choice: 5. Robben Band Aid Never knew what you was gonna get. Would have games where he made all the difference. Would have games where you didn't know he was on the pitch. And very often he wasn't. He was in the treatment room again. Had all the ability in the world but could make you tear your hair out at his inconsistency and failure to produce the goods against the big boys. Possibly one of the most naturally gifted players I have ever seen at Chelsea. Definately the most frustrating player I have ever seen at Chelsea. PS: If you want one name pre-Roman, how about Vialli's choice............... Gabriel Ambrosetti? The Italian Ryan Giggs.

When Frank was taking all the corners he was getting dogs abuse. Since we have switched it round I'm longing for Frank to come back. He may have been inconsistent but used to get our fair share of goals from them. Now we are much more consistent - consistently bad. Belletti is the only player I have seen this season deliver a corner that could be described as half decent. The set-piece delivery, (and also the crossing from the flanks), by Villa in the 4-4 was excellent. Why can't our boys do that?

According to JT in last week's programme notes, Maka has only been rested recently to ensure he is fit and ready when the African boys go off on their jolly.

We may not agree on everything Brit, (JFH and Robben), but you are spot on here mate.

Cech Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge Maka, Ballack Cole, SWP, Malouda Anelka Subs: (from) Hilario Sinclair A.Cole Sidwell Pizarro Ben haim

just, hate to quibble, but to paraphrase the last public words we've had on the subject: Lampard: "I intend to stay at the club foreover, and look forward to signing a new deal once the season is over." Drogba: "Let me repeat what I said in October. I want to leave the club. I haven't been happy since I came to London and Mourinho's departure has increased my desire to leave. I will play hard the rest of the season, but once the season is over, I'm gone." so i would think there's not an equal chance of them leaving. while Frank still might pull a reverse-Stevie G and change his mind over the summer, he's said he's committed. and Drogba has said he is committed, too -- committed to leaving in June. Until Frank signs on the dotted line his words mean very little. Lampard was made an initial contract offer a year ago. He wasn't happy with that deal and further negotiations took place which he personally called a halt to. He still has not signed the contract. Drogba has stated all along that he will leave. He's done that a bit too often for my liking but at least the club know with 100% certainty what his intentions are, (unlike Frank), and can plan accordingly, and with plenty of time, to bring in a replacement. Besides in your scenario you can protect any eleven players and Drogba would be one of the first players I would want to protect to stop other clubs getting their hands on him. I bet Grant, Roman, Buck and Kenyon wish they could do the same.

Guys it's simple. SWP often has a good game when he is played in any position that doesn't require him to cross the ball. Douglas Bader could cross the ball beter than SWP.

Just watched the whole game again on Sky+. It was never a sending off in a million years. I am all for the footballing authorities cracking down on horror challenges such as Crouch's and Carvalho's. Those types of two-footed lunges have either dangerous intent or are plain reckless and should be punished with a straight red, regardless of whether there is any actual contact or not. But Mikel's was not a two-footed, off the floor lunge. It was an honest, committed, (albeit slightly late) attempt on the ball. IMO, it was 50-50 call to even be a yellow card. Apparently, as I understand it, the refs are cracking down on all "studs up" challenges. Well, that rules out any form of the sliding tackle then, (which in itself could spell the end of Ricky's career!). How else can a player go to ground and slide for the ball without showing studs? The only way I can think of is if players wear trainers or carpet slippers. And while I'm on the subject of ref's decisions, didn't Mr Walton bottle it big time with the Neville foul on Malouda in the 2nd half? Everton are not a bad side but I felt we played very well and were in total control of the game until the sending off. However, I do think Avram took the decision to replace an attacking midfielder, (Joe Cole), with a defensive one, (Sidwell), too early. Avram had Sidwell stripping off his tracksuit before Mikel had even got off the pitch. He should have waited a bit longer to see if we were going to be put under anymore pressure in our own half. Because in the five or six minutes that elapsed between the sending off and the substitution, we carried on where we had left off. Dominating possession and playing in the Everton half. Indeed, during this period we fashioned a very good chance for Pizarro. The substitution changed that. As well as obviously reducing our attcking options, it broke our tempo and allowed Everton to push higher up the pitch.

Had to spin a coin on this one. Couldn't decide between Ballack and Belletti. The toss came down in Belletti's favour. He really combined well down the right with Cole. SWP played very well. He generally does when he is played in a position that means he doesn't have to cross a ball.

I think it does Loz. Colin Hutchinson was the undisputed master of transfer negotiations and Uncle Ken used to say a big part of his strategy was to make early face to face contact. Not just with the intended target, but with his family as well to get them on board. I remember reading the Michael Laudrup signing was clinched by Hutch personally presenting a Chelsea shirt, autographed by all the players, to his young kid. How I'd love those type of transfer dealings to return. Pick up the paper in the morning to find we'd already done the deal and signed another Guillit, Desailly, Zola or Di Matteo. All completed without the media having had an inkling any such move was in the offing.

People forget what happened the last time the Spertz made it to a Wembley final. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/891485.stm The bloke actually got it off with at court as well!

I will assume Drogba stays and so should you. He's not gone yet. And if we leave Drogba out of the equation we should leave out Frank too, as there's just as much chance of him not being here as well. 1. Cech 2. Essien 3. Terry 4. Carvalho 5. Bridge/Cole 6. Lampard 7. Ballack 8. Mikel 9. Drogba 10. J.Cole 11. Belletti

The Metropolitan police force won't share your desire Scott. Don't you remember how much trouble there was at the FA Cup tie at our place last year?

BJD is right. 20 years ago last night's game would have sold out twice over the clamour for tickets would have been so great Coco, I was at the 4-4 at Hillsboro it is, and always will be, one of my best Chelsea memories. We went mental. And to think that one of the blokes who was with us was so gutted at half-time he wanted to go home! I was also up at Sunderland in '84 when we lost 2-0 in the first leg. I remember we took thousands up there and it was as cold as a witch's tit. Big Joe dislocated his shoulder and Dale Jasper, (the long awaited future England Captain ), came on and played like f**king Bambi on ice. There was trouble with the law after the game and to top it all I nearly stacked the mini-bus driving home. BJD mentions the Sheff Weds semi in '90 when we inexplicably failed to turn up for both legs. But the previous round against the Spertz felt like a cup-final. Andy Big Nose made Gazza his personal midfield bitch for the evening at sh*te Fart Lane. As per usual after the game the locals weren't happy.

Totally agree Scott. In response to EthicalS, what does this have to do with Frank's situation? Nothing as far as I can see. Cole is not in the process of engineering a new contract. Frank is. And while they can both tell us they love the club, (I believe that both do), and that they both want to stay for a long time, (I believe that one does), Lamps stalling over a new contract which has been on the table for a year doesn't do us any favours. You don't like Joe Cole, (protest to the contrary, but a quick flick through most of your posts involving debate on him will prove the point), and that is fair enough. But to try to justify Lampard's current situation with yet another bit of Joe Cole bashing is a bit unfair.

I heard about this on the radio today and was shocked. I thought Jamie had too much "class and dignity" to behave in such a manner.

On the pitch Drogba is a fantastic footballer, that works hard for the team and when in top form is virtually unplayable. His input in our success in the last few years was huge and is widely acknowledged. Off the pitch more often than not he acts like a self serving tw*t with vastly oversized ego. You can talk all you want about his close bond with the 'general of the pitch' but the truth is he wanted out since day one. It's touching that he felt so deep about his debt to Mourinho but what about the club that paid his wages, cured his injuries and stood by him during his first two seasons in London when he was more known for his diving and rolling around on the floor then his footballing ability? What about the fans that have supported him all this time? Don't we all deserve a bit of respect and gratitude? When he mouths off to the press for the hundredth time on how he wants out of Chelsea don't you think he knows how it affects the club and support? I think he does, and i don't think he gives a f..k. Chelsea legend? Don't make me laugh. Perhaps we should make it official club policy? Let's clarify the situation once and for all and have it written into player's contracts. Any player who mouths off publically to the press about: 1. Not being happy because I'm being played out of position. 2. Not being played. 3. Not being happy with the manager. 4. Not being happy. 5. His wife not being happy. 6. Not being happy with contract negotiations. 7. Not being happy with the pay. 8. Not being happy with the pies in the canteen. Will immediately be sold by the club. So, over recent years, that's thank you very much and goodnight to: Frank Le Beef, JFH (no:8 on the list), Arjen Robben, Drogba, Gallas, Carvalho, Crespo, JT, Petit and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. And if you want to go further back in history you can add Ossie and Hudson to the list too!

Every now and then, (well, quite often actually), Brian likes to bring up Jimbo's hatrick. I was at that game, and while, they were three good goals, Brian and many others tend to forget the lids only had 10 men on the pitch when two of the goals were scored. Interesting to read a Spuds fan's view of that game. It would appear they don't like us much. Especially liked the comment about the debt and his opinion of Poyet! http://www.topspurs.com/0102-a-cfc.htm So, best ever hat-trick? OK if it's not Flo's against Spertz, (in their own gaff and with 11 men on the pitch), how about King Kerry's three goals in the 5-0 drubbing of Leeds that won us promotion?

Whatever the figure Loz, he still managed to get the ball to a blue shirt more often than Jimmy did.

Best hat-trick ever? No contest there Brian me old mucker. Tore Andre Flo away at sh*te Fart Lane. The fans still sing about it till this day. " Six, one. We won six, one. We won six, one. At the Lane"

To be honest I don't know how anyone can leave out Drogba. I wrote a piece a long time back stating the reasons why we would never have won the league with a striker like JFH leading the front line. We desperately needed a centre-forward who could: 1. Hold the ball up, wait for midfield players to support him and then lay it off. 2. Who was willing to tackle and be our first line of defence when the opposition had possesion in their half. 3. Gave us a genuine aerial threat. 4. Had movement across the line and a good work rate, both going forward and back. 5. Score some goals. Now, even in those days when he hit the deck too easily and whined to the ref, Drogba still gave us all those things. Much was made of his touch and control in that first season. All greatly exaggerated IMO. Yes, his touch was not at the level it is today, (confidence my friends), but for every ball he missed controlled and pass he mis-placed, he had a dozen that came off. And he never gave defenders a moments peace. Note number 5 on the list. Score some goals. Not loads of goals, some goals. He didn't have to get a hatfull. Provided he did all those other things he would make it easier for midfield players to get forward and pose a threat. Goals would come from all over the pitch, and they did. Drogba's role become even more important when Jose played the 4-3-3 with a lone central striker. He was one of the very few strikers around who had the workaholic mentality and physical assets to make it work. Without Drogba we would never have won the titles. He was every bit as important as JT and Lamps. Carvalho we could afford to be without. We had Gallas.

Rolling around on the floor, but still playing a vital part in us winning two titles! Makelele, Cech, Drogba

Game was as boring as hell, but, oh, it was lively outside. Both before and after. Trains stopped into Earls Court due to the fighting. And this was over an hour after the final whistle.

Tommy "Leather Lungs" Langley is one who loves Chelsea. He still regularly attends home games, normally sitting in the Shed Upper. Kerry Dixon has to be the ultimate though. In 1988, (when we were in Division 2 again), and Le Arse repeatedly came a calling for his services, he told them to stick it where the sun don't shine and stayed with us. He subsequently scored 25 goals in that campaign and helped us win the Div 2 title. Now, that my friends, is love for your club. PS: for you newbies, that is King Kerry scoring a truly wonderous goal against the gooners in my avatar. And believe it or not, (despite what the crowd scenes of wild celebration following the goal may lead you to think), the game was played at............................. Highbury!

Call me a cynical old ba****d, but in my view he ONLY factor which will decide whether Lamps stays at Chelsea is money. So long as Chelsea give in to his outrageous wage demands he'll stay, simple. You cynical old bar steward! In my view it is rarely just about money at that level. Money is just used as a gauge. So Frank reckons he has been one of the key contributors to our success over the last 3 years and feels that this should be reflected in his contract. Translate that to the real world - you are doing a great job at work and your boss brings in someone else, on higher wages, who doesn't do as good a job. How do you feel? Pretty naffed off I suspect. But, you love your job and the people you work with so what do you do? You go to your boss and say, I'm worth as much, if not more, than this new guy, and my contract will run out soon, I'd like a new one on the same basis, or better. You want to stay but you're not going to let your boss take the piss out of you. If you can agree a new deal that you believe reflects your achievement and status in the company then that's great. Otherwise you might just decide that you'll consider other offers. The amounts of money involved in football may well be considered obscene but the basic principal remains the same. Isn't that exactly what Gallas did? He wanted terms and wages that he felt reflected his value to the team. However, Kenyon and Buck undervalued that. The Lampard saga has dragged on for bloody ages and I'm glad Frank wants to stay. However, this is something he has said before and he still hasn't put pen to paper. I do hope his "love of the club" is duly reflected in realistic and reasonable demands for his new contract. I heard on the radio this afternoon he wants a six or seven year deal. That is a very long period of time for a player who is knocking on 30. But so long as he is prepared to accept that he will, in all likelyhood, be playing less regularly at 33/34 years old and therefore won't be getting anywhere near 120K a week for his services at that age, I say let's get the deal done.