just

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.

Poyet?

I too would rest Ballack, but for another reason. To protect him from further injury. This is QP ha's biggest game for donkey's years. Despite their position in the league our West London neighbours will be up for it big-time. I expect the blood, snot and tackles to be flying on the pitch on Saturday, and it won't be a place for the faint-hearted. I'm really looking forward to this one.

I agree- it's horrible to watch him when we have a lot of defending to do... You suprise me there G4. Because I know you are big fan of Carvalho and the way Belletti and Carvy defend are very, very similar. Both like to try and anticipate the ball and steal in front of the opponent. Both like to push up the pitch and will stray out of position in an attempt to intercept. Both are happy to carry the ball forward out of defence. There really are substantial similarities between the two. I agree Belletti needs to temper his agressive style according to the calibre of opponent he is up against, but personally, I'm more accepting of a full-back playing in this fashion than a centre-half. IMO when a centre-half makes an error through the middle it is more likely to be punished. And I'll accept it even moreso when a full-back gives us a real attacking option down the flank. And Belletti does. The importance of that asset shouldn't be under-estimated. Especially with us currently having only one genuine winger in the team and an absence of pace throughout the side. I'd have Belletti in front of Ferreria everytime. Apart from the attacking edge he gives us, I also think Belletti is far more technically accomplished than Ferreria. Control, passing, crossing, moving with the ball, timing of runs, etc. It can't have been easy for Belletti. He knows Alves was JM's desired choice and he came in only as a late, and relatively cheap, alternative. Yes, there are better right backs out there but, so far, he's slotted in quite well and I've been reasonably impressed with him.

Ballack for me. Again. Maybe Frank leaving in the summer won't be such a devastating blow after all.

Very, very interesting because personally I have always felt Mikel would be far more effective further up the pitch tucked in behind the forwards. I have voiced this opinion on several occaisions and Pauly, for one, has also said the same thing. Mikel has all the assets to play this role. 1. Very quick feet and excellent first touch. 2. Extremely strong and hard to knock off the ball when in posession. 3. Plays first time passes accurately. The one thing that he doesn't appear to be is a natural finisher in front of goal, and in that position he would be expected to chip in with suitable a ratio of goals. I'd like to see him tried there. We have Essien and Maka who can play the defensive holding role.

I know. And I'm talking about what happened against Newcastle.

Belletti for me. Match saving tackle in the 68th minute. And gave us alot going forwards. The only way Ferreria should be picked in front of Belletti is if Mr Bell is confined to a wheelchair.

Well, whether you agree with it or not, (personally, I don't), the booing was the loudest and longest I've heard at SW6 for many a year. All aimed at Avram and Roman "You don't know what you're doing" rang out around all parts of the ground after Grant's substitutions. And mass chants of "Jose Mourinho" sprang up more than once in the Shed and West stands. A fella sits in front of me had some verbals with two blokes a bit further along and it looked likely to kick off. Luckily Kalou, (who had been dreadful all afternoon), popped up with an unlikely winner. Whatever Grant says in today's papers about the fans being behind him, I can tell you one fact. An awful lot of them aren't.

Nibs, why do you think they are likely to play well against the top teams? It must be based purely on them taking a point at home against Le Arse, because a fortnight prior to that they got thumped 3-0 at home by Liverplod. And in September they lost to Man City 3-1. They did follow that result a week later with a 3-2 win at home over Everton, thanks to an injury time goal by Owen, (who is unlikely to play tomorrow). And of course they were recently walloped 4-1 at home by Pompey. The haven't played Man U yet, but out of the 15 points available against the top 7 sides in the League they've met, they have only taken three points!

What's a SHEF line ?

Chippy, shipping three goals in their last two games, and in the process losing at Wigan and snatching a late equaliser at home to Derby, suggests they have some way to go before it may be claimed they are sorting the defence out! Unfortunately, Sheva will not have the time and space he had 2nd half against Villa, as Newcastle will most likely choose to start with two centre-halves and 11 men on the pitch. If only we could play teams with 10 men every week. I'm sure Sheva would be devastating.

Chippy you sound like a fella getting his excuses in early with that last post. Newcastle are a club in deep, deep doo doo. They have no creativity whatsoever. They are dropping points to sides at the bottom of the table and the fans have turned against the manager and his style of football big-time. And to add to all their troubles Joey Barton was locked up last night after another fracas and has been refused bail today. Whatever our own injury problems, we could not be playing at them a better time. This MUST be a straight forward home win. Three points. No excuses. The club's official website seems to share this view: http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea18070 ... _2209129_0