just

Problem is Grant is not even attempting to set the team up any differently. He does have the option of playing two up front, and God knows, Sheva needs all the help he can get! I'm not saying a simple change in formation such as that is going to see us turn into Brazil '70 but, for a fella supposedly in the job to provide more entertainment and attacking intent, you'd think he'd give it a go. Surely, it would give us more attacking edge and the capability to hold the ball up in the final third?

Another attack filled, fluberfest of all out total football. Don't believe the hype. Where exactly does Jose leave and Avram start? 1 up front again. Thrill me with ein sexy footbaallen baby. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz We are grinding results out in the JM stylee............................. Except at the Library and Old Titford. Where, rest assured, the gooners and mancs are mighty glad Jose the winner is far, far away.

I notice we've not had any criticisms of Anelka from a purely footballing perspective. i.e he has poor control, is terrible in the air, can't finish etc. Is it because he doesn't have any? So far all the misgivings have been about his personality.

Well whatever, have to admit the QPR game is the hottest ticket in town. My phone has been ringing 24/7 with people asking if I can get hold of spares. Going with all my usual crowd, but also a fair few R's coming up with us as well. To put it into context. For them this match is the equivalent of us meeting Rottenham in the Champions League final. That big. For them, it is massive. Personally, I'm having a problem keeping a straight face.

Essien for me. Carvalho's header was a gift. Good to have him back though.

Watford away early 80's. Close up at half-time on MOTD of me and a mate freezing our nuts off while Motty harps on about how cold it is at Vicarage Road.

I'm pleased about the Anelka link. A few years back, (in fact when CR was still manager), myself and Butch regularly put his name forward as player we should be going after. Of course we all know he is a big french tit with the attitude and arrogance that go with that, but, when viewed from a purely footballing perspective, there is not alot to dislike. Pace, strength, aerial ability, vision, finishing and a wonderful touch. Wish he were a couple of years younger but at 28 years old he still has some left in the tank and I feel he really wants another chance on a big stage. He knows it would be his last shot, he'd be a prat not to make the most of it.

No way. JT went in hard but he clearly won the ball. He didn't come through the back of any player, it wasn't two footed. Even Andy Gray was forced to change his mind when he saw the replay. The fact that Fabregas got wiped out after he played the ball is just an added bonus. Totally agree with you ES. Don't know where you're coming from on this one Barn. I'm also with Daz10 in that I'm not sure Eboue really meant to do JT. Having watched it a few times now I feel he was lunging to try and block/charge the ball down. He turned away before the point of contact. By far the worst "challenge" of the day was the Fabregas lunge through the back of Cashley in the dying moments. No intention at all of playing the ball, just straight through him. The way Cole's leg went sideways and back at the same time . Lucky boy not to have had a break.

Sorry folks but I've got to say it. How anyone can give Shevchenko MOTM on that paltry performance is unbelievable. He wasn't the worst player on display, SWP or Joe Cole have that honour, but he sure didn't cause the Arsenal back line any problems. 1 speculative shot from distance, 1 reasonably struck free kick which Almunia was overly flashy in dealing with, and a real chance from a header which he got totally wrong by heading it into the ground! Never got in behind Toure or Gallas once all game and certainly didn't have the legs to go around them. And before someone shouts the usual Sheva excuse of "service", fair do's he never had much yesterday and the lone striker role isn't one that suits him, but there again is the bloke wholly incapable of manufacturing chances for himself? Out of 10 I'd give him a 6 for yesterday's match and hope that Grant has another forward lined-up as soon as that transfer window opens in January.

Cashley for me as well.

Joe Cole very poor. Clichy was too much of an athlete and had him in his pocket. Lamps gave the ball away more in this game than he did all last season. Sheva was practically anonymous. Gallas had a very comfortable afternoon. Cech was at fault for the goal but then he did save us at the end to keep the score respectable. Ben Haim again looked very shaky at times. He used to impress me for Bolton. Strong, commanding, consistent centre-half for them. Wether lack of games or confidence is affecting him, I don't know, but he hasn't looked the same player for us. Felt Alex, Cashley and Mikel did well. Thought Grant made his second major error today. Got the formation all wrong. Shevchenko no longer has the tools to play up front as an isolated striker in a 4-3-3. As someone on here stated during the week, "he is no Drogba". He has to have someone alongside him. If Shev was gonna play, Pizarro should have started as his partner with either Cole or SWP being sacrificed. We desparately have to buy another forward in the January transfer window. And if, as seems likely, Drogba goes at the end of the season, we'll have to buy another one then too. I wish we could clone the blonde bloke in my new avatar! I felt Le Arse were the better side today and deserved the result. But with Drogba, Carvy and Essien out and JT off after half an hour, we obviously have some excuses. Full team out, we'll do 'em at our place.

Townsend does the slag the team Loz, but to be fair he normally only has good things to say about us the fans and how we impressed him during his time at the club. I have heard him talk about our awesome away support on several occaisions. Only the other week on Talksport, (the discussion was about travelling fans making an away fixture seem like a home game), he mentioned how we always used to turn Loftus Road into Stamford Bridge for the day. True enough Andy. As we also used to do at Luton, Watford, Foolham, Leicester and also most famously at that first match of the 84-85 season, Arsenal.

Mod, I've just seen this. Brilliant. Can you please replace my Joey Jones avatar with this one? Cheers mate

As someone who watched Sheva play "in the flesh", both for his club and country, when he was young and in his prime, the overriding feeling I get watching him struggle so badly for us, is one of real sadness. Sadness that a geniune great of the game, (and he was exactly that), is still trying so hard to be what he once was and looking clueless as to why he isn't. I first saw him live when he was 22/23 and he was the fastest white player I had ever seen. He was unbelievably quick. He was a stunning forward in most other respects, heading, touch, agression etc. But the asset that really stood out was his speed. That pace allowed him to play anywhere along the line, give a defender 5 yards, and still be first to every ball put in behind the defence. Defenders didn't know how to cope. If they pushed him out to the flanks he would pick the ball up, knock it into space, and, woosh, he was gone. Sadly that electric speed that was such a vital part of his armoury is gone, never to return. Indeed, as some of us on here pointed out before his purchase, the signs were there in his last season or so at Milan that Sheva was past his peak. And yes, I was one of those who was against the signing of Sheva when it finally happened. Because, having followed his career closely and having noted that loss of pace and sharpness, I felt it would probably turn out this way. And as he is a personal footballing hero of mine, I didn't want to watch that happen. All the talk of money doesn't matter to me. Just as I imagine it doesn't matter to Abromovich. Roman loved him and wanted him and he can afford it. End of story. I'm more concerned with the talk of radically changing formations and tactics to accomodate Shev, because IMO it is wrong. Totally wrong. It won't make much difference. OK, he might score a couple more goals, but he is never going to be the Andriy Shevchenko that I first watched nearly a decade ago. A player that was, IMO, rightly hailed as one of the finest forwards the world has ever seen. A player who could tear a defence apart on his own. Sheva was a fantastic signing for Chelsea. It simply came about too late. Both for him and for us.

Absolutely. He was OK nothing more. Spent much of the game out on the left/right wing.

Speedo done the lap of honour at half-time yesterday. When he went past the Mackems they gave him some grief and he gave them the w**kers sign. They weren't happy. Top bloke Speedo.

It might be worth Roman having a word with the Irish FA. If they can swing a passport and a green shirt for the likes of Townsend, Cascarino and Clinton Morrison they must be able to help us out with the Drogs? Surely he must have some Irish relatives somewhere? A long-lost nan? A 2nd cousin twice removed?

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,, ... 76,00.html Wonder if the investigation will be led by Chief Superindent Frisk or Detective Inspector Galliard?

Excellent draw. Brings back memories. Derby games against the West London Wannabes always seemed to be played over the Xmas/New Year period. Either them or Luton. Altogether now........... QPR. QPR. QPR. QPR, ha , ha, ha, ha, ha.

I watched it and Zola was the best player on display by a million miles. It was like the ball was glued to his feet. And given the atrocious conditions the game was played in, that is saying something. OK He's 41 now, but I'd swap him for Sheva in a heartbeat. Couple of brilliant Wisey moments as well. The curler for the first England goal, and then nearly slicing Gianfranco in half with a sliding tackle. Bet LookAtMe Poll was itching to red card him for that one!

of course any goal that beats Snottenham is top quality, but Larsson's goal in the third minute of stoppage time was absolutely stunning. I haven't seen a better strike than that so far this season. Have you?

Chippy. That last post is taking the "positive mental attitude conquers all" thing a bit too far!!!

Briefly, this is what happened: Who's shoes are these? Grey fog, snow, trees. Farking map. One pint £6.70. Stunningly beautiful waitress. Jagermeister. "Oh east London is like Bengal". We can't be on telly, we're supposed to be at work. Italian restaurant and lovely girls. Pint and a packet of crisps £9.70. Lizbeth. How about that for a skid. The mother of all snowball fights. Fell over again. Portakabin for a ticket office? "Sing when it's snowing". Where's the coach? De-icing the plane. Premier Inn's 24 hour bar. Where's my shoes? Great trip. Bloody expensve place. What the hell is the average wage out there?

I'm in full agreement with everything Brit has said here.

And those of us who were unlucky enough to have seen him play can testify that his playing ability was worse than his language.