just

To be fair he used to be able to run back and forth very, very fast. Now he can only run back and forth very, very slowly. Heard Graham Taylor on the radio a while back saying how much pace Sheva has lost and how it has affected his game. Strange. Never thought I'd agree with anything Turnip Taylor ever said. He's bang on the money with that statement though.

That is a brilliant weather forecast To be a little more specific, there was a snowstorm in Trondheim today, and it's 20-30 cm with snow. Seems like it will be very cold on wednesday, too. Right. Well seeing as my afro has long since departed, I'd probably be wise to invest in a good hat then?

Cheers Paul. I've been to Sweden a couple of times but this is my first visit to Norway. I'm really looking forward to it.. I've heard the beer is very expensive out there. Could you tell me what the average cost of a pint is? Also, how cold is it over there at the moment?

True enough Lozzer. But with Bridgey injured and Del Oh-No a no-no, sometimes the decision was inevitable. All managers have favourites, but IMO Jose could rarely be accused of pandering to a player's ego or reputation. Just ask Mr Shevchenko. And, in the final analysis, he got it right way more than he got it wrong.

where me and four amigos hope to be enjoying the friendly, local hospitality of extremely tall blonde women buying us Juleøl prior to the Rosenborg match on Wednesday night. Is anyone travelling over to join us?

Amen Brother Loz.

He's welsh mate. Damn. What about Christian Bale?

Youngsters who could be involved? Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, James Vaughan, Gareth Bale, Michael Dawson, Milner, possibly Huddlestone. Scott Sinlcair, Michael Mancienne, Matt Derbyshire.

Thank you BB! Farking superb. Me and the missus have watched it 3 times and are still pissing ourselves laughing. PS: Was the entire England team wearing them last night?

Well it provides the perfect stop gap for him until Old Red Nose finally retires and JM takes over at The Theatre of Muppets. Jose will one day be a Red. You read it here first.

Frank showed real balls to step up and take that penno in those circumstances. As has been mentioned in other threads, Lamps certainly wasn't the worst player in a white shirt last night. I think that accolade went to Bridgey. Played the whole game like he'd put his feet on back to front.

Here, here. We have, after all, been in this situation before. Ruud G's sacking is still the biggest shock I have ever experienced in all my Chelsea supporting years. It was totally unexpected. However, Vialli came in and took over at the helm of a quality team. 2nd in the league and in two cup-semi finals. In those circumstances he was expected to deliver immediate results (quite rightly so IMO), and win trophies. Thankfully he did. I have exactly the same expectations for this season with Mr Grant.

Lamps and Mikel were both excellent. Bridge played well until their goal. He was, IMO, partly at fault for it. All told, (SWP's crossing aside), I felt it was a very good performance. We played some lovely, neat football and made more than enough decent openings. We just couldn't finish them and Howard had a great game. That's how it goes sometimes. Against City everything went in, today it didn't.

This really is a no contest. http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=8 ... id=8340674

The one, the only.................................................. Jimmy Floyd Haddasnack.

Bit far-fetched that last bit. Kinda like believing we would have won the EPL title if Ranieri had had another four years.

Bit harsh to slag Gerrard Stevens when he didn't actually play in the game against Russia!

Pauly, the answer is easy. It's all a question of applied maths. Pythagoras' theorem states: "In any right angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides." Therefore, A2+B2=C2 And to prove the equation: Ruud G+Chelsea = Sexy Football* * Sexy Football. Copyright Ruud Gullit, SW6 1996 -1998

I dunno about the others, but that's definately Poyet, half-way up to the left, in the Spertz shirt, both arms aloft. W>nker

I agree with all the points both of you have made in the two posts above. But, for all those who were on here slagging JM and asking for us to play more attacking football, (not me. I was just happy with all the silverware and bragging rights Jose was giving us), I've yet to hear one them come out and ask for Wenger. Or for that matter, even give mention to the exciting, pacy football Le Arse are playing. Why is that? Is it because he's french? Is it because he isn't doing it in Serie A or La Liga? Is it because he's doing it for the Gooners? PS. I want Ruud as well.

Arsene "attack, attack, attack" Wenger. Doesn't he have all the credentials you require? 1. Attacking, flowing football first and foremost, (if there is a more attack minded side in europe this season, I have yet to see them). 2. Gives the youngsters their chance. 3. Not afraid to off-load the star player, a club legend and risk the wrath of the fans. 4. Refuses to pay over the odds in transfer fees. 5. Knows the EPL inside out. Forget Lippi and Hiddink, surely Professor Yaffle is the man you'd like to see at the helm now that boring old Jose has gone? Discuss.

Maybe Torres instead of Shevchenko?

Torres. 91st minute.

Surely the mark of a great team and great players, (such as Holland '74 and total football), is to be able to adapt to different tactical formations and playing styles during a match. Short-passing game, diamond, 4-4-2 with wingers, long-ball game, etc. Drogba, being the most complete forward in the world, (Crespo aside, but as you rightly point out Loz he is getting on and his best years are behind him), is the man who could function most effectively in all those differing systems. You could argue that a player like David Villa would be more effective than Drogs in a team that played fluid, short-passing football to feet like we did under Ruud. For a forward to flourish in that system it's obvious that they must have excellent touch, movement and vision, (ala' Vialli's choice, Chris Sutton ). Like Villa, Drogba has all those attributes, but he also has much more in terms of power, aerial ability, work-rate. And I believe, in a system such as that required to play a short passing game, with players closer to him, (as opposed to being the lone striker), sharing the attacking load, dragging defenders with them, playing quick passes in from close distance, he'd be devastating.

Jose to come back?