just

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?

Don't tell me I'm going to have to move on. Last year when I posed a similar question your response was "Wait until the knockout phase". Much more like the old Just. I think you probably are going to have to move on Liam. Kenyon gets kicked in the nuts for many of the decisions he makes in running Chelsea. Quite rightly so IMO. But this is one move he probably deserves a bit of praise for. UEFA are frightend of G14, (and now seemingly locked in dispute). G14 wouldn't let us in. We become part of UEFA's administrative organisation along with Barca, in the process destabilising G14's power base. Smart move. We now have a voice amongst the decision makers. Politicking of this nature can have all sorts of beneficial results.

as the saying goes, "you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you cant fool all of the people all of the time" Or does it mean that Roman has finally woken up, smelt the coffee and realised Sheva is not the player he was two or three years ago? As you know Bramo was sitting in the Shed Upper on Saturday, and when Sheva was subbed, he threw his hands up and was clearly heard saying, "Smegski. Andriy, muchdo slowski againyov. Cheeriovski 30 million quidski" Now I don't speak Russian myself but I am realiably informed it was something about loss of pace?

No. But perhaps it has a little to do with us being all cuddly-duddly with our new found UEFA friends and thereby helping to dilute the power of G14. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 44,00.html We've being going out for nearly a year now. I hope you buy them a card.

When I did the tour of the ground with my daughter we got to visit the player's treatment area. There was a roll of masking tape on one of the chairs. I so wanted to stick a piece on the door and write, "The Arjen Robben Suite - Booked until further notice". Do you think it's possible that JM's redundancy package was partly financed by the money Roman has saved on physio's bills and bandages since Robben has left?

I have reconsidered, and I think all of you that have called for Cech to be added to that list are correct. There was a dip in form for Big Pete, but when you consider the injury he sustained, it's entirely understandable he was always going to take time to get back to his best. I think he is back there now. However, I would totally disagree with Loz's call on Drogba. He could play up top in ANY system/formation/style and still be the key man up front. If you are going to argue that he wouldn't be effective in a team that played short, passing football, I'd bet money that he'd be even more lethal.

IMO, in our team, we have two. Two players who if they left tomorrow, or had to retire for whatever reasons, we could never find replacements as good as them anywhere in the world. It's not Frank Lampard. It's not Carvalho or even Cech, (very close call for him though). It's not Maka, great player though he still is. I think we could lose any of those players and, though it would be a big blow, we could find players who are as good or better in their respective positions. But John Terry and Didier Drogba. Irreplaceable.

That's a bit harsh. I thought he did a couple of good things tonight. We'll take that. It's a begining. Akin to Liam Gallagher admitting Blur made a couple of decent tunes.

He's a can't pass, can't tackle, no discipline, showpony.

Joe Cole for me too. And the darts team at the Chequers, (2 Gooners, 1 Spertz, 1 Plastic Manc and a Norwich fan!), asked if I could register their votes as well. Can someone please post a clip of Drogba's goal so that I can watch the boy who cannot pass, caress that ball with the outside of his right foot once more. And another thing, in the build up to that goal, ............................. what the hell was he doing in the middle?

I hadn't given that much thought, although I have a fairly good idea of the colour when she's finished. Quality Liam.

Spot the difference. Manure last night. Another scrappy 1-0 win. They've only scored more than one goal once this season, against us. They really rode their luck as they have done for all of the games I have seen them this campaign. No free-flowing, attacking football. No fans complaining. No Chairman or owner demanding more entertaining football. No sign of the manager being sacked.