just

OK. But then, (if you're gonna keep score), Jose didn't make a big drama about the Laursen foul on SWP which should have been a nailed-on penalty at Villa Park.

i think you have some point- we don't have a great passing side even with lampard in it, but the best thing about joe's performance today was that he was trying to make passes from the right AREA. It wasn't just: big defender wins ball, ball is pushed out wide, cross, repeat. And it wasn't these impossible passes from the half way line for the strikers- we need joe in the lineup to play in between the lines, i think if there was a player who didn't belong today it was kalou- he was in the right place once in the entire game- when he scored.. I am sure G4 would whole-heartedly disagree. Firstly it's accepted knowledge that Joe doesn't have the range of passing to make that difference, and secondly he doesn't have the footballing brain to operate effectively through the middle. His best position, as has been stated on numerous occaisions, is definately out wide left where he can cut inside on to his right foot.

A great player once. But now a shadow of what he was. Having the same impact on the EPL as Veronimo. Brief pause. Sits backs, stubs out cigar, rolls sleeves up and waits for Pauly and G4 to arrive.

Just skimmed through some of the comments without, it has to be said, paying alot of attention. But the poster who has named himself .......... Jimmy Floyd BottleBank.................. Has made my day. A big, huge, mega Gold Star is in the post. Though I doubt he'll be getting a Xmas card from Brian M and Liam.

One small but important point Tim. Kerry is not your Uncle. He is not anyone's uncle. His proper title is King Kerry and that is how he should be addressed.

Lofty, you've got to stop torturing yourself like this mate. It's the worst kind of self-abuse and will leave permanent scars. I vowed, on walking out of Scumfield after the CL pennos last season, (gracious in victory my arse), that I would, from that moment forth, avoid anything and everything Liverpoo related. For instance, on Sundays I read all the football pages but I no longer read their match reports. If a scouse Red comes on the radio I switch stations before I hear the first, "dey do doh". If Alan Green comes on the radio I switch stations before I hear the first "Gerrardism"*. If Jimmy Tarbuck, Stan Boardman, Ricky Tomlinson or Lily Savage pop up on my TV, the remote control is running for cover because it knows it's going to get battered in my rush to change channels. If I see someone walking down the street with a Liverpoo shirt on, I cross to the other side. As for visiting a Liverpoo fan's forum, why I would rather spend a pleasant hour cheerily shoving my own testicles through a mangle. History labels aparthied as one of the worst evils ever imposed by one group of humanity on another. In the context it was implemented and inforced in SA I fully concur. However, I would vote for any political party in this country who actively campaigned for the segregation of Liverpoo supporters from the rest of society. If everyone avoided all things Liverpoo the world would be a healthier, happier place. Try it. It will make you a new man. * Gerradism (isms - itis), servile flattery, treat as God, toadying, deifying

I must be getting old. I'm not too gutted about the result. Overall I though we played well. In fact really well. Some of our one touch passing and movement was excellent. OK, I felt we over egged the pudding around the Villa box by trying to walk the ball through them. But, that said, I don't want to take anything away from the Villa back-line and midfield. The fully deserve every credit, because each and every one of them worked their fooking nuts off. The chased down every player in a Blue shirt, threw themselves in front of every shot, tackled for every ball, for the whole 90 minutes. Laursen in particular had the game of his life. Once or twice a season you always get a game like this. A game where you dominate and are by far the better side but the ball just doesn't run your way. Lady Luck was on our side a fortnight ago up at Liverplod, today she was with another fella. Over the course of the season we'll play alot worse than we did today and win. In fact we already have. PS. Really like to see JC given the nod over Malouda for a couple of games. Played well when he came on. He gives us an urgency and tempo to our game.

Very sad news. Never met BB but always enjoyed reading his posts and debating Chelsea with him. RIP Nick

Totally agree. Thought he looked stunning when he played at right back last season. I'll be seeing a few very happy gooners down the pub this evening if this is true.

I understand Arjen Robben's medical for Madrid involved him undergoing a strenuous blinking exercise. He passed at the second attempt.

You will definately have ulcers by the time you are 30. And irritable bowel syndrome.

Lampard has been the pivotal player for us for the last 3 years. Joe had a good season in 05/06 but putting him on a par with Frank is fantasy in my view. Even if you just take 05/06 as a comparison - Joe's best season - he scored 8 goals to Frank's 16 and had 5 assists to Frank's 8 just in the PL. And Frank does it week in week out, year in year out. Not true IMO. Drogba was the pivotal player last season. An argument for Essien would be acceptable, but not Frank.

I have to pull you up there. You are so wrong on that. Our fans backed him 120% every game. He could not have been given more support. Barn made a totally valid point in his post. If it was some unknown 23 year old playing like Sheva did, he would have took dog's abuse from practically everyone.

Complete fallacy about long balls being hit up to him all the time. This argument is usually presented by people who are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is past his prime. The Shevchenko we have now is not the same player Milan had three/four seasons ago. He had enough passes played into his feet as well last season. Unfortunately, he didn't appear to have the body strength to hold defenders off and protect the ball, or the pace to turn and get away from them anymore.

And most importantly, he was also totally isolated covering the right back position for that goal. He was sucked out of position, in much the same way as Carvalho often is, but to be fair, he had no option because our right back had gone AWOL and that flank was unmanned. I rate TBH, I think he is a very solid player, but he is no right back. Neither is Essien, and that was why he was he wasn't there, (where he should have been), when the ball was played through.

I'd like to play but I don't know how to post the videos direct to the thread page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADXrzgyoG7A Only sorry it's not the extended version with the sax solo.

And the recipient of one of the funniest football chants ever written. Sung to the tune of "Blue Moon" "Solksjaer. He's got a baby's head, he's got a baby's head, he's got a baby's head".

100% agree with that. It would be a mistake to off load Diarra.

Dear Mr Brian M, In anticipation of this evidence being presented to the court, we have obtained written testimony from several Chelsea TV employees, (who work as colleagues alongside Mr Barnett), that he even addresses the CTV tea-lady, Mrs Lucy Armwavy, as "Lucy the Ledge". Further, we have in our posession a sworn avadavit from Mr Roman Abramovich himself which gives some insight as to his opinion of your client. It reads: "I watch much longtime before I buy club. I want best. Jimmy not good. He spend most game sit next me in comfy chair. I not wait get rid of him when I come. He given choice. He go Kerovskia* or my people make disappear." Yours faithfully Sir Renwick Arse-Largely QC * Middlesborough

We appreciate the young gentleman has just left the building and feelings are running high, but be careful not to let dewey-eyed sentimentality spill over into irrational, emotively charged statements. Our legal team are watching this thread, and if anyone so much as utters the phrase, "Arjen Robben - Chelsea legend" we shall be all over them like a severe case of herpes. Yours faithfully, Sir Renwick Arse-Largely QC

I wouldn't lose any sleep over that. Singing at us is not going to hurt anybody. Unless Victoria Beckham is doing the singing.

Dear Mr Dorset, The said representative, of whom you refer is one, Mr Neil Barnett, A garrulous, presenter on Chelsea TV prone to bouts of hyperbole. I would draw your attention to the fact that Mr Barnett has also, on public occaision, used the term "Legend" in relation to people such as Franck Le Beouf, Tommy Langley, Gavin Peacock and Eddie Newton amongst others. Indeed, it seems merely being an ex-Chelsea player is qualification enough to obtain legendary status in Mr Barnett's opinion. We have written to Chelsea TV to protest in the strongest possible terms at the misuse of the title "Legend" and hope that Mr Barnett will duly reprimanded. Furthermore, your inclusion of the term "reasonable legend" is misguided insofar as our request was for the word "reasonable" to be substituted for the word "great" in clause 1.1 - sub-section 1, so as the clause should read thus: Yours faithfully, Sir Renwick Arse-Largely QC

Dear Mr Brian M, I have been appointed as lead barrister by the firm of solicitors representing the members of the Shed End Fans Forum. My brief is to best represent my client's interests in the forthcoming court action, which has arisen solely because of your insistence that your client, Mr J.F Hasselbaink, be accorded the honorary title Legend in any future reference, be it written or verbal. As such I have been furnished with all the relevant documents pertaining to the case and would reply as follows to your previous submission. I. From the clause quoted above we want the word "great" replaced with "reasonable". And from the last sentence we request the word "probably" be omitted. II. From the sub-section above we would insist that the title "striker", having many ambiguous interpretations, be replaced with the fully undertood term "goal-scorer". Indeed, may I take this opportunity to cite the precedent of MOTD V J. Lee (1994), in which the defendant, Mr Jason Lee, was successfully sued for mis-representation under the Trades Description Act, for describing himself as a "striker" on a publically broadcast TV programme. I would also request that, in the interests of brevity, one of the "greats" be withdrawn from the final sentence above. III. For the sake of factual relevance we ask that the following statement: Be changed to: The clause below is the one that caused the most consternation for myself, the other members of our legal team and our clients. We insist that the opening sentence be amended to read: "will Jimmy be remembered as one of the greatest goal-scorers ever to play the game? Indeed, will he even be remembered as one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation?" If this is contested publically, we warn you that we have a cast-iron defence, and will cite Henry, Van Nistlerooy, Bergkampf and Shearer in any court action likely to ensue. We are confident that there is not one judge, in the entire British or European judiciary, who will find in your favour. Finally, prior to signing any legal documents attesting to the status of "Legend" being awarded to your client, Mr JF Hasselbaink, we require your signature, within the next seven working days, on a legally binding Compromise Agreement pertaining to the ranking of your client, and current legendary titleholders, on any future role of honour. Namely, Mr P.Osgood Mr B. Tambling Mr K. Dixon Mr. J. Greaves Mr D. Drogba Mr J.F Hasselbaink Please note this was document was previously issued to your offices under recorded delivery on August 17th. http://www.chelseafcforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4633 To date we have received no reply. Yours faithfully, Sir Renwick Arse-Largey QC

You never know, but I think we can be fairly confident Robben won't come back and haunt us. If we ever play Madrid with him in the line-up, we just get Essien or JT to run up behind him and shout "boo". That should put him out of the game. If we wanted to be really nasty we could send him a signed photo of Chopper Harris. That would make him hide under his bed for a fortnight.