just

Firstly Loz, my comment: Err... "...because it's Scotland, mate...and any fool can score if they play for a pub team... " was facetious. But, as you're not your usual knowledgeable self, let me spell that out for you. fa?ce?tious /f??si??s/ ?adjective 1. not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark. 2. amusing; humorous. 3. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person. Gee, you'd think given the fact that Scotland are not a pub team, should have given that away? But, just in case, I placed an ellipsis at the end of the sentence. And, just in case-just in case, I thought I'd spell it out even more with the help of a stupid, trite wink-wink-nudge-nudge emoticon after said ellipsis. These things, you might hazard a guess, should've made it clear I was not being serious. Next time however I won't be so apparently obtuse and will spell it out to such a degree that even someone like c*nt k*ckle will be able to understand it. At which time, you, mein Fuhrer, should have no trouble whatsoever comprehending the tone of the sentence presented. And thus a whole world of confusion should be avoided. Of course it matters who you play against. But, as I said, a player can only score against the teams he's playing against. And the argument of 'did X manager think him the best number 9 for his country at that moment' has nothing whatsoever to do with the argument of was Jimmy a great striker. And, with 1 goal every 2 games he demonstrably was. Wow. That's a real toys outta the pram post! Are you still going to write.............. "Jimmy. The Greatest Story Ever Told"?

I'm sad as well Val. We had cornered the EPL market in imported work shy, cowardy custard, over-rated dutch players on huge salaries. Chelsea won't be the same club without one. PS: Excluding Ruud G.

To be fair Pauly, not quite like for like. To the best of my knowledge Beckham has never actually killed a man. Or eaten one of his own children using only his elbows.

Boom, boom.

Well I guess then maybe I won't? The anticipation from the faithful doesn't exactly overwhelm me, so... But, let me at least me edit yours: Jimmy - Chelsea Legend Fat arse, wavy arms, too many goals and a perfect hatrick against Sp*rs. PS: Just, fiction's what I do best. The truth is far too onerous. Brian, I'm afraid this has to come out of the cupboard and be waved in your direction Liam is Jimmy's 2nd biggest fan after your good self. Really, really.

If I was one of Robben's biggest fans, (which I'm not), I wouldn't be too despondent. This is all subject to him passing a.......................................... medical. I therefore expect to see him occupying his usual place in the Chelsea treatment room at 10:00am sharp tomorrow morning. But every cloud has a silver lining, if he does go, think how much we'll save on bandages. PS. Great to see the G4/Pauly double act back together again. They don't write 'em like that anymore.

We're all looking forward to it. It will be the biggest work of fiction since "The Da Vinci Code".

Brian M has got a stroppy on because of this thread http://www.chelseafcforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4633 Jimmy has always received acknowledgement for his goal-scoring record, even from me. But in contrast, Brian has always refused to accept the wider issues surrounding Jimmy's all-round ability, (or rather the lack of it), and how that affected the team. In fact it was all re-hashed on here, (yet again), only a few weeks ago. I'd save it JM. You're wasting your time when it comes to Brian and Jimbo. Believe me, I've tried. But you are, IMO, exactly right. It's the way the team had to be set-up and play to accomodate Jimmy that hurt us. The comparison with Drogba is spot on. Drogba is a team player. His "team play" brings other players into the game, takes pressure of defenders etc. Jimmy, as Tea Bar Boy pointed out, played for Jimmy. When JFH played up front for us here's just a few of things we more often than not, couldn't do: 1. Play long balls behind defenders into space......................... Jimmy wouldn't run for them, ergo, we surrendered possesion cheaply. 2. Get midfielders bombing on past the forwards......................Jimmy wouldn't cover their forward runs. 3. Hit early crosses into the opponents box from out wide.........Jimmy didn't have the will or aerial ability to get on the end of them, ergo, we surrendered possesion cheaply. 4. Defend high up the pitch.................................................... Unlike Drogba, Jimmy wouldn't even spell defend let alone close opposition players down. 5. Play a lone striker/wide striker formation.............................Jimmy had to have a partner playing close to him to be potent. 6. Move our strikers across the line.........................................Jimmy had to play centrally no matter what. And if you compare Jimbo to the really top-notch EPL strikers of his time he was always found wanting. He was a level below Shearer, RVN, Henry, both in terms of goalscoring and just as importantly, all-round ability. Having paid my money and sat and watched JFH at the Bridge for the whole of his Chelsea career his limitations were always glaringly obvious to me. As such, it was always my contention that we would have been more successful as team with a striker who may have scored less goals than Jimmy but who always contributed in other ways, including those I mention above. The goals would not have been a problem. They would simply have come in greater numbers from other players in the side. A more mobile, hardworking, skilful forward would have made that happen. Jimbo was/is a quality finisher. As I have said many times to Brian, that has never been in doubt. For that he deserves praise. But unfortunately that is his one big plus point, and for me, that one plus doesn't outweigh all the minuses. We would never, in a million years, have won the title with Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink playing week in week out as our main forward.

Zola, Cantona, Baggio, Di Canio and of course our own DD. Just a quick off the cuff list of strikers who are obviously utter failures with a worse goals per game career ratio then Jimbo and who, as Brian so rightly points out, will quickly be forgotten by the historians because they didn't score enough goals. Obviously, (seeing as in Brian's world forwards are brought ultimately to score goals), they would never have held down a place in the Brian M all-time select XI, ahead of one Mr J.F Hasselbaink. Incidentally, Bri, you've slipped up again with your Chelsea knowledge. Chelsea won the 2nd div title, ZDS and Full Member's Cup when King K was with us. Tinpot trophies they maybe, but we'd never have won them with old wavy arms.

.........................Lehmann Neville......Dignity Carragher... Maternasty...........Tarrico ................Poyet......Savage.......Hunt ..........Saunders..........Fowler.............Diouf

yes he worked hard but so does robbie savage...i was under the impression strikers were on the pitch to score goals, not just harry the opposition when they have the ball...he did a good job in trying to stop us play, liverpool's usual tactic, but never looked like he would ever score or cause any problems going forward His header at the end that Cech tipped over the bar? He didn't give our back four, or our midfield when he dropped deep, a moments peace.

No-one stood out for us. I gave it to Joe Cole. Simply for having to be quietly patient and wait for his chance to play....................................... again.

If anyone had offered the draw point before the match I'd have gladly taken it. Unfortunately, they look to be genuine contenders for the title this season. I felt they were the better team over the 90, but there wasn't a great deal in it. And as usual, chances were few and far between for both sides. No-one really stood out for us. I just hope that one day, (before he has to hang up his boots), Essien actually gets to play a game against the Mousers in the middle of midfield. He is a truly stunning player, but he is no right back. And when he is not in the centre of the park we sorely miss him. Had to laugh when Stevie Me got the MOTM. If anyone deserved it from their side it was Kuyt. He was everywhere for them. He is the complete opposite of Robben and Jimmy. A dutchman who gives 120% every match. He never stops working. Really reminds me of David Speedie.

The likes of Eddie Niedzwiecki, Joe McLaughlin, Colin Pates, Joey Jones, Johnny Bumstead, Mickey Thomas, Nigel Spackman, Paul Canoville, Pat Nevin, David Speedie - a sh*t team??????????? Too right BB. I must have really been a sucker for punishment. I used to follow that sh*t side home and away every week. That sh*t team produced some of the most entertaining, free-flowing, attacking football in the history of Chelsea Football Club.

Com'on Bri. Don't go having a hissy fit. It's a serious topic. Have a go at the list. To keep you happy and ensure Jimmy doesn't finish bottom of the pile, I'll add another forward. Chris Sutton. And anyway, as I remember, didn't you once try to argue JFH was better than Kerry? So now's the chance to state your reasons.

I've had good think about this and I intend to write a piece about each of the players, but I will do it in two halfs. I've seen five of the six in the flesh although I was a very young boy, going to the Bridge with my father, when I saw Tambling play. I didn't see Greaves play but I will rank him in my list as my dad has told me much about him. And indeed I have read much about him, including his autobiography. 1. Didier Drogba Perhaps, to many, a controversial choice to top the list. However, I feel Drogba is the complete forward. There is NOTHING he can't do. Unbelievably strong, skilful, good pace, (though not lightening quick), an animal in the air, can tackle like a demon, works all over the pitch. The list just goes on and on. And I agree with Englishman's previous comment, although Drogba is undoubtedly a better player now than when he first arrived, he was better for us during that first season and a half than he was given credit for. We would not have won the title without DD working his nuts off all over the park. Finally, of all the other strikers on the list I don't think any of them at their peak could realistically have laid claim to be being the no:1 striker in the world. Didier Drogba can, and is. 2. Kerry Dixon The sight of "Wee" Pat Nevin jinking past a defender out wide and sending over a deep cross would invariably have me off my seat screaming "goal". Why? Because in those circumstances it generally followed that a mop of blonde hair would rise higher than anyone in the oppo's box and, with a flick of the head, the ball would fly past the keeper and into the net. Who would that be? King Kerry. As Frank Lampard is a modern day Chelsea icon for most female Chelsea supporters, so Kerry Dixon was for all us 'erberts who used to congregate in the Shed and North Stand. When he first arrived at the Bridge, although he always scored goals, his all round play wasn't the best. But, as time went on, Dixon worked hard at the finer points of the game and his touch, control and passing improved to an amazing degree. For a big man he was also blessed with great pace, (much quicker than Drogba) and was strong as an ox. These natural attributes made him a real handful for any defender. And in the era of modern football where money is king and loyalty is a forgotten word, I like to think back to when Kerry was at his peak and Le Arse came calling with a big fat cheque and a library card with his name on it. KK, god bless him, told them to get lost and stayed at the Bridge. For that reason alone every Chelsea fan past and present should love him. 3. Peter Osgood I saw Ossie as a young kid when my dad took me to the Bridge, and I then watched him when he returned to us in '78 for a short period in which it was obvious he wasn't anywhere near the same player he was previously. My immediate memories of him are of a tall man who had a great touch and was good in the air. Like many great players of his generation Ossie was an extremely skilful player. Perhaps that has something to do with the crap surfaces they played on in those days! I also remember he could be a lazy player, and my father would sometimes moan at him for this, but he was also extremely brave and if the boots were flying Ossie wouldn't flinch and could give as good as he took. Ossie is also the reason why some of the older generation first hated Liverpool. A broken leg, from a vicious, muderous, pre-meditated lunge by Emlyn Hughes ensured that. Osgood had a grace and elegance about him and his football brain meant he saw possibilities and tried things that other players couldn't. Much like Zola. Because of this, I believe Ossie would easily hold his own in modern football. His legacy? No-one empitomised the swagger and style of the 60's King's Road era more than Peter Osgood and his name will be forever synonymous with Chelsea Football Club.

Six Chelsea strikers past and present. How do you rate them? Their strengths. Their weaknesses. Why do you rate them? What made one better than the other? How influential were they to the Chelsea sides they played in? And how would they fare playing for Chelsea in 2007/08? 1. Peter Osgood 2. Jimmy Greaves 3. Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink 4. Bobby Tambling 5. Kerry Dixon 6. Didier Drogba Put them in order of personal preference. If some of them are before your Chelsea supporting era, and you know little of the other names, then just comment and rank those you have a knowledge of.

Gem there is a famous photo of King Kerry at the Library, (celebrating after he had scored one of the best goals I have ever seen. Left foot shot saved by Pat Jennings, right foot volley straight back past him!!!!), on our return to the old first division the first day of the season, in 84/85. I was there that awesome day and it will forever be one of my most cherished Chelsea memories. He is about three foot off the ground with both hands above his head, and beyond him, in the Arsenal seats, you can see loads of Chelsea fans celebrating right in the middle of all the gooners. BJD or Bluebeard will probably be able to show you the picture I mean. I think BJD actually used to have a grainy old clip of the goal itself. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Bloody hell !!!!!! England recall Campbell and James !!!!! That is scary.

Groan. What a night. I'm too old for parties like that. Last thing I remember was sitting on the fold-up Z-bed at 4:20 am, with a jam jar full of Tennants's Super, while Callista and a few of the students heated up a tin of Heinz sausage and beans on the 2-ring electric cooker. Funniest part of the bash was Callista's Bull Terrier's arse winning the Wayne Rooney like-a-like competition. My arse came a very close second. One compliant though. The music was all a bit samey. Happy House - Siouxsie & The Banshees. Happy Radio - Edwin Starr. Happy Talk - Captain Sensible.

Christ. They're not plastic tits !!!!!!!! Quick get the camera.

Whey hey. Grab the Watney's Party Sevens and the Double Diamond and get yourselves round Callista's place pronto. He's having a right old knee's up after tonight's result. The door to the bedsit is open and Blue Is The Colour is belting out of the stereo music centre. You'll spot Callista straight off, he's the one standing on the formica foldaway table, singing "we're gonna win the league", and wearing a pair of plastic tits. As you know he's always a happy bunny but I've never seen him like this before. He said the best thing about tonight for him was that the Mancs, by all accounts, played some truly scintillating attacking football, and still only managed a draw. Here's one he told me earlier. What's the difference between a triangle and Man Utd? A triangle has got three points!

I got to see the whole game via a German channel. SWP very good again. Johnno, I've mentioned him already on his own thread, and he did well when he came on. But MOTM for me was Drogba. Awesome 2nd half. In my wildest dreams as a kid, and standing on the terraces of the old Shed, I never thought I'd see the best centre-forward in the world playing for Chelsea. And that's exactly what he is. The very best in the world. And by some distance too.

I got to watch the whole game and Johnno played well tonight when he came on. And he spent most of the time at the centre of our defence!