just

The hairy half.

While he's demonstrably not as good a manager, I have to disagree with the above statement. Because CR loved the club and the fans to bits, and lived every kick of the ball in his time with us. He was a fantastic bloke Brian and I can see why you'd say that, but I'll tell you why I disagree. Everytime Ranieri played the likes of Le Arse and United he was preparing for defeat with his oft quoted "we are still building", "we are not at their level yet" routine. It was perhaps acceptable for the first couple of seasons of his reign, but after four years in charge it had worn very thin and looked like a man getting his excuses in early. It reeked of defeatisim. I know for certain some of the players hated hearing these comments. In short, he anticipated and accepted defeat too easily. His outpouring of emotion after the Arsenal CL quarter-final victory was genuinely touching. But I've always felt it was down to personal relief and a sense of vindication, which came as a direct result of the huge pressure he was under with the constant speculation over his position as manager. Plus it was, (finally after many attempts), his first victory over his nemesis, Wenger. He did love the fans though. The support and backing he was given by the fans when the club's owners and adminstrators, (and indeed many of us fans), knew he wasn't up to the job and wanted him out ensured that.

Henry, I know something about Joe Cole that will automatically make you like him. He's half Italian.

I see exactly where you are coming from Henry and totally agree. However, being realistic after his hat-trick today, I can't see the Baggies swapping Kevin Phillips for Sheva. Perhaps if we offer cash as well ?

Jose has been accused of lacking class by our own fans on here !!!!!!!!! Some people will say his reaction at the final whistle was all about getting his face on the telly and taking the limelight away from the players. Do I give a tupenny toss about class ????? Do I give a tupenny toss that JM doesn't admit we weren't the better team whenever we lose to a rival ??? Do I give a tupenny toss Jose cries foul whenever he feels we are the victims of a dodgy decision ???? Yeah OK then perhaps I do. Probably about as much as Manc fans do when they hear SlurAlix moaning again about added on time at the end of a game. Or Le Arse fans watching Wenger having the punch-up with Pardew on the touchline. Or the calm-downs hearing Pilsbury Benitez calling their closest rivals "a small club". Jose is not perfect. No football manager is. No doubt, he has made mistakes with some of the players he has brought, some of the formations he has set-up and some of the tactics he has employed. No doubt he will make some mistakes in the future. But he cares deeply about his players and, I believe while he is here, us fans. He is the only manager we have had in my Chelsea supporting lifetime that I feel hurts as much as me when we lose and feels as elated as me when we win. Give me a passionate, emotional, one-eyed, we-wuz-robbed, biased, bleed-blue, manager like that any day of the week.

The "Mourinho Stay Or Go" thread. Put me down for a big fat............. STAY I simply love the bloke. After today's game, where we frankly embarassed the gooners in their own back yard, the sight of JM going to our fans, clapping our players and giving the "chins up" sign. Tuesday night is banished from my mind. I have not a single doubt with JM in charge we will return bigger, stronger, faster and better next season. Oh ye of little faith. The man is a living God.

Liverpool FC TV had it's first night on the air tonight here are some of the highlights; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhGX7pBn2Io http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCg9mFWxwms

Assuming everyone except Carvalho and Ballack are fully 100% fit and available: ............................Cech Diarra..........Boula........JT...............Bridge J.Cole..........Essien.......Mikel..............Robben .................Drogba............Sinclair Subs from: Cudicini Cashley, (have to bring him on though, just to wind up the gooners) Kalou Makelele Sahar SWP Lampard Ferreria Sitting in the stands watching the game: Geremi Shevchenko

We daren't risk the club's internet booking system. A mate went up and queued. Got 11 x ?80's. Will all be at the usual Chelsea Wembley meet up venue on cup-final day. The Globe pub opposite Baker Street tube station. See you all there.

I can't be arsed to read through the whole of this thread. In fact I've purposefully stayed away from these forums for the last few days. I was there on Tuesday and it was without doubt the worst experience of my whole football supporting life. I've been to 5 out of the 6 CL semi-final legs we have played and I really thought, really believed this was going to be our "winning" night. Not to be, and even now it's f**king hard to sit here and write about it. Firstly let me clear up one popular misconception once and for all. Whatever any mouser or media pundit tells you the Mickeys are not the greatest supporters in the world. As I foretold on a previous thread their support was exactly as I've seen it on every occaision I've been up there. YNWA was sung with all the scarf waving as the teams walked out at the beginning, at the end of the 90 and at the change round during ET. And of course they raised the roof during the penalty shoot-out, (Christ, with that kind of tension what fans wouldn't!). But there were extended periods during the game where the home support was very, very quiet. So much so that a chorus of "it's so quiet, it's so quiet, it's so quiet at Anfield" was belted out several times by the travelling Blues in the 2nd half. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've seen far more sustained vocal support and experienced far more intimidating atmospheres at other european venues such as the San Siro, Anderlecht and Gelsenkirchen. Just to illustrate how blinkered they are, after the game a Mickey asked me if I felt embarrassed with the flag waving at our home games. I replied by asking him if he felt like a tosser standing there twirling a woolly scarf round his head. Now for a word on our support. We got into the ground about 15 minutes before kick-off. In our row, close to us, were two Japanese/Chinese/Korean tourists who spoke not a word of English between them and spent the entire evening photographing anything and everything. Then, as I got to my seat, there was a middle-aged woman sitting down in the seat behind mine reading the f**king Guardian newspaper. Well, I'd had a few lager liveners and after telling her what I thought I think I gave a her a life changing experience in respect of how to support your team. Not sure she'll be attending many more football matches. Back to the ballet and theatre for her I hope. I'm sorry, but I really do wish these JCL's would f**k off away from MY football team. The fact that people like this, (forgive me if I don't call them supporters), get tickets for such a huge game breaks my heart. As for me, well I don't think I've ever screamed as much and sung as much. It's Saturday now and my voice still isn't back to normal. At the end of the game I was spent. It felt like I'd played the full 120 minutes. Where and why did we lose the game? I think JM made a fatal error by not having Essien in our midfield. Essien not Lampard is our main man in the middle, and he has been for sometime now. Without him we had no-one to counter Gerrard's athleticism and drive us forward. Certainly not Lampard. That's it, that's all I can do. I don't want to debate any points with anyone. It's doing my head in writing about it. Will I go back for another CL semi-final away leg knowing all the pain, heartbreak and piss-taking it can bring ? Yeah, let this one wear off a bit and I probably will. I just pray it isn't up at that f**king sh*t-pit again.

My mate has just phoned me to say exactly the same thing. Sheva didn't even get a place on the bus up there. To be honest, I can't say I'll lose any sleep over that. Carvalho definately out ? Bugger.

Going up to Liverplod tomorrow and I can't wait. As expected Pilsbury has been at it again, the old "special night at Anfield" routine. http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... ball_home& Change the farking record will ya chubby. All the calm-downs honestly believe this garbage, (and so do the British media). Well I've been to Anfield on a CL night before and it's nowhere near the most intimidating or noisy atmosphere I have encountered following Chelsea away in Europe. Not by a long way. Milan in the San Siro, Anderlecht and most definately Besiktas in Gelsenkirchen all knocked the mousers support into a small shiny shellsuit. The calm-downs will do YNWA when the teams walk out with everyone waving a woolly scarf. Granted it's an impressive sight. But intimidating ? Well, only if you're frightened by woolly scarves and 'taches. They will do the same 5 minutes before the end of the game, (unless they're getting mullered in which case they won't). But will they sing non-stop for the full 90 if they go a goal down ? Will they sing we'll support you evermore if they're 3-0 down with 10 minutes left ? You can bet your house they won't. There will be rows of empty seats where most of 'em have buggered off early to catch the bus home or the plane back to Ireland. God, just hold that picture in your mind. Isn't it a wonderful sight ?

A thought. The club have a plethora of stewards who are continually on the lookout for fans, drinking, smoking, swearing or standing up. * Wouldn't it be great if they went after people who were sitting in seats and not singing ? The stewards could then issue them with a warning.............. "sing up or get out". There'd be no-one left in the East Stand. *Farting and breathing are to be banned soon.

Glad you wrote that Syd. Saved me the time and trouble. Sheva in ahead of Drogba ? Yeah right, if you're aiming for relegation. IMO opinion urgently needed for next season are: Top quality centre-half Top quality striker Top quality right back

Frank has played on the right of midfield on a number of occaisions this season.

Oooooooooooh No He didn't. He had the flicked volley/shot at goal. That was it. What else ? Make me a list. He didn't get in front of his marker any other occaision. He didn't threaten their goal on any other occaision. He has lost his pace and can't go past people. His lack of upper body strength sees him pushed off the ball/fall over easier than SWP. When we have possession in the middle of the pitch he often runs back toward his own midfield, meaning they have no forward target to play to. He used to be decent in the air, not Drogba standard, but decent. He doesn't even challenge for most aerial balls these days. Alot of people on here voiced the opinion Sheva was past his best when it became known he was finally coming to the Bridge. Have to say. on what we've seen this season, everyone of those people has been proved right. As I've said before I am a long-time Sheva fan. I watched him play live when he was only 22/23 and I was staggered by how quick he was. Unfortunately, he is nowhere near the same player now. I'd give him another season. At ?30 mill we have to. But we need to have other options available should he go further downhill.

There was a man with a funny voice on the telly this morning called Alan Smith. He kept telling us how well Shevchenko had played. And then Jose took Shevchenko off at half-time. Two questions arise from this. 1. Why was this Mr A. Smith saying that Shevchenko was playing well ? 2. Why did Jose wait 45 minutes to take Shevchenko off ? 10 minutes was more than enough time to see he is well past it.

Before the start of the game yesterday I had a bad feeling. I said to my mate, "if Carvalho has been playing with a slight injury, why are we using him today? Why are we not saving him for Tuesday?" Bramo is 100% right. What was the point of signing Boula ? If Jose feels he can't use him in these circumstances give him his P45 today. Unless, of course this is the old, "player definately out/player suddenly recovers and starts", ploy. My team: .......................................Cech Diarra....................Boula..........JT.....................Bridgey/Cash ................................Makelele Lamps...............Essien.........Mikel......................Cole ...............................Drogba Subs: Carlo Kalou SWP Bridgey/Cash PF Robben Sheva If Robert Fleck was available he'd get the nod over Sheva.

If I'm being honest. Ronaldo for Robben ? Done. Can we collect him tomorrow. Rooney for Sheva ? Welcome aboard Shrek Vidic and Carvalho ? Carvalho has had a good season this year, but then so has Vidic. Not alot in it either way IMHO. And given the way he's performed for most of this season Cashley would struggle to get the nod over either Evra or Heinze from most neutrals.

I don't think it really matters what Jose says. The Greek ref for the United game tonight was, on the whole, pretty good. However, he got one massively important decision wrong. The yellow card for Evra was an absolutely abysmal call and means Evra will miss the next leg. How the ref thought it even warranted a foul let alone a booking, is beyond me. The kid was distraught at the decision. Understandably so.

We are going to Liverplod the night before................................... and staying overnight!!!!!!!! How the hell are we supposed to apply online at 7.00am ??? And you just know you'll have to stay on there all morning to get through. We get no preferential treatment at all for being in the Euro Away Season Ticket Club, despite having to buy every ticket for every away game whether we can go or not. I couldn't tell you how much I've spent following us in Europe over the past decade, (my missus could probably tell you to the penny), and we get treated like this. It would be laughable if it wasn't so important to us all.

I never ever wear colours or take scarves etc to football matches. Tomorrow I will be making an exception. I will be getting a flag, (with the original club badge on), out of the loft and taking it up there. If we can do them, with no Essien and possibly Carvalho, it will be a truly fantastic result. I got my ticket for the 2nd leg today.

Regardless of who the ref is I wonder if TT could put his gambling eye to use and give us the odds on Drogba picking up a dodgy booking for a "misdemeanour" and thereby missing the 2nd leg. I would have thought the odds will be short. http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea18070 ... _2209129_1

Here, here. Was at the Bridge two years ago and couldn't believe how passionless it was. I have no reasons as to why that was. To be fair the crowd has never been anywhere near that bad before or since for a big game. Everyone who is in the ground or on the streets outside on Wednesday, it is our duty to sing, no scream, the team onto victory. For the entire 90 minutes it must be nothing less than a hate filled cauldron for Liverplod and their supporters. I'd like to see the whole ground standing as well for this one. If you have someone sitting next to you who is not giving 110 % vocal support ask them to get up and make some noise. If they still silently sit there, tell them, (in no uncertain terms), exactly what you think of them.

This bit from your opening novel also made me chuckle. "Now i honestly dont hate Chelsea, i dont consider them a rival, i dont consider them anything to do with Liverpool. Its Man Utd are the ones we have the beef with. Chelsea dont come into it anywhere they really dont. I dont give two sh*ts what Chelsea do to be honest". With that sort of attitude no wonder you're lagging 12 points behind us in the EPL, (and we still have a game in hand). I bet Stevie Me doesn't feel the same.