mad_mac

Seems Grant is pretty keen to tell the FA how it is...well kinda, he never brought up them hitting Pizarro, or other teams surrounding the refs http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_2925263,00.html

Great!!!!!!!!!!! hat a h*t sow thisis. McLeish doing well, Scotland going in the right direction,and then he leaves for Brum? And trub at into the wounds, the name that they are linking us with is Billy Davies??? BigEck can head backto Aberdeen or the Hibees for all I care

mate, there is no chance they will ever go against the red clubs, they are seen as too big, and don't want to draw unecessary attention to the FA SCott

got it!!

Really it goes to that song Lofty? I don't really remember that song having much of a tune, more of a chant, but then Andy Pandy one seems like it wouldn't fit? It just might be the way I am reading it, but I thought the we hate tottenham song was pretty much all in teh same key, and as I said, more of a chant as opposed to a sing song!

Kakuta, what position does he play? Also, thanks for the update. Another thing, anyone know where there is a web page with info about the youngsters here at Chelsea so we can keep up with them?

Mate, I think he was one of my all time favourite Chelsea players, even in the short time he was here he left such an impression on me. If we could find a striker like him who liked to live in England, it would be incredible. he also seemed genuinely upset about leaving us, but family has to come first I suppose. The alice band revolution Scott

As if the scum dind't hate us enough, how funny would it be if we were to beat them in a few weeks and that was the final nail in Raf's coffin? I would soon lose sight of the hilarity if jose were to go there. I doubt he will though, I fully expect him to go on to a new challenge in either Spain or Italy Scott

what is the tune to this little ditty?

what is the tune to this little ditty?

Just read your response in my IF... thread and it seems as if we are thinking along the very same lines. I still don't know if we will line up with one lone striker, or if we will line up with 3 mids behind a dual strike force. The more I think about eh appointment of Top Cat, I think that we will see the arrival of at least one Dutch player this season; I truly hope if we do go for one, we go for hunterlaar. So, again, possible line ups could be ..........cech Alves...Percy..Terry...Cole .........Mikel Essien...VDV...Malouda .....Huntelaar..Kalou or ........Cech Alves....Percy...Terry....Cole .............Mikel ......Essien.....Ballack J Cole...................Malouda .......Huntelaar Scott

Class lad, I think there must be some relationship between you right enough BB! Scott

Modric or Van der Vaart would be interesting additions to the team in january, but I feel that this would mean the end of Lamps. Of course this is mere speculation, but I am of the feeling that signing more top class mids means that one top class is about to leave. I don't know about Ronnie, if we did sign him, then malouda would be second string, and it would mean the end of SWP. So, if we went 4-3-3 the who would be our midfield 3, and what do we all think will happen to Ballack? I also thought that VDV was more of an attacking player who could link in between the midfielders and the strikers. If we signed him, then surely we are (again) signing a great player and then adding him to a system that doesn't suit their style of play. I could very well be mistaken, but would VDV be suited to play in a midfield of: .......................Mikel ............Essien..........VDV Also, I am not overly sure that Mikel is best suited to playing in the holding role. He played at the head of the diamond before and I felt he played extremely well there. His tackling is so rash that I feel having him play the Maka role would mean more cards for him than he could handle, and would gift opposition free-kicks in some dangerous areas Scott PS. I am all for Huntelaar

Glad to see Scotland in with a decent chance of qualifying, but as loz said we do have a real penchant for messing things up against the "lesser" sides. I bet the Faroe Isels are getting sick of the sight of France. Anyway, I think Holland should go through top of our group, with Scotland in 2nd, but we will have to wait and see. The tartan Army in Holland is usually a good night out, and there are some other decent matches in there For england, I expect them to go through top, or very close behind the Croatians. I suppose it all depends on who is in charge of the team at the time. It will also be interesting to see who will be in the england squad ina few years time. If Agbonlahor keeps playing the way he is, I think he could develop into a good player Scott

Man, I just realized that even after writing about Hoddle so much, I actually voted for Father Christmas

Sheva was never really in the game. Again he was dropping back furher and further to try and get the ball rather than hanging onto the last defender and slotting in fora shot on goal. Because he was so far back most of the time, he was then having to catch up with play as it broke in the direction of the Derby goal. however, he did make the occasional good run, but was never picked out (if you get the chance to see the 2nd goal again, look at his run there; it was not the first time he had made such a move), and thus he grew more and more frustrated. Scott

I really hope to God we don't lose Essien. And going by Pualy's line up, I would sooner have maka leave than I would have Essien pick up his boots and move on to pastures new. I don't know how we will line up if we were to lose Didier and Frank, but I think we would move for 2 strikers, one holding midfielder with a couple either side and maybe a playmaker in behind the two strikers so we get a lnk to the final 3rd that we have long been missing. However, if we were to do this, I think that would be hard to find a place in the team for Malouda. I could see us going for Alves in the RB place, and keep Beletti. This would mean so long to Paulo, not that I am advocating it, but I am merely speculating. LB we will keep A Cole, and use Bridge as cover. Centre halfs, I hope we keep Riccy and of course Terry. With Alex and Mancienne as the back ups there. Cech is a MUST keep, and I think we will se Claudio leave (although he could stay, as he's in a good team and getting on a bit) To me, we "could" line up thus: ....................cech Alves/Juliano...Riccy...Terry.....A Cole ....................Mikel .......Essien..............Ballack/Sidwell/Malouda .........Vand Der Vaart/Mordic (young croatian)/J Cole ........Hunterlaar/Klose...Kalou This would mean reverting to a diamond formation, or a 4-1-3-2 with Alves or Beletti overlapping own the right, and A Cole on the left Scott

I think to add more english players would actually dilute many teams in the english league. Just because we ""had to play englishmen" ther would be english players, who would regularly be championship level, playing in the premiership. this would mean the level of competition would not be as good on the pitch and thus drive other players from the continent look to other leagues for better challenges Scott

sh*t, the Essien red card now seems so pointless. Him missing the arse game is HUGE. That will really weaken our midfield as we will be relying on the slow pace and "only playing now and again" of makelele. I also think that you might be very prophetic of our future in this seasons "title" challenge Scott

Although he was left flapping at kenny miller's goal, I gave it to Carlo solely for keeping a clean sheet. The rest of the game was that awful I can't think of anyone deserving of the title today.

Anyone heading into match day chat?

Good news about the mancs, and unfortunately the arse just won with 2 late goals, one from "the undeniable leader on the field today, William G*ll*s!" Have to admit, I am rather suprised at the line up. I didn't think A Cole and Terry would both be back today, and then the midfield with sidwell and mikel?? NO Essien? We have put out quite a young team, so it will be interesting to see how this all goes Scott

Seemed to have a decent run of games for the Israeli national team, including some decent shots on goal in the last game out for them Also, with Grant being the old Israel coach, does anyone feel that he may be a permanent fixture in our team for the future. I would like to see him and Sinclair being given a great chance next year. It also brings up the question about building a team of young talent for the future; do we give some of these young players a chance next year, and really build a team that will compete for a good few years to come? I think this will build up some credibility and stop us being linked to every player under the sun. I would still like us to bring in some great players, but find a perfect blend of experience to give us some solidity throughout the team. Thoughts? Scott

I think Cech is the only irreplaceable member of our team. Best in the business, and still a youngster. Drogs is getting on, Lamps is great but there are a load of great midfielders out there. Scott

Cheers mate. Look, on the night the better team went through, end of. I think the fact that the Scottish team managed to beat France both at home and away is something to be very proud of. However, in usual Scottish fashion, we bugger it up away to an under-age and under-performing Georgian side! I think McLeish's reaction was fair, and spoken with the passion that any manager would feel losing like that right at the end. At least he is a manager who is passionate, and doesn't really care about how the media perceive him. McLaren could have learned from that! Anyway, onward and upward, I now feel a tinge of optimism about the WC qualifiers. Scottish and proud of it!!!!!!!!