Nibs

I've always rated Bridge and never saw the benefit of us signing Cole. Don't get me wrong, Cole is a very good full back, but when you already have an excellant full back, why sign another? I would say they are fairly equal defensively but Bridge is a lot better going forward and a much better crosser. All that said, Bridge cannot afford to ever have another game like he did for England last time out as that was one of the worst diaplys I have ever seen!!!

Re Joe & SWP, sorry - I meant to say at times. I'm not saying both or either should play there all the time, but when both are stuck out wide 100% of the time, it's no wonder games sometimes pass them by. These are probably the two most creative players we have and they can both make things happen like they did at times last night. That run Joe made last night where he had three Everton players chasing him (and he did get clipped but stayed on his feet) & the goal he scored against Man Utd - that's what he should be doing for us more often.

Like a few others, I've had a chance to review the Mikel sending off and emotions were running high last night - the old heat of the moment and all that!!! I still think it was a poor tackle and one that sometimes will get a yellow and sometimes a straight red - depending on the ref and the villain of the piece. At full speed it looked bad and I don't think any of us can moan at the ref too much for producing the red. What we can moan about is Mikels lack of brain, especially in big match situations. Call it a rush of blood or whatever, but that's last years final, this years semi and a big match against Man Utd. He has also had various other incidents where again, he could easily have seen red (and I recall him being subbed in games previously with the ,ain reason for the sub being that he was "losing it"). When he went last night I vented my fury as I thought he had again cost us big time and at that moment it would have been my wish never to see him put on a Chelsea shirt again. Now I've calmed down (and helped a great deal by our late, late winner), I'm hoping that he will learn from this and that the manager, coach, Clarkey, JT, Lamps - bloody everyone, will all have a word with him and put him straight once and for all, as he is an asset, of that there is no doubt. Still think it was a great game and that was part of why I was so pissed off with Mikel. I thought he'd blown it for us after having watched us played some of the best football we have played in a long time and that without so many big name players. Really starting to like Ballack now and I think even if Lamps does come back - Ballack should retain the captains armband until JT is fit, as he is much more skipper material. And I want to see more of SWP and Joe playing centrally like they both did last night and caused Everton no end of problems. With a decent striker last night and if we had kept 11 on the pitch, I think we would have won by 3 or 4 easy. Anyway - Mikel is forgiven but he'd better not do anything like that again any time soon.

That's so sad Were you always the last player picked as well. Stood there staring down at your feet? I think I'm gonna cry...........

Don't think Joe is 100% fit and to me it also looked like he picked up a knock when he got the yellow card. I was cursing Malouda at times tonight, but he did okay overall, bearing in mind how long he has been out.

It just changed in the second half because to be honest, in the 1st half, I thought the ref had a really good game. Booked number of Everton players rightly and let play go on whenever he could. Sure, on another night the Mikel challenge may have got a yellow - but in the current climate after all the publicity he should have known better. He isn't learning from his mistakes and the mistakes are far too frequent.

Yes. I know it's hard to come on in a semi final when your team is down to 10 men and the game is at a crucial stage. But he looks so out of place. Not at all comfortable on the ball. The one good thing he did was whack Carsley. Can see why Wenger let him go. He is a player that will do a good job at (should have stayed at Reading) or a Bolton etc etc. But he sticks out like a sore thumb in any team trying to play good, passing football.

That's a bit rash. Yes he's been sent off 4 times for us, but two of those times (tonight and against Man Utd) he should have only got a yellow card tops. He's managed to get a reputation for himself which will take some time to shake off. He's a class player and will learn. He's no worse a tackler than Paul Scholes and he's been getting away with it for years. Scholes is just crap at tackling. Always has been. Mikel on the other and has a problem. Never mind he'll learn - he should have learned by now. His complete lack of brain is costing us and I'm quite happy that we won't have to risk him for a fair while now.

SWP for me - closely followed by Ballack and Bridge. Most of our boys did well tonight - the main exceptions being Mikel, Sidwell, and Pizarro (although some of his play was okay he just isn't quick enough with his feet or brain and really isn't a threat). Hilario too was his usual dodgy self but did make a couple of good saves. But Mikel? I really don't care if he doesn't play for us again now. Shame, but it's too risky going into big games (and there will be much bigger games than tonight's) knowing that there's a fair chance you'll be down to 10 men because of this complete and utter clown.

Moos - agree with you re Mikel but what makes you have a go at Grant tonight? Great match and we showed great spirit to win with 10 men - and at times played some bloody good football. So what is the problem?

What a great cup tie that was. Nearly threw it away again right at the death - thankfully it was Nescott on the end of that chance and he controlled the ball about as well as Pizarro would have. SWP was MOTM - not just for the goals, he was lively all night and kept going 95 mins. If he could do that every week................... Bridge had a great game too. Thought Joe played well. His undoing was that lunge that earnt him the yellow card. Looked liked he pulled something and then shortly after Mikel f**ked up agin and we had to bring on the next to useless Sidwell. How we went on to win after that is beyond me but most of the lads out there tonight derserve a lot of credit. The tie is far from over yet but hopefully if we have anything like a decent 11 fielded at Goodison, we will have too much for them.

Perhaps it's because Mikel is getting a reputation for himself? He lunged in with studs showing - yet again. Sidwell's was bad and looked worse in the replay but at full speed it just looked like a 50/50 challenge and Carsley too was lunging in.

Not great keeping for the equaliser but we'll do well to hold on now. We were in complete control and now we're struggling. All thanks to Mikel. He really is an arsehole. How many times is he gonna cost us? I really don't want to hear "oh he's young - he'll learn - will he ever f**king learn? I wish he'd gone to the ANC before tonight.

f**king Mikel. What is wrong with him? I can just see Liam shaking his head. And now great play from SWP and once again Pizarro can't make the most of it. Yet another of our strikers who just isn't quick enough. COME ON THE MEN

Pretty decent first 45. Some good link up play and that would have been some goal just on half time if Beletti could have got on the end of that great move. Good to see Joe and SWP pretty lively - great run from Joe that led to the Ballack Free kick. Nice to see him stay on his feet and I wish he would make those runs through the middle more often. And Ballacks free kicks. It's like having Franco back - so close to 2-0.

Greavesie (before my time too by the way) was with us from 1957-1961. Total appearances 169. Total Goals - 132 He might have only been with us 4 years but that goals to game ratio will never be bettered and I think they are pretty legendary stats in anyones book!!!

He should have been player of the year last season - no question about it. But if he leaves us this season, no way can he be labelled a "Chelsea Legend" as he just won't have been with us for long enough - simple as that.

There was a period when I agree, we were playing to many long balls to Drogba - both Cech and our defenders were continually looking for him and were often bypassing our midfield - certainly during Mourinho's latter days. But I don't think we have so much recently and at the moment, we are missing Drogba hugely. Not just for his forward play but defensively on set pieces. But no player is irreplaceable. He would leave a huge void but as long as replace with real quality then there should not be a problem. Whoever comes in will probably not have his all round strengths but could well be stronger in certain areas. That's why I like the idea of Berbatov and perhaps Anelka. Berbatov has a much better touch and more skill than DD and Anelka on his day is a clinical finisher. I'd day overall, that partnership is even preferable to Drogba and anyone of Sheva, Pizarro or Kalou - although Drogba & Berbatov would be much better still!!!

I'd be quite happy to give Spurs Haim + £15 - £18M as long as we got Berbatov in exchange.

Perhaps it was his injury hit season last season and the fact that he hasn't been outstanding up to now this season. But he's still in my three along with Cech & Drogba.

Have to disagree. Berbatov is a much, much classier player. And another important factor is the fact he is two years younger and is not yet even 27. If we had to choose between the two it's no contest for me - Berbatov.

Obviously not the player who wanted Liverpool to knock us out of the CL. I remember Hudson saying something similar a few years ago, but not about Liverpool. Hudson and Hollins both wanted the Arse to beat us in the FA Cup final. w**kers. Maybe not Hudson so much but Hollins most definitely. What a

not our money? ...............................Cech Alves...............Cav...............JT...........Bridge .................................Mik ................Essien........................Ballack ..............................Ronnie .......................................Anelka ..........................Drogba WHAT A LINE UP - Id have the Coles in there, ..... somewhere Many a line up looks good on paper. But you immediately start thinking about all these players playing at their very best all of the time. Of course the reality is somewhat different. Sure it could be a good side, but this season I can count on one hand the number of great games Mikel, Essien, Ronnie amd Ballack have played. Love the idea of Anelka, but let's not get too carried away. It seems many have the idea that we sign Anelka and straight away we are guaranteed a 25-30 goal a season player. He's the sort of player who will score a few and then go a run of games without a goal - just like more a less any other striker. My fantasy football team can back that up!!

Totally different times. You can bet that if those 70's players had been around today with agents and big money - we wouldn't have seen the same loyalty. Even now, players are probably only loyal because of the near guaranteed European football and the lifestyle they've become accustomed to. Sure Giggs has stayed at Man Utd but why move when you are with probably the biggest club in the world? Loyalty for me is someone like Le Tissier. I'd like to think JT would stay with us even if the wages were not so good and our fortunes took a dip - but who can say? Think Eidur would have been more loyal as he really did love Chelsea and you could see how gutted he was at the end. Wee Pat is still my favourite and he too was loyal ans loved Chelsea and us fans. I know he left us for Everton when we got relegated back in '88 but he was gutted to leave and who could honestly blame him at the time?

Good to see I've gone from 29 to 26 to 20 to 15 Europe Beckons!!!