Nibs

I like you Don Youlots. You're always good for a laugh. Was it funny? I didn't understand a word of it.

The thing is, Henry has pace. Maybe not as much as he had 1-2 seasons ago but still more Pace than Sheva could ever wish to have and that makes a big difference.

Spider Pig. Classic!!!

I'd rather we keep Robben than lose him. But I don't see it as a complete disaster if he does go as others appear to. His ability when all is going well is not in question but his contribution to the team over the last 2 seasons has been pretty minimal. As I see it, Joe can play wide left and I would start him there every time anyway. We also have SWP and Kalou who can both play wide and even if we don't sign anyone else, Bridge could be deployed on the left too playing ahead of Ashley Cole. So I want Robben to stay but I won't be too fussed if he goes and I won't be expecting any bookies to take bets on him not having an injury free season wherever he ends up.

Great to see 4 Chelsea boys starting, although as I've said elsewhere, I don't think Lamps should be.

I don't condone booing anyone - especially when they are representing your own country. Be it a Manc like Gary Neville or a Liverp**l player like Crouch, I would never boo them and it's well out of order that Lamps should get this treatment from so called England fans. That said, he really shouldn't be getting selected on current form and even the most die hard Chelsea fans should be conceding that one. He needs a rest and a long one at that and I hope he comes back next season looking something like the Lamps we know as currently he is pretty woeful and it's not great to watch. In contrast, I went to the u21 game last night and I know they were only playing a pretty average Slovakia side, but it was really refreshing to see our players look comfortable on the ball and run at players with no fear. It was 5-0 and could easily have been double that and it would be interesting to see a number of those playing last night getting a crack in place of some of the current senior squad who look jaded and pretty uninterested at times. Of course the coach could well have something to do with that. I haven't been a huge Pearce fan up to now at club level but I'd love to see him in charge of England in place of McLaren. Pearce and the England job might just be a perfect match and if he carries on doing well for the u21, you could well see him step up. My 9 year old son was pretty disappointed that it was only an u21 game and would have liked to see the Gerrards, Rooney's & Beckhams etc. But coming out of Carrow Rd last night he was well enthusiastic and I know that he saw a better game than he is ever likely to witness from the current senior squad.

I wouldn't go anywhere near that far. Although I'll grant you he would almost certainly have tucked away a penalty unlike Robben & Geremi.

Can't believe that 27 still think he will come good. Wake up and smell the coffee!!! Or is that 27 just don't want to sell him and take a huge loss and admit the mistake of signing him in the first place? (I voted get rid)

Have to agree with that (other than the Robben / Cole bit as Joe always has been and always will be much more important to us than the forever injured one ). I missed the aggro that occured with Lofty & G4 (when was this?), but have to say, have always found Red Rob to be pretty decent. He dishes out some good banter and 99% of the time takes back what we throw at him with good humour. I know he is visiting a Chelsea forum but I think we're all getting just a bit too precious if we can't take a bit of stick now and again. It's one thing to have the complete wind up merchants come on here and be abusive but Rob has never been like that. The only times he has gone off on one are when some of us start the Hillsborough / Heysel comments, which frankly I can't blame him for getting narked at. This is a bloody good forum but IMO it's made better when we have decent visiting fans providing good & healthy debate and the wind ups are all part of it as long as no-one goes OTT. Sorry, but some on here are coming across as being able to dish it out but not take it - like the fans at games who give an opposing player stick for the whole of a game but when he has the audacity to drop his shorts or give them a v sign, they're straight off reporting him to the authorities. Let him stay.

That's Great!!! Zenden was always crap for us so why should he still be playing at a high level (or Liverpool in this case) and gracing a CL final? I still can't believe they beat us in the semi's with him in the team

Oh Rob. That's TWO PERFECT RESULTS in a matter of days. I guess we couldn't ask for anything more

I find this a very strange signing. The competition in midfield is already fierce and I want to see the likes of Diarra develop, not get pushed back in the queue by a new signing. If two were definitely leaving (Maka & Ballack?) fair enough, but if that's not the case I really don't know why we have signed him and Sidwell himself must see from SWP's experience that his chances could be at best, limited.

From where we were sat (very high up), the tackle looked hard but pretty well timed - the sort JT used to make on a fairly regular basis. I don't recall Brown getting booked either so the ref couldn't have seen much wrong with it. Wasn't it Brown that also broke Sinclairs foot in the league game? B*****d!!!

I was gutted when Joe went off at half time and thought it had to be because he was struggling. It was a pretty forgetable first half but at least Joe showed a few good touches. Robben looked really lively for 15-20 minutes and I thought he was gonna turn the game just as he did in the Carling Cup final. But one hefty challenge was enough to put an end to all that. This really has to be looked at, as all teams know now that one good, hard tackle and Robben will be out the game. Although Mikel was good I thought his passing was well off. Perhaps players were not reading where he was placing the ball but a lot of his passes went astray so I wouldn't give him MOTM. I've been critical of Paulo in the past but I thought he was superb yesterday and he'd get my MOTM. It was a great day, great occasion, but not a very memorable game.

Shouldn't this be on the players forum? Probably why it's not had that many responses and why I've only just noticed it. Think you are pretty spot on with most of those marks MJ and some of those comments are very accurate. No real arguements from me. Loz, I know what you are saying in people's expectations but once players like Lamps, Maka and Robben for example have set themselves certain standards, when they then don't reach those same levels you have to "mark them accordingly" in something like this. I guess that we can take comfort in that we know a lot of our players can do a heck of a lot better individually than they have done this season.

I wouldn't play him and I think the likes of SWP have done enough recently to earn a place on the bench ahead of him. I mean, how could you be okay to come on against Liverpool, take a penalty and nothing be heard of him since?

I was a Middle myself. It was great and oh how I miss the three different sections singing - White Wall, Middle and West Side. You always tried to make your section the loudest and I'm sure the Middle always was, but then it would sound louder when you're right in the middle of it!! And then the whole shed singing "We're the shed end Stamford Bridge". Brilliant. I wonder how many goals I missed going in, either because of swaying - bigger bloke standing in front or the goal being up the other end when the view was never great?!! Knees up mother brown still one of the great memories. My brother (Coombsie) took me to a game in the 70's when I could only have been about 11 or 12 and we drew with West Ham. It was a day when West Ham took the Shed and I can remember being scared sh**less!! Everything seemed great until a few chants of Utd, Utd and then they were suddenly everywhere. Must have had a stronger bladder back then as well as I can never recall having to visit the bogs at half time like I do now. Imagine trying to make your way through that lot?

I know it's over a week away but how about the team? Still hoping Carvalho will be fit. I saw the Mourinho interview after the match last night and he said he had a 1% chance, but he did so with a smile, so I am hoping that was very tongue in cheek. For me Bridge has shown that he is the better option and I think he deserves to play in the Cup Final. That said, I expect Ashley to play . So I would go for: Cech Paulo Carvo JT Bridge Mikel Diarra Lamps Essien Joe Drogba Subs: Kalou, SWP, , Maka, A Cole & Carlo

Difficult to judge anyone on what was a sort of "nothing game". But I am getting more and more frustrated with Kalou. Bags of talent but very rarely looks up when in good positions and is choosing the wrong option 9 times out of 10. I lost count the number of times a move broke down due to him. Also think at times, people are going a little OTT with Essien. I know he has been playing out of position and the guy is so strong and a real worker. But last night he nearly handed Man Utd a goal on a plate in the first half and then second was very lucky not to give away a penalty. Thought Joe did well - some great control in very tight spaces, and SWP is showing that with a run of games he could do well for us. Again some great control at times and if only Drogba had been around for a couple of those crosses. Youngsters all gave a good account of themselves, but Mikel does need to calm down otherwise he could rival Speedie in the sending off stakes!!

I'll second that. No hard feelings. Emotions can run high at times - especially after a defeat and especially against bloody Liverpool in such a huge game. And Youlots, I am sure Jose will put you up Anyway, how long have you been in Australia? I have a couple of old school pals that emigrated back in the late 80's and early 90's. Big step. Did you used to attend at the bridge prior to that?

No thanks. I expect there is another injury just waiting to happen. Would much rather we got Defoe - I think he and Drogba would really work well together.

Easy mistake to make though. There were plenty of games where I thought Ballack had left the field, only to realise that he was still on when he gave away a free kick on the edge of our box.

Bloody Showboater!!! I wonder if GermanBlue saw that - probably not as Robben wasn't playing................... Also great finish by Joe for the disallowed goal. I know he was clearly offside but still a great finish. A player that can score with either foot just as well.

I Disagree!!! I really cannot understand the idea that if Sheva plays with Drogba we don't play the long ball hoof but if Sheva is not there we have to play route one? I love Drogba and he has had a fantastic season but it was so refreshing against Arsenal how we played football and did not rely on the high long ball. Lamps looked a lot better for it, as did the likes of Joe, Essien, Kalou and SWP. It does not make any sense at all to say "Drogba is back - lets hoof it up to him". Surely, we can play just like we did against Arsenal (with Bridge keeping his place at left back ) but just bring in Drogba for either Kalou or SWP. On that basis we certainly won't miss Sheva as even his biggest fans on this forum must admit he just isn't good enough right now. If we play anything like we did against Liverpool last week I will be F***ing Angry

Just looked at a thread back in January and I predicted the bottom three as: Wigan 29 Charlton 29 Watford 19 Should have put money on that and I'll be happy with those three going down - none of them exactly light up the premiership. (Poor Old Jimmy!!!)