sweet waffle

2-0. Maloney I must say I'm not too enamored with our bench today, it's seems our strength in depth has long gone.

Seems to be par for the course at the moment. We've become very slow at getting out of the blocks in recent games, the same thing happened last Xmas as I recall. Too much festive cheer maybe. Let's hope Ballack can be a difference maker today.

Yeah I was thinking the same.

Don't know whether it's been done before, but here's my team for 2007. -----------------Kirkland G Neville------King-------Woodgate------Carr Kewell-----Hargreaves-----Dyer--------Duff ------------Owen-------Bellamy

Just watched Revista De La Liga on Sky Sports and they were saying that the rumour is that Ronaldinho has played his last game for Barca and will be sold in the January transfer window (they didn't say to who). By all accounts he got a fair bit of verbals from the Barca fans as he made his way through the airport after the game against Real last night in which he didn't really perform. This makes interesting reading as well, especially the part about him missing 50% of the training sessions last season. [iframe:3j5b4awr]http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/12/24/struggling_ronaldinho_gets_sti.html[/iframe:3j5b4awr]

Riccy got my vote, good performance which for me reaffirmed how good he is and how much we miss him when he's not there and there was no way that he should have been booked, he's now on 4 yellows, one away from a suspension at a critical time. Bennett is such a sh*t referee he's taken over where Poll left off. I thought Kalou had a good game and Alex was pretty solid but Lamps despite his two good shots was off again for me, am I alone in thinking that he rarely has a good game when he's captain. Oh yeah and one more thing, someone needs to take Sweeps to one side and explain the offside rule to him, as I think he's forgotten how it works. Not the best game by any stretch of the imagination but an important and good result.

Strange first half, at times we've looked like a team of strangers but then we string some lovely passes together and we look quality. Great goal by Joey and Lamps was mighty unlucky with his strike. Kalou is having a good game so far.

I'm afraid my old man is going to have shoulder some of the responsibility for Manure taking the three points today, he said merely seconds before the penalty that Manure would get one!! What was Pienaar thinking!?!

They'll do for me.

Crouch blames Johnny Foreigner (see Mikel) for getting him sent off, notice he doesn't mention St Stevie G. [iframe:295d9guj]http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2230878,00.html[/iframe:295d9guj]

And here's the usual YouTube compilation to judge him by, you knew it would appear. I must say though he does look as though he's got the skills to pay the bills.

Same in the West Stand - the ref offered no protection as far as that tw*t was concerned You've got to remember Sissoko isn't malicious he's just clumsy, the same as Scholes.

Straight red no question, and Pieman defending Crouch doesn't surprise me one bit, the guy is an ignorant c*nt of the highest order. The only reason Mikel wasn't seriously injured is because Crouch's legs are like pipe cleaners and carry no weight, anybody of a stockier build making that "challenge" and it would have been a lot more damaging. Also I wonder if the FA will investigate the way the Liverpool players surrounded the ref and Crouch shouting "f*ck off" as he walked down the tunnel, just like they're investigating Cole's two fingered salute at the Arse on Sunday?. Answer: probably not.

Sounds good, I just hope we don't mess it up.

Has Gerrard scored for England when he's been captain or in fact actually played well?

My money is on us getting Lyon.

Nice one matey, thanks. Anybody else watch the match on ITV4 and find it infuriating that they kept refering to the Liverfool match and showing footage of the goals. If I wanted to know how Liverpool were doing I'd be ruddy well watching them on ITV1 for f*cks sake! It winds me right up. It's was the same when we were struggling against Schalke and they kept on reporting on each of Liverpool's goals in their 8-0 victory over Besiktas, I just find it exasperating and it only seems to be ITV that do it did you watch the build up on ITV4 before the game they didnt talk about anything other than Liverpool No mate, I actually make a point of not watching the build up to most Chelsea games now as I know that's it's going to be a load of bullsh*t and sniping.

Nice one matey, thanks. Anybody else watch the match on ITV4 and find it infuriating that they kept refering to the Liverfool match and showing footage of the goals. If I wanted to know how Liverpool were doing I'd be ruddy well watching them on ITV1 for f*cks sake! It winds me right up. It's was the same when we were struggling against Schalke and they kept on reporting on each of Liverpool's goals in their 8-0 victory over Besiktas, I just find it exasperating and it only seems to be ITV that do it

Joey got my vote. Nobody really stood out for me prior to him coming on and I do find it quite concerning that we failed to score in what was such an open game, it doesn't bode well for the future at all and shows our reliance upon Drogba (and Lamps). I really do think the cheque book needs to be opened in the window. Liverfool through in second place (although I did have a cheeky £2 on them winning 4-0 at 40/1 ). Am I right in thinking that teams from the same nation can't meet each other in the next round?

I'm available.

Come on Marseille!! [iframe:2vhdlsiu]http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2225248,00.html[/iframe:2vhdlsiu]

I watched the match and Arsenal were pretty lacklustre, the Boro keeper hardly had anything to do. I alway's thought that it was only a matter of time before Arsenal came unstuck and got found out. Fingers crossed we turn it on next week and really go to town on them.

However long he is out for, I pray that Sheva, Pizarro and Kalou step up, otherwise we're screwed. Hopefully Sheva will play some part on Saturday against the Makems and remember how to score goals.

There's no mention of this "injury" on the official Chelsea site, TeamTalk, BBC or Sky Sports.

It was a dive and not a very good one at that. Must try harder Cristiano, perhaps get some tutoring from Stevie G, or maybe not... [youtube:3ayleezr]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztWniTA0Gxk[/youtube:3ayleezr]