Liam

The Shed End Forum circa 9.06pm, Monday night What's Chippy doing with his collar up like that?

The first season we won the premiership 4 of the 9 awards went to Chelsea players (Drogba, Cole, Terry, Robben) and Mourinho won twice.

My first post on Mourinho was on PR's old site when he was dancing up and down the touchline in the theatre of sh ite, long before he was ever linked with us. I wrote at the time that I'd never seen anyone so aware of the cameras. I don't remember anyone disagreeing. You're right in saying I was disgusted when Duff was sold. He was my favourite player before he came to Chelsea, so when he came it was one of my best days as a fan. You're also right that he has been cack since he left. To be fair to Mourinho he didn't force Duff out, he just wouldn't guarantee him a place in the side. I think Duff should have stayed and fought for a place, but he bottled it and left. A lot of people in Ireland say Mourinho ruined Duff as a player. That's far too easy in my opinion. Duff's lack of ambition has exposed him I feel. It's tough for him also that his omission from Newcastle's team has coincided with their best run of form this season.

No, it means we have an excellent bunch of modern footballers, the best that money can buy. I hate the football we are playing under Grant, just like I hated the football we played under Mourinho. I hate the narrow midfield, the team of athletes rather than ball players. I don't think Grant has changed things one bit and I doubt whether he has the ability to do so. But the double standards applied by so many people on this site (not you) amuses me. An incredible number of people were seduced by Mourinho. It's not surprising. He is the ultimate Alpha Male and impossibly handsome and charismatic to boot. Any criticism of him was met with howls of derision and abuse. The most common refrain was always that he brought us success, and should therefore be above criticism no matter how valid. But I believe our money bought us a brilliant group of players, and those players brought us success, for which Mourinho was given far too much credit; something he never discouraged. Now that there is a chance of success with the same group of players, but without any obvious leadership, it is being explained away as luck.

I'd keep the ones with big tits.

Nice post.

How many club employees sit on the bench every match but had their first day off for a month last night I wonder?

I agree with Bluenut. I like the permutations in the second leg and how the fortunes of both sides can ebb and flow.

As we've been saying all season there is no way we'll anything under Grant. Unless of course we get lucky.

We are away in the first leg.

I agree.

At one stage he said something like "Fenerbahce have not had a shot on target the whole game, but they will soon (please God, touch wood etc etc)".

I voted Essien - thought he was excellent. I agree the card was stupid but his reaction to missing the semi was to up his game for which he deserves great credit.

That was f ucking terrible. What a sh ite season. 3 points behind the premiership leaders and a CL semi final with the second leg at home. Being a Chelsea fan is sh ite. It's no wonder our fans hardly made a sound all night. I agree with all the posts above. I'm massively pi ssed off like the rest of you.

I'd go along with that. But then again they are more or less the same group of players that brought home 5 trophies over the past 3 years so it'd hardly surprising.

I deserved that. Sorry Ethical.

These are just cliches, figures of speech, meaningless drivel, the same sh ite every single football coach in the world (with the exception of Jose Mourinho and Roy Keane) sprouts week in, week out, after every match. Noone takes any of that stuff seriously, let alone analyses it.

I know you're obsessed by him but that's a bit extreme. I'm sure if you talk it over with a friend you'll get your life back. What exactly did you expect Grant to say?

...in the game thread. Click here to go to the game thread

Good post Just. I too think we'll go through. Our players are far better then theirs. Ratings: Cudicini - 5 - Couldn't do anything with the second goal but simply doesn't inspire. Back 4 - 6 - All did ok but we are lacking leadership in this quarter which is contributing to our problems. Malouda - 2 - I'd sooner have the little blond Irish fella back and he's sh ite. Ballack - 8 - MOM. Felt sure he'd get a goal. Tracked back in the second half brilliantly. Makalele - 4 - No leadership here either. Lampard - 7 - At one stage played a cross field ball totally ignored by the world's worst commentator. If that had been Gerrard there would have been a slight temor in his voice. Cole - 5 - Poor Drogba - 7 - I thought he did well, ignoring all the crap that comes with him. Referee - 9 - Excellent. Grant - Looks scared. Seems uncomfortable. He knows he's out of depth, We know he's out of his depth. He knows we know he's out of his depth.

Do you really think he still visits here?

Exactly. I have no problem with him being thanked. I have no problem with beckham at all. But the time to do that was in the first game. He left him out that time apparently for football reasons. What has changed in the meantime to change his mind? Those reasons should have remained the same in the interim.

I agree with this and it begs the question - why has he been included? It looks as if Capello has bowed to the pressure applied by a combination of Beckham's brilliant PR machine, the FA forever looking for marketing opportunities, and the media. A pity, because when he was appointed, it looked as if England finally had a manager who was strong enough to resist such pressure.

I voted for Joe too although I really wanted to vote for Steve Sidwell. Sorry for not declaring it earlier.