NorthernCFC

As it's FA Cup day, I've been looking at past FA cup finals and campaigns of ours. I came across this video on Youtube: I was only 1 and a half at the time, but it looks as if we were mauled that day. What's more interesting to me though, is I love seeing our old team sheets (sad, I know). Anyway I found ours for that game via wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FA_Cup_Final). Comparing it to United's, it was easy to see why we were hammered that day and I suppose we did well to get to the final considering a poor 14th place in the league that year. It's also worth noting a lot of our team that day went on to play a fair few games for us! Anyone go that day? Any memories? (Also, what a shocking decision by Elleray for Cantona's 2nd pen!)

I went today. Decent day out. The "JT - Chelsea Loyal" banner draped across the upper tier at the end didn't please the Bolton stewards :P Still, looked class that sea of blue at one end. My Dad was pretty pleased to see Tommy Docherty at the half time interval as well (drawing some raffle) but it went over my head just a bit :D The chants of "celery" were hilarious when the Bolton cheerleaders were on the pitch at half time as well haha I'll slap up a few photos later Adam

Was at a family do last night and was having a good chat with my Uncle Den. He's from Hammersmith and has supported Chelsea all his life. Was telling me how it was 1 and 6 (Whatever that is?) to go in the Shed compared to 40 odd quid now. That's something like 7p now he told me to watch the likes of Osgood, Hutchinson etc. Anyway, he also told me that the centre-half David Webb was a bit porky, and in fact had to have his shorts specially tailored cause of in my uncle's words "his fat arse". My Dad, also a Chelsea fan, wasn't convinced this was true, so I was wondering if anyone on here could shed light on whether this is a load of BS. Worth noting my uncle was slightly blotto :angry: Cheers Adam

Everton's defending has been unusually shocking. They really do miss Arteta for that cutting edge bit of skill and they miss Yakubu, who (for all his laziness) scores goals.

Disagree entirely with the OP over Essien being totally anonymous. As for "unlike many, I haven't ruled out Ancelotti after 30 minutes of football". Christ mate, get off your high horse and realise you aren't some pompous know-it-all.

Like I've said before, he's a true gent and an overall top bloke! Good on you Guus pal!

Thought at the end of the game, the way Wise and Terry carried Roy Bentley around the pitch was really, a touch of class from them. The way Hiddink looked after this living Chelsea legend in the little guard of honour at the end was absolutely superb. That is why we are the club we all fell in love with. And who the f**k says we don't have history.

Could I have used a worse example than Boro I feel for your mate, but that's Chelsea's sh*te ticketing policy, not the Champions League's fault. Saying that I think it's a disgrace that the top 4 literally MAKE their fans go to home cup games and Euro games if they want a shot at the big games, regardless of whether they are sacrificing other things just to go at all.

Well Alkmaar have qualified for it next season. Maybe it is slightly generalising, but in that case, if we were in 5th position, why would everyone be on here praying that we make it into 4th spot. All the Arsenal fans were the same when Villa were potentially going to get into the Champions League, so clearly it means a lot to them. As it is the elite teams in Europe that have the greatest number of fans across the world (Us, United, Barca, Liverpool in particular), then clearly it does mean a lot to maybe not MOST people, but certainly to a bloody large number. Anyway it's only my opinion, I just don't feel we should carry on with the bitterness for too long and win the bar steward next year.

Exactly!

I'll add I'm not having a go at any Chelsea fan who does think the Champions League is a farce, just saying my opinion that I think it's a competition well worth winning.

I wasn't telling you to do anything, just from the way you were commenting it didn't sound as if you were arsed how Chelsea performed in the Champions League next season.

Haha, Gertie

Whether the Champions League is all that is wrong with football is irrelevant; surely you should care how your club perform in (whether we think it is or isn't) what most people consider the best club competition in the world.

Ever wonder why the players take it so seriously and so many fans do, look at the effort made for the atmosphere on European nights at Stamford Bridge. Even against a lesser known side like Cluj, the atmosphere was immense. However in the Premier League do we get atmospheres like that against 'Boro or Bolton? The competition means a lot to most Chelsea fans, and like I said before means an awful lot to the Chelsea players as well. I don't think they'll be going out next season not giving a toss about it like some fans apparently will.

Suppose you can't change some people's views But seriously, in my opinion (and a lot of the footballing world's opinion) the Champions League is the most prestigious club tournament in the world. Europe is the best continent in terms of the league quality, and I for one would love to see Chelsea at the pinnacle of it one day. Not just because it would rub it in the faces of the scousers and United fans, but because it would mean we had finally made it to the top of football, and that our club would then have done it all. Instead of licking our wounds and whinging and moaning about UEFA (who I hate as much as anyone), lets do our f**king best to win the thing next year - the only way to really get back at Platini and Ovrebo.

Usually it's dead easy to get a single or pair on the ticket exchange, although like Stewartd7 says, 3 might be a lot harder.

Wasn't intended to be :D but if it sparks debate then oh well.

The look on Platini's face if we did play in it and win it next season at the Bernabeu would be priceless :D

Surely the best way to respond to UEFA is rather than keep crying on about it and being bitter, is to go out and win the damn thing next year. We know UEFA were a bunch of tossers over the whole Ovrebo thing and we know Platini is a dick, but now you're saying we shouldn't give a toss about the Champions League, come on.

These teams are alreadu through to next seasons group stages : us, United, Liversh*te, Barca, Real, Inter, Porto, Kiev, AZ, Porto, CSKA and Rubin Kazan. Out of these teams what do you think would be the best away day? Personally I thought Cluj was a unique experience, some unheard of city in Transylvania so I would like to go to either Moscow again or Kazan. Having looked at Kazan the city (very bored) it looks like it would be a top experience, probably pricey though! Other than that Milan is a stunning place so I've heard and a trip to Madrid would be good seeing as though the final is there Where do you think would be good?

I live in Lancashire, so the vast majority are Dippers or Man Ure "armchair fans". There's a few Chelsea and Arsenal up here but mostly United and Liverpool. The stick Chelsea in particular get off these morons is unbelieveable. No history, sh** fans, soft southern ****, boring football. I have to say that the United fans can be as bad if not worse than the scousers, but I hate Liverpool a lot more. I think at the end of the day, they don't like the fact the club went through a big rough patch, and then has popped up to be one of the best sides in the world. Scousers in particular absolutely despise that we have won the premier league and they ain't! It's ace! And for those United fans that say we have poor fans, I ask them how many times they've been to OT, only to discover I've been more times watchin the Chelsea - muppets. :D

The passion he showed at the end of the game surely means he deserves to stay. The way he argued with the ref yeah was wrong, but it showed us the fans his f***ing passion and commitment for the team and the club as a whole - he shouldn't be going anywhere!

Desperate times in Merseyside atm :D

What do we make of him based on this season then? Personally I think he's a class, attacking wing-back. Probably better going forward than defending but hey, it gives us another side to go down rather than with Cole on the left. Bosingwa even adapted well to playing left-back in Barca and he's even chipped in with a couple of goals. I really don't think he gets the recognition he deserves :D