Phillip

I think that you were harsh on Essien, but totally spot on with respect to Lamps. He has lost his mojo big time.

If KFC posts with one of his 'everything is rosy and today is FfFFFriday' posts, I will go ballistic.

I voted Essien, and thought it was close between him and Ivanovic. Worst performers were Ballack, Cech (don't forget his goof in the 1st half that Carvalho saved him by his nice header on Lescott's shot that on goal), and A. Cole (totally skinned by SWP).

That was probably the only decision Webb got correct.

What was with Cech's move to the right (behind the wall) before Tevez even took his free kick? That kind of guess goalkeeping is dangerous and is never done by the top level keepers. Strange play on his part, and I remember him doing that before.

When Given made those 2 or 3 great saves in a row, and then the ball richocheted off Adebayor's back to give us out first goal, I just knew then it was not going to be our day, and that Given would make things very difficult for us. I was right.

No, he did not miss it. You can see him talking to JT and telling him that Lescott had his arms inside his chest, and that the ball hit him there, and thus no handball.

I'm upset, but it seemed like the Gods were against us today. On such days where we were hoping for a point, at least in the 2nd half, I don't get so mad, since losing one point instead of two (when a win becomes a draw) is more upsetting to me. I thought Deco did very well out there, and that A. Cole was dreadful. But credit to ManCity for keeping the pressure on us for most of the game.

Deco has been good out there, but we don't seem to have woken up yet. Citeh seems to be playing with a purpose, and we are just counterattacking. I hope things change in the 2nd half.

Wasn't the Chelsea-Rosenborg CL game a few yeras back the one that cost Mourinho his job?

OK, maybe I will. I just cringe at the 'the World is still Great' posts that he will make after a very difficult Chelsea loss (God, I hope that does not happen).

So Hoffman was not the middle aged man in New York? :)

If that is the case about the proposed new laws, then perhaps you are correct, Eggy. However, those proposed new laws are in flux, and I think that there are many proposed laws that go far beyond what you wrote, and that worries me. The U.S. is flat broke (like Iceland, just that no one talks about it), and these laws will just make the 'borrowing off our future' hole even bigger to climb out of. If it was not for the Chinese who buy all of our bonds, just so that they can keep the dollar somewhat stable so that they can dump their goods here, things would totally go crazy, such as hyperinflation like what happened in Argentina in the 90s. People with no health care now have to go to the emergency room for treatment, and they do get treatment there. Beyond that, there is something called Medicaid for people without insurance, which covers many things, but I am not an expert of it.

Don't blame the yanks, it's because of all of the U.S. marketing by Chelsea and the tours in the U.S. over the past 5 years. I am not a yank, since I live in the deep south, and have good southern roots.

Don't know about Sweden's health care system, but I have heard horror stories about Canada's. Especially when one needs special tests and/or surgery, one has to wait until they are practically on their death bed to get the needed tests and surgeries. Also, the doctors have no incentive to actually care for a patient, and treat them like an assembly line product in Canada, I have been told. I just don't want that. I have heard stories about the dental care in England, and how bad it is. Anyway, if it is not broke, then don't fix it, and the health care system in the U.S. is not broke, in my opinion.

Can we ban KFC for posting the irritable post since the start of the Shed End Forum?

Was Hutchinson available, or is he injured. I rate him highly.

Well, I agree to a point, as Kalou isn't second string, he is more like third string. The Ranieri-like substitutions was a bit much, as you state. I have to get some sleep.

I hear you, sexelk, but you have to play your squad players in games like this, or they will never improve. Now, we can definitely fault Carlo for his choice of the back four, but when you play a not-quite second string team, games like this will happen.

I voted for Ferreira, because of his goal to get us back to 3-3, but after seeing the highlights and seeing how comical his defending was to allow our first goal, please erase my vote for him.

That was comical defending. It appeared that he tried to do everything in his power to allow Blackburn to score.

GK mistake. Emerton took an inswinging free kick near the touch line from about 35 yard out, and it came in towards goal. It appeared at first to glance off a Blackburn player, to be redirected into the goal, but that Blackburn player did not make contact with the ball. Anyway, it confused Hilario, who expected the Blackburn player near him to deflect the ball, and as no contact was made, the ball naturally made its way into our goal.

Thanks for the highlights, Krazytea. Who was that big dummy who kicked the ball to their player for their first goal, and also fell down at the top corner of the penalty area? Whoever he was, he did about 5 things wrong in the buildup to their goal. I think it was either Joe Cole or Paolo Ferreira, but I could not tell.

Not Mikel to take the 5th penalty. NEVER! He would be 11th choice if I was in charge.

Yes, I am not too upset about it as well. I wish Blackburn well, and hope Big Sam gets better. What did Mikel do to allow the first goal?