Phillip

Well, Bolton did not cost us, since the title was over (ManU was up 2-0 with about 1 minute to go) when Bolton equalized.

I believe we will win 17-1, and will get pipped out by the Mancs on goal difference.

It seems like Rijkaard and Mourinho live in parallel universes, what happens to one happens to the other. Maybe they should co-manage a team next season.

Exactly, because one could just as well say that if Styles was not refereeing that first match against Liverpool and if we did not get that dodgy penalty decision to allow us to steal a point at Anfield, things might have been different (I know it is only a point, but psychologically speaking, it would have likely cost us more points down the road).

I saw the movie yesterday, and it was good. Though the title is misleading -- it should be "Chelsea, the Jose Morinho years".

Don't be nervous. If we win, it is all gravy, but if we don't then at least we gave it a good go. ManU should and will be nervous, but you should just relax, since we are now playing with house money.

Did not work for me. All I got was 'Jabba the Hut' when I tried that search term.

Damn, you Brits have more bank holidays than Japan has holidays (Golden week, love your granddaughter day, cherry blossom appreciation month, new years' day, the week after new years' day, 47 days after new years' day, etc.).

Whaaaaaa? What was your Google search term: "Avram Grant in ectasy pose lookalike"?

What Virosh said.

You are a genius, Coco.

Who will play Avram Grant?

Me, too. I thought the match was on right now (2:45 Eastern Standard time), so I am a bit upset

No, I was saying at the start of extra time, when Anelka came on, he still had one more sub to make, and he kept it in his pocket. Once we scored, that change keepers option no longer applied, but it did apply at the 91st minute up to when we scored the second goal.

I was just exploring it as a possibility -- I have no idea if that was what Grant had in mind, but I give him credit if he was thinking about it.

Oh, once we scored in extra time, there was no possibility of "going to penalities", since away goals count double. I was happy to see Sheva get a few minutes out there.

Sheva came on late in the game, as our third substitute. When the extra time started, we had used our second substitute, bringing in Nico Anelka. After sleeping on it, I was thinking whether or not Avram was saving that third substitute to bring on Carlo to take the penalities, if there was no scoring in extra time? If so, it probably was a very wise move by Avram to keep that ace in his hole.

OK, I got my act together now.

Definitely keep Essien right-side up, Essien's strike. Bottom line is we were the better team, and that is all that matters.

I agree somewhat, but we had three players in offsides positions. Kind of like a hockey scrum, with everyone trying to screen the goalie. Though I am not up on the rules on that one, to be honest.

I will need to see that one again, to be honest. Also, I can imagine the scene on the Liverpool forums, since they will be griping about the Hyppia non-penalty call, and also they probably will scream about Hyppia's foul on Ballack, which might have been called outside the box by some referrees. It was in the box in my mind, but it was close.

Can't fault that logic, and especially since I was going crazy when we scored, and then I had to recover when I found out the goal was disallowed. It was rough for a few minutes, I must say.

Malouda was not horrible again, so maybe he is improving.

I thought so too at first, but on replay, we had three players in offsides positions in front of goal, so it probably was the correct call due to blocking the goalkeeper's view. All in all, I think we got the most of the close calls. Hyppia's trip in the box by Drogba could have been called against us, but I am unsure about whether or not that was a penalty.

Yes, you are correct. This reminds me of that 4-2 Barca match, but scarier.