Jane

Tim the match in Palo Alto is at Stanford here is the ticket info. as posted by MHedges previously. http://gostanford.cstv.com/tickets/tickets-body.html Good luck.

Geezer - does that mean you are in "paradise" with 'er at No.97?

I checked on the Nurses Fund website and it says 0 players but the Club made a contribution. It doesn't say how much it is, but of course it could be much more than an individual players contribution. Whatever. I imagine that Chelsea like all big organisations and celebrities are constantly asked to contribute towards a vast number of charities and good causes. I also know that they do an awful lot for charity, but not everybody can give to every charity there is. Also, the purpose of this fund is not necessarily a registered charity, the idea behind it is to raise the profile of nurses and the idea of footballers giving a day's wage is the hook they're using. Is it outrageous that a nurse earns X and a footballer earns X x ?00000 - yes of course it is. I don't think anyone could dispute that nurses do a fantastic job and should be paid a lot more and should be more respected within society. However, those who choose to go into nursing do that, they make a choice. Hospital cleaners, likewise do a good job, are essential to the well being of patients and I bet they would be very happy to be paid as much as nurses. But they aren't and that's life. I imagine there aren't many people who don't think that footballers are paid way too much and compared to the rest of us mere mortals it's not fair, but it too is life. If you looked at a nurses wage in the Ivory Coast, or in Ghana I dare say they could only dream of being paid as much as a nurse in the UK, but I think it may present a dilemma for some of our players to make such a contribution. England players did play for nothing for a recent game (I'm not sure which one), and gave their fee to the fund, so that means JT, FL and possibly SWP made a contribution. This article, like so many in our crap-awful press, is just bilge, written by an idiot for an idiot audience. The thing that impresses me about Chelsea is what they do for charity, not what they don't do. I think I've mentioned previously, there was a young lad, a massive Chelsea fan, near where I live, dying of cancer, his MacMillan nurse contacted Chelsea and in return he received a visit from a player (I don't know which one because she couldn't remember his name got a signed football, lots of things from the club including a shirt, which he was buried in. This boy was delighted. There was no media coverage, I live 3 hours drive from London, on what is a pig of a journey, nobody knew about it but this boy and his family and MacMillan locally and it made his life. He died not long after and he said before he died it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. That kind of selfless kind of charitable act is what impresses me, not something that's just for the sake of a television programme, however good the cause.

Hi Kalou, welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy reading and posting.

As I think this "person" is a female, my entry is: "sniff sniff ..and I didn't even get me ar*e pinched, I taut you said dese Latin types liked blonde burds... sniff sniff"

That's a total fix about Steve Finnan. Talk about a crooked constabulary. Regarding the original point however, unfortunately there is no morality in justice. It does seem immoral that Lee Hughes could go back to a career where he earns lots of money and could be seen as a "role model" for young people etc. etc. whilst the family affected remain devastated and always will. But unfortunately, morality plays no part in our judicial system. He has served his time and is now entitled to return to his life having paid his penance. Is it right? No Is it life? Yes

"just wrote: We are more likely to get a full season's football out of Prof. Steven Hawking than we are our from dutch flyer." Yes, I agree that's funny. I voted NO, because I cannot see our style will improve under Mourinho. I do think that with Joe in the team, SWP in form, Essien in his rightful place we have the potential to play exciting football, but it seems that Jose doesn't want us to. It always seems to me that when Joe is playing well and injecting something like flair into the side he is pulled off. SWP, is someone I've always maintained my faith in. Yes, he's played very averagely when he has been allowed in the side, but occasionally he's shown some of his old flair. But to be fair to him, is it any surprise? Jose's legendary man management skills only seem to work on certain people. For others he has the tendancy to tear them down and then build them back up in his image of what he wants them to be. In doing this with Sean I think he all but destroyed his confidence and made him a very nervous player which has come over in his performances. Only recently did he look like the player he was before he joined us. He did the same with Joe and of course everyone would say look what he achieved with Joe. But everyone is different, not everyone responds well to this type of man management and I think this is one of the reaons we lost Gallas. Yes, I think Jose does analyse the game to the nth degree, but in doing so it appears that he only appears to find solutions in defence, he relies on his players to provide solutions for attack and they do not/are not able to provide the solutions. In theory it may be that his analysis is 100% correct, certainly our number of trophies since he's been with us would show that. However, it doesn't make for attractive football to watch and whilst he's with us I don't think it will change. Is this good or bad? I know I personally would love to see us defensively brilliant and beautiful in attack, with loads of goals scored and lots of trophies won. With our money shouldn't this be possible?

AVWAV - Maybe perhaps you are very young? I don't like to be personal, or attack someone else's point of view, but really I think this is quite a preposterous post based on little more than the rubbish that is churned out in the newspapers.

Bless, doesn't he look sweet. Looks like he's off to a wedding - with the grown ups.

All week I have been so nervous, gradually building up in my tummy. Last night couldn't get to sleep for ages. Thank God I didn't wake up until 11:00 am, which has reduced the waiting time. Sitting here wearing my shirt, even the dogs have picked up on my nerves. Think I might take them out for a walk before the match, just so I can calm down a little, as I'm actually shaking. Yesterday evening I was having a chat with the lad who does my garden, he is for his sins a Manc, but you know what he said - he thinks we will win! I nearly kissed him. Then last night spoke to one of my old friends in East London, a Hammers fan. He has put money on us to win and he will be shouting for us today. All this, yet I can't get rid of these nerves. I remember the 1970 final, so well. It was brilliant. I too have been saying a few prayers. I know my dad will be up there, dressed in blue, waving his scarf and singing, and I know he won't be alone. It's days like this when I really miss him, knowing that he would be feeling the same things. It's his fault I became a blue, never had any choice really. He gave me this feeling in my belly. I really should have been like all my female friends who say "don't really understand this football thing" "why do you care so much about it - it's just not like the rest of you that we know". To them, when it comes to Chelsea I become an alien. In a couple of hours, my home will have all three tvs on, just in case I have to move from one room to another and I might miss a second, my dogs will all be wondering, who is this dog called Chelsea that she keeps shouting at? They think he must be very bad. Part of me thinks I can't even watch it, that I should record it then when I know the score watch it, if we win (I know that should be a WHEN). Oh Gawd. I have these constant negotiations with God. I cannot die until.... and achievements for Chelsea score very highly in my list. If we win today, well there's still the Champions League and of course getting the Premiership back again. Maybe it's that we have to do all four in one season. Yes, that's it. I can go when we win all four. Well, maybe not then. I'm rambling, it's nerves. I'm off to take my dogs out. I'll be back just in time for kick off and I can make my decision then. I cannot drink so I can't even have a stiff whiskey to calm my nerves. Thinking of everyone, especially those who are there - you lucky barstewards! For the rest of us at home or in pubs, have a great time! Finally - Chelsea be good to us! and may the best London team win today!!!!

On a serious note, I doubt if this endears Jose to England. I actually cannot imagine the upset of the police and animal people turning up at the home, when he wasn't in, and taking the dog away from his wife and children. If this happened to me I would be hysterical and would probably get done for considerably more than obstruction. If his family are upset it isn't going to do him any good at all, especially before such an important match. Of course, nobody should be above the animal importation laws, but I don't see how anyone could have got the dog through a flight without anyone knowing in the first place? Unless it was very small and they sedated it and hid it in a bag. But really to go through the official channels is much easier and with small dogs, on some airlines they are allowed to travel in the cabin in a bag anyway. I hope they get their dog back very quickly and the whole mess is sorted out very soon, in fact today, would be good.

It is Barak. I can't take credit for it though. I don't know who wrote it originally, but it's on my wall too!

Not good news. Hoping he's able to go back into remission. What Cancer Cannot Do - Cancer is so limited! It cannot cripple love It cannot shatter hope It cannot corrode faith It cannot destroy peace It cannot kill friendship It cannot suppress memories It cannot silence courage It cannot invade the soul It cannot steal eternal life It cannot conquer the spirit.

So very sad. Condolences to the family and friends. What a terrible tragedy.

Certainly not ashamed of our supporters though. I could hear them all night. Feel like they all need a big hug. It's a long way home and they must be feeling like crap. I could cry for them.

I'm feeling sick

< is a woman, but wouldn't be seen wiping her arse on the Daily Mail.

Thanks for the explanations guys. I suspect that Rob (RedRobMol) is the closest. There may be quite a few gays in SW6, but there's a world of difference between gays and rent boys. But the whole idea of "Chelsea is a rich businessman's plaything - QED we must be rent boys" is laughable. What about the Moores family involvement in Liverpool (and Everton)? When he sold out to the Americans, David Moore was heir to the Littlewoods business empire. 42nd on the Rich List. OK not as high as Roman but well up there. If you wanted to take the analogy to it's closest, but still ridiculous conclusion, wouldn't it better apply to Watford (with their Elton John connections). I'm pretty sure there has been NO suggestion that Roman is gay. I know I'm being entirely too logical. But with all football insults there's usually a grain of truth. EG Totttenham, did traditionally have a lot of jewish supporters and board members. Arsenal, used to be very much an Irish club. Liverpool - thieves and vagabonds. But Chelsea and Rent Boys, just no connection whatsoever. It's based on jealousy of course, but then I've noticed that since I've moved up to "the North". This hatred of Southerners and Londoners, in particular, is all based on jealousy. I encounter it, on an almost, daily basis. People go to ridiculous lengths to not be outdone by a Londoner. If only they knew how pathetic they seem. I'm a Londoner, I'm Chelsea and I'm very proud to be both. Have I ever sold my body for sex, no never, but then I've never been that poor either. Oh whoops - that's what get's them so jealous isn't it?

Of course, I understand that we call each other names but can someone try to explain to me why we would be called Rent Boys? Am I being thick, or have I missed something? I really don't understand. Please share if you have an explanation.

I didn't watch today's game. It's a long story but my bath, it's one of those door opening mobility type of things, has not been working for a while as I couldn't shut the door. I put in a request to the manufacturer to come and fix it and amazingly the guy turned up today to fix it. Everytime I started to settle down to set up the stream, he needed something, or he just wanted to chat (customer relations I think). Anyway, I ended up not seeing even a moment. Reading everyone's comments on here, I'm really glad about it. It's hard to believe that with so much riding on the game (like the Premiership!) that we blew it so badly. But hey come on chaps, this is Chelsea, this is what we do, it's what we've always done and we still love them - don't we? Anyone who's been around longer than, what the last three seasons, is quite used to this behaviour. Infuriating, annoying, sheer f****** c***ery! But, very Chelsea. At least when the silicone dries I can go and have a long bath to relieve my stress.

This post is probably haunting you today Clubhappy.

1) Diving 2) Football being on Sky and not terrestrial TV 3) Sky . 4) Ridiculous money for players. 5) Agree with Elliott on players being booked for celebrating. Thats for starters, I'll have to clear my head a little more for some more. jem - football has always been for boys, I'm afraid. I started going to Chelsea when I was a little girl. (My Dad wanted a boy) and however much I knew, felt, dreamed of, etc. for the club, I was always regarded as "only" a girl. I don't think it will change in my lifetime I'm afraid. As for it being a "man's" game - well that's just a big fib chaps and you know it!

I was discussing this subject with some girlfriends the other day and we all agreed - All this remembering lines/scenes, etc from films is such a bloke thing. I don't know one woman who could quote the lines from films and have the sheer knowledge about the ("irrelevent") minutiae about films in the way you blokes do. I wonder what the psychological reasons for it are? Any suggestions. I do have some theories but I'd be interested to hear your points of view.

Welcome Singablue

Thanks HSK - very much enjoyed. Good to see you around.