youlots

Not to forget the mangoes from Mollymook! (2nd home of the Chels, at least in this hemisphere)

I endorse the view that we played better and more cohesively in the last 2 CL semis under Jose than the other night. I've watched those other semis a number of times (as I'm sure a lot of others have) and have now watched this week's game twice. Moreover, and notwithstanding that Torres has undoubtedly given the filth an edge to their attack this season (that was previously lacking) the difference in the game the other night I felt was that both Torres and Gerrard had pretty ordinary games. And apart from Torres adding an undoubted option to their attack this season, the filth, in my view have not really developed as a team under Benitez at all over the last 3 years. If anything, Benitez's purchases have (apart from Torres who has shown much better movement, instincts, understanding and linkage with Gerrard et al than Morientes or Cisse ever did), for the most part, merely sold certain players and acquired others who exhibit the same qualities and styles as those either sold or replaced and particularly in midfield and defence. If there is any difference at all in midfield for example, it is that Alonso and Mascherano are more defensive than the likes of Garcia et al. In defence nothing at all has changed (albeit that a player like Agger who has been injured for mostv of the year is much more adventurous in attack than some previous defenders for the filth.) If there is a difference for the filth apart from Torres I feel that if anything, their defence has become better. On our side of the ledger, and similarly, our playing style under the Panda has not undergone any fundamental change since Jose departed. IMO view the only significant difference, if only minor in gradation, has been Ballack. Our defence is fundamentally unchanged as is our midfield to a large extent. And the only difference in attack has really been that Drogba no longer has the foil of Shevcenko. There can be no doubt that the Shev's time is up in the EPL as an out and out striker but to be fair, how many goals were scored by Drogba last year during the golden boot period because of the work of Shev in assists and in making runs that took other defenders away from Drogs and ended up leaving him one on one. These days, the 2nd defender will always come to the aid of his fellow defender when Drogs has the ball precisely because of how lethal he was last year man on man. And this year Drogba has really, pretty much, toiled away on his own with a gammy knee for a large period. And Kalou, as promising as he is, and apart from that glorious cross the other night has not really gelled with Drogba as we would have liked. So what is the point of all of the above some might say? Well, I suppose in a round about sort of way what I'm trying to get across is that neither us or the filth have really changed that much in playing style in 3 years, that given the high level games that we've had in the last 3 years we both know each others styles and patterns of play better than any other team and that in consequence, and in circumstances where either team is not going to relent on its particular style (which in many ways is very similar), then, and as Jose used to always say ahead of these ties with the filth, that the result will always come down to one or 2 plays during the game. Grandmaster v Grandmaster if youy like (always more draws than wins). Next week, however, we play with the white pieces thank God. What has this got to do with the Panda? Well, I agree with Qaz in his comment above (in one of his more perceptive moments ) that none of what happened on the park the other night had anything to do with the Panda apart that is from his subs in bringing on Kalou (who makes the cross etc). To say that Jose f**ked up "BIG TIME" against the filth as has been said above is a ludicrous statement. What is offered in support of that statement? A cliche. That is, that we were 1 up last year and all we had to do was get the job done. I mean really why do people even bother to post such dross?

Riise - our super sub! Filth forums probably won't figure in his reading material over the next week. What a colossal blunder.

We're starting to play into their hands by sitting to deep. Started well and stayed up the park but we failed to maintain that and that's allowed Kuyt and Babel more space. We look ok in midfield but we've again reverted to type as the match wears on by just hitting long balls to Drogs. IMO we've got to go 442 now and bring on Anelka. We simply have to score now.

For reasons which escape me (which can only be a good thing given the history of this tie) I am feeling pretty relaxed about the 1st leg. I'll plump for 3-1 to us.

Good summation of the man Qaz.

There's no doubt that he did the business in getting us there (albeit after a penalties in the final game) and probably got the best out of our squad at the WC in much the same way that he did with South Korea (and remarkably) in 2002. And he's obviously got the best out of PSV when he's managed there. Like just though, I have a doubt about whether Gus would be the best option for us and one of the more pertinent issues when considering him is whether you think his undoubted abilities are more suited to getting the best out of average to good players (which is beyond dispute) as opposed to a team comprised mostly of top drawer players (like us). Maybe that way of thinking is spurious and if he were available obviously he'd be in the top 3 possibles to take over the helm. However, Hiddink does have a record of honouring his contracts and if we're about to have wholesale changes to our squad (which looks probable regardless of what happens over the next few weeks) then the close season will be really hectic and will require maximum time and input I would have thought from, among others, our manager. Then again, if the Panda is given more time (%!*&$%!!!) maybe all of this is academic

Gee thanks for that Abramovich, big response....

In a beaten up old russian taxi no less!

We've really got to go for it at Anfield and score (away) goals. Time for Grant to be brave and play either 4-4-2 or (my preference) 4-1-3-2. I'd start as follows: PF RC JT WB Mikel Tank Frank JC DD Anelka See how that goes. Not a lot of width mid you but if Bridgey and Paulo can get forward a bit with Mikel in cover well...who knows. I'd save Maka for manure and the 2nd leg; prefer PF over Belleti & WB over AC for this leg; keep Kalou/Sheva/Maka/Alex etc on the bench.

Yeah but it wasn't right before any of the CL semis & I can't recall Jose saying that he wanted to get a room with him.

Grant or Gerrard?

The freedom to think with responsibility....as opposed, presumably, to being irresponsibly confined?? Perhaps that explains playing Anelka as a winger: Grant: I want you to play on the left. Anelka: But I'm a striker. Grant: But you'll have so much more freedom on the left as long as you use that freedom responsibly. Anelka: (thinking to himself) Perhaps I'll just drift about then.

Well at least they're consistent; consistently biased that is and hey you can't get enough of that - consistency that is....

Now he wants Gerrard or his love child or something.... Great timing & morale booster ahead of 1st leg aginst the filth. Will we never be set free.... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 780052.ece

Of course dkw and I have never (unlike some) given a toss about what the media or anyone else thinks or writes about us etc. However, I just can't shake the feeling that something is not quite right here. Something just doesn't add up about that exchange given that he's always been pretty open before. Look, its no secret that I don't rate him as a manager and especially not of Chels but irrespective of that I'm a bit worried about his behaviour recently. Then again maybe I'm just reading way too much into it. I just hope he's ok that's all.

dkw I hope your right about this (ie. him being intentionally unresponsive) and given that my impressions only come from seeing the transcipt as opposed to the actual exchange then one doesn't have the further benefit of body language etc. He does come across as annoyed - whether that is just in respect of the press intrusiveness or for other reasons none of us can really say I suppose. Given he's usually very mild mannered I thought it seemed to odd and perhaps I'm just reading too much into it. Of course the last thing we need before the filth is some further crisis.

So why was he still talking up our chances for the title after Wigan then? I reckon somethings happened between him and the playing group in the aftermath of the TBH fine.

Oh and what stance is that exactly... I thought the exchange on Ballack's "injury" was probably the only thing of specific interest apart from the overall impression. And whilst it is currently fashionable that the basis for any speculation/analysis on this forum (be it of the objective/subjective/factual/non factual/quasi factual/deridean/barthist/revisionist/freudian/maoist etc.etc genre) is, of itself, de rigueur and lest I disturb anyone's sensibilities (for which I truly and genuinely apologise for in advance ) I find that I can't help myself but wonder about the general tenor of that interview in the context of his press conference yesterday (where he made those curious remarks concerning Jose etc) and can only conclude that the man is either finding the pressue a bit much too bear and/or that he's been recently given some bad news by upstairs as it were. Disclaimer: The above comment is not in any way reflective of the views or opinions of any other contributor/poster on this forum or indeed reflective of any of the views or opinions of the administrators/moderators of this site and any reader of this post is freely entitled to decide whether and to what extent the basis for the above speculation/analysis is either objective/subjective/factual/non factual/quasi factual/deridean/barthist/revisionist/freudian/maoist etc. either singularly or in combination with any of those identifiers, which are used merely by way of illustration, or by reference to any other identifiers that the reader may choose to employ for his/her purpose.

He's starting to resemble Captain Queeg

Don't despair Val - I've been equally clueless in the last 7 comp. & I'm probably at the bottom of the table. However, I'm back for more punishment so here goes: Toffees 0 - 2 Chels

I understand the view that taken in isolation, the 1st semi at Anfield is (now) much more important than the game against the toffees and, in consequence, that it may be better to cotton wool certain players and give bench/juniors a go etc. However, I assume from what the Panda said (post Wigan) that he hasn't totally given up on the title and I expect that he's not so obtuse to at least entertain the idea that Rovers might be able to deny manure all 3 points on the weekend. If so, then the win at Goodison becomes imperative and the Panda won't want to face any retrospective criticism after the rovers/manure game (if indeed rovers do well at home) that we hadn't put close to a full strength side on the paddock against the toffees (and in circumstances where we don't win that game). Also, and given that we don't play this weekend and there will be 5 days between the toffee/filth games and notwithstanding that certain players will be tired from the intense fixture list in recent weeks etc, the game against the toffees will be an important hit out in respect to maintaining match fitness for several players. So I expect that the Panda can't afford to gamble with selection to much. Agree with Callista that we've now lost any wriggle room regarding selection for all of the remaining games - we just have to keep playing our best team (making allowances of course for the opposition in respect to each game). And if that means that someone gets injured against the toffees (and is therefore not available for selection agauinst the filth) and the Panda then gets stick for that (ie. playing out best team with the possibility of injury etc) then I for one would be sticking up for the Panda on that issue of team selection.

Jesus wept.

Post of the season? Must be up there.

Panicked masses eh Qaz? That was the tenor and object of all of his posts then was it?!? How noble. Dear me. Bit of a put down really by you of your fellow posters who obviously saw things a bit differently. Matter for you though.