MOTM vs Pompey

[loz]

Take your pick

[Benji]

Cech mate!

[ethicalstrategy]

i went for the man who seems to be universally regarded in the media as a shadow of his former self - the mighty Cech

[WoodmanBlue]

Great game for Cech!!!

[BlueBeard]

Yeah, I've gone with Cech too, he made some very important saves tonight - and to be honest, no-one else stood out for me

[Lofty]

I went Frank Lampard for this one, more so from what I saw of the first half.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

I went Frank Lampard for this one, more so from what I saw of the first half.

Same here!

[loz]

Definitely Cech for me. If a striker scores a hatrick he can probably have sat on his rear end playing Donkey Kong for the rest of the match and still get MOTM. Today Cech made two or three fine saves and, despite the conditions, was assured in the air throughout.

[Phillip]

I am a bit surprised Drogba has not gotten a vote yet, since he did score the game winner. For me, it was between Drogs and Cech, with Malouda a close third. I also liked Ballack's enthusiasm out there.

[loz]

I am a bit surprised Drogba has not gotten a vote yet, since he did score the game winner. For me, it was between Drogs and Cech, with Malouda a close third. I also liked Ballack's enthusiasm out there.

Drogba may have got the winner but he spent the rest of the game remining me of Paul Furlong.

[PloKoon13]

Malouda as I feel it's the only chance I'll ever have of doing so.

Cech was a tank, though.

[Virosh]

I voted for Frank. He was fantastic in midfield. Pity it just wasn't his day.

Cech was immense again.

[Gem]

Big Pete.

[charierre]

Cech 2 fine saves and a commanding performance

[Orangutan]

Frank didn't stand out to me today at all. He was working hard but the conditions just weren't on his side. Malouda gave a nice effort but really it's just what he should have been doing all along, not a MOTM performance. Drogba had an Anelka game, invisible for the whole game save for a well-taken goal.

I think Quaresma deserves a mention. His crosses were very dangerous when he came in and I think he and Bosingwa really clicked down the right in why that Kalou and Jose did not.

Ultimately, though, it's got to be Cech. He saved our bacon today. For all the criticism he gets for being off his best, most games he is rock solid. Every couple of games he drops a catch and that gets him the reputation as damaged goods. But he still can stop shots with the best of them.

[Liam]

Ultimately, though, it's got to be Cech. He saved our bacon today. For all the criticism he gets for being off his best, most games he is rock solid. Every couple of games he drops a catch and that gets him the reputation as damaged goods. But he still can stop shots with the best of them.

Fair comment Orangutan and I'm one of the people who have thought he was off his best. I'm delighted he seems to rediscovered his mojo.

[Chippy]

Cech for me, can't say anyone else stood out, ordinary performance but we got the points.

[TheWestwayWonder]

Orangutan, your comment really hit it on the head for me. Just finished watching the replay and I thought Frank wasnt as good as some people said, but Drogba was definitely better than you gave him credit for.

He was only on half an hour, but Quaresma stood out for me, bigtime. First of all, he beat his man on the outside, in the worst conditions for ball control, regularly. Secondly, on his very first cross, if anyone recalls he slowed to an almost walk and then exploded past Heridarsson to get the cross in. Youd say he was a standout in an unremarkable team, but his workrate and drive in weather conditions that are surely alien to him impressed the crap out of me.

Thing that stood out for me today is nobody had a real off day. I can think back to every player on the pitch putting in effort or a moment of real guile at some point. Ballack and Mikel were not really good in general, but even they had their moments which stop me short of declaring them "sh*t". Malouda and Kalou also impressed me a good bit, too

But for MOTM, its Big Pete. We wouldve lost without him, plain and simple, and when he was called upon he stood tall every time. It couldve been a keepers nightmare out there, and he kept his cool

Oh, and I think against the next defensive side we face, Belletti should just start. Mikel offers nothing going forward and I think the midfield would be much better off with a more attacking player complimenting Frank and Ballack

Edited March 4, 2009 by TheWestwayWonder

[mad_mac]

had to be Petr. Kept us in it on more that one occassion. Malouda doing well (told you he would...although last week I'd given up hope! ARRRRGH!) Think Malouda was the right choice to start as he is the only naturally left footed midfielder we have. Lampard again showing why he was offered a new contract!

Scott

[ozboy]

Oh, and I think against the next defensive side we face, Belletti should just start. Mikel offers nothing going forward and I think the midfield would be much better off with a more attacking player complimenting Frank and Ballack

I have another guy in mind for that switch Mr Essien

[aliboy66]

Cech for me.Was not pretty but its all about the results now

PS what is it about Malouda that managers like to me he is crap and should never play for Chelsea again

Edited March 4, 2009 by aliboy66

[loz]

Oh, and I think against the next defensive side we face, Belletti should just start. Mikel offers nothing going forward and I think the midfield would be much better off with a more attacking player complimenting Frank and Ballack

That gets said a lot however when Mikel was replaced by Belletti yesterday

1. Pompey probably enjoyed their best spell of the game in terms of possession and breaking forward.

2. Belletti did nothing.

Remember Real Madrid were never better than when they played Makelele week in week out irrespective of the opposition.

Remmeber we were never better than when they played Makelele week in week out irrespective of the opposition.

Makelele offers even less going forward than Mikel.

[motorhead]

cech for me as well.

[Nibs]

Makelele offers even less going forward than Mikel.

But it's negligible.

And he offered a whole lot more in all other areas (other than height!!)

[ethicalstrategy]

If we are going to play a holding midfield player then it has to be Mikel. Whether or not we should play a holding midfielder is another arguement altogether.

As far as Cech is concerned, I think he has had a lot to cope with. Firstly, the two horrific injuries which could easily have ended his top class career. Secondly, he has suffered from some quite bad back problems and this has affected his ability to stretch for some of the high crosses - the area where he has most obviously been worse in than when he first joined us. Thirdly, he has not had the same settled defense that he had in his first two years. This makes a big difference - just ask Van der Sar. Overall I still think he is a top class keeper and I wouldn't swap him for anyone else. Just compare his handling in difficult conditions to David James last night.