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Why Ashley Cole remains the key ....


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Nobody could predict the impact Guus Hiddink has made in his short time at the helm, or the luck that has followed him during his career that has brought a fit Michael Essien to the fore, an injury to Jose Bosingwa that brought Ivanovic into the team which resulted in what can easily be described as one of our best ever performances in our demolition of the scoucers in their own back yard.

Forgive me of thinking Barcelona v Chelsea, as a Chelsea fan of many a year and indeed Liverpool's ability to conjour up victories against top class opposition when it was not thought possible, yep i'm worried *still* about Tuesday night!

My real concern is a booking to Ashley Cole. Imagine Messi running riot in the Nou Camp ? My mind flicks back to Del Horno at the Bridge, how we need our full backs to defend against them.

In Ivanovic we have a player (I said as much on his debut earlier in the season, he reminds me of a Chappie Ferrer with height !) a right back to combat a Henry, but if the odds suggest we play them in the Semi without a recognised left back we could be in trouble.

It will take a lot for Ashely to go through the next possible three games without a booking, the geezer took a lot of stick from all quarters when he signed from the gooners, but he has proved to be one of our most consistent performers, a crying shame if he missed Barca, and god forbid the final !

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One to worry about IF we get through.

As for the cards being extinguished there is nothing to suggest this in the rules

Article 21

Yellow and red cards

21.01 As a rule, a player who is sent off the field of play is suspended for the next

match in a UEFA club competition. The Control and Disciplinary Body is

entitled to augment this punishment. For serious offences the punishment

can be extended to all UEFA competition categories.

21.02 In case of repeated cautions, a player is suspended for the next competition

match:

a) after two cautions in two different qualifying matches, as well as after the

fourth caution during the qualifying phase;

^_^ from the first match in the group stage, after three cautions in three

different matches, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered

caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).

30

21.03 Single yellow cards and pending suspensions are always carried forward

either to the next stage of the competition or to another club competition in

the current season.

21.04 Exceptionally, single cautions from the qualifying phase that have not

resulted in a suspension expire on completion of the qualifying phase in

question.

21.05 Cautions and pending yellow-card suspensions from club competition

matches expire at the end of the season.

champions league rules of competion

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I actually thought that was the case as well Sheva (which is why I didn't buy into the argument that Terry's yellow might be a blessing in disguise) but I have a feeling it was the Euros.

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I think the most important thing is to keep our players out of suspension for two legs against Barca. because:

1) I`m afraid our semifinal can be tougher game to play than a possible final. (Who`s better than Barca currently?)

2) In CL final everything is shifting a bit to the backstage or Final is Final. It`s just 90 min, during which players should die, doing their best.

Changes followed by the loss of the vital player could suddenly became a surprise for the opponent and tends to a glorious achievement for the team. Final of any competion is very unpreditable thing. Too high pressure makes weird things happen.

Do you remember few years ago Arsenal were down to 10 men in the final against Barca, but managed to score first, could they do that having full squad? That`s a question. And after Barca were struggling to score for 70 min in the rainy weather.

So, hopefully, we should keep players for 2 games against Barca, that`s the key for me.

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IF we manage to get past Liverpool, then Ashley Cole is proberbly the most key player in our side for the semi. Everything good that Barca do goes through Messi, and if Cole is there and not suspended, we would have a much better chance of keeping the little bugger quiet.

Saying that though, i'm just concerning myself about Tuesday first. I will return to this thread if we do get through.

Come on the Chels...... ;)

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