If ever there was an indication of how boring football is right now, that first half was it.

Pedro was very important for us this first half providing an outlet under pressure when Arsenal are closing us down. He can hold off his player no-one else seems able to do this.

Not sure on all the negativity, we looked fairly comfortable against this so called top team.

We would be far better by hooking Delap and bringing on Palmer, that'll help unlock Pedro. Not sure Estevao will be in the right head space just yet.

Hopefully we’ll grab a goal from somewhere in 2nd half, then last 15 minutes we’ll put Estevao and Palmer on to kill them off.

I just dont see how Rice is touted to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Yes he is solid and keeps things ticking for them but he is just a lump in the middle with decent technique.

I guess we’ll see if Liam really wants to win this tie or just preserve his streak…..bored as f**k that half. Horrible football from our lot especially Delap and one or two others. Arsenal haven’t had to work hard yet, we’ve made it easy with this slow paced football.

8 minutes ago, dan_cfc said:

Why is Delap playing on the wing ffs

All you football philistines asking this;

our striker needs to provide width because our rwb is busy inverting in to the number 10 role. I bet you idiots don’t even know what a football looks like!

2 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I like it though. Maresca would have been too scared to do anything. He was always rubbish in big games.

I think we’ve got a goal in us.

You like this? It's ass. Really really sh*t. If a Maresca side is too scared, then I don't see how this is any different. So many times the players just refuse to play the ball forward and take the safe option and play backwards.

3 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I like it though. Maresca would have been too scared to do anything. He was always rubbish in big games.

I think we’ve got a goal in us.

No he wasn't? That was the only thing he was good at.

I'm listening on the wireless so can't really judge our play however we're still in it. Time to bring on the Big Guns. No point waiting til halfway through the second half. Cmon Chels!!!!

f**k those pesky grandiose-delusional gooners can't stand the lot of em

Just now, Imran_CFC said:

I just dont see how Rice is touted to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Yes he is solid and keeps things ticking for them but he is just a lump in the middle with decent technique.

Rice is a bulldog who spent hours on set pieces. He's like the specialist kicker in NFL

5 minutes ago, Liam said:

Is "retard" the mots du jour? Makes me pine for "fraud c**t"

I suppose technically if we were using French, then Maresca would be the retard manager (en retard).

this ref would have never whistled the halftime if it was other way round, fakin kant

1 minute ago, Malcolm9 said:

Not sure on all the negativity, we looked fairly comfortable against this so called top team.

We would be far better by hooking Delap and bringing on Palmer, that'll help unlock Pedro. Not sure Estevao will be in the right head space just yet.

Arsenal have been how they have been for a few months now, just grinding it out. They're comfortable without really doing anything.

5 minutes ago, Liam said:

Is "retard" the mots du jour? Makes me pine for "fraud c**t"

I'm very happy my "Fraudo" is universally applicable.

5 minutes ago, Deino said:

That's Arsenal

We're chasing the game by being negative!

Who knows it might work. ?!?!

Just now, Deino said:

Rice is a bulldog who spent hours on set pieces. He's like the specialist kicker in NFL

I could actually see being a field goal kicker in the NFL one day. I think Harry Kane had some ambitions in that direction too.

There once was a man who regarded
The manager to be retarded
He wished we could laud
A c**t and a fraud
Thank God the meek are safeguarded

We're still in this and one late goal takes it to extra time. Nobody steamrollers Arsenal so at the moment the back 5 is working. Our bench is attacking so on 60mins we can bring on the cavalry and be more attacking. Maybe even later.

I'd take penalties.

Just now, The Rising Sun said:

We're chasing the game by being negative!

Who knows it might work. ?!?!

We're trying to confuse them into thinking we are holding on to a lead apparently ;)

5 minutes ago, Malcolm9 said:

Not sure on all the negativity, we looked fairly comfortable against this so called top team.

We would be far better by hooking Delap and bringing on Palmer, that'll help unlock Pedro. Not sure Estevao will be in the right head space just yet.

R

For once in his life I think Neville called it right.

I reckon we played that first half exactly the way Rosenior wanted. Boring as feck but we are still in it.

Paul Merson for being such a decorated footballer doesn’t have a clue.

2 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

There once was a man who regarded
The manager to be retarded
He wished we could laud
A c**t and a fraud
Thank God the meek are safeguarded

You are Lord Byron and I claim my £10

Watching us try to play out or press from the front is embarrasing compared to Arsenal.

They wait and wait and then press all together quickly and we can barely hoof the ball away. When we try it, it';s 1 player, or 2, with the others nowhere near.