Gutted..Pompey vs Blues

[octville]

My heart stopped momentarily in this pulsating game. It is 2 points dropped as Arsenal opens up a 7-point gap. Looks like the Premiership is gone. I have no complaints because both teams went for the jugular, although i wished that Chelsea was more clinical in finishing. Why did not we buy another attacker during the transfer window?

Ben T'aim is blamed again for the poor marking that led to Defoe's goal. Why did we not use our latest signings? I was hoping for a Russian debut and Di Santos'.

Anyway, no complaints considering that we missed Drogs, Essien, Mikel, Kalou, Carvalho, Terry, Lamps and Sheva.

Still, we may just win a treble of trophies - FA, League Cup and maybe the Champion's League.

[Phillip]

It is a 6 point gap, right? Also, our worry is ManU, which we kept pace with, not the Arse. Believe me when I say Arse will finish in third at the end of the season.

[Gulpje]

It is a 6 points gap indeed. I don't think the Premiership is completely gone yet.

Last year in Holland PSV managed to throw away an 11 point gap after the winter stop, but they won the title based on goal difference. Anything could happen and it's not over yet!

[Phillip]

On a positive note, I like the way we finished the game, with a win-or-die attitude. With 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, that should be the way a top team plays whether at home or on the road. If we would have lost this game, I would not have been mad, since by playing for a win at the end, that happens sometimes.

[The Moos]

1. It's 6 points, not 7. Arsenal are still to play ManU and away against us. That's 6 points.

2. We did sign another attacker. He's called Anelka and unless I'm mistaking he scored for us today. When Drogba and the rest comes back we'll have like 4 strikers. That's enough.

3. Ivanovic isn't ready yet. He needs to train a bit more and then we can start using him. Won't come in as a starter though.

4. Di Santo won't play much for us right now. Perhaps in the cup but not much more that than.

[superdan]

I wish we'd had that attitude a bit earlier!

I think the goal was the fault of two defenders who missed the header and Belletti who played him onside - can't blame Ben Haim alone though I think it would have been a different result had we had Carvalho.

Diarra was pretty good wasn't he :-(

[Phillip]

I thought Ben Haim was the least to blame of our defenders on the Keystone Cops defence that led to Pompey's goal.

[Chippy]

Ok we only got a point, dissapointing for sure but to console ourselves at least we never as Philip said, lost ground on UTD,

they were lucky to get a point today that late on,

we had our top two defenders out and I wouldn't blame our fourth choice too much, he is fourth choice for a reason and Belletti was more to blame for the goal,

although cashley nearly scored I still would rather have seen Bridge,

we did give it everything at the end but today it wasn't enough, still time to close the gap and you never know what will happen when we are full strength,

three more good signings for Harry by the looks of it,

Diarra looked good and for todays performance I recon Wenger will be glad he went to Portsmouth

got to give the home side credit today, they learned their lesson last time out giving UTD too much respect and trying to defend,

they treated us like a home game they thought they could win and could have done it.

[loz]

Hello Octville,

Not seen you for a while - oh that's right that will be because we were winning.

[JT26CFC]

The team as a whole played extremely poor today. And the finishing was no better. I just can't waitt for the ACN to be over. Also now the absence of Terry and Carvahlo were missed today. Alex made unnecessary challenges and BH...tried. Belletti kept Defoe onside and Ashley Cole i wouldn't say was the worst, but i would've been Bidge ahead of him. And now onto Liverpool next sunday....

[The Brit]

let's be honest, who didn't fear the worst with ben haim coming into the team today?...and as for a hole playing instead of bridge

[Enrico]

Goal conceded was Belletti's error, not stepping up when the rest did, and Ben Haim had no idea what he was supposed to do. Our goal, well made, well finished. I'd have said before the game that a draw wouldn't be the worst result, considering their overachieving so far this season.

However, if Grant engineered the draw then I think it's genius. If we had won it'd have been a club record 10 wins in a row I heard the commentator say. I think Grant realised many fans wouldn't be able to take it and their brains would implode had he managed to achieve what we couldn't when SuperJose was around.

[Tommy Power]

gutted, really wanted the win but to say were out of the title race !

we have hung in all season and then lamps should be back at least on the bench and after that terry is about 2 weeks away from a return as well as essien and drogba

f**k em chelsea to sneak this title !

[Guest]

Hello Octville,

Not seen you for a while - oh that's right that will be because we were winning.

MEOW!

[just]

The team as a whole played extremely poor today. And the finishing was no better. I just can't waitt for the ACN to be over. Also now the absence of Terry and Carvahlo were missed today. Alex made unnecessary challenges and BH...tried. Belletti kept Defoe onside and Ashley Cole i wouldn't say was the worst, but i would've been Bidge ahead of him. And now onto Liverpool next sunday....

No he didn't.

http://www.theshedend.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=6344

[Dorset]

Hello Octville,

Not seen you for a while - oh that's right that will be because we were winning.

Absence has obviously made his heart grow fonder.

[Lofty]

At one time I promised myself I (probably) wouldn't bother answering or even reading this bloke's posts. But he talks such blatant bollox I admit I find it hard to resist. It would be hilarious if he wasn't so serious.

Anyway. How are you octville? How's the golf going? Don't forget to take your medication..

And you all thought I was going to lay into the poor c**t.

[Blue Sun Tzu]

...At one time I promised myself I (probably) wouldn't bother answering or even reading this bloke's posts....

Something tells me that Brian feels much the same about me!!

[Plavi26]

Hmm, I think Ben Haim did a fair game today. He came out big on a couple of tackles during the game and was pretty solid. The sides were more to blame. Ashley far to many mistakes and Beletti seemed to have a hard time containing what was thrown at him on a couple of occasions.

[octville]

I am back, but of course ! Avram needs his exam in Israel because he simply is good enough to take on the best.

His record against Manure & Arsenal sucks ( He still has not beaten them ! Or even draw with either of them).

These are his record :

Sun Sep 23 2007 Manchester United (A) 0 - 2

Wed Sep 26 2007 Hull City CC (A) 4 - 0

Sat Sep 29 2007 Fulham (H) 0 - 0

Wed Oct 03 2007 Valencia CF UCL (A) 2 - 1

Sun Oct 07 2007 Bolton Wanderers (A) 1 - 0

Sat Oct 20 2007 Middlesbrough (A) 2 - 0

Wed Oct 24 2007 Schalke 04 UCL (H) 2 - 0

Sat Oct 27 2007 Manchester City (H) 6 - 0

Wed Oct 31 2007 Leicester City CC (H) 4 - 3

Sat Nov 03 2007 Wigan Athletic (A) 2 - 0

Tue Nov 06 2007 Schalke 04 UCL (A) 0 - 0

Sun Nov 11 2007 Everton (H) 1 - 1

Sat Nov 24 2007 Derby County (A) 2 - 0

Wed Nov 28 2007 Rosenborg UCL (A) 4 - 0

Sat Dec 01 2007 West Ham United (H) 1 - 0

Sat Dec 08 2007 Sunderland (H) 2 - 0

Tue Dec 11 2007 Valencia CF UCL (H) 0 - 0

Sun Dec 16 2007 Arsenal (A) 0 - 1

Wed Dec 19 2007 Liverpool CC (H) 2 - 0

Sun Dec 23 2007 Blackburn Rovers (A) 1 - 0

Wed Dec 26 2007 Aston Villa (H) 4 - 4

Sat Dec 29 2007 Newcastle United (H) 2 - 1

Tue Jan 01 2008 Fulham (A) 2 - 1

Sat Jan 05 2008 Queens Park Rangers FA (H) 1 - 0

Tue Jan 08 2008 Everton CC (H) 2 - 1

Sat Jan 12 2008 Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2 - 0

Sat Jan 19 2008 Birmingham City (A) 1 - 0

Wed Jan 23 2008 Everton CC (A) 1 - 0

Sat Jan 26 2008 Wigan Athletic FA (A) 2 - 1

Wed Jan 30 2008 Reading (H) 1 - 0

Sat Feb 02 2008 Portsmouth (A) 1 - 1

Which among these opponents are top notch, except Manure & Arsenal? What about that pathetic draw against Villa at home? I know that he is given credit for a record nine straight wins for a new manager and he is struggling to find his best eleven with the injuries & ANC, but what did he do for the transfer window?

Anelka is a clinical finisher and one of the best in the game, but we really need cover for our JT and Carvalho

and Ben T'aim never inspires confidence, so i was hoping for at least a loaned top notch centre-back.

I admit that the team has done remarkably well under extenuating circumstances, but i do not see a different Chelsea on the pitch, as when Mourinho was still around. The pluses are the improving Ballack, the effervescent Joe Cole and a settled Belletti. But i am just not sure about the ability of Avram Grant when we face Manure & Arsenal again. What about Real or Barcelona in the Champion's League?

Other teams are envious with the quality we have even without the absentees, so do spare me the obvious.

Any decent manager can grind some result with the squad we have but to be the best, we need to beat the best.

It is as simple as that and with Grant, i just do not see how :)

Maybe i am being a little unfair, but when Drogs & co returns and we still cannot win against the Manure and Arsenal, we really deserve to be the "2nd of the last" at the end of the season.

Anyway, i do not see us winning the league this year. I am just hoping for a domestic cup double and with a little luck, a Champion's league appearance against Inter, AC, Real or Barcelona.

Take it easy mate.... i just had my sleeping pills.

[Liam]

I don't know why you get so much stick. That post reads the same as the majority of posts on here over the past 5 months.

[Paul Seery]

Diarra was pretty good wasn't he :-(

I am suprised that the club let he go to be honest. Whenever he played for the club he always did well, and was supposed to be the successor to Claude Makelelen in midfield. Oh well, that's life. Incidentially the game last Saturday was dissapointing but there is a long way to go yet and I personally still feel that Chelsea can win the title this season.

Keep the faith

[bjd]

Which among these opponents are top notch, except Manure & Arsenal? What about that pathetic draw against Villa at home? I know that he is given credit for a record nine straight wins for a new manager and he is struggling to find his best eleven with the injuries & ANC, but what did he do for the transfer window?

Anelka is a clinical finisher and one of the best in the game, but we really need cover for our JT and Carvalho

and Ben T'aim never inspires confidence, so i was hoping for at least a loaned top notch centre-back.

I admit that the team has done remarkably well under extenuating circumstances, but i do not see a different Chelsea on the pitch, as when Mourinho was still around. The pluses are the improving Ballack, the effervescent Joe Cole and a settled Belletti. But i am just not sure about the ability of Avram Grant when we face Manure & Arsenal again. What about Real or Barcelona in the Champion's League?

Other teams are envious with the quality we have even without the absentees, so do spare me the obvious.

Any decent manager can grind some result with the squad we have but to be the best, we need to beat the best.

It is as simple as that and with Grant, i just do not see how :)

Maybe i am being a little unfair, but when Drogs & co returns and we still cannot win against the Manure and Arsenal, we really deserve to be the "2nd of the last" at the end of the season.

Anyway, i do not see us winning the league this year. I am just hoping for a domestic cup double and with a little luck, a Champion's league appearance against Inter, AC, Real or Barcelona.

Take it easy mate.... i just had my sleeping pills.

I think you are being a little unfair Octville. Yes, we lost against Man Utd and Arsenal. But it wasnt Grants fault against Man Utd - the team were in utter disarray and we were always going to lose that. A dodgy sending off and a goal after injury time in the first half didnt help. Arsenal, yep - fair and square no arguments there, but even then it was down to the rarest of things - a Cech mistake.

You say we still play like Joses team, and yes we do. But its still Joses players remember (bar two) Were you honestly expecting us to break out and play like Holland 74 within a month ? Please. That wouldve been suicide. We need more creativity thats for sure but its kinda hard with Essien,Maka, Mikel and Lamps are your main midfield men. Im sure they have some targets ibut the club were sure as hell right not to buy in Jan for the sake of it.

Finally , you mention we need another defender as cover. Well, we bought one. You mightve missed that.

Im not convinced about Grant, but im at least giving him a chance and willing him on. Sadly, you seemed to have your mind made up already not to do so.

[geezer]

He's in ecstacy again.

[Enrico]

He's in ecstacy again.

You mean on ecstasy.