FOOTBALL!

[Dave w.]

if we'd sold traore we'd have no left backs except riise, who's wasted there anyway.

i'd say benitez is to blame for last night for his team selection. total lack of respect for the cup, burnley and the fans.

it shows up just how poor the squad is at the moment. take out gerrard and baros and there's virtually nothing left whoever you pick.

[John M]

I heard Benetiz on the radio on Monday night and he was talking about how the league and Champions League were more important than the cup. And the night before the Watford game he was talking about fielding a strong team for the first leg, winning well and then putting out a weakened team in the second leg:

NOTE TO RAFA - Firstly congratulations learning English so quickly. However, it would be good if you could stop implying that our team is better than the opposition before the game. By all means think it but don't actually tell anyone as this tends to inspire the opposition and make them play better.

I really don't see why any team needs to 'rotate' its squad. Without wanting to hark back to the good old days, didn't Liverpool win the league in the 70's using only 14 players or something ridiculous. And there were 42 league games then. I realise (cos Richard Keys says so) that football is a faster, more athletic game these days but surely footballers are fitter and can cope with more games. Every team should pick their best side every game.

We've got Southampton at the weekend. Jamie Redknapp is bound to score.

[Tommy Tynans Lovechild]

[sparky]

couple of things...

1-2, warren joyce - i was at that game! in fact if i remember correctly that was in the 92/93 season and our manager was fired after the game, eventually leading to the pantomime that was the john beck era.

regarding your lot going down, i've seen you three times this season now, and i've seen pretty much every other team in the division and i'd be very surprised if you go down - i've seen some really shambolic teams and your lot have looked okay. you just need to pick up a win or two to stop the bad run.

anyway you have to stay up so you can welcome sheffield wednesday to home park next season! i think sturrock would get a decent reception...

[katieken]

Bring it on!!! Cardiff here we come! Watch out all you Reds, we are coming to take your children. Oh hang on, Graham Rix has gone now.........................

[Tommy BOO]

katieken - have you heard the rumours about Mr Abrahimovich having some financial trouble in Russia? How much has he already spent on just purchasing new players in Chelsea? If he ever gets bored of playing with his new toy, and just decides to leave with his money, Chelsea FC will be in huge trouble!!
Congratulations for beating Man United anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of Chelsea but I still highly dislike the arrogant ManUre scum.

Also, do you think that Mikael Forssell has a future in Chelsea, now when you're signing world class strikers every month?
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius" -BC

[katieken]

I think if the Russian was to go, it would go tits up and Chelsea would end up being the shit team they were a few years back, just hanging on like Southampton do. However, I think he won't be happy til he's won everything first and made CFC into a worldwide brand. I heard about his 'troubles' however, I can't see how it would effect CFC just yet unless something big materialises. I think his 'connections' are the reason we bought Smertin, and I won't be surprised if a few other Russians are bought when not necessary.
In terms of forsell, I don't think he'll play for Chelsea again unless he recovers very well from injury and starts scoring hundreds, he's still young so maybe....
Apparently Chelsea are to bid 50m for Adriano in the summer. Personally I would like Totti to sign for us.

[Tommy BOO]

[katieken]

Actually I find Totti very attractive! That is not the reason I want Chelsea to sign him, I think he's a very good player. It's just whenever he's on a platform to show his talent, he cocks it up with the rest of the Italy side, who lets face it are poor at the moment. Maybe I'm biased as I have italian family who are all AS Roma fans, and Totti being a Roma man through and through can't be bad. But he can be so creative when he's on form. He was superb against Fiorentina on Sunday, absolutely brilliant. And as for arrogance, yes he is, but I'll allow it in this case. And just to add, I think it was disgusting in regards to his spitting incident, should have been punished more, but then again so should Cantona all those years back, he should have never played again.
If Abramovich goes incidently, a see a future possibly for Forsell, and maybe even the return of Frank Sinclair and Craig Burley. Now that would be great(?!?!?!?!?)

[Tommy BOO]

[katieken]

Totti was banned for three games as I remember, but Italy went out anyway.
I have to say he looked more handsome with short hair though.

I can't believe Liverpool at the moment, I think they are on the verge of spiralling out of control at the moment. I think Gerrard's departure is imminent(well end of season) as he has only got two years left on his contract, and they'll cash in while they can. If he doesn't and stays loyal, maybe he'll end up like Shearer and win hardly anything. I'm not having a go at Liverpool, but I think they are on a slippery slope and need some repairs across the squad. I would like to see them rise up there and challenge a bit for the top silverware, but I don't think it'll happen for a few seasons yet, particularly as they appear jinxed with injury. And that game against Southampton was awful. Hopefully Man scums wheels are coming off and Liverpool can replace them by challenging each year. I wish Ferguson would retire, he should have after the won the treble. No longer a force to be reckoned with.

god, i've stated the bloody obvious.

[Dave w.]

i think gerrard has 3+ years on his contract. he a 4.5 year deal last season at the depth of the houllier trough, before changing his mind a couple of times. i don't think it's a case of the club having to sell before his value falls. but, as he's been talking about reassessing his situation in the summer, he probably will leave the way things are going. i read somewhere that baros also wants to leave (don't know if it's true). without those 2 we'd really struggle.

although the last few weeks have been really bad, in the context of the overall picture - new manager, injuries etc - we're not doing that badly. benitez will inevitably want to bring in new players in the summer, having had a year to assess what he's got, and the end of next season will be a better time to judge how we're doing.

unless you're arrogant enough to think that chelsea have no rivals at the moment, i'd say man ure are still a bit of a force. people have looked stupid enough times over the last few years writing them off. i hope you're right, but they've been doing well in the league recently.

[katieken]

I'm not being arrogant about it, I think Arsenal are still a threat, but Man U just aren't the side they were a few years ago. Yes they are on form, but I don't think they are as good as they make out to be. Although I desperately want Chelsea to hold on and win the league, I don't think you can say that Man U will win the league as such. if Chelsea don't win it, it'll be they lost the league rather than a big triumph for Man U. Arsenal always struggle to defend the title, but I think if anyone will catch us it'll be them. I still can't believe Chelsea are as good as they are to be honest!
We play the pair of them near the end of the season, and I'm already tense about the whole thing.

I do agree that the telling time for Benitez will be the end of next season, however that's if the axe doesn't fall before that. I mean Liverpool are a big club not meeting the high expectations, so it wouldn't be a shock if they did give him the boot. Only time will tell........

[Dave w.]

i'd be shocked if benitez wasn't given until the end of next season at the very least. the liverpool board hardly have a reputation for getting rid of managers too soon. the papers will find a new whipping boy soon, and the fans at the games are still singing his name all the time.

i don't think man u are that great, but i've thought that for a few years and they've still won stuff.

if arsenal or man u do win the league it will be a massive achievement, as they'd probably have to win virtually every game to the end of the season. chelsea would have to lose it as well, obviously...

i don't have sky, so the only full games of the top 3 i've seen have been against liverpool & i don't think any of them were that great. (but what does that say about the rest?) arsenal were a great team last season, so i don't know how they've lost their way.

[Tommy BOO]

Chelsea will win the Premier League this season, but I think the competition will be tougher again next season. Arsenal have been a bit unlucky this season and even Man United aren't really that poor. Maybe Liverpool will rise again as well...
_________________
"Tommy Boo has played a pivotal role in my life. I've looked up to him since I was a kid and he has inspired every note of music I have ever written. The man is a fucking genius" -BC