The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

Minder · November 15, 2008, 10:17:37 AM

Quote from: Norf Tyrone on November 15, 2008, 10:08:18 AM
Despite the perceived lack of investment in Chelsea's youth policy, the rumours are that Chelsea's Michael Mancienne will be called into the FULL England squad tonight, even before he has made his Chelsea debut!!

Is he the full back that went on loan to QPR? If he has been called up it is purely for PR reasons and a "nice story". How can you be ready for international football if you have not played in your clubs first team?

Norf Tyrone · November 15, 2008, 12:34:27 PM

Same lad Minder. He played full-back for QPR but is actually a centre-half more so. He is currently on Wolves on loan, and has been christained 'The Black Beckenbaeur'!

I remember seeing him in the Milk Cup a thought he was good, but there was one or two better. Sinclair was disapointing at the Milk Cup, and truth be told has been disapointing whenever he has made a first team appearance.

Norf Tyrone · November 16, 2008, 10:21:23 PM

And Mancienne makes it! Massive boost for Chelsea's much maligned youth programme, and will help inspite Kakuta, Stoch, and one or two others bubbling under. Mancienne's progress probably means that Chelsea can probably afford to sell one of their four centre halfs in January with Ivanovic a possible £10 million target for Juventus.

If the stories of Phil needing to sell before he buys it might also mean Bridge being let go, and Ryan Bertrand (Eng U21s) being used as Ashley Cole's back up. Ivanovic and Bridge's departures would give him ~ £15 million for the Jan sales.

All speculation of course!

A very good Chelsea performance yesterday. I have been unimpressed with Anelka so far this season despite the goals, but yesterday he was outstanding and his two goals were stunning finishes. I stated that the system Chelsea plays with one up front didn't suit the French man, but the overlapping full backs supporting the wide men ensure that there are enough bodies there to support Anelka.

3 home games (Newcastle, Arsenal and can;t remember the other) out of our next four games.

ONeill · November 16, 2008, 10:38:17 PM

Quote from: Norf Tyrone on November 16, 2008, 10:21:23 PM
I have been unimpressed with Anelka so far this season despite the goals, but yesterday he was outstanding and his two goals were stunning finishes.

Eh? Stretching it a wee bit there.

Anelka's in some form though, probably his best (and maybe better) since the double season of 97/98.

Norf Tyrone · November 17, 2008, 01:34:15 AM

Well I thought they were stunning anyhow...well the first one was.

nrico2006 · November 17, 2008, 09:38:55 AM

I see Scolari defending Drogba a la the coin throwing incident and fair play to him. Not Drogbas biggest fan but I hate to see a player pulled like this whenever he is pelted or abused throughout a game and decides to hit back. Fair enough he is not 'being a good role model' but I am fed up with hypocrites complaining about the kind of thing he has done whenever they see nothing wrong with watching their fellow fan hurl all sorts of abuse and objects at a player without saying anyhting to the appropriate persons.

Minder · November 17, 2008, 09:54:30 AM

Quote from: Norf Tyrone on November 17, 2008, 01:34:15 AM
Well I thought they were stunning anyhow...well the first one was.

That first finish of Anelkas was pure class, similar to his finish last week against Blackburn. How many strikers have the presence of mind to dink it over the keeper like that? Plenty of them lose the head and blast it at the keeper.

Norf Tyrone · November 17, 2008, 11:32:34 AM

Quote from: nrico2006 on November 17, 2008, 09:38:55 AM
I see Scolari defending Drogba a la the coin throwing incident and fair play to him. Not Drogbas biggest fan but I hate to see a player pulled like this whenever he is pelted or abused throughout a game and decides to hit back. Fair enough he is not 'being a good role model' but I am fed up with hypocrites complaining about the kind of thing he has done whenever they see nothing wrong with watching their fellow fan hurl all sorts of abuse and objects at a player without saying anyhting to the appropriate persons.

Can't believe I am actually going to disagree (sorta) with you defending a Chelsea player. I am totally in favour of players playing the pantomine villan if they are getting abused during the game. For example, scoring and celebrating in front of the away section etc. However I think when they return any abuse with physical interferance e.g. throwing a coin randomly into a crowd. That's too far. I actually think to a degree that what Cantona did to Simmons was less of an issue, as at least he targetted his agressor.
Rooney's returns to Goodison is probably one of the best examples where-by a crowd wind a player up for 90 minutes and then cry foul if so much as looks in their direction.

I note that the media have completely overlooked, at least what I have read, that Drogba received a lot of racial abuse from the Burnley fans last Wednesday night. A couple of friends of mine at the game reckoned that every time he got the ball it was wicked. No excuse though.

under the bar · November 17, 2008, 11:53:10 AM

QuoteI note that the media have completely overlooked, at least what I have read, that Drogba received a lot of racial abuse from the Burnley fans last Wednesday night. A couple of friends of mine at the game reckoned that every time he got the ball it was wicked. No excuse though

It's a separate issue but if racial abuse occured it should be highlighted.

I don't see how the coin throwing could be connected tho as virtually every player who celebrates a goal in front of the opposing fans gets pelted.

Norf Tyrone · November 17, 2008, 12:06:59 PM

I'd say it was connected as surely that was a catalyst to him reacting the way he did.

Norf Tyrone · November 22, 2008, 05:14:50 PM

FFS

23 shots today and no fecking goals. Again that lack of flair to unlock a tight defence was markedly missing.

The major worry is BFS plan B. There didn't appear to be anything different offered when it looked like a 0-0 was coming. Remember the days when José would make subs on the half hour mark....sigh.

Norf Tyrone · November 26, 2008, 09:56:23 PM

No imagination.
No flair.
No fight.
No clue.
No creativity.

Another toothless performance by Chelsea tonight. The wide boys of Malouda, and Joe Cole were awful, and truth be told young Miroslav Stoch on the bench would've offered no worse. In Cole's defence he is just back from injury, but Malouda....geezus.

To top it all off, our back four nod off and concede late on.

If our problem was simply creativity, a productive transfer window could fix that. However the club's fighting culture created by TSO is quickly evaporating. I noticed on Sunday that we are 2nd bottom (2nd best) in the disciplinary tables. Are we now too nice?

Real concerns for Sunday now, and an Arsenal side who can probably smell an opportunity to take themselves off the back page on Sunday.

A bit rambling this post....but that's the frustration emenating.

Ah well.....KTBFFH.

Norf Tyrone · December 01, 2008, 11:10:17 PM

Another bad day at the office yesterday, and the same old problems that I've spent several pages moaning about to the fore. The SKY stats suggested Chelsea had only one shot on goal. They obviously discount the goal, but we actually had two on target. A Lampard header, and a Kalou toe poke which was staright at the out rushing Almunia.
However two efforts at home in a game where we dominated posession says it all. Yesterday once more with Lampard not playing well we are left with no creativity whatsoever. Deco's okish first two games look like they are going to be the high point of his sesaon, Kalou promised much but his decision making was poor, and Anelka had to forage deep for scraps.

I actually felt that we were in control in the first half, and so much so that an air of over confidence appeared to engulf us. This lack of professionalism then came home to roost when Van Persie scored the leveller. After that Arsenal fairly much controlled things. Despite all Chelsea's failings I wouldn't be my old, biased self without mentioning the awful officiating. Twice in the first half the lino gives Chelsea offside when level, and then allows RVP to score while a yard or two offside. The goal had a major bearing on the game as before it Arsenal I didn't think looked in it. But there you go.

The positive for me was BFS lambasting the ref in the post game interview. Nice to see a nasty side to the big man.

Hopefully we can get back on the bike at in form Bolton on Saturday, with West Ham to follow at the Bridge. I think my hope that we have a 5 point lead at the half way mark is pushing it now, so hopefully we can be in or around the leaders and the return of Essien and Drogba plus a signing or two (WIDTH PHIL WIDTH) in January can see us challange into 2009.

KTBFFH

ONeill · December 01, 2008, 11:24:12 PM

QuoteThe positive for me was BFS lambasting the ref in the post game interview. Nice to see a nasty side to the big man.

Why, what did the ref do wrong?

Norf Tyrone · December 01, 2008, 11:27:23 PM

You know what I mean... I have explained it, or is there another veiled sarcasm to your post.

By the way O'Neill on another topic I asked you a wee question/ favour about a year or so back which I thought was a dead duck re a person I know playing in Croke Park years back. Me...and you had no info regarding it. I have just stumbled across an old book that confirms that he did.

I'll explain via PM/emial this week.

Right back to Chelsea/ Arsenal you old sh**e.