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decadence · 2009-04-08, 21:42:01

not sure whose excuses i'm looking forward to more, rafa's or kirby's.

wankydave · 2009-04-08, 22:25:03

liverpool were woeful their passings usually so good but it was so off tonight. it just goes to show how crap they are when you take out torres and gerrard.

Jamie_ · 2009-04-08, 22:34:04

decadence Wrote:not sure whose excuses i'm looking forward to more, rafa's or kirby's.

This.

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 00:11:21

;) I'll post what I've posted on a fanzine forum. Read it if you want;

An extension of extra time from the Bridge last season for me; a real 'men against boys' game. I'm not going to make Lucas a scapegoat, he didn't even have a bad game per say. But every time he picked the ball up in midfield, he was mugged of it. Essien was a colossus and it was only through being a few yards from Ballack last seasons in the semis that I realised how huge a man he is. Not only were we a man short in midfield, but we were absolutely lightweight too. Alonso was decent enough when he had the ball, but he never looked like winning it for us. Gerrard was invisible but then to coin the cliche, isn't he always against them?

We were second to virtually every 50/50. The defense had a shocker, with special mentions to Aurelio and Skrtel. What on earth Aurelio was thinking lobbing the ball accross the back when Carra had to clear on the line I have no idea. Skrtel was given a torrid time by Drogba who has been a fucking thorn in our side going back to Marseille.

We scored at the worst time possible. The fervor was missing from the crowd for prescisely the reasons some have articulated on here the past few days. I think everyone was pretty blasé about it; we scored an early goal and thought that was that. Well, no, we came up against a side who were hungrier than us, who harried for every ball. They knew they had to score and, having done so, thought why not, we can bag a couple here. We're usually given all the time in the world in our own half or on the halfway line; not tonight.

I thought Kuyt had a good game, and Torres was obviously trying but just got kicked around so much that by the end his head was noticeably down. Riera is not a player you want in a madhouse game like that, and Dossena was back to his comical best. Babel, like Lucas, needs to move on in the summer. Neither are suited to this club nor its demands; wish the lads well and move them on to the Continent where hopefully they'll make decent enough careers for themselves. Both have certain qualities.

Gareth Barry has become a vital addition. Even with Mascherano in the team, we must have one of the physically smallest midfields in Europe. Chelsea did to us what we did to Madrid; attack hard and attack fast down the middle of the park. Its frustrating that we fell hook, line and sinker for them for the second year in a row.

Are Chelsea that good of a team? Well, they've lost to us home and away in the league, lost to United, Arsenal and Tottenham. They're definitely a different proposition with Drogba and Essien, but I'd hold back on the 04/05 comparisons of which you're likely to read. I'll be there next Tuesday; an early goal and who knows. We know what we'll have to do

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 00:13:08

wankydave Wrote:it just goes to show how crap they are when you take out torres and gerrard.

idiot.

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 00:16:46

And to permit myself a third post; we've been spoilt by the European Cup over the last 5 years. The fans. Most at the game tonight have forgotten what a slog the competition is. You look at how many years it took United between their first and second European Cups, you look at Arsenal F.C. who have only been to one semi final in their HISTORY, and then it beggars belief to see Liverpool fans clambering for the league over the European Cup.

If anything, tonight should have woken people up to what a competition it is, and how lucky we've all been on our rides through it over the past 5 years.

jamdoughnut · 2009-04-09, 01:58:04

theohenderson Wrote:Barca......WOW

bayern's defence was Messi..... and i just knew they weren't going to come Altintop.

apologies in advance.

wankydave · 2009-04-09, 08:01:32

KIRBY Wrote:
wankydave Wrote:it just goes to show how crap they are when you take out torres and gerrard.
idiot.

really? so its just coincidence that whenever those 2 have bad games so do liverpool?

and if you really REALLY think there is the s;ightest possibility of you scorin 3 at the bridge, well theres only one idiot here.....

molotov · 2009-04-09, 11:14:28

jamdoughnut Wrote:
theohenderson Wrote:Barca......WOW
bayern's defence was Messi..... and i just knew they weren't going to come Altintop.

apologies in advance.

Leave.

Fookes · 2009-04-09, 11:20:44

Magic, magic magic. I'm still buzzing. That is our first convincing win against a top side this season. Gerrard, was he even playing?, was kept safely in Essien's pocket and even Ballack had a decent game! Chelsea support were fantastic, never heard them outsing Anfield before.

Although credit to the Liverpool fans who applauded the Chelsea players off at the end.

Why was Terry booked? For challenging for a header? Goalkeepers are given far too much protection in that kind of challenge.

Schwindlig · 2009-04-09, 11:48:42

You can challenge for a header when its in midair and you both have a 50/50ish chance of getting it, but when its almost in the goalkeepers grasp and you go old school flying headbut style you deserve a yellow. Thats what happens when your the son of a pikey.

Terrible game though, severely missed Monster Masch and I was singing Aurelio's praises before the game, saying he had picked it up since all those injuries, and then was made to look like a knob. I wouldn't say Ballack had a good game, infact I thought he was the worst Chelsea player on the pitch. Ivanovic is quality whenever I have seen him play, although usually at centre half, and I can only hope another big team whisk him away in the summer. Even playing out of position, he made Riera ghostlike and scored two good goals. True strength in depth.

Fookes · 2009-04-09, 12:31:54

I didn't say Ballack had a good game, I said he had a decent game. He didn't do much, as perusual, but his pass to Malouda in the build up to the third was excellent, and he was strong in the air all game. And as for Terry, it's pretty clear that he was honestly going for the ball, if you watch the replays. Every verdict I have read on the decision so far have supported this. For example Stevo on the BBC.

As for your classist and stupid comment, I'll choose to ignore that.

moreeditsplease! · 2009-04-09, 14:03:56

KIRBY Wrote:
wankydave Wrote:it just goes to show how crap they are when you take out torres and gerrard.
idiot.

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 18:11:35

wankydave Wrote:really? so its just coincidence that whenever those 2 have bad games so do liverpool?

and if you really REALLY think there is the s;ightest possibility of you scorin 3 at the bridge, well theres only one idiot here.....

I'll repeat this slowly. This season;

- We have beaten Manchester United from behind without both Torres and Gerrard
- We have ended Chelsea's unbeaten home record without Torres
- We were top of the league for several months, the vast majority of which without Torres, more than part of which without Gerrard.

Torres didn't have a bad game. Torres, Reina, Alonso and Kuyt, were the only players to come out of the game with any credit. If you read my longer post, then the game was lost when Lucas, perhaps the most lightweight midfielder in the league, was playing against Ballack, Lamprd and Essien, and made to look like a child in the process.

And as for your last comment. In the past months we've beaten the 'Untouchables' (copyright Steve Curry) 1-4, and beaten Real Madrid 4-0. I don't think we'll go through, but to score 3 goals against a defence which may have no recognised central defenders is within this team's realms.

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 18:30:22

Schwindlig Wrote:I wouldn't say Ballack had a good game, infact I thought he was the worst Chelsea player on the pitch.

It's Ballacks prescence that makes all the difference. It wasn't until being a few feet from Ballack last season at the Bridge that I realised what a giant he is. Physically, that trio of Lampard, Ballack and Essien will overrun any midfield. If they play Barca though, which is the most likely scenario, then I think the sheer speed at which Barca pass the ball will negate Chelsea's physical aspects. Barca don't play with a 'midfield' per say.

Essien's a colossus, and playing him at full back in Moscow was a travesty. Those labelling us a two-man team really need to look at Chelsea. A totally different proposition with Essien and Drogba in the team; for all Scolari's attempts to the otherwise they remain a battering ram of a team. They're ineffectual when they try to play any other way.

The atmosphere was quiet even before kick off. Ashley Cole lived upto his twatish reputation upon final whistle

That Chelsea squad deserves a European Cup. Don't think they'll win one mind. It's this season or never.

wankydave · 2009-04-09, 18:39:53

i didnt say liverpool are crap whentorres and stevie arent in the team, i said theyre crap when those two have bad games or when theyre marked out of the game by the other team. its completely different. i would love to write an essay about this but im off out so it'll have tto wait

and yes, you beat united 4-1 and real 4-0 (both at home by the way, and both sides were shocking) but in both of those games your opponents had to go for a win (to some extent at least). chelsea can literally just keep everyone back while you push forward for the whole game and it wont make a difference to them. its a completely different situation to the man u/real games and you know it

KIRBY · 2009-04-09, 18:47:59

ermm we beat United 4-1 away; a United team on the back of a 15 game run without concedeing and which had widely been labelled by the press as the best United team ever. United didn't need to win at all; they were 8 points clear with a game in hand and 10 games to go thereafter. A draw would have won them the league.

If Chelsea sit back then that plays entirely into our hands. Look what happened to Villa when they sat back against United. If they adopt those tactics, and concede an early goal, then the tie is right back in the balance.

And again, of course if they are marked out of the game then the team won't play well. Would Arsenal play well if Fabregas and Adebayor are marked out of the game? United if Rooney and Ronaldo, or Chelsea if Drogba and Lampard? I'm not sure I really see your point.

As I've said, I don't think we'll go through. Both the players and fans minds alike are on the league, and were before last night. For me, its the European Cup every time. You can only begin to realise how downplayed Benitez's achievements in the competition have been when you find Arsenal have been to one semi final in their history. But we've certainly come back from worse situations then this before.

Saint Ettiene and all that.

RichardEStuart · 2009-04-10, 06:06:18

KIRBY Wrote:Arsenal have been to one semi final in their history.

Do you mean Arsenal have been to one (european cup) final?

2-1 to Barcelona wasn't it. in the european cup final in 2006?

Mat Payne · 2009-04-11, 13:39:10

Sorry this is from the Mail but it makes interesting reading regarding Manchester United and their debt:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article...l?ITO=1490

PaoloTramezzani · 2009-04-11, 14:44:30

unfortunately, i think barca will be stifled by the first good english team they face (not ar5ena1)

pool just creamed blackburn and now all eyes turn to white hart lane for spurs - west ham :)

Mat Payne · 2009-04-11, 14:47:26

PaoloTramezzani Wrote:unfortunately, i think barca will be stifled by the first good english team they face (not ar5ena1)

pool just creamed blackburn and now all eyes turn to white hart lane for spurs - west ham :)

13 goals in their last 3 league games, pretty good ratio!

PaoloTramezzani · 2009-04-11, 14:53:10

matpayne Wrote:
PaoloTramezzani Wrote:unfortunately, i think barca will be stifled by the first good english team they face (not ar5ena1)

pool just creamed blackburn and now all eyes turn to white hart lane for spurs - west ham :)
13 goals in their last 3 league games, pretty good ratio!

who's that barca or liverpool? barca are 9 and liverpool 10 i think, granted, pretty good ratio either way

Mat Payne · 2009-04-11, 15:00:37

PaoloTramezzani Wrote:
matpayne Wrote:
PaoloTramezzani Wrote:unfortunately, i think barca will be stifled by the first good english team they face (not ar5ena1)

pool just creamed blackburn and now all eyes turn to white hart lane for spurs - west ham :)
13 goals in their last 3 league games, pretty good ratio!
who's that barca or liverpool? barca are 9 and liverpool 10 i think, granted, pretty good ratio either way

Liverpool = 14

4 against Blackburn
1 against Fulham
5 against Villa
4 against Man Utd

My fault as I forgot about the Fulham game :)

PaoloTramezzani · 2009-04-11, 15:03:12

yeah, they're in pretty good shape in the league which'll keep united wobbly :)

you a pool fan then? we finish the season at anfield, can see a keano winner raining on your (their) parade, it's in the tealeaves

FUDGE · 2009-04-11, 15:06:02

United'll win the premier league no doubt, seeing as we have played 2 games less & are only 2 points behind, should beat sunderland