Elliott

Fair play to Spurs, they were the better team and deserved to win. They wanted it more, and so their players just acquitted themselves better. And then there's Grant's questionable tactics. Play direct football against King and Woodgate? Good one, genius. We basically lost this I feel because we felt the need to accomodate Anelka to the side. Joe Cole should have played instead, then the formation would have much more balanced and worked much better. I place this defeat completely on Grant's shoulders. He didn't get the team playing well, due to a lack of tactical nous and probably a lack of inspiration. For weeks before hand he was talking down the importance of this competition and this no doubt got into the heads of the players and as a result they just didn't look as up for it as Spurs. When things WERE going tits up, when Berbatov equalised with that penalty, he didn't react quickly enough or in the right manner. Joe Cole or Kalou? Easy choice and he got it wrong. I was willing to give Grant a chance when he was appointed. I was livid at the way he was appointed, but it appeared as if he was here to stay so I decided to give him a chance. His first test, against Manchester United he failed, but I put that down to awful refereeing decisions and let it pass. He then started to produce some good results - 2-1 away at the Mestalla and the 6-0 drubbing of Man City stand out. But we always had our doubts about him in the big games, and when it came to the Arsenal game, you could see he was out of his depth. He used Shevchenko as the head of a 4-5-1, and threw long balls at him - NEVER going to work! I know we didn't have many options then, but we did have Pizarro available and I feel he could have done a decent job linking up with Sheva and we might have gotten something out of the game. Very few of the results we've achieved were anything more than expected. We were expected to thrash Rosenborg, we were expected to beat Leicester, Huddersfield etc, we were expected to just oust Everton. We are missing however something special, something we had before in Mourinho, and whilst I accept that it might have been untenable for Jose to stay, we really could and should have searched for a top quality manager instead of settling to the suck-up. No doubt Roman had Grant in his long term plans and now Roman, it is being thrown up in your face. Time to wake up and realise you got it wrong. We won't win the Champions League or the Premiership. Our only realistic hope is the FA Cup, but if we draw Manchester United at any stage, I fear we'll fall.

His dad must be so ashamed of his son

More fake spiel

Tut tut, if you can't make the deadline, you can't enter Blue Lion. Don't ruin your integrity.

Looks like an absolutely disgraceful tackle there.

Some more piccies, warning, nasty Pic one Pic two

Well I think Essien will be playing alongside Lampard in midfield with Ballack fronting the formation, the same diamond formation Jose tried last season. Best way of picking our best players, but is it the best system? Time will tell. Obviously we're gonna have to pass our way into the goal. By the way, what's the source? Might have to adapt to that in the lineup competition

Sunday, 24 February 2008 Blackburn 1 v 1 Bolton, 15:00 Reading 2 v 1 Aston Villa, 12:30 Monday, 25 February 2008 Man City 2 v 2 Everton, 20:00

Saturday, 23 February 2008 Birmingham 0 v 3 Arsenal, 12:45 Fulham 1 v 0 West Ham, 15:00 Liverpool 3 v 1 Middlesbrough, 15:00 Newcastle 1 v 4 Man Utd, 17:15 Portsmouth 0 v 0 Sunderland, 15:00 Wigan 1 v 1 Derby, 15:00

I've rewritten the guidelines for this forum, please all read! Thanks.

I would suggest it is an agent problem. He is being told he can get more by holding out, probably pretty forcefully, because of course that gives the agent more money. The whole agent system is seriously flawed and needs fixing. Agents should be paid by the players not the clubs as a first, and as a second, it shouldn't be a percentage of players wage or signing bonus or whatever it is, but a standard fee that the player pays. Better agents command better wages, not necessarily greedier agents (although that will still often be the case).

Sounds very flimsy. Are they trying to tell me they asked all 1 billion people in China who they supported? Must have used modelling, and I wonder if that can have any sort of accuracy. Doesn't really matter, just seemed odd!

90 million core fans? Huh? I suppose that means how many people have bought a Chelsea replica shirt or something Still, looking healthy I guess and good that are looking to continue youth development over large transfer fees.

Ben Sahar has gone on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=1255

Congratulations, now get him training on his technique so he can one day play for Chelsea

Getting compensation for player's injuries is just another capitalist move, taking the game further away from its sporting beginnings.

Currently, no, Wisey would not make a good manager, but in 10-15 times when he has matured as a manager, experienced a lot of management, had ups and downs, he may well be a top experienced manager pefectly suited for us. Wild speculation though.

Probably made this up completely. If it's true, well he's just seeing some old friends? Or maybe we're gonna get some of that 30 million back?

If we win, we can consider it a measured and successful squad selection. If we lose....

Beckenbauer is a fucking imbecile! Time for the old people's home methinks.

But then maybe they don't go about it in this nefarious way?

In a decade or so, perhaps.

Well unrelated issue, but I feel most aren't. But mate, you're an admin here and if you want to change things you could! I'm against censorship personally, but as long as it is used responsibly, ie to cover only the worst words, I shant complain.

That's not hard, just reckless.

I'm not having a dig at all your spelling, just "ludacris". Not because it is your error, but because it saddens me that someone might think it is that due to a rapper using it as his name.