Elliott

Is anyone in a state of nirvana pluto? I don't think anyone is. You seem to be arguing with a hypothetical Grant lover... I don't see any, only those recognising that he's done better than expected.

Great draw. We're at home against weak opposition and one of the top two are guaranteed to go out. Couldn't have asked for much more, other than for Liverpool to have an away tie.

Awesome!

Welcome, stick around

Eh, its obvious the top 4 are gonna be the 4 teams in the semi-finals... unless the draw tomorrow throws up some interesting ties if you know what I mean. I'm getting vibes that we'll either draw Bristol Rovers or Cardiff City, I think it's cause they're blue...

Yes but look at the time of this match. MAY! We won't have another game until AUGUST, which is a whole THREE months for the pitch to recover. Not a problem!

I don't think you can read much into Ashley missing out on the Wigan game. Grant gave Bridge a chance against Everton, the team did well so he kept the same side. He wanted an extra attacking option against a weaker side, so he brought in a left sided winger in Sinclair for a left sided defender in Ashley.

Seeing as he's a Chelsea fan this doesn't surprise me the least but great to hear!

Fucking Sibierski! If he hadn't have scored I'd have had a perfect prediction run in! Anyway, got worried at the end, but a win's a win, bring on the next round. Player ratings: Cech: 7 Belletti: 7 Bridge: 7 Alex: 8 Carvalho: 8 Makelele: 8 Sidwell: 7 Wright-Phillips: 7 Joe Cole: 7 Malouda: 5 Anelka: 8

At this point morale really is not an issue, getting the right set up is. Morale will come into it when it comes round to the World Cup Qualifiers, and that's irrelevant until next season.

Got me lineup prediction bang on now all I need is Anelka to get the first goal

I think that's a candidate for the 'too soon' box.

Haha, David showed this to me over MSN saying it was awful and I couldn't see why, now two others agree with him and I still can't see why.

Haha. Erm... How's about Mourinho is a better manager than Grant? If you disagree with me on that one I shall be very surprised!

I edited the topic sub-title as it said the kick-off time was 5.45, but BBC website says its 5.15 and seeing as they're screening it I'm inclined to believe them

Nah I don't dislike you, you're a credit to this forum I can disagree with you without disliking you!

Well alright, I wasn't really responding the above exchange with BLS, but your earlier post a page back. I'm glad you don't think your opinion as gospel

Bit dangerous CM to assume you are more intelligent because you're older. More knowledgeable sure, but intelligence is something you're born with, you either have it or you don't, and whilst I'm not saying you're not intelligent, to assume you are is as naive as us youngsters are prone to being through a lack of experience. Your wealth of experience will help you see this better, but the fact that you assume you know best makes me wary of your opinion. Some here probably thought I was a Grant supporter in the early days of his reign. Of course really I was just being realistic - I wasn't happy with his appointment, but he was obviously going nowhere, so might as well get behind him whilst he strives to prove himself. Now I think he's proved himself competent in making the best decision he possibly could, which misschief highlighted; following Jose's footsteps with similar tactics and application. Do I think he's better than Mourinho or anywhere near him? Of course not. Time will tell though. He has failed to beat the top teams in the league, although against Manchester United we were desperately unlucky with a dodgy referee, against Arsenal he clearly got his tactics wrong. One part of me wants to ask, well would have Jose done any better in the circumstance? But I'd rather avoid that simply because it is impossible to tell (although the 6-0 against Manchester City I think was very unlikely to have happened under Mourinho). However that newspaper journal article above points a poignant thing out in that Grant has dealt better with long term adversity than Jose, both in attitude and application, at least on paper. Of course some of our holiday period results were lucky, but then again, so were our results LAST holiday period too, and that time we could only get draws mostly. I'm not so convinced on Grant's ability to deal with problems during a match, he seems slower to react and that suggests he lacks the anticipation and foresight Jose had. However, Grant hasn't turned out to be the disaster we were all predicting. If we win trophies this season, as it looks likely we will, I'll be happy with the season as long as we at least stay in touch with the top two. Grant will never be Jose, because he lacks the charisma and sense of humour, but if he is successful, I'll be happy.

So, what, he's a clown because he's decided to shake up the UNSUCCESSFUL squad and its back room staff? Give me a break. Bad luck for McCulloch, but, things change and if players can get used to that for £100,000 a week.

Tuesday, 29 January 2008 Arsenal 2 v 1 Newcastle, 19:45 Bolton 1 v 0 Fulham, 20:00 Middlesbrough 1 v 1 Wigan, 19:45 Sunderland 2 v 1 Birmingham, 20:00 Wednesday, 30 January 2008 Chelsea 2 v 1 Reading, 19:45 Derby 1 v 2 Man City, 19:45 Everton 2 v 2 Tottenham, 20:00 Man Utd 3 v 0 Portsmouth, 20:00 West Ham 1 v 2 Liverpool, 19:45

I'm told Ballack is not fit for tomorrow, but if we can cope with Everton with Sidwell in midfield we can certainly cope with Wigan.

Hahahaha

I don't know how many points I have, but I doubt its 77. I'm sure I'm in the 60's, so I'll get in on the Thursday.

They have the good decency to give away regulars the highest priority, which is fully deserved in my opinion.

We have enough strike force now until the summer in my opinion. If Drogba goes, then we can make another big forward signing, otherwise no need.