GodZola

It was absolutely & categorically the wrong decision to let Ballack go, our performances from midfield this season back that up, only Ramires comes out with any credit this season. He wanted to stay, take a pay cut & when players feel something for the club they will give you that bit extra.

Part of the reason Ballack was poor in his early days was due to the fact he was played out of position to accommodate Lampard. Contrary to what I've read on here, Ballack was superb for us last season, especially in the last 20 or so games when he played in the holding role position because Mikel got injured, Essien was already crocked, Ballack then took over & was terrific. It's no coincidence that our midfield have been shite this season & that's partly due to Ballack's departure, we have missed him without question.

The players are as much to blame for yesterdays performance because they shouldn't of needed motivating for a title decider, although a good talk before kick off wouldn't go amiss! For me though, there were several questions that I think need answering from yesterdays game. Why start with 2 holding midfielders when we have to win the game? Why didn't we start with Ramires who has been in better form than Mikel, Essien & Lampard? Why start with Kalou when everyone knows he only seems to play well coming off the bench? Why waste a substitution by taking off a defender for another one when we are 2 - 0 down? Giggs was the difference in the CL ties, why didn't any of are players get tight to him & stop him playing? I'm not sure why we sit deep defensively instead of pushing 15 or 20 yards further up the pitch, we are like statues upfront compared to Utd & indeed our team last season, can't really put my finger on why we have gone backwards in that department other than the players are a year older? Ancelotti shouldn't take all the flak as the players didn't play anywhere near their potential & it was sad to watch us give up all the hard work they had put in to get back in the title hunt, the defeat hurts more because we never turned up, Utd were up for it & the result should of been a lot worse. If Ancelotti stays then he definitely needs a top quality coach to work alongside him, a lot has been said about the Wilkins departure & I'm not sure our bad run was down to him going but we have definitely lacked belief amongst other things since he left.

Sorry mate but I didn't see any 'fighting' from him at anytime, he stood out.....with all the others that had shockers. As I already said Ancelotti had so many players he could of taken off at half time he was spoilt for choice. Maloulda was very very fortunate not to be one of those taken off.

At which point during yesterdays game did Maloulda do anything to back up you're post? I must of missed that bit.............

Good post, and this was the first thing I said yesterday when I saw the team. I mentioned this before especially when we are at home against teams that park the bus. This was an entirely different scenario though were we had to go for the jugular so why start with 2 holding mids, I can just about understand starting with 1 but 2 just didn't make sense to me, if we were winning the game & we were trying to preserve that lead then I would agree. Ramires should of started without question & come off at later point if he wasn't fit. Only JT & Cech were worthy of any praise the rest had shockers including Ancelotti, however I will agree with him on one thing & that was that he only had up to 3 changes to make at half time when he could of taken more than half the team off, & he still fucked that up!

Terrific response from our team in the last couple of months (CL apart) well done Carlo. To win this award 3 times in a season when we have had our worst run for 15 years is both a great achievement & also a little bizarre!

Didn't need to look again as it has to be Alex v the Arse. Although I'm hoping this thread is a little premature as I hope there's a contender or 3 v scum u on Sunday.

Nice one BL, top choice of members for the April award too, well done fella. I was just wondering whether it maybe more beneficial to move both Polls for the annual & monthly awards to the most active section on the forum? I only stumbled on both threads last night by chance really as I hardly ever visit this section & might be the case for other members? Although as the monthly award is in its infancy so will probably get more coverage as the months go by. For the record I voted for Tomo who was only just ahead of the others, on the basis that he must of worn his keyboard out during the month! Well done to the other 4 who are all worthy of being in selection.

Instead of waiting for annual awards (which is fine) why not categorize some awards into monthly compo's? Like best poster, best thread, muppet of the month, etc. Each winner gets a title/avatar, Admin or a different group each month to select, say about 5 posters for each category & do a poll & let the forum members decide? Just add or delete a category when appropriate, it will prob end up with just 1 category but just a thought........

It's looking more likely by the week that Zola done a better job at West Ham than the only manager of our club to take us to a CL final - he kept them up last season & done well the previous one, not sure if Avram will keep them up this season? Just thought i'd throw that one in! Agree though with what's already been said that I wouldn't want him to manage as he should remain as a person with legendary status but if things went wrong then his reputation would get tarnished & I couldn't bare to think that to happen of the great man. If there is one person on this planet that you would want to coach players that has Chelsea in his blood then Zola has to be the man, our attackers now could do with some tips on movement up front because its quite static at times. The senior players would be in awe of him but just think what wonders he could do for our promising youth players especially Sturridge but more so MacEachran & the incoming Piazon. For me he could do the Wilkins role but could add that touch of finesse. This would be a match made in heaven, give him a job for life Roman - come home please Franco.

Tbh LDN, I never even heard of Singha until we signed them up, they certainly don't sell it in my area & I'm not surprised! I could just about stomach the Heineken they used to sell before it, but the last decent beer they sold was Budweiser, didn't mind paying a bit more for a lager that's worth drinking.

I couldn't comment on other beverages as I don't drink them although i do go on the shorts much later on! They have Carlsberg at my local, have done for years & it out sells everything by atleast 5 to 1. The Carlsberg at the Goose is every bit as good as there so I'm not entirely sure you're mates are Carlsberg fans? As i say its expensive round the ground, that's part of the reason I stay at the Goose til bout 30 minutes before KO, then just get enough time for a small bet & a pint of crud at the ground!

Are you being serious WHS? I'm a Carlsberg man me & I can tell you its a bloody decent beer, & my mates will tell you I'm a fussy drinker! I tell you this fella, that Singha lager they sell at the Bridge nowadays is on a par with the worst lager I have ever tasted, its rank & that's being kind. I'm surprised you said that WHS as I can tell you I go with seasoned drinkers & are connoisseurs of the wet stuff! Gardens ok but not big enough, as a non smoker its a little bit annoying as this time of the year the doors are open & the smoke gushes back in. Used to go to the Imperial but not so much nowadays, where's you watering hole, is it decent pint &.how much, If you don't mind me asking?

Are you old enough to be allowed into a public house for a beverage or 2? It's called The Goose, it's about 5 minutes walk from the tube at West Brompton, have you been there?

I know this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea but I would much rather go & watch half a dozen games a season than let the money men win, & if it means I sacrifice on something else then so darn well be it, I'm not going to give up my passion because the powers that be are making it difficult for the average working class man to go & attend games, granted I shouldn't have to think like that but I do not see a reduction in tickets for the foreseeable future so I have used my nod a little and with a slice of luck I can still attend enough games. For a start I only pay £25 for my membership instead of the all singing & dancing one of £42, whenever possible I get a 'group share ticket' for my train fare that saves me & others I'm with, on average about a tenner. I now go to a pub that's about 5'ish minutes walk from the Bridge that on average is about £2.15p a pint which is far better than paying £3.50 & upwards around the ground - this was my slice of luck as we were waiting an age for a tube to arrive one game & we got talking to a group of fans who told us of this pub. I'm not saying this right for everyone but try & think of ways to help cut you're cost, like is there people in you're area that can car share? Sit in a cheaper area, id even sit in the concession areas if I had too! I now try to attend a couple more cup games than league as its cheaper.The last time we went there was only 3 of us & you need 4 people for a group share ticket so we roped someone else who we didn't know - it saved them cash too! If you know someone with a railcard then ask to borrow it or give em a drink for it.

Growing up supporting the blues since the 70's there's obviously been so many moments where I'd seen so much disappointment (& some promotions - good times!) So when we won the FA Cup in 1997, it had to be my most special moment & brings back some fantastic memory's of that era when we played some fantastic football. Super Frank scoring those goals to win us our first title comes a close second, I was getting lashed with 2 of my bro's who are massive fans like me & along with some blues supporting mates we had one hell of a night! For atmosphere at the Bridge, it was the 5th April 2000 MH Upper (I still have the ticket!) V Barcelona, we won the game 3 - 1 & the stadium was rocking for the whole game. Also the Stoke game last season when we won the game 7 - 0 the Shed end lower's atmosphere that day just fantastic & both games just stand out for me.

Hats off to you cantkeepmedown, the best thread I've seen on here to date. My best memory of the great man was his goal v Wimbledon in the FA Cup semi final in 1997, that goal just summed up how good he was - a reverse flick, totally lost the defender (you see our fans stand up after he did that & before he scored, great moment) he then fires an unstoppable shot that flew passed Sullivan, just sheer quality. How many players passed or present could of pulled that goal off with that skill, movement & finish? I know this goal is in the 96/97 clip but wouldn't mind it as my Sig? 'Franco' was imho the best player that I have had the joy to witness playing for us. I've seen some great players down the years but the little man just had everything, left foot, right foot, pace, superb vision, fantastic touch, could dribble, worked hard for the team when we lost possession but he was also the ultimate professional on & off the pitch. Never once did he make a song & dance about being dropped. I remember Sol Campbell once elbowed him twice in one game against the Arse & Zola just got up & got in with it, his reaction was so much different to so many players then & now Back in the late 90's we were on channel 5 a lot due to being in the CWC & Jonathan Pearce was commentating for them then (now with the BBC) he said a few years after Zola had retired that he was the best player that had graced the Premier League & he would of had so much more recognition if he had played in a side that won the league - I couldn't of put it any better myself. How much would he be worth in today market?............Priceless!

WTF, Its got repetitive because you don't take in anything that I post, you must like the sound of you're own voice!,

Now if you are referring to a previous post 'at the beginning' which means before my first post yesterday then like I said yesterday I havnt read it & like I said yesterday people have selective memorys but I'm being called deluded because you're original post that I am referring to is very vague. Even if you are referring to another post then why make another one that accuses Jose of only coming to manage us was for the lure of Romans millions? If you have stated something already then why bring it up again but in a very vague way? I think you will argue for the sake of trying to be proved right even though you know you are in the wrong.

You expanded because I quetioned you, so you then gave some logical reasons why Jose came & because I've exposed that you now resort to jibes such as deluded which means you are losing face. I merely pointed out that if you would of added you're 2 posts together I was referring to then I wouldn't of questioned you in the first place, but never mind I suppose this is a forum where people are going to disagree...........

No, this is the original post I am talking about were you quite clearly are stating that Jose was only lured by 'Romans millions' it is only when I questioned you that you gave me & others a different outlook into why Jose decided to manage us & not just because he was going to get a transfer kitty from Roman! Other users also took umbrage to the above quote so its not just me that doesn't see you're reasoning.

Why do I need to when I have quoted the things that are relevant already? I don't understand why you make a comment about Jose only coming to our club because of Romans millions when you quite clearly don't think that is the sole reason he decided to manage us, why couldn't you add that paragraph in to you're original post? Then other posters could see some reasoning behind you're post?