Blue In Green

I would rather have Ozil.

Football clubs do not have any obligation towards producing "home-grown" players, just as players have no obligation to play for a team within their nation of birth. I don't really care if the players come from West London or the West Indies; if they're good enough, they're good enough. (Sorry for being ) As for Neymar, that policy stands. He is kind of a brat, but he is also a brilliant young footballer that could add needed dimensions to this side as long as his...uh, impulses were kept to a minimum. Personally, I think his more brazen actions are due to his age, and he will grow out of it (I hope).

There was an author who put a Happy Meal on the top of a bookshelf in his (her?) house for six months to see what would happen to it. It did not decompose at all. I have not eaten fast food since reading that story.

Well, my forearms are smooth, but my elbows are rough. I may put some lotion on them later. My face is bristly as well, need to shave.

I never thought I'd see a topic on gherkins. "Gherkin" is one of my favorite words and I am glad someone brought it up. Obviously, I like them and I had one with a sandwich I ate the other day. The best gherkin I ever ate was at the Hilton in St. Louis. I'll stop here, because I could go on about gherkins for quite a while.

Watched Kalou for years and did not understand what he brought to the side until the match at Bloomfield Road. After he came in, the crispness, speed and precision of the side magically returned, while he ran across every inch of the pitch. Bringing him in changed the complexion of the match and arguably the season. I grew to respect him more after that.

2008-09 for me. Relatively simple with a smart collar and gild in the right places.

Kaka should have stayed at AC Milan. In fact, he may have trouble getting onto a CL side now if he's looking to move, because his last couple of years have been so poor. I don't want him at Chelsea, there are younger and more effective options out there. This isn't 2006.

If it's true, Sneijder for £24m is a bargain. Amazing how playing in England inflates a player's value. Between that for him and the £35m that the Scousers payed for Carroll...it's astounding.

I have seen religion save people. I have also seen religion kill people. Also, most of the atheists I know preach about atheism as much as devout faithfuls preach about their own religion. One of my friends even cites from a dog-eared copy of The God Delusion, as if it were actually the Bible. The point is, everyone is annoying and needs to keep their beliefs out of my face.

The fact that Carlo is still Chelsea manager at this time makes me think he will have the position next season. Frankly, if Roman wanted to go another direction, Carlo would have been sacked the moment he got back into London and the rags would be stained with the news. As for Benitez, I have mixed feelings about him. His greatest triumph there came in his first season with a side he didn't build. He never had a side that didn't have at least one glaring weakness. Whether that was his fault or the budgets is something I may never know. He obviously did a great job at Valencia, but I felt he totally crapped the bed at Inter. To my eyes, he is becoming a worse manager by the day and he would fall out with Roman within their first week together because of his sometimes stupid demands. As for players, we need to make difficult decisions in the next couple of years or risk having the core of the side rot beyond easy repair. As tough as it is, we will eventually need to say goodbye to or drastically reduce the role of Drogba, Lampard, Essien, Terry, etc. Yeah, they took this side to heights never fathomed, but time waits for no one. Luckily, we have youth that may be able to fill many of those gaps. I wonder how many of our needs can be filled from within...

I'd say the away fans definitely deserved to wear blue yesterday, they were in full throat even at 2-0 down. Alex deserved to as well, simply because of his hustle on the goal line clearance. Everyone else either disappeared or looked like Keystone Kops. As for the last several games, make the veterans realize their spot is not secure. Yesterday, they played like they just have to show up and it will all fall magically into place. I want to see any of the kids that aren't on loan starting and playing all 90 if fitness allows, results be damned. Keep some of the bigger offenders yesterday off the side entirely, and if they don't like it, they can do something about it in August. Besides, I think giving McEachran and the others substantial time now when the pressure is off will make it easier for them to blood into the side next year, if they prove they are capable and ready. However, Carlo is probably fighting for his job and may not feel he has such a luxury.

Tighten it up guys! Damn, that was close.

Kind of odd to say a game just opened up after three goals were scored, but there you go. Much better chances for the Blues this half.

Great defensive effort, tracking back by Alex! I knew something like that would happen.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:delight: That's right, Super Frank! Rushing back to the center circle, this is much better!

Finally getting runs into the box. C'mon, pull one back!

Torres finally on for...Kalou. Will not matter since Ivanovic will probably be sent off before the end of the match.

This is not a problem Ramires and Alex will solve. Wonder if Carlo is trying to prevent a 4-0, 5-0 or something along those lines.

Frankly, I'm more tempted to sub the entire midfield out. Remember, the nonexistence of the midfield today has made the forwards look worse than they have been...that being said, I'm not sure how they've been today because they have had nothing to work with so far, Drogba's free kicks aside.

Forwards tentative, midfield nonexistant, back line too lax despite the unreal amount of pressure applied to them. Forget Carlo, he's already out the door with that display. The second half will determine what players deserve to stay.

Didier, what on Earth was that?

In contrast, look at Ji-Sung Park. He got right back up after a legitimate foul.

Yikes, on stream #4 and language #3 - this one Italian.

Finally getting possession but doing nothing with it. Airtight back lines preventing any decent shot.