CHOULO19

Except he's a united player. If it were JT, it would probably have gone to court! I'm actually still upset we didn't win. We had 25mins after equalizing and had the momentum. We got 3-4 clear cut chances in the last 5mins + added time alone. Our players should have really been more clinical. We did not need to add another game to our schedule. Just hope we don't pay for not being clinical in the replay.

I had no idea he could finish with his left foot! Another excellent finish at the end of a spectacular run. He actually started that sprint inside our box and still had the feet to get past Ferdinand and provide a decent finish a decent finish full speed. That, for me, is his best asset.

It is. I was actually whining about it when I saw the lineup before the match. It's no coincidence that our best results, even the run of excellent results under RDM that put us 7 clear at the top, were most, if not all, when we played a pivot of Rami-Mikel and had Mata and Hazard behind the striker (or Torres).

You're delusional if you think we did not miss Mikel. During Jan, we lost 3 games, drew 4 and only won 3. We let a lead slip 3 times in those games. I wonder what we needed to win instead? If only we had a player who player who would keep his discipline and stick to his defensive duties and allow us to keep the ball so we don't give the opponents chances to score..But where can find a player like that? Mikel changed the game. Before he came on, utd were battering us for possession and we didn't get a single chance in the 10mins in the second half. Magically, after Mikel came on, we started to keep possession and build pressure on the utd defense and actually score goals. Not bad for a player who "contributes nothing to our attacks", right? Mikel was key to keeping us in the FA cup, don't know why you're so upset about?! And in reply to some of the comments above, Mikel had an average game yesterday, in fact it was probably below his standards since some of his passing was uncharacteristically sloppy as mentioned above. But for once, everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the team and how much the team plays better when he's in the lineup because he strengthens our midfield and allows players to go forward. How did yesterday differ from any of Mikel's performances? Can you point out one instance where Mikel was brilliant in yesterday? People tend to judge footballers on certain instants and plays in matches and not their overall play; that is why Mikel is so underrated. But yesterday everyone got to see the difference that Mikel makes in the side and they're finally praising him for it (except for some sour grapes around here) but in reality, it was just a typical performance by Mikel.

lol you need to come to this thread more often then . He's been called shit, below average, not good enough for Chelsea, he's been slagged off for going to the AFCONs with Nigeria, it's been said that we can't win trophies while he's in the team, he's even been called a weak human being!

I hate to be the cu*t who says "I told you so" (who am I kidding, I love it! ) but Mikel demonstrated perfectly today how the team differs with a proper DM. Keeping possession might not be as glamorous as scoring or assisting, but it is just as important to scoring.

Rafa is a genius!

I think we jinxed him!

Quite positive he is since he was saying how sensational Mikel was in the match thread

If we go through in the EL, we will have to reschedule a league game (probably Southampton or Sunderland) to play this replay. I don't think any team has ever had the hectic schedule we've had this season!

The we'll probably have to reschedule a league game because our schedule is packed.

Logically should be Wednseday March 20th (if there is no international break).

He is obviously to blame for the first goal, but so are Cahil for losing Chicharito and Mata for not putting pressure on Carick and allowing him time and space to play that ball. He can't be blamed for the second. Luiz went for the header and completely missed it.

Credit where it's due, Rafa changed the game with his subs, but you could argue that Hazard and Mikel should have started. Both were fantastic. But we really should have finished it today. We had the momentum and chances. We shouldn't have added yet another game to our hectic schedule. De Gea was of course world class yet again against us. But the question is, will Ferdinand face retrospective action over this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y1M6oWUsRXI Really doubt that..

I expect this thread to be very quite for a while

Oh quit whining. If we didn't make those two defensive mistakes, it'd still be 0-0 and everybody would be happy with the performance..

Lol no, of course not, I was joking. Just looking forward to having discussions with you about Chelsea

You know you can post outside this thread, right?

Well there goes my optimism..you can't play a game this big with a Lamp-Rami pivot and expect to win!

Really? I actually don't think we've ever been this busy.

^^ Torres' mentor..

I have to apologize to @DJames, for derailing her thread. I'm sorry. I'll move the off topic posts to the pub.

I'm really not in the mood for you today. If you find that insulting, report me to the admins. If you don't want to report me, then just worry about you post.

I'm sorry to hear that but you shouldn't feel guilty, from the way you described it the issue is clearly deeper than a football match. May I suggest you talk to her honestly? Not about the match, but about the lack of communication between you two. Hope everything works out between you

That's because it was meant to be ironical me telling her to be civilized when the notion of women belonging in the kitchen is the most uncivilized idea I can think of.. I hate when I have to explain a joke