MHL 47

The part relating to 'partnerships' is formalising informal arrangements that probably exist right now. Jose probably trusts Karanka (spelling?) at Boro plus we've recent history of loans to them. I'm a bit sceptical this is revolutionary thinking and more so preventing any club being taken to task.Where there are some facts to back up one of the ideas is getting more competitive games into young (u21) players. The benefits can be measured and seen in the German and Spanish national teams. Therefore having a B team playing in a full time competitive league with promotion and relegation pressures can, for me, only be a positive move. I have an opposing view as to the Conference, it's part of the fabric of the pyramid, breeds the odd quality player and is just as important to some, as Chelsea is to me and probably you. We've had the odd player at Conference sides, who although don't make it with us, they learn and become solid pros. We've a partnership with one right now, our pitch is being dug up and given to Aldershot, where our u21's and youth team play some 'home' fixtures. I played at the level immediately below the old Conference and also against sides in there, in cups (against Clive Walker, Tommy Langley and Jock Finneston). Some really good footballers in those leagues who deserve their platform and opportunity.

45% of English players in the PL he says. So in a multi-cultural country that welcomes (supposedly, so says most of the key political parties, save for UKIP) immigration and integration of all races, we're gonna get all protective about football. Yawn, just the latest incumbent or maybe the latest incompetent, head of the FA trying to make a change (and tub-thumping) that he won't be able to be enforce or deliver. He'll then blame someone else, whilst dreaming up the next idea to 'revolutionise' the national game. What they fail to realise is that with their behaviours they marginalise and water down support for the national team. Just now, and I see no reason for me to change my view, I really couldn't care one jot for the English national side. The way our club is treated and particularly the way our very loyal (to England) players have been treated by the FA, numerous national team managers and by the so called 'England Fans' is a disgrace. World Cup, I'm more excited about Woking FC (my local non-league club) than England at the WC. The 'B' league's interesting, might piss-off a good few Conference sides though. The FA doing their bit for non-league football - Not

I'd be genuinely surprised if cash was changing hands directly.However the 'politics' at play in both the FA and the PMGOL, might result in people being 'guided' down a path of actions, for say, the betterment of their career. The gold mine of the Champions League awaits those who tow-the-line. A referee gets over £5000 for officiating a group stage game in the CL. So if you do 6 group games, that's well over £30grand on top of your salary. These CL and PL refs are earning well over £100'000 per year, and taking their assistants with them as well on the wealth creation journey. If you can pick up a cheap copy of Mark Halsey's book, I recommend it. It lays out the political nature of 'professional' referees and politicking of the structure, the cliques and their lead mans style I.e. at that time and currently Mike Riley. Halsey slaughters Riley, accuses Poll of all sorts of stuff to ensure Poll remained the main man in refereeing at that time. My own take on Jose saying he congratulated Riley on achieving his objective is not directly to do with us but more to do with Liverpool.

That is a set of questions that the club should levy at the FA and PMGOL.The same linesman who disallowed a perfectly good goal for us the same game. Secondly why Riley met with Liverpool and would not meet us. The club should submit one of Jose's dossiers to the FA, relating to the choice of officials quoting the game where Dean was not permitted to referee a game involving Liverpool. If they didn't appoint Dean to a L'pool match because of any alleged direct influence on the fortunes of them and his living in the area, it works either way, especially if he and his scouse assistant make decisions in a game that they officiate in that cause their closest challengers harm. Jose should just hold his line of '"congratulations". If they fine/ban him for some sort of insinuation, Roman should get his lawyers on the case and tie them up in knots and cost them millions. Personally I hold both officiating bodies in complete contempt. Riley is a nasty bit of work, I've read two books now that slate him and from what I take from that it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he hasn't lobbied the FA to act, as regards Jose.

Alternative headline - "Morgan Schneiderlin disrespects Liverpool, by not mentioning them once in an interview, and not wishing for them to be the new PL champions"

Loads of variables that could possibly effect the outcome of the game. Negatives They'll get confidence from last nights result and have very few chances now to get themselves out of the mess they've got themselves intoWe've got a massive game to think 3 and a bit days later and manage the squad forWill they get momentum and belief from the result against Man CityTheir best results tend to be away from home and they perform generally better against the better sidesPositives They may be wearyWe've had a decent break following the Swansea matchWe're at homeWe're a better side, with better playersWe've a better managerThey'll have 1500 (tops, if past matches against them at SB are anything to go by) fansWe'll have 40000 fans and need every one of them to all behind the teamWe have an experienced manager in these scenariosHowever what should happen doesn't always and that's what makes football (especially in the PL) such a drug.

Since the mid 90's it's improved, and since 2004 improved even more. Right now there's just this small weakness away from home, especially in Europe.

I'm in the same looney bin as you then. They still sing about league titles they won 25-30 years ago, what would they be like with a win now, god forbid it.A draw on Sunday for them and a win for us would do, hurts both of them and we gain two points on both of them. In our hands with the scousers, we'd still need to beat them at their place and we still need City to lose a game. I'd say either of them has a 40% chance of winning the PL and we have a 20% chance. Those two away losses recently have done it for us.

I was at that game, they went ballistic. It was hilarious!! If I recall correctly it was the League Cup Final, wasn't it?It's amazing that the same thing is happening in the media over there as is happening here. It's bloody nauseating. Unfortunately their team has momentum and that counts for a lot, especially at this stage of the season. We've experience and that's a major plus, we've also got the best Manager, but the worst away form. City have the best squad. The scousers have just started to not thrash teams the way they were and I hope that City can put a brake on their momentum and put some negative thoughts into their heads.

I might have to emigrate if the scum from the top side of Stanley Park win it. Personally think we've lost one too many games to win the PL, lots to still play for though. Nice draw on Sunday might be the best result for us. I'm going to Swansea on Sunday, so won't be able to see it. If we can't win it, it's City everyday of the week for me.Starting to get the CL buzz again now though and seeing little coincidences like blue coloured CL accreditations for Lisbon (just like Cech said he saw in Munich, red in Moscow so felt uneasy). 2 goal deficits being overcome, Being the outsider of four in the semi's etc. We were the longest odds of the four in the UK betting markets yesterday.

I've been lurking about, just not posting much here. Been keeping my eye on you though, in here and somewhere else too! Would also be great to win it with Jose and in his homeland. Keep that blue flag flying high on your side of the water! "One team in Europe, there's only one team in Europe"

Jose will have the chance of a little 'payback' in the CL Semi, for the Copa Del Rey final defeat at the hands of Simeone last season. Let's hope it's the first of two, with a final victory over Real following it up. What a fitting 'welcome back to Chelsea season' this would be, especially given the previous semi-final experiences we've all had together.

Well, now he can score against both his ex-clubs, within a week of each other! . . . . . . . . . . . . . He'll be all over it, like a tramp on chips

Yep, he'd be a free range egg. Mind you you'd have to be careful he had the right type of coup and hen keeper + make sure the hen & chick got the correct amount of exercise and training. The rooster would have to show him how and where to have a scratch around in order to get the best pickings and also to make sure the new chick/en laid their new eggs in the right bag (onion).

Cavani - Class A Egg Suarez - Omlette Made With Class A Eggs & Chilli's (mixed up but has a bit of a bite!) Costa - Ostrich Egg (big ugly looking bugger) Benzema - Class B Egg Benteke - Raw Egg Ballo - Scrambled Egg

I think that saying Mata made mistakes is a little harsh on him. Maybe because many (including myself) were viewing his performances through blue tinted spectacles we didn't/couldn't/wouldn't see some of the weaknesses in his game. Jose obviously did and perhaps attempted to change Juan, but couldn't. Those weaknesses are becoming clear, especially now since he's playing for a rival. Probably exaggerated by Moyes inability to tactically adapt a role for him. It smacks of a 'panic' buy by Man Utd to me, unless there is a 'bigger picture' that no one can see at the present time. I genuinely feel for him as he served us well and seems like a thoroughly decent fella. He looks like a little boy lost right now. Last nights performance wasn't good, although again he wasn't helped by his teammates, who as soon as he got the ball ran away from him, expecting some sort of wonder pass each time.

They have to score to go through, we don't. In my view that will shape the game. We'll be cautious and wait to exploit the spaces they leave in behind. One thing that might change that is if they score first and early. Not expecting a thriller, will probably be a very cagey affair, although it could possibly turn into a real stormer should events occur that allow it to be. Really looking forward to seeing DD again and offering as personal a thanks as I can for his efforts for us and in particular for that one unforgettable and emotionally charged night back in May 2012. It's almost two years ago now, the emotions and memories are still so vivid. I'm not sure any event in the future will have the same outburst of feelings as that one did.

A few more for you: Keith Weller Colin Lee Frode Grodas Mark Falco And Kerry Dixon spent some time there as a youth, they deemed him as not good enough & the rest is history. Must be wary of them, they're statistacally the best team in the league away from home, 29 of their points coming from away games. Conversely they don't have a great record at sides in the top half of the table, played 13, won 4, drawn 3 and lost 6 with a minus 13 GD (alot of these from their games against Man City!). Against bottom half teams they're best in the league again. A dangerous side with the almost obligatory "always scores against us" individual, this time it's Adebayor. I get the feeling that we'll need to score more than the one goal if we are to win this one, we might need 3 in my opinion.

It can take a season, ala Ramires

Just changed that a little Possibly he's not fit enough and tactically needs some work?

City did OK last night. They had a bit of a 'welcome to our world' shock with UEFA appointed officials, although having said that the 'offside' goal scored by Barca was just onside. I thought they matched Barca up pretty well. Jose is correct (again), this isn't the best Barca side. Messi looked less than his usual self, didn't seem to have that explosive burst of acceleration that gets him away from players in the first 2-3 metres. Their crucial mistake was to have Negredo so isolated, he's good but he ain't Drogba. Drogba used to keep at least 3 of Barca's back four occupied and honest and didn't allow both full backs to bomb on relentlessly. Jesus Navas wasn't like his namesake i.e. he didn't see a cross all night. For the role Navas appeared to play last night Milner was the right man. If Navas was supposed to break quickly and support Negredo, he failed miserably. Kompany was immense, Silva very good except he made the wrong decision to shoot and not square to Nasri when it was 1-0 and City were down to 10. 2nd goal probably puts Barca through.

Half-way there with the first part, namely Mikel. He's not quick enough across the ground to cover a fast moving midfield such as Man City's, and it badly showed. Culpable for their second, but that's what you get with him, he has an innate 'ability' of losing/not tracking runners around the box and stands statue like whilst the ball and man passes him by. There may have also been another error tactically and that was Luiz at centre-half. He looked unsure and uncomfortable all game long. Perhaps and with the benefit of hindsight, without Terry the better move may have been to play Cahill and Ivanovic as the centre-halves, Cole as a natural left-back, Dave at right-back and pushed Luiz into midfield as we did in our league win there. Ramires had an absolute stinker and isn't generally playing well at the moment. He was culpable for their first, watch how he 'jumps' at Clichy, Clichy just feints past him and three passes later the balls in the net. Naive defending at best, lazy at worst. It should not be forgotten that City had the benefit of a full weeks rest owing to the postponement of their mid-week fixture, whereas we had a tough game at West Brom, in my view this was a significant factor. They looked far fresher and lively. Good game by Dave, MOM for me.

Any idea where we can get one?Agree on the Eto'o, Hazard link up play. Getting better with games, however so is the Willian link up play with just about everyone.

As much as we may miss Terry, they'll miss Olsen more. No Sessegnon or Anelka for them either. We've done poorly at their ground for a few seasons now and this will be a big test of the teams resilience, work ethic and skill. The pitch looks poor and with the game being at night and under lights I've no doubt their crowd will be up for it. We should try to deny them as much of the ball as is possible in the first part of the game and look to exploit their defensive frailties that are showing up under Pepe Mel. Motivated they are a good side, remember the lesson we got from them at the Bridge! It will be interesting to see how they (WBA) set up for the game, go for it or sit back at home? They are not in the best run of form right now and this game may just be the catalyst Mel needs to gee them up. This is another huge game - We've our noses in front, by a short head/nostrils (see what I did there). the trick now is keep the pressure up on the chasers by keeping winning.

Not gonna be an easy fixture in my view. No matter what run of poor form they may have been in there are a number of factors that just might raise their performance, namely: Carroll is getting fitter, and make no mistake, he's a handfulNew signings may have a positive effect on themThey've returning defenders from injuryIt's a London derby and for them it's a big game, not so much for us - will we be ready to match them up physically and then let our better players take hold of the game