BlueLion.

The squad might be better but you'd find a better team spirit in a graveyard.

Spurs are football's answer to the Nazis. Scumbags.

I simply think Grant was outclassed by Juande Ramos, who IMO, has the know-how to be the next Mourinho.

Oh well, maybe the realisation we may not win anything this season might spark some life into the team.

Having watched the game, I can quite honestly say Tottenham were by far the better team. They passed with more conviction and their defensive display was relatively sure for much of the game. Woodgate was absolutely magnificent, a worthy winner of Man of the Match in my eyes. The game itself was actually a very entertaining one, though I'm quite confident a neutral would have enjoyed it moreso. Spurs started the quicker and could have gone ahead very early in the game, but for a great block by Terry. That set the tone for the first half, I feel, as Berbatov headed just wide and Malbranque forced a good parry from Cech. I feel to get the goal was fortunate and unfortunate at the same time. I don't think that there was much in that foul by Zokora, but it was well-scored by Drogba. The unfortunate thing regarding the goal was that it signalled our intent that we were happy to defend, que the Tottenham come-back. We seemed to gain some confidence passing the ball but Anelka and Wright-Phillips were giving no end product down either wing, the only play on the wing we got was through Wayne Bridge when he decided to push forward. Bridge was unlucky with the penalty, but it was an excellent call by the linesman in my opinion. It was completely unintentional by Bridge and on another day the referee and linesman may have missed it, but the execution by Berbatov was absolutely lethal. The set the game up for an intruiging second half, and Grant made the wrong decisions in my opinion. He brought Kalou on for Wright-Phillips even though he was beginning to make an impact on the game, and in my opinion he should have taken off Anelka who was absolutely lacklustre to say the least. Ballack gave us some extra height going forward, but I feel his presence could have been better utilized by him playing all of the game and not being introduced with three minutes of normal time left. In hindsight, its easy to say Grant was foolish not to bring on Joe Cole. However I understand his lack of willing to do so - Cech took a knock in the face when he saved at point blank range from Zokora who followed through and trod on his hand, so Carlo warmed up incase Cech was not fit enough to continue. Furthermore, both Terry and Lampard had both only recently returned from injury and their fitness was to be tested. Ultimately Joe made an impact but in my opinion should have been favoured to Shaun in the starting eleven. Spurs' winning goal was lucky, any genuine Spurs fan would admit that, but you couldn't argue that they did not deserve it. Cech should have done better in my opinion, but the way that the defence, Terry included, stood still and let Woodgate get a free header in was disgraceful. They defended excellently for the remainder of the game and are fully-deserved winners in my opinion. They were the better team on the day, we have to face that. You could argue that luck was on their side, but as soon as Robinson saved from Kalou with his feet you could tell it would not be our day. The officials had almost faultless games and the referee was excellent to book Spurs players for time wasting. Grant is going to get a lot of stick for this defeat, though in my opinion its the players who let the football club down today. Anelka was completely non-existent in the first half and only decided to play when he reliased his lack of helping the defence in a Drogba-esque style epitomised his laziness today. Shaun was his usual inconsistent self, Belletti seemed nervous for the first half-an-hour and even Essien had an off game. I think on another day we could have won this, but the reality is that Spurs have beaten us and are deserved winners. Grant will take some criticism on the chin for his team selection though who can blame him? None of us on here could confidently select a team with so many players available, and it is ultimately the players that represent the club on the pitch and bar perhaps John Terry, Jon Mikel Obi and Petr Cech, none of the players in the match displayed the true quality they are. From a neutral point of view, you could argue not to see one the "Big Four" not lift this trophy will inspire the other teams in the Premier League go for it against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. Well played Spurs, the best team won. But normal service will be resumed, make no mistake.

Good game so far, Spurs dominated the first 35 minutes but we soon came back into the game. We had our usual slow start and but for some fantastic blocks by Terry and a superb Cech save from Malbranque's shot, we'd have been behind after 20 minutes. Drogba's freekick was excellent, exactly where the goalkeeper would not expect. 10th of the season for him, another 10 would suit me before the end of the campaign, but one more in this game would be welcomed

Then Grant has learned it is not about keeping the players happy, but also keeping te fans happy.

Agree with that one, some pretty horrific tackles there.

I hope Terry plays, especially after he couldn't life the trophy in Cardiff. Don't think by me saying that, that we're automatically going to win, it will be a tough game but I think we can come through it with all our options. I mean late on, he can bring on SWP and Malouda, Shevchenko and Joe Cole, for example, we have so many options.

Terry is the captain. What's the point of having one if he and the vice captain are not going to play? Alex knew when he came to Chelsea he would have to work hard to get into the first team with Terry and Ricardo in the team. He has performed admirably and in my eyes is the best signing of the summer (although he was signed some time ago), though he is always going to be second fiddle until Ricardo or JT either retire or leave. And regarding Frank, he shouldn't have been played in that game, he was put straight back into the team. I agree with what you are saying and I find it appropriate to every other player in the squad - just not Terry and Lampard.

I think Warnie is correct on that point, but does that therefore mean I can be classed as a Borussia Dortmund fan for having their home kit?

Fair does, I was not going to give any points for it, just a tad pissed off I missed the deadline cause I would have got a few points.

I've been without the PC for this morning, but here are mine and BLS' predictions for today: BL: Birmingham 0 v 2 Arsenal, 12:45 Fulham 0 v 0 West Ham, 15:00 Liverpool 3 v 0 Middlesbrough, 15:00 Newcastle 0 v 3 Man Utd, 17:15 Portsmouth 2 v 0 Sunderland, 15:00 Wigan 2 v 1 Derby, 15:00 BLS: Birmingham 1 v 3 Arsenal, 12:45 Fulham 0 v 1 West Ham, 15:00 Liverpool 3 v 1 Middlesbrough, 15:00 Newcastle 2 v 4 Man Utd, 17:15 Portsmouth 1 v 0 Sunderland, 15:00 Wigan 1 v 0 Derby, 15:00

http://www.talkchelsea.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=995 But yes, my favourite memory.

SWP tore Spurs apart at the Bridge when we beat them 2-0 in January, surely he should play.

Great pictures, I wished they'd have won just for those fans who made the trip.

I see your point, but in those 'tough times' we hardly played United or Arsenal.

The only way we will be able to do the same as Manchester United is to get a bigger stadium, end of.

Dilemma? They're the soul of the team. And I think you need to respect what those players have done for the club and what they mean to the fans.

Arsenal player or not, I wish him the speedist of recoveries and hope he is back in football as soon as possible. That tackle was apparently "clumsy" and not intentional. ut either way, its absolutely horrific. Those pictures have made me feel sick.

That preview video is absolutely brilliant. Showed exactly how much it meant to have Cech back for the quarter and semi-finals after Carlo's horror show against Leicester.

Now he's said that, he'll most definitely score, although probably in the wrong end

The fact at the end of the day is that football has already been ruined by money. Besides, I don't see what is so wrong about international associations paying compensation for club players getting injured. At the end of the day, a player is involved in his club team for probably 90%+ of the season, so to get injured in that remainding portion whilst on international duty should result in money being paid back to the club. Besides, €4000 is pocket money to football club executives.

Legend is a much overused term in my young eyes, but Shevchenko certainly was Milan's iconic talisman for six seasons, its only likely they would invite him to join them.

I think you're right there, if he wanted to stay so much he would go to the club and ask. Saying that for all we know, he could be, the club are not very public about transfer rumours and the like.