capriccioso

It's late in Australia and I'm sick, the game isn't very inspiring either. I'll probably be off to sleep. Night guys.

Bertrand is getting beaten too often by Moses for my liking. Edit: Fuck me I'm wearing a white shirt. Looks like we won't be winning this one. My apologies lads.

I'm not confident. We still haven't scored.

Purely speculation on my part, which is why I asked you to humour me.

Perhaps so. But just humour me. The way I see it, Terry only had the armband owing to being the best player at the club and the best leader when Mourinho first gave him the armband. There were no challengers to his role. Both of those factors have steadily declined up until the double winning season- where IMO he was neither and only kept the job by default. The same has happened to his deputy, Lampard; they had power over the dressing rooms owing to being the best players but have lost a bit of that progressively, season by season. If you want to continue humouring me, how's this for a conspiracy theory? Ray Wilkins was sacked as part of a secret coup to undermine Terry's and Lampard's power and promote the interests of their main rival- Drogba, who has slowly but surely built up his own power- this time, coming from both Roman himself and being the best player at the club. Terry and Lampard didn't always side with Roman, but I think with Drogba, he wasn't as vocal in discussing his decisions, behind closed doors I imagine he fawned over Roman.

I don't know what makes you feel that way, yes, there have been occasions where he puts personal glory ahead of the team but for the most part he is fairly committed to making Chelsea a better team. And sentiment has bugger all to do with it, he's got the job because he sacked Scolari basically by getting together with Ballack and Cech and going, "So this Scolari chap, do we let him off not playing me or wot?". Now, if Paulo Ferreira gets made captain, then I can agree with you that its based on sentiment. But not Drogba, the guy is a natural leader.

Drogba is by far the most influential figure in the dressing room, so much so that he virtually managed the team at points last season- the armband around Terry's biceps are nothing more than a scrap of cloth. Didier is the real leader. It's not always performance related, either. For years, Mark Viduka captained the Socceroos despite being poor for us for most of his international career. I imagine it must have been down to his influence over the squad, I doubt it was reputation based as by his Liverpool days Harry Kewell had become more famous.

I've come down with the flu, probably as a result of a couple of nights spending a bit too much time without a jacket outside in the cold Whats the worst thing about it is that this is my week off from uni and I'll be stuck at home

Essien and Malouda starting at the same time sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. And we can't boss the midfield with our current lot. Our most attacking strategy can be the counter, I guess.

Sturridge should not start either of the games. We should try something really out there, like playing Bosingwa at right wing or Paulo Ferreira, to double up on Messi and not bother whatsoever to attack. Essentially 2 right backs, but with one advanced so far that he denies Messi space even in his own half. Force Messi to drift toward the center, and then we have to erect a solid back two to keep him out. Force him all the way out on the right, and Cole can hopefully keep him quiet. But it'll be brilliant for us if we force Messi to drift toward the right, it'll nullify one of Barcelona's threats in Dani Alves bombing forward- simply because Messi commands extra attention and Alves will get hardly any space to burst into. Inter tried a similar thing a couple of years ago with Chivu starting at 'left wing' although he played in an orthodox left back position- with Eto'o and Zanetti Just throwing something unexpected at them could be all we need to do. And playing a right back at right wing, or a defensive midfielder as a high-up-the-pitch ball winner could surprise them enough for us to grab a goal here or there and then defend for our lives.

If there are an influx of Barcelona fans onto our boards, I can guarantee you they will behave as you would expect from the most arrogant cunts on the planet. And this revenge shit makes us seem petty, though I wholeheartedly agree with it. Barcelona is a corrupt institution that is destroying football, regardless of whether they had a role in Ovrebo-gate or not.

30 million? That's chickenshit in today's market. 50 million or get to fuck. If Carroll fetches 35 million, every single player in England should be valued at or above that level Edit: 30 million plus Ozil would be very, very interesting. Not that they'll ever give him up, he's better than Mata and I can't see him catching Ozil even in the future.

Some may find the Latin game to be attractive and so on, but I find no appeal in it whatsoever. Give me 4-4-2, up and at them every time. Sacrificing a bit of quality in exchange for basic sportsmanship seems a small price to pay for me.

Oh school, how I miss you. Tbf, if I went back I'd probably want out in a couple of days what with the lack of freedom and everything. But I went to a great school, with a great bunch of guys, and we had some fun times that I don't think I'll ever have again in life. The only criticism I have of it was that it was an all-boys school

A repeat of the Benfica performance is probably the very minimum we need. Grab 2 goals, miss about 3 sitters and concede one through poor defending.

Well, since I obviously can't/don't attend games and most of the time watch at home by myself, singing would be rather weird. I have been to watch a game at a sportsbar once, and I sang the Liquidator (if that counts as a chant) and "Gallas you're a cunt"

Hahahaha I was initially really upset when I saw that

Thanks everyone! I hope I can continue being a good poster. The pressure I'm under now with this title under my name

I withdraw my earlier statement that all Australian football is rubbish. Brisbane Roar play some brilliant football. As for the rest though

That's your opinion. This is mine, and I take it we're both too stubborn to see the other side. What I'm sure you'll agree with is that he gets a lot of undeserved stick- you do agree Torres was worse, but how many people do you see posting stuff about Torres like 'he's the shittest fucker thats ever played for Chelsea'?

Who ruined them tonight? Those that got on the end of the attacks, not the providers. And in a game like this, where we had to stop them from scoring, keeping the ball is more important than anything, imo.

That, and 3 sending offs for Barcelona when they shouldn't have even been fouls, and 4 stonewall penalties being turned down. And for Arsenal to finish 4th.

I will rep that ASAP

The race is on for 30,000 posts!

Sitting on the fence but I am slowly sliding to the 'yes its another false dawn' position.