Jase

Was just watching through the weekend's league action highlights again and looking at Arsenal's game at Stoke involving that penalty incident, it's quite incredible that none of the Arsenal players protested to Mike Jones (if I'm not mistaken)! In my opinion, I didn't think it was a penalty as Koscienly's hand didn't hit the ball but rather the other way round as it bounced off the ground and hit his hand. Heck, the linesman didn't even raise his flag when that happened and it was the referee who gave it but yet not one Arsenal player seem to argue their case with him, not Koscielny, Mertesacker or anyone closeby that saw the incident. Even when a penalty is 100% rightly given, you usually see some players arguing their point with the referee but this one (when it was a dodgy call), there isn't even one. It just look as if they accepted their fate as it is without showing any fight, desire and that passion to win. There is no doubt Wenger is a good manager (not great IMO) but at times I can't help to wonder if he's just really a good manager (or coach) that coaches players on just the footballing side such as technical abilities, skills on the ball etc as opposed to doing that and toughen his players up mentally and physically as well to make them a truly world class, taking them to the next level. It looks as if he's just interested in collecting players who are 'pretty' with the ball to play their tiki-taka football and can't be bothered with combining that with the strong, tough, know-how winning mentality to win trophies - a characteristic typically obvious and found in Fergie and Mourinho's team for instance. I don't think it would be crazy to suggest that any player going to Arsenal won't win many trophies or develop into a better player overall, not just their ability on the ball but also that mental strength and toughness. They've gone 8 years without winning a trophy and might well eventually break that duck sooner or later anyway (will probably win it through quality football as opposed to other factors mentioned) but give them an 8-year period within the near future, don't think they'll be able to win trophies consistently like us or United tended to do under Fergie. Might win 1 here, 1 there along the way but doubt it will be consistent, though that is of course Wenger continues to manage them for the years to come.

Just only realized, if Man City beat Wigan in the FA Cup this weekend, their league game against Liverpool next month will be postponed OR be moved forward depending on circumstances. Could add even more pressure on City then if they are far behind, despite having games in hand. That of course applies to Liverpool and Arsenal too (vs West Ham in the league) if they beat Everton in the FA Cup this weekend. EDIT: Just saw the fixtures again and seems like Liverpool's home game against Sunderland (postponed this weekend due to the latter's game in FA Cup) will be played in the same midweek as City's match against United. As for Arsenal and Man City's games in hand, supposed they'll be decided depending on both of their outcome in the FA Cup and Champions League next week.

Don't think this has been mentioned yet but after conceding 2 goals in the last 2 games from set pieces, we have gotta make sure we sort out this mess and it doesn't happen again this weekend with the aerial threat of Spurs like Adebayor, Vertonghen etc and not revert to the disaster we had in last December!

Cole at LB? No chance. Azpi will continue playing there.

After a week of the Galatasaray fans talking trash on the Champione League, they saw their side drew 1-1 with Rizespor, a side 3rd from bottom in the league, and now fall 6 points behind league leaders Fenerbahce yesterday (and Chedjou scored for them again). Funny that...

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits it will be hard to catch leaders Chelsea

This was inevitable...

Kalou scored a hat-trick yesterday for Lille against Ajaccio to help his side win 3-2. He took ages to score a hat-trick for us but now does so for Lille in just 2 seasons.

And your point is...?

Luke Shaw idolised Ashley Cole - but now he's ready to nick the Chelsea star's World Cup place

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/jose-mourinho-hails-andre-schurrle-but-states-that-he-is-not-a-striker-9164169.html

Indeed and they didn't convince either when they played Juventus in the Champions League this season even though they won 1 of the 2 games.

Arsene Wenger: Arsenal tracking Real Sociedad forward Antoine Griezmann Boooooooo!

Mourinho on Eto'o... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2571722/Jose-Mourinho-Id-Manuel-Pellegrinis-shoes-Premier-League-title-run-in.html

Porto involved in yet another where a team throw away a 2-0 lead. Hilarious. The Portuguese league is really dull this season. Looks like Benfica will just walk away with the title with ease.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/frank-lampard-christine-bleakley-amazing-3200478 Good interview of Lampard in the Daily Mirror.

One thing I gotta say, thanks to his hat-trick and subsequent goal celebrations, there is finally some decent pictures of Schurrle that I can use as an avatar!

Errr..... http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/15566-world-cup-2014/page-19#entry853557

Seriously Jim, what would we all do in life without you?

Cardiff v Fulham next weekend is gonna be huge! 19th v 20th and Cardiff are 3 points away from safety while Fulham are 4 points adrift. Could be a cracker as I don't see both teams capable of being defensive against the other.

Thanks for jinxing it...

Chelsea Star Oscar Walked Home After Victory at Fulham

Although unlikely, hope Sunderland can cause an upset today and beat City. That could be a potentially damaging psychological blow to them if they were to lose. Would increase the pressure on them and especially when Pellegrini himself hasn't won any trophies in his career so far. Might not know how to handle the issue if it happens.

There goes Schurrle's chances of starting against Spurs next weekend.