Strike

I agree. I thought it was an exception rather than the rule itself i.e Mikel usually passes sideways but there he decided to launch it forward. that's why i mentioned it

This is the point I was making on another thread. Late in a game, we drop deep and start clearing the ball and opposition keeps the constant pressure on us. Some of the fault is down to management. There is no proper plan in place to protect leads and some of it is down to the players' choices. More often than not, our players decide to bash the ball downfield than keep it and tick the play over and run the clock down. Liverpool is just the latest in plenty of cases like that and btw I do play football. Regularly

then do you recall - very late in the game where Mikel twice launched the ball downfield than keep possession? At the time of watching it, I was so frustrated that we were not keeping the ball and then Mikel of all people goes and belts the ball straight to Reina from the half-way line. It is more like the exception than the rule itself but that was not very wise from Mikel.

Psychologically speaking, Leadership is a BIG reason why we failed. Up until Carlo's reign, the squad was full of leaders/experienced internationals but now the squad is mentally fragile. Think back to October when we were on such a good run and everybody was happy. One loss to Man Utd and we caved. Lack of leadership is also the reason we've bottled so many leads this season. Once we lead in a game, we start losing every 50-50 challenge and the opposition will soon be all over us. How often did this happen with Lampard-Essien -Ballack etc? Very very rare. This is not a lobby for Lampard and Terry to play, mind you. They don't have the legs anymore. but lack of leadership is a HUGE reason for our cursed season.

Exactly!in 2010, it came down to an easy run-in and Arsenal bottled it with only 1 win in their last 5 games. Wigan away - 2-0 up to 3-2 was possibly the hammer blow. their 4 remaining games now - United H - Not easy even if United don't maintain intensity. QPR A - Ok, This one is probably an easy 3-pointer Wigan H - Wigan are in another relegation shootout. They have stunned Arsenal at The Emirates remember Newcastle A - Again, edgy That's 2 or maybe 3 potential pitfalls in the remaining 4 games

Now I've seen it all.

Nothing major. Reina took a long time before the penalty - drinking water etc. to unsettle Hazard but other than that not much. 3-4 mins at the most imo. 6 was over the top let alone 6:32

Ivanovic's wikipedia page

Ok. Deep Breaths. Upon reflection, If we win vs Spurs, we will get 4th ...

Even if we don't make CL, we will come back to the top. We won't turn into fuckin Liverpool. No way

didn't say we didn't deserve to win the game. we deserved to win it of course but the way we played the last few mins inviting Liverpool on is the same shit we've been doing for some time now. btw, that's the 3rd big game we've been fucked over this season - United, City, Liverpool. Always on the receiving end of this shit.

that is all well and true but in the later stages of the game, instead of keeping the ball and passing it on the floor, our players mindlessly hacked it downfield - inevitably conceding possession each time. Mikel was the main culprit. I noticed time and time again, Mikel just volleyed useless balls downfield - twice in injury time Even after everything that happened in the game, we should have held on.

In all fairness, we didn't create many chances. Never really threatened going forward and then just sat back and invited Liverpool pressure.

Yep. He doesn't look fit to me. Spurs' being so dependant on Bale is working well for us. edit: Hahahaha What a shit freekick that was!

As a 4th choice, who wouldn't have him?

Anyone have an idea why kitbag.com is offering the home kit for less? Printing Price is less, delivery charge is less. Is it a reliable site or is it too good to be true? edit: Anyone dealt with kitbag.com?

Oh, You mean this reported one right?

Away kit?

Cech Azpilicueta Ivanovic Luiz Bertrand Ramires Mikel Oscar Mata Hazard Ba Bench: Turnbull Terry Ake Lampard Marin Moses Torres Sympathies aside, this is our most solid team imo

Assist for Lukaku. Outmuscled the Newcastle defender

Deeney has put Watford 1-0 up. Chalobah not really standing out in this game edit: Game Over. Deeney again. Watford all but confirm 3rd place

Oh Fuck. Nothing good can come of Steve Sidwell. Arsenal will lap it up now

He arrived in the middle of 2010-11 season. So You are considering only 1 full season of football in the end. A season in which Malaga finished 4th and qualified for the CL. Malaga scraped relegation the year before Pellegrini came. There was a lot of work to be done to the squad in order to get them to the top and naturally in the first window, they spent big. But they did get 4th and that was the objective. Now Malaga are very much like Everton now but in even worse financial strain. Yes, Spanish teams sell players but you have to note that Malaga lost 10 players or something. That includes the playmaker - Cazorla, his 2 strikers - Rondon and van Nistelrooy, Joris Mathijsen and finally Nacho Monreal. Pellegrini has had to restructure the squad this season. I don't see how being forced to change the core of the team is equivalent to spending a lot and underachieving. They've maintained their progress this season inspite of having to look for bargains. . Pellegrini has got several loan deals - Santa Cruz, Piazon, Lugano and free agents Javier Saviola, Onyewu and Manuel Iturra to complement his squad now. Isn't that the same as Everton? Oh wait, I am quite sure that Everton spent more than Malaga this season. The case for Pellegrini spending a lot and underachieving starts and ends at Real Madrid.

Absolutely no-one attacks the ball when it's put into the box now. Compare that to Carlo's team where Malouda, Anelka, Lampard, Drogba would be flying in to the box to convert chances. Lack of cutting edge is painfully evident

Torres owns Hazard in training