Fulham Broadway

Avram Grant lacks calibre of a true leader By Henry WinterIf the calibre of Chelsea's coach, Avram Grant, remains under legitimate scrutiny, the character of many of his players remains incontestable. If Chelsea build on their fortuitous first-leg draw at Liverpool to reach Moscow, Grant would look out of place in a European Cup final. Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard certainly would not. <LI>Scepticism has dogged Grant from the moment he was appointed Jose Mourinho's successor. His demeanour has been analysed, with the general verdict of his resembling a bloodhound who has lost a favourite bone. Grant has also been called to account over his substitutions, particularly the costly withdrawal of Joe Cole at White Hart Lane. Men in the middle: Frank Lampard and Chelsea manager Avram GrantThe focus on Grant's doleful features can be dismissed as an irrelevance, as if the dugout were really a catwalk. The charge that Grant makes only poor tactical adjustments mid-match is not supported by events at home to Arsenal, where his introduction of Nicolas Anelka and switch to 4-4-2 turned the game, and then Tuesday's insertion of Salomon Kalou. Grant was rewarded when Kalou crossed to trigger John Arne Riise's moment of horror, his own goal cancelling out Dirk Kuyt's strike in a 1-1 draw. However, the most significant criticism of Grant is broader: his employment in charge of a leading European club is a snub to all those better-qualified managers, like Mark Hughes and David Moyes, hungrily and expertly climbing their profession's ladder. Hughes and Moyes rise through hard graft. Grant has acquired one of the top jobs mainly through being a friend of the owner, Roman Abramovich. It is a case of who he knows, not what he knows. That's wrong. As ever with discussions of public figures, serious points can be lost in all the heat, hysteria, and controversial press conferences. If English and European football is to take coaching seriously, it must hope that managers of substance collect the glittering prizes, not men like Grant with contacts in high places. It is as difficult to feel respect for Grant as it is to find any admiration for the sons of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who enjoy the privilege of sitting on the Liverpool board simply through an accident of birth. That's wrong. Alan Smith analysisSo, if Chelsea do continue past the bruised plaything of Gillett and Hicks, reaching the final in Moscow, there can be little compunction to laud Grant, and every incentive to salute the resolute spirit of Chelsea stalwarts like Cech, Terry and Lampard. Cech should have his own column in The Lancet, chronicling the latest injury sustained in preventing a ball from going in a net. On having his face stitched up after challenging Tal Ben Haim in training, the goalkeeper immediately talked with pride of how he stopped the shot as his skin was being peeled by a stray boot. An intelligent individual, Cech also possesses an incredibly determined streak. His technical skills are superb, noted in the way he spread himself to deny Fernando Torres in the first half at Anfield. His reflexes are as quick as anyone's, seen to Liverpool's deep frustration when he pushed over Steven Gerrard's volley near full-time. Cech kept Chelsea in the tie. Like Cech, Terry makes light of injuries, resembling the Monty Python knight whose desire to keep fighting remains unaffected by the loss of each limb. If Terry's bodycheck on Javier Mascherano revealed the occasional cynical side to Chelsea's game, it cannot hide the centre-half's importance to the Blues' cause. Terry is the glue that keeps Chelsea together. Arguably the performance of the night, in terms of sheer guts, came from Lampard. Knowing how gravely ill his mother was, Lampard still went out and delivered a solid display, admittedly far from his best, but courageous in the circumstances. Some of his passing, particularly in a 10-minute purple patch in the second half, will have reminded the watching Fabio Capello of Lampard's capabilities.<LI> The contributions of Cech, Terry and Lampard contrasted with a disappointing shift from Didier Drogba. A stronger manager than Grant would get a grip of his leading centre-forward and tell him to stop rolling around, which even Chelsea supporters must now find embarrassing. If Chelsea are going to grasp a trophy this season, they need Drogba back on his feet and at his imposing best. If he is leaving in the summer, as appears likely, the striker should start pushing up his price and wages with some shop-window pyrotechnics, beginning against Manchester United on Saturday. Henry Winter, Telegraph. Interesting piece, and generally spot on. Interesting as well as it proves journalists read our forum. hes nicked the bit about Cechs injury response being likethe Monty Python Knight from one of my posts. Thats alright Henry, just credit it next time.

Absolutely priceless, watch that smug face change

I'm sure ITV commentators were about to start crying. I was laughing like a drain http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Dt2ug2dEM

Lampard shouldn't have played really -could tell, despite what Terry said, he wasnt focussed. We were shit and disjointed for long periods, giving the ball away, random positioning. Other times there were a few brilliant flashes and slick moves. Lady Luck definitely on our side for a change , galling how Grant tries to take credit. The performances are definitley getting more disjointed with individualistic play becoming more rife. Torres will be frustrated , and we'll have to watch him for the return leg , as he'll definitely be one looking to make amends. Best Bits ? I fucking laughed so loud when Riise did that in front of the kop as they were in mid song of You'll Never Walk Alone, and the media afterwards, lol -thought they were going to have a minutes silence or something. Also Kalous cross against the odds, and some slick Chelsea moves are still there.

Riise in Police Stop Operation John Arne Riise, the Liverpool defender was last night apprehended by Merseyside constabulary as he sped away from Liverpools Champions League Match at Anfield. A Spokesperson for Merseyside Police said ''He was heading in the wrong direction''.

It's quite obvious most people associated with CFC want Grant Out, but the ones on the payroll are bound to be less vocal.

Grant playing mind games ? -probably as good as he is managing He is trying to pull the wool over peoples eyes again though ''Judge me on my results'' It's not your results you fucking sack of shit, it's Clarkes and the players.

I don't think they care which leg it is tbh. Wouldn't be surprised if Gillete or Hicks penthouse flats get turned over.

Lol so, which Liverpool players house is going to get burgled tonight. The 7th isn't it ? My money is on Torres.

Would be nice, though as I think Ollie has posted, only 3 goals in the last 6 Euro encounters. Overall though we've the upper hand in the 18 meetings since the arrival of ''Huuunbeleefable''. If our team is motivated by revenge and goes about it coldly, can see us getting 3, possibly. Like you said in the previous encounters, our undoing was caution, and sitting back.

Yup 10 hours away now. Feeling optimistic this time, though Torres is the one to watch. JT 33/1 as first scorer or Lampard 9/1 -might have to have some of that !

My sentiments as well. Chelsea PR machine in full working order there. We need a bit of cohesiveness before these matches are done and dusted, and can chuck the fat impostor in the Thames later.

Alan Green maybe not even meaphorically, the way that cunt bangs on about them, I'm sure hes had Gerrards plums on his chin.

Exactly, the crowd has nothing to do with it -our players are much too experienced to be intimidated by a an old Gerry Marsden song. But Sky, ITV etc are convinced the crowd at the 'Special Anfield Nights' sway it.

True , it being at Anfield 'and all. Radio 5 Live already banging on about ''will the fantastic Anfield 12th man be Chelseas undoing again ?''. I suppose they mean the inbred crowd,....though they could be on about the ref.

Issa , ow you say, crazy. Isnt Gerrard a card away from a suspension, maybe he can have nice tussle with Mikel.

Anyone any idea what the fuck this is about ? Is it some reaction to Essiens suspension ? Beats me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z-hW6-gsJw

There are more stories about him leaving in todays press, and getting his £5 million pay off. It's all speculation though, and if the players win the CL with Grant loitering, I've a feeling Abramovich will stick with him for at least another season.

£20 million quid and a gagging order probably makes him say that Abramovich is a friend.

When do they have a clue ? Its all speculation, but the more stories about ''he's going there, and he's a useless cunt'' the better. If he does some more press comferences like the last, all the better, he might get sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Didnt mean the final -tomorrow in dipperland, would like to go at them initially with Drogba and Anelka as a two pronged attack. No point in sitting back for the draw

agreed, wouldn't seem like a Euro Final. I have a feeling we'll do them over 2 legs. Drogba and Anelka as a 2 pronged attack, Terry and Carvalho seem inpenetrable at the moment, and the fact the 2nd legs in our favour -with Essien gunning for them. The times we've been knocked out before have just been just bad luck. Still I suppose there will be a special dispensation appeal for Liverpool that allows thme not to lose

True, might have to watch with the sound down. Good news that Lampard is travelling up to Liverpool

Nice predictions there. At the risk of sounding like Cystic Smeg I have a gut feeling of a Chelsea Barca final.

There now follows a media Liverpool Wankfest with ITVs 'Special European Anfield Nights' . Alan 'I hate Chelsea' Green spouting shit on Radio 5. Skys 'Liverpool Specials' bla bla bla. Want us to win this semi final desperately.