Fulham Broadway

From Port Vale NewsPort Vale coach Andy Porter says his young lions will show Chelsea's stars no respect when his side attempts to make club history tonight (7pm). Vale are aiming to reach the semi-finals of FA Youth Cup for the first time by adding the Londoners to their Premier League scalps of Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur. They are hoping for a crowd of more than 3,000 for the game, and Porter says supporters can expect the same approach which carried them to a 1-0 home win against Spurs in the last round. He said: "We gave Bolton too much respect, but we got at Tottenham straight away, the crowd got behind us, and the lads took it all the way. "After that 20 minutes when we closed down, we got the ball down and passed and played. "We are not a kicking side, we like to get the ball down, it is what we do all the time. It is based on the way John Rudge used to like to play football here. "We have to get at them and make it uneasy for them. I think they will come here and think they will stroll through. Hopefully it won't be like that." Chelsea's squad includes France under-17 international midfielder Gael Kakuta, Danish under-18 striker Morten Nielsen and Italian under-16 striker Fabio Borini. Their England youth internationals include midfielder Tom Taiwo, who cost £5m from Leeds with fellow midfielder Michael Woods. Porter added: "Not many of the clubs from the Football League with centres of excellence go this far. "It is mainly academies where clubs spend millions on them and get players in from here, there and everywhere. On a small budget, we have done very well." The youth team's progress has brought optimism in a season in which the first team has struggled at the foot of the table. Porter added: "It is a disappointing time, but this has given the crowd a lift. Hopefully we will have three or four thousand here." VALE have been allocated 1,600 tickets for their derby match at Crewe Alexandra on March 11. The tickets, which went on sale today, are priced £19 for adults, £15 for senior citizens, £8.50 for 12-16s and £4.50 for under-11s.

Its beyond, beyond daft. All that fucking trouble to get him from Bristol Rovers. Whos wanky decision is this Arnesen ? Grant?

He should fuck off and go pick Fantasy Football teams. I would play these; .......................CECH......................... BELETTI....TERRY.........CARVALHO........COLE .....................MAKALELE........................ .......BALLACK...................LAMPARD........ J COLE............ANELKA..........MALOUDA I would have Drogba to come on round 60 mins regardless of whether Anelka had done the business, and SWP and Kalou as ammunition to open them up if struggling. Again would bring on Kalou 70-75th minute replacing Malouda regardless of how the game is going. Essien or Mikel to replace Ballack/ Maka as required. Job fucking done.

Sounds a pretty daft move really.

Definitely an important result. We're either in a bit of a freefall, that West Ham will try and exploit, or we're going to bounce back with a vengeance. Either way will be a few cards and tackles flying about. Team selection/omissions will be interesting.

Its what fans sang to Andy Goram when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Dont think Gazza's schizo tbh, just always trying to prove himself.

Obviously the media are going to milk this, but there must be tension around at the moment, and as long as Grant remains hovering, brooding, doing fuck all, it will escalate. To me it is tragic that there is a huge well of talent not being utilised to its potential. We need more cohesiveness as a team, and more will unravel unless a top unifying coach is brought in

I think Roman is paying the price for wanting a 'yes' man who is clueless about anything else. From This Is London today; Avram Grant is unlikely to survive as Chelsea manager beyond the end of this season if he fails to make amends for Sunday's Carling Cup Final debacle. Amid rumours of serious dressing-room unrest, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy are understood to be hugely disappointed with Grant's failure to rise to the occasion at Wembley. Owner Roman Abramovich visited the Chelsea dressing room after Tottenham's much-deserved 2-1 victory and is said to share the views of those who thought Grant not only picked the wrong team but then displayed a lack of tactical nous and also failed to inspire his players at key times. In particular, they were shocked to see him on the periphery when coach Steve Clarke delivered a team talk between the end of normal time and the beginning of extra-time, while problems in the dressing room will not help Grant's cause. Sportsmail understands that there has been a heated exchange between Frank Lampard and the manager after Grant told him he could no longer expect to play in every game

SWP should be played in the centre as Mourinho did before his departure. Sinclair and maybe Stoch Whilst we're on 'righting wrongs' it wouldn't do any harm to improve the atmosphere. Get rid of all the tourists, admission to be a fiver, two massive standing terraces, and reasonable alcohol prices sold from countless bars in every stand. Fortress Bridge, carefree!!

The problem I see is with motivation, compared to Man Utd, for example. Can't stand Purplenose, but he knows as did Jose how to motivate players, and get the best out of them. The last few games have looked very disjointed. If Kenyons smiling mug shows itself anytime soon, guaranteed he'll be spouting ''We're still in with a shout of 3 trophies..." then it'll be " 2 trophies "... "1 trophy" etc. Then Grant will be given more money to "strengthen for next term". Whereas in reality the rotten core needs replacing.

Lol apologies, you said you didnt want this to turn into a Grant thread. But for me the priority is leadership. Any one could have got the current crop of results. A Wenger, Ferguson, Lippi, Capello, etc could get wonders and even the elusive 'quad' out of our current squad. As it stands , it's a crying waste of talent.

He knew how to utilise the current squad a damn sight better than the current clown. Two League titles, Two League Cups, FA Cup and a Charity Shield...and...we wouldn't have lost yesterday. Abramovich has made it clear he wants a nodding dog puppet, rather than a gobby Portugeezer who knows what hes doing. For me there is no set way, or line up. So much depends on the opposition. I bet Grant couldn't name the other teams in the Premiership, let alone the players we come up against.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...&ICL=TOPART

The previous manager isnt coming back -but he knew how to utilise those players. Meticulous notes on our players and the opposition. He had his 'untouchables', and if we take yesterday for example -guranteed Ballack and Maka would have started. Drogba up front, and Anelka on the bench. It's not rocket surgery and you dont need to pay someone £4.5 million a year to fuck it up.

The tactics leave a lot to be desired from 'bleeding obvious' substitutions to dodgy selections. I still believe we have top squad, but at the same time seem to be going down the Rafa Rotation Revolution Road with erratic results to boot.

Yesterday there was no hunger or enthusiasm. i dont see it as a problem with the players. There were no injuries, absentees, or suspensions. The right team wasn't selected, and the right tactics weren't implicated. New arrivals can always improve a squad, but it's waste of time and money if they arent utilised and motivated in the right way. My fear is Grant will get another season, and the cracks will be papered over.

Playmaker, new midfielder, wingers whatever. Maybe. Lets not forget, the players we have now are the same players that ''would run through brick walls'' for the previous manager. Terrys words.

Lol happypollylogies JBD. We'll bounce back soon as we bounce him out the door

Well theres been several on this forum been saying this for a while now, and I dont like the 'I told you so' approach. but.... The danger is, unrest and resentment will start to fester in the dressing room, and some players offloaded only for the same 'rising damp' to surface. Oh for a Poyet, Zola, anyone witha bit of passion yesterday, instead of that hang dog, shifty eyed twat. Its a waste of talent on the pitch to not have them properly motivated, and tactically played to the best advantage.

''Grant is Taking Us to the next Level'' Remember when Kenyon unveiled the buffoon ? From Team Talk Chelsea's Michael Ballack was given no explanation for being dropped from Chelsea's Carling Cup Final team and only learned his fate when Avram Grant put up the teamsheet just before kick-off. The midfielder was left on the bench and only brought on in the 88th minute as his side were beaten 2-1 by in extra-time. Germany captain Ballack has been one of Chelsea's star performers in recent weeks and played an important part in getting the team to the final. But he is not convinced Grant's new rotation policy is more effective than keeping a settled side. Ballack said: "I am not happy that I did not play but I have to accept it like everybody else who did not start. It was not explained, it was on the team-sheet shortly before the game and that was it." Didier Drogba made a big fuss of celebrating with Ballack after opening the scoring in the first half, indicating that he thought Grant was wrong to leave out the midfielder

Definitely. These continentals tcch! break a leg Ritchie!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybie0KEKDx0

The most important thing in all this is that Arsenal and Man utd are in massive debt. We are debt free.

Must have smarted a bit. Prob miss a couple of games now

Hello Bealsey. welcome and feel free to vent your frustration here, and all things to do with/and not to do with CFC.

Anyone can lose the odd game, but we've been poor/average for a while now. How they made Woodgate MOM defies belief. One of the most flukey goals I've ever seen, and should have been carded fro holding Drogba, and we should have had a resulting penalty.