super_frank8

Words cannot fully convey my inexplicable hatred for this deluded incompetant sack of shit & my utter bemusement at the fact that he still has a job. But even more perplexing than his continued presence at our club, is to see some of you on here still posing the question of 'who else?' at this truly dire stage of the season... Have you seriously not got the memo yet? ANYONE FUCKING ELSE WILL DO! As long as it's not Rafa. As long as it means we will actually have half a chance of miraculously clinging on to a top 4 finish - because that just simply doesn't look possible with the inevitability of being in 4th by tomorrow & the overwhelming likelihood of Arsenal getting more results in the run in than we will if this lunacy goes on. If we continue to nonchalantly perservere with his insipid illogical tactics, we'll be fighting for a fucking Europa League spot with the likes of Everton, West Brom & his beloved Livershit before you know it. & oh what, so today wasn't his fault you say? If that is truly your opinion, then you must be smoking the same mind-dissolving obesity-inducing shit that this delinquent wanker has been for the last 10 years. It's about time you to put down the crack pipe of blissful ignorance & come to terms with the sobering reality of the situation. On how many different occasions does he have to make the same mistakes for you to realise that they are not conceived of mere coincidence - but in fact his best laid plans that inevitably more often than not backfire to spectacularly catastrophic effect? As for today's brilliant ingenuity alone: Why the fuck did JT & Azpi not start when it was obvious we would need to be solid at the back whilst under siege for large periods of this game? How the fuck was Ramires still on the pitch after 20 minutes (let alone 90!) seeing as he did absolutely nothing the entire match but hand the ball straight back to City everytime it came near him thanks to his characteristic signature touch-of-a-rapist & truly baffling tekkers? & what the fuck was he thinking bringing off two of our most likely scorers, game changers & better players on the pitch in the 70th minute whilst searching for an equaliser - only for the aforementioned ball-chaser & his almost sedentary, offensively-inept partner-in-crime, who was undeniably responsible for the first goal - somehow being allowed to continue in their appaling displays of sheer inadequacy & inefficacy? That's not even mentioning the truly calamitous formational & positional changes made thereafter... The goal was Mikel's fault for being a lazy useless twat, which he mostly was for much of the game unfortunately giving the ball away on multiple occasions & generally not being where he should have been to protect a blatantly vulnerable back line. Sure he can pass well enough, but he does so little to actually influence the play itself he really just becomes an unnecessary stepping stone that delays the ball arriving at the players we really want it to. The penalty miss was obviously at Frank's feet, which was unexpected & uncharacteristic, but this was despite actually putting in one of the better performances of the day. But as for the rest aside from the generally lacklustre individual displays - that was beyond any dispute purely down to this fucking inept cunt who continues to undermine our players, our fans & our club - without ever once standing up like a real man to take the more than justified blame himself. I made it abundantly clear that I wanted him out of this club from the very moment he arrived, in fact it is the very thing that spurred me on to join this forum as a medium to effectively vent my frustration & anguish at such an insolent decision; expecting fellow sufferers to provide some form of comforting sympathy. & despite numerous frivolous arguments & many massive walls of text - even the majority of those who were initially reluctant to understand the full extent & degree of such a cataclysmically disastrous appointment have finally come to that realisation due to the overwhelming evidence that is simply impossible to ignore at this point. So it is truly entirely beyond me as to how there are still somehow supposed Chelsea fans out there that are still willing to tolerate this torturous tenure to the end of the season. It just defies logic to hold such beliefs that kicking him to the curb right now is somehow going to be more detrimental than allowing him to fulfill the prophecy of doom & mass self-destruction he has clearly been imparted with. & yes, I am questioning your actual capacity & legitimacy as a supporter of this club if that is the view that you choose to maintain - whether it is indifferent or otherwise - because there is no way in hell any True Blue would want this shitstorm to continue any longer than it already has done. I simply don't believe you are a genuine fan if you can't see that what is in the club's best interests at this current moment, in order to salvage something out this seemingly endless nightmare - is to at least give us a fighting chance for re-ascendancy next season. But that simply won't be possible if we can't even obtain a top 4 finish. I don't believe in god - but if I did - I would pray every night with all of my heart for him to smite down this engorged cunt & drown him in a sea of his own excrements - just so Rafa knows what it's like for all of us who have to deal with the vulgar taste of his relentless bullshit every fucking week.

Aside from literally a couple of misplaced passes, Lamp's distribution today was absolutely world class - as was that gorgeous finish. Yet another overwhelming display of evidence that proves anyone's ignorant claims of lacking the passing range to play in a deeper midfield role entirely invalid. It's not like this is the first game he's been able to control possession like that this season either. I'm sorry but this isn't your average aging 34-year-old has-been running out of steam & legs as some of those posting on here have suggested. This is the unstoppable immortal legend that is Frank fucking Lampard. You've really got to be in perplexingly misguided denial if you don't believe he is indisputable first team quality - & still one of the finest midfielders around today. How can you possibly not only stomach, but actually go so far as to support the idea of getting rid of our one & only goal-scoring match-winning talisman, when our rivals & every other top team in Europe are all salivating at the tantalising thought of being able to capture a player of such class & calibre in the summer - for absolutely nothing? If you really have this club's very best interests at heart - it simply cannot be anything other than painfully obvious that letting Frank go is not conducive to those ambitions whatsoever.

Exactly. If Carragher has the humility to recognise & pay tribute to a legend of ours like Drogba & essentially call him an unplayable god, then he deserves the same respect & treatment from me considering what he has done for the game himself. If you appreciate the footballing passion & commitment that he has displayed down the years - it really should be second nature. That's a great article by the way, haven't seen it before. & that's definitely the goal he was talking about: I was lucky enough to be there that day to witness it first hand. Being less than 30 yards away & watching it all unfold as if in slow motion, it was a truly special moment that immortalised him forever in my eyes as the greatest & will definitely go down as one of Drogba's finest in Blue. Could literally watch it all day; but then again, I could do that with so many of the goals he's scored. Really do miss seeing the big man walking out at the Bridge

Well I'm not going to bother arguing semantics over the tactics - but the fact is that England played with what was essentially a 4-3-3 for most of the first half & obviously wanted to employ that pressing game due to Brazil's physical frailty in the midfield in order to disrupt & prevent them from playing their usual possession game - & due to coming into the break leading by a goal, switched to a 4-2-3-1 so they could absorb the inevitable pressure that Brazil were going to exude being a one down & chasing the game. That is why Lampard & Gerrard were both in deeper positions with Wilshere just ahead of them. As for Neymar, he wasn't amazing, I made that quite clear - considering the hype he was an obvious disappointment. However, I don't actually rate him among those upper echelons of the game just yet as he is yet to show his quality where it matters on the big stage in Europe - so in my objective opinion, I thought he had a decent game since he was at least trying to make things happen & worked hard to make space for himself; he had plenty of the ball contrary to your claims. & yes, he was putting Johnson under pressure at times during the second half, most distinctly in the build up to Cahill's mistake. I didn't say he was tracking back with Johnson, because I don't think he did that once. But when Johnson had the ball around his own area, Neymar made sure he was always blocking the direct path in front of him. But back to Lampard - when exactly have you seen him play in an England shirt this year prior to last night? Pretty certain this was the first fixture of the year for the national side... & if you're referring to since after the Euros, then you might want to consider the fact that he scored 3 goals in two games, thereafter being out injured until Christmas - so this has been his first England game in four months. You also have to consider the fact that the opposition up until the Poland & Sweden matches was meagre & mediocre at very best - & against Sweden, England were arguably missing Lampard rather dearly considering how average Cleverely was. Admittedly, he's had two exceptional games prior to that - but they were against Moldova & San Marino - nations that aren't exactly renowned for their footballing prowess. & last night, he really wasn't anything special from what I saw. If you think Cleverely deserves a place in the team ahead of Milner, that's understandable & depending on the game I would imagine most England fans would agree. But the fact is that if you think he should be picked ahead of both Carrick & Lampard - you're fucking delusional. Maybe I'm biased since I love Lampard & think Cleverely is massively overrated & over-hyped - but even the most die-hard Manure fans wouldn't bother attempting to disagree with that. I didn't say he doesn't have potential, but he is simply nowhere near Wilshere, Gerrard or Lampard in terms of ability at this moment in time. He may just improve rapidly & exponentially & may even achieve & possess something similar to the capabilities of that trio one day, but he's got a hell of a long way to go before that happens - & I highly doubt he's going to be ready to step up to that level in time for the World Cup next year. In any case, if the rumours hold any inkling of truth, as most of us hope with all our hearts that they do - then you're just going to have to deal with Lamps at this club & in the England side until he is no longer the first class player that he always has been & still remains to this very day.

Did you actually watch the game mate? The reason England had to play deeper in the second half is because Brazil pressed the fuck out of them, Oscar & Neymar were up Cahill & Johnson's arses right up until the final whistle. That's how Brazil's goal was scored, because Cahill tried to bring it out under pressure when there was no space & that forced him to take a bad touch & make the mistake. In fact the converse is true, Lampard dropped deeper to accomodate England's more-than-obvious inadequacies at the back & Gerrard did the same, to at least give them some kind of outlet because Smalling & Cahill's distribution was really quite poor at times. Brazil upped the ante in the second half & that is why England had to drop deep - I fail to see how that is down to Lampard whatsoever. I'm not saying that he necessarily put in an amazing performance today, I think the only player on the field from both sides to even come close to doing so was Wilshere; & it was really only for about 60 minutes in reality. Neymar & Oscar did well, but they weren't overwhelmingly impressive by any means. But what do you expect, it's a friendly & it only became the kind of intense international atmosphere you would expect after 45 minutes. He only came on at half time & did add some solidarity in possession at least, & the fact is that he finished the opportunity he was presented - & it was an undeniably superb goal to beat one of the best keepers in the world in empthatic fashion. How can you call yourself an England fan & not celebrate a win against Brazil at Wembley & give a player credit when he was what made the difference at the end of the day? I've always found some of the Lampard hate from certain England fans utterly perplexing to be honest. & you must be smoking some seriously good shit to think that Cleverely deserves a place in the starting line up ahead of Lamps or even Milner. Pretty much invalidates everything you say once you make such an absurd claim...

Finish in today's game was sumptious as usual. Very few other players would have been able to not only react but put it in the back of the net - & Frank did so with the kind of style & class that even the world's finest players would be envious of - & that is why he still belongs in that category regardless of all the nonsense that has been spewed in this thread trying to exaggerate the most remotely negative nitpicking things they can possibly conjure. If England are going to have any chance of making the last major competition of their golden generation one to remember, Lamps is undoubtedly going to play a huge part in it - just as if our club are going to somehow cling on to a top 4 finish this season, he is going to be the catalyst for that. So for fuck sake, show your colours & show some respect for the greatest player this club has & likely ever will be lucky enough to call their own - or if you are unable to swallow your self-righteous ego, then just shut the fuck up, because the ridiculous negativity & pessimism is equally as annoying as any exuberant praise the rest of us have given him - the only difference being that he has fully deserved the latter.

I just read that same story. Although it's not the real news we've been waiting for today - in a way - it is even better. Gives me something to at least smile & dream about this week before we're kicked back into reality with whatever dire fate awaits us at the Bridge on Saturday...

Bollocks his main strength is his speed. It may be a major asset & an aspect of his game, but clearly you weren't watching the match today because he picked up a niggling injury in the first half & could barely sprint for the rest of the game - yet it didn't stop him finding space & eluding the City defence with his instinctive movement & some lovely touches - & most impressively distributing to his teammates with the kind of incredible passes that you would expect from top class European playmakers - rather than an English forward. He put in the performance of his life today - & it had nothing to do with simply outrunning his opponents with sheer pace down the wings. Sorry if I come off as harsh in this post, but I feel that you're simply trivialising him as this pure pace-demon, which is unfair & somewhat derogatory towards him as the far more complete player he is in reality. He drops into deeper & wider positions to pick up the ball & link up the play like any top class ball-playing forward does to provide an extra option to the midfielders & help relieve pressure so his team can build an attack - & he did that brilliantly today.

Honestly, I don't think he should have been sold, especially not for what I consider a bargain at 12 mil - but it was inevitable considering that Rafa is somehow still sitting pretty in the dugout & that only means our perplexing persistence with Torres will continue regardless of anything else. Shame he was never really given his chance to shine despite probably deserving it, at least more so than the 'competition' in his position this season. But yes, what's done is done - & although we're probably going to end up regretting it more than we anticipated - we're just going to have to live with the fact that Danny plays for a different team now. But as for some of these questions being raised over his ability & talent - if you sat down & watched the entire game today - he was actually genuinely world class for the vast majority of it. & that's not just because he scored a beastly goal either. For all the complaints of his selfish mentality & his general inconsistency, he made some absolutely gorgeous passes with the kind of intuitive vision I have rarely seen from him before, whilst his composure & intricacy with the ball was simply outstanding at times. Possibly most impressive of all however, was the fact that he had been carrying an injury since early in the first half - & yet his intelligent runs & all-round movement tormented the entire City backline relentlessly throughout the match. Not to mention that sumptious strike that left Joe Hart for dead. A truly awesome performance to continue his rich vein of form at his new club; & I can only see him getting better to be honest. That is slightly worrying seeing as he now plays for one of our rivals... I think few fans of the beautiful game can deny it is a rather wonderful thing to watch the way he just clicks with Suarez & Gerrard as if they've been playing for seasons together. Hard as it may be for me to admit it, Liverpool looked like a team gunning for the top 4 today - part of that being down to Sturridge's individual brilliance & sudden surge in form - & that has me considerably more worried about our own position due to the fact we also have Spurs, Everton & Arsenal all getting results & breathing down our neck's as well... Just hope our old boy doesn't come back to haunt us when all is said & done.

Unreal strike today, one of his finest & literally made out of nothing but his class, composure & unrivalled ability to put the ball in the back of the net from well outside the box. It wasn't an absolutely stellar overall performance, but the sublime goal more than made up for it & I don't understand how anyone can say he had an average game seeing as himself along with Mata & Oscar controlled the match in the second half & were easily the best players on the pitch besides that fucking beast Sissoko. So what if he misplaced a couple of passes? I recall Mata giving it away on about 7+ occasions today (that happens pretty much every match btw due to his adventurous risk-taking playing style) & I still think he had a great game; same thing applies to Oscar (though he was somewhat at fault for the 3rd goal). Such trivial matters are entirely arbitrary when they ultimately produce the goods, & if we'd had a little more luck they easily could have won us the match based on their individual brilliance alone. Shame that most of the rest of the team couldn't raise their game in the same way...

It wasn't just because of that blatant foul, it was because he got away with it & then decided to wrap his filthy hand around Ashley Cole's neck moments later out of the ref's view - & got away with it again. If someone had just done that to one of my best mates & it wasn't on a football pitch, I would have done far more than just try to throw him a cheeky slide tackle, wouldn't you? If the same thing had happened on a rugby pitch or an ice hockey rink in clear view of other players, a mass brawl would have been inevitable. Luckily this is a more refined & civilised sport however; for the most part at least. In any case I agree that it was definitely rash decision-making on his part, no doubt about it. However that's simply an aspect of JT's game as an emotionally-volatile individual - & I wouldn't have it any other way because that is what makes him such an inspiring individual & commanding presence on the pitch - it's what makes him who he is. So naturally, he does occasionally allow his heart to get the better of his head. But, especially when you feel a pretty blatant & graceless act of injustice has been committed against your teammate that the ref has either overlooked or condoned, then you are inevitably not going to hold back as the captain & rightful leader of your side. That's what characterises the greatest hard-tackling leaders in the game. Kompany, Vidic, Puyol, & Keane & Viera before them - these players have never pulled out of a 50-50 challenge regardless of whether the man is between the ball & them or not. Sometimes they get the ball, sometimes they get some of the man too - & as in this case - sometimes they miss everything all together. However, our own particular hard-man is unique in that he usually times his tackles to perfection & get's the ball - & I would have imagined a fully fit JT would have done just that today - but like I said he is only just making his return from injury & that was his first PL match since November, so he is expectedly slightly off the pace & not quite 100% firing on all cylinders. yet His form will return once he has a couple of games under his belt, but at least even this mistake has shown some spirit & desire; even if he was a little over-eager on that particular occasion. Look he fucked up, yes, but one match & one mistake doesn't change a thing in my books. Surely you're not calling for his head based off that error & other individual ones alone? I know you aren't a fan of Lamps, that much has been made crystal clear - but please tell me that you don't have it in for JT too...

Well you're clearly misconstruing my post. I never said he wasn't at fault for the goal. I said I forgive him for making a mistake in the heat of the moment - not that I want him to do it again. Yes he cost us a goal at a vital point in the match - but the fact is he has just returned from injury so I don't expect flawless performances from him. & I disagree with the notion of him costing us the game because we looked like conceding at the death in any case, it was almost inevitable being that we are still managed by that clueless obese cunt who decided the only sub he would make was a forced one; if he knows how to do anything consistently, it's giving away a lead. & I don't exactly believe in morals as some rigid universal 'right & wrong' as I guess you seem to. Vengeance can be justified - & considering what I had just seen Cisse do to Cole, I wouldn't have blamed him for getting stuck in to a player who should have been off the field if these supposed 'morals' were actually upheld in the world. Not sure if you've ever played a competitive game of football before mate, but if some cunt gives me a rough time, then I'll be more than happy to return the favour. All within the laws of the game of course...for the most part. To be honest, maybe if kids today were taught the cold hard reality of life rather than the idealistic delusions that are shovelled into their brains then we wouldn't have to deal with the tragic ignorance & inherent naivety that has allowed corruption to flourish in the modern world. There's some food for thought...

For those wondering why he slid in to nick the ball away from Cisse - it's because the fucking cunt had just body-checked him to the floor with a flailing elbow thrown in for good measure & had Ashely Cole by the throat in the resulting fracas. Call it vengeance or whatever, I forgive him, he was pretty solid apart from that in reality - although I do question why he went for the ball & not the man... That twat should have been forced off the pitch one way or another.

Where exactly did I say any of that? It's all well for you to make assumptions, but there should at least be an inkling of evidence to actually support them - whereas I made no mention of the obvious team deficiencies which are an entirely different issue altogether. Do you really think we are a one-man-team? That Mata is the only thing keeping us afloat? As wonderful as he is & easily being our brightest spark for the last 2 years, he can only do so much, & for periods of games he does go missing because in reality he is only effective at influencing play in the final third of the pitch. If you're going to simply dismiss the efforts of Lamps & Cole & others who do actually show some spirit & determination without a second thought - then maybe it is you who should be reconsidering your own perspective. You want to talk about the problems today? The issues that have simultaneously characterised & plagued our season & this 'bigger picture' you speak of since Rafa snuck his slimy foot in the door? Well the first half was pure shit. No question about that. However, although the vast majority of our team didn't really show up until the 25th minute or so - the root cause of all our problems was the way that we were set up as a team. & guess who's job it is to sort that part out? Newcastle came out clearly a reinvigorated team with a point to prove & positive attitude instilled in them by Pardew. They pressed us so high up the pitch & their midfield was set up to contain ours by closing off the free man & our wide players simply lacked any meaningful movement throughout because we had a largely irrelevant Betrand five feet away from Cole at times while Oscar & Mata were being man-marked the shit out of with Ramires surrendering the ball every time he tried to make something happen; resulting in Ba being completely isolated for the most part & left us resorting to through balls over the top. That's why Cabaye & Sissoko had so much time & space to work with. However, obviously you can't employ that kind of high press with such expenditure of energy for an entire game & after they scored that's when they tired a little & backed off to conserve their energy, allowing things to open up for us in the second 45. That's when Mata, Lamps & Oscar decided it was time for them to take control of the game & we could have easily had the win purely due to their individual craft alone - but once again the ultimately disappointing result was down to Rafa not reacting to what was happening on the pitch as the game progressed. At 2-1, why not take off a largely useless Bertrand & let Oscar continue causing havoc down that left side whilst bringing on Azpi to give us some defensive support down the right? Or at least give Marin a shot? Unless he's going to be banished to train with the youth team as well... Instead, he just decided to do nothing. Absolutely fuck all nothing. & that's simply not good enough. He's not a manager - he's a fucking joke. How is it that even our own rivals & every single semi-intelligent footballing brain on this planet can see this - & yet you seem more than reluctant to acknowledge it as the universal fact it is? Yes there are obviously issues throughout certain aspects & areas of our team, I don't think any Chelsea fan who has been watching every painful second of this season is going question that whatsoever. However, the more immediate issues are clearly relevant to this fat cunt & his baffling tactical approach. The current (lack of) depth in our squad is what it is. Nothing can be done about the players who are out injured, or in Africa, or puzzlingly still out on loan - nor the ones we should have purchased in the last month - but something can certainly be done about the manager. & at this point, it simply has to. Whether you choose to believe it or not - the absence of Rafa alone will at least replenish our drive & dignity - if not return the performances & results we are used to seeing on the pitch. At least that will give us a fighting chance of finishing this season with Champions League football & a brighter future on the horizon... Sacking Rafa may not solve all of our problems - but it will solve the one that is bothering most of us more than any other at the moment.

Mate, you still just don't get it do you? It doesn't fucking matter who they are or what their individual preferences & methods may be - so long as it's not Rafa, that will be more than enough to deliver some form of success - no other professional manager could possibly fall victim to the same blatant insolence that he seems to perpetually wallow in. I'm confident that even without a designated manager, with Holland as a fill-in or even JT & Lamps leading the pack themselves, we could make the top 4; & that is more than we could possibly hope for given the current situation. With Rafa remaining at the helm however, that is looking increasingly more unlikely as every week he seems to provide a tiny spark & sense of false hope for salvation - & yet ultimately just continues to lead us further & further into the unknown abyss as any kind of consistency or form eludes us entirely. If we had started the season with him, we would be lounging around amidst the mid-table scrap heap along with the likes of Livershit, Swansea, West Brom & Stoke - dare I say an even more dire position that due to our peplexing reluctance to make him redundant - despite him already being the essential definition of that in all reality...

Seeing as there are still some individuals who seemingly refuse to wake the fuck up & see the light... At this point, I can come to no other plausible conclusion apart from that those who choose to continue resorting to sheer ignorance out of beleaguered desperation in a baffling attempt to rationalise & support this inept clown's disastrously futile endeavours as he drowns our beloved team in his delirious ideals of contrived & conceited tactical ingenuity - must be smoking crack. There is just no other reasonable explanation for possessing such a delusional perspective in the face of overwhelming concrete evidence. & by crack - I mean Rafa's chubby chorizo chode.

Wow. I really wasn't expecting such a brilliantly composed video when I clicked that. Touched my heart & brought a tear to my eye

Now that was just plain retarded. Where the fuck is Hilario when you need him? Torres off - Demba on. Just do it Rafa. Even if it's the last fucking thing you do at this club you godforsaken cuntbag.

I think you're missing the point too mate. From many neutral's & even arch-rival's perspectives, ranging from supporters, to journalists, to ex-players/managers & numerous current top flight players - none of which would be inclined to give Chelsea much credit even where it is legitimately due - they have actually gone as far as to not only recognise how preposterous the decision to give Hazard a red card was, but to also publicly voice their own varying degrees of disgust regarding the actions & behaviour of the cuntbag who catalysed that result. So your 'neutral' objective perspective isn't quite as straightforward as you seem to believe it is. I don't see what Hazard did wrong whatsoever given the circumstances & I don't see how any other football player in the world would have reacted any differently. Therefore, the entire situation's inception is indeed all down to this baby walrus deciding to belly flop on top of the ball by his own accord, & even then refusing to allow a player to simply grasp the ball from him in as calm & amicable a fashion as possible, despite several attempts from Hazard to do so as displayed by video evidence. & therefore, the plump cunt is most definitely the one at fault here for instigating the events that followed, purely due to his own pretentious pussy bullshit - then going on to blatantly deceive all those gullible enough to believe it, that he was actually somehow hurt by the most subtle of toe-pokes, especially through his padded jacket - despite replays from various angles clearly showing that Hazard kicked the ball & not the boy. So please do explain to me what exactly Eden has done wrong in this situation? How else was he supposed to obtain the ball once this fucktard decided to lie on top of it in a blatant attempt to prevent him from doing so? Hazard, being of sound mind & body, simply did what any semi-intelligent person with basic football ability would do & just toe-poked it out from underneath him. I fail to see how it is Hazard's fault that this mug decided to be a little fucking bitch after realising he had been outwitted & wouldn't be able to waste more time holding on to the ball as he had intended & pre-meditated the previous day. The fact is, the cunt felt embarassed that his clear lack of mental & scrotal capacity had been exposed for all to see with his failed attempt at time-wasting - but he saw the opportunity to take advantage of modern media hype & the anti-Chelsea phenomenon to get himself in the spotlight - so he decided to resort to alternative methods of achieving his ultimate goal. Do you actually think he was harmed/injured in any way as a result of that kick? If so, then you're just fucking delusional & I guess I can't really help you out there mate. If not, then please feel free to enlighten me as to what it is that Hazard actually did wrong in this exactly? Because from all of the evidence provided, as is displayed in abundance all over youtube, twitter & facebook - there is nothing whatsoever to suggest that he committed 'assault' of any kind, nor to indicate that he performed a violent act of misconduct with malicious intent, recklessness or other conjured claims. Yet there is overwhelming evidence that proves pre-meditation & purely invented reaction on the ball boy's part. I mean if your point is that he deserves to be punished for getting involved at all - did you really expect him to just wait around doing nothing when the twat clearly had no other intentions besides wasting as much time as possible & he was the closest player in proximity? I just don't understand how you can possibly condemn his actions in any way, when the only thing on his mind was getting the ball back so we could get on with the game, & the only thing on this cunt's mind was preventing him from doing so by whatever means necessary. As far as I can see, it is just purely wrongful defamation of Eden's character - I could not feel more sympathy for the poor guy in this entirely fucked up situation - & I could not be more disgusted by those that believe he holds any kind of blame for doing what anyone who has played the game would do when being forced to retrieve the ball from a stubborn beached whale with an agenda.

When it comes to the FA - it never does mate... Obviously if all logic & reason were to prevail, the card would be rescinded. However, I think we all just have to hope that the club will actually defend him in the media to minimise any suspension.

Firstly, I'm not aiming this at the majority (& I would imagine you know who you are, so please feel free to skip my massive raging rant), but having read through most of the posts in this thread today, I am actually absolutely perplexed at the stance some of you have taken regarding this ridiculous fiasco. Maybe I'm the one who's out of touch here, but it does shock me to see some of those who claim to be True Blues condemning one of our own players in such a manner. If you're honestly going to tell me that, as a first team Chelsea player who has been running himself dogged for 80 minutes in a pivotal semi-final tie, you wouldn't have done exactly the same thing when faced with this complete & utter delinquent fuckwit who has just decided to flop to the floor like a mentally-incapacitated seal in an attempt to shield the ball nestled under his stomach - when you are clearly trying to get on with the game, thus what is essentially an opposition supporter obstructing your ability to continue your actual job - then you are either being entirely senile, or unbelievably naive. Or maybe you just prefer lounging around in denial & lying to yourself since it makes you feel like 'a better person' for not wanting to curb-stomp that wanker's skull on a pitchside billboard. Obviously I would never actually do that, but I think you get the point. Sure, for all of those that still believe in world peace & other such idealistic delusions - Hazard could have handled it differently if he had just waited around complaining, protesting & waving at officials, as would seem to be the obvious rational reaction for all of you 'morally superior' individuals. In fact, he probably should have just rolled a nice little joint & chilled out by the corner flag while he patiently waited for things to resolve themselves in due time; that would have been the sensible thing to do. But considering the fact that the little wankstain initially let the ball roll straight past his feet before moving with all of the swiftness & swagger of a debilitated sloth, still refusing to give the ball to him amicably despite being less than an arm's length away, & then deciding to collapse to the ground in some desperately pathetic last-ditch attempt at succeeding in his pre-meditated goal of time-wasting - even then being completely adamant in protecting his 'precious' with Hazard trying to calmly reach under him to grasp it from his cretinous clutches - well then I don't see how there was any other option than to retrieve the ball by outwitting his feeble-minded fellow; which involved nothing more than simply poking the ball out from underneath him as anyone with basic football skills would do themselves. But then shit hit the fan. Purely because the little fucker had the nerve to act as if there was actual significant force & contact behind all of a 35cm back-lift from Hazard's right boot, through an extensively padded winter jacket, before suddenly sitting up & mouthing off to let the Swansea players & the officials know he was in some kind of (un)imaginable agony; only to fall to the ground seconds later clutching his ribs once more, covered in crocodile tears, forever solidifying his universal reputation as an insipid putrid graceless virgin twat. If you somehow still choose to vagrantly defy all logical reasoning & feel Hazard was in the wrong for trying to nick the ball off a 17-year-old in exactly the same way he would do with any opposition player of similar age in a similar situation on the field, or even with a teammate in training - then you are just as much of a massive saggy flapping vagina as that podgy piece of shit is. That mug is an absolute disgrace to the game in every sense - & if you believe Hazard should actually be held responsible for what was an entirely transparent contrived act from an opposition supporter who clearly attempted to influence a top flight match through such a spectacularly retarded performance & display of appallingly desititute ethics & integrity, managing to not only complete his covert mission, but consequently quite possibly fuck up the rest of our club's season by deceiving the referee in the same manner that the likes of Suarez & Bale are constantly being abused for every week - well then so are you in my books. When even your own rival supporters are recognising & voicing their disgust & contempt for such a despicable act that has defiled the integrity of modern day football itself (as if that doesn't happen often enough already as it is) - I am quite simply dumbfounded to find those whom the injustice has been committed against somehow being able to dismiss it with actual remorse for this supposed 'victim'. Unfortunately, the individual that you seem to be condemning as the perpetrator - happens to be the one you should be vindicating in all reality. This fucking cunt is now the talk of the entire globe. Literally world famous overnight. An arbitrary achievement that is evidently worth tarnishing the reputation of one of the most promising & exciting young stars to have graced British soil in years; with nothing but implicit deceit & baby fat on his side. If you actually take a step back & look at all of the evidence - the only real victim here, in the midst of this cataclysmic ridiculousness - is Eden Hazard. & I honestly could not feel more sorry for the poor guy, because as far as I am concerned, he has done absolutely nothing wrong in my eyes - if anything - showing far more commitment to the cause than the majority of our team seemed to be last night. The fact is that if it was me, as a Chelsea fan, & as a general indication as to where my own beliefs in such astonishing injustices lie - I would have actually given that wanker something to cry about. & then some. Charlie Morgan - indisputable cunt of the year - scum of the football world.

In terms of performance, almost our entire team let us down tonight - only Hazard, Luiz & Ba seemed to really be up for it & continued their good current form. Unfortunately the likes of Azpilicuetta & Ramires had a fairly appalling game, whilst Oscar & Mata went completely missing for long periods & really didn't contribute a whole lot. Cole & Cahill also looked anything but solid at the back. & while Lamps was average for the most part - although he did have a good first half & played a crucial part with some great work around the box for the first goal - subbing our most likely goalscorer off for the least likely after 80 minutes, when we needed a goal from somewhere, was one of the most frustratingly pointless decisions I have ever seen any manager make, especially when we didn't even change up the system to go with two up front & just stuck Torres out on the right where Oscar had been largely anonymous for the best part of an hour. If anyone should have come off, & considerably earlier in the game too, it should have been Oscar for Marin. But for those of you who think this was our strongest line up, I disagree - it might have worked against Stoke, but so many of our players brought their A-game in that match whilst no one really seemed to do that today, & that left us exposed in many areas. Was Ivanovic injured? Because if not, I don't understand why Luiz didn't start in midfield with Lamps & Cahill/JT alongside Ivan at the back. We all know that Cahill with Luiz is just asking for trouble against better forwards, & the moment that Lambert came on it could not have been more evident this was going to be the case. & we might have then been able to afford Ramires a role on the right, because no matter what you might think, he is a better natural winger than Oscar is. Take nothing away from Southampton though, they deserved the draw in all fairness - Lambert was a beast & changed the entire game by dominating Cahill, Shaw was leaving Oscar & Azpi in the dust everytime he got forward, & Puncheon's goal was utterly exquisite. Why is it that we are not capable of raising our game & injecting urgency into our play the way that they were able to in the second half? Some could blame the players' inconsistency in performances, & that would be fair in many cases - but I think it's the system & the roles they are being expected to fill within it that are causing us to display almost bi-polar characteristics between different games. You really do have to wonder what Rafa says to them exactly at half time, if he does actually contribute anything, other than 'keep calm & carry on'. Whatever the case, it is clear that his current methods aren't working.

In my opinion, Lampard & Gerrard both deserve to be considered on the same level as Zidane - but I guess it just comes down to the types of things that you admire & value in football. The aesthetic aspect is something to behold without a doubt, no one could glide over the turf with the same awe-inspiring grace & poise that Zidane did. But at the same time, as a player for much of my life, I think of football as football, not mere entertainment or business as I guess some others do. & as a football player who wins games, as an attacking midfielder who creates & finishes opportunities - no one has been as effective as Lamps has. In my all-time ultimate dream team though, I would likely have all 3 rather than force myself to choose between a trio of the greatest midfielders to have ever played the game.

Yes I agree, claiming that one is better than the other is merely a difference of opinion. Nothing wrong with that, everyone has different footballing values & qualities they admire when it comes to the beautiful game. So fair enough, no point arguing about that, because we would likely be here forever. However, when you state that regarding Lampard over Zidane is 'just wrong' - suggesting Zizou is on some kind of unreachable pedestal that a mere mortal like Frank has never challenged - well then in an objective sense, I think that is 'just wrong' too. While I can understand those that would choose Zidane over Lampard, I don't understand how anyone can claim that it is as easy & clear-cut a decision as some do. & you don't by any means fall into that category as I can now see, but there are others in this thread, on a Chelsea supporter's forum of all places, who don't afford Frank the plaudits & credit that he deserves...hence why he is one of the most underrated players of all-time.

If fighting for a player that you have adored for more than a decade with all of your heart, to save the club you love from the gravest mistake they will have ever made - 'reflects poorly on Chelsea supporters' - well if your perspective is the universal truth of past, present & future, then I must be the most appalling supporter of them all. & I take that title with more honour & pride than you will ever know of. As for the bet, if you actually believe that I took some petty online forum wager with some irrelevant stranger as a serious formal notion of any kind, as you seem to - then you're even more delusional than I realised. As I recall that was merely to make a point about Rafa's methods & results at the time not being able to get us a place in the top 4 - which is clearly not an issue so long as Lamps & the other key individuals in the team are performing. If you really are trying to swing this whole thing as if I'm the one going against my own club, that's just foolish. Oh & it's 4:30 in the morning where I am right now, so I apologise for my spontaneous brain fart & incorrect verbal terminology - but what I have said isn't entirely out of context either - since those words do indeed describe you quite accurately, despite yourself not literally being them by definition, right?