misschief

You reckon he'll give Ten Cate a run out as well?

You think he'll even get us to Moscow? FB you have a lot more faith in him than I do.

LMFAO that's bloody class.

Even Ben Haim wouldn't have signed for him. I don't fancy his chances in the transfer market much.

So you reckon he'll get the £100m plus anything recouped from our summer sale? Hmmm, thing is thats a bloody expensive squad we'll be getting rid of and obviously we'll be lucky to get anywhere near a return on our money. So much for Kenyon's vision for 2010 eh?

I seriously doubt Grant's going to have either the pulling power or the money to build a squad with £100m. Was reading this morning him saying something about money not being enough to compete anymore, then in the next breath saying we need some big superstar at the Bridge to give us some clout. Does he think superstars are given away these days or what? If we're seriously planning the mass clearout everyone seems to think we are (considering how much they all cost to start with) whats £100m going to get him in terms of a replacement squad?

LMAO. Can't remember who was saying Kakuta should play, he's definitely a good prospect but maybe a bit tired after last night eh? Tbh Grant can pretty much do whatever the fuck he likes now, we all but handed Utd the title Monday anyway. 0-0 if we're lucky.

Yeah, I'm glad he's said what probably most of them are thinking but seriously, he really expected to be playing every week? He's gotta be having a laugh surely? Either that or Mourinho was if he really made him promises like that. The bloke's a liability. I'm sure he's one who won't need showing where the door is in the summer, sounds like he'll be making his way there as soon as the final whistle is blown.

I'm right with you and FB on this one. I remember all too well winning the Coca-Cola cup and really thinking we'd hit the big time - talk about ecstatic. But whilst plenty have tried to play the "you're 2nd in the table and in the CL semi again, there's loads of clubs who'd die for that" card, I think we have every right to have higher expectations than that. We're not the same club we were then either mentally or financially and our trophy cabinet should reflect that. Having said that, its not all about the silverware for me, its more about the football and right now, ours isnt fit to compete with the likes of Arsenal nevermind Utd.

LMFAO.

Grant: “This is football though; when you don’t score the other team does.” LOL, Fucking genius.

I'd imagine that deep down, we can all pretty much see that's next on the cards. As far as I'm concerned, the straw broke the camel's back a long time ago and THAT's a loss that just aint gonna be tolerated. I'd be highly surprised if there is a single supporter left prepared to back Grant once we're unceremoniously dumped out of the CL.

Rapturous applause for that man. I'm not even going to defend the players for the shower of shite they've served up this season. But these are previously talented, winning players, who've turned into incompetent bottlers under Grant's management. The sooner his sorry, fat, incompetent arse is out of that job the better.

Get that fat fucking retard out of our club now, enoughs enough.

We'll be getting exactly what we deserve this season - sweet fuck all. They knew that was a must win game and came away with a point. Way to go lads!

Sky sports are saying Cech's been seen in his training gear and might be playing tonight.

With a handful of games left til the end of the season, it’s still considered a two-horse race, with us being a surprise runner. I say a surprise because from the minute Grant took the reins from Jose, it’s felt at times, we’re like the horse that runs around without its jockey – enough potential there to win but missing the obligatory ‘master’ to steer it in the right direction. There’s no disputing that right now we’re no further behind the league leaders than we were a year ago and again have secured a place in the CL semi final, but somehow, it feels as if we’ve done that in spite of ourselves. So, I guess the question is would we have been in a better or worse position if TSO was still in the saddle? One explanation put forward for our failure to retain the title last season was lack of support for the manager. Constant speculation in the press and the Chelsea hotseat have gone hand in hand for as long as I can remember and Jose’s success had not granted him immunity it seemed. Daily stories listing potential successors went unchallenged by the SB hierarchy, giving journalists carte blanche to go into orgasmic overdrive – even his dog wasn’t spared the intrusion. That’s not to say Mourinho was without his allies, far from it. Everyone from his right hand man, to players and supporters, vowed a very public allegiance to TSO. In contrast, his successor has both Clarke and Ten Cate with him on the bench, neither of whom appear keen to even talk to him, much less support him. Indeed, Clarke was rumoured to take some persuasion to stay following Jose’s departure, a decision which now would appear to have been a temporary one. He has looked a particularly unhappy shadow of his former self this season and he’s not alone. While clearly prepared to play themselves into the ground a year ago in order to save their manager’s job, some might suggest the reverse is now true for the players. Ok, to say they are deliberately playing badly might be taking it too far (although going on recent performances this explanation would come as a huge relief to many), but the absence of respect is evident, from the lack of response on the pitch to headlined quotes of imminent departures. Add to that a weekly barrage of abuse from the diehards, dismissive press and a non-committal board, and Grant doesn’t seem to have fared particularly well on the support front either. Players who only a year ago appeared to hang on their boss’ every word, now pointedly ignore the manager, seeking touchline advice from Clarke whilst turning to the skipper for team talks. That famous team spirit fostered under the previous regime seems to be draining away as quickly as the love inside the Anfield boardroom. Drogba, who’d previously made enemies only with the elusive, but ever present sniper in the crowd, is rumoured to round on fellow players with a regularity Gallas himself would be proud of. Michael Ballack on the receiving end more recently, with Maka and Cech among his previous victims. No wonder Cech’s reluctant to part with his headgear given the current ethos, where the captain wrestling with Tom Jone’s look-alikes is all part of a day’s training. Still, the sparring practice all comes in handy when dealing with match officials, eh John? How exactly did Cech end up with stitches again? Hmmmm. So, at the risk of going all Arsenal-esque here, that brings us nicely on to the subject of injuries. After two very healthy title winning seasons, last year saw us cursed with a constant string of afflictions, providing another piece of evidence for Jose’s defence. Yet the pile of sick notes left on TSO’s desk wouldn’t appear to have got any smaller now that Grant’s the one with his feet under the table. A glance at the physio’s stats shows injuries to 17 players during the course of the season. Didier Drogba, our main source of goals last season, missing more league games than he’s played; Carvalho and JT leaving our defence exposed on 18 occasions each, likewise Maka; Cech has been missing between the sticks on 12 occasions so far, with that set to rise as a result of his latest impairment and Cudicini as ever, has gone out in sympathy with him; the once ever present Lampard has missed 11 games with fellow midfielder Essien equalling that absence; and our midfield has been weakened still further with the much improved Ballack playing only 14 times. Now that’s not to say we’re the only club affected, United have had their fair share, from a captain who seemed to have taken a mini-retirement to the eternal sick note otherwise known as Louis Saha. Add to that having Vidic out sporadically and the effect of Rooney’s absences, and they’d have cause for complaint themselves. Certainly, there’s been times Tevez has been their only fit front man – although compare that with Pizarro or Anelka and suddenly it doesn’t seem such a hardship after all. And of course, I’m sure I’ve heard the odd subtle hint from Arsene’s Playgroup, who, rumour has it have been lucky to put together a decent 5-aside team this season, nevermind a first 11. In terms of available personnel then, nothing much seems to have changed. Injuries continue to dictate, although the services of Belletti and Alex have been beneficial, if not exactly astounding in that respect. Then of course there’s the addition of the less than prolific Anelka, and the as-yet elusive Ivanovic. Whereas, having considered their own injury-induced battles from the previous season, albeit a title winning one, the opposition strengthened the quality of their squad considerably with the likes of Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Tevez. Were we ever really going to compete with resources like that? And talking of the squad, what of the mass exodus the press have warned of all season? There’s every chance once Mourinho returns to management, wherever that may be, he’ll cast his eye over the remnants of his former relationship, hoping for the odd souvenir. Unsurprisingly, Drogba could head the list, having voiced his desire to either leave/stay at Chelsea with the embarrassing frequency of a dementing pensioner throughout the course of the season. And Lampard, who’s contract negotiations seem to have stretched from one millennium to another, yet another possibility providing he can tear himself away from the latest concubine. But, let’s not kid ourselves these potential and very probable departures are linked to the events of the summer. Drogba, after all, has talked of leaving from as far back as his first season with us when he failed to feel the love inside SB and Lampard’s contract has been pushed under his nose for the past two seasons, only to remain as it is now – unsigned. On the face of it then, the current regime, rather than deliver the much talked about ‘beautiful’ football has delivered something far, far uglier. Grant’s decisions, particularly in the big games, have been a little confusing to say the least and we’ve lost that determined, unattractive yet efficient consistency we’d come to defend as a matter of course. And yet, the fact remains, in terms of position at least, we find ourselves mirroring the achievements of Jose’s last term (give or take the odd domestic cup or two obviously). So, the question remains, how much worse has Grant really done and has Jose’s departure really affected us that much? Disclaimer: This does NOT in any way mean I have changed my mind about the Hapless One.

Agree with most of them Esk, except Ferreira's just signed a new deal so he won't be going anywhere. I'd keep Belletti as back up although we definitely need to be bringing in someone younger as a permanent solution. I'd add Drogba: Great player for us (when he feels like it) but he's made his feelings clear this season and we just don't need anymore negatives inside SB than we've got already.

The way I see it, there's 2 sides to this. On the one hand, we're not as good a team as the one that's faced them previously, so that's pretty worrying. But, on the other hand, as bad as we're playing and as clueless as Grant clearly is, we are grinding out results somehow - god only knows how sometimes - but somehow, in spite of Grant's best efforts at substitutional sabotage, we're still doing just about enough. I just hope (and Im even prepared to pray) we get away with it a bit longer.

Yeah, revisited that argument myself last night. Baros went in foot high so surely that couldve been seen as a foul on the keeper? Whatever, its history and there aint much we can do about it. We know they're cheating scum - let's just hope we get our revenge this time round.

So, here we go again then? It’s time for the Dippers annual mouth-off where we’re all subjected to a drone of “Kings of Europe”, “we’ve won it 5 times”, “history”, blah, blah, blah. Even Veronin, who apparently hasn’t got a clue what they’re saying because of the “peculiar local accent”, doesn’t need an interpreter for the traditional pre-CL drivel it’s so predictable. They’re so excited bless them. No wonder it’s so hard to contain themselves though, watching everyone else play out 38 games a season while they wait for the only competition Tubby’s ever let them enter. Little wonder they feel the need to be heard then, when their whiny voices are the only things likely to be above the top three during the course of the football year. Chelsea forums littered with posts written in the style of your average 5-year old, complete with authentic grammar reliably informing us we might as well stay at home. Now, I could say something here about this being the sensible option as far as contents insurance goes while they’re in town, but that’d be as predictable as them telling us they have the best supporters in the land. Honestly, a spot of ground decorating – they’re the boys to do it, emergency service vehicles – they’re only too willing to give a little push, they’ll even offer to hold your ticket for you! So, while they’re busy having a go at us for being “prawn sandwich eating” dispassionates - clearly a much more offensive stereotype than bin-dipping, robbing, giro worshippers eh? – they feel obliged to inform us their tickets to Moscow are already paid for (or at least will be once sufficient household goods have been secured). Self-righteous? Arrogant? Or just a result of knowing their first team will get the customary rest in preparation? Albeit not convincingly, they have beaten us in our previous meetings in this competition, but how much can be put down to them focusing solely on one competition a year? Certainly we looked dead on our feet this time last year but they hardly outplayed us over 210 minutes. So maybe the extra time off from competitive football is well spent practising penalties? Or better still, perfecting the art of keeping their halo’s firmly in place whilst assuming the correct position for officials to pucker up? Needless to say, if its the latter then they’re right – we just can’t compete – so should we take a leaf out of Rafa’s “Ten Steps To Becoming A Glorified Cup Team” manual instead? Answers on the back of a stamp please. Personally, I prefer being a proper team prepared to fight on all fronts. Although dogged and somewhat less than attractive at times, we’ve consistently got the necessary results over the course of the season to give Utd the title race they thought Arsenal were up for. Ok, we might not play the sexiest football, we might not dispense with teams as efficiently as we’d like, in fact, we might even scrape more than the odd game but we can justify a place in the CL at the end of the season. Finishing with a points total more befitting a middle of the table side or having the rules rewritten to accommodate you isn’t quite as satisfying as actually earning your place I’d imagine. But then, that’s assuming ‘earning’ isn’t a totally alien concept of course. So what can we expect from this year’s almost traditional fixture? Another bore-fest? Us standing off and giving them far more respect than they deserve again? Rafa relying on his back 10 and the infamous 12th man (must mean the ref surely?)? Well, the fixtures are reversed this time so that should have some bearing on how the games are played. Rafa will surely want to wrap it up at Anfield seeing as they have failed to score at SB under his leadership. But what about Grant, how will he play it? If we manage to get an away win, will he opt for the ten-man defence at home? We’ve already seen the chaos created by his defensive tactics this season so maybe we should try to keep it as tight as we can at Anfield and go for the home win? Rafa’s record against Mourinho of course counts for nothing here and his poor attempts at mind games won’t leave an impression this time. Despite my complete lack of faith in Grant’s abilities as a manager however, the one undeniable fact this season is that we have consistently got results. Personally I think that’s more down to luck than judgement though so I will definitely be hoping he steps in a rather large quantity of something prior to these games and comes up smelling of roses.

Yeah, it just happens to be an extremely large section. That is so not a nice image.

Well said.

I dunno, its almost a traditional part of our season now to lose to the dippers in CL.