Wolverhampton 1 - Chelsea 2: Super Frank's 89th minute goal saves the day
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 5:34 PM GMT
in Chelsea FC: Premier League
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Chelsea beat Wolves! Crisis over! In all seriousness, this was a game that Chelsea really needed to have given their current string of results (or lack thereof). Anything less than three points from this one and Chelsea fans everywhere were going to have some serious meltdowns. AVB faced some selection difficulties today with the injuries and illnesses that have recently struck the club, his bench today was made up with a backup keeper, a fossil from the Mourinho age, and five youngsters trying to break into the first team. While seeing Ramires starting on the right wing was a bit odd, it was hardly unjustifiable given the lack of other options.
Wolves surprised me early on with the amount of pressure they decided to apply. With teams finding so much success recently by parking the bus and countering I was fully expecting Mick McCarthy to apply the same tactics. He didn't, and Chelsea looked very good in attack early on because of that despite the lack of finishing. The game quickly got chippy though, and yellow cards came in abundance in the first half. Within 33 minutes 5 yellows had already been awarded and several player (Ashley Cole anyone?) were probably also deserving of some more color. The stop and go nature of this spell really slowed down a fairly fluid Chelsea passing game, and Wolves started to get a toehold in the game. They also looked very dangerous on a pair of set pieces when they simply targeted whomever Fernando Torres and Bosingwa were supposed to be marking.
As the game calmed down around the 40 minute mark Chelsea would begin to reclaim control. They continued to show some nice buildup play, although they seemed too eager to cross into the box at any and all opportunities for my liking. They were clearly the better side throughout the majority of play, but this was beginning to look worryingly like several past games where the lack of clinical finishing would again leave the opponent an opportunity to snatch points.
Chelsea made no changes after the break and continued to control most of the action. They were rewarded for their pressure 9 minutes in as John Terry flicked a corner to Ramires with his head. Ramires struggled to do anything with his initial play on the ball, but when he held off the defender and turned on it the ball was sitting perfectly for him to strike at the net. I love when Ramires doesn't have much time to think about his shot and just lets fly, he really seems to be much more clinical taht way. This attempt was no exception, nestling nicely into the upper left corner of the net.
Chelsea would continue to control the game after the goal, passing it around fairly comfortably and creating several more chances which they'd fail to put in the net. It was looking worryingly like Chelsea were going to leave Wolves a chance to snatch some points again, and true to form they did. In the 83rd minute Steven Fletcher was let go by Bosingwa and played a beautiful flick into the path of Stephen Ward. Ward slotted home nicely, and Chelsea fans everywhere went ballistic. It appeared that Chelsea would again drop points in a game they'd controlled due to an awful individual defensive error.
Amazingly Chelsea managed to regain the lead just minutes later. Fernando Torres turned creator in the absence of Juan Mata, playing an absolutely perfect ball into the path of the marauding Ashley Cole. Cole then crossed the ball perfectly to the onrushing Frank Lampard for the game winner and all was well in Chelsea-land again. It was 3 points well deserved, even if it did again highlight some serious weaknesses in the squad. It was also nice to see McEachran again albeit in just a quick cameo appearance.
Our set piece defending is a mess at the moment. Bosingwa offers nothing, and Torres just can't provide the same help that Drogba can in covering that up. The potential addition of Gary Cahill should help some, but the return of Brani would be very welcome as well. I imagine a few less silly fouls by Ashley Cole would do wonders as well, I wouldn't be upset at all to see Ryan Bertrand get the start this weekend. Anyway, sit back, enjoy the other games coming up, and stay tuned for some additions and loans. Our next BPL fixture won't come until the 14th, so we have plenty of time to work on some things and get healthy.
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MotM has got to be Torres.
Ramires was more effective, but Torres was better.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
Would've lost without him, I think (it's not often you say that lol).
Should’ve been 2-0 in the first 20 minutes from his passes.
I disagree...
…..I grant you that his pass to Cole was superb, and he was certainly energetic. I can’t fault his effort. But he’s never ever going to be able to outrun a defender to collect a pass, is he? He’s not even strong enough or skillful enough to hold a defender off the path of the ball in that situation. Now, if we want to make him a second level midfielder, then I’m happy to see him on the field. But as a central striker? Complete failure.
About to rewatch the game
I didnt see him get much of those passes in the first half, though. He may have, but I didn’t see it really. By the time those were happening he’d been running around a bit. Not that he shouldn’t have busted a gut, but we’ve seen him run faster. My worry about this behavior is not that he isnt strong enough or fast enough, but that he seems to rely on the Spanish tactic of “go for the foul” lately, and I’d rather just see him not. Historically he has been more successful when he hasnt tried for the foul or waited to see if one got called for. He’s managed some good play off of those moments of just getting back up and playing, or dodging incoming tackles (think; a good deal of his past goals).
That sounds like the Pool fans v. Newcastle about Gerrard. Except for the fact that Lampard>>>>Gerrard
XD
5 Up, 5 Down - A uniquely unofficial look at the comings and goings of Chelsea FC and the EPL
by CanadianBlue on Jan 3, 2012 12:53 AM GMT up reply actions
It is shocking most of the times.
Bossy never tries to get head to the ball, Cole is too short to be marking tall forwards in the box and confidence as a defensive unit is low.
Not sure what was going on with Bosingwa...he's not stellar, but he's certainly not this bad usually
He had absolutely ZERO awareness all day about who was behind and around him. He wasn’t defending poorly by trying and failing – he didn’t even make a play on many of them because he thought he was by himself.
Funny enough
another former player, Stan Collymore, thinks that Torres is the answer for Liverpool and wants Carroll sold back to Newcastle and to just basically undo last year’s transfers.
Can’t wait to hear how Robbie Fowler thought of him today, lol. That man is worse than some of the fans.
And that, ladies and kids, is how you get your name out there
The more outlandish and loud your opinion, the more people will pay attention.
There was also a bit after that where they were discussing Frank not running over to AVB for his celebration.
Jeff Stelling: “Aren’t we making too much of this?”
Me: (nods)
Phil Thomson: “I’m not sure we are, Jeff”
Me: WHAT THE FUCK HOW ARE YOU ON TELEVISION
I love Jeff...
He’s absolutely fantastic. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to have to keep track of the scores in that many different games at the same time. Obviously he’s got an earpiece with updates, but it must be pretty tricky.
MotM is torres
Is weird to see him passing superb passes he should be receiving from the modfield and he is not receiving… Great that he sacrifices for the Team, very well played by Torres today.
Chelsea Supporter for Life!
sort of my point above...
…..except for the second part. He received those passes today and couldn’t outrun his defender to get to the ball first, nor could he keep the defender off the ball. Great passes, though.
That's FA cup
No Premier League action until mid-January
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 5:56 PM GMT up reply actions
I do like that you used the politically correct "BPL"
Instead of just the more generic “EPL” or just “PL”.
Not sure why I thought that was worth mentioning though…
Disagree'd with taking Mata off, should have been Miereles
and I was hoping to see Mt. Lukaku on the pitch today as well sigh
Heck
I thought Lampard needed to go… guess I can’t much say that now :)
New attempt
With Lampard it’s the same as with Drogba. Both can still be valuable for Chelsea. Just they don’t need to play week in week out and not 3 games a week and be rested/dropped if their performance drops
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I was surprised he got in the starting 11
after his performance against Villa and maybe even Fulham, it wasn’t looking good for him.
Same here
although I missed Villa and Fulham, and even after the Wigan game I questioned how much Lampard was culpable for the sour midfield display, or it was down to him and Meireles not forming a formidable partnership. However he had solid and even good games to his name this year, and I think we should learn to become less reliant on him, but getting rid of him abruptly would be premature and costly
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Oh, man
I would encourage you to watch those matches if you can, just for perspective. They aren’t enjoyable. But, you’ll learn that Lampard was sort of hugely responsible for Villa’s last goal the other day. And the midfield combo with him and Meireles was woeful at times (read: most of the match). Sturridge wasnt so great in either of them… was mostly due to service, but he also returned to Sturridging things from some of his few chances.
To be fair though
not many players were very good.
I don't have a hard time believing Lampard played bad games
he isn’t the old Lampard from 2010 anymore, and probably he will never be. I would want Lampard to play less games and we set up a good mark for the number of Lampard appearances in the last games but seriously – he played two bad games and now suddenly he needs to go?
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
No.. he doesnt need to go
Not at all. I still think he should be a part of a the team and has stuff to offer it. i just think I like him to be played less frequently and maybe be okay with playing super sub sometimes. Clearly he is good for the late goal for us.
I would like- and I am saying this with some trepidation because I don’t know if he does this or not- to see him play sort of a mentor to the McEachrans of the team and all. Take ‘em under his wing and help them transition into his role. That can be really tough for a player to do though… I don’t imagine he is feeling ready for that just yet.
Ah OK
The remark that started all my responses initially was because you wrote “I thought Lampard needed to go” and I took it literally to go as to leave Chelsea.
I do think we will need to learn to be less reliant on him … of course that won’t be easy because Lampard had been the spine of Chelsea for the last 7-8 seasons and we’re used to him, for the better or worse in that extent. I don’t think getting rid of him completely will make any sense nor will it work out positively, therefore I prefer a slow process – what we did recently with Lampard’s first team appearances seemed good and healthy to me. Reducing his role slowly … if only Josh could make more appearances in the first team it would be pretty fine.
Everything else depends much on Lampard’s own will. I will be very sad to see him leave early … I want him to retire at Chelsea and take up a coaching role in the future, I seriously do. It’s difficult not to (despite Lampard’s sour appearances lately and last season) after watching him all those years since he came from West Ham. But maybe he might prefer another role … it would be down to him … the papers generate way too much heat on his benchings. Sure, Lampard isn’t happy being benched. But then, no player is. Claiming he wants to leave, he wants to revolt, he wants to cause unrest just because he looks unhappy on the bench … well … far-fetched as always.
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Meireles was a mess...
…..most of the game, except for the last 15 minutes when he all of a sudden started playing well. I think therefore he should have stayed in.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas on players celebrating with him:
"I think it’s just part of their showing of unity for the team and what the team has been doing. For the recent happenings in the home fixtures where we lost points it’s normal for stories to come out speculating about things going on. Because we leave it in the past when we had our first bad period it’s not good to see that there is that kind of consistency from the inventions that came out when we just go past the negative periods by getting points."
It was Chelsea and I laughed
But I really liked the leadership showed by David Luiz, urging everyone to come celebrate a bit with the coach.
Encouraging the rule breaking!
He should be fined for lacking control of his players!!!
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:38 PM GMT up reply actions
Fined is only the second step
wouldn’t be sending off to the stands the first? ;)
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Well of course you already suggested it!
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:41 PM GMT up reply actions
Not sure about AVB this season
but with other referees and other FAs, Red Nose would be a certain candidate for sending offs … :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Wenger got sent off for throwing a bottle once
at OT
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:46 PM GMT up reply actions
Way too lenient
In the BL, managers get sent off for far less “serious” issues. Sometimes I believe they expect managers to shut up and remain silent all the match.
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Hm kicking a bottle and throwing a bottle doesn't sound like a big difference to me
but Wenger’s best show was certainly the tambourine :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I'm not aware of any tambourine gif...
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:54 PM GMT up reply actions
Since gifs are not allowed to be embedded
I take DPeezy’s word, here’s the link
http://www.cptawesome.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/9sz2iu.gif
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Hehe; they're allowed
Just not ones gloating about the Arsenal game, potentially stirring the pot…and in the middle of a game thread with 1000+ comments
Torres
Interesting to hear the opinions on Torres. I found him really frustrating to watch today.
Some really great scoring opportunities, but it feels like he’s waiting too long with the ball, trying to make an extra move or two instead of shooting.
Yet his passing was generally really strong, he was actually providing service to others (so weird to watch him act like an attacking midfielder!).
I’d love to see inside his brain to understand his decision making right now. I bet it is fascinating.
Shouldn't've said "frustrating"
In retrospect, that’s prob the wrong word. Just… confusing?
This is generally what the lazy media would have you believe
I couldn’t agree with it less. He’s looked plenty confident lately, that rocket he fired the other day is a perfect example. A less confident player wouldn’t have even tried that pass to Cole that led to the winner today.
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 6:20 PM GMT up reply actions
I was talking specifically about his finishing.
The way he tries to take 1 or 2 more touches before shooting shows that his self-confidence is low.
No it doesn't
What Fernando Torres does with the ball after his first touch doesn’t show anything about his confidence. Looking for a better shot or pass does not mean he doesn’t believe in himself. In several instances today it was probably the wrong choice, but trying to so mental analysis of the player based on his first touch is just silly.
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 6:42 PM GMT up reply actions 3 recs
Agreed, there
Actually, Torres was asked in a Spanish interview recently if he thought he needed a Sports psychologist, and he didn’t totally brush it off since he probably realized where the notion comes from, but he was sure to say he wasnt in need of it yet. And he looked pretty relaxed throughout.
He also spoke of how he is working to change his style of play to suit the team. I think that is what we’re seeing. Torres seems pretty aware now that even with the Matas of the world, he isn’t going to get the formation and service he had previously, and so he needs to become a different kind of player. It’ll take more time than lots of people are comfortable with, but it could work. Ironically, it could actually help him with the Spain NT as well, with the direction they’re headed.
And there were definitely points he should have taken the shot… I don’t think it is confidence… just over-thinking it… and seemingly trying to force fouls more than I like.
Torres himself shouldn't be too surprised
that fans and journos alike are wondering if everything was OK with his mind. After all, he brings some of it up himself in past interviews … last time he was out with the NT he said something like “I will never give up” – indicating there isn’t everything alright and all set with his mind. Might be bad translation here, too, but someone who is all OK and confident and chin up high is unlikely to say things like “I will never give up” and “As long as I do everything I can nobody is gonna blame me” (not exact wording)
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Ahhh
The “never give up” was less a statement of poor confidence and more one of having it. More telling of having some things to toil over was his answer about the World Cup. He said that he wasnt sure if he’d do it all over again because his performance in it was so disappointing to him. That he believed that if he worked really hard after the surgery, that he could pull it off, and he spent all his time training and in the gym to be ready, and he wasnt. Said that the experience sort of messed with his theory about being heads down and working hard to achieve something and being able to do it.
I think that is similar to his experience with Chelsea, maybe. I suppose it is good that he seems to have not given up on the theory, at least if it means he will still put in an effort. Actually… that whole interview shed some light on his current situation and even a little about Chelsea and AVB. For me, at least.
Nope
I didn’t say Torres’ statements were a sort of confession something wasn’t right, but merely sort of indication. As such, it doesn’t matter what the cause was – surgery, injury, transfer, media cracking down, abusive Pool fans, disappointment by the Pool board, whatever. It is merely indicating something might not be right, and therefore, it isn’t very out of the shroud that fans and journos come wondering; in fact as neither fans nor journos are his psychologists we will never know but just guess. His statements however give good reason to raise that question that it’s not out of the blue. We all know Torres wants “to be there” at Chelsea and “not giving up” indicates he still isn’t there. Now if this statement came right after the transfer or shortly afterward this is something different, but the time when he said this it shed a different light on the whole situation
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
God that was a great shot
6 inches lower, and it would’ve been a terrific goal and a totally different match, I think.
The levels of Torres range from "very frustrating" to "merely frustrating"
It was definitely just merely frustrating today.
He was very good when dropping deep and providing some wonderful passes. He was again stupid though when dribbling with the ball at his feet, trying to walk in all the way to goal. Just shoot the damn thing.
Still, he was very instrumental in our victory today, the most of anybody on the pitch…so he gets my MoM.
I though he was OK, not that frustrating tbh...
I fear he can’t play as a striker anymore. We honestly could consider playing him as an attacking midfielder! :P
As I said
since the “Playing David Luiz rally cry” didn’t bear any fruits it’s “Playing Torres AM” next – hah! Watch out Ray Wilkins!
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
We could try that for a game or two...
Hey, players have to adapt to some circumstances :P Look at the multi-polyvalent Heskey :D
I would LOL literally
if I heard Wilkins coming up with that on sky one day. I really would. And the loveliest thing is: I actually think we will hear from it if Torres continues like this
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Lacking sharpness and confidence in front of goal. At least he wasnt completely useless.
In fact, he was my MotM.
Yes, that's what's weird
I’d probably make him my MotM too. But he didn’t score and looked really out of it near the goal. Just such a strange match from him.
It didn’t help that we had a rather weird lineup today, of course.
Where is AVBs hand there?
BFFs is a little bit of an understatement
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 6:27 PM GMT up reply actions
It's revenge
Lamps moved onto Torres a few games ago. Didn’t people see the news? Goodness, some blogs had a day with that sideline moment.
LMFAO!, extra funny coming from an Arsenal fan ;)
Chelsea Supporter for Life!
by Darwin Orozco on Jan 2, 2012 6:37 PM GMT up reply actions
It's what I get for spending so much time here
Kind of embarrassed. Please ignore.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 6:39 PM GMT up reply actions
No worries
We know how attracting our team is ;)
Chelsea Supporter for Life!
by Darwin Orozco on Jan 2, 2012 6:42 PM GMT up reply actions 1 recs
:cP
Most attract(ing)ive team=The Arsenal
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 6:44 PM GMT up reply actions
Torres' stats:
57 touches, 92% pass accuracy (highest!), 3 shots, 2 key passes, 3 dribbles, 3 interceptions, 4 through balls.
I wouldn’t mind if Torres keeps creating goals and doesn’t score himself. Its a team game so we shouldn’t mind who’s scoring the goals as long as they are coming and the team’s playing well.
100% agree
Assists are just as good as goals in my book. that’s why I like Mata even more than I like Sturridge
by FootieFromAfar on Jan 2, 2012 8:12 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
Not just assists mate
Torres didn’t get an assist against Wolves. He’s playing a la Modric lol, providing the ball to the assister
Torres following in the footsteps of Ballack
Fate has a ironic twist sometimes :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Yeah I realized after the fact I should've mentioned 2nd assists too
But, you know, lazy
by FootieFromAfar on Jan 2, 2012 10:55 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
We gave up a goal right after he came on
He’ll be banished for another 4 months.
I hope they loan him to a good place for him. Swansea feels like the right option, they play style that would suit him.
Maybe also get him to the gym and dinner table after. God he’s skinny.
You wouldn't want to see pictures of me at that age
3 inches taller and about 25 pounds lighter
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 6:44 PM GMT up reply actions
I don't know if anyone noticed this or not, but on one instance, Torres was absolutely livid with Rami.
In the 92nd minute, Chelsea were on a counter attack when Torres made a run between Wolves’ CBs and rather than passing the ball to Torres, Rami gave a back pass to someone and Torres let out a loud cry.
He's done this a few times
could just be his in-the-moment blowing of steam. Think Germany-Spain World Cup Semi… and the non-Pedro pass. You’ll see him get pissy about some slow passing too… but I am sure his colleagues get pissed with his lack of a shot on first touch, once in awhile. So it is all relative.
It's a rumor, nothing more at this point
He won’t be leaving in January in all liklihood
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 6:59 PM GMT up reply actions
So now as Torres stories aren't all that fun
Lampard stories seem to sell papers. Love it! :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Beckham isn't currently a Galaxy player
Lampard is rumored there as a Beckham replacement.
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 7:01 PM GMT up reply actions
Just occured to me
that we never have anyone loaned to us. Why not use this option? It’s better then a rash buying in January, I think
There really aren't many players who can't get game time at their club and could contribute here
Most guys good enough to play here at all are regular starters or playing for a fairly direct rival
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 2, 2012 7:07 PM GMT up reply actions
Benny on for Arsenal. Agent Benny, your orders are to score an own goal. Use any means
Agent Benny, your orders are to score an own goal. Use any means necessary to achieve this goal. You have the license to kill anyone in your way, aka Sczezney.
Good old times
For Cruzeiro at least
1970 - 1984 - 2010
"Vamos Fluzão, vamos ganhar
Eu sou do clube tantas vezes campeão!
Vim pra torcer, vim pra gritar
E por você a vida inteira vou cantar!"
Yay!
Fulham wins!
1970 - 1984 - 2010
"Vamos Fluzão, vamos ganhar
Eu sou do clube tantas vezes campeão!
Vim pra torcer, vim pra gritar
E por você a vida inteira vou cantar!"
"we"?
1970 - 1984 - 2010
"Vamos Fluzão, vamos ganhar
Eu sou do clube tantas vezes campeão!
Vim pra torcer, vim pra gritar
E por você a vida inteira vou cantar!"
well well well.
chelsea DREW with fulham dont you know! ;)
If was after Dortmund in the CL
I think it ended 1-1
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 7:25 PM GMT up reply actions
Thanks Fulham. I thought the Arse had actually grown a spine, but they're still bottlers.
Although we’re not much better at times…..
Wow
This weird season continues. In one week, Man United lost to Bolton, City lost to Sunderland, Arsenal lost to Fulham. (I’m going to ignore that we lost.)
Oops
Isn’t that like the same thing?
#sarcasm #sortof
Worthy win
Fulham definitely earned the win there in the second half. Well deserved. And great to see!
Not to mention that sitter of a header the Dempsey missed.
I thought that was their chance to get anything out of that game. We should send Djourou and Squillaci a thank you card.
Fulham had several headers just wide.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
For a moment I thought I was dreaming
when I read Fulham won. I mean, I fully expected them not to. Just not to disappoint myself … if you don’t expect anything, there won’t be any disappointment. And really – stop wishing things will make them come true. I’ll start right away …
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I was just thinking about rewatching the Villa game to make me feel better
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 7:43 PM GMT up reply actions
They're very similar games, really.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
Maybe, but I already feel quite lifted
and relaxed and don’t need to watch it to feel myself better ;)
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
From an Arsenal perspective, it's pretty much the same as the Villa one...
…for us.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
by Kevin Kostka on Jan 3, 2012 12:29 AM GMT up reply actions
OK, but I guess if I had watched the Villa game
I would not want to watch any other Chelsea game just to cheer myself … OK Pool would be the obvious exception. But from all I’ve gathered so far … Sabrina’s attitude towards Chelsea is all but very different from what I feel for Pool ;)
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
What?
Do you really like Liverpool or something?
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 1:54 PM GMT up reply actions
I can't post nearly 1300 comments on a Pool site
says practically everything I guess
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I guess I'm a bit more tolerant
granted many of the posts I make here have to do with Arsenal.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 5:00 PM GMT up reply actions
Well you do reply a lot to other user's comments
and the majority of the users here are Chelsea fans; since you comment, it indicates you read their comments. I can’t endure reading comments over comments on a Pool site alone; not to mention replying.
But in the end – believe it or not – I’m happy you do. To be totally frank here – you’re one of the reasons why I love this site so much
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Jealous of our great repartee?
I won’t exclude you. :c)
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 6:02 PM GMT up reply actions
Aww Thanks
I do appreciate everyone’s hospitality.
I’m sure I couldn’t go to just any Chelsea site and be able to express myself the way I do here. Like I said before I like to know what’s up with rival fans and clubs and I feel Chelsea is the closest rival to us. It’s cool to know that even though I hate Chelsea I can have some good banter with Chelsea fans.
I’m happy I have you to reply to :c)
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 6:00 PM GMT up reply actions
Being an oppo fan (that means hating your rivals)
doesn’t mean you can’t chat nicely with fans from other teams as long as you remain friendly, I guess. Obviously I can’t feel anything positive for Arsenal, but since you’re here I restrain myself from calling Arsenal “Ass’n*al” or other names. It’s just not friendly
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Yeah I try to be nice...
here anyways. I don’t mind so much the silly name calling between clubs’ fans. I have other pet peeves they’re not really club specific.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 6:18 PM GMT up reply actions
Well I use Spuds and Manure
quite often. I wouldn’t use them either if there was a fine Manu or Spurs fan here around. My experience with Spurs fans on the internet are generally overly negative, but that doesn’t mean there is no nice Spurs fan out there with whom you just can chat as nicely as if he were a Chelsea fan or a neutral
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Yeah I'm trying out the spurs blog
to see how that goes. Should be an experience. :cD
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 7:21 PM GMT up reply actions
Well I can imagine it's much better today
than Saturday for you all.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 7:42 PM GMT up reply actions
you bet it is..Arsenal gave it right back to us after one game…because if RVP doesn’t score they don’t win games.
More like because Gervinho and Theo don't score
of all the chances they miss. I love them but I hate them
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:04 PM GMT up reply actions
With the exception
you don’t have soooo much hating from Arsenal fans for Walcott – or do you?
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
He gets lost actually
The thing is he’s only 22 and isn’t a CF
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:16 PM GMT up reply actions
It's kinda sad
He has massively improved this season from last though especially in his crossing
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:19 PM GMT up reply actions
I thought that was a new dimension Torres brought to
Chelsea and was something special :D OK there are some fractions amongst the Chelsea faithful that always had problems with Didier Drogba, but that was nothing compared to some reactions Torres causes amongst Chelsea faithful
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Theo gets sympathy
and I think reasonably so because he’s so young. He still obviously has plenty to work on but he’s only 22 and still puts up great displays. He gets into great positions and sets up chances. Same with Gervihno who is a little older but is new to the PL.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:25 PM GMT up reply actions
So it's just a tiny little fraction
of some Arsenal fans who “hate” Walcott? That would be outright normal, since there will always be fans who hate one certain player, whatever that player might be doing
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I don't think it's that small a fraction
He get’s A LOT of stick. He has the same contract situation as RvP I’d hate to see him leave he may not be clinical but he’d be a huge miss in the team. The link up he and RvP have together is incredible and the pace and width he adds is really important.
I feel like he’s an important player for us even if he’s often very frustrating.
The Wenger OUT people have come out again with this result. It’s super annoying. Which is why I like to come here and watch you guys go through your ups and downs. I can gain a little perspective.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:31 PM GMT up reply actions
It'll always happen
people live on the last result. it’s weird. Even some commenters here have said they want to see what AVB can do one week, and the next they want him gone.
From what I get from Arsenal camps
and drops here and there I always thought the Wenger out camp was also a little negligible fraction amongst the Arsenal faithful. Not so loud as the ’Arry out fraction with Spuds, or Sack Carlo fraction with Chelsea last season. I always thought that was similar to Pro/Anti Walcott, as he seemed to be quite a popular player in the Arsenal team
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
No I'm certain the WO crowd
was bigger than the Carlo out crowd. In fact I had no idea that even existed!
The Wenger Out crew is smaller now that we aren’t dangling above relegation spots.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:37 PM GMT up reply actions
Well of course I can understand
there are Wenger out zealots when you’re nearing the relegation zone, however I always believed the fact Wenger had been there for so long helped more … sort of if you hate the bad aspects, do also mention and value the good ones …
The Sack Carlo crowd last season was – after the consecutive losses to ManU – hilarious. And sad. Maybe because I truly loved Carlo, against all the odds and his shortcomings
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
No no no the Wenger Outs
don’t take into consideration the good he’s done for us.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:42 PM GMT up reply actions
Can't believe they're so plenty
since most sane people do also think of the good things one person did when they talk about getting rid of the person. And it’s not Wenger did nothing for Arsenal … :(
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Some people, yes
that’s why I giggled you said the Wenger out crowd is not a little negligible cut :D since whatever I might think of Arsenal fans I still believe the upper majority of them are sane
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Ah what I said some weeks ago
The minority are often perceived the majority because they are loudest
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
At one time though the minority was not so negligible
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:52 PM GMT up reply actions
Torres is a recent addition to that list, though...
Walcott’s been on the leaderboard for some time ;)
He's been around forever it seems but still is young
Torres with his experience and used to be goodness should do better.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 8:25 PM GMT up reply actions
I won't disagree with the last statement
methinks he is coming around again. So long as he doesn’t have to sit out another stretch of games, he might just start putting them in the back of the net again.
Torres was lively today
His energy and passing were excellent..but as a center forward you need to score goals surely. I will point out the fact that we did not create too many clear cut chances from open play which is a worrying. I’m still for signing a more creative center midfielder, or moving Mata into the center behind Torres.
by Footy in the USA on Jan 2, 2012 7:53 PM GMT reply actions
He did, but if you were taking the broadcast teams word for it..
…he didn’t belong withing a 100 mile radius of the pitch. And frankly I’m getting tired of the anti-Chelsea rhetoric that seems to permeate every broadcast crew. Like today, after the first goal, the color chump was going on and on about how all of them should have been shown a yellow.
Follow me on twitter@PrixFixeOnline
Staff writer for Managing Madrid
It does get old, no?
I mostly just wish they were more creative. They don’t even try, anymore. Like.. surprise me… come out and say you LOVE Chelsea, even if for a game. Ha.
Yeah old enough I want to throw things at my TV..
…as a former broadcaster myself — it pisses me off to no end. That and the complete and total lack research about either team their covering. I just don’t get it.
Follow me on twitter@PrixFixeOnline
Staff writer for Managing Madrid
Doesn't even shock me anymore, from them
I was surprised to hear the color commentator keep on about the celebration thing and carding them.. at least the main commentator suggested that would be silly and that sort of shut up the other finally. Actually, the color commentator wasn’t that vocal, which was great in the sense that he had nothing but stupid things to say.
Lucky
There is only one certainty in Chelsea games from week to week (or day to day with this stupid scheduling)… the opposition will score.
Never felt less confident after a win. We will be relying on the results of other matches till the end of the season.
By definition, unless you win all your games, you will always rely on other results
A win is a win. We should enjoy it after the shit-fest of the last couple weeks.
This could be mostly fixed by eliminating Bosingwa
I dont mean killing him, of course, but I like him on the bench, and better in some other team. Can we sell him to Arsenal? That would be killing 2 birds with one stone.
We need a fullback will take anyone
except Wayne Bridge
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:11 PM GMT up reply actions
Bosingwa was shit today
But you’re kidding yourself if you think he’s responsible for all of our defensive failings.
If you want to loan him to us
Would appreciate it. We’re running out of CBs to play at fullback!
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:17 PM GMT up reply actions
I like Santos
I think his name is spelled Andre’
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:23 PM GMT up reply actions
I didn't mean as a bad thing
I meant more like it will come back to haunt us because he’s (both/either Jose and fancily-spelled Andre’) are better than many think.
I see. ..
I always though Andrei was the “fancy way” of spelling it.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:27 PM GMT up reply actions
Would Bosingwa do a Benayoun-like thing at Arsenal?
I have the blue and weird feeling – yes. And then I’d start crying
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
It would only be a short term thing
We’d give him right back I promise
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:24 PM GMT up reply actions
Ha! If it was that way
then chances are Bos will not perform … if he was about to leave permanently chances are he will! Fate y u trolling us? :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Me troll?
NEVER! We don’t need a permanent fullback..
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:31 PM GMT up reply actions
Oh my mistake
I’m all hyper sensitive after DPeezy called me a troll.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:38 PM GMT up reply actions
Funny Arsene gif from today
Should’ve known it wasn’t gonna go our way today
Link Don’t want to upset DPeezy so I’ll leave it in there.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:42 PM GMT up reply actions
I only get access denied :(
After the tambourine, I’m all ears for Wenger gifs :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
HA!
I’m sure he’s happy to amuse you
Finished with gifs
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 2, 2012 9:57 PM GMT up reply actions
I just cracked up at that
oh that was good.
It's a good one
cheered me up for sure
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 12:23 AM GMT up reply actions
A good attacking fullback but bad defensive one?
As far back as I can remember, that’s the only kind of fullback Arsenal uses. Don’t see why Arsene Wenger won’t be glad to have him. He would certainly be an improvement to their attack, which is all that matters to them…
The Nigerian Perspective!
While they have Robin Van Persie on fire
maybe they can afford to have crappy defenders like our beloved Bossi. But we can’t since in our we dont score at will. And I would also question Bossi’s attacks…they dont lead to anything like 99% of the time (just my unscientific estimate). Cole in his “sub-normal” form is still doing this better (yea, not always), today was another example, where he was again a provider of a very good assist to Lamps.
That's true but to varying degrees
We’re going to need other teams do us a lot of favours
Don't know if anyone noticed this
but the way the Chelsea FC site ignored the absence of Kalouda from our bench was rather suspicious
Team news Didier Drogba was ruled out with calf and ankle injuries and Daniel Sturridge had a hip problem, so Fernando Torres was centre-forward with Ramires wide right of the attack. Jose Bosingwa returned at right-back with Frank Lampard added to midfield. The bench had a youthful look, including 17-year-old Nathaniel Chalobah.
The Nigerian Perspective!
Dd either Kalou or Malouda
feature prominently (no last minute subs) in the last two matches?
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Considering the number of yoof on the bench
You’d at least expect a proper explanation of their absence. Are they really that unimportant? I don’t think so. Just saying…
The Nigerian Perspective!
Hm ... if they only serve as subs
I can imagine the official site not mentioning them … as I can imagine they only like to mention what might be interesting to the majority of their readers and I take a shot most Chelsea fans worldwide visiting the official site aren’t that much interested in what happened to Kalou or Malouda
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
The Chelsea FC site is a club site not a fan site.
They are supposed to report Chelsea news as facts not based on opinion.
The Nigerian Perspective!
It's not about opinion
but just deciding what news is worth putting up and what not. They don’t care the slightest about their audience? They are no news agency, either
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
I'm not one to pay much heed to rumors and such nonsense
But this one is a little troubling.
Troubling in the sense that if they were hurt or ill, the official site would’ve mentioned it. That they didn’t even make the bench, combined with the other “news” (from the Daily Fail) that Kalou was undergoing some medical scans could very well mean that they’re being prepped for a potential move.
Now I’m ok with offloading Malouda to whoever (he’s been a shadow of his former self), but I love Kalou and would love him to keep his super-sub/spot-starter role with us.
I am not against Kalou at all
Guys, remember he is still young, is a “known entity”, and you can’t deny he has certain talent. If given more of a regular time on the field he could still come good. And we know how good he is already as a sub.
Also we dont know how whoever new comer(s) we get to replace will play. EPL is not an easy place by any means…
I generally agree
I think the time has come for Malouda to move on. And I think he would agree. It’s going to be a tricky process of clearing things out, but this might be the first step.
I’m so-so on Kalou. There’s more talent there than I feel like we see. It feels like he’s always seconds away from either a great play or something totally boneheaded that will screw up a match in a big way.
Of course someone on the site might’ve just decided not to mention ’em, too.
It's not just the website, to be fair
No word from any “official” Chelsea sources, pre-match or post-match…
That is what raises my eyebrow even more
Hmmm. Let me go all Ancelotti for a moment.
Usually the injuries and all are reported in the prematch conference or post match. No word from either is suspicious.
I also love Kalou
He is way too young to be thrown out of the club. He already understands Chelsea. The older players I can understand but not Kalou
The Nigerian Perspective!
Oops, i just doubled what you already said before I read it :-)
It’s good, we seem to be in agreement on poor Kalou.
Guys... here is the only issue with this.
Kalou might not want to stay as a super sub. I could totally see him wanting to go elsewhere with some guaranteed playing time, even if it means lower wages and less cup activity. Maybe it would just be a loan though… who knows.
Oops
I should have replied to the news… that wasnt meant only as a response for your comment. I suck.
Unrelated, but
Alan Dzagoev can be bought for 18 mil! He’s a 21 year old creative mid playing for CSKA Moscow but has tons of experience! Could be whaat we currently are lacking
It's nice to see Torres creating
But in terms of the future, as a striker and CF, his job is to score.
by el chelsea fuerte on Jan 2, 2012 11:20 PM GMT reply actions
What if he was deliberately being a false nine? A false nine's objective ain't to score (hence the false).
You’re right though. He had a couple of easy chances he fluffed.
I don't understand the benefit of making him a false 9
It would be better for him, but not for the team IMO. We can’t keep relying on Sturridge to get the goals and Lampard whenever he plays. We need another goal-scoring threat.
by el chelsea fuerte on Jan 2, 2012 11:44 PM GMT up reply actions
I would say it goes both ways though
Sturridge likes scoring all the goals and besides Mata, no one else is much setting up chances at the moment. Sure Torres should be focusing on scoring in the future and that would be best for Chelsea, but to accomplish that, we need more folks providing quality service (not just crosses lofted into the box with some hope that the random person connecting may be wearing blue). Hopefully we’ll see this taken care of in this transfer window. In the meantime, the adoption happening isn’t a bad thing if it can set up others while we’re missing out on that. Though he really should have stuffed one of those chances in the back of the net today, himself.
The team's job is to win
I really couldn’t care less who scores the goals in the end. If Torres is comfortable doing the false-9 role and can set up his teammates (be it Sturridge running in from the right or Lampard / Ramires making a forward run) then we’ll just fine. We most certainly have the players to take advantage of that sort of a forward-line configuration.
But much like the once fantastic looking idea of Anelka as trequartista behind a front two, this may just be a flash-in-the-pan performance from FT9.
Agree here
I don’t care so much what his original role is / ain’t not as long as our players help each other scoring / winning. It is in the very opposite to blame Lampard for not creating but only scoring. Now whether it’s Lampard creating and Torres scoring or Torres creating and Lampard scoring it’s all fine for me. I wouldn’t even mind so much if Luiz did fine at DM (I doubt he would, just hypothetically, as a momentary thought), as long as they fulfill that role and feel comfortable with it
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
It wasn't a total loss for Arsene. I think he learned a few strings. P.S. Look at Woy! xD
by Valens on Jan 3, 2012 1:10 AM GMT reply actions 3 recs
That took that to a whole new awesome level.
I like the guy headbanging in the background.
Ahhh
thought it looked like him.. first I figured it was staff or someone just making the movement… now I realize it was from Roy’s great response the other day.
Wenger obviously has secret musical talents we didn't know about
First he plays tambourine at OT, and now he plays guitar at the Cottage. I see a future music star emerging!
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
When we get a statue of him outside our ground
it will be for sure better than Fulham’s MJ statue!
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 1:57 PM GMT up reply actions
lol
We already have way cooler statues.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 3:31 PM GMT up reply actions
How come
Wenger only displays his incredible musical talents when on away games?
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
We have cooler statues
Such as those of Tony Adams Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman. :c) Not cooler than Wenger but cooler than MJ.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 4:59 PM GMT up reply actions
Playing tambourine at OT certainly outshines everything OT has to offer
regardless of living or statue! True! I guess that’s the same with the Cottage too … :D
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
hmmm
Why would they use his image, if that is even him?
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 6:20 PM GMT up reply actions
It's one of those pictures that looks like him when you've been told it looks like him
But everyone I’ve shown the picture without any of the captions has failed to identify it as Terry, even when told it’s supposed to be a footballer.
On second look
zoomed in as far as I could. It could really be anyone.
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 3, 2012 6:26 PM GMT up reply actions
The picture shown in the article
isn’t really clear to reach a verdict but I totally believe in reality they are really as blurry (and therefore, not identifiable) as you describe
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
No idea...
they don’t seem to know either. But I suppose they’ll require seeing what the original image was to ensure it wasn’t an image of him. It could well be a specific photo that Terry’s representatives are familiar with. And image rights are actually a big part of an entertainer’s controllable income. It’s written into most of their contracts as far as how much control they get over it. So if they are familiar with the image from their catalogue, that could be why they seem convinced it is him enough to possibly pursue legal action.
Would be a really weird choice on the creatives’ side if it is him… why John Terry, especially given his current PR troubles?
The reason being
The government in my country in terribly unaware of football or footballers.
They must have seen his advert somewhere and without even knowing hes a footballer they would have simply ctrl-c & ctrl-v the pic.
by RamStamford on Jan 4, 2012 2:34 AM GMT via mobile up reply actions
But doesn't your country have some form of copyright law or procedures?
At the least, they’d have to purchase rights to the image… unless they just thought they wouldn’t get caught because it was just “some dude” ;)
The latter imo
I told you they had no idea who JT is
by RamStamford on Jan 4, 2012 5:58 AM GMT via mobile up reply actions
The latter imo
I told you they had no idea who JT is
by RamStamford on Jan 4, 2012 5:58 AM GMT via mobile up reply actions
It's not necessarily an issue of copyright
I highly doubt JT’s complaint was solely about copyright issues. It would be personality
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Right...
but what I was suggesting was that at a bare minimum, since their government doesn’t seem to know the personality that is Terry, is that they would have to pay the copyrights on that.
Terry could argue for other things, but if they have no idea who he is, that isn’t just a stock image you can pick up. They would have had to pay for its rights anywhere else, which would have made it cost significantly more than a stock image.
What does this have to do with the government?
Isn’t the culprit a private company producing cigarettes?
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
Our corrupt health mins approved it.
I would like to apologize for all the shit caused,but thats how my country is.
Terrible administrators.
Extremely corrupt.
:(
Such rich heritage and culture could be found no where else but those with the power in their hands misuse it 24×7 for personal wellbeing.
Sorry for trolling guys.
by RamStamford on Jan 4, 2012 3:45 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
As I said, maybe he was the hidden agent
of the SUN, and he had to make it up after AVB’s comments
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
AVB whispers
“This will shut them up”
by Sabrina Dessipe on Jan 4, 2012 3:19 PM GMT up reply actions
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