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Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Michael Essien dropped!
Michael Essien was dropped by Guus Hiddink for this game after turning up for training 13 stone overweight yesterday. On closer inspection, it was found that he still had Steven Gerrard in his pocket from Wednesday evening.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Clever corner routine
Pity the linesman spoilt it all. I do think it shouldn't have stood, because if Ashley Cole had jumped in after Rooney had rolled the ball in and out of the quadrant, they would have cried foul and asked for it to be retaken. You can't have your cake and eat it.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tony Adams on Lassana Diarra's move to Real Madrid
"It's a message to people who can't get into the Chelsea team, the Arsenal team, the Man United team. Come to Portsmouth, be on a big stage and you might get the chance to go on and play for Real Madrid." - Tony Adams
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I can't believe Tony Adams said that! So much for continuity. He's practically begging players to use Pompey as a short-term stepping stone, and he'll probably get his wish. Watch Defoe & Co secure big-money moves in years to come while Pompey remain content being the biggest club on the South Coast.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Crossbar challenge
Take a bow Messrs. Almunia, no one from Chelsea two years running, and those that could (and couldn't) do it!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Treble - Premier League, Champions' League, American Idol
An absolute nailbiter, but well worth staying up from 2.30 - 6.00am. We win 6-5 on penalties after Chelsea hit the woodwork thrice. Ryan Giggs breaks Bobby Charlton's record with his 759th appearance, Paul Scholes ends his 9-year Nou Camp hoodoo and Ronaldo scores against Chelsea for the first time in 14 attempts.
And to top it off, it's a victory for good 'ol rock after David Cook pipped David Archuleta to be American Idol, despite extreme biasness from Simon Cowell that required him to publicly backtrack and apologise this evening. At the end of the day, America had to ask itself: Whose album would I buy? Who'd I prefer to see live? The answer of course is David Cook, pre-pubescent girls notwithstanding.
And to top it off, it's a victory for good 'ol rock after David Cook pipped David Archuleta to be American Idol, despite extreme biasness from Simon Cowell that required him to publicly backtrack and apologise this evening. At the end of the day, America had to ask itself: Whose album would I buy? Who'd I prefer to see live? The answer of course is David Cook, pre-pubescent girls notwithstanding.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Football funnies
NEWSFLASH!
Didier Drogba was banned from attending Frank Lampard's mum's funeral - they were afraid he'd dive in the box.
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NEWSFLASH!
Chelsea's Stamford Bridge groundsmen have won the award for the best playing surface in the Premiership. It was an expected victory though, with the crap they put out on the field every weekend.
Didier Drogba was banned from attending Frank Lampard's mum's funeral - they were afraid he'd dive in the box.
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NEWSFLASH!
Chelsea's Stamford Bridge groundsmen have won the award for the best playing surface in the Premiership. It was an expected victory though, with the crap they put out on the field every weekend.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Chelsea 2-1 United
Another twist in the tail as Chelsea completed a just about deserved win at Stamford Bridge. Ronaldo and Fletcher had two efforts cleared off the line as they chased the game, but United ultimately paid the price for the slow start. More worryingly, Vidic was stretchered off with what looked like concussion with Barcelona beckoning.
Nani was his infuriatingly indecisive self. Where Ronaldo might have punished Chelsea for their clack defending, the 38-goal maestro was rested on the bench.
What this all means is that United must win their remaining two games to confirm the title. Failing which, Chelsea will be ready to pounce.
Nani was his infuriatingly indecisive self. Where Ronaldo might have punished Chelsea for their clack defending, the 38-goal maestro was rested on the bench.
What this all means is that United must win their remaining two games to confirm the title. Failing which, Chelsea will be ready to pounce.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Have-Your Mascara-No
Javier Mascherano and Liverpool are livid at what they see as being made a scapegoat for Ashley Cole's referee-baiting over last weekend. In truth though, the Argentine hardman got everything he deserved, and maybe more is in store for him.
Since he got referee Steve Bennett's first booking, he was constantly taunting Bennett for the rest of his short time on the pitch, whether it was a United or Liverpool foul. His limited command of the English language was apparently limited to vulgarities and he got his unpleasant mug in Bennett's face every chance he got.
You could tell Bennett was exercising great patience, and his dissent over Fernando Torres' booking, however civilised, was the last straw.
Really, after being booked and knowing the emphasis on respecting referees, he should know better. He didn't and really has only himself to blame. How Xabi Alonso must wish he had put more effort into restraining him from stalking Bennett.
Since he got referee Steve Bennett's first booking, he was constantly taunting Bennett for the rest of his short time on the pitch, whether it was a United or Liverpool foul. His limited command of the English language was apparently limited to vulgarities and he got his unpleasant mug in Bennett's face every chance he got.
You could tell Bennett was exercising great patience, and his dissent over Fernando Torres' booking, however civilised, was the last straw.
Really, after being booked and knowing the emphasis on respecting referees, he should know better. He didn't and really has only himself to blame. How Xabi Alonso must wish he had put more effort into restraining him from stalking Bennett.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Inconsistency giving the FA a bad name by Jon Carter, ESPNSoccernet
If the past few weeks are anything to go by, the definition of 'violent conduct' in the English dictionary needs updating.
With a host of unpunished tackles flying in that would be deemed dangerous on a rugby pitch and red-cards being given out for the slightest indiscretion, the Football Association's four-man Regulatory Commission seem intent on creating more problems than they solve.
Frank Lampard gets his marching orders, but he won't face a ban...
... while Jeremie Aliadiere gets a red card against Liverpool for raising his hands.
Accused of running one rule for 'rich' and another for the 'poor', the panel have hardly helped their case with the decision to rescind Frank Lampard's straight red card for a push on West Ham's Luis Boa Morte, yet choosing to give Middlesbrough's Jeremie Aliadiere an extra game's ban for a light slap on Javier Mascherano a week earlier.
While the Chelsea midfielder did not strike his opponent in the face (as previously thought by the referee's assistant), his attempts to kick out at Boa Morte, who should have been similarly dealt with for his part in the proceedings, smacked of something we have seen all season - petulance - and the FA need to address the consistency in which they deal with such actions.
Lampard's behaviour, while not in the spirit of the game, was certainly not 'violent', or worthy of a three-match suspension; but then neither was Aliadiere's and both were clearly seen by the referee, who could only go by the letter of the law.
Middlesbrough accused the FA of a 'travesty of justice' after they were told that their appeal had been 'frivolous' and were forced to accept a additional one game ban for their player for supposedly wasting the FA's time. With this affront still fresh in their minds, it is understandable to see why they are angry when the situation seems so different for teams like Chelsea and Liverpool.
The fact that Mascherano was let off without even a yellow card while Aliadiere is forced to sit on the sidelines for four games may have incensed the Boro board; but news of Lampard's reprieve will only increase their sense of injustice.
The FA's decision to treat a similar incident differently is not just worrying for the state of the game, but an insult to the entire procedure and this kind of inconsistency has happened across the leagues all season.
On the same day as Newcastle's Joey Barton was let off for cuffing Villa striker Shaun Maloney round the head due to 'inconclusive' video evidence, Hartlepool defender Sam Collins' dismissal at Southend United in February was rejected as 'frivolous' and the player incurred an extra game suspension, despite being harshly adjudged to have used an elbow.
To punish a club for trying to aid their player appears odd and now the appeals process for any red-card has to be given serious consideration by clubs who run the risk of angering the FA and increasing the length of the ban.
To add to the level of inconsistency perpetuated by the FA's panel there have been terrible tackles, missed by the officials, which have gone unpunished all season and should have merited retrospective action.
While Lampard's 'violent conduct' against West Ham at the weekend got all the attention, Claude Makelele somehow managed to get away with a over-the-ball stamp on Julian Faubert, who was lucky to avoid serious injury. Makelele was not even booked and there have been numerous incidents which have not been deemed worthy of investigating.
Under FIFA guidelines, retrospective disciplinary action can only been taken if an incident was not seen by the referee or if there has been a clear error in judgement. Quite what constitutes a 'clear error' remains up for debate, but surely if the referee had seen it properly then he would have acted.
Understandably the FA do not want to be seen to contradict the men in charge, but these kinds of incidents will keep occurring if nothing is done. Referees are human after all and the whole point of the video panel is to provide back-up for an official when he makes a mistake.
The trouble is that the FA are so blinded by maintaining their good name that they are willing to gloss over incidents that make them (or their officials) look bad.
With a host of incidents occurring already this season which the FA have failed to take any action over, including tackles by Michael Essien, Craig Gardner, Dirk Kuyt, El Hadji Diouf and Emmanuel Eboue; the most recent example comes in the form of Reading's Stephen Hunt (himself no stranger to controversy).
A meeting of Lee Carsley's studs with Hunt's shin at the start of February provoked an angry reaction from the Reading man, and yet the powers that be deemed the tackle unworthy of a second look, despite that fact that it was totally missed by referee Mark Halsey.
Quite simply, the FA panel should be capable of resolving these incidents retrospectively with the application of common sense. In addition, they should also be able to reduce a three-match ban to just one-match for players who are found guilty of petulance or improper conduct, as in the case of Lampard and Aliadiere.
A rule, retrospective or otherwise, that would deal with the occurrence of a red-card which does not constitute 'violent conduct' is sorely needed. Other examples have sprung up recently, with Willam Gallas' petulant kick on Nani in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United a classic case, yet situations like this are continually ignored by the FA because they don't want to undermine their officials.
Ultimately, if the FA's review panel are ever going to gain credibility in a footballing world which is getting increasingly harder to police, the decisions they make have to be consistent. Too often there are precedents which are not followed and the smaller teams are left feeling that they are treated differently to the cash cows.
The theory is that with the application of some common sense then it shouldn't represent too much of an undertaking to improve their decisions. However if the FA continue to put their own image before the good of the game, then don't hold your breath.
Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=513410&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=4716
With a host of unpunished tackles flying in that would be deemed dangerous on a rugby pitch and red-cards being given out for the slightest indiscretion, the Football Association's four-man Regulatory Commission seem intent on creating more problems than they solve.
Frank Lampard gets his marching orders, but he won't face a ban...
... while Jeremie Aliadiere gets a red card against Liverpool for raising his hands.
Accused of running one rule for 'rich' and another for the 'poor', the panel have hardly helped their case with the decision to rescind Frank Lampard's straight red card for a push on West Ham's Luis Boa Morte, yet choosing to give Middlesbrough's Jeremie Aliadiere an extra game's ban for a light slap on Javier Mascherano a week earlier.
While the Chelsea midfielder did not strike his opponent in the face (as previously thought by the referee's assistant), his attempts to kick out at Boa Morte, who should have been similarly dealt with for his part in the proceedings, smacked of something we have seen all season - petulance - and the FA need to address the consistency in which they deal with such actions.
Lampard's behaviour, while not in the spirit of the game, was certainly not 'violent', or worthy of a three-match suspension; but then neither was Aliadiere's and both were clearly seen by the referee, who could only go by the letter of the law.
Middlesbrough accused the FA of a 'travesty of justice' after they were told that their appeal had been 'frivolous' and were forced to accept a additional one game ban for their player for supposedly wasting the FA's time. With this affront still fresh in their minds, it is understandable to see why they are angry when the situation seems so different for teams like Chelsea and Liverpool.
The fact that Mascherano was let off without even a yellow card while Aliadiere is forced to sit on the sidelines for four games may have incensed the Boro board; but news of Lampard's reprieve will only increase their sense of injustice.
The FA's decision to treat a similar incident differently is not just worrying for the state of the game, but an insult to the entire procedure and this kind of inconsistency has happened across the leagues all season.
On the same day as Newcastle's Joey Barton was let off for cuffing Villa striker Shaun Maloney round the head due to 'inconclusive' video evidence, Hartlepool defender Sam Collins' dismissal at Southend United in February was rejected as 'frivolous' and the player incurred an extra game suspension, despite being harshly adjudged to have used an elbow.
To punish a club for trying to aid their player appears odd and now the appeals process for any red-card has to be given serious consideration by clubs who run the risk of angering the FA and increasing the length of the ban.
To add to the level of inconsistency perpetuated by the FA's panel there have been terrible tackles, missed by the officials, which have gone unpunished all season and should have merited retrospective action.
While Lampard's 'violent conduct' against West Ham at the weekend got all the attention, Claude Makelele somehow managed to get away with a over-the-ball stamp on Julian Faubert, who was lucky to avoid serious injury. Makelele was not even booked and there have been numerous incidents which have not been deemed worthy of investigating.
Under FIFA guidelines, retrospective disciplinary action can only been taken if an incident was not seen by the referee or if there has been a clear error in judgement. Quite what constitutes a 'clear error' remains up for debate, but surely if the referee had seen it properly then he would have acted.
Understandably the FA do not want to be seen to contradict the men in charge, but these kinds of incidents will keep occurring if nothing is done. Referees are human after all and the whole point of the video panel is to provide back-up for an official when he makes a mistake.
The trouble is that the FA are so blinded by maintaining their good name that they are willing to gloss over incidents that make them (or their officials) look bad.
With a host of incidents occurring already this season which the FA have failed to take any action over, including tackles by Michael Essien, Craig Gardner, Dirk Kuyt, El Hadji Diouf and Emmanuel Eboue; the most recent example comes in the form of Reading's Stephen Hunt (himself no stranger to controversy).
A meeting of Lee Carsley's studs with Hunt's shin at the start of February provoked an angry reaction from the Reading man, and yet the powers that be deemed the tackle unworthy of a second look, despite that fact that it was totally missed by referee Mark Halsey.
Quite simply, the FA panel should be capable of resolving these incidents retrospectively with the application of common sense. In addition, they should also be able to reduce a three-match ban to just one-match for players who are found guilty of petulance or improper conduct, as in the case of Lampard and Aliadiere.
A rule, retrospective or otherwise, that would deal with the occurrence of a red-card which does not constitute 'violent conduct' is sorely needed. Other examples have sprung up recently, with Willam Gallas' petulant kick on Nani in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United a classic case, yet situations like this are continually ignored by the FA because they don't want to undermine their officials.
Ultimately, if the FA's review panel are ever going to gain credibility in a footballing world which is getting increasingly harder to police, the decisions they make have to be consistent. Too often there are precedents which are not followed and the smaller teams are left feeling that they are treated differently to the cash cows.
The theory is that with the application of some common sense then it shouldn't represent too much of an undertaking to improve their decisions. However if the FA continue to put their own image before the good of the game, then don't hold your breath.
Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=513410&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2&cc=4716
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Chelsea 0-0 United
Winners all around here.
Sir Alex got to rest his players for the home game against the Hammers.
Mourinho got to preserve his unbeaten home record.
Sir Alex did a little snub with his First XI selection; only six of the players John Terry and co. applauded onto the pitch are eligible for a Premiership medal.
United fans got to see the future of United - not much there I must say.
Chelsea fans get to claim superiority in a meaningless game.
As Joey Tribbiani (Matt le Blanc) of FRIENDS said, "What's not to like?"
ESPNSoccernet's Match Report
Here's the guard of honour formed by Chelsea. Trust me, no point showing the match highlights.
Sir Alex got to rest his players for the home game against the Hammers.
Mourinho got to preserve his unbeaten home record.
Sir Alex did a little snub with his First XI selection; only six of the players John Terry and co. applauded onto the pitch are eligible for a Premiership medal.
United fans got to see the future of United - not much there I must say.
Chelsea fans get to claim superiority in a meaningless game.
As Joey Tribbiani (Matt le Blanc) of FRIENDS said, "What's not to like?"
ESPNSoccernet's Match Report
Here's the guard of honour formed by Chelsea. Trust me, no point showing the match highlights.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea must know their game is up. The icing on the cake would be to see a mass brawl in this game or extremely destructive tackling from the erstwhile sissy Gunners. That would mean suspensions and injuries galore in time for the FA Cup Final. Anyhow, anything other than a win for Jose's Blues will mean party time for United, and Stamford Bridge being turned into the host for a coronation ceremony. Now that would be the cherry on top.
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And we've done it without kicking a ball. Arsenal did us a favour by holding 10-man Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. We are the champions!
ESPNSoccernet's Match Report
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And we've done it without kicking a ball. Arsenal did us a favour by holding 10-man Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. We are the champions!
ESPNSoccernet's Match Report
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Milan 3-0 United (5-3 on aggregate)
As a concerned United fan, I cannot help thank God for a resounding 3-0 whopping rather than a narrow loss. I'm sure Kaka said his prayers the night before which could explain how he took his goal so well, but United were completely and utterly outclassed, outplayed, outthought and outfought.
The ineptitude was a sight to behold. The pressing game Milan employed has been weathered by United so often before and used to their advantage when their opponent tired. This time though, United just stood off their opponents even when 2-0 down, and only really got belatedly started after an hour. Even then, Dida didn't have a save to make. I dare say Roma played better when they were beaten 7-1.
I hope Ferguson sees that he must strengthen this summer. He will win the Premier League title because he is too far ahead for Chelsea to reel in. One suspects he wouldn't be as confident if the season ended in June.
Reinforcements, beginning with Owen Hargreaves, are needed urgently, especially ones that are good enough to displace those simply not good enough. Silvestre, O'Shea, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Saha, van der Sar, Brown and Fletcher all need to go because they're either too old or too inferior.
It was said Fergie was building his third great team. It seems he hasn't even started.
The ineptitude was a sight to behold. The pressing game Milan employed has been weathered by United so often before and used to their advantage when their opponent tired. This time though, United just stood off their opponents even when 2-0 down, and only really got belatedly started after an hour. Even then, Dida didn't have a save to make. I dare say Roma played better when they were beaten 7-1.
I hope Ferguson sees that he must strengthen this summer. He will win the Premier League title because he is too far ahead for Chelsea to reel in. One suspects he wouldn't be as confident if the season ended in June.
Reinforcements, beginning with Owen Hargreaves, are needed urgently, especially ones that are good enough to displace those simply not good enough. Silvestre, O'Shea, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Saha, van der Sar, Brown and Fletcher all need to go because they're either too old or too inferior.
It was said Fergie was building his third great team. It seems he hasn't even started.
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