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Chelsea FC thread (Champions!)

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zebula77 said:
Sadly, the game is not on Norwegian tv (only the United game - sigh), but I think we'll win, though scrappily. Say...2-1 to us. Something like that, I think.
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Hey Zeb, if you've got Broadband, ie not paying by the minute dial up, or what have you, check out soccernet.com's LIVE gamecast, it's very good. It looks a bit like the CM4 match screen. Here's an example.

gamecast.jpg
 
Yeah, looks cool. But I don't even have a pc at home, let alone broadband. I'll just have to do with the the 'gongs' during the Manu match (ie results from the other games played simultaneously).
 
Check this comment:

Ranieri almost signed Henry
Claudio Ranieri revealed he almost signed Thierry Henry when he was the manager of Fiorentina - before the striker moved to Juventus. "I suggested Henry to Fiorentina President Vittorio Cecchi Gori," said Chelsea’s Italian boss. "I told him to imagine Cassius Clay playing football and he understood what I meant."

He's a card isn't he?
:mrgreen:
 
Right, first of all, and most importantly, we got the 3 points. Let's not forget that is a good result considering it was an away tie. Secondly, however, the performance just wasn't good enough. It didn't give me any confidence. It was indeed disjointed, with many of the players just not reading eachother well enough. Nonetheless there were some signs of hope. Johnson linked up with Crespo after a great run/dribble. I do reckon he's going to become a bit of an Ashley Cole, except a lot better, seriously. I can see what Ranieri is trying to do with regards to fielding a CL 11 and a Prem 11. OK, it was an experienced side, but if this was WE ML, their team stats would be in the 30s. I think we need a backbone of regulars. Ranieri wanted to buy all those players in the summer, he knew the problems it would cause, now he has to deal with it.
But it's not all doom and gloom. It wasn't neccessarily our night yesterday, there will be good days, when it clicks. On another note, i think Duff has made the left flank his own. If he's fit, he should play, especially when we need to attack. Fair enough if we need to defend, sub him, but don't change things round just for the sake of it. Well done to William Gallas though :) Who's next? Besiktas away in October, right?
 
Professor Nutmeg said:
It was indeed disjointed, with many of the players just not reading each other well enough. Nonetheless there were some signs of hope.

Who's next? Besiktas away in October, right?
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That's how we've played all season, prof. His team selection was an odd one, but probably because he wanted to avoid the early goal that's done for us in numerous away legs in the last 3 years.

Once he balanced it up at half time, we never looked in any trouble. It took awhile to get the goal, but I was sure it would come. They could only hang on for so long.

Still some disappointments, but some very valuable lessons learnt along the way. Add to that a clean sheet and the 3 points and last night was just the start we needed.

Would have liked Hernan to notch though.
 
Played some lovely through balls, must have made about 4/5 good chances for Crespo, surprised he never scored as well.
 
Vannizzlefashizzal said:
How did Seba play last night??
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Probably the sort of performance you've seen a hundred times before: Infuriating one minute, fecking brilliant the next!

I think Ranieri's worked out his best position from what we saw of the second half. I think we'll play a lot of 4-5-1 in the CL.
 
Vannizzlefashizzal said:
ClassicD said:
Played some lovely through balls, must have made about 4/5 good chances for Crespo, surprised he never scored as well.
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Why Fergie, Why????? :l
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Indeed. Selling Beckham and Veron were two big mistakes, if you ask me.
 
T Butcher fan said:
Vannizzlefashizzal said:
How did Seba play last night??
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Probably the sort of performance you've seen a hundred times before: Infuriating one minute, fecking brilliant the next!

I think Ranieri's worked out his best position from what we saw of the second half. I think we'll play a lot of 4-5-1 in the CL.
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Yeah I know that feeling T, he truly is great footballer I dont care what anyone says/thinks.

4-5-1 is the only way to play in Europe be it home or away, Fergie was critiscised for playing this formation cos tradtionally we are a "two wingers, two forwards" team but not many sucessful teams play with two out and out strikers.

With Makalele protecting him Veron will excel in europe.
 
Our ideal team for trips to Lazio etc should probably be:

____________Coods____________

Glen___JT or Desi & Gallas___Baba

Geremi____Maka____Lamps__Duff

_____________Veron____________

__________Crespo or Mutu_______

I think we can get away with playing 4-4-2 at home for the group matches, but for the bigger games, you just have to build from a solid base.
 
Thats the thing though T even at home you have to be careful, with the line-up you've got most teams are gonna play with just 1 man upfront so its always possible your midfield will be battled out of the game, but thats whats so good about Mutu, he reminds me of Raul in the way he drops back really well and links things up with the odd touch and pass here and there.

Plus it can be hard changing systems from game to game, again Fergie had us playing that way pretty much ALL the time so the team could play as a unit in that formation being that the old 4-4-2 is the most natural way to play for most teams anyway.

Dont get me wrong im no expert but ive seen quite alot of top class european football over the years and its just opinion, not gospel.
 
I bow to your greater experience Vann, the majority of european football I've really seen is teams like Viktoria Zizkov and Maccabi Haifa!

It would be a good idea if we do start playing 4-5-1, simply because we have so many midfielders! If you've got it, flaunt it! The last 25 minutes of the Spurs game, we played a sort of 3-5-2 which worked well going forward, but was a bit of a mess at the back. 4-4-2 means we are limited in midfield, comitting one to cover the back four, one to go forward and two wing men. 4-5-1 last night was the best balanced we've looked all season.......which isn't saying much!

I just wish we'd find a system and stick with it for a while.
 
Yeah 3-5-2 is pants unless you've got really disciplined DMF or CB's that are used to playing in a 3 cos your CB's can get dragged about leaving gaps big enough to squeeze Ronaldo's arse thru.

Rain-man's always been a tinker man so he must be heaven right now with all these names to bring in.

At the start of the season T we we're talking about this new loan system and the apparent flaws in Prem clubs loaning to Prem clubs, you seemed to think that ut was pre-agreed that players dont face their clubs,

I was reading somewhere this week that loaned players cannot be involved in end of season battles be-it either end of the table but its okay at the start of the season (which can also be just as important). So with Smertini (sp) playing against the arses last week (albeit he came on as sub) and the gooners only managing a draw it really seems open to interpretation....

Mills played for Boro against his old club and had a feckin awful game.

I dont think that it will last longer than this season tbh.
 
Yep, it's going to get complicated this season alright! If Forsell keeps banging in the goals (against you, the goons and Liverpool in particular) then we could have an issue come the run in.

This system seems to work in Italy, I hope they keep it (but changes will have to be made) because it will benefit the youngsters. Maybe you should only be able to loan out English players, but again, the lawyers won't let you do this.

It's a shame no one at the FA or Premier League thought this through before they instigated it! :roll:
 
Watched the match last night and the 1st half had to be one of the worst 45 mins Chelsea have played in recent memory. Performances though Desailly was definately MOM tidied everything up at the back, Veron was pathetic about 2 or 3 of his through balls came off all night he can't seem to do a simple pass anymore it has to be these mad flicks that end up going nowhere. Crespo was crap to say the least desire looked to be nil and 2 great chances he missed. The worst player though had to be Wayne Bridge either passed it back or give passes away and lost the ball on too many occasions.

Our perfromance definately was poor even if we did improve in the 2nd half, short passes at times seem a task to our players and you have to wonder about Ranieir's team selction at times, Petit on the left, Geremi on the right none are natural wingers. Duff has played well all season and Ranieri leaves him off and he just throws Bridge in even though Babayaro had a very good game against Spurs on Saturday.

Mutu is looking pretty good but did nothing against Sparta although he runs his socks off.

The one thing Ranieri needs to do is pick a first team and stick to it and you have to have Lampard and Duff in the midfield no matter what I just hope we can improve on Saturday against Wolves.
 
Revolver said:
Watched the match last night and the 1st half had to be one of the worst 45 mins Chelsea have played in recent memory. Performances though Desailly was definately MOM tidied everything up at the back, Veron was pathetic about 2 or 3 of his through balls came off all night he can't seem to do a simple pass anymore it has to be these mad flicks that end up going nowhere. Crespo was crap to say the least desire looked to be nil and 2 great chances he missed. The worst player though had to be Wayne Bridge either passed it back or give passes away and lost the ball on too many occasions.

Our perfromance definately was poor even if we did improve in the 2nd half, short passes at times seem a task to our players and you have to wonder about Ranieir's team selction at times, Petit on the left, Geremi on the right none are natural wingers. Duff has played well all season and Ranieri leaves him off and he just throws Bridge in even though Babayaro had a very good game against Spurs on Saturday.

Mutu is looking pretty good but did nothing against Sparta although he runs his socks off.

The one thing Ranieri needs to do is pick a first team and stick to it and you have to have Lampard and Duff in the midfield no matter what I just hope we can improve on Saturday against Wolves.
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We weren't great, but it's early days. Veron gave the ball away a lot in the first half but then, he wasn't exactly spoilt for options and always had two men up his arse. He didn't waste it in the second, everything good was created by him. Crespo didn't look sharp, but it was his first ever game for Chelsea - give him time and those chances will be going in.

Bridge is poo, but even he will be a better player by the end of the season. I agree with a lot of what you say, but I think you're being a bit harsh. Prague are no mugs, they are in the CL year after year and I think although this wasn't a brilliant performance, I saw enough last night to be hopeful of what's to come.
 
Joe Cole done well on Saturday when he came on, he created a goal and played a part in the other, he still hasn't got his full debut although I agree that maybe Veron should have played ahead of him to begin with but Ranieri rarely basis his team selection on performances I mean look at Jimmy last season diabolical yet he still got on in front of Eidur most matches. Veron had a great game a Liverpool, bad game at Liecester, decent at Blackburn and poor against Sparta, this is mostly because he never wants to play the ball simple and opts for a long ball over the top or a looping flick, maybe when he gets used to the team a bit more he will become better but still he needs to be more simple and effective at times instead of fancy thats exactly what Lampard does and he is becoming world class.

Duff said he was gutted to come off against Spurs on Saturday cause he seems to be subbed every game and he is right to be annoyed as he is a constant threat down the left and regarding his comment thats probably why Ranieri left him out as the manager said he will not tollerate players complaining about his rotation system. In my view and I'm sure most other people's view he needs to stop tinkering so we can develope a team that know each other inside out, cause we will not challange for the title if our midfielf is different every week.

My first 11 would be:

-----------------------------------Cudicini------------------------------------

----Gallas---------------Terry----------------Desailly-----------Babayaro

---Gronkjaer------------Lampard-----------Makelele----------Duff

-------------------------Mutu----------Crespo--------------------

Saying that I would play Mutu with whichever other striker is on best form same with Gronkjaer and Makelele if they don't play well throw in Joe Cole or Veron and gave them a decent run in the 1st team.
 
Revolver, that's a nice team on paper, but it won't work when the likes of Leicester and Wolves come to town. When teams put 10 men behind the ball, you need someone like Veron or Cole to unlock the door. Admittedly they aren't always going to pull their weight, but you have to balance that with those little moments of genius that players like Lampard and Gronkjaer aren't capable of.

Personally, I've seen improvement in every game this season and haven't been disappointed by anyone other than Bridge.
 
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been linked with AS Roma trainer Fabio Capello.
Capello's Roma team have started the season in exciting form and his work over the off-season has impressed Abramovich's advisors.

Italian press reports state Capello is second in line behind England boss Sven Goran Eriksson should Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri be shown the door before the end of the season.
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if thats the case,i really hope chelsea get eriksson and capello comes to liverpool instead....
 
Misfit said:
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been linked with AS Roma trainer Fabio Capello.
Capello's Roma team have started the season in exciting form and his work over the off-season has impressed Abramovich's advisors.

Italian press reports state Capello is second in line behind England boss Sven Goran Eriksson should Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri be shown the door before the end of the season.
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if thats the case,i really hope chelsea get eriksson and capello comes to liverpool instead....
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I hope we get Capello and you get stuck with SGE - you wouldn't be able to spot the difference on the pitch!
 
T Butcher fan said:
I hope we get Capello and you get stuck with SGE - you wouldn't be able to spot the difference on the pitch!
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lol so true!!

I reckon Capello will want to see out the season with Roma as they are looking good this season.
 
Talking about small teams we are at Wolves on Saturday live on Sky Sports that will definately be a test as they will go at us cause they are pretty much in the stage of desperation for points so we have to be carefull. I don't like to say it but I have a funny feeling we will get beat on Saturday I just hope I am wrong, Crespo better pick himself up and be ready for the challanges he is not use to.
 
What a performance against Wolves our best by far this season. Lovely first touch passing to one another and every one of the boys performed excellent apart from Gudjohnsen. Gallas and Terry were fantastic at the back with Terry winning just about every header that came his way and Duff was on fire down the left. Nothing wrong with our disallowed goal as Ince was holding Eidur and the ball came right at him from about 3 yards so how the ref give handball I don't know. What a match for Frank Lampard craking goal and lovely passes in midfield. Gald to see Crespo get 2 and he worked hard in this match chasing balls and two well taken goals, and looks like Jimmy is starting to put last season behind him.

Well done lads :D
 
Revolver said:
What a performance against Wolves our best by far this season. Lovely first touch passing to one another and every one of the boys performed excellent apart from Gudjohnsen. Gallas and Terry were fantastic at the back with Terry winning just about every header that came his way and Duff was on fire down the left. Nothing wrong with our disallowed goal as Ince was holding Eidur and the ball came right at him from about 3 yards so how the ref give handball I don't know. What a match for Frank Lampard craking goal and lovely passes in midfield. Gald to see Crespo get 2 and he worked hard in this match chasing balls and two well taken goals, and looks like Jimmy is starting to put last season behind him.

Well done lads :D
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bear in mind ya dont play wolves every week....
 
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