Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City – Tweets, Reports, Goals

1. Oladiran Abimbola on 12 December, 2011 at 23:34

   YESSSS!! GET IN CHELSEA!!!  Romeu was f**kin immense tonight, keeping Silva quiet. Top lad.

2. Anonymous on 12 December, 2011 at 23:38

   Joyous. Love the description of Ramires as a machine. My man of the match – just wouldn’t let it lie, he wouldn’t, nope he wouldn’t let it lie……

3. Anonymous on 12 December, 2011 at 23:39

   I might get a small report done tomorrow Nick. It’ll be tomorrow evening at the earliest as I’ve only just got in. 

4. bluebayou on 13 December, 2011 at 00:16

   And here’s the Homepage of our national broadcaster

   Despite Chelsea’s fine victory over the runaway leaders, they’s rather faithfull detai the demise of a once great player in what is now a rather poor team who can’t compete with the best.

   Whaddya mean it must be Frank?????

5. Gleb on 13 December, 2011 at 01:05

   I’m surprised no one has mentioned the way that fucking thug Toure treated Mata. He fouled him, then kicked him when Mata was on the ground, then a moment after when Mata tried to get some explanation from Toure, he hit him in the face. What the hell was that? Fuck the referee, but where were the Chelsea lads looking? You can’t let anyone treat one of your own like that. Ever. I know the game was important and no one wanted to see red and all (and we’re all happy with the victory), but it happened in the beginning of the game and could have influenced Mata’s and the team’s morale somehow. It’s Stamford Bridge, for fuck’s sake, they should know who’s the boss. I personally hope AVB or, better yet, JT/Frank remembers the episode and makes sure such things never happen again. Mata is our best creative player and will probably suffer more abuse from talentless thugs elsewhere, so his teammates should do their best to protect him and let him know they have his back at all time. Spirit is the most important factor in any team. You can forget all your tactics and tiki taka bullshit, but you should never let your spirit die or be disrespected.

   In general, Man City were very dirty today, I’m surprised. We, on the other hand, I felt were a bit soft throughout. Even the Drogs kept on apologizing to everyone (which is great, but kinda shows…).

   Though Terry did well to elbow that other thug, Balotelli, during some free-kick.

   • NorthernVA on 13 December, 2011 at 02:07

     Agreed on Toure. Don’t forget when he raked Ramires from behind on a counter attack. City were lucky to finish the game with ten men on the pitch in my opinion.

     Danny’s assist for the goal was superb. He seems to be getting better and better week in week out with that right foot of his. If his form continues he will definitely be headed to Poland/Ukraine this summer.

     I’m proud as hell of our boys tonight. Outside of the first twenty minutes City were never appeared capable of breaking us down. 

     Seemed a great atmosphere at the ground. Credit to all of you in attendance tonight. One last thing, that Frank Lampard has got some balls don’t he. What did Lampard’s five fingers say to the face? SLAP!! Legend. Good. Night.

      

6. Machchan on 13 December, 2011 at 02:13

   What a fantastic exhibition of character!  Aside from the first few mins it was like being back to Mourinho days, keeping great shape, good tracking back, intensity, focus… all of it was back.  Could this be the turning point?

7. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 07:22

   So does this mean the transition is over?

   At least AVB now knows his best team and how to play them.  Clearly, on current form, the trilogy of Romeu, Ramires and Meireles is the strongest midfield. A new right back, a cover for centre back and a long term solution for centre forward are on my Christmas list.

   Can we start a national campaign to have that stupid expression wiped off Balotelli’s face?

8. Dylbo Baggins on 13 December, 2011 at 07:51

   There’s only one Frank Lampard (except for Frank Lampard Snr)!!! 

   • Moffat on 13 December, 2011 at 14:25

     Aren’t ashamed of yourself mate? What good is it for him to go around questioning our manager’s selection.?

     • Moffat on 13 December, 2011 at 14:28

       http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16155208.stm

       • Moffat on 13 December, 2011 at 14:33

         Agree..We should fine selfish cock.

         http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/armchair-pundit/article/16097/

         • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 14:47

           I have seen it during the game and it all looked strange to me in the first place and this article just proves what I thought.  

9. harry on 13 December, 2011 at 09:41

   Chelsea
   showed some determination and will to get back from a goal down. However, come
   in January the team needs new blood to be competitive in champion league
   elimination stages. Chelsea long term fans are glad that AVB has realized that
   his tactics should be based on strength of Chelsea current crop of players, and
   not the other way round.

10. Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 10:00

    So chuffed. Great win and great momentum being maintained now. The FA have to charge Toure on that TV evidence – it surely balances out their penalty claim.

     AVB seems to be learning – or the players have made it clear one way or another – that there is one way to play with this Chelsea team, and it’s what has made us one of the best teams in Europe for eight years. Shame we spent the first quarter of the season playing with one hand tied behind our backs and I hope that he doesn’t get clever and try to reintroduce his ‘philosophy’ after we put together a good run of results. I also seriously hope we don’t regret letting Alex and Anelka leave when the inevitable injury crisis strikes.Use this squad properly and you have the second best group of players in the league, but also the most experienced and determined. It’s a recipe for success. The front six he has settled on is superb (and bar Drogba, pretty young): the defence isn’t as good as it was, but is still among the best in the league. And we have excellent replacements in Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Essien etc. What do we still need? A right-back, long-term replacements for Terry (not Garry Bloody Cahill) and Cole and a world-class striker to replace Drogba (it ain’t Torres). But our flaws are far less than the Arsenal and Liverpool performances suggested, those games were points sacrificed on the altar of arrogance, and less than those of all our rivals except City (whose problem is their capable but no more than that manager).We’ve probably dropped too many points for the title, but we should be in the mix for all three major trophies if we stick to what we are best at (and recruit sensibly in January). 

11. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 10:07

    Watched the game from East Upper, close to away fans. It was quite interesting to see how vocal they from the beginning and how quiet they become after our first goal and onward. 
    KTBFFH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12. Cunningplan on 13 December, 2011 at 10:10

    Our toughest game will be on Saturday, confidence is high amongst the players, that is evident. Let’s just hope confidence doesn’t turn into complacency this weekend, and yes Pete, Toure should be charged!

13. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 10:21

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16155208.stm
    T^his is something I don’t like. Players start to apply pressure on AVB using press. Not good at all.  

    • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 11:14

      Agreed, but also much prefer when it managers show a bit of respect and explain to a player why they are not playing them. Again, it’s basic man management, not treating humans like your playthings.

      • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 11:49

        Indeed it is, but in general one regularly solves his problems with manager in one on one discussion and not using a newspaper.   

      • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 12:53

        Well Frank says he doesn’t understand why he’s not being picked.  The answer is simple.  Currently he’s not one of our 3 best midfielders.

        Surely individuals know that if they’re not picked it’s because the manager has chosen another 11.  Does the manager need to explain/justify himself with each and every team-sheet, followed by a counselling session?

        Actually this report conflicts with what Frank said post match on Sky where he said “… I understand the situation, I’m 33, but I still want to play every match. I’ve got 18 months left on my contract and whatever happens I’ll be here for that”.  Sounds mature and ok about it.

        • Der_Kaiser on 13 December, 2011 at 13:35

          Agree with that – didn’t really see anything beneath the headlines to suggest that Frank isn’t doing anything else other than getting on with it with fairly good grace.  Frustration is understandable, but to suggest anything more than that would certainly seem to misrepresent what he said.

          Fine line between reporting what was said and trying to turn it into a story – arguably not something for the BBC to get involved with.

          • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 13:43

            I think this goes back to someone’s comments previously (maybe Dr BB) about the difference between reporting the news and trying to create the news and the constant blurring by today’s less honourable hacks. Maybe it’s the interwebtwittersphere effect which clouds judgement and factual reporting. As the might fine Private Eye might say ‘pissed old hack baffled by new technology’ 

          • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 14:31

            have to say, he did sound more pissed off on the BBC than he did on Sky.

          • Der_Kaiser on 13 December, 2011 at 15:04

            Ah – all depends at what point the microphone was shoved under his nose, I suppose.

        • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 14:28

          I’m sure Frank is okay about it, but yes, I think when a senior member of a team is effectively demoted by their boss, said manager should have the good grace to discuss what they hope and expect from them in a grown-up manner. Vialli and Gullit also used to act like Bertie Big Bollocks and ended up hated and sacked because of it. 

          But I guess I’m just old-fashioned for expecting bosses to act with grace and manners rather than like David Brent-style cunts.

          This also might explain why I am currently self-employed.

14. Der_Kaiser on 13 December, 2011 at 10:46

    A cracking night down at the Bridge – had that great feeling of being the underdog and beating the team on top that we used to get some years back.  Thoroughly enjoyed Drogs’ masterclass in ball retention and drawing free kicks, corners, fouls etc. in the last 10-15 mins – get the feeling he’d probably still be there now had the ref not blown the whistle.

    Spurs away next week is tricky, but some very winnable games between now and the end of January – put a decent run together and who knows what might happen?

15. Der_Kaiser on 13 December, 2011 at 10:53

    Oh, and the boy Romeu is going to be a star.  Only hope he decides that SW6 is preferable to Barcelona…

16. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 11:07

    One more thing Yaya Toure is an obnoxious twat; first kicking Mata, when he was down and then slapped Mata around the head. I want to see FA doing something about it, they certainly know how to use video evidence when it comes against Chelsea! Let’s see if they use it this time. 

    • Der_Kaiser on 13 December, 2011 at 11:09

      Apparently Clattenburg has said he saw Toure’s kick / slap on Mata and stated he wouldn’t have sent him off for either.  Interesting way to interpret the rules – hope he enjoys his game in the Championship this weekend…

      • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 11:52

        Interesting interpretation of rules, very interesting. That is of course understatement…   

17. bluebayou on 13 December, 2011 at 12:49

    Don’t want to harp on or nuthin’ but near the top of this thread I posted a link from the BBC Sport website showing how Wilkinson’s retirement was the main news and our beating City was a side bar (I don’t know how to paste screen grabs on here or I’d have put it up there). I made a weak joke at Frank’s expense.

    Well 12 hours later Frank does make it to the main headline. But it’s not the match report or the result that the Beeb feels they need to call our attention to. It’s all some half baked toot about Frank’s not understanding why he’s been on the bench (he’s a bright lad he’ll work it out).

    This is our national broadcaster. Their editorial policy would seem to be driven by an unhealthy interest in shit stirring rather than reporting proper facticals like feetball games.

    Like everything else in this god forsaken island it’s all about setting the quality threshold and then seeing how far you can get below it.

    Waht happened to sports journalism? You expect it from the tabloids. But this? Where is Lord Reith?

    Send round the telegram boy, I have a message to dispatch.

    Dwelling in the past as I do I was moved to remember this, while watching last night.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-chelsea-end-their-losing-streak-1506236.html

    How times have changed. Anyone remember it? A crowd of 10000? I was there. God it was dire. I don’t remember if I thought we’d turned a corner breaking a 7 game losing streak.

    With thanks to http://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk/Results/1993.htm for the info and link.

    • Nick on 13 December, 2011 at 13:06

      The Daily Mailization of the media, especially online media (probably a lot to do with chasing ever more page views). It’s a shame the likes of the BBC and Guardian feel the need to echo despicable rags like the Mail and others, but that’s the way things are going I’m afraid. It’s depressing. I doubt the Leveson Inquiry will have much impact, either.

    • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 13:13

      Selective memory is a wonderful thing – I must have been at that 1993-94 0-0 game but remember nothing about it.

      In fact I’d forgotten entirely we had a record string of defeats that season which I associate with those dire years in the 1980s.

      For me 1993-94 has been reduced to doing the league double v Man U and then losing to them miserably in the FA Cup Final by the most outrageously unfair score ever. It rained that day too – though not as spectacularly as last night!

      Great website too, though I’ll be holding on to my copy of Ron Hockings book 😉

      • bluebayou on 13 December, 2011 at 15:02

        While kicking cans down memory’s ever darkening alley, the other game that came constatntly to mind was the one just over 10 years later when City beat us 1-0 up there (a penalty won by the boy Anelka was it?) in the first season of JM’s reign. It as the first and indeed only league defeat of the campaign.

        Through a looking glass darkly perhaps?

    • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 13:17

      I too despair at this from an institution I generally revere and would probably die protecting rather than allow ‘Call me Dave’ and his cronies to turn into Sky TV: The Next Generation. Talking to some in the club room it was clear that the constant undermining is not just print media oriented, but with the BBC barely giving us any credit, and ITV constantly talking decline when we’re televised it’s hardly looking coincidental. 

      My bigger concern however is Frank’s seemingly unwitting testimony by saying he hasn’t spoken to AVB and therefore doesn’t know why he isn’t playing. I’m with Mark, it’s because he isn’t amongst the best 3 midfielders we have presently, but come on Frank…….you’re an intelligent 33 year old man and you HAVEN’T spoken to AVB about it? Sorry, but this sounds like bollocks of the highest order. If true then it’s underhand at best. Sulk away, don’t ask to see the coach but go to the press and say this publicly? Seriously, I find it hard to believe he hasn’t spoken in any way, shape or form to AVB. Plus, if we’re honest since the Bolton game he hasn’t really shone and against Liverpool and Arsenal he was a passenger. Meireles however is making things happen for Mata, Studge and the rejuvenated Drogs. Much as I love Frank, I want a coach who picks on form, not history.  

      I’m going to give Frank the benefit of the doubt on this and put it down to word twisting by the media…..but what if this is true?   I have recorded the game and will endeavour to write a report that reflects fairly on what I saw in the flesh last night , but included in that is a story from INSIDE the club about recent events between senior players and AVB. I need to make sure I write it in such a way as to not get the origin into trouble, nor the person they spoke to, but if true then what Frank says is tripe, and even if the events are a semblance of the truth then it has major repercussions for the senior playing staff and is a portent of a major shift in power within the club. It also explains the sudden departures/imminent departures of Alex and Anelka. 

      • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 13:48

        BTW, it’s not scandalous stuff either and may well have already been published, I don’t read tabs so wouldn’t know. All I know is my source is very close personal friends with someone on the coaching staff. 

      • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 14:24

        I really want to read it, GroceJack, I mean your report with the inside club story. I sense there is something dodgy there. One can see the signs and they are ominous, small arguments before penalties and free kicks, between Lamps and Mata, then between Mata and Drogs. Weird statements by Frank to BBC, if of course he said it, sudden departure of Anelka and Alex. These signs are suggesting some serious activities behind the curtains. 

    • Nick on 13 December, 2011 at 13:41

      What a great website that is. Newspaper cuttings of match reports (Chelsea 1-0 Spurs) from the day I was born. http://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk/Match%20Reports/1971/19711127.jpg

18. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 12:52

    Certainly the most nerve-jangling and unlikely turnaround of a wretched start that we’ve managed at The Bridge in a long time.

    Have to admit I was thoroughly depressed around the half hour mark as I sat watching the rain sweeping down the pitch reflected in the East Stand floodlights thinking we’d been comprehensively outplayed by a better team so far and were showing little sign of improving.

    I f I heard AVB’s post-match interview later correctly, apparently we adopted “a medium block that the players were more comfortable with” whatever that means – could be that “compromise line” I think Cunningplan mooted on an earlier blog?

    Whatever it was, the game certainly swung our way, long before Clichy’s sending off, though I thought Kompany was very lucky not to go off first. Surely the point is that we were attacking through Ramires/Strurridge and Mata in a way Citeh were struggling to cope with without blatantly fouling and risking a sending off.

    Would we have got the winner against 11 men, or would Citeh have come back more strongly?

    I don’t know, nor do I care. The season certainly looks a lot brighter now than just a couple of weeks ago.

19. Cunningplan on 13 December, 2011 at 13:01

    And this as well from the BBC non story…..
    “In Chelsea’s 24 games this season, Frank Lampard has started 16 times. He has come on from the bench in five games and been an unused substitute three times.”

    I would say that, it’s probably more games than Fergie used Scholes/Giggs at the same age.

20. Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 14:47

    My concern about Lampard isn’t based on the fact I want him in the team, it’s to do with the fact I want him to be around Chelsea Football Club for a long time to come as I think he is great for this club and want him to work for us in some role for the rest of his life.  He is a perfect example of the sort of continuity we should encourage but never quite pull off and I worry that AVB lacks the maturity and people skills (and also perhaps the desire) to ensure this happens, and could end up driving him away.

    But hopefully I am wrong. 

    • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 14:53

      I worry that some of our senior players imagining themselves Prima Ballerina Assoluta and unfortunately  signs are showing that my worries have substance behind them. 

      • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 14:55

        our senior players have done a lot more for this club than either you or AVB, so I think they are entitled to be treated with respect by JCL fans and managers alike. 

        • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 15:01

          Peterw, 
          As a fan who pays for a ticket I am doing enough for this club, but as mark_25 has said above “manager chooses players based on their performance and not their history.” 
          Now from me, if ANY player chooses to disobey managers instructions and then go to press and say what Lamps said, this player should be demoted to reserves till he starts to understand who is who. Nobody is bigger than club!!! 

          • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 15:11

            Eh, ‘disobey’? 

            What on earth are you talking about? 

            What is ‘disobedient’ about scoring the winning goal and saving the managers arse?

          • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 15:13

            http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/armchair-pundit/article/16097/
            Read it, if this is true it calls ‘disobedient’ and it doesn’t matter has he scored or not.

          • Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 15:21

            Come on Blue_MikeL, if you can’t spot the biased witterings of a shit-stirring clown by now you can’t be much of a Chelsea fan.
            Either that, or it’s a spoof. I give you:

             ‘Anyone who has played Football Manager knows you just have to write a priority order of takers, and the guy who is highest on the list takes the penalty.’

            Give me a break.

          • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 15:35

            Look as I said, if it is true. I shall wait for the GroceJack writing.    

          • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 16:41

            And what I will write about is probably no surprise either. I disagree with Pete on this, the managers arse is not on the line. Truth be told he has the owners backing and support more than any previous coach. As i say the source of this is as close as possible to the bench team. But, I also agree that the musings of a hack are often more about trying to create news by stirring the shit than writing actual facts. I make no claims about the factual truth behind the ‘inside story’ except that knowing the source it’s hard to disbelieve it.

            Journo’s often resort to writing bollocks as a way of getting their names into the limelight again and securing a more lucrative contract (not you Pete by the way) . I’m not knocking Frank either, just questioning why an intelligent and respected player like him hasn’t confronted AVB for an answer. I suspect he has, and has been told the reasons why (Meireles is playing better than him) because I don’t buy into this rumour of poor man management. It makes the players out to be innocent childlike parties, when in fact they are much cleverer than that. Like Pete I want frank around for as along as possible but comments at 33 I feel fitter than ever’ sound suspiciously like the rantings of the archetypal boxing champion who’s so punch drunk he refuses to accept his best days are behind him. Frank can’t play 2-3 games per week anymore in my view. 

            By the way, no matter what’s written in the press, there’ll be no more shite written or said than that by Ian McGarry ( ) on 5 Live last night post game. To quote ‘dissent shown by Lampard because if you watched after the penalty he ran to the crowd and didn’t go to the coach to celebrate’…..huh? And then he followed it up with some Tosh about players huddling after the game rather than running to the coach to shake his hands……….

            Like I say total bollocks

          • Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 17:39

            Re ‘not celebrating with the coach bollocks’ I thought AVB answered this very well on Sky when asked the question “We’re you disappointed when the players didn’t acknowledge you and the bench when they scored?”

            AVB responded that this was a rubbish story and he’d never request the players to acknowledge him after a goal and that anyone who knows him understands that he (AVB) is only concerned about the team and not himself. He went on to say that this was another piece of rubbish journalism from the Sun and that if they’d paid an informant for the story they should demand a refund.  I thought this was quite witty.

21. Gleb on 13 December, 2011 at 15:16

    What makes me really sick about the media is their double standard towards us and Man City in terms of rich chairmen. You all must surely remembers years of criticism directed at Chelsea for “buying” our titles, which has somewhat faded only recently to coincide with our fall from the top. Everyone and their dog seemed to ignore the dazzling football we played in favor of writing/talking about Roman’s riches. But when a much wealthier Arab bloke takes over at City, no one utters a word of resentment. Instead we hear about the beautiful way they play, the insignificance of their “unlucky” defeats and torehe “nerve” other clubs dare to have to challenge them. I’m no Englishman and might not be fully aware of how City used to be treated, but why this sudden overqhelming love for a team that clearly “bought” their success a lot more than we ever did. I couldnt care less for money either way, but we deserve at least equal treatment. Maybe theres a reason im not aware of?

    Sorry for the typos and bad grammar: this smartphone business still eludes me somewhat

22. Benjami on 13 December, 2011 at 16:02

    Guys wtf?

    Shut up, it was a great game and the atmosphere was amazing! I arrived late so I missed the first goal but everyone was cheering for us even when we were 1-0 down. Like AVB said, if we can provide that atmosphere every game it will raise the team to a different level!

    In response to this bullshit from Moffat re Lamps and the penalty. I saw an interview with AVB discussing the penalty and that is complete shite re Mata and Lamps discussion. AVB backed Lamps and said he was the penalty taker for the club, and therefore it was his penalty.

    Why do people listen to the media these days? Do not trust anything you read it is clearly biased and weighted to sell papers or get web site hits.

23. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 16:55

    Good highlights of the game 
    http://rutube.ru/tracks/5103618.html?autoStart=true&bmstart=38400

24. Cunningplan on 13 December, 2011 at 17:36

    My theory with regard the media, and its agenda with all things Chelsea, is to bait AVB into a reaction,
    it started with Hansen, then Neville, and I just think everyman and his dog want a peice of the action.
    Trouble is, he’s rising to the bait, and giving them what they want. I’m all for him defending the players and the club, but he’s going to have to learn when, and when not to do it.

25. jamie on 13 December, 2011 at 17:56

    i was glad to see AVB leaving out lampard and terry should be next. check out tactical analysis of the game here: http://www.theirtactics.com/chelsea-v-manchester-city-the-citizens%E2%80%99-unbeaten-run-comes-to-an-end/

26. Anonymous on 13 December, 2011 at 18:25

    I’m pretty confident AVB can take care of himself. He seems to have found a way of going at the media without resorting to the comedy sulking of Ferg or the mad hyperbole of the great José: basically saying what he thinks in an insistent confident way, without backing off. Someone in today’s Grauniad makes the point that he’s almost *too* articulate, and ends up sounding faintly comical with his stuff about medium blocks and triumphs based on human characteristics and so on. But that’s fine, that’s almost Uncle Claudio-like, and combining the funny foreigner shtick with nerdy earnestness will end up disarming the hacks quite effectively, I think.

    I’m pretty confident he can take care of the players too. This is something Ferg is notably good at — it’s how he manages to renew his team over and over again without ever having a visibly transitional (i.e. poor) season — and he obviously does it by inspiring huge respect across the squad while being pretty ruthless with anyone whose time he thinks is up.

    Just because Frank’s a genuine club legend doesn’t mean it’s more important for him to be happy than for AVB to oversee the necessary renewal of the playing squad. (Which, let’s note, he’s in large part *already done*: we’re four months in, everyone now knows what our first XI is, and it features Luiz, Ramires, Romeu, Mata and Studge.) Pete, I get the impression you’ve had a very bad work-related experience of your own which may be buzzing somewhat under the bonnet here. You’re obviously far too bright really to think that “respect for senior players” is more important than the current manager doing (or trying to do) his job, whether it’s his first season or his thirty-first.

    (I work for myself too btw and am totally delighted to have no superior, no inferiors, no colleagues of any sort whatsoever, so I freely admit to knowing bugger all about this area.)

    As a side note, I actually thought Meireles was our weakest player yesterday and that we improved when Frank came on. Which is much more likely to get him back in the side than mouthing off.

27. Peterw on 13 December, 2011 at 19:55

    McGarry talked absolute nonsense.

    But of course AVB’s arse was on the line this week,. If he had persisted with his daft tactics, attempting to introduce a complete unrealistic style of play while alienating the players he needed to make it work, he would have lost all three games and been out on his ears sooner rather than later. It’s ridiculous to think otherwise given Roman’s history. And how did he avoid that fate? By going back to basics, and being handed winning goals from Drogba and Lampard and clean sheets from Terry and Cech. The very four players that are meant to be his big problem. As I’ve said all along, the old guard will save his job if he uses them correctly, not because they are evil, manipulative, over-powerful bastards, but because they are brilliant, experienced and very fit footballers. 

    Limetree – I think that showing “respect for senior players” is a actually an important part of the current manager’s  job, and by showing some he will actually make it a lot easier for himself in the long run.

    • Gleb on 13 December, 2011 at 21:36

      Very true, but exactly when is the time to stop relying on them? Chelsea will always be under immense pressure and with every match the risk of being left with no one but forty year old former stars is growing. In other words, we will always remain in a position where we have to respect our legends but somehow move on all at the same time. It’s no mean feat. Fit or not, 33 will soon become 34, then 35 and so on. Unless, God forbid, there’s an injury, our players will remain visibly “fit”, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. We can’t just freeze our younger players out untill Lamps et al go grey. Respect is fine, but AVB or no AVB, we need this transition. Why is now not the time?

    • Moffat on 14 December, 2011 at 12:22

      I see some are confusing kissing ass for respect.

      • Der_Kaiser on 14 December, 2011 at 13:53

        How would you know – you’d never get either.

28. Premier League: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City - Out With the Old, In With the... Err... Old - Chelsea FC Blog on 14 December, 2011 at 00:13

    […] be faster. Whatever, it is working and this game showed there’s life in our mixed age dogs yet. I read the comments, and love the passionate debate and the variety of opinions whether I agree or not. My stance on […]

29. Premier League: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City ? Tweets, Reports, Goals | horizondrinks.net on 4 January, 2012 at 06:03

    […] The tweets The buildup… OptaJoe: 4 – Chelsea & Man City have kept 4 PL clean sheets each in 2011-12, down from 8 and 6 respectively at this point last season. Open. ChelseaAnalysis: Chelsea line-up vs.… […]

30. john travolta son on 15 January, 2012 at 11:33

    Sources…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]…

31. » Premier League: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City – Out with the Old, In with the… err… Old Club News on 20 January, 2012 at 18:35

    […] be faster. Whatever, it is working and this game showed there’s life in our mixed age dogs yet. I read the comments, and love the passionate debate and the variety of opinions whether I agree or not. My stance on […]

Comments are closed.