Chelsea v Arsenal - Carling Cup Final

[Macca_]

Arsene Wenger

'My further regret is that the referee (Howard Webb) had some very bad decisions today, vitally important decisions.

:lol:

I have big respect for Mr Wenger as a manager. A brilliant one. However he even surpasses our Jose for the amount of moaning.

To be fair to him though he (like any manager) looks at his side of the pond. The first goal was a close offside call, see them given off. And Essien should have had 2 yellows in the first half. The second foul was the one when an Arsenal player had beaten him and he took him down, the same foul that Denilson was booked for not long before. However already being on a yellow the ref kept his card in his pocket.

I would call them 'vitally' important decisions. Wenger see's it from the Arsenal side as do I. I see no point worrying about it now though. Especially because loosing a CC game or final doesn't overly bother me. It was the performance that I wanted to see, regardless of the result for our guys.

 

[Macca_]

I agree with what you are saying about him. He is a awesome talent and is sure to continue to get even better. I was thinking more along the lines of winning trophies. Which he is sure to do in the future. Then maybe he will have more scope for bagging people and clubs off.

Bit hard to have a load of trophies in the cabinet at 19 though He's only been playing in the starting 11 since 17... Not a bad feat in itself.

Couple of other things while I'm on Cesc... He was a major reason for the run to the CL Final last season and he also came off the bench a couple of times and played vital roles for Spain at the WC. 19 years of age...

 

[Eddie.]

Lol, I needed one with Lampard at a pinch and couldn't find a new one.

You caught me...bastard. On another note, did Ballack and Lampard do well together today? My net was capped so I couldn't watch the game...

I wouldn't say well. They were outplayed in the first half by the Arsenal midfield. They covered alot of ground and worked hard tracking back. Ballack made a few nice passes including one for the goal. Lamps was better in the second half and unlucky not score when hitting the bar from 30 yards out. They both were partly responsble for grinding back control of the game in the middle of the park in the last half an hour.

There is still work to be done. Lamps is having a great season, but Ballack is still adapting to the pace and like to time and space in most English games.

 

[Macca_]

Lol, I needed one with Lampard at a pinch and couldn't find a new one.

You caught me...bastard.

:lol:

Was a nice try.

 

[Macca_]

but Ballack is still adapting to the pace and like to time and space in most English games.

Do you reckon he'll get there re the pace of the game?

We're having the same thing with Baptista. He's just not up to the speed of the game in England.

A number of players do take a season to get it, but there are some that simply never will.

Going to be interesting to see what happens there... We've been linked with Eto'o and Robinho, most likely just paper talk. But the Beast better find his way soon....

 

[Eddie.]

Chelsea fans best song of the day

"Gallas, Gallas, Whats the Score"

There were 3 reds and Cole and Gallas were not even on the pitch. Could of been mayhem.

 

[Eddie.]

Do you reckon he'll get there re the pace of the game?

We're having the same thing with Baptista. He's just not up to the speed of the game in England.

A number of players do take a season to get it, but there are some that simply never will.

Going to be interesting to see what happens there... We've been linked with Eto'o and Robinho, most likely just paper talk. But the Beast better find his way soon....

Thing going against Ballack is he is 30 years old if im not mistaken. Ill give him one more season but i have my doubts. I think he could still be very handy in the CL but not sure about his overall future.

It was a little embarrasing at times in the first half last night. Chelsea just had no pace compard to Arsenal. Sheva has clearly lost some toe, Lamps, Maka and Ballack aint the quickest.

Chelsea need to play Robben and miss J Cole. If we are to buy anyone in the off season he need someone with a bit of toe cause it was a little laboured at times

 

[Macca_]

Chelsea fans best song of the day

"Gallas, Gallas, Whats the Score"

Funnily enough, Gallas could have been the player that if on the park, could have stopped Drogba. He knows his game and would have been right up for a massive game.

Drogba once again had the better of Senderos. Phil is going to find himself 3rd choice now Gallas is back with Toure 1st choice. I think Djourou could also take 3rd choice CB leaving Sendo at 4....

 

[Eddie.]

Funnily enough, Gallas could have been the player that if on the park, could have stopped Drogba. He knows his game and would have been right up for a massive game.

Drogba once again had the better of Senderos. Phil is going to find himself 3rd choice now Gallas is back with Toure 1st choice. I think Djourou could also take 3rd choice CB leaving Sendo at 4....

Will is an awesome defender. World Class at fullback but even more so at Centre Back. Poor Senderos just has nightmares against Drogba. 6 in 6 games apparently.

 

[Macca_]

If we are to buy anyone in the off season he need someone with a bit of toe cause it was a little laboured at times

From an oppositions fan point of view, Chelsea's game isn't about pace. It's a power sort of game with a clinical edge to it. It may just seem that way because as you say, there's a number of guys slow on the toe though...

Re Robben, he was the one I was worried about alongside Drogba. And they combined for the winner.

 

[Macca_]

Will is an awesome defender. World Class at fullback but even more so at Centre Back. Poor Senderos just has nightmares against Drogba. 6 in 6 games apparently.

I think most defenders are having nightmares against Drogba of late.

I reckon Gallas could have had a big one playing on him.

Once he's back fit he won't be playing fullback either. On the left we have Clichy/Traore and on the right Eboue/Hoyte and a couple of other 'utility' types that can play there.

Gallas will be CB alongside Toure once fit. And I like that back 4 - Eboue/Gallas/Toure/Clichy.

 

[Eddie.]

Im Predicting a re match in the FA Cup Final Chelsea to cruise past Spuds and Watford. Arsenal past Man City and then the Mancs.

Only this time it will be a bigger occasion. Return to Wembley!

 

[Macca_]

I'd be happy with that. But we have to win at Rovers on Thursday morning first.

 

[Phillips]

Senderos isnt all to blame, though he didnt have a great game

Almunia's at fault for the first goal and today we saw the difference between a good goalkeeper and a great goalkeeper (Cech)

 

[Macca_]

Yeah for sure. I thought Sendo had a decent game. As I said, not to many CB's handling Drogba this season.

He'll only lose his place because Gallas is getting back to fitness.

 

[El Coconuto]

To be honest I would've been pissed off if Lampard didn't front up. The team's gotta know the captian has their back. It's the old muskateer montage. I'm not trying to justify his rambling off at people, but for FFS what kind of p*ssy-whipped captain sits back and watches? I wouldn't have expected JT to back down, I'm certainly not going to vilify Lampard for stepping up.

 

[nibbs]

first of 4 trophies this season. incredible. what a team

 

[Macca_]

The Sun is apparently a useless rag... But is there something going on at Chelsea...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007090376,00.html

Blues fume at Roman snub

By IAN McGARRY
February 27, 2007

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH blanked Chelsea’s Carling Cup celebrations.

His snub left the players fuming.

And it makes manager Jose Mourinho’s exit this summer even more likely.

The Russian billionaire first failed to visit the Blues’ dressing room to congratulate the team, manager and coaches after the win over Arsenal.

He then avoided the victory party held at London’s Aura nightclub on Sunday night.

It is the first time Abramovich has not gone to the dressing room when Chelsea have won a trophy.

And his behaviour is in stark contrast to the last time they won the tournament in 2005.

Abramovich then paid for a lavish party at La Famiglia restaurant in Chelsea following the win over Liverpool.

The reclusive owner also delighted boss Mourinho and his squad by drinking champagne from the Carling Cup and leading a chorus of ‘We are Chelsea’.

SunSport revealed last month that Abramovich had broken with his tradition of visiting the dressing room after every game.

He went missing for the first time in the wake of the January defeat of Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

That was at the height of his feud with Mourinho over transfer dealings and the fact Andriy Shevchenko had been dropped.

Abramovich has since made his displeasure known by missing some games altogether but this latest snub is the most significant yet.

His actions confirm the total breakdown in relations between manager and owner — the consequence of which is likely to be Mourinho leaving the club.

Mourinho departed from his habit of not celebrating on the pitch with his players after a trophy win by leading from the front.

His behaviour was undoubtedly a reminder to Abramovich of who is responsible for the team’s success.

With one of four possible trophies in the bag, Frank Lampard insisted the Grand Slam is still possible.

The FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League have still to be bagged.

Lamps said: “It will be very tough to win all four. But everything we’re in, we’re capable of winning. And we’ve won the first.”

 

[Phillips]

typical russian

 

[juggalo_strit]

What he said to Mark Hughes was only what everything was thinking. And what's wrong with it? Is sledging not allowed? I thought it was a great one liner. He later apoligised to Hughes but I don't think he needed too.

Are you saying that Fabragas should of done what he did to Mark Hughes......
C'mon Macca_ now you're talking tripe!

Now we can all agree on how good of a player he is - but he is an absolue cat. To be honest, one of the worst divers i've ever seen. And the way he carries on some time is ridiculous. Now correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't Fabragas the one that got a little love tap on his chest and went down within a millisecond clutching his face and didn't get up for about a minute.
I'd like him to come and do that whilst he playing against amatuers who are their to win but also have fun and do it in the spirit of the game!

But anyways - great game to watch, and it was good to hear that nothing is seriously wrong with Terry.