But didn't score enough goals. How many times have we deserved to win on performance, but failed to do so cos we couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo on the day.
I remember one pundit, several years ago, I think it was Hansen, saying of Michael Owen, after he'd missed a sitter of a chance for England, that the mark of a great striker was that he'd make another chance. I remember disagreeing entirely with him at that moment because, to me, the mark of a great striker is that you score a goal with every fleeting chance you get, and the best ones score with the least chance. I'm talking entirely about a striker as a finisher here, say Gerd Muller style, not as an all round contributor to a team. Strikers like Owen have always been finishers and little else. So you can have as many chances as you like, but if you can't put them away then you don't win the game. Only earlier today, Blackpool were the overall better side, having real chance after chance, but they couldn't put more than one in the net. If possession won games on points, the counter attacking game would have never evolved.
Yes, that was the difference between the two sides the two strikers. Replace Gomez (poor touches and snatching at all shots until his cool penalty finish) with Drogba (who you knew would bury it if he got the chance) and Bayern would have won. They would be mad to let Drogba leave Chelsea.
Had the temerity to change into a playing strip to collect the trophy, then revelled in the glory he did nothing to earn.
I really see no issue with what he did. Putting personal opinions of him off-pitch aside. He is the captain of Chelsea and Chelsea through and through, an Academy Boy finally winning the last major trophy to elude him in his career for Chelsea. Had Le Tissier or someone equally influential and key for us nowadays, say Kelvin or Rickie missed out for something silly, would we say he should not revel in the glory of the moment with a playing strip on? No way would we. If Rickie did something stupid (which he did against Brighton), and we won the FA Cup or something, he would have every right to be on that pitch. JT has contributed a lot to the Chelsea team over several years and deserved to be out there in his Chelsea shirt celebrating and lifting with the trophy alongside his team-mates. In my opinion he did nothing wrong by being out there and being in the kit for the pictures. He deserves the medal, glory and photographs to be proud of and savour for the rest of his life.
He has, but he hasn't contributed much to this achievement. This was a moment for his team mates, who he seriously let down with an act of characteristic stupidity, and hogging the limelight like that was typically unaware of him. And I could understand lifting the trophy with Frank, he is the captain, but wearing a playing strip like he wasn't deservedly suspended? Utterly classless.
It was very strange that the most screen present Chelsea players celebrating were those suspended or dropped players like Mereiles, Ivanovic dancing on the crossbar and Terry. Of course they played a role in getting to the final but it seems foreign to see non playing squad members not having that slightly awkward look about them after winning a trophy
Okay I can perhaps agree on that, maybe a bit odd to have his full kit on, but if he had just removed his shirt and tie to have a Chelsea shirt on I don't think that would have perhaps riled people as much. Either way I see no issue with it whatsoever. He made a mistake, a big one, but his team pulled through and celebrated with him. He still contributed massively to helping Chelsea to get to the semi's at the very least. Again I will put as if it was us, Rickie or Jos help us get to the semi's then do something stupid and miss the final, we win, and we would all tut and shake our heads at Rickie or Jos for doing it? Fan forums would be thanking them as much as the team that won it on the night. We'd want the squad to celebrate together in our club colours, well I would anyway. Besides, Drogba said likewise when he said that it was not just about the 11 starters or the subs, several other players and coaches contributed to this achievement in the end. And in terms of camera work, well, that's the work of Sky and ITV! Over and out.
I'd be embarrassed if someone got stupidly sent off in the semi and could easily have cost us like that. I don't mind them celebrating but they have to be measured, and considerate of their teammates. I remember when Scholes and Keane were suspended for the '99 final; they wore suits and acted with dignity, and that's how they should behave (and Keane was the captain).
Agree that Terry should have at least gone for a meek approach (as if!), but Ivanovic actually got his yellow card for basically scuffing up the penalty spot for Messi, who missed his penalty potentially as a result, so reckon he - out of all of them - at the very least deserves his (slightly weird) Dr. Strangelove moment on the crossbar!
Oh hear we go again difference in opinion, i thought it made it boring, you dont need to come out and slag me off. Its just embarrassing, shut up
Not many players are stupid enough to knee someone in the back without provocation. I think anyone else who had done that would be equally unpopular.
Off topic I know, but I'm just curious - I've seen a few videos of where Rickie and a Brighton player fall over together, and I'm blowed where I can see a sending off. Was it a straight red..?
Yes Rickie lashed out with his arm. However it is perhaps not easy to see as it happens right in the corner of the screen as the camera follows play.
My recollection is that Rickie's was kind of a harsh sending off, it was more of a shove to get the guy off him than 'lashing out'.
