Rival Watch

[Sir Tennisball]

Parachute for rafa!

At least he's making roman's decision easier by proving himself totally inadequate fot the job.

Drogs, what do you think roman will do if it looks like rafa is not going to get CL spot this season? Fire him or stick with him until the end of the season?

Side note: wow demba ba's nose got demolished, one of the worst facial injuries I've seen in a while... (football related obviously, that kind of thing happens all the time in rugby)

 

[One of the lads]

The fact you got that from what I said just displays how stupid you are.

There it is. Bless.

 

[Drogs]

This.

Tbh, I think Chelsea have now reached the stage where they are no better off now than they would have been without Abramovich.

Given how well you'd been growing as a fairly well run club over the decade before he took over, it's not impossible to assume you'd have been in the same situation you are this season, particularly if you'd still managed to attract Mourinho, Drogba, Cech and Cole. To be honest those four and Makalele are pretty much the only really great things Abramovich brought to the club, and Cech and Cole were well within your previous spending range.

You probably wouldn't have the same number of trophies, but I reckon you'd have competed for a fair few titles along the way, and if Liverpool managed to win a CL under Rafa I reckon you could still have picked up one without Abramovich. Heck, if you hadn't been forced to trade Gudjohnsen for Shevchenko, Drogba for Torres, Hasselbaink for Mutu etc you might even be in a stronger position now.

100% agree. Dunno if we'd be as globally supported or even successful like you say but I think we were heading in a good direction.

 

[Drogs]

There it is. Bless.

there what is? Are you incapable of having a normal debate?

Genuinely don't see how you got that from what I said, it is a fact that you have spent large over the past 20 years whether you've earned the right to or not.

 

[Drogs]

Parachute for rafa!

At least he's making roman's decision easier by proving himself totally inadequate fot the job.

Drogs, what do you think roman will do if it looks like rafa is not going to get CL spot this season? Fire him or stick with him until the end of the season?

Side note: wow demba ba's nose got demolished, one of the worst facial injuries I've seen in a while... (football related obviously, that kind of thing happens all the time in rugby)

tbh if it continues, I can see Rafa going a lot sooner. Could be me just wishfully thinking though!

As for Ba, should've been a pen/red in my opinion. A player should have no business having his boot anywhere near a player's head height!

 

[One of the lads]

there what is? Are you incapable of having a normal debate?

Genuinely don't see how you got that from what I said, it is a fact that you have spent large over the past 20 years whether you've earned the right to or not.

It's what you do Drogs, you get angry and say whoever you are "debating" with is stupid (or similar). Very predictable.

United's net spend is not even close to Chavski's and Fergie wasn't gifted the money in the same way Chavski's plethora of managers have been. Fergie built an empire, Roman is still trying to buy one.

 

[Drogs]

It's what you do Drogs, you get angry and say whoever you are "debating" with is stupid (or similar). Very predictable.

United's net spend is not even close to Chavski's and Fergie wasn't gifted the money in the same way Chavski's plethora of managers have been. Fergie built an empire, Roman is still trying to buy one.

I'm not even near angry . I didn't mean stupid as an insult to end the debate, but continuing to use the words chavs, chavski etc are construed in the exact same way to me.

You are still missing the point, and I'll say one last time, whether you earned it or not, you have still spent large.

 

[One of the lads]

This.

Tbh, I think Chelsea have now reached the stage where they are no better off now than they would have been without Abramovich.

Given how well you'd been growing as a fairly well run club over the decade before he took over, it's not impossible to assume you'd have been in the same situation you are this season, particularly if you'd still managed to attract Mourinho, Drogba, Cech and Cole. To be honest those four and Makalele are pretty much the only really great things Abramovich brought to the club, and Cech and Cole were well within your previous spending range.

You probably wouldn't have the same number of trophies, but I reckon you'd have competed for a fair few titles along the way, and if Liverpool managed to win a CL under Rafa I reckon you could still have picked up one without Abramovich. Heck, if you hadn't been forced to trade Gudjohnsen for Shevchenko, Drogba for Torres, Hasselbaink for Mutu etc you might even be in a stronger position now.

Swarbs, had Roman not taken over, Chelsea would have been going in one direction and it was very much down! The club was all but bust and players were being readied for sale to cover imminent debt repayments. Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Terry for 10million. Roman saved that club from disaster which is why the Chavs direct their abuse at Rafa instead of the guy who employed him.

 

[Swarbs]

tbh if it continues, I can see Rafa going a lot sooner. Could be me just wishfully thinking though!

But where do you go from Benitez? Jumping to the assistant worked out ok last season, but only in the cups - RDM did nothing to save your league form, and you can't save the season by winning the CL this year!

It does look pretty bleak for Chelsea atm - hard to see Mourinho being attracted back to Chelsea in the summer if he's comparing board quality with City and / or Utd. And not that many other good / semi decent managers around Roman hasn't tried already!

As for Ba, should've been a pen/red in my opinion. A player should have no business having his boot anywhere near a player's head height!

I dunno - if it's dangerous then it should be given, but it's one of those ones that almost never gets given in the area. It's also hard to say it has to be red when a clearance like this is often the only way to avoid a goal, and the player plays the ball.

Also if you rule no kicking over head height then you almost completely ban overhead kicks - I remember West Ham scoring one against us (Ashton if I remember) when his boot was a couple of inches from Rio's head, and Rio couldn't make a defensive header cos he'd have had his head taken off. Would be very harsh to disallow that based on the boot being high.

 

[One of the lads]

I'm not even near angry . I didn't mean stupid as an insult to end the debate, but continuing to use the words chavs, chavski etc are construed in the exact same way to me.

You are still missing the point, and I'll say one last time, whether you earned it or not, you have still spent large.

It's like comparing a lottery winner with a guy who's worked for his money. I respect the latter more than the former.

 

[Drogs]

Swarbs, had Roman not taken over, Chelsea would have been going in one direction and it was very much down! The club was all but bust and players were being readied for sale to cover imminent debt repayments. Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Terry for 10million. Roman saved that club from disaster which is why the Chavs direct their abuse at Rafa instead of the guy who employed him.

except Roman is being vilified for hiring him. If Rafa happened to take over from SAF, you'd be acting exactly the same and you know it.

But where do you go from Benitez? Jumping to the assistant worked out ok last season, but only in the cups - RDM did nothing to save your league form, and you can't save the season by winning the CL this year!

It does look pretty bleak for Chelsea atm - hard to see Mourinho being attracted back to Chelsea in the summer if he's comparing board quality with City and / or Utd. And not that many other good / semi decent managers around Roman hasn't tried already!



I dunno - if it's dangerous then it should be given, but it's one of those ones that almost never gets given in the area. It's also hard to say it has to be red when a clearance like this is often the only way to avoid a goal, and the player plays the ball.

Also if you rule no kicking over head height then you almost completely ban overhead kicks - I remember West Ham scoring one against us (Ashton if I remember) when his boot was a couple of inches from Rio's head, and Rio couldn't make a defensive header cos he'd have had his head taken off. Would be very harsh to disallow that based on the boot being high.

I'd take anyone over that **** at the moment, I loathe the man!

I think it was dangerous personally, Ba wasn't exactly making a diving header and Colocinni risks doing what he actually did if he goes for the ball. Red may be harsh but I certainly think it was a pen

It's like comparing a lottery winner with a guy who's worked for his money. I respect the latter more than the former.

Of course, but that isn't my point is it?

 

[Swarbs]

Swarbs, had Roman not taken over, Chelsea would have been going in one direction and it was very much down! The club was all but bust and players were being readied for sale to cover imminent debt repayments. Arsenal had agreed a deal to sign Terry for 10million. Roman saved that club from disaster which is why the Chavs direct their abuse at Rafa instead of the guy who employed him.

No, the Champions League revenue would have kept Chelsea afloat - their income shot up by around £60 million when that happened which would have more than covered the debt.

The reason so many Chelsea fans won't hear a bad word against Abramovich is that so many of them only started supporting for the trophies he bought. So they care a lot more about the trophies than about the history and the future of the club. The long term fans like Drogs are less forgiving of the Russian and his assorted cronies.

 

[One of the lads]

No, the Champions League revenue would have kept Chelsea afloat - their income shot up by around £60 million when that happened which would have more than covered the debt.

The reason so many Chelsea fans won't hear a bad word against Abramovich is that so many of them only started supporting for the trophies he bought. So they care a lot more about the trophies than about the history and the future of the club. The long term fans like Drogs are less forgiving of the Russian and his assorted cronies.

Equally, NO Swarbs! I was living in that football world at the time and all I can say is just NO!

 

[Swarbs]

I think it was dangerous personally, Ba wasn't exactly making a diving header and Colocinni risks doing what he actually did if he goes for the ball. Red may be harsh but I certainly think it was a pen

Hadn't actually watched it before, but having seen a replay now I agree with you. Coloccini didn't get near the ball and could clearly see Ba was ahead of him and going to get there first. Definite pen, and possibly red as well.

Tho' I still don't have a blanket "head height = red card" opinion - as long as you can get the ball and you commit to the kick before it's obvious someone is going to stick their head in the way I think it's fine. I remember one on Terry a few years back where a striker went to control a high ball and right before he got it Terry stuck his head in the way and got the ball. Nothing was given IIRC, which was correct imo cos you couldn't punish the striker for the fact that Terry was willing to lose a few brain cells to get to the ball first.

 

[Swarbs]

Equally, NO Swarbs! I was living in that football world at the time and all I can say is just NO!

Good argument

 

[One of the lads]

Good argument

Fair comment. I'll stick to basing my opinions on stuff I've read in the papers!

 

[Drogs]

Hadn't actually watched it before, but having seen a replay now I agree with you. Coloccini didn't get near the ball and could clearly see Ba was ahead of him and going to get there first. Definite pen, and possibly red as well.

Tho' I still don't have a blanket "head height = red card" opinion - as long as you can get the ball and you commit to the kick before it's obvious someone is going to stick their head in the way I think it's fine. I remember one on Terry a few years back where a striker went to control a high ball and right before he got it Terry stuck his head in the way and got the ball. Nothing was given IIRC, which was correct imo cos you couldn't punish the striker for the fact that Terry was willing to lose a few brain cells to get to the ball first.

fair enough can't argue there.

 

[shwan]

that is one of the beauty of FFP .. is has killed the effect of the rich owners contributions pumping up club artificially .. if that was Chelsea 7 years ago, Abra would had signed Falcao instead of BA
now chelsea have no access to his money and left with a monkey running the club

 

[Swarbs]

Ah, once again Liverpool prove they can only score against a decent side when Suarez isn't there to overcomplicate things. Reckon they'd turn City over if they subbed him off - even Downing probably wouldn't make the same hash of so many good chances.

 

[Style]

Was a good finish from Sturridge, which was funny because of was slagging him of just before he scored.

They have been the better team so far hopefully they can go on and win the game.