Meaningless international friendlies should be played by squad members who will not be featuring heavily for their club. Good to see Gerrard is out of the England game and Kelly is withdrawn from the u21s.  This time of year is the worst as well as European games will be played as well as heavy congestion of PL fixtures.

that is pure speculation..he was under contract and he didn't have to go if he didn't want too...they could say to him 'we've got a good offer we are considering it'..but they couldn't force him to hand in a request..nobody put a gun to his head..marched him into pardew's office and said ..'write this out andy'.

he could've failed to agree personal terms once at anfield as well if he'd of wanted too...he didn't...

yes you've beaten us twice...and who scored both goals at anfield?..torres..


as for divers....every team has them......cheating is part and parcel of the game now unfortunately.......

It's absolute stupidity RR. Good on any senior player who has a convenient bout of ill health to rule them out. Competitve matches, while a pain, are at least justified unlike this shite

So what? He was playing for us then. We beat you on your own pitch without Torres and without either of our two new signings. Money can't buy you a lot of things, but it can't buy success.

Afternoon folks...is it safe to come in here without a tin helmet on yet....

Money might not buy you success but it goes a blooming long way to helping!

*Hates on RZB*




Afternoon yer old cheater - wait till Disley catches up with you after Saturday

On the insurance front Veggie,


It's the player being out that annoys me, even if the FA are picking up his wage bill, how about the fans of the clubs being without their star player for months on end.

"Afternoon yer old cheater - wait till Disley catches up with you after Saturday"


I prefer to concerntrate on the winning goal. these things have a way of leveling up.


Was it a record for penalties being given at the weekend. every game seem to have a couple.

Yeah that's the thing RZB - hello btw x - the English FA have insurance and comp packages but they're one of only about half a dozen that do.

Sadly diving is part of the game these days. as is tapping up players. The game is moving further and further away from the average fan.

I don't think they do level themselves up though mate - I would much rather be talking over the footie on a Sat evening than whinging about yet another abysmal performance by Dowd, Webb, Dean and Co.

They seem to pencil in these internation games at the most bizzare times,

About a week after the season started we had a break for a friendly, It makes you wonder if theirs any worth in the internation friendlies, 


England could invite one of the top 4 to Wembley and play them in a friendly. It might be a lot more interesting.

you know what r.r..i'm really not going to get into a row with you....i can't be arsed tbh......you enjoy your win and that's fine.....i don't have a problem with that at all..if we play crap i say so.i don't wear rose tinted spectacles..or proclaim one win to be the be all and end all.or post pictures to try and wind ppl up.........if you want to do that then carry on.....if you wish to hate chelsea..fine..that's your choice and your opinion......meself i just prefer a bit of light hearted banter with opposition fans..there's utd,arsenal,city,spurs,boro,bolton,chelsea,liverpool,everton etc etc supporters on here..and in the main everyone gets on...that's the way it should be imo...

They do Veg, but probably not in such high profile games, was it against Huddersfield the week before when arsenal got a spot kick that wasn't 100% -


(I might be mixing that up with another game)


The Arsenal lad that got himself sent off really didn't help the cause, If only he had walked away.

oops manners!!....rzb xxx..veggieeeeeeeeeeeeee xxx........

off topic but did i read you're off to florida in the summer rzb?......

Hiya Spongey LTNS.

I think we are holidaying in the same local again this year .

 

*hates on Spongey too*
Spoonnggeeyyyy xxxxx Actually you're right mate.
And in that spirit, I'll apologise to anyone I've been spiky with in this thread lately as I probably have been out of order - football drives you mad for sure. So sorry if I've upset anyone xx


I'm not looking forward to playing Wolves next. I hope AW put on the glasses he can actually see out of, went out on St James Park after the game and found the backbone that we seemed to have lost somewhere during the firts five mins of the second half- coz we'll really need it against Wolves

off topic but did i read you're off to florida in the summer rzb?......


Sorry Spongey. posted at the same time as you,

Sure am Spongey, probably the final time for us.mind you I say this every time.
really looking forward to it, I'm like a 2 year old with excitment

I knew Barton would cause someone to be sent off but you're right RZB, Diaby should have had more sense and just walked away. I loathe Barton, decent footballer though he is, he shouldn't be allowed to play. He's had too many chances

we sure are rzb!!..nice to see you too....we're going on the 20th july-3rd august.....ties in nicely as eldest spongette turns 18 on july 29th!!....soooooooooooo looking forward to it!!

veggieeeeeeeeeee........i couldn't believe your game this w/end........the sending off cost you for sure....he went a bit scooby didn't he?!!........

In all the years on here, The Liverpool/Chelsea fixture throws up the most "excitment"


And that was before Torres. remember the 4 C/L semi's back in the  C4  

Spongey, I'm only having a bit of craic. The pictures I posted were in jest only. Christ I didn't think ou would take it to heart, its just a good release after the last week the shit I have had to put up with from Chelsea fans. Footballs just a game, don't take it to heart.

you're NEVER too old for disney..........i'm 46 in a few weeks and i still go mental going.'ohhhhhhhh there's goofy'.............

not taken to heart r.r at all...just don't want to get embroiled in a heated exchange that turns the thread sour that's all.......tis 'all good in da hood' as the young people say........

We got 02/08 until the 26/08  middle child is 18 while we are there on 11/08    I did say we wouldn't  go again after it rained for 3 weeks constantly last time, but decided to give it another go.

Hope you have a good time Rzb... theres an obsession with my family and Orlando FL.


Used to go every year, stopped going two years ago though because of illnesses in the family. Its not the same when someone was missing out. Some fond memories of Florida.

When my Grandad was alive in Outback Steakhouse

Waitress: "How do you like your steak done?"

Grandad: "Medium on the rare side"

Everyone looked at him in bamboozlement

Lol, I'm just on cloud 9 at the minute which I'm sure you would be as well had the result been reversed. Don't worry we don't face each other again til next season so we both have plenty of time to recover!

rzb.....the champions league semi final 2nd leg at ours with liverpool a few seasons back was one of the best games ever........i think it was 3-1 we won up there....and i remember cigs and alcohol saying it was all over etc etc.......heatseek as well was really downhearted......i said then that it wasn't over.......2nd leg finished 4-4.....hell of a match..brilliant stuff to watch.....even though i chewed my fingers down to my knuckles....

Yes that was one of the best games I've ever watched as well.

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2...isplay-of-hypocrisy/

Interesting little snippet about what you were saying veggie.

spooky rzb..................

meaty.........a florida addict too...........

r.r..........hell of a game wasn't it?.........i reckon dalglish should be given a contract now....he didn't seem sure he'd be given the job on the sky interview i saw...but surely he has to be the man for the job

and i have to say i thought jamie carragher was great in his interview...the reporter was obviously wanting him to vent about torres with the questions he asked him...he side stepped it nicely.........and for all the supposed uproar...it was nice to see torres and the pool lads being friendly with each other in the tunnel....

(((Used to go every year, stopped going two years ago though because of illnesses in the family. Its not the same when someone was missing out. Some fond memories of Florida.)))      


Meaty.  My elest is only coming this time because it's my middle ones 18th, this is why we probably won't do it again, your right once someone drops out, it's never quite the same. It's not everyones cup of tea, but we love it.

Do you think they will keep all 3 forwards players next season Spongey, can you see Anelka being sold on, or even DD. They are all big players, and can't see any of them wanting to keep the bench warm.

i reckon the drog may well go rzb.....he's 33 in march...anelka is i think 32........if a good offer comes in the club may well listen to it........

drogba hasn't played at all well this season......i know he's had malaria but even before that he wasn't on top form really...i think if we don't want to sell...both of them may just give us one more season and that's pretty much it i think..

but we need to sort out a few areas.........we have no quality sub g/k.......turnbull and hilarious........luiz will be a good signing..ivanovic is solid....but jt seems to be missing more with injuries now............lamps replacement is maceachran...but he's only 17......should be an interesting summer i think!!

Yes I was on the edge of my seat for that game! You had us dead and buried but we clawed our way back! 

I felt a twinge of pity for Torres yesterday but then I realised he broke Liverpool hearts without a second thought so that thought was soon washed away!lol I am honestly not taking a dig but I do believe he will live to regret his decision. He was badly advised, Liverpool at the minute aren't going to win anything other than perhaps the Europa League , Chelsea the FA Cup. We have a slim chance of getting top 4 Chelsea have a good chance of getting top 4. Fernando wants a European Championship, Chelsea imho won't deliver that, in fact I don't believe any team in England will for a few years. Liverpool have begun their rebuilding, the majority of the team are under 26 off the top of my head Gerrard, Carragher, Kuyt and Maxi older. Young academy players such as Kelly and Shelvey as well as Pacheco from the reserves are starting to play well and break onto the 1st team. Chelsea on the other hand are going to have to begin rebuilding, Torres and Luiz are merely papering over the cracks at the minute, either that or they are the first two blocks in Chelseas rebuilding. Chelsea are going to need practically  a new squad within the next 3 years (Drogba, Lamps, Terry, Cole, Malouda, Anelka, Yossi are all the wrong side of 30 Essien is 28 and I don't think Cech will be around much longer) and with the new financial fair play rules coming in Roman can't just throw his cheque book at it. 

I'm not delusional however, a top 5 finish and a good run at the Europa League will constitute a successful season. A top 4 place and EL success will be a bonus. Over the next couple of years hopeful with Dalglish and Clarke at the helm we can progress upwards. It would be a travesty for Torres never to win a Club medal in his career as on his day he is world class (unfortunately we didn't see too many of them days in the last 18 months) Owen left because he though the grass was greener, the next year we won the Champions League. Nothing is impossible.

How do Chelsea fans honestly feel about the future of the club (The next few years)

*Sorry about the long post 

I think the 2 signings made last week confirmed rebuilding is underway. Talking to my brother who's a season ticket holder, (I know you also get one  )  he felt they were in danger of slipping out of the C/L postitions.

Thanks for the link RR. I do actually agree with that post to an extent. I've felt for a very long time that there is one rule for English players - especially if the are England Internationals - and another for other players.
That being said, JW wasn't anywhere as inflammatory with what he said as Babel was with that picture - even though I wholeheartedly agreed with Babels sentiments.

I can't see Liverpool ever getting back into the top four... not without some huge financial backing.

The problem that Liverpool have is the size of Anfield. So many clubs have suffered financially since the all seater rule was, rightly imo, brought in.  Clubs with massive stadia, like Man U, us and Man City generate huge matchday revenue, not only from bums on seats but also what those fans spend on grub, programmes and stuff in the club shop.
It'll only get more difficult for clubs like Liverpool if the UEFA fair play rules do come in.
No wonder Spurs and West Ham are going hammer and tongs over the Olympic Park