Chelsea Fc Thread

[Seapok]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

[Devil]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

Painfully have to admit Chelsea were the much better team! I would imagine you are through. Ivanovic 2 bloody carbon copy goals!

[Seapok]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

Painfully have to admit Chelsea were the much better team! I would imagine you are through. Ivanovic 2 bloody carbon copy goals!

fuc_king ave it!! what a great game, not only because we won but just end to end stuff, it is amazing though at how ordinary Liverpool look when Gerrard is man marked!

[bkkjames]

well done.

[farangconnection]

I don't normally cut and paste, but this Telegraph report was good.

None of Chelsea’s starting XI had ever won the European Cup, a contrast to their bench that contained four men who possess winner’s medals, and the craving of Guus Hiddink’s chosen ones was inescapable. Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Michael Essien bossed midfield.

Essien’s marking job on Steven Gerrard drained the life out of Liverpool while Martin Skrtel chose the worst moment to have a shocker in defence. Rafa Benitez’s zonal marking system was also ripped to shreds. The only down side for Chelsea was the booking for their captain John Terry, which rules him out of next Tuesday’s meeting at the Bridge. A tie that had begun so promisingly for Liverpool now looks set for disappointment.

The Champions League anthem never stood a chance before kick-off, the Kop launching into the 12-inch version of "You’ll Never Walk Alone", and nor did Alex and John Terry when Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool’s big noises on the pitch, came calling after only four minutes.

Riddled with panic as Gerrard lurked, Alex skied a clearance over Chelsea’s box. Anfield sensed early blood. Dirk Kuyt was first to the loose ball, initially running away from Petr Cech’s area before brilliantly reversing the direction, sending the ball spinning down the inside-right channel for the overlapping Alvaro Arbeloa.

Those Liverpool supporters not already standing leapt to their feet in anticipation. Chelsea’s defence was ragged, the famed organisation patently absent. Vulnerability was in the air, and Liverpool had emerged from the tunnel in merciless mood.

Liverpool’s prominence in recent weeks has partly been rooted in the buccaneering spirit of their full-backs, Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio. Arbeloa’s response was superb, drilling the ball to Torres, whose finish was perfection, the ball struck hard and fast and sent flying past Cech. Chelsea’s keeper had no chance. His defence had let him down. And when presented with a chance in front of goal, Torres rarely lets Liverpool down.

The tie remained evenly balanced, Chelsea knowing that an equaliser immediately secured them the initiative. A classic game unfolded, Chelsea opening up and pouring forward. Opportunity started knocking in front of a concerned Kop.

Didier Drogba, the spearhead of Hiddink’s 4-1-2-2-1 formation, squandered two good chances to level before the break. When Salomon Kalou ushered Drogba through, Pepe Reina stood firm, making a good save. Then when Michael Ballack swept the ball in from the left, Drogba lost Jamie Carragher but his finish was poor, hammered into a relieved Kop.

The waves of blue rolled with increasing frequency towards Reina’s goal. Ballack started to reveal his true class, although he was deceived by a wonderful piece of skill from Alonso, who needed only a cape and a shout of "ole’’ to complete the matador’s touch. Behind Alonso, Martin Skrtel rose to the aerial challenge.

Until seven minutes from the break, Liverpool repelled everything that came their way. Chelsea would not be denied. When Gerrard slid in to block a cross from Kalou, Chelsea had a corner and their big guns moved up. All eyes were on Terry and Alex, Ballack and Drogba. Mistake.

No Liverpool player paid enough attention to Ivanovic. As Florent Malouda’s corner swirled in, Ivanovic made his move, brushing aside Alonso and jumping between Skytel and Albert Riera. Muscling opponents out of the way, the Serbian had eyes only for the ball, which he sent powering past Reina.

Liverpool rallied. Roared on by fans who made this another unforgettable European night at Anfield, Liverpool stormed forward, looking to regain the lead. Kuyt went close as the half concluded, his strong shot pushed away by Cech.

Now attacking the Kop in the second half, Liverpool still had to escape the assorted traps Hiddink had set them, notably Michael Essien shadowing Gerrard. As Chelsea gained in confidence, the bouts of abuse towards Lampard and Terry quickened. Lampard’s weight, Terry’s mother: the merits of both were discussed at length.

Chelsea took the barbs in their stride, not losing their composure, rarely giving away possession. Lampard, wearing a tribute to his mother stitched into his boots, a remembrance of the anniversary of her tragic death, delivered a superb display in front of his proud father, who sat in the directors’ box admiring his son’s work-rate.

Lampard was everywhere, clearing in front of his defence one moment, then powering forward to send Drogba through on goal. Having beaten Skrtel, Drogba placed his shot past Reina but there was the indefatigable Carragher covering back to clear off the line.

Chelsea were seeing more of the ball, Liverpool being restricted to counter-attacks. In the Kop, a large banner reading "FEARLESS" was raised. Yet the fears were found in Liverpool’s defence, Skrtel enduring a particularly awkward evening.

On the hour, Reina was caught by Terry, hardly maliciously but deeply unnecessarily as the Liverpool keeper clearly had the ball safely in his clutches before Chelsea’s captain came wading in. Claus Bo Larsen, the Danish referee, brandished a yellow card that triggered outrage in the blue ranks as it ruled Terry out of the second leg.

Anger swept through Hiddink in particular. Chelsea’s coach charged down the line to protest, a rare display of dissent from a manager who has seen it all before in a long, distinguished career. The sense of injustice stirred something deep within Chelsea, something that triggered an astonishing reaction.

Within seven minutes they were leading 3-1. Liverpool had failed to learn from Chelsea’s corners. Again their zonal marking was vulnerable to runners arriving late, as Ivanovic did again. Speeding on to a Lampard corner, the mystery man of Chelsea FC really made a name for himself with another emphatic header.

Liverpool were stunned, their defence a shambles when the ball was whipped in from the flanks. Three minutes later, Ballack teased a fine pass down the inside-left channel and Malouda was off and running, hurtling towards the byeline before crossing. Drogba, sliding in ahead of Carragher, made it 3-1. Anfield was momentarily silenced, all the noise now coming from Chelsea throats. Crowing was not the least of it.

Edited April 9, 2009 by farangconnection

[MSingh]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

I was right though...

[bkkjames]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

I was right though...

M S oothsayer you are - not bad - should be a weather man mate.

[MSingh]

I personally see the pressure in the First Leg of these Games on the Away Team cos if they don't score, they may be in a whole heap of trpuble in the Return Leg at their place..

Chelsea HAVE to attack tonight & score at least one & if they don't, it'll be Liverpool who go through..

Not that i really give a <deleted> either way though..

Thanks for your prediction Nostridomous! haha I reckon we will get at least 1 at Anfield then keep them out at home....COME ON THE CHELS!!!

I was right though...

M S oothsayer you are - not bad - should be a weather man mate.

I can see myself now....

[mrtoad]

Great result for Chelsea, and to be honest I'm not surprised. All the hype over the past few weeks has been about Liverpool, but Chelsea have been quietly getting on with it , and I see Chelsea as more of a threat than Liverpool.

[Ossies]

Well done to the boys last night. Basically outplayed the Scousers last night. Should keep them quiet for a bit.

As good a chance as any of the others to win it. If it doesn't seem too obvious I think it will be the team who can perform to their maximum in each game left who will win it. Only problem we have this year is performing consistently in the big games. if you look at our league record between the top 4 and every time we have a chance to capitalise in the league we have been found wanting (Spurs just another example).

Anyway play to our ability in 4 more games and we could at last be champions of Europe!

[MSingh]

Well done to the boys last night. Basically outplayed the Scousers last night. Should keep them quiet for a bit.

As good a chance as any of the others to win it. If it doesn't seem too obvious I think it will be the team who can perform to their maximum in each game left who will win it. Only problem we have this year is performing consistently in the big games. if you look at our league record between the top 4 and every time we have a chance to capitalise in the league we have been found wanting (Spurs just another example).

Anyway play to our ability in 4 more games and we could at last be champions of Europe!

Let's hope not..

COME ON BARCA..

[MSingh]

Watched the Replay last night, Chelsea were Singing " Where's your famous Apt-mos-phere " ..

[bkkjames]

Watched the Replay last night, Chelsea were Singing " Where's your famous Apt-mos-phere " ..

I caught the replay as well - note to self- zone marking doesn't work despite what redcheeks says. oops sorry, can't banter about LP on other threads,,,

Chelsea looked and played well, Drogba alone had enough quality chances to be them.

[samuibeachcomber]

Chelsea are n't through yet,complacency could be their biggest enemy.No Terry either.Terry is to chelsea what ferdinand is to man.U.

[StevieH]

Chelsea are n't through yet,complacency could be their biggest enemy.No Terry either.Terry is to chelsea what ferdinand is to man.U.

no way we score three without reply at stamford bridge man, terry or no terry. take a miracle of istanbul proprtions to see us through now, chelsea just did a number on us good and proper. they're not out of the league title race either.

[MSingh]

Chelsea are n't through yet,complacency could be their biggest enemy.No Terry either.Terry is to chelsea what ferdinand is to man.U.

no way we score three without reply at stamford bridge man, terry or no terry. take a miracle of istanbul proprtions to see us through now, chelsea just did a number on us good and proper. they're not out of the league title race either.

I think with Gerrard & Torres on the same Team, on a Football Pitch, in any Game, that Team is capable of scoring lots of Goals..

Add to that no John Terry & it isn't over, that's for sure..

But i'd still be amazed if Liverpool turned it round..

[StevieH]

Chelsea are n't through yet,complacency could be their biggest enemy.No Terry either.Terry is to chelsea what ferdinand is to man.U.

no way we score three without reply at stamford bridge man, terry or no terry. take a miracle of istanbul proprtions to see us through now, chelsea just did a number on us good and proper. they're not out of the league title race either.

I think with Gerrard & Torres on the same Team, on a Football Pitch, in any Game, that Team is capable of scoring lots of Goals..

Add to that no John Terry & it isn't over, that's for sure..

But i'd still be amazed if Liverpool turned it round..

we're not prolific enough in other areas of the side. negate gerrard and torres and you've pretty much done us, which chelsea did perfectly. kuyt doesn't score enough, riera's goal threat is poor and alonso and mascherano aren't real goal threats either. add to that that the only defender we have who is a threat from set-pieces is sami hyypia and i can't see us getting three.

that said, we've nothing to lose at all so we might as well go at them hel_l for leather. might as well lose the second leg 4-3 as win it 1-0.

[MSingh]

Chelsea are n't through yet,complacency could be their biggest enemy.No Terry either.Terry is to chelsea what ferdinand is to man.U.

no way we score three without reply at stamford bridge man, terry or no terry. take a miracle of istanbul proprtions to see us through now, chelsea just did a number on us good and proper. they're not out of the league title race either.

I think with Gerrard & Torres on the same Team, on a Football Pitch, in any Game, that Team is capable of scoring lots of Goals..

Add to that no John Terry & it isn't over, that's for sure..

But i'd still be amazed if Liverpool turned it round..

we're not prolific enough in other areas of the side. negate gerrard and torres and you've pretty much done us, which chelsea did perfectly. kuyt doesn't score enough, riera's goal threat is poor and alonso and mascherano aren't real goal threats either. add to that that the only defender we have who is a threat from set-pieces is sami hyypia and i can't see us getting three.

that said, we've nothing to lose at all so we might as well go at them hel_l for leather. might as well lose the second leg 4-3 as win it 1-0.

You don't think Benetiz will write it off Stevie do you, what with the League still tight & argubly all to play for ??

[StevieH]

You don't think Benetiz will write it off Stevie do you, what with the League still tight & argubly all to play for ??

nah of course not, he's not the sort. he'll be livid at the way we conceded the two stupid goals from corners though. most reds i know have effectively conceded the chelsea tie though and want us to concentrate on the league now.

[Devil]

You don't think Benetiz will write it off Stevie do you, what with the League still tight & argubly all to play for ??

nah of course not, he's not the sort. he'll be livid at the way we conceded the two stupid goals from corners though. most reds i know have effectively conceded the chelsea tie though and want us to concentrate on the league now.

It also depends on how Chelsea approach the game. The question is will Chelsea park the bus and frustrate us or try and kill us off early on? personally I think Hiddink will try kill us off knowing his mentality which may possibly be our only chance of getting in.

Raffa will go for it... I think there is too much pride at stake, I could be wrong? I would like to think it might be close but realistcally its set up perfectly for Chelsea to hit us on the counter and could turn out into another beating. It really would take an Epic performance from us to take this to penalties or a win and even I cant see us turning this around.

[Seapok]

You don't think Benetiz will write it off Stevie do you, what with the League still tight & argubly all to play for ??

nah of course not, he's not the sort. he'll be livid at the way we conceded the two stupid goals from corners though. most reds i know have effectively conceded the chelsea tie though and want us to concentrate on the league now.

It also depends on how Chelsea approach the game. The question is will Chelsea park the bus and frustrate us or try and kill us off early on? personally I think Hiddink will try kill us off knowing his mentality which may possibly be our only chance of getting in.

Raffa will go for it... I think there is too much pride at stake, I could be wrong? I would like to think it might be close but realistcally its set up perfectly for Chelsea to hit us on the counter and could turn out into another beating. It really would take an Epic performance from us to take this to penalties or a win and even I cant see us turning this around.

I really can't see your boys turning us over at the Bridge, to win 3-0 just isn't gona happen. We have JT out but that void will only be replaced by Riccy Carvalho, who and I hate to say is a better defender than Terry. As long as Essien keeps Gerrard in his pocket again I can't see anything else other than us going on to play Barca....which is gona be a massive mountain to climb.

Edited April 10, 2009 by Seapok

[MSingh]

You don't think Benetiz will write it off Stevie do you, what with the League still tight & argubly all to play for ??

nah of course not, he's not the sort. he'll be livid at the way we conceded the two stupid goals from corners though. most reds i know have effectively conceded the chelsea tie though and want us to concentrate on the league now.

It also depends on how Chelsea approach the game. The question is will Chelsea park the bus and frustrate us or try and kill us off early on? personally I think Hiddink will try kill us off knowing his mentality which may possibly be our only chance of getting in.

Raffa will go for it... I think there is too much pride at stake, I could be wrong? I would like to think it might be close but realistcally its set up perfectly for Chelsea to hit us on the counter and could turn out into another beating. It really would take an Epic performance from us to take this to penalties or a win and even I cant see us turning this around.

I really can't see your boys turning us over at the Bridge, to win 3-0 just isn't gona happen. We have JT out but that void will only be replaced by Riccy Carvalho, who and I hate to say is a better defender than Terry. As long as Essien keeps Gerrard in his pocket again I can't see anything else other than us going on to play Barca....which is gona be a massive mountain to climb.

If Gerrard's even about next week..

[Seapok]

Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton

What the hel_l was that about, home and dry within the hour then that shambolic performance happens, Cech was at fault for at least 2 of the goals. If we play like that on Tuesday then the bin dippers would deservedly go on to play Barca. Talk about switch off, come on Chels sort it out for <deleted> sake!

[Devil]

Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton

What the hel_l was that about, home and dry within the hour then that shambolic performance happens, Cech was at fault for at least 2 of the goals. If we play like that on Tuesday then the bin dippers would deservedly go on to play Barca. Talk about switch off, come on Chels sort it out for <deleted> sake!

Wasn't expecting you to concede 3, I turned away next thing I knew Bolton were going for a 4th??? very un Chelsea like... Could make for a very exciting game on Tuesday. I would imagine Chelsea might be a little bit edgy at the back after today's performance.

[samuibeachcomber]

Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton

What the hel_l was that about, home and dry within the hour then that shambolic performance happens, Cech was at fault for at least 2 of the goals. If we play like that on Tuesday then the bin dippers would deservedly go on to play Barca. Talk about switch off, come on Chels sort it out for <deleted> sake!

Wasn't expecting you to concede 3, I turned away next thing I knew Bolton were going for a 4th??? very un Chelsea like... Could make for a very exciting game on Tuesday. I would imagine Chelsea might be a little bit edgy at the back after today's performance.

thats what you get when you replace two hard working players with 2 lazy bastards.

[Seapok]

Hiddink warns Blues to 'wake up'

Guus Hiddink admitted Bolton had given Chelsea a "wake-up call" ahead of their Champions League game with Liverpool.

"If you play at the top you cannot afford to do it twice," said Chelsea's boss after his side leaked three goals in nine minutes in their 4-3 victory.

"We must not let it happen again. All of a sudden we got very sloppy and too relaxed and didn't win defensive duels.

"I am not just talking about the defence but also the midfield and front players," added the Dutchman.

Chelsea face Liverpool in their second-leg Champions League quarter final tie on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, having won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield.

With presumably one eye on that game, Hiddink withdrew goalscorers Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba with 20 minutes remaining, but the Chelsea manager insisted the substitutions had not prompted his side's mini-collapse.

"We did not perform well. There was a sequence of errors that we made. I don't think the substitutions were the cause. We were just too relaxed in the last 20 minutes."

[oldgit]

Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton

What the hel_l was that about, home and dry within the hour then that shambolic performance happens, Cech was at fault for at least 2 of the goals. If we play like that on Tuesday then the bin dippers would deservedly go on to play Barca. Talk about switch off, come on Chels sort it out for <deleted> sake!

I didn't see the game,S. How did we let them back in? Did we just stop playing?

[Seapok]

Chelsea 4 - 3 Bolton

What the hel_l was that about, home and dry within the hour then that shambolic performance happens, Cech was at fault for at least 2 of the goals. If we play like that on Tuesday then the bin dippers would deservedly go on to play Barca. Talk about switch off, come on Chels sort it out for <deleted> sake!

I didn't see the game,S. How did we let them back in? Did we just stop playing?

It was a pretty good game for the 1st hour, then we just took the foot off, took off Lamps and Drogba put on Anelka and Deco, I don't think Deco actually touched the ball. Cech made a couple of very bad decisions trying to get to balls that he couldn't reach and the defense was caught ball watching, we one but I was gutted by the way we conceded and nearly dropped points. I know we won't do that against the bin dippers Tuesday but it might just give them an extra incentive to bombard our box.

[Seapok]

What a game, talk about an emotional roller coaster, I had two heart attacks, died and was resurrected, lucky its around easter time!

Blues prevail in Euro classic

Chelsea edged into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after grinding out a 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

A topsy-turvy encounter saw Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso fire the visitors into a commanding half-time lead, but a Didier Drogba toe-poke, a thunderbolt from Alex and a bundled effort from Frank Lampard saw the Blues turn the tie around.

An ambitious strike from Lucas and a Dirk Kuyt header set up a grandstand finish, but Lampard snatched his second of the night with time ticking away to hand Chelsea a 7-5 aggregate win and a safe passage into the last four.

Liverpool had dominated proceedings from the off and it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring after 19 minutes.

Great awareness from Aurelio saw him catch out the usually reliable Petr Cech with a 30-yard free-kick which he snuck inside the post with the Chelsea keeper caught in no-man's land.

Liverpool were then in dreamland after 28 minutes as Branislav Ivanovic was penalised for holding in the box and Alonso fired home from the spot.

All of sudden a 3-1 first-leg deficit look like being wiped out, but the contest was turned on its head in spectacular fashion after the interval.

A slight touch from Drogba on a low Nicolas Anelka cross was enough to see Jose Reina spill into his own net seven minutes into the second half, before Alex rifled home the most spectacular of free-kicks five minutes later.

Lampard then benefitted from some fine work by Drogba on 76 minutes to put the Blues in front, but within five minutes Lucas levelled matters once again when his deflected effort beat a stranded Cech.

Kuyt then nodded home from close range on 82 minutes as the Reds began to believe again, only for Lampard to dash their dreams in the final minute when he lashed into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had always maintained that the first goal would be the most important but when Kuyt collected a pass from Yossi Benayoun and fired over in the 13th minute, he could have been forgiven for thinking that perhaps the task ahead was indeed far too great.

But six minutes later Liverpool were in front when they punished Lampard's push on Kuyt in spectacular fashion.

With everyone expecting the free-kick from the right of goal to be pumped high into the centre of the penalty area, Aurelio stunned everyone, including the flat-footed Cech, by firing his 30-yard effort straight into the bottom near corner of the net.

Referee Luis Cantalejo then rightly awarded Liverpool a penalty when Chelsea's first-leg goal hero Ivanovic clearly held back Alonso.

The Liverpool midfielder stepped up to beat Cech and suddenly the impossible seemed possible.

Chelsea had Cech to thank for keeping them on level terms on aggregate when he tipped away a header from Kuyt in the final minute of the opening half.

Hiddink's side needed a goal to take the sting out of Liverpool's momentum and it arrived somewhat fortunately in the 51st minute.

Anelka, a 35th-minute replacement for the poor Salomon Kalou, crossed low from the right and Drogba got a touch on the ball, with Reina only able to turn it over the line.

Chelsea made it 2-2 on the night when Jamie Carragher's foul on Drogba was punished by a fierce 25-yard free-kick by Alex.

With 14 minutes remaining Liverpool's dreams looked finished when Drogba crossed for Lampard to apply the finish.

But a long-range effort from Lucas was deflected off Michael Essien and beyond Cech in the 81st minute and, somewhat astonishingly, Kuyt put Liverpool 4-3 ahead on the night with a six-yard header two minutes later.

But with Liverpool needing one more goal for a glorious victory in this emotional week on Merseyside, 20 years on from the Hillsborough disaster, Lampard ended a stunning contest with his second of the night in the last minute.

Chelsea will face Barcelona in the last four but only after Liverpool had pushed them all the way in a pulsating contest that was a marvellous showcase for English and European football.

Benitez must have wished that Steven Gerrard had been fit enough to play as his contribution may well have been the telling one, on a night when the Reds almost managed to achieve the unthinkable.

[Ossies]

Anyone know if the FA semi is on local TV this Saturday? I know it is not on True Visions but thought I saw some advert trailer for it on local TV??? Cheers