Chelsea 2011/2012

marjen

And if the ref had done his job properly, we would have spent 80 % of the match 11 vs 10 - different story then surely. So stop complaining about decisions, you ignorant prick.

Team Brian GB

All good points, I am talking about the squad we have at our disposal currently for the rest of the season with regard to playing options. Our big problem over the last eighteen months is a simple one - our strikers are no longer scoring, we need players who will score goals and width to service them. It is no coincidence that the three years we have won the title in the last decade are the only three seasons when we have effectively utilised wingers into our play.

Though we do need a playmaker hence we were badly after Modric, but we also need another left back, a right back, and a central defender on top of a left winger and strikers - strong arguments can be made for all of them. The media seems to be fixated on Chelsea being after Higuain and Hazzard right now as opposed to the floating from one player to the next speculation day after day - it would be an expensive summer.

Gazza

I don't get why Team Brian is so defensive about the match today. Surely a Chelsea fan gains nothing from pretending Chelsea deserved to win the game or even played particularly well? If it was United in their position I would be fuming. In fact, although I'm on a high because we came back from 0-3, I still reckon we should have put them away.

Team Brian GB

Firstly, there is no need to get angry so calm down.

Secondly, the only people who think he should be sent off are Man United fans - he was going away from goal, it was outside the box, another defender was coming in and Cahill initially made contact.

marjen

He was going away from goal? He was 14 yards away from goal when he fell, with no one having a hope in hell of catching him, and the ball immediately in front of him. He basically needed a touch every football player on the planet would be capable of taking, to find himself with a 100 % chance.

You can't seriously mean that's not denying an obvious goalscoring chance?

Team Brian GB

I can, and your own Gary Neville seemed to think so.

MikeUpNorth

Yeah, I would have given him a yellow.

Laphroaig

Are you serious? Stonewall red. Welbeck was one on one, and the angle wasn't that bad. Webb bottled it. He didn't give the foul because he knew he would have had to give the red as well.

gooDevil

Seemed a clear red and a penalty to me, but from Webb's angle it didn't look nearly as bad as from the main camera.

Chelsea looked pretty poor overall, though Matta scored a nice goal. Leaving Luiz open for the header was embarrassing, how do you leave the first man wide open?

sammsky1

I was travelling so never got to see the game and when I got on the plane I just saw we were 2 don and thought 'bollox, game over' only to land a few hours later and see on my iPhone that it was 3-3 ..... sounds like it was an amazing 2nd half? Can anybody please PM me a link where I can either download the match or watch or replay stream? Is that possible?

Ubik

Looked a blatant red from where I was, if that doesn't result in a goalscoring opportunity then fuck knows what does. The only excusing factor is if he gets a touch on the ball first, which I couldn't see.

King_Eric

Manchester United videos

Orton

Earlier in the season he saw red for taking someone out at the halfway line, if that was a red, then yesterday's definitely should have been.

marjen

His touch is actually very good. Acres of space, 12-13 yards from goal, decent angle.. He needs one little touch to steady himself, then he's got about two or three seconds to pick his spot from 12 yards. If that isn't a goalscoring chance, an obvious one at that, nothing is.

Base your opinion on what you see, not what pundits think.

Ray Peterson

Personally, I thought Welbeck's touch was taking him away from goal. We'll never know if he could have got there in time to create a scoring chance because Cahill took him out. I don't think the ref would have sent him off (if he'd seen the foul) because of the touch going away from goal.

Sw33t

It's Welbeck's touch that makes the ball go away from goal, which makes Howard think Cahill played the ball when he didn't touch it.

Still a yellow and a free kick for me.

marjen

He takes the ball about a yard away from goal, running at speed. He reaches the ball in half a second, and frankly if my striker doesn't score on that chance, I'll be fuming.

Hectic

Yeah I'm not so sure the reason for your titles came down to utilizing your wingers.

SteveJ

I couldn't believe AVB's reaction to an interviewer's question yesterday. Granted it was the sort of loaded question they like to pose...something like "Andre, you've just ballsed-up a 3-0 lead and you're obviously crap - do you think you'll be selling the Big Issue come Monday?" But AVB sort of spluttered and said "Pfft....says you!"

Ray Peterson

It's debatable. His touch took the ball diagonally away from goal and Luiz was running in behind him. The ref would have been harsh to offer a red in my opinion, but as I said, we'll never know.

Ray Peterson

Did you see the sky interview? They cut AVB off short as they were running out of time and his face was a picture!

SteveJ

I only saw the edit on MOTD2, mate, so I missed the full interview. Although I could hardly believe his reaction, the question asked of him was a bit much. Always looking for controversy, these media types.

cinc

He very much looked like a broken man after yesterday's game.

Hectic

I'd say a blank cheque book has done more for Chelsea than making use of your wingers ever did during those three seasons. Also why does the last decade matter, it makes it seem like they were regular winners before that period.

Lance Uppercut

He came across as a Kenny-esque twat.

Ray Peterson

I suppose he hadn't come to terms with seeing his side lose a 3 goal lead. I feel for him in a way. He's come in to replace Ancelotti and he knows the level of success expected by Abramovich. I think he is viewed as a long-term appointment but if he doesn't qualify for the Champions League then he might be sacked. He has inherited a side that needs a bit of work and his star player can't buy a goal. If Torres was on form, he would have made it 4-2 and it would have been game over.

cinc

I dont think he can claim his team unlucky after the goal we conceived.

towcester_red

That was absolutely shocking. Even my mum asked why didnt he just shoot? Not even on form, common sense! How much time do you expect in the penalty area in the premier league!

Ray Peterson

I agree, I still can't believe we went 3-0 down after a first half in which we were the better side.

Coupled with his shocking miss in the first game, I think Torres is becoming one of my favourite opposition players.