Reflections post - Wednesday night

Us Chelsea fans have become thick skinned when it comes to dealing with the impact of Champions League exits, so for me in particular Wednesday night didn't pull at the emotions too much. After all, only one stonewall penalty appeal this time. In fact the only thing that did make my blood boil, although I should be used to it by now, was being surrounded my 'mancs' in a pub in London. It seems the chant really is true. U-N-I.. T-E-D.. United fans are from Surrey.

What else is there to talk about? Oh yeah, Torres. In hindsight, he shouldn't have started, Drogba should. Hindsight allows a lot of people to jump on the bandwagon, and they often duely oblidge. Not for one minute am i trying to detract away from the fact that he was god awful at Old Trafford, but going into the big match, I'd have started Torres. Drogba is fantastic as an impact sub, and he showed exactly on the night, but as a ST holder that watches Chelsea week in, week out. I'll tell you, the match before last against Wigan, Drogba stunk. His attitude, his performance, everything. Incidentally, it was when Torres (and Benayoun) came on that we looked more potent, and actually scored. Good of MOTD to solely focus on the snippets of Torres chances missed for their analysis.

United were the better team over two legs. Decent second leg performance from The Blues. Left ourselves too much to do from 1st leg.

England related grumbles continued

Yelping at the top of my voice, "Scholes you ginger c**t", he was the only one on that field that should have been booed. I'd had a few stella's, but they only aided my confidence to bellow out my pent up feelings about that inbred, manc scumbag. During the game at Wembley where United fans booed Terry, Lampard and Ashley Cole's every touch of the ball. I merely felt it my duty to remind everyone within verbal distance of my seat, that Scholes refused to play for his country this summer. All game.

We all know that playing for England in recent years has been nothing but a poisoned chalice, but the very players that fans up and down this country have been booing for England's embarrassing exit, are the ones that would give their all to play for their nation. The media have been all over Scholes in recent weeks, rightly so after some impressive performances in a United shirt. But so he should. He's had a whole summer to himself. Probably sitting on a deckchair in his modest back garden in Oldham. The press continually praise him and Giggs for staying out of the limelight all these years, but that's just because they're boring. Have you ever been to Bury? Dreary place. Explains a lot about the Neville's.

My point is that in the last few days, Ancelotti has confirmed that Lampard will certainly start against West Ham next weekend. Strange confirmation by the club to make at this early stage, having confirmed Terry and Lampard would miss both England games(Friday and this coming Tuesday)straight after the last club match. Immediaetly signalling the media to jump in, suggesting that Lampard and Chelsea intended on putting club before country during this break when the season has started back in August. Ancelotti obviously quickly quashed claims. My issue is, so what if they did? I think it's sensible. The Chelsea boys in particular have given every minute to the England cause and let's face it, if we're going on public opinion, they should step aside and let the youth have a chance with this new qualification campaign.

Up the chels!

Joe Cole

Joe Cole has gone and joined Liverpool, and in doing so has left a bit of bad taste in the mouth. I don't think there is anywhere in the division he could have gone that would not have left the feelings I have about the situation now. Maybe the graveyard of footballers careers, St.James's park. It would be easy for us to Chelsea fans to now be bitter about him, now he has left - but we are not Man United, fans. I genuinely do remember the good times he brought, and wish him the best.

There's just one or two things about what has happened that wrangles me. The grumbles about him moving for money just does not seem to want to go away. Quotes from Ancelotti about his decision to leave was an 'economical' one suggests that he was offered a contract from the club that he did not find equitable enough. I would like to think that he moved to acquire a regular first 11 berth, as it fits the sort of profile that Joe Cole enjoyed as a firm fans favourite at the bridge.The second thing that really stung, Joe, was the 'Anfield aura' comments. We would like to think that you appreciated the raucous reception you got from the Matthew Harding, as if you were one of our own.

One of the English boys that people associate with the club as a whole, talked about the atmosphere in the stadium of his new team he was playing against, with admiration. A player being paid a mass salary by our club, in the semi-final of a European competition that we have never won before in our history.

"I thought about the Champions League semi in 2005 when I ran on to the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up" he said in the press conference.

I used to laugh at idiotic scousers that constantly reel out that sort of tripe. I cannot believe that somebody idolised by a club the size of ours, with the sort of character that gives Joe Cole the likability factor can stab the fans in the back like that. Then again, ask the few West Ham fans with brain cells and they will tell you exactly that. Celebrating the way he did when he scored a late winner for us against them. I have got visions of him doing that for Liverpool against us. Until that day however, good luck Joe.

‘SW6’ – Poetic treatment

The build up of excitement had been there for an age

Just quite how excited I am is difficult to guage.


My Dad, a spur, in awe at the lavish structure dominating the Fuham road sky line.

I wouldn’t exchange this experience for any other in my lifetime.


The streets awash with royal blue, as we march proudly toward my second home.

I look up, marvel at what is to me, an elaborate fortress. Stamford Bridge, Chelsea

football club is after all, all I’ve ever known.

Why is it that England fans constantly want, or applaud the exact opposite of what they wanted from the previous managers? Surely the majority of the supporters of this great nation have the intelligence to realise that Capello taking on board opinions from his players in a 'crisis meeting' is a recipe for disaster. Doesn't this just entirely contradict what authoritarian characteristics the Italian has in abundance? The very reasons the FA forked out his enormous salary. If we're going to revert back to the player power culture, which seemed to have disappeared before the tournament, we might as well get Mclaren back, after steering FC Twente to the Dutch title. At the very epicentre of this debate, and main victim of my criticism is captain of my very own club side, Mr John Terry. One thing you can bank on with a Terry interview is that he always speaks very honestly, unlike the dreary Gerrard and Rooney. You can just tell with his facial expressions, that he's speaking from the heart, but surely Terry of all people can see that admitting that there is divided opinion in the camp, and that 'people are going to have their say, whether they like it or not' is not good for the manager/player power relationship. It's not as if he's caused problems before. Particularly if you believe all that you hear with regards to the departures of Mourinho and Grant from the bridge. It just doesn't bode well for the reign of Capello as England manager if we've got somebody that isn't even the captain, leading a press conference, shouting the odds.

Wednesday is massive. The reaction from the inept performance against Algeria, added to Rooney's on pitch reaction, Terry's press conference and all the usual negativity from the media, is going to be intriguing. I could be made to eat my words again (if you read my opening blog), if Terry's rallying call leads to us trouncing the eastern-Europeans, giving us the required momentum to get to the latter stages, but I've got an inkling that Terry's need to be centre of attention could indirectly, and almost definitely undetected by the main-stream media, spell the end for yet another high-profile football team to lose their manager.

First opinions

I write my first blog at half time of Argentina against South Korea. An exilerating first 45 minutes of the second of the second round matches in the group phase. Amongst all the griping and moaning about the opening set of games, we've finally had a few goals. 6 already with the 3 slapped past the hosts last night by Forlan and co. I can't help but think about how many we're going to put past Algeria after almost falling asleep in their abysmal opening performance. Particuarly with Barry's return, meaning our natural shape that Capello likes is restored. We're going to need a lot more misfortune than we had in the USA game for us to drop points tomorrow night.

In other news, the new football league fixtures have been announced today. It seems the renewal of my season ticket brings an old favourite of mine back for me to applaud on the opening day. Robby Di Matteo scored an unforgettable goal on the day Chelsea won their first trophy in my lifetime, and I'm sure I wont be alone in the Matthew Harding to show our respect for a former hero. The first stand out fixture for myself and many of my mates is West Ham away on September the 11th of all dates. My favourite away day arrives earlier than usual this season, and the bulid up amongst my friends can start now.

Anyway, the second half is finding its rythem again..