Tyler

why are so many of our players bitter houghton is the same on rte

why are so many of our players bitter houghton is the same on rte

no point pretending that its other than a kick in the teeth. at 1-0 if we score at their place then they need to score 3. makes a big difference. if we drew 1-1 after being on the rack fine but we had them on the rack and should have scored more last minute goal is also a killer but going away and getting a result is part of winning this cup. now we need to score down there which we are capable of. its going to be tougher than it might have been but its done now

red? carvahlo covers for terry. a yellow next week and he misses final if they get through. that will be on his mind which is good torres was kicked around there tonight. chelsea players leading with their arms the whole f*cking time

they were there for the taking. we dominated first half of the second half. torres missed chances that he would score on another day. cech looks shakey on crosses. babel was great tonight. not sure what benayoun adds in those games. he is not physically strong enough. we're in it but mentally a blow to concede last kick of the game still, remember gudjohnsen shot in 2005? imagine that was second leg tonight. riise would need hicks' security detail

should have been a corner at the other end 4 minutes was up as well but we had chances to kill it were all over them for first half of second half. they were on the ropes still in it but need to get our heads right for next week.

we should have killed game. were chasing second goal kalou made difference when he came on masch should have blocked cross but it was dangerous cross. unlucky for riise. still in it but psychological blow to lose goal with last kick

arbeloa and masch let the cross happen difficult ball for riise - should have kicked it but jesus imagine that was second leg after a 0-0 at stamford bridge need to get after these next week - we had the advantage, fitter, faster, stronger cech is vulnerable to the cross kalou made difference when he came on defence dropped off too much

anybody think we might see lucas in instead of alonso?

to me the advantage of playing home second leg is that these games are usually fairly tight and playing first leg at home means that you approach in a conservative manner (if you're away you want to try and get back to your own ground still in contention and ideally with the away goal) and after the first game it is still only "half time" playing home second leg - result will be decided - tired legs get shouted on by home crowd - every decision is more vital as no second game to recover - home team if they are behind can attack with less caution "home team knows what to do" the psychology of home and away games even in the league always amazes me "why are teams generally better at home than away?" have never fully understood practical reasons for this - it must be to do with mentality/supporters/influence on referee/influence on opposition players but these are all variables In champions league first game (if away from home) is about staying in contention so that ideally you can progress with a draw at your own ground - that's where away goal is vital. Most teams seem to fancy that they can at least draw a one off game on their home ground.

i think hyypia will play centre half (drogba threat) and carra right back wonder if rafa will start with somebody rather than babel and introduce him after 65 minutes against tired legs? joe cole and drogba worry me - they always seem to score against us.

hope this doesn't distract from the game tomorrow semi final of the european cup should not be a side show to this

"I think maybe the supporters change for these games, you see more people coming from abroad and I think these people want to enjoy every second. The fans could be the difference. " Rafa clearly believes OOTers are noisier/sing more than locals. Puts paid to some myths around here

it is a stupid rule - law of averages suggests more games you play then chances of more yellow cards they should wipe the slate after the group stages at least it will be definitely on gerrards mind in the second leg if he is not booked tomorrow. human nature.

obvious difference from previous years is that they have the advantage in playing at home second leg tomorrow will be interesting though. rafa does seem to get it right tactically in these games but obviously players have to perform are we expecting any surprises in our line up?

interesting to see how we would cope if we were in contention. would pressure of a title run in affect us or would we be able to string the results together like we have done

i think he is such a strong character and his manner intimidates some of the "lesser" players. some of them just give the ball to him on demand when roy keane played for ireland it was the same type of scenario that's why i think gerrard will do well as a manager - he has a certain aura around him that intimidates/motivates people

he is as hyprocritical as all managers who use the media to distract from their failings/their team failing every manager does it but he is also a publicity wh*re file under ignore

when is constuction on stadium due to start has anything been done - any ground cleared etc

mention of magnier and mcmanus being interested as investors - they have form in investing in football for a quick profit hicks is probably looking for a 49% partner but will struggle to find one

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i am fairly certain that the shareholders agreement will have a list of restricted transactions that cannot be engaged in without both of h and g's consent one of them will be "termination of any key employees/senior employee" of which Rafa is certainly one

they have big advantage in playing second leg at home. We need to be ahead (ideally without conceding away goal) going down there. our record at stamford bridge is poor and they are going to be out for revenge. also - if united are through - this could be a distraction to us more than them with all that a united - liverpool final would entail

more i see of this the more i think we are approaching the end game and it looks like hicks has outmaneouvred the others

would meeting necessarily be there? calling a board meeting on 5 hours notice seems unrealistic to me especially in current climate could it be a rafa/parry clear the air meeting?