Chelsea v Inter

[Nigels Tackle]

Ronald is on for last 5 mins....

interested to see how he does.

[bluej]

Chelsea lose 3-1 on aggregate, Drogba sent off at the end as well.

[avoidconfusion]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

[Fidel Castro]

Why was drogba sent off???
I wanted Inter to go through but that dirty cunt Motta nearly made me change my mind

[Sister of fu]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!

On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending.

[Moonchesteri]

[highlight]Why was drogba sent off???[/highlight]
I wanted Inter to go through but that dirty cunt Motta nearly made me change my mind

I missed it but the commentator here said he stamped on defenders achilles tendon.. I'm not surprised at all tho.

[Moonchesteri]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!
[highlight]On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending[/highlight].

I was waiting for one for whole 90mins as well. And when I saw how much they hold Chelsea players' shirts I expected it every time Chelsea player was inside the box...

[gillie]

Jose does it again the guy is a genius if Bobby fails break the bank for Jose never mind sniejder.

[avoidconfusion]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!

On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending.

Yep saw it... unbelievable I have no idea how he did that without getting a knot in his legs... running one way with the ball and at the same time backheeling it with his WEAKER foot to Pandev (at least I think it was Pandev and not Motta, could be wrong though?).

World Class. He would be the missing link in our midfield. Strong, superb vision, not afraid to get into tackles either, can score and jesus how many killer passes did he play today? If Inter's forwards had not hesitated that much they could have scored 2-3 goals.

[Ted Hughes]

Tbf Chelsea should of had 3-4 pens & had they got one they probably would have done Inter on the break afterwards & won comfortably but as it was, they were completely totally outplayed. A great performance by Inter, best I've ever seen from them & streets ahead of the Inter side our bloke had. Much better to watch as well.

For Ancelotti, that was the managerial equivalent of having his bare arse slapped. He was outclassed from start to finish. Mind you I think judging by his PL performances this season he's vastly overrated anyway & lucky to have been in charge of such top teams. Avram Grant did a much better job there.

Jose finished off with the comment that he 'may be back there soon with an English team' so it looks as if something's afoot, either with us or the filth.

[getdressedmctavish]

If I was mancini I'd cancel training tomorrow and make them watch and take notes. Inter fouled, obstructed, fell over, feigned injury, obstructed free kicks,every member of the team with one object in mind. Break up Chelsea's play and frustrate them. When they get desperate, pick them off.Totally negatedChelsea's physical power. Made them look like schoolboys.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

If I was mancini I'd cancel training tomorrow and make them watch and take notes. Inter fouled, obstructed, fell over, feigned injury, obstructed free kicks,every member of the team with one object in mind. Break up Chelsea's play and frustrate them. When they get desperate, pick them off.Totally negatedChelsea's physical power. Made them look like schoolboys.

Haha they might do but having done no training on Monday or Tuesday I think they might need to do some.

[ross.mcfc]

The Premierships domanace of the CL is over.

[Kyle]

Mourinho is a good manager with fantastic tactical sense, but I really really hate him.

[BobKowalski]

Sneijder was class and plays as an attacking midfielder in front of the two holding midfielders which is what Ireland could and should be doing. In fact put Tevez (or Ade) in place of Milito and Bellers and AJ in place of Pandev and Eto'o and you have the same template of 433 which can become 451 when under pressure - which is pretty much how it played in the 1st half followed by breaking forward quickly and in numbers with Sneijder making the killer passes. Except our Sneijder is Zabs because Ireland is away with the faries. Paddy can play forward and hit the passes but can't see this as a 90 minute game after game option.

Inter's defence was immense along with the two players screening them although the niggling away was starting to annoy me although not as much as it did Chelsea which was of course the point. Jose has taken Inter forward this year with the addition of new players like Sneijder and it will be interesting to see how far he gets in the CL. I also noted that he sucked up to his special friend 'Sir Alex' :)

Ancelloti had no answer towards the end. Not scoring especially in the 15 mins before H/T did for them as Inter were looking a bit ragged at that point.

I do think there is one owner who will have taken serious note of Jose's coming back to the PL comments for maybe the first time and that is Roman. Does he want Jose coming back to the Bridge and haunting him every bloody season? He paid Jose off with a time out period from the PL plus a new Ferrari and other sweetners so what odds on Jose returning to the PL as Chelsea manager? Or is that a bridge too far?

[Trautmann]

For me the most impressive thing about Int Milan was hpw quickly they closed down runners and got the all important shot block...every time a Chelsea player pulled the trigger someone had his body in front of him.

Anelka looked bewildered at times--a tribute to how good this side is. You may hate Mourhino but he remains the best in the business.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!

On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending.

people would HATE Snejder in City over the time. One of the best in the world when he wants to be, like last night when he was bossing Chelsea almost alone BUT he blows hot and cold all the time and isn't exactly big trier.

We desperately need a playmaker but our real weakness right now is dealing with teams that come at us aggressively. We need Gerrard/Lampard type all action hero. Problem is, they are rare breed and don't exactly grow on trees. If a team has one, they aren't going to give up without a fight.

In a hindsight we should've gone all guns blazing after Xabi Alonso.

[ant london]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!

On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending.

people would HATE Snejder in City over the time. One of the best in the world when he wants to be, like last night when he was bossing Chelsea almost alone BUT he blows hot and cold all the time and isn't exactly big trier.

We desperately need a playmaker but our real weakness right now is dealing with teams that come at us aggressively. We need Gerrard/Lampard type all action hero. Problem is, they are rare breed and don't exactly grow on trees. If a team has one, they aren't going to give up without a fight.

In a hindsight we should've gone all guns blazing after Xabi Alonso.

I don't disagree with the sentiments as to who we should have gone after but fact is, we had zero chance of getting Alonso if we are realistic.

I also don't disagree that a Gerrard/Lampard figure would be ideal and would also liberate us from the need to play a De Jong type alongside a "schemer" who might be deficient in some ways (be that an Elano type who offers no defensive qualities, a Sneijder type who you say blows hot and cold, an Ireland type who is just out of form or a Barry type who is being shackled offensively and who is certainly not the real top quality picker of passes to unlock defenses that the schemer should be).

So, until we can find Lampard Mk II I would be happy if we could (for games where we should go at the opposition) find a dynamic central midfielder (basically Ireland last year) and I would play him alongside Barry and drop De Jong and take most of our offensive play either down the flanks or through the middle with Tevez dropping deep to cause havoc in the opposition's midfield and "Ireland" and/or Barry going beyond him into the space.

I would like Ireland back to form....and him to stay. If those issues cannot be resolved then either get another of his type or recruit Sneijder, Joe Cole or someone similar and accept that they will blow hot and cold and only play them when they are in form

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Break the bank for Sneijder is all I am saying. He bossed that game.

Just what we need, a centre midfielder who can destroy teams with one pass. He was excellent and I can't understand why Real got rid. Did you see that mad trick to put motta in ( I think) Class!!

On the other hand not sure how Chelsea did not get a pen for some of the very hands on Inter defending.

people would HATE Snejder in City over the time. One of the best in the world when he wants to be, like last night when he was bossing Chelsea almost alone BUT he blows hot and cold all the time and isn't exactly big trier.

We desperately need a playmaker but our real weakness right now is dealing with teams that come at us aggressively. We need Gerrard/Lampard type all action hero. Problem is, they are rare breed and don't exactly grow on trees. If a team has one, they aren't going to give up without a fight.

In a hindsight we should've gone all guns blazing after Xabi Alonso.

I don't disagree with the sentiments as to who we should have gone after but fact is, we had zero chance of getting Alonso if we are realistic.

I also don't disagree that a Gerrard/Lampard figure would be ideal and would also liberate us from the need to play a De Jong type alongside a "schemer" who might be deficient in some ways (be that an Elano type who offers no defensive qualities, a Sneijder type who you say blows hot and cold, an Ireland type who is just out of form or a Barry type who is being shackled offensively and who is certainly not the real top quality picker of passes to unlock defenses that the schemer should be).

So, until we can find Lampard Mk II I would be happy if we could (for games where we should go at the opposition) find a dynamic central midfielder (basically Ireland last year) and I would play him alongside Barry and drop De Jong and take most of our offensive play either down the flanks or through the middle with Tevez dropping deep to cause havoc in the opposition's midfield and "Ireland" and/or Barry going beyond him into the space.

I would like Ireland back to form....and him to stay. If those issues cannot be resolved then either get another of his type or recruit Sneijder, Joe Cole or someone similar and accept that they will blow hot and cold and only play them when they are in form

I agree with that.

We aren't allowed to critisize De Jong here but truth is he is so one dimensional it's ridiculous and takes so much away from our attacking. He is brilliant tackler and ball winner but all our chances for breaking into quick counter attack dies when he persists on slowing the game and passing backwards or at best sideways. Efectively making the ball he just won pointless (sort of). Barry is less of a tackler but Barry, when in form, would offer us more going forward. And we need a playmaker on the pitch. This 3 holding midfielder crap has carried on from Hughes era and is STILL fucking awfull.

[ant london]

You're not wrong there.

I love De Jong in terms of the games where he brings a real massive benefit (which is frankly mainly in the games against the real football playing "big" sides where we need to be breaking up their flow and stopping them playing (rather than vice versa)) In some of those kind of games this (and last) season he has been outstanding.

But the fact is, those games are precisely the ones that we are eminently capable of winning as those teams will pour onto us and try to outplay us. In those games all it needs is a big challenge by De Jong, a lay off to someone like Barry who plays a ball like the sweeping ball he played out to the left wing for Bellamy to run onto vs Chelsea. We then have the blistering pace and technique up front to punish those teams.

HOWEVER, as we all know, when we are the ones being harried and pressured playing someone like Nigel is, sometimes, in a perverse way just as limiting as playing someone like Elano. One offers nothing defensively but NdJ offers limited benefits with the ball.

When we are facing "lesser" players who are less likely to produce something quick or magical in the centre of the park we should be eminently capable of relieving the likes of Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham etc of the ball (after all, if we have the likes of Bellamy, SWP, Tevez in the team they are not shy of getting a foot in).

I'd honestly be happy for us to go with a 4-4-2 for these next few games with Barry and Ireland in the middle. I think we even saw that Barry and Vieira in the middle offers more in the way of attacking outlet without really sacrificing much in the way of robustness.

If we go two ahead then by all means I am happy for RM to come over all Serie A and bring on Nigel to shut up shop