chara

IF JT hadn't slipped...IF Kepa was Cole with penalties..If I'd been a better keeper Banks would never have played for England.......................😁

A question....is it realistic to reassess Klopp as a nearly man? So much media fawning about his time at Liverpool but can a case be made for him actually underachieving at Anfield ? Not saying he was a failure there by any means. Just asking.........

I liked Gus McCrea 😁 Agree about Hiddink though..... my wonderful mad neighbour Hendrick is Dutch a very kind if crazy man but I can see where the Dutch bristle comment comes from.

Hard to get the true feeling overall regarding the standing of The Poch with the fans and specifically on here. A perspective from an OG,,,just a perspective,,,not THE perpective, The unrecognised,,,for what ever reason,,,,,false dawn of the encouraging pre season games led to maybe higher expectations than were feasible but the absolute dross and shambles we all watched for much of the season was beyond acceptable even taking into account injuries and the upheavals of the not so " Brave New post RA World", Added to that some disgraceful pressers from The Poch certainly led me to question his ability to lead Chelsea any where and ,to my mind fully justified the anti Poch opinions from Mark and myself among others, The end to the Season led to a softening by most of us anti's and fair comments regarding the obvious improvements seen in the run down to the end of the season. I for one look at his "form" and as is the general feeling..I think... feel he is not the long term man for Chelsea...another season will show improvement I'm sure but ultimately The Poch will always..imho...be an almost man with a modicum of success but no triumphs on a consistent level.

It doesn't even make any sense...... "The player wasn't fouled...just a contact thing in a contact sport",,,, not correct as I saw it, but makes sense....Occupying a defenders space surely means no oppo player in the penalty area or to take it a sillier stage further,,in the opponents half. Off side...as I recall the original change in the "LAW" of the game was to prevent that most reviled of playground players.."The Goal Hanger"...the spirit of the law is correct,,,the application a mockery.

As alluded to by others...PGs**t lot stated that Sterling was occupying the defenders space...huh...can someone explain what that actually means?....It's aggravating enough when what appear to be strong penalty claims, as seen by reasonable folks, are dismissed but it was a case ,I think, a long time ago of things leveling out over a season,,human error or just bad luck with officials not having a clear view but now we seem to be at a stage when the ref can decide as he wants to rather than on what occurs. The newly constructed English language terms ,,as Mr Blair suggested many years ago.."Newspeak" as I recall...appear to explain incompetence and possible bias (as if) by an organisation who..as mentioned before..are there for the game not the game there for them.( Big salary checks say differently?)

I think for us it's THE GREAT F'OFF!

No attempt to even pretend to be neutral...disgraceful...

No offside?....

And so it goes on......................... Ref had clear view,,,disgrace,,forensic review v Chelsea appeal ?

Case in point re cards etc...the foul on Sterling ,,,had a yellow been given the ref would have been showing everyone to watch themselves,,,,,, instead?

Hmm Mark....from my memory Chopper never "put" anything anywhere,,,somewhat more "forceful" than that! The point well made though🤣

I heard that Sir Gareth asked that he be left out in case he got injured before the Euro stuff,,,,thinks its better if Chilly gets injured at the first England training session but can be there to "support" the squad.

They DONE GREAT !🥂

@My Blood Is Blue,,,remember Sam,,,"Out of the mouths of babes,,,,,,"😁👨‍👧‍👧

Take solace in my post Sam🤣📈

I'm looking forward to Nkunku following on from the last game,,,,

It's the "Participation" award section I believe... joins Klippoty as the "Goodbye" dual (historic pairing) award..or as someone put it.."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road:,,or was it "Ruby Tuesday'? OR..as Dylan might have put it...."Goodbye is too good a word babe,,,So I'll just say Fuck Off the pair of you." Apologies to Jane and mods...don't like to post full words but seems appropriate in this instance☠️

@Sciatika..usual great ,quiet. post.... as you say..recognise the differences and not compare the game as like for like...a trip to the local park will find football being played ..maybe enjoyable to watch but in no way comparable to the EPL and higher levels...and not judged as such. I don't watch the Female game so much these days but watched quite a bit out here a few years back.....slower of course but as appeared to me a lot of thought and tactical play...slower pace helps of course...mind you..slower pace is compared to the top flight....doubt many lower level players guys grass roots could match the Chelsea girls! Bit like an average club tennis player trying to keep up with Billie Jean or Martina!!

Some OG thoughts FWIW.... @Mark Kelly,,, Mark's reference to the forensic nature of so many Chelsea "incidents",,,exactly the word in my mind as I ,again, considered the two opposing decisions..Jame's silly kick out...which hardly made contact,,if it had why such a detailed examination? The forensic intensity of a major crime scene almost....The Lamptey assault was immediately identified as what it was by just about everyone on here and elsewhere,,as another poster mentioned,,anyone with any knowledge of the game could see what happened,,,but not the cursory VAR glance? Cynical OG long gone ex player says something like FFS Reece if you are gonna do it make it worth while not a wimpy tickle...bad sport?...absolutely with no aplogies...anyone who played or is still playing can recount horror stories of game assaults ....a dark side of the game at all levels but it is and always has been there,,,, the overprotection as claimed of keepers was long overdue for instance,,too vulnerable and an easy target for thugs..... cost me a week in hospital,,, My point is for all the clamoring for "protecting" the more talented players it only works if the officials take an honest stand....the ref seemed to use the :"let the game flow " edict to hide from really getting on top of what was happening...Dunk's yellow was a joke in as far as it was just a gesture, a yellow yes, but not one that spoke to the players as a warning...that is where the real cowardice is.... again players at all levels know within a short time if they can get away with stuff and con the ref....at the highest level with full time well paid officials such things should not happen....mistakes are one thing,,,,not taking the responsibilities of the job is a dereliction of duty...again...these Ps**t lot are not ex park players trying to give something back to grass roots football, Just saying.

Who?.....not questioning your post,,,honestly as a question. Just seen Michael's post,,,,,crossed my mind too as cards are really the only way to judge,,which means a player got caught by the ref (culpable or not!) unlike some who have a charmed "card" life and the frivolous cards for too much mouth etc, Reece gets "irresponsible" cards and does have a tendency to bristle when on the receiving end of things,physical and verbal ...didn;t he get a red on his first England appearance when he was judged to have been MoM or such?

Remember it well,,,and unless my OG eyes are truly betraying me I believe the keeper is my hero!

Given straight uncomplicated yes/no I would still say yes,,,the reality however doesn't allow for such a simple answer....better the Devil etc unless there is a better prospect available...which all seem to agree is not the case. For me it is support for The Poch by default,,,credit when due but my God we saw some abysmal displays not fully justified by the new squad injury list apologies. A couple of disgraceful pressers didn"t help my view and as I alluded to in another post somewhere I truly wondered if someone else was doing the real coaching all of a sudden,,the difference has been astonishing at times and over such a short period.

@Chelsea_Matt and @kev61,,,thanks for the post comments,,,but hope you didn;t miss TIC🙋‍♂️

I'm with Mark still,,,things look better,,still don;t think he is a dynasty coach or even very good but as long as he does the business I will support him,,it's his ":form" that keeps bothering me...,the "almost man" and don't forget how dire Chelsea have been at times,,,,, today especially I thought "Who is coaching this lot NOW?"😆