chara

With,hopefully, a full fit squad to choose from The Poch will come up with consistent game winning tactics but my (suspect) gut feeling is he doesn't have the "touch" or bravery to reach a different level despite the potential in a fully fit squad. The Poch has recorded "form" over a period of time and imho will present us with a Spuds slight upgrade...almost but not quite...................

I can't believe any real football fan could be anything but a Crespo fan,

Enigma as things stand...the first goal was sublime from his run and Palmers vision and perfect pass to the goal..would earn a twenty year rerun if it were Rooney,Giggs etc, From as good as gets to nearly as bad as it can get....I'm not a Mudryk apologist or fan particularly but remember KDB and Salah at SB were not the players they developed into as they matured..with a far more stable football back history than Mudryk..... as stated elsewhere maybe better or more focused coaching would help or maybe he will never step up but given everything that has and is happening at Chelsea a little more time should be given inmho.

Just an aside,,I (we?) need Manure Spuds The Arse and basically any side playing in red to lose every week...it's in the blood!

Hmm,,,we do have starlings,as you indicate..hooligans... and a variety of woodpeckers plus an assortment of great birds from two type of small chickadees..(watching a "Mary Poppins" type American robin strutting about outside the window as I type.)...up to Golden and Bald Headed Eagles with red tail hawks and other raptors in between..as someone once sang.."Be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly",,,,Rocky Mountain High indeed,,after 25 years can still take my breath away.

😁Don't underestimate starlings!...Hitchcock wanted to use them in "that" movie but they were tpo aggressive and didn't "look" the part!,,,reminds me of harsher (younger)days working behind a bar and the nasty little sh**s of Tom Cruise stature who scared the living crap out of me!

Hmm bit harsh, young, but I agree about Eidur,,,,,it was the role not a replacement of him...think he has the ability to provide that edge if not at Eidurs level of play....this time next season it will be clearer....he does put the effort in and that means a lot to me.

@east lower,,, have Ped's ashes waiting for when I get subbed,,,can just put my hand on them and he's there,,,same with the cats..only memories but half asleep seems one occasionally snuggles up in that "only here by chance" mode! Bear incident last night and Jessi at 14 outside with me,,,(at 3-30), ,torch and shotgun rebagging scattered trash! Well up for it,,,she should know better!

At times when I walk the dogs around the "estate" I just know Pedro is walking beside me,,,comforting and a little ache. Just takes a little time for things to settle...as I'm sure you know.

Beautiful photo Ham...so so sorry,,,,,as you say the heartbreak is immeasurable ,,the cruelest irony is one of life's priceless gifts comes with so much of a shorter life span, One of my life support thoughts is " We are what we leave in the memory of those around us",,,, scant comfort but they never really leave our hearts,

OK...Prairie Jewel Jessi turned 14 this week,,,,still romps with the younger dogs although now only at normal pace unlike her warp speed younger self. An affectionate fiercely loyal companion who without being clingy always needs to know where I am..Want me?..look for Jessi..want Jessi?..look for me. From a young tiny puppy on my lap from Nebraska...trusting but not overwhelmed on a long journey to the Matron on the "No dogs on the new furniture" comfort spot.....another of life's unsung blessings

I posted my humble opinion of Jackson and stick by it.....not sure I can explain it properly but I get the feeling that IF Chelsea can get a real striker #1 Jackson would fill the hole Eidur left,,,never quite been replaced,,,the extra unheralded wild card element that caused all sorts of mainly unremarked issues for defences. (Haven't forgotten our long term injured striker who came on yesterday)

Morning after and paranoid Colorado weather,,nearly three inches of snow and lightening nearby,,sigh, One uncommented on change that I think is creeping up on us is the very early goal for Chelsea somewhat against the run of play,,,, not an every game occurance but yesterday was noticable for me at least,,,,we have "endured" a spell of late somewhat unjustified equalising goal etc (as in against the run of the game),,brain farts and sheer bad luck compounded by a lack of deep organisation in the defence line up..(another subject altogether) but the "rub" seems to be favouring us to a degree, Again,,,can someone explain the Off side mysteries to me ?..or at the very least the VAR version of the law of the game?,,, as an aside as a modest exkeeper for me anyone in and around the goal area is interfering with play as all keepers are/should be aware of the multitude of possibilities and no player can be considered as being neutralised...just me, Thanks again to @east lower,,and all game attenders (attendees?) whogive us up front viewpoints.

OK...had to miss the second half but watched the recording knowing the score but not the sequence,,,as a Chelsea vet with so many scars it is one of the games pleasures watching the true sense of "It's the hope that kills you" hitting the opposition fans. Not a good sport?...hell no.... can't recall any oppo sympathy when Chelsea suffered "bad" moments! I tried to follow the match thread in line with the game and understand exactly where all view points were coming from but able to be a bit more analytical...a "typical" CHO goal but generally as someone said about how he was at Chelsea.....don't begrudge the goal. Thought James looked good for his cameo...looked the player he is but early days of course' Have no intention of getting dragged into the Petr dig arguments....but,,,he stopped Woods early on and apart from the fact that I now no longer understand the offside rules the goal came off a toe (Conor?) and the second goal was as good as you will see...took some really difficult crosses,,,, if palmer had scored that goal at the other end n onoe would have looked at the keeper...still consider him a good'ish average EPL keeper ,,not PC or elite. Did I miss a change in offside?..or did I never understand it?...three players offside as the FK came over clear as anything or is that now ok?..happy to be told I do not understand the rules...anyone? and...as ever.. @east lower...usual request,,how was it in the trenches?

Huh?....and they wonder why we all hate VAR

Thanks for that ..your posts always add to the game experience...very much appreciated.

@east lower...how's the crowd atmosphere,,,Chelsea and Forest as you see it?

I am a bit "confused" watching the coverage this am.... pundits etc giving Burnley the drop but saying a Forest win will keep them safe....by my calculations..help me here...Luton have to win their last game 13-0 to stay up and Forest to lose both games by a total of 14 goals...huh?

@boratsbrother...the last bit...which is why the Forum is so good,,, imho...different viewpoints make for good talking points...right or wrong is not the issue so much as looking at things from a different angle and accepting that someone else's view is worth thinking about. I often agree with you and as often disagree but always appreciate the discussion.

Hmm..pretty v results.... great paper debate but when playing, watching at a game or even from the couch the focus is on winning and I think, same as me. most of us are kicking every ball as the game progresses....if Chelsea are behind I am "tense",,,if they are playing well in an entertaining game they are still losing and the "quality" of the game is somewhat irrelevant,,for me...same as being ahead in a rubbish game....I have never when playing or watching come away from a defeat and consoled myself that "we played well and good entertaining football"........and,,never won a rubbish game with regret! I'm a competitor now and always have been....not a "participation" deserves a trophy just for being there! OG and Old Fashioned.....

Last lines the crux of the issue for me..(and I think most on here)...thanks for the informative response...not news to me which shows the paucity of choice I guess but appreciate you taking the time.

Well thought out and presented response ... and appreciated. As ever the elite are few and far between and no way are Chelsea going to get a proven elite coach..the hope, for me. is somehow one of the "star dusted" younger coaches comes really good or a younger truly "coming" coach takes up the challenge...I am not as up with the pool of coaches available..especially abroad to make a judgement but I see no real contender. Agree the guys you mention needed time but they all had "form" to suggest it was a good call to give them time,

Just my opinion..stated before and probably will again!.... an average coach not bad but not elite,,,,as someone commented really we should have been seeing better results from the squad earlier than turned out. Injuries taken into account but I don't see The Poch as a "Leader".....IF he takes (took) Chelsea to a title it will be a one off...the elite coaches are serial winners not occasional good run winners,,,a relatively safe pair of hands as they say but not a serious challenger every season....settle for that? The Poch has well documented career "form",,,the "star dust" sprinkled young coach at Soton and the almost man at Spurs and PSG....stumbling at the last hurdle...familiar?....spots and leopards come to mind. Just OG thoughts. Added..meant to mention...almost man with Kane and Son at Spurs and a list of names at PSG that seems unreal.... might give a hint?

HMM....Milk Cup is the one that always seemed so out of place and innapropriate...always got images of "johnny foriegners" on bikes with a bottle of milk splashing everywhere in their hands as they sailed over a winning line. Weird !🚴‍♂️🚵‍♂️🥛🍼

Absolutely...I meant to elaborate on that aspect....back in the "Old Days"...even before us Og's...and the max wage time, I don't think the owners cared too much about the fans in as far as facilities were basic and there was very little competition for the attention of the "working man" and I get the impression that wealthy "possession" prestige owners somewhat looked down on the then important income source fans. We "hate" certain sides and they "hate" us...creates dynamics that far transcend balance sheets etc and make the game what it is...as an aside...as I see it. but only my opinion,for all the "enthusiasm" of the USA sports fans that edge...although present in a far less meaningful way always seems lacking in sports here. Might explain in a small part the difference in the basic approach of our Overlords ?