Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:36 pm  

Nailed on draw this....

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:41 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

We play Bayern Munich on Friday in the European Super Cup. So the game against Villa had to be moved to some other time.

I don't know whether Villa offered a preference, but it seems that Mourinho requested it to be played early.

Lambert chose to whine about it. If he put forward a case for another date (and Villa have a LC game this week too, and there are stupid international dates early in the season) then he will have a complaint if his legitimate choice was rejected instead of Mourinho's choice.) But from the petty whining that Lambert did, I reckon Villa offered no preference and he just whined about it because whining is a huge part of manager's jobs nowadays.

If Chelsea win tonight then we sit top of the table and there seems to be a huge gap between us and United. His "ploy" would have worked. But if Man United win tonight then Man United will sit at the top of the table having played a game less.

The guidelines are that games should be re-arranged as soon as possible. Once Chelsea put forward the earliest possible date they were always going to get the decision over any later date that Villa might have suggested.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:48 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

The guidelines are that games should be re-arranged as soon as possible. Once Chelsea put forward the earliest possible date they were always going to get the decision over any later date that Villa might have suggested.

So basically Lambert was whinging about nothing then. It did mean that Villa got a very tough opening week, far tougher than United's start anyway, but the guidelines pretty much went along with what CFC wanted.

Lambert definitely painted it as though the PL had gone along with what CFC wanted. He said he couldn't understand the reasoning. IMO he never bothered thinking about the reasoning because that got in the way of his whinge.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 7:56 pm  

Whatever Jose was attempting to do with that team it wasn't clear in the first half.

There's not much in the actual game, but I'm concerned that our shape is patently inferior to United's. Practically every deflected ball, every 2nd ball is picked up by United. Every time United come forward there are clear options and support runs made my United, there simply isn't any of that from Chelsea.

Can't comment on the possible booking on Cole because erm, my TV, was playing up, but to see a booking for De Bruyne after seeing Valencia was let off for chopping Oscar was ridiculous.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:06 pm  

Second half a lot tighter from Chelsea. First half I felt United shaded it, second half was even IMO.

I'd have given a pen against Lampard. The only defence he's got is that he was very close and turning his back to the ball, but IMO if you've got your arm out like that it should be a pen.

I've read that Valencia's foul on Oscar was a two footed lunge. Someone said that in real time thought yellow, but seeing the replay it was a red card challenge. Not even a foul from Atkinson.

Think Atkinson has some explaining to do about both bookings to Chelsea. I'm a Chelsea fan and I don't like Torres, but FFS the referees hate Torres and will book him for anything.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:32 pm  

Jose parked the bus, who'd have thunk it. Like the look of Chelsea, begging for a striker though, Benteke would be perfect.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:57 pm  

Ashley Cole's comedy dive was the undoubted highlight.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:57 pm  

What's the verdict on Benteke then? Looks an absolute handful every time I've seen him. Before he came, the word from the Belgians seemed to be he was raw, both technically and mentally, and lacked the necessary attitude to make it in England, but he's been a huge hit since arriving.

Some people think he's ready for a CL side, I've not seen enough of him to say so but the Liverpool fans were more wet by Toure keeping him relatively quiet than they were by Sturridge's goal.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:12 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

What's the verdict on Benteke then? Looks an absolute handful every time I've seen him. Before he came, the word from the Belgians seemed to be he was raw, both technically and mentally, and lacked the necessary attitude to make it in England, but he's been a huge hit since arriving.

Some people think he's ready for a CL side, I've not seen enough of him to say so but the Liverpool fans were more wet by Toure keeping him relatively quiet than they were by Sturridge's goal.

I've liked a lot of what I've seen of Benteke. But he's also been undisciplined, didn't know about the offside law during one of the games, and his scoring record at Villa isn't massively different to Demba Ba's record in England.

I reckon he might work at Arsenal. I don't think either of the Manc clubs would be interested in him, I think he'd struggle like Demba Ba at Chelsea.

Playing for a top 4 side is different to playing for Aston Villa. In theory you're playing with better players so will be given more chances, but in practice most of the time you are playing against the parked bus.

Personally I think he should stay at Villa for a few years and rack up more experience. He's only 22, which is still a kid in terms of centre forwards. He'll get played pretty much every week at Villa which he wouldn't be guaranteed at a CL club.

I think Mourinho could work with him and develop him. But I wouldn't to have him subjected to our fans in a million years.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Aug 27, 2013 11:38 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

Second half a lot tighter from Chelsea. First half I felt United shaded it, second half was even IMO.

I'd have given a pen against Lampard. The only defence he's got is that he was very close and turning his back to the ball, but IMO if you've got your arm out like that it should be a pen.

I've read that Valencia's foul on Oscar was a two footed lunge. Someone said that in real time thought yellow, but seeing the replay it was a red card challenge. Not even a foul from Atkinson.

Think Atkinson has some explaining to do about both bookings to Chelsea. I'm a Chelsea fan and I don't like Torres, but FFS the referees hate Torres and will book him for anything.

Atkinson is a t****r. He's quite possibly the worst referee in the PL.