Chelsea -v- Man United Match Thread [Mod Warning Post #1]

gucci

Probably most worrying for United, is that in their two games Vs Liverpool and Vs Chelsea, did they really have an actual full on shot on target that required a save? (I know Valencia hit the bar V Liverpool)
Too many times, the wrong decision was made in the business end of the park, players like Rooney and Giggs should have the experience to make the most of these opportunities, especially when they only get about 2 in matches of this stature.

Maybe United are prepared to not win the big show down games, with the hope for hoovering up the points Vs the lesser teams as their way of winning the Premiership, it could prove a risky tactic, especially with Chelseas current form, but its still early days.

dublinhead

Whats this about? Some guy cleaning his teeth at the match

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66036KdvdaE

Boggles

gucci wrote: »

Maybe United are prepared to not win the big show down games, with the hope for hoovering up the points Vs the lesser teams as their way of winning the Premiership, it could prove a risky tactic, especially with Chelseas current form, but its still early days.

Sorry Gucci but that is a ridiculous thing to say.

gucci

Boggles wrote: »

Sorry Gucci but that is a ridiculous thing to say.

Do you think? Seems to have worked in the past......

Headshot

gucci wrote: »

Do you think? Seems to have worked in the past......

jebus last time I looked Arsenal was a big game ???

jaykay74

gucci wrote: »

Do you think? Seems to have worked in the past......

not as a strategy though

Anthony16

Vampireskiss wrote: »

very disapointed with that result yesterday, we deserved at least a draw and would have won if we had a proven goal scorer on the pitch, thats whats uniteds problem at the moment is they dont have a clinical finisher like david Villa or torres and they dont score enough goals all over the pitch, I always felt chelsea had a goal in them because they have so many people who can score even though we dominated the game

This is true,we really lack a clinical finisher.Rooney is world class but his finishing is not up to villa or torres or ronaldos standard.Berbatov isnt clinical either and owen looks like yesterdays man-needs a few chances before he scores.We need to buy big in january or chelsea will run away with it.Their fixture during the african nations cup could not have been hand picked better by a chelsea fan.WE need to buy a striker with a lot of pace,which is wat we lack

Vampireskiss

Anthony16 wrote: »

This is true,we really lack a clinical finisher.Rooney is world class but his finishing is not up to villa or torres or ronaldos standard.Berbatov isnt clinical either and owen looks like yesterdays man-needs a few chances before he scores.We need to buy big in january or chelsea will run away with it.Their fixture during the african nations cup could not have been hand picked better by a chelsea fan.WE need to buy a striker with a lot of pace,which is wat we lack

Fabiano at seville or dzeko at wolsberg would be relistic targets

cournioni

Very pleased with United's performance. The workrate and passing was excellent. The only thing we really lacked, was a killer instinct in front of the goal. We got in great positions, but never capitalised with wrong choices for the final ball or just poor execution.

Unlucky to lose the game, but I don't think United deserved to win. As is often the case with these types of fixtures, there is always something dodgy that wins the game and thats what won the game for Chelsea. The referee had a real stinker as far as United were concerned.

cournioni

Anthony16 wrote: »

This is true,we really lack a clinical finisher.Rooney is world class but his finishing is not up to villa or torres or ronaldos standard.Berbatov isnt clinical either and owen looks like yesterdays man-needs a few chances before he scores.We need to buy big in january or chelsea will run away with it.Their fixture during the african nations cup could not have been hand picked better by a chelsea fan.WE need to buy a striker with a lot of pace,which is wat we lack

Diouf from Molde?

Berti Vogts

Is this a satirical piece by Henry Winter today?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/grievous-misfortune-kicks-united-in-the-teeth-1937594.html


By Henry Winter

Monday November 09 2009

This was such a travesty of justice that Manchester United should follow Chelsea's recent example and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Wayne Rooney was utterly brilliant, Darren Fletcher had Deco in one pocket and Michael Ballack in the other, while Patrice Evra mocked Ashley Cole's billing as the world's best left-back, yet the table reads that Chelsea five points clear. Lady Luck was a blue-rinsed hussy strutting down the King's Road merrily picking visitors' pockets.

Just how many black cats United ran over on the way into the Bridge remains unclear but they departed shaking their head at the fickleness of fate. United had so impressed. It was not simply the gutsy way Rooney, Fletcher and Evra largely bossed a game of gathering drama. It was not only the defensive determination of stand-ins such as Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, who flung themselves at shots and crosses as if the season depended on it.

It was not solely Alex Ferguson's clever tactics, flooding midfield and forcing Chelsea's full-backs deep. Frustration bit deep into United's soul because of the genesis and execution of Chelsea's 76th-minute goal. This was one incident in a long season, just one minute in the 3,420 United will negotiate, but it felt so pivotal.

Challenging Cole for possession, Fletcher clearly targeted the ball but the referee, Martin Atkinson, ruled that the Scottish midfielder had fouled the Chelsea man. Fletcher raged at Atkinson, splenetically spelling out that he had made contact with ball before man. Cole had indeed reacted like a startled cat falling off the airer onto the Aga.

Dismissing all pleas, Atkinson signalled a free-kick and United retreated to form the barricades, seething with injustice. Maybe they were distracted but, for once, the rearguard let down its guard.

Brown allowed himself to be wrestled down far too easily by Didier Drogba, a clear foul, but Atkinson's vision was obscured by Joe Cole.

errors

As Frank Lampard's free-kick curled in, United failed to attack the ball, allowing John Terry to rise and head down, the ball clipping Nicolas Anelka on the way in. Ferguson can moan about Atkinson's errors but his defenders should have responded more assertively to the incoming danger.

It was their only mistake all afternoon against a disappointing Chelsea.

Yet if it is a sign of champions-in-waiting to pick up points while playing poorly then Ancelotti's side look ready to end United's three titles on the spin. Terry played well, ignoring the morning's distressing headlines about his father's alleged activities to stand firm in the face of the Rooney-inspired storm, again protecting a goal that has now not been breached at the Bridge for 872 minutes.

The way Terry shepherded Rooney away from goal midway through the first half was a masterpiece of intelligent defending, echoing Franco Baresi at his very best.

For all Terry's excellence, United will reflect that they need to sharpen up their finishing. Ferguson could have started Michael Owen but he clearly felt the need for security in midfield, deploying a 4-5-1 formation spearheaded by the tireless, peerless Rooney.

How the striker ended up a loser here is beyond comprehension. How England or United will fare if he ever succumbs to injury is beyond the stuff of nightmares. Constantly showing for the ball, constantly turning and taking on Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, Rooney was magnificent, even tracking back at one point to nick the ball off Drogba.

The Rooney versus Drogba debate was a no-contest.

Some sympathy must still exist for the Ivory Coast forward, who claimed afterwards that he sustained a nasty injury when Evans jumped up and caught him in the chest. Drogba being Drogba, he certainly rolled around, looking as if St Vitus' Dance had got into his legs.

Indiscipline did stain United's game as the final whistle loomed. Antonio Valencia left the ground in launching into a nasty two-footed tackle on Lampard that could have broken the Chelsea midfielder's left leg. Fletcher shredded the fair play manual by demanding Atkinson send off Carvalho, who admittedly was flirting with expulsion with some of his challenges on Rooney.

No wonder Fletcher's fellow Scot, Ferguson, was fuming like a faulty smoke-stack in the dugout. His plan to stifle Chelsea had so nearly worked.

Valencia kept Ashley Cole deep. On the other flank, Ryan Giggs sought to push Branislav Ivanovic back, although the Serb was one of Ancelotti's few successes, even testing Edwin van der Sar with an early strike.

But it was in the centre where Ferguson's game-plan really impressed, particularly in the first half. Fletcher and Michael Carrick patrolled and destroyed, suffocating Deco and blunting the forward point of Chelsea's diamond, while Anderson never let Michael Essien settle.

Rarely have Chelsea been pressured into so many mistakes. Ballack and Essien both gave the ball away. Lampard lifted one free-kick into the wall, then another into the Shed. Chelsea did create a great chance before the break, Anelka cutting inside Carrick to force a fine, stretching save from Van der Sar.

If the first period intrigued in a tactical, chess-like way, the second half offered more obvious entertainment and incident. The temperature began to rise, starting when Giggs sportingly stopped play after Ashley Cole and Terry collided painfully. Ferguson went spare, arguing that the initiative was lost.

A few yards away, Ancelotti was making his first move, introducing Joe Cole for the ineffectual Deco. Evans and Brown made some important clearances. When Lampard unleashed a piledriver, Brown threw himself at it.

Yet Rooney looked the likelier to score, taking a pass from Valencia after 66 minutes and curling his shot wide before then bringing a marvellous save from Petr Cech. But Rooney and his team were then kicked in the teeth by grievous misfortune. Advantage Chelsea. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

- Henry Winter

Irish Independent

The Davestator

noodler wrote: »

I have a serious problem with the way Chelsea play the game.

The playacting, timewasting, group appealing, feigning injury, discreet fouling.

There is at least 3 problems with the goal for me. The foul, tug by Drogba, the fact he is marginally offside to me when it is headed by Terry and that he is interfering with play.

The Terry foul on Valencia is just like the man, there is a distinct lack of class from the man on the pitch all too often these days.

Even as a Liverpool fan I have to agree that utd were hard done by on the penalty and offside decision.

Yeah, Utd never crowd the ref....oh wait, Rooney was booked for doing exactly that yesterday

Mr. Presentable

Anthony16 wrote: »

This is true,we really lack a clinical finisher.

Is that not Michael Owen?

I think overall a draw would have been a fair result, but balls in the net make points and only one side did that. Maybe the circumstances of the free kick were suspect, but hey, the shoe spends most of the season on the other foot, so Man U fans crying in their beer about it is a bit rich.

Johner

Possibilities wrote: »

Is this a satirical piece by Henry Winter today?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/grievous-misfortune-kicks-united-in-the-teeth-1937594.html


By Henry Winter

Monday November 09 2009

This was such a travesty of justice that Manchester United should follow Chelsea's recent example and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Wayne Rooney was utterly brilliant, Darren Fletcher had Deco in one pocket and Michael Ballack in the other, while Patrice Evra mocked Ashley Cole's billing as the world's best left-back, yet the table reads that Chelsea five points clear. Lady Luck was a blue-rinsed hussy strutting down the King's Road merrily picking visitors' pockets.

Just how many black cats United ran over on the way into the Bridge remains unclear but they departed shaking their head at the fickleness of fate. United had so impressed. It was not simply the gutsy way Rooney, Fletcher and Evra largely bossed a game of gathering drama. It was not only the defensive determination of stand-ins such as Wes Brown and Jonny Evans, who flung themselves at shots and crosses as if the season depended on it.

It was not solely Alex Ferguson's clever tactics, flooding midfield and forcing Chelsea's full-backs deep. Frustration bit deep into United's soul because of the genesis and execution of Chelsea's 76th-minute goal. This was one incident in a long season, just one minute in the 3,420 United will negotiate, but it felt so pivotal.

Challenging Cole for possession, Fletcher clearly targeted the ball but the referee, Martin Atkinson, ruled that the Scottish midfielder had fouled the Chelsea man. Fletcher raged at Atkinson, splenetically spelling out that he had made contact with ball before man. Cole had indeed reacted like a startled cat falling off the airer onto the Aga.

Dismissing all pleas, Atkinson signalled a free-kick and United retreated to form the barricades, seething with injustice. Maybe they were distracted but, for once, the rearguard let down its guard.

Brown allowed himself to be wrestled down far too easily by Didier Drogba, a clear foul, but Atkinson's vision was obscured by Joe Cole.

errors

As Frank Lampard's free-kick curled in, United failed to attack the ball, allowing John Terry to rise and head down, the ball clipping Nicolas Anelka on the way in. Ferguson can moan about Atkinson's errors but his defenders should have responded more assertively to the incoming danger.

It was their only mistake all afternoon against a disappointing Chelsea.

Yet if it is a sign of champions-in-waiting to pick up points while playing poorly then Ancelotti's side look ready to end United's three titles on the spin. Terry played well, ignoring the morning's distressing headlines about his father's alleged activities to stand firm in the face of the Rooney-inspired storm, again protecting a goal that has now not been breached at the Bridge for 872 minutes.

The way Terry shepherded Rooney away from goal midway through the first half was a masterpiece of intelligent defending, echoing Franco Baresi at his very best.

For all Terry's excellence, United will reflect that they need to sharpen up their finishing. Ferguson could have started Michael Owen but he clearly felt the need for security in midfield, deploying a 4-5-1 formation spearheaded by the tireless, peerless Rooney.

How the striker ended up a loser here is beyond comprehension. How England or United will fare if he ever succumbs to injury is beyond the stuff of nightmares. Constantly showing for the ball, constantly turning and taking on Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, Rooney was magnificent, even tracking back at one point to nick the ball off Drogba.

The Rooney versus Drogba debate was a no-contest.

Some sympathy must still exist for the Ivory Coast forward, who claimed afterwards that he sustained a nasty injury when Evans jumped up and caught him in the chest. Drogba being Drogba, he certainly rolled around, looking as if St Vitus' Dance had got into his legs.

Indiscipline did stain United's game as the final whistle loomed. Antonio Valencia left the ground in launching into a nasty two-footed tackle on Lampard that could have broken the Chelsea midfielder's left leg. Fletcher shredded the fair play manual by demanding Atkinson send off Carvalho, who admittedly was flirting with expulsion with some of his challenges on Rooney.

No wonder Fletcher's fellow Scot, Ferguson, was fuming like a faulty smoke-stack in the dugout. His plan to stifle Chelsea had so nearly worked.

Valencia kept Ashley Cole deep. On the other flank, Ryan Giggs sought to push Branislav Ivanovic back, although the Serb was one of Ancelotti's few successes, even testing Edwin van der Sar with an early strike.

But it was in the centre where Ferguson's game-plan really impressed, particularly in the first half. Fletcher and Michael Carrick patrolled and destroyed, suffocating Deco and blunting the forward point of Chelsea's diamond, while Anderson never let Michael Essien settle.

Rarely have Chelsea been pressured into so many mistakes. Ballack and Essien both gave the ball away. Lampard lifted one free-kick into the wall, then another into the Shed. Chelsea did create a great chance before the break, Anelka cutting inside Carrick to force a fine, stretching save from Van der Sar.

If the first period intrigued in a tactical, chess-like way, the second half offered more obvious entertainment and incident. The temperature began to rise, starting when Giggs sportingly stopped play after Ashley Cole and Terry collided painfully. Ferguson went spare, arguing that the initiative was lost.

A few yards away, Ancelotti was making his first move, introducing Joe Cole for the ineffectual Deco. Evans and Brown made some important clearances. When Lampard unleashed a piledriver, Brown threw himself at it.

Yet Rooney looked the likelier to score, taking a pass from Valencia after 66 minutes and curling his shot wide before then bringing a marvellous save from Petr Cech. But Rooney and his team were then kicked in the teeth by grievous misfortune. Advantage Chelsea. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

- Henry Winter

Irish Independent

Obvious United fan.

Sherifu

Johner wrote: »

Obvious United fan.

Poor lad.

Johner

Sorry forgot my smiley

Aidric

Possibilities wrote: »

Is this a satirical piece by Henry Winter today?

The opening line maybe, but he's spot on with his analysis in the rest of the piece. Patrick Barclay's sentiment was much the same in the Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/patrick_barclay/article6908993.ece

gosplan

Aidric wrote: »

The opening line maybe, but he's spot on with his analysis in the rest of the piece. Patrick Barclay's sentiment was much the same in the Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/patrick_barclay/article6908993.ece

While these columnists seem busy touching themselves in their special places while going through Fergie's tactics from yesterday, it's worth pointing out that the cost of stfiling Chelsea in midfield was a very sparcely populated forward area.

Henry Winter wrote:

How the striker ended up a loser here is beyond comprehension.

Because even Rooney can't pass to himself - that's how. Rooney was excellent dropping deep to pick up the ball but then United had no forwards.

As a nuetral, I would have much prefered if Berbatov had been fit and united had a proper go at them.

I still think Fergie had the correct plan. Stop Chelsea playing and try to nick one but a 6 shots to 2 on target in favour of Chelsea sugggests a fairly toothless United(addmittedly, they blasted a couple of good chances wide).

Anthony16

nipplenuts wrote: »

Is that not Michael Owen?

I think overall a draw would have been a fair result, but balls in the net make points and only one side did that. Maybe the circumstances of the free kick were suspect, but hey, the shoe spends most of the season on the other foot, so Man U fans crying in their beer about it is a bit rich.

No,i dont think owen will ever be the player he was.He is low on confidence and has lost too much pace to be an impact player,wen brought on(tevez was good at this).Id like to bring in a proven goalscorer,who has a lot of pace and is not a spent force.Funny enough,saha now looks like that player:(

Vampireskiss

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

Sir Gallagher

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

Cole has been a lot more consistant this season than Evra.

Vampireskiss

Sir Gallagher wrote: »

Cole has been a lot more consistant this season than Evra.

Not true

Necronomicon

They've both been excellent this season and there's nothing in it imo.

Fromvert

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

Yep, lets base it on one game.

event

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

right, so on the basis of one game, its settled.

he was better than him yesterday as cole wasnt let do his attacking work cos of valencia. evra had no one in front of him, deco was tucked inside as they play a narrow formation. the full back was also ivanovic who is poor enough. Had boswinga been playing he wouldnt have had such a free reign.

its hardly a myth that cole is the best in the world, he has pretty much backed it up with great perfomances for chelsea and england at the highest level, performing well in the champions league, european championships and the WC.

Morzadec

I remember this was debated quite a lot in the summer in the World XI Left Back thread. Evra won out quite comfortably but no doubt he was aided by a lot of United fans voting.

Cole was better than Evra last season anyway. From what I've seen this season (and I don't get to see too many live games so it's often highlights that I would base this on) both Cole and Evra have been very impressive and possibly amongst their respective teams top 3 performers.

For me it's A.Cole, but as someone else said there isn't much in it.

Bubs101

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

Cole didn't even have a bad game, the left flank was quite secure and he got up and won the free kick that got the goal. Evra did nothing that special IMO

jesus_thats_gre

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

They are both top class players. I personally rate Cole higher but you are ultimately splitting hairs.

One game doesn't determine anything either.

jesus_thats_gre

Villain wrote: »

It is for Liverpool anyway only buzzing.

I think Sir Alex was in some ways saying that if Chelsea went 5 points ahead of them they would have a job catching them and they will but Arsenal are in this battle too, but I know you were taking the pi55 hence my joke reply above

Villain wrote: »

Jank that was a p1ss take post as was made obvious by my reply and others too 5starpool pointed it out too, he was joking

I had nearly lost faith in the boards population!

Pro. F

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

It was just one game dude and, more importantly, two different formations. Cole didn't have the chance to get forward that Evra did so there's no point comparing them in that game.

In general they're too close to call who is the better imo. Evra is far more cool though, just based on his interviews.

Johner

Its very close. Id say Cole is a better defender than Evra and its tight going forward. Cole has been excellent this season going forward scoring two goals. I'd say Cole edges it overall but as I said its close.

Gonzovision

Cole also has a depressed fracture in his foot.

CHD

Vampireskiss wrote: »

Another thing that was put to bed yesterday is the myth that Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world, he is not even the best left back in england.Evra was miles better than him yesterday

LOL

One game, seriously? Cause he didn't attack and defended really well instead, like he is meant too.

lol

Liam O

CHD wrote: »

LOL

One game, seriously? Cause he didn't attack and defended really well instead, like he is meant too.

lol

not one game, Evra has been top quality all season, and the last couple of years. He was signed for a fraction of Cole's price too.

CHD

Liam O wrote: »

not one game, Evra has been top quality all season, and the last couple of years. He was signed for a fraction of Cole's price too.

Price means nothing. Stop picking out things which have nothing to do with what kind of player he is like it's meant to prove something. Evra is world class and so is A.Cole but there is no way he proved he is better yesterday and saying he did is LOLTASTIC!

kleefarr

I'll tell you what. If the FA don't have a word with Evans about this tackle ..



It will appear that they are siding with Utd. Where was the ball anyway? Nowhere near Evans feet.

Johner

Liam O wrote: »

not one game, Evra has been top quality all season, and the last couple of years. He was signed for a fraction of Cole's price too.

Eh Cole has been top quality all season and the last couple of years aswell. Evra if I remember correctly was poor for the second half of last season. Cole has one game where he didnt/couldn't get forward as much as he does and hes ****. :rolleyes:

I've heard it all now and what does the price have to do with anything? Cole was signed for 5million with Gallas going the other way and Evra 5.5million. A fraction of the price?Eh no.

PHB

It's pretty easy to see it from that angle as Evans accelerating into Drogba's chest, but it's actually perfectly synced with his head movements. He was clearing the ball, and granted his foot was high but it wasn't an intentional attack, and the reason he got booked was because Drogba got nowhere near the ball and went into the player. If he hadn't got hit in the chest, he most likely woulda went straight in Evan's body. That's why the FA aren't changing their minds.

herbieflowers

Looking at that gif, it seems that Evans has a good stab wih his leg into Drogba's chest.

Liam O

herbieflowers wrote: »

Looking at that gif, it seems that Evans has a good stab wih his leg into Drogba's chest.

I'd almost feel sorry for Drogba if he didn't clearly plan on ramming into Evans before getting hit...

herbieflowers

Liam O wrote: »

I'd almost feel sorry for Drogba if he didn't clearly plan on ramming into Evans before getting hit...

Still, the more I see it the more I think Evans should have seen red. The follow through with the other leg I didn't notice before. Malicious challenge irrespective of who's on the receiving end.

CHD

PHB wrote: »

It's pretty easy to see it from that angle as Evans accelerating into Drogba's chest, but it's actually perfectly synced with his head movements. He was clearing the ball, and granted his foot was high but it wasn't an intentional attack

Give it up will you.

Nalz

PHB wrote: »

It's pretty easy to see it from that angle as Evans accelerating into Drogba's chest, but it's actually perfectly synced with his head movements. He was clearing the ball, and granted his foot was high but it wasn't an intentional attack

PHB come on now, he could have easily prevented the second kick at least. Seriously, I didnt think you'd post something silly like that.

PHB

Trilla wrote: »

PHB come on now, he could have easily prevented the second kick at least. Seriously, I didnt think you'd post something silly like that.

Seriously. I'd be just as happy if Evans had done it for real, shown a bit of physicality to upset a striker when you know he's committed the foul is good defending. But I really don't think it was an intentional kick.

He went up for the ball with his leg up in front of him, as you should if you are clearing the ball and the challenging player is coming onto you.

His second leg movement was in perfect sync with him heading the ball.

At no point whatsoever did he look at Drogba or take his eyes off the ball.

And beyond that, it's not particuarly like him as a player. Not seeing it as a foul I'm afraid, just a clash.

Pro. F

The movement to bring his leg up when Evans knows Drogba is going to clear him out of it in the air is a normal reaction imho. Once he's up there he does seem to kick out at Drogba so that is a mark against him but it's nothing vicious, it's just a tap in reality. I wouldn't complain if he got some punishment for it but it would be a little harsh imo.

Johner

PHB wrote: »

Seriously. I'd be just as happy if Evans had done it for real, shown a bit of physicality to upset a striker when you know he's committed the foul is good defending. But I really don't think it was an intentional kick.

He went up for the ball with his leg up in front of him, as you should if you are clearing the ball and the challenging player is coming onto you.

His second leg movement was in perfect sync with him heading the ball.

At no point whatsoever did he look at Drogba or take his eyes off the ball.

And beyond that, it's not particuarly like him as a player. Not seeing it as a foul I'm afraid, just a clash.

Really?He seems a bit of a scummer to me

Kold

PHB wrote: »

Seriously. I'd be just as happy if Evans had done it for real, shown a bit of physicality to upset a striker when you know he's committed the foul is good defending. But I really don't think it was an intentional kick.

He went up for the ball with his leg up in front of him, as you should if you are clearing the ball and the challenging player is coming onto you.

His second leg movement was in perfect sync with him heading the ball.

At no point whatsoever did he look at Drogba or take his eyes off the ball.

And beyond that, it's not particuarly like him as a player. Not seeing it as a foul I'm afraid, just a clash.

Don't know much about what he's 'like' but I did see him lash out later in the game..

PHB

You mean when he ran into Carvalho?

Mr Alan

PHB has a fondness for violent behaviour from his centre halves. surprises a lot of people.

UnitedIrishman

Just a few things about things mentioned in this thread and on the game in general. Only gotten on now.

Think we deserved a draw but I guess if you look at the Arsenal game at OT earlier in the year, they deserved a draw that day. As the Independent said, Fergie doesn't have a monopoly on tight matches. We played well and executed a plan to near perfection. We had to crowd out the midfield and Anderson, Fletch and Carrick were excellent in doing so. People have been saying on here that Anderson only showed what he can do yesterday, but I've watched him in 909% of his starts and he's put in performances like that over and over again. Just because he has a bad Super Sunday every now and then, people seem to judge him as this player that hasn't done it. Fletch was excellent and proved how big a player he is for us once again.

We're still in a decent position considering how we've been playing but I fear we still need someone with a bit of cutting edge. It's too early to start putting so much faith into Obertan who has had three excellent cameo's, and I think we need something else in an attacking sense anyways.

As I've said earlier in this thread, and again it's an opinion, but Chelsea are a classless club. They are easily the most cynical team I've ever seen. I can take losing. I have no qualms with that. However, Terry and Carvalho (in particular) hacking down players on the half-way line to stop attacks and Drogba acting like a child really annoys me. It's something that arrived around the time of Mourinho - (remember his infamous Porto team against Celtic and their antics). It's a pity that given Drogba is such a talented and skillful player that all he will be remembered for by 90% of the footballing world is for his antics.

Anyways, still confident we can claw back the five points. Wasn't a great spectacle but intruiging from a tactical point of view. We were in same position last year. Chelsea have to lose Essien, Mikel and Drogba in January and I have a feeling come March they'll have their eyes on trying to win the CL instead of the league.