Chelsea Banter Archive April 22 2013

22 Apr 2013 22:45:22
Personally I think Chelsea should by Benteke. Unbeatable in the air, immense close control and a brilliant passer of the ball. Its a shame he isn't high profile enough but he is everything Chelsea need rather than another counter attack striker who is forced to stand still and wait *cough* Torres, Ba *cough*. He would actually compliment the midfielders as well as being there to head in crosses.

Sadly he isn't high profile enough to be signed but imagine that, the best two strikers to come out of belgium in recent years at Chelsea!

One can only dream.

D

Maybe if we don't make the Champions league we will have to adjust our realistic targets for the summer. Future prospect buys such as Shaw, Bruma, Deulofeu and so on won't change, but players such as Aubameyang instead of Cavani and promoting a McEachran or Chalobah instead of spending £25m on Felliani's champions league release clause.

Personally I don't think we should sign fellaini regardless.

The only issue is he and lukaku are very similar with benteke being around 23 and lukaku is 19 or 20, they're both primarily target men, and for the most part they offer the same things which is why i'd prefer someone who could stretch the field instead. But yes I agree he's going to be a top player.

Tk

22 Apr 2013 22:38:11
I usually enjoy reading Chris Kamara's round up of the weekends games. But this week he expresses his sympathy for Brendan Rodgers as 'on a coaching course, they don't tell you what to do when one of your players bites another!' The fact is that Suarez had been involved in controversies before he was even bought byLiverpool and had actually bitten a player just before he moved there. I have no sympathy when you buy controversial players and then they do something stupid/reckeless etc. What else do you expect from them?
Where's the sympathy for the Chelsea who are now likely to struggle to get into the top 4 due Suarez not being sent off and consequently dropping points? Had he been sent off Liverpool would have lost all momentum and we would have been able to see the game out. It baffles me how you can express your sympathy for BR when Chelsea's season and likely targets for next season have been affected by the poor refereeing decisions in the game. there's hundreds of articles vilifying Suarez etc but none discussing the ramifications that the incident's had on Chelsea's top4 chances. Baffling.

Brilliant post. Exactly what I was thinking! Ever since the Clattenburg incident we've had decisions against us whether its a huge call or whether its a free kick on the half way line. I'm starting to get really sick of it.

The game is being refereed by humans. And what the club and the players have done to to the ref, blinded by the injustice of Torres red card and a goal from offside do not justify the actions taken. It still bemuses me the failure to make a public excuse to the ref.

Don't get me wrong, I was pissed at those decision no less than any of you, but what happened afterwards is much more shameful, than any bite a Suarez can make.

Therefor calling for any favors from refs is hardly plausible. He did not award a penalty on the 97th minute, did he? He clearly did not see the biting incident and couldn't send Suarez off, while the only clearly unjust decision I have seen was no card for Sturridge for straight leg kick at Bertrand.

Marking and defensive discipline of our back four is at fault. And mostly when Azpiliqueta and Bertrand are on the pitch. If we solve this, we won't need no favors from referees.

JG

Sorry JG but your post lacks a certain coherency. I don't think any of us are calling for favors from the referees. We understand that they are only human but that doesn't change the fact that referees' decisions affect the outcomes of games and possibly seasons.
Some referees have shown that they aren't capable of refereeing matches of Premier League quality and some are simply unfortunate enough to not having seen incidents clearly.
Football is stuck in the past while other sports have embraced technology for the better. Not only that, but there seems to be a lack of clarifiction on the rules e.g what's a handball etc and its left up to the opinion of referees, which leads to inconsistency. The referee in the Sunderland/Everton match gave Mignolet a yellow card for picking up a back pass and yet there's no such ruling.
Our frustration comes from the fact that the FA have the means and ability to change the game for the better; to eliminate incosistencies and help referees make the correct decisions, but fail to do anything about it.
There ruling about not undermining referees decisions has led to players who have committed horrible fouls/tackles to get away scot free when its clear that the referee only saw part of the incident, not its entirety e.g Aguero's tackle on Luiz. In incidents such as these, they should sit the referee down after the match and ask him if he'd seen the incident clearly what decision would he have made. This would not undermine the ref's decisions.

Excuse me, but you've got to understand, that the FA does not sit with the ref and ask him, wherther he has seen it. Ref writes a report and if he fails to mention such matter, or has failed to acknowledge it during the match, but was made aware of it after the match he puts it all in a match report. And the FA being a beaurocrat does it by the book.

Why was Aguero not charged is beyond me, why hasn't Sturridge not carded during the play and why there were no actions taken afterwards is beyond me, why that Wigan fella was not banned for some 5 games - I can not understand.

The FA has to finally take players safety seriously. Refs are clearly not doing their job by failing to address career threatening or violent conducts during the match. And it is obvious that a red card and a three game ban are not the sufficient punishments.

What good would world football get from those mad persons from bottom teams just continuing with those two legged tackles? Does it take a Messi, a Ronaldo or Bale be kicked out for the whole season for someone to start enforcing strict rules in harsh injuries/career threatening incidents?

JG

Where's the sympathy for the Chelsea who are now likely to struggle to get into the top 4 due Suarez not being sent off and consequently dropping points? Had he been sent off Liverpool would have lost all momentum and we would have been able to see the game out.

the whole season did not come down to that one incident

I know they don't sit down with the referees. Duh. I was just saying that IF they did, it would allow retrospective action which wouldn't undermine their in-game decisions.

I realise the season doesn't come down to one incident but what if we miss out on a top4 place by 2 points. Many people will point to the Liverpool game as one where we would have won it had the referee got his decisions correct. And single incidents can affect seasons. A goal that is offside can kick off a losing team and inspire them to go on a winning run. If Arsenal hadn't gotten their goal against Norwich they'd probably have only gotten a draw.
Single incidents can affect an entire teams season or the other teams in the league.

I think any smart person would not be pointing to one particular game. Let's be honest - we lost points to Man United, while we should have not - due to weird refereeing. We lost points to QPR, Fulham and Southampton due to weird prioritizing of cup games by the manager, ahem interim manager.

We lost so many point during the season because we could not find the back of the net having made 20 odd shots. We lost points because we only play autumn and spring and are gone missing during the winter spell.

There are numerous ways of loosing points. But first and foremost it starts with our performance. And having lost 37 points this season already, I would just suggest you quit bragging about the two out of them all.

JG

Bragging? LOL why would anyone brag about losing points? Seems like a stupid thing to do. I realise that we've lost points in games where we shouldn't have but when it comes nearer to the end of the season points become more vital to survival/top4 etc.

22 Apr 2013 20:12:25
1Qn: To LFC supporters: Given the way Mr Suarez has brought your club into disrepute by his behaviour, do you think he is biting the hand that feeds him?

2Qn: To CFC supporters: should Ivanovitch have extended the hand of friendship given the possibility of losing said appendage in the process?

3Q:To all: If Suarez is forced to retire from soccer, should he perhaps seek position of Frontman in reconstituted Fine Young Cannibals?

4Qn: Why was Ivanovich seemingly unwilling to get close enough to Suarez to prevent the final goal?
Ans. Once bitten, twice shy

Am attempting humour because still very angry. Suarez needs to be banned for very long time/many matches as last games for LFC this season meaningless. What happened yesterday was arguably the nastiest incident of violent conduct recorded on camera in British football. VBS (CFC supporter since Saurez biting in nursery school)

This is stupid, what are you trying to say?

I wouldn't say it was the worst of the season, the man is a complete person and will be punished where as Aguero should be thrown out of that game for the worst act of violence I've ever seen in the game. I was at Wembley and saw Luiz go down but because I was literally sat under the tv camera man the other side of the stadium, I could not see what the fuss was about. It was my dad who phoned me after the game up in arms about it. Saying you didn't see it is one thing from a ref but to look at it again and not speak up or apologise about it is a disgrace, which makes it even more shameful for the FA for turning a blind eye to it. They are the laughing stock of Europe and its time they ended this biased attitude towards Chelsea or I think we should start taking legal action. Scott M.

22 Apr 2013 19:14:08
I thought rafa would do well but his decision making and tactics are terrible. he has cost us so many games. Can't see us finishing in the top 4 now

22 Apr 2013 13:15:49
the point is, if we were not playing in the europa league then there will be no need to worry about our remaining fixtures.
After all we beat both Spur's and Everton in their own back yield and we were a seconds away from beating red devils at their own back yield, though Villa won't forget about the 8 goals. On a good day we will kick the hell out of all this teams but our MANAGER is too unpredictable, even when we are at a point of winning he still will be thinking of europa league a substitute the players who are making a great impact for the one's who are having a creepy game.

just to say, even an injury prone Essien is still better than fully fit Mikel. is the truth.

Blueprint

I do agree with the above. But again, we knew how long this season will be and the approximate amount of cross continent (s) flights it will take us. We knew we will be in for tiresome schedule in front of us. Still someone made those decisions to leave us shorthanded.

Say whatever you want about how good Azpiliqueta is on the right hand side, but he is no different to our game what Glen Johnson is to Liverpool's. Great one in attack, but average at best in defence.

We look much better and more composed with Ivanovic at right back, as he is also very suspicious and error prone in the middle of defence. Take a look at both Liverpool goals. You'll see who's marking goalscorers and take a look at the positioning.

We are leaking in goals left and right and you seriously can't be making scapegoat out of Mikel every time. Because we leak goals when he's not even on the bench. Back four has to finally be made accountable. Cech heroics are so much overshadowed by the lack of both concentration and seldom - effort. It's painful to see performing like this.

JG

Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole
U will prefer this line up of defence right JG?

Cahill and Terry look better in central defence than Ivanovic, who is much better defencively than Azpiliqueta is at right back, of course.

JG

22 Apr 2013 12:08:14
As a Liverpool fan I can only be embarrassed by the actions of Suarez, there can not be a place for that in football, he may be a great footballer but I'd rather he was sold then watch a hooligan on the pitch, now on to a different topic I'd like to know the Chelsea fans and eds view on Daniel Sturridge he made a good impact when he came on and it's always nice to see a player not celebrate against an old club I'm just wondering how you think he has being since you's sold him?

Des {Ed002's Note - Sturridge is a good player and fitting in well as far as I can see. Judging by his boots, I would not be surprised if Liverpool employed a fashion consultant to help him out.}

I was disappointed he wasn't given more opportunities through the middle here. His technique is unquestionable, his decision making and at times his attitude were. He seems to have settled at Liverpool, and I think Rodgers is the kind of manager that could get the best out of him. Fair play to the lad, he left to play more games and he is showing everyone what he can do now.

Considering how terrible torres was I couldn't help but feel if wed placed our support in sturridge rather than wasting time with torres wed actually have 2 good strikers in our team

jscottjr

22 Apr 2013 10:06:09
Hei 2 blues fan in world

The only thing I was disappointed by yesterday was the fact that Chelsea didn't try to keep possession at the end. The last touch from Chelsea came from mikel who just randomly booted the ball away, which led to the goal. Mikel either has to leave or remain as only a backup to all our other midfielders. Apart from that, an unlucky result for Chelsea yet surprisingly entertaining. Good match up and I hope the rat gets what he deserves

Could not agree more mikel just kicked the ball up the pitch every time he got it. player with as many years in premier league as him should know what to do with the ball at 96 minutes

How can you blame Mikel for the final goal? We had a throw in at 6minuters 22seconds. EVERYONE thought the game was over, some people even switched channels. Hoofing the ball was a smart idea. Not in hindsight obviously but no-one expected the ref to let play continue until almost 7 minutes.

Mikel is a holding midfelder at that time 96 minutes he should of had the brains and the know how to keep the ball and waste time not just boot it up the pitch ever chance he got he's a joke

Even 2-1 up at the time I paused the match to infuriatingly demonstrate to the mrs that Mikel had two of our players directly in front of him to pass to!
The boy has no positional sense, can't tackle, and couldn't pick a pass if his life depended on it! Honestly I'd be better than him in the holding role, Ed what are my chances of being a summer signing?

22 Apr 2013 00:55:47
You lot are making me laugh going on about the 6 minutes and going over it. specially you ed018, are you 12 or something? stick to this page, instead of coming on liverpools and trying to turn people against our players.
"There will be a minimum 6 added minutes"
MIN. I. MUM
if liverpool scored on 6m 59seconds, that would still be okay
stop whining
Benny baller {Ed018's Note - hey, give me a break. I had my 2 hours of being upset and all. In all fairness though it doesn't change what happened today but I admit I acted alittle childish, but at least I didn't bite anyone}

Fair point - however where did the Min. I. Mum 6 minutes come from? Time should be added for stoppages including injuries, goal celebrations and substitutions. There is no way the amount of time added on was justified.

Stamford70 {Ed018's Note - exactly}

I have to agree that the referee was appaulling yesterday and the 6 minutes then 7 was a disgrace, however we are only really papering over the cracks, after hazard and mata went off ( rafa only knows why) we had next to no possesion and were under constsnt attack, we failed to close them down in the midfield and let them get crosses into the box. the same players making the same mistakes that cost us 2 goals against ruban kuzan. regardless of injury time we should have been strong enough to see it out.
DP {Ed002's Note - The 6 minutes is a minimum so there is no issue there.}

We all understand that the 6 minutes is indicated as a minimum what we fail to understand is how he came up with 6 minutes in the first place. that is the frustrating issue. however that said we were once again the masters of our own downfall with some amateur defending.

Fair enough 18
I believe the 6 minutes was fair. Is said 30 seconds are added per sub, 1 minute per goal. 3 goals, including a long delayed pen. And 4 or 5 subs. There's at least 5. Not including general fouls and such.
Don't know why Rafa took of people who can hold on to a ball. But there you go. Draw was fair. Think we should of had 3 points though with our chances compare to yours
Benny baller

The ref dosen't do the timekeeping, the 4th oficial does

Benny Baller, your logic is flawed. Other games i've looked up that had 3 goals only had an average of 3/4 added time and when Chelsea beat 8-0 there was only 3 minutes added time. It's rare to see 6 minutes added.