Back from the game - Chelsea

[Barry the bird boggler]

Great first half, as it wore on we were tearing Chelsea to pieces and were top of the league - if only we could have kept that up for 90 minutes.

Like the Gorkss song as well, let's hope for more at Sunderland both on and off the terraces (hoping the team aren't too knackered though).

[melonhead]

I think we've planned to copy about 5 more, with scope in the budget for a 6th if the cost of the intellectual property rights isn't too high.

agreed- though two of those may have to be loan deals

[pea]

lastly- if we get relegated this season playing that way, ill have no complaints, knowing that we left nothing on the pitch, and got entertainment well worth the entrance fees

well done lads

Couldn't agree more, I'm expecting 18th or 19th and as long as we give a good showing each game I won't go home disappointed. McDermott is a terrific manager and surprises me every season but I set my expectations according to how good I think our squad is.

Still can't quite believe we got all three of Pog, Guthrie and McCleary on free transfers though. Looking forward to being able to put that team out with Kebe and Roberts the options on the bench.

Also, was that hour the only time we've ever been sitting at the top of English football?

[Big Foot]

How many more United chants will they copy this season?

Talent Borrows, Genius Steals

Didn't Celtic knick the "riot on your hands" chant from Celtic anyway? ooooooohhhhh have that

[melonhead]

agreed- if it was kebe and roberts coming on instead of HRK and hunt/alf we could possibly have won that game
amazing in itself.

i think we'll be fine playing like that, but if we end up this years blackpool, who cares
the championship aint so bad!

[3 veesinarow]

How many more United chants will they copy this season?

Dunno, United fans need to plagiarise a few more tunes before everyone else can jump on the "originality" bandwagon.

[Snowball]

Couldn't afford to go so watched it in Reading, plenty of supporters there but outnumbered by Chelsea fans
which pissed me off greatly.

Let's remember that for 15-20 minutes Chelsea were AWESOME. It wasn't a case of us being poor,
they were fast, one-touching and would have cuts swathes through many defences, even the best.

But we were settling and had we not conceded the pen, who knows? I was starting to think we might
get to half-time 0-0. Around me, most thought that was it and we were in for a hammering, but we
came back really, REALLY well. McCleary was often back in our box helping and then breaking. He
looks (so far) more useful than Jimmy Kebe and has a sweet cross on him.

The move, break, 1-2, a sweet sweet cross and an awesome header was one of the best ever RFC goals
and the pub went stupid. Sweet return on the blunder-balancer when we got our second. I said then,
that's evened out Federici's v Stoke, now play a blinder, Feds... (Sorry I spoke.)

We really should have got that third from Pearce, but most importantly we have shown we can breach
the defence of the side that won the Champions League and THEN spent 60 million or so.

Their equaliser. Nuff said.

But I was pleased at the way we decided not to sit back. Not only does it show intent but it brings
other players into the experience. Linesman clearly at fault for their third score (not a proper goal)
but the big clubs always seem to get those decisions.

Can't remember Noel much when he came on but I thought HRK did very well and I like his crosses a lot.

Disagree that it was too long. It was McAnuff's job to judge the flight and he had time to adjust. He should
have done better.

We COULD have been destroyed, but we should have gone 3-1 up. If we play with as much skill and
effort we will do fine, but a defeat at Sunderland and maybe confidence will take a knock.

Pog was excellent when the ball was played to his feet and that was a helluva goal. Elwood VG again,
Karacan amazing so soon after his ankle-break, and Guthrie classy.



PS a while back Mr Angry was sort of saying, "Outside, pal."

Anytime mate, but we'll make the challenge a two-mile run and you can have a 400 yard start.

[3 veesinarow]

Snowball, is that you?

A balanced reasonable opinion based purely on good observation and a precis of the facts of the game, all without any form of statattack whatsoever?

There is a God.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Also, was that hour the only time we've ever been sitting at the top of English football?

Nope - we were "top" for a few minutes at Villa in 06/07 after Doyle's(?) early goal.

[Ian Royal]

From watching on the net I was very impressed.

First 20 minutes or so we seemed to really struggle, defensively we did our job well, but we just weren't confident enough to put our foot on the ball and try to pick passes, we gave it away too easily and were too quick to just hoof upfield. But, once they scored (and the pen looked a little soft to me, but I only saw it once) we started to come out of our shell and actually dominated the rest of the first half after the excellent goal from Pog. Going in to HT I hoped we wouldn't be ruing Pearce's miss.

Second half Chelsea predictably came out strongly and it ended up being a bit of a backs to the wall job again. Although I think it was mostly possession they had, and not a great deal in the way of seriously threatening our goal.

We had our moments, but never really threatened their goal again until we went behind. After Stoke I'd been worried about how our defence would cope with proper quality PL attacks. I'm far less worried now. Really really good defensive display. I can't believe Fed dropped a second howler in two games, although this one was marginally less bad. No blame to him for the 4th, there was no reason not to go up and role the dice, unfortunately you get caught out sometimes. It' didn't change the result. Commos thought Torres goal was miles offside and the lino was awful, on replays it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting from them. It was offside, but I don't blame the lino for missing it at full speed given it was all in the lean.

If we can keep up this sort of performance and cut out the silly mistakes (pens & goalkeeping mistakes) then we should be absolutely fine. But we do need to convert good performances into 3 points sooner rather than later or we'll find ourselves at the wrong end of the table despite playing well.

[Mr Angry]

Couldn't afford to go so watched it in Reading, plenty of supporters there but outnumbered by Chelsea fans
which pissed me off greatly.

Let's remember that for 15-20 minutes Chelsea were AWESOME. It wasn't a case of us being poor,
they were fast, one-touching and would have cuts swathes through many defences, even the best.

But we were settling and had we not conceded the pen, who knows? I was starting to think we might
get to half-time 0-0. Around me, most thought that was it and we were in for a hammering, but we
came back really, REALLY well. McCleary was often back in our box helping and then breaking. He
looks (so far) more useful than Jimmy Kebe and has a sweet cross on him.

The move, break, 1-2, a sweet sweet cross and an awesome header was one of the best ever RFC goals
and the pub went stupid. Sweet return on the blunder-balancer when we got our second. I said then,
that's evened out Federici's v Stoke, now play a blinder, Feds... (Sorry I spoke.)

We really should have got that third from Pearce, but most importantly we have shown we can breach
the defence of the side that won the Champions League and THEN spent 60 million or so.

Their equaliser. Nuff said.

But I was pleased at the way we decided not to sit back. Not only does it show intent but it brings
other players into the experience. Linesman clearly at fault for their third score (not a proper goal)
but the big clubs always seem to get those decisions.

Can't remember Noel much when he came on but I thought HRK did very well and I like his crosses a lot.

Disagree that it was too long. It was McAnuff's job to judge the flight and he had time to adjust. He should
have done better.

We COULD have been destroyed, but we should have gone 3-1 up. If we play with as much skill and
effort we will do fine, but a defeat at Sunderland and maybe confidence will take a knock.

Pog was excellent when the ball was played to his feet and that was a helluva goal. Elwood VG again,
Karacan amazing so soon after his ankle-break, and Guthrie classy.



PS a while back Mr Angry was sort of saying, "Outside, pal."

Anytime mate, but we'll make the challenge a two-mile run and you can have a 400 yard start.

You're on!



Agree with your thoughts on the game btw.

[Snowball]

I am overweight, but you do NOT want to race me.

[melonhead]

humblebrag

[No Fixed Abode]

Can you hear Reading sing, nooooo, nooooo

[MouldyRoyal]

I am overweight, but you do NOT want to race me.

Why not? What are you going to do to him as he crosses the finish line?

All sounds rather menacing to me.

[winchester_royal]

Can you hear Reading sing, nooooo, nooooo

All on 3

1...


2...


3...


rattLOLed

[No Fixed Abode]

We know what we are
We know what we are
Champions of Europe
We know what we are

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Clap, clap, clap, clap (at a corner).

[Alexander Litvinenko]

I'll just leave this here ....

[winchester_royal]

We know what we are
We know what we are
Champions of Europe
We know what we are

That's a nice song.

Should have sung it last night m8.

[RobRoyal]

Can you hear Reading sing, nooooo, nooooo

I assume you were at the ground so just FYI, Reading singing was all you could hear on the TV.