xkcd

by **Amie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:21 am UTC

I have no complaints about yesterday's game other than Mikel behaving crappily. Even discounting the second goal, we still had a comfortable lead. What a good game. Now we have all tough matches ahead. Barca, Arsenal, Barca again. *fingers crossed*

by **sdkelso** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:51 am UTC

Amie wrote:I have no complaints about yesterday's game other than Mikel behaving crappily. Even discounting the second goal, we still had a comfortable lead. What a good game. Now we have all tough matches ahead. Barca, Arsenal, Barca again. *fingers crossed*

The ball was over. Smashed five past the scum--what a wonderful day.

by **Amie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:05 am UTC

I know, I'm saying even if you discount that one goal, we still had an easy win.

by **Dream** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:37 am UTC

sdkelso wrote:The ball was over. Smashed five past the scum--what a wonderful day.

Possibly you don't know the rules of the game? The ENTIRE ball must cross the line. That photo does not show a goal. I'm not saying it proves it wasn't, but that photo doesn't show anything. Regardless, Terry fouled two Spurs players just before Mata's shot, so it should never have been an issue.

And "scum"? Get a grip.

by **Amie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:06 am UTC

It looks like the entire ball is across the line in that picture. I don't know if this is because of the angle but in that photo, the entire ball seems to have gone across.

by **Rodion Raskolnikov** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:37 am UTC

Amie wrote:RIP Piermario Morosini. Haven't seen him play much at all but it still makes me feel weird. Sigh.

I've just read some of the back story to this on the BBC. It's pretty sad, so I'll put a slight trigger warning on the link.

Spoiler:

His disabled sister relied on him for financial support so his club Udinese have pledged to support her for her the rest of her life. I hope that's some kind of comfort to her, or at least a reassurance; she seems to have had a pretty tragic life so far.

by **Amie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:49 pm UTC

I read that piece

Did you see the video of him falling down? I could only bring myself to see it today and it made me want to cry. He tried to get up and play even as he fell twice.

by **Rodion Raskolnikov** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:42 pm UTC

I've not seen it and I've no desire to seek it out, especially after what you've said about it. I've heard some Chelsea fans were singing during a minute's silence for held for him at the weekend. I didn't see the game, but if it's true that's some pretty shitty behaviour.

by **sdkelso** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:42 pm UTC

Rodion Raskolnikov wrote:I've not seen it and I've no desire to seek it out, especially after what you've said about it. I've heard some Chelsea fans were singing during a minute's silence for held for him at the weekend. I didn't see the game, but if it's true that's some pretty shitty behaviour.

No, they were singing during a minutes silence for Hillsborough. I'm not saying that they were right to sing, but the FA forced the club to play three days before their Barcelona match because Liverpool are a bunch a self-pitying twats. Again, still disgraceful and immature, but get your facts straight.

Dream wrote:Possibly you don't know the rules of the game? The ENTIRE ball must cross the line. That photo does not show a goal. I'm not saying it proves it wasn't, but that photo doesn't show anything. Regardless, Terry fouled two Spurs players just before Mata's shot, so it should never have been an issue.

And "scum"? Get a grip.

Exactly, and in that picture the entire ball appears to have crossed the line seeing as Assou-Ekotto's foot is behind the line and the ball is behind his foot. And I can't comment on the fouls, I was busy watching us score, but apparently the ref that was standing ten feet away didn't make anything of it, nor did the linesman who should have had a perfect view. What I remember are a bunch of players jumping for a ball in the air--your fouls were most likely accidental collisions that happen all the time and are entirely permissible.

Umm, Spurs are our biggest rivals. WE HATE TOTTENHAM!!

by **Rodion Raskolnikov** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:28 pm UTC

sdkelso wrote:No, they were singing during a minutes silence for Hillsborough. I'm not saying that they were right to sing, but the FA forced the club to play three days before their Barcelona match because Liverpool are a bunch a self-pitying twats. Again, still disgraceful and immature, but get your facts straight.

I'm not sure how that's any better. I did say it was second hand information on my part. The BBC said the minute's silence was for both Hillsborough and Morosini and I assumed they were correct.

BBC wrote:Before kick-off, a section of Chelsea's support sadly let themselves and their club down by noisily interrupting the silence held in memory of the Hillsborough disaster and for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B game on Saturday.

sdkelso wrote:Umm, Spurs are our biggest rivals. WE HATE TOTTENHAM!!

Seriously. Get a grip.

by **Amie** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:31 pm UTC

sdkelso wrote:Umm, Spurs are our biggest rivals. WE HATE TOTTENHAM!!

Okay, mate. Calm down. Seriously. I am no fan of Tottenham but please remember all that support they showed Matthew Harding and calm the hell down.

@Rodion Raskolnikov: Yes, some fans were unruly and that's crap. But what's also crap is some fans pinning that down on the whole club and the rest of the fans as a whole.

by **sdkelso** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:33 pm UTC

You guys are way too uptight. This is a sport we're talking about. With rivalries. It was a derby. Get over yourselves.

by **Dream** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:46 pm UTC

Amie wrote:
sdkelso wrote:Umm, Spurs are our biggest rivals. WE HATE TOTTENHAM!!

Okay, mate. Calm down. Seriously.

Careful! They might ask you how many players you can name, then tell you if you can't name as many as they can, you're not a true supporter. Then they might steal your Panini shinies and then cry when Teacher makes them give them back.

sdkelso wrote:your fouls were most likely accidental collisions that happen all the time and are entirely permissible.

If you charge into a player and knock them to the ground without ever touching the ball, you give away a free. End of story. If you do it to two people at once, you're taking the piss. If one of those is the keeper and a shot is coming in, you're in yellow card territory.

by **Garm** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:52 pm UTC

sdkelso wrote:You guys are way too uptight. This is a sport we're talking about. With rivalries. It was a derby. Get over yourselves.

And you're making light of the deaths of 96 people. Sport is sport and rivalries are awesome. Mocking the dead, however, makes us all a little poorer.

Also, too: In my limited understanding, Tottenham isn't the primary rival of Chelsea since they've saved that honor for the Gunners.

by **Rodion Raskolnikov** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:31 pm UTC

To be fair, I don't think sdkelso was defending the people interrupting the silence. They just seem to think real fans hate their opponents just as much, if not more, than they like their own teams. And calling us uptight for thinking that's a pretty childish view to take of sport.

I also thought Tottenham's rivalry was with Arsenal, I wasn't really aware Chelsea had a big local derby. But my understanding of English football is similarly limited.

by **charliepanayi** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:59 pm UTC

Can't believe we're going to chuck away third place at this rate. So angry.

by **Dream** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:24 pm UTC

It'll be fine. There's at least a goal or two in Arsenal yet.

by **charliepanayi** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:43 pm UTC

I can't share that optimism, especially with the next two games being against Chelsea and Stoke, the latter of which will just kick us into submission. We should have been out of sight by now, but we'll have tossed away crucial points in recent weeks. It's just so frustrating that the likes of Liverpool might end up with two trophies this season and we're in danger of not even achieving our aim in the league.

by **Dream** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:12 pm UTC

Well, fuck.

But really, Wigan deserved their win. They weren't necessarily the better team, but they were good enough to defend their lead with a lot to spare. And it doesn't hurt that this puts pressure on QPR at the bottom!

by **sdkelso** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:36 pm UTC

Dream wrote:Careful! They might ask you how many players you can name, then tell you if you can't name as many as they can, you're not a true supporter. Then they might steal your Panini shinies and then cry when Teacher makes them give them back.

Grow up.

Dream wrote:If you charge into a player and knock them to the ground without ever touching the ball, you give away a free. End of story. If you do it to two people at once, you're taking the piss. If one of those is the keeper and a shot is coming in, you're in yellow card territory.

Fair enough. Again, I haven't seen it again.

Garm wrote:And you're making light of the deaths of 96 people. Sport is sport and rivalries are awesome. Mocking the dead, however, makes us all a little poorer.

Am not--I agree on both accounts.

Garm wrote:Also, too: In my limited understanding, Tottenham isn't the primary rival of Chelsea since they've saved that honor for the Gunners.

It appears you are right, but not by much. I generally hear more Spurs hate than Arsenal hate, though.

Rodion Raskolnikov wrote:They just seem to think real fans hate their opponents just as much, if not more, than they like their own teams. And calling us uptight for thinking that's a pretty childish view to take of sport.

Not at all, I think that rivalries and using strong language, like the word scum, in regard to rivalries makes following a club more fun. Some people were taking that very seriously and I think that those people are uptight.

I'd make fun of Arsenal now, but because that's unacceptable: Good game, guys, you gave it your all! Let's hope that when we meet this weekend we have a nice fun game of football! Best of luck to you! Cheers!

by **charliepanayi** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:46 pm UTC

Well we might have won if we'd had the linesmen from your game against Wigan.

by **raike** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:05 pm UTC

This season might've been a sight more interesting if Wigan were like this the whole time... I'll definitely agree that they weren't the better team, necessarily, but they certainly did do well.
My father's expression after Wigan's victory was hilarious... but then again, he's an Arsenal fan.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:10 am UTC

Wellll. I'm shitting bricks today. How are you guys doing?

I know, I know. Barca are the favourites and we're the underdogs. Just pondering over whether Torres or Drogba should have the head start is making me nervous. AHHHH.

by **charliepanayi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:54 pm UTC

What I want to happen in the remainder of this season:

Chelsea to lose to Barcelona
Chelsea to win the FA Cup
Arsenal to finish 3rd (having stuffed Stoke and Chelsea along the way) and Newcastle 4th - failing that, Arsenal 3rd and Chelsea 4th

What will probably happen:
Chelsea win the European Cup and Di Matteo becomes the new Tony Barton
Liverpool win the FA Cup and wind up with two trophies this season despite being awful
Spurs and Chelsea get 3rd/4th
Harry Redknapp becomes England manager and England win Euro 2012 under him.

OK maybe that last one is extreme even by my pessimistic standards.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:27 pm UTC

I hope we win the FA. CL seems a bit out of reach but who knows?

Also, Redknapp? Lawl. Everyone's now eying Moyes. Dunno which is worse.

by **charliepanayi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:02 pm UTC

I seriously doubt that England would ever have a Scottish manager.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:16 pm UTC

Why not? You've had... let's see, a Swedish guy and an Italian for a manager... why not Scottish? :S

by **sdkelso** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:30 pm UTC

charliepanayi wrote:Well we might have won if we'd had the linesmen from your game against Wigan.

Everyone needs a little help every once in awhile :wink:

I'm pumped for Barca. (CENSORED)Fine day to crack some Catalan skulls.(CENSORED)

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:17 pm UTC

Chelsea FC vs. UEFA commencing soonly. It will be a great game.

by **charliepanayi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:33 pm UTC

Amie wrote:Why not? You've had... let's see, a Swedish guy and an Italian for a manager... why not Scottish? :S

Because Scotland and England get on about as well as your average two countries who despise one another and have a long standing rivalry both in football and elsewhere. And because David Moyes would never be able to set foot in Scotland again if he became England boss.

And give up the 'us against the world' routine with Chelsea!

by **Dream** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:35 pm UTC

Good goal from Drogba. But it is so ironic that he scored in extra time that he made with his own bullshit pretending to be injured. Barcelona look by a country mile the better team, but Chelsea are the ones on the scoreboard. It's set up for a great second half.

by **charliepanayi** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:48 pm UTC

If Barcelona can grab an away goal and manage at worst a single goal defeat I think they'll be set up well.

EDIT: Thanks for nothing Barcelona. I can't believe this is happening.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:42 pm UTC

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am ecstatic!

by **Dream** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:42 pm UTC

It's always very frustrating to watch a team drag down a better one. Some of Chelsea were really great, Drogba when he was on his feet, Cahill especially. But it was 11 men behind the ball and hope desperately that Barca's efforts didn't go in. Chelsea don't deserve to win a match if their strategy is to let Barcelona come at them for 90 minutes and keep their fingers crossed that the inevitable chances are fluffed. The score could have been 8-1 to Barcelona, but could only have been 2-0 to Chelsea. It's sad to see a match go that way.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:45 pm UTC

Sorry but Barca weren't the better team. Our defense was spot on and I think we scored at the right chance. We were tactful. We aren't elegant or beautiful to watch but we're strong and it came through. You can speak in ifs and buts and should'ves but even though they kept the ball, they could have never gotten past our defense and Cech tonight. It was just solid defending.

by **Jesse** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:46 pm UTC

I have a bugbear about 'the better team' and its usage. Know who the better team is? The one who scored more goals on the night. Chelsea's strategy was a bad one, but Barca's was good? Then why didn't Barca win by a country mile? Really, really bugs me. It's not like Chelsea proxy Thor rushed or anything. Both teams went out with the ideal of coming out having scored more goals than their opponents, only one team actually managed that.

by **Dream** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:53 pm UTC

Amie wrote:they could have never gotten past our defense and Cech tonight. It was just solid defending.

What? They got past your defence and Cech twice. I don't know what you were watching, but Barcelona missed enough chances all by themselves that it was nothing to do with Chelsea that the score wasn't different.

Jesse wrote:Both teams went out with the ideal of coming out having scored more goals than their opponents, only one team actually managed that.

It's a team sport. the team can play excellently as a unit and still fail at a very specific task, like finishing. Another team can play extremely poorly and by total chance score a goal or two that were not of their own making. One plays better an loses, one plays worse and wins. It's a perfectly normal situation in any team sport, and not something that's really controversial.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:59 pm UTC

Dream wrote:What? They got past your defence and Cech twice. I don't know what you were watching, but Barcelona missed enough chances all by themselves that it was nothing to do with Chelsea that the score wasn't different.

Yes, that's when Ashley Cole kicked the ball away. Also, if you mean they missed chances to say that their ball hit the goal post then that wasn't really a shot on target.

by **Dream** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:01 pm UTC

Amie wrote:
Dream wrote:What? They got past your defence and Cech twice. I don't know what you were watching, but Barcelona missed enough chances all by themselves that it was nothing to do with Chelsea that the score wasn't different.

Yes, that's when Ashley Cole kicked the ball away. Also, if you mean they missed chances to say that their ball hit the goal post then that wasn't really a shot on target.

But that's not what you claimed. You claimed they didn't beat "your defence and Cech". They chipped Cech in the first half, and beat him with a cross in the second, hitting the bar and the post respectively. Claiming Barcelona couldn't beat your defence is objectively wrong, sorry.

by **Amie** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:03 pm UTC

Um, they did get choked when their shots were on target. That's what I meant. Every time.

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