Beren

he's just hilarious imo. He's trying his best which just makes it funnier.

That's sort of driving at part of the reason he will go underrated IMO. He did sacrifice his full complement of abilities for the system, for the team, and the team was successful as a result. I don't think Lampard had the engine to do both as effectively with the same endurance. Would be interesting to know if he preferred/enjoyed being a DM more than an authentic box-to-box player. Their system was ultimately built around Lampard, really - and as you say he was bought to fill the Makelele void. Injuries properly knacked him - as I guess they do for most high intensity players. Don't like seeing post-injury great players. Oh, and as an aside, just to re-ignite this for no reason: Anita is not a DM!

A Tooj request: Michael Essien On the decline now, but a fantastic player who was the lynch-pin for so much of Chelsea's success in particular. His work allowed Frank Lampard to go forward unfettered from midfield and set them up into a formidable and solid Chelsea team. I think he will go underrated in history's annals but I thought in his prime he had fantastic composure, up against better a better pool of players than there are today too. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01452/michael-essien_1452808c.jpg

Think it was Sewelly (?) who propounded that Balotelli ought to be higher up the pecking order than Dzeko last season while Dzeko was really out of form. We discussed it in circles and ended on "let's wait and see". I think Man City have kept the better, more reliable player personally. Think he's actually outscored Aguero and Tevez this season with far less game time (not that, that is the sole measure of a forward - cf Defoe). Who knows what Balotelli will go on to accomplish, if anything, though. He's got talent, but not nearly enough to justify his idiocy - which is considerable.

http://i.imgur.com/lUilgKi.png Our one scored was actually a second ball in, btw. So should be 0.

Steve Bruce [\second-half of the seasonreference]

The refuse floating around their pitch is hilariously fitting. Honestly, could they be more Shelbyville?

Only highlights but Norwich looked really good there IMO.

Oh Bale's turned over a whole new leaf after not hitting the deck once :lol:

It was good, but I read some rather lofty descriptions earlier.

Class save

That was the Bale goal people were hyping? Ugh.

That's a fantastic team goal from Norwich.

Heitinga is awful. So not Dutch with that touch.

Lovely delivery.

Mate is convinced he's better than Krul

Paid dividends. 22 point return off Mata. Probably would have nabbed three bonus points too, but I suspect Le Fondre may nick 'em now. 68 total before bonuses.

Moses injured? I know Hazard was suspended. Forgot they still had Benayoun tbh. playing for Nigeria Oh of course.

Moses injured? I know Hazard was suspended. Forgot they still had Benayoun tbh.

West Ham have looked seriously poor lately. About as much attacking strategy/nous/guile as a Pardew team. They really need reinforcements/Carroll back from injury to get them at least effective as a battering ram again.

GW24 - mental note for me, when I have my spreadsheet in front of me: Lawro got 4. GW25: QPR v Norwich Arsenal v Stoke City Everton v Aston Villa Newcastle v Chelsea Reading v Sunderland West Ham v Swansea Wigan v Southampton Fulham v Man Utd West Brom v Tottenham Man City v Liverpool

Mata assist from the corner.

Screw you Shane Long.

C-c-c-combo-breaker!