Mowen

Vent your frustration at Pardew, not Krul. Mentioned it in the match thread but noticed today how little the defenders offer for it. Need to get the full backs pulling very wide and dropping deep to open the pitch up when he's distributing and to give him specific short options.

Tell you what mind....Ruiz did much less than fuck all.

I was pretty much front row next to the tunnel, he more than anyone looked like he was loving the fans and appreciating how much he's loved, particularly before kick off but even at full time. Only a little thing but it was nice to see. Top class player.

Surreal game. You don't see many 'game of two halves' as blatant as that. First half we were excellent, created a few chances, scored a great goal, some lovely interplay, the formation was working very nicely and the fact we got the goal made me think there was no way we weren't going to win. When Shola ran half the length of the pitch and almost scored my old man just burst out laughing, couldn't believe what he'd seen. Second half we were abject, it was incredible, complete collapse. We didn't react to their change and got killed. I think the players went into their shells as we went 2-1 down despite having dominated the vast majority of the game to that point and they didn't come back out, it was pretty terrible. Surreal. The defence went to pieces and both Cabaye and Guthrie were awful having both played well in the first half, particularly the latter. One thing I noticed re: Krul's kicking is that Colo seems to be the only one who ever offers for it short. Really that should be the full backs' job - they should be dropping to about the edge of the area and hugging the touchline - this will either give options or drag the strikers out of their preferred positions and decongest the middle.

Once again, the loan system. If loans didn't exist the game would be far fairer in my opinion.

It's clear you favors Drogba, and Drogba is a world class forward, but if we ignore personal opinions, Eto'o is the better player. Samuel Eto'o: Young African Player of the Year: 2000 African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008-09, 2010–11 FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006 UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006 African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008 UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006 La Liga Top Scorer: 2006 African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer RCD Mallorca All-Time Top Scorer Cameroon All-Time Top Scorer 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Third UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006 FIFA Club World Cup – Golden Ball 2010 CAF Starting XI in the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2006 Didier Drogba: Onze d'Or: 2004 UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2004 Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2004 Ivorian Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007 African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009 Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2007 Premier League Golden Boot: 2007, 2010 PFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2010 UEFA Team of the Year: 2007 ESM Team of the Year: 2007 FIFPro World XI: 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2009 West African Footballer of the Year : 2010 Chelsea Player of the Year: 2010 Time Top 100: 2010 Côte d'Ivoire all-time Top Scorer This is quality If we ignore personal opinions, and rate them on loads of things that are decided only by personal opinions we come to a far fairer decision I highly doubt he, you and I have anything to do with all the awards these players have won. I'm 100% sure I didn't have any impact on these awards and I'd be amazed and impressed if either of you did. But you specifically said we should ignore personal opinions and then tried to prove one player was better than the other based on who had a longer list of awards, the majority of which are opinion based...surely you can see why I've laughed at that? I tried to prove one player was better than the other based on who had a longer list of awards? Wow. Sorry to disappoint you, but I did not. My first sentence has nothing to do with the awards. I just posted their individual awards for everyone to see. Why the hell did you post that list then? Didn't I told you? for everyone to see? So your conclusion is: ignoring personal opinions; Eto'o is the better player. In your opinion.

He's not done well so far but I can't understand why so many people have gone overboard saying he's shit. He's played about 6 games in two years, it's ridiculous.

Whilst I absolutely agree with the general senitment...we got a horrible reaction after some games, Bristol City (who we seemed to get on fine with pre-match) and Cardiff being two that spring to mind.

It's clear you favors Drogba, and Drogba is a world class forward, but if we ignore personal opinions, Eto'o is the better player. Samuel Eto'o: Young African Player of the Year: 2000 African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008-09, 2010–11 FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006 UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006 African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008 UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006 La Liga Top Scorer: 2006 African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer RCD Mallorca All-Time Top Scorer Cameroon All-Time Top Scorer 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Third UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006 FIFA Club World Cup – Golden Ball 2010 CAF Starting XI in the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2006 Didier Drogba: Onze d'Or: 2004 UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2004 Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2004 Ivorian Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007 African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009 Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2007 Premier League Golden Boot: 2007, 2010 PFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2010 UEFA Team of the Year: 2007 ESM Team of the Year: 2007 FIFPro World XI: 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2009 West African Footballer of the Year : 2010 Chelsea Player of the Year: 2010 Time Top 100: 2010 Côte d'Ivoire all-time Top Scorer This is quality If we ignore personal opinions, and rate them on loads of things that are decided only by personal opinions we come to a far fairer decision I highly doubt he, you and I have anything to do with all the awards these players have won. I'm 100% sure I didn't have any impact on these awards and I'd be amazed and impressed if either of you did. But you specifically said we should ignore personal opinions and then tried to prove one player was better than the other based on who had a longer list of awards, the majority of which are opinion based...surely you can see why I've laughed at that? I tried to prove one player was better than the other based on who had a longer list of awards? Wow. Sorry to disappoint you, but I did not. My first sentence has nothing to do with the awards. I just posted their individual awards for everyone to see. Why the hell did you post that list then?? If that had nothing to do with it, your conclusion was that, removing personal opinions, Eto'o is better??

wacko

I thought he looked good against Forest, looked classy on the ball and moved it around nicely. Only time I've seen him play mind.

It's clear you favors Drogba, and Drogba is a world class forward, but if we ignore personal opinions, Eto'o is the better player. Samuel Eto'o: Young African Player of the Year: 2000 African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008-09, 2010–11 FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006 UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006 African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008 UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006 La Liga Top Scorer: 2006 African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer RCD Mallorca All-Time Top Scorer Cameroon All-Time Top Scorer 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Third UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006 FIFA Club World Cup – Golden Ball 2010 CAF Starting XI in the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2006 Didier Drogba: Onze d'Or: 2004 UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2004 Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2004 Ivorian Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007 African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009 Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2007 Premier League Golden Boot: 2007, 2010 PFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2010 UEFA Team of the Year: 2007 ESM Team of the Year: 2007 FIFPro World XI: 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2009 West African Footballer of the Year : 2010 Chelsea Player of the Year: 2010 Time Top 100: 2010 Côte d'Ivoire all-time Top Scorer This is quality If we ignore personal opinions, and rate them on loads of things that are decided only by personal opinions we come to a far fairer decision I highly doubt he, you and I have anything to do with all the awards these players have won. I'm 100% sure I didn't have any impact on these awards and I'd be amazed and impressed if either of you did. But you specifically said we should ignore personal opinions and then tried to prove one player was better than the other based on who had a longer list of awards, the majority of which are opinion based...surely you can see why I've laughed at that?

It's clear you favors Drogba, and Drogba is a world class forward, but if we ignore personal opinions, Eto'o is the better player. Samuel Eto'o: Young African Player of the Year: 2000 African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008-09, 2010–11 FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006 UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006 African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008 UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006 La Liga Top Scorer: 2006 African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer RCD Mallorca All-Time Top Scorer Cameroon All-Time Top Scorer 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Third UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006 FIFA Club World Cup – Golden Ball 2010 CAF Starting XI in the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2006 Didier Drogba: Onze d'Or: 2004 UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2004 Ligue 1 Goal of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2004 Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2004 Ivorian Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007 African Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2009 Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2007 Premier League Golden Boot: 2007, 2010 PFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2010 UEFA Team of the Year: 2007 ESM Team of the Year: 2007 FIFPro World XI: 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2009 West African Footballer of the Year : 2010 Chelsea Player of the Year: 2010 Time Top 100: 2010 Côte d'Ivoire all-time Top Scorer This is quality If we ignore personal opinions, and rate them on loads of things that are decided only by personal opinions we come to a far fairer decision

Class!

All down to madras's favourite word (fluidity). We have to start Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse imo. This can start as a 442 with Ben Arfa on the right but would be fluid enough to allow Ba, Ben Arfa and Jonas playing off Cisse with Tiote and Cabaye in behind in the 4231 Germany made popular at the world cup and we seemed to play for a while against QPR. The personnel seems obvious, the important thing is getting them working together and playing to their strengths. I'm genuinely excited to see what this team can do.

Man U, Spurs, Chelsea, Leicester. Acca and 4 trebles.

Funny enough, there's a fair few fans who would like ENIC to sell up, I'm not one. Levy has kept a tight rein on the finances which has at times been frustrating, but Levy won't pay what he perceives to be over the odds and would rather keep a player than sell him on the cheap. He can't get it right every time, no one does that, but the fans know that if the right players become available at the right price, the money is there, in spite of having bought up half the property in Tottenham over the past few years in readiness for building a new stadium. MJ, what happened to that transfer that was unconfirmed but on twitter? Was twitter right?

I keep reading this title as "Cheik Tiote sent off for friendly choking of opponent". Maybe his culture is similar to Apu's and he was merely apologising for something?

He'd be first choice right back and arguably second choice centre back dependent on form. 40k is a lot but he'd effectively be covering two positions for us and would significantly strengthen the squad and first team. I've wanted us to sign him for ages mind so I'm a bit biased.

I think he's a good player who could be great and would be phenomenal with Ba, who clearly prospers alongside a genuine number 9. My main concern (other than the cost, obviously) would be the fans not taking to him again. Personally I don't have much anger for him at all but I realise I'm in a fairly small minority as far as that goes.

Exactly the same. Think I got 3.4 on it.

Guilty

To stick up for the ref in this one...I know I'm in a fairly small minority but I have no problem with that being a red. Once both the feet are in the air and facing forwards you have utterly no control over what you're doing and could cause a huge amount of damage, particularly with someone running full pelt at you. It was reckless and dangerous and as far as I'm concerned he shouldn't be winning any appeal. I must admit I'm in an almost uniquely sensitive state about challenges that have the potential to break a leg at the moment mind

This may well actually be true but the bit in bold as a stand alone statement is ace. No announcement by anyone official but it's on the biggest bullshit machine ever invented in the history of time. Even North Korea would be embarrassed by how much bollocks is on twitter ffs

sexy