It's A F****** Disgrace

[GhostOfDixie]

But, he did cost Chelsea a place in the final and thats not right. No matter how much I prefer Barcas style of play.

Yeah but he didn't cheat.

Drogba also cost his side a win by missing glaring chances, and Essien's woeful defending at the end completely rubbed out a great goal.

 

[Cena]

Very good lad . If I wasnt so gutted I may even have laughed .

You had a bad day or something?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I suppose Howard Webb was under orders to prevent yet another Big Four procession into the FA Cup final when he denied United a penalty for the Jags tackle? You can see conspiracy theories wherever you look if you want to see them. Dan, you've said several times in the past that you don't rate Spanish teams and stuck your flag firmly in the Chelsea camp prior to tonights tie, just as I have pretty much put mine in the Barca camp.

I didn't see anything of beauty in Chelsea's performance today, either in their style or their theatrics. I'm not going to moralise about diving as sadly so many players do it these days that it would be hypocritical to do so. Chelsea were incredibly effective at neutralising the attacking threat posed by Barca and the deadlock was breached by two outstanding individual goals. The game wasn't one for the purists and United will no doubt be happy to see just how Barca failed to cope with a physical contest.

I said in the CL thread that it's not a victory for Chelsea in any meaningful sense any more than the likes of Bolton or Blackburn achieving success in one off games over technically better sides is. The physical approach relying on set plays can work in cup games. Goodness Liverpool dined out on it for a few years in Europe. Get a goal and then prove bloody hard to break down. In cup games its effective.

I guess the topic of the thread is Drogba though. For me the mans a fool. He's a big guy and on his day can absolutely terrorise defences. Why he goes down so easily is beyond me. He simply doesn't need to as he could bulldoze through/over many defenders in his sleep. He has the attributes to be regarded as a truely great centre forward but I can't help but feel his emotional makeup and the theatrics that come from that will forever prevent him reaching that top table.

 

[toffee-pat-yak]

I suppose Howard Webb was under orders to prevent yet another Big Four procession into the FA Cup final when he denied United a penalty for the Jags tackle? You can see conspiracy theories wherever you look if you want to see them. Dan, you've said several times in the past that you don't rate Spanish teams and stuck your flag firmly in the Chelsea camp prior to tonights tie, just as I have pretty much put mine in the Barca camp.

I didn't see anything of beauty in Chelsea's performance today, either in their style or their theatrics. I'm not going to moralise about diving as sadly so many players do it these days that it would be hypocritical to do so. Chelsea were incredibly effective at neutralising the attacking threat posed by Barca and the deadlock was breached by two outstanding individual goals. The game wasn't one for the purists and United will no doubt be happy to see just how Barca failed to cope with a physical contest.

I said in the CL thread that it's not a victory for Chelsea in any meaningful sense any more than the likes of Bolton or Blackburn achieving success in one off games over technically better sides is. The physical approach relying on set plays can work in cup games. Goodness Liverpool dined out on it for a few years in Europe. Get a goal and then prove bloody hard to break down. In cup games its effective.

I guess the topic of the thread is Drogba though. For me the mans a fool. He's a big guy and on his day can absolutely terrorise defences. Why he goes down so easily is beyond me. He simply doesn't need to as he could bulldoze through/over many defenders in his sleep. He has the attributes to be regarded as a truely great centre forward but I can't help but feel his emotional makeup and the theatrics that come from that will forever prevent him reaching that top table.

Mike Riley was ref in semi final.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I suppose Howard Webb was under orders to prevent yet another Big Four procession into the FA Cup final when he denied United a penalty for the Jags tackle? You can see conspiracy theories wherever you look if you want to see them. Dan, you've said several times in the past that you don't rate Spanish teams and stuck your flag firmly in the Chelsea camp prior to tonights tie, just as I have pretty much put mine in the Barca camp.

I dont rate Spanish sides???

I said La Liga doesn't compare with the Prem, and it doesn't.

Dont see any relevance to that within this thread at all

Wanted Chelsea to go through for Evertons sake though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You know what I mean.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Its been a long day, but no, I don't. :huh:

 

[Quint]

The ref was Norwegian, what did they expect....he'll be a Kopite wanting revenge

A Norwegian ref wrongfully sent off Del Horno against Barca in the 06 semis, and wrongfully sent off Lehmann(should have been a goal) in the final.
I'm ashamed to be norwegian.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I dont rate Spanish sides???

I said La Liga doesn't compare with the Prem, and it doesn't.

Dont see any relevance to that within this thread at all

Wanted Chelsea to go through for Evertons sake though.

It's a pretty thin desire though mate. I don't think your going to see that much difference if Chelsea were in the CL or not.

Remember 99, Man U never lost any impetus in any of their quests.

 

[Cena]

A Norwegian ref wrongfully sent off Del Horno against Barca in the 06 semis, and wrongfully sent off Lehmann(should have been a goal) in the final.
I'm ashamed to be norwegian.

How much is your season ticket at anfield?

 

[steevie]

I suppose Howard Webb was under orders to prevent yet another Big Four procession into the FA Cup final when he denied United a penalty for the Jags tackle? You can see conspiracy theories wherever you look if you want to see them. Dan, you've said several times in the past that you don't rate Spanish teams and stuck your flag firmly in the Chelsea camp prior to tonights tie, just as I have pretty much put mine in the Barca camp.

I didn't see anything of beauty in Chelsea's performance today, either in their style or their theatrics. I'm not going to moralise about diving as sadly so many players do it these days that it would be hypocritical to do so. Chelsea were incredibly effective at neutralising the attacking threat posed by Barca and the deadlock was breached by two outstanding individual goals. The game wasn't one for the purists and United will no doubt be happy to see just how Barca failed to cope with a physical contest.

I said in the CL thread that it's not a victory for Chelsea in any meaningful sense any more than the likes of Bolton or Blackburn achieving success in one off games over technically better sides is. The physical approach relying on set plays can work in cup games. Goodness Liverpool dined out on it for a few years in Europe. Get a goal and then prove bloody hard to break down. In cup games its effective.

I guess the topic of the thread is Drogba though. For me the mans a fool. He's a big guy and on his day can absolutely terrorise defences. Why he goes down so easily is beyond me. He simply doesn't need to as he could bulldoze through/over many defenders in his sleep. He has the attributes to be regarded as a truely great centre forward but I can't help but feel his emotional makeup and the theatrics that come from that will forever prevent him reaching that top table.

Still dont think it was a penalty though mate. Wellbeck kicked his own heel then rolled over about six times. Both players came together through momentum and yes, i have seen them given for less but it still was not as clear cut as many believe.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

It's a pretty thin desire though mate. I don't think your going to see that much difference if Chelsea were in the CL or not.

Remember 99, Man U never lost any impetus in any of their quests.

All down to opinions. Personally would have liked Chelsea playing a Champions League final 3 days before. Think would have given us a bit of an advantage, even if anything, the potential of an injury to a key player like Essien.

If the Champions League final went to extra time and pens as it did last year, and then the FA Cup final went to extra time, we would of had the legs on them.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I dont rate Spanish sides???

I said La Liga doesn't compare with the Prem, and it doesn't.

Dont see any relevance to that within this thread at all

Wanted Chelsea to go through for Evertons sake though.

You've mentioned a few times that Abidal should have gone, presumably for the coming together with Drogba in the first half. For me that was no more a penalty than Gerrards tumble in the derby that saw Hibbert sent off. Drogba's a seriously powerful guy, there's no way he needs to fall down like that, and if he was outside the box I don't suppose he would have done. Simply don't think it was a penalty. People have a habit of engineering fouls once inside the box. Malouda was much the same with his tumble on the edge of the box in the first half. I've no doubt Barca do it equally as much, just saying it's a nasty habit that has crept into the game.

When I was learning to play the game you carried on until you couldn't. Now you go looking for contact to give you the chance to fall over. Not right mate is it?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Still dont think it was a penalty though mate. Wellbeck kicked his own heel then rolled over about six times. Both players came together through momentum and yes, i have seen them given for less but it still was not as clear cut as many believe.

I agree, looking at the replay it wasn't as clear cut as it first looked. But if you were a United fan you'd swear something fishy was afoot wouldn't you?

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Going of track a bit though Bruce. As you rightly said, Barca do it equally as much.

The ref denied blatant pens, yes? - and cost Chelsea the final.

Thats the story of the game for me.