Last Night

[sotnas]

Well, I was amazed last night. Although it wasn't an outstanding game, I think that some of those players are really something special.

Others I think they're crap (Ballack specially).

People compare the Mancs team of 2008 with the one of '99. I'd say that the '99 was a better team.

They had Stam (from a higher league above Vidic and Ferdinand), Keane and Scholes in his prime. Giggs, who in my opinion must be the most underrated player of all time, was up there within the top 3 players in the world. Instead the crappy Beckham was getting all the headlines, what a laugh.

And thinking that a player like Sheringham was a reserve. Uau, what a team.

This team has more flairy players and probably of better potential (Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo and Rooney). But pull Ronaldo out of the side and what do they have? A good side, absolutely true, but not a world beating side. Ronaldo's this year's performances took them to another level, he made the difference.

Last night, Utd had a great first half. Chelsea was lucky to draw before half time. But in the second half, I think Chelsea proved to be a stronger side. They're better as a side. Only Ballack is out his league.

Essien is a huge player. Makelele still is one fine player. Lampard is still great. Joe Cole as grown into a great team player, with all the great skills he has. Drogba, Malouda...All great players.

I think that player by player, chelsea must have a better side. And they sure played better in the second half.

Utd lost the ability to hold the ball. The front players had to run looking for it, but the midfielders left them down.

I think that none of the Utd Midfielders would play in the Chelsea team (Scholes, still very good but past his prime, Hargreaves, is it me or is he [Poor language removed]?, Carrick, surely well below Essien or Lampard).

But since Chelsea will break apart, I guess next season will be a walk in the park for Utd.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'm not so sure about that. Ferdinand for me has been the best centre back in the world this season. Vidic has also been well up there. I'm not sure there are many better left backs than Evra either. So the defence is top notch. Scholes is past his best but still a fine player. Hargreaves is top notch and lest we forget was the best player for us at the World Cup. Anderson in reserve is going to be first class when he matures a bit. If they add Berbatov or someone similar they'll really be formidable.

In the Chelsea side they're an incredibly powerful side. Essien is a freak, simply fantastic. I said for years that Lampard and Gerrard should be able to play together in a three man midfield, and Ballack/Lampard are showing that it's certainly possible. Drogba on his day is the best striker in world football, if only he wasn't such a jessie he'd be a true great. Malouda isn't good though and they're obviously well short at right back. Sort those two positions out and they'll be really tough to beat.

 

[sotnas]

I'm not so sure about that. Ferdinand for me has been the best centre back in the world this season. Vidic has also been well up there. I'm not sure there are many better left backs than Evra either. So the defence is top notch. Scholes is past his best but still a fine player. Hargreaves is top notch and lest we forget was the best player for us at the World Cup. Anderson in reserve is going to be first class when he matures a bit. If they add Berbatov or someone similar they'll really be formidable.

In the Chelsea side they're an incredibly powerful side. Essien is a freak, simply fantastic. I said for years that Lampard and Gerrard should be able to play together in a three man midfield, and Ballack/Lampard are showing that it's certainly possible. Drogba on his day is the best striker in world football, if only he wasn't such a jessie he'd be a true great. Malouda isn't good though and they're obviously well short at right back. Sort those two positions out and they'll be really tough to beat.

I agree on Utd' defense ability. They have good players in there. But I don't think Chelsea comes short to them on that department. One thing I think Utd's center back don't have is "brains". They're strong and commited but not the most clever players. I wouldn't trade the best Carvalho for any other defender in the premiership.

But the comparing both midfields, I think Chelsea is better. Anderson, as you said is still growing, as they are Rooney, Nani and Ronaldo. None of them has reached their full potential.

Mourinho set up a great bunch of players, no doubt about it. Grant's deserve some praise, but in all honesty anyone of us would be able to coach that team. The quality is so immense and work ethic of them is above any doubt.

Now people understand why Mourinho didn't want Shevchenko or Ronaldinho in his side. The guy knew what he was doing. Imagine this side full of "prima donna's" after his departure... they'd gonne down in the league pretty hard. But all of them are top notch professionals.

As Hargreaves is concerned, I never had a great opinion on him. And being the best english in the WC isn't necessarly a great achievment, as most of them played like crap. He's commited, he works his socks off, but sometimes the lad just doesn't know what to do with ball. He lacks a brain.

Gerrard and Lampard. What a mistery. Personally I like Lampard better, but both are commited players, they know how to defend, they have stamina and physical strength. Just can't understand what it takes to make them play well together. Theorectically speaking they're the best two center midfielders in the country. Gerrard even started has a holding midfielder. So in paper tehy should be able to play together.

 

[Rook]

It was a quality game, unlike most C-League finals. Not that it was hard and all but I almost predicted every one of the penalty misses. I got Anelka, Terrys, and Ronaldo's miss right however I thought Lampard was going to miss as well because when he stepped up to the line he looked liked he was going to puke.

Ballack was Chelsea's best player the past couple months, I'm not too sure he's crap.

Rio has played well this season, and deserves to be in England's starting 11 but my god he makes more than his fair share of brain-farts. He has a worse case of Yoboitis than Yobo does.

From what i read Hargreaves played well however I really didn't see him do anything. I don't know why he got the start over Park (one of the 2 players (Tevez) I root for in this match), who wasn't even a sub. Maybe Park doesn't play well against Chelsea I don't know. It would be nice to see Park get unsettled and get sold to us becasue I don't think we have enough vertically challenged players.

It was great to see Terry miss though. The guy has been a prick since he's became England captain. Maybe now he'll have a little humility.

Rooney didn't do much but at least WE'RE GETTIN PAID!!!

 

[Dom1878]

Well, last night - it was a great game, heres some of my opinions...

United dominated the first half, shouldve been about 3-0 up by the time chelsea scored their goal, however chelsea turned it around ,and dominated the second...and the really shouldve been leading by the end of the match...

...The Drogba sending off was careless by drogba, and by chelsea. What puzzeled me was Chelsea were complaining of it being "unsportsmanship" of kicking it out for a throw in, rather than give it back to the keeper - when Chelsea did THE EXACT same thing 15 minutes before hand. Unbelievable.

I feel sorry for Terry, but i wouldnt blame him anyway, he saved chelsea in the first half as it was, and it was anelka who missd the penalty - and he didnt even seem bothered about it.

I didnt mindwho won, i wanted chelsea to inw in the end, but im happy united got it. Great goal by Ronaldo, good that lampard scored too...

I just hope thats the last we have seen of Drogba though - i hate that player...

 

[Rook]

Anelka looked like he just got out of bed when he took his penalty, it was so easy to predict that he was going to telegraph it.

Maybe Drogba didn't deserve to get sent off but these big 4 teams with their whining, pouting, chest puffing and grabbing the refs arm etc. is really pathetic and annoying.

 

[coyney]

Anelka looked like he just got out of bed when he took his penalty, it was so easy to predict that he was going to telegraph it.

Maybe Drogba didn't deserve to get sent off but these big 4 teams with their whining, pouting, chest puffing and grabbing the refs arm etc. is really pathetic and annoying.

Rook if hes stupid enough to raise his hand to a player in front of the match official he deserves to go albeit a slap.

 

[TsarDiniyar]

Well, I was amazed last night. Although it wasn't an outstanding game, I think that some of those players are really something special.

Others I think they're crap (Ballack specially).

People compare the Mancs team of 2008 with the one of '99. I'd say that the '99 was a better team.

They had Stam (from a higher league above Vidic and Ferdinand), Keane and Scholes in his prime. Giggs, who in my opinion must be the most underrated player of all time, was up there within the top 3 players in the world. Instead the crappy Beckham was getting all the headlines, what a laugh.

And thinking that a player like Sheringham was a reserve. Uau, what a team.

This team has more flairy players and probably of better potential (Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo and Rooney). But pull Ronaldo out of the side and what do they have? A good side, absolutely true, but not a world beating side. Ronaldo's this year's performances took them to another level, he made the difference.

Last night, Utd had a great first half. Chelsea was lucky to draw before half time. But in the second half, I think Chelsea proved to be a stronger side. They're better as a side. Only Ballack is out his league.

Essien is a huge player. Makelele still is one fine player. Lampard is still great. Joe Cole as grown into a great team player, with all the great skills he has. Drogba, Malouda...All great players.

I think that player by player, chelsea must have a better side. And they sure played better in the second half.

Utd lost the ability to hold the ball. The front players had to run looking for it, but the midfielders left them down.

I think that none of the Utd Midfielders would play in the Chelsea team (Scholes, still very good but past his prime, Hargreaves, is it me or is he [Poor language removed]?, Carrick, surely well below Essien or Lampard).

But since Chelsea will break apart, I guess next season will be a walk in the park for Utd.

i personally couldnt give a monkeys....

 

[ToffeeDan]

It was a good game - which was surprising - the quality of the football was good, with plenty of endeavour. Chelsea definitely have the better players but not the best team. Grant feeled impelled to include Essien in his side - used to counter Ronaldo (a failure in the first half but in the 2nd he brought Ballack and Cole closer to him as well). To be fair Utd haven't got that many super-super players after Ronaldo - but they are good, very good in fact. It's a system that works - put 3 or 4 very very good players in a side and work very hard to:

a) keep the ball (you can't lose when you have it)
b) use it properly
c) add in some x factor deception in Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney etc.

If money were no object I would obviously want those 3 players in an Everton shirt - ditto Vidic but I don't think the rest of them are that great. I'd definitely go for the Chelsea players in most cases - Lampard, Ballack, Makalele, Drogba (with the right mental attitude of course), Cech, Terry etc. but it's a team game and the team won! Shame is the dirty Mancs got away with all the sly digs and punches and Chavs didn't seem to get the rub of the green from the officials!

TD