The TT Football Club

[SempreSami]

Woy's Wevenge.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

PED and Fena,

As I've been saying lately, I'm wondering more and more if the FA aren't getting cold feet over appointing HR... I also think Levy is pretty keen to get rid of HR now - but not without some hefty compensation.

Todays slug-fest not withstanding, I always thought Moyes' sides play pretty dour and negative. He's obviously an excellent manager but FWIW I'm not sure he'd make my top 3 preferred candidates TBH.

The argument is that Pienarr didn't fit in to how HR likes to play, hence carting him back to Everton - but then why get him in the first place?... Given how much Spurs have ran out of steam - and how Everton have really thrived since he came back - it just looks like a big costly mistake any way you look at it from HR... one of a few big costly mistakes.

Just totally unacceptable is how I'd describe the Jan transfer window. Instead of augmenting and supporting what was a totally firing side right then, he made appalling laughing stock signings. He let too many leave too. And he doesn't seem to have legislated at all for injury/lack of form and the exhaustion of the likes of Gallas and King. Nor wants to play the squad players like Danny Rose, Gio D-S, etc, if he can help it it at all. And as for his tactics, formations, substitutions... oh blimey, I've said it all before.

In the last three months, Modric must have shaved off something around 20 Mill from his asking price, what with his ineffectual play.

Anyhow, for some strange reason I woke up this morning feeling unaccountably not so completely troubled by the latest loss. It's such a topsy-turvey - anything can and probably will happen - run in for us all (as Man U and Liverpool could testify to today), I think there's a bit more 'unpredictability' to come yet... it should also be noted that even 4th place will not be of any consequence to anyone really in the event Chelsea can do the business over a faltering Barca, and then go on and win the CL.

Is that how most Tottenham fans are feeling? I don't really know that many.

It must be pretty bad if you're thinking Chelsea might win the Champions League I think Newcastle will get 4th and it would be a real shame if they had to go into the Europa League because of it. We still need a whole lot of luck to win 2 huge games, if it's on quality alone we're clearly the 4th best left of the semi-finalists.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Is that how most Tottenham fans are feeling? I don't really know that many.

It must be pretty bad if you're thinking Chelsea might win the Champions League I think Newcastle will get 4th and it would be a real shame if they had to go into the Europa League because of it. We still need a whole lot of luck to win 2 huge games, if it's on quality alone we're clearly the 4th best left of the semi-finalists.

If Chelsea somehow make it past Barcelona, Real will crush them in the final. There's no way Chelsea are good enough to beat both of them, especially when Mourinho knows this Chelsea team all too well and exactly what their weaknesses are. Bayern would have a field day with Chelsea, and probably score 3 or 4 past them with ease, even with their awful (relatively speaking) domestic form.

[PED]

Originally Posted by NickC

If Chelsea somehow make it past Barcelona, Real will crush them in the final.

I didn't realize Real had already played and overcome their leg one deficit to Bayern Given the way that Robben and Franck are fighting, that might be easier now.

Sorry couldn't resist.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

If Chelsea somehow make it past Barcelona, Real will crush them in the final. There's no way Chelsea are good enough to beat both of them, especially when Mourinho knows this Chelsea team all too well and exactly what their weaknesses are. Bayern would have a field day with Chelsea, and probably score 3 or 4 past them with ease, even with their awful (relatively speaking) domestic form.

Oh right, i'll sleep easily tonight then lol.

[Breaker]

In a one off game anything is possible, and if they somehow got through Barca the confidence in themselves would be immense. Drogba can still score and bully any defence in the world and their back 4 looks amazing right now, Ramires playing more on the wings has also added some much needed pace to Chelsea which they haven't really played with most of the year.

However, Barca did rest quite a few players against Madrid presumably in preparation for this game and will be out for blood with La Liga all but gone. Chelsea are going to need every vehicle in London parked in front of goal to stop them .

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Breaker

In a one off game anything is possible, and if they somehow got through Barca the confidence in themselves would be immense. Drogba can still score and bully any defence in the world and their back 4 looks amazing right now, Ramires playing more on the wings has also added some much needed pace to Chelsea which they haven't really played with most of the year.

However, Barca did rest quite a few players against Madrid presumably in preparation for this game and will be out for blood with La Liga all but gone. Chelsea are going to need every vehicle in London parked in front of goal to stop them .

If Terry isn't enough, then nothing is! Say what you like about him, and it's hard to argue with some of the criticism he gets, but as a pure defender, it's hard to find anyone better over the last decade. People say his pace has dropped off and he's not been as good recently, but he's never had pace. He was a central midfielder as a kid but his complete lack of pace meant he was converted into a centre back, it's not like he was a Luiz in his younger years.

For any team to get past Chelsea in the Champions League, they've known they've had to get past Terry, the only defender to be voted the best in the Champions League 3 times in the 13 years it was going.

My guess would be we need 2 goals tomorrow. We'll probably get a couple of counter-attack chances, we have the advantage from corners, Drogba can be dangerous from free-kicks anywhere within 30 yards, Lampard has scored goals from distance in the big games before. It's a tall order, but not impossible to get the 2 I think, leaving Barcelona needing 4.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Oh right, i'll sleep easily tonight then lol.

Well, we wouldn't want to make things too easy now would we?

Originally Posted by Feña14

My guess would be we need 2 goals tomorrow. We'll probably get a couple of counter-attack chances, we have the advantage from corners, Drogba can be dangerous from free-kicks anywhere within 30 yards, Lampard has scored goals from distance in the big games before. It's a tall order, but not impossible to get the 2 I think, leaving Barcelona needing 4.

I think we should press hard, press early, and press often. Play them close and then use our aerial advantage to play keep-ball and see if we can outdo Barcelona at their own game, and try to keep moving around the pitch and stretch them on the counter. An away goal and we'll be able to park the bus and cross our collective fingers.


Further, as I know you're a keen follower of Serie A, I want to hear your thoughts on the mess that's currently going on at Genoa. Surely if they're relegated Chelsea could get someone like Veloso on the cheap from them, he's certainly good enough.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Further, as I know you're a keen follower of Serie A, I want to hear your thoughts on the mess that's currently going on at Genoa. Surely if they're relegated Chelsea could get someone like Veloso on the cheap from them, he's certainly good enough.

I think it's crazy! The way they keep sacking managers then re-hiring them a month or so later, the fans getting the game stopped and taking the shirts off the players is pretty funny though.

They do have a few decent players, but Veloso would be the one who fits into the right age bracket. If the club have been looking at him then this would be the perfect time to go for it. I think Fiorentina going down and getting Jovetic would be better though!

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

They do have a few decent players, but Veloso would be the one who fits into the right age bracket. If the club have been looking at him then this would be the perfect time to go for it. I think Fiorentina going down and getting Jovetic would be better though!

I wouldn't mind both, to be honest. Fiorentina going down would be sad, though, they have some absurd talent in their ranks and they had Champions League football not so long ago, if I'm not mistaken.

I wouldn't mind taking Ljajic, Jovetic, and Juan Manuel Vargas, though, if Fiorentina go down. I wouldn't shed a tear to see it happen to Amauri, though. He's s*it.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

I wouldn't mind both, to be honest. Fiorentina going down would be sad, though, they have some absurd talent in their ranks and they had Champions League football not so long ago, if I'm not mistaken.

I wouldn't mind taking Ljajic, Jovetic, and Juan Manuel Vargas, though, if Fiorentina go down. I wouldn't shed a tear to see it happen to Amauri, though. He's s*it.

Yeah, Amauri has always been overrated I think.

Fiorentina do have some good players, they struggled last season aswell so even if they do stay up, it's hard to see their better players wanting to stick around for too much longer. Vargas would be good, absolutely. It comes back to getting wingers in, he knows what to do in wide areas so it makes sense. I never really know where Jovetic plays, sometimes he plays as a winger, sometimes as a second striker. I think the new manager would have to give him more of an identity so he can fully make the most of his talents. Playing in different positions and being asked to do different things seem to hold him back a bit.

[Ross K]

Heard about this two days ago and it finally seems to have come to light.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle894381.html

Not really mentioned is there was meant to be secondary incident when a proposed players meeting was vetoed by HR, but the eplayers went along with it - and then HR went bonkers at them all.

Anyhow, not such a huge deal really as these things happen all the time in football for sure. But you really do wonder if, as with a lot of the fans, he's lost the dressing room.

BTW, his comments at the end are a joke, aren't they?

One trait to have manifested itself in a rather prominent way in the last few months is this: he never seems to take responsibility... it's never down to him.

Unfortunately, accepting Levy's unknown influence here, it IS very largely down to HR that we have two decrepit past their sell by date central defenders, and insufficient reinforcements; what's happened up front with bringing in Saha, letting Crouch and Pav go, not bringing in others... I mean, the decision to let go, among others, Naughton, Bentley, Jenas, Corluka, Bassong, and - as has been hands down proven to be a grave error - Pienaar - is his responsibility. And it's not as if the blot on his copy book only extends to this area either eh?

[Feña14]

Well and truly dreading tonight. I can't wait for 9.35, or the end of extra time/penalties. I'm sure everybody is looking forward to it, but yeah, talk about an uncomfortable couple of hours!

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Well and truly dreading tonight. I can't wait for 9.35, or the end of extra time/penalties. I'm sure everybody is looking forward to it, but yeah, talk about an uncomfortable couple of hours!

Looking forward to it big time. The latter stages of the CL - this is what it's all about. What all the players and fans truly aspire to. May the best team win - and may the theatrics and dodgy reffing not be what we're all talking about after the match.

[Kam2010]

Come on Chelsea!!

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Looking forward to it big time. The latter stages of the CL - this is what it's all about. What all the players and fans truly aspire to. May the best team win - and may the theatrics and dodgy reffing not be what we're all talking about after the match.

Hopefully that isn't the case!

But I agree about the referee needing to have a good game. There is no shame in losing to Barcelona, losing to them getting an advantage through wrong decisions is the worst feeling. I think about the semi-final in 2009 way more than I do losing the final the year before when Terry slipped over and hit the post on the penalty to win it all. Those things happen, not getting the 4 penalties in the semi, well, that's something that just doesn't happen.

[Breaker]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Well and truly dreading tonight. I can't wait for 9.35, or the end of extra time/penalties. I'm sure everybody is looking forward to it, but yeah, talk about an uncomfortable couple of hours!

Exactly how I feel about the derby Monday night and that's a week away! Looking at Barca's starting 11 it looks like the night could be the longest 90 minutes in eternity for Chelsea supporters. 3-4-3 is a bold choice.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Breaker

Exactly how I feel about the derby Monday night and that's a week away! Looking at Barca's starting 11 it looks like the night could be the longest 90 minutes in eternity for Chelsea supporters. 3-4-3 is a bold choice.

I can imagine yeah! It's just everything that comes with it, both teams really do hate each other with everything that's gone on over the last decade. Knowing it's so close, yet you have to go through arguably the greatest club side to ever to play the game. We probably won't even be in the competition next year, it's the last chance with this team too, Drogba is as good as gone to China and these are his last few games. At least even if you don't win it this year, you have great chances for years to come! For us, this is it.

[Ross K]

John Terry - WTF?! ... so with half-time approaching this looks to be all over.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

John Terry - WTF?! ... so with half-time approaching this looks to be all over.

Not quite!

But yeah, you're probably right.