Re Terry I think it boils down to his explanation or his defence of calling Ferdinand a "black ****" as being a sarcastic comment. It has since been argued that this is maybe a form of "unconscious" racism. Any way you want to put it though, it's racism, and can't be tolerated in this day and age... or can it?
I honestly don't have sympathy for JT, because aside from this, which just totally puts the icing on the cake, there's the shagging off his team mate's missus; the way he commandeered that England press conference in the World Cup in S. Africa and decided to install himself as de facto England spokesman/leader, etc; that ridiculous needless kick he handed out in the CL semi against Barca; and so many dumb-arse incidents you lose count.
As a player he is absolutely great, no doubts there whatsoever, but character-wise he does seem to be a little, er... flawed.
Unconcious racism? His defence in court was that he used them in a denial. As i've said, if you're in a noisy bar and someone thinks you said something, asks you if you did, you deny it.. but that doesn't matter, you're still a racist? Not sure how that one works.
As for the other things, Bridge is the only one who says Terry slept with his partner. Both of them still deny it to this day, nobody knows for sure. The World Cup, England had looked like they lacked leadership in a horrible 0-0 draw with Algeria. Gerrard was so poor as captain in the World Cup. Terry knew something had to be done to try and get the team to spark something, he did what was needed.
We saw today with Arsenal how lack of leadership on the pitch cost them, nobody had the pressence or balls to organise the defence from set pieces and they lost the game. I think it's hilarious he get's stick for standing up and challenging his team to join him in salvaging a World Cup. If he had of sat back and watched it all fall apart he would of got destroyed too.
People don't like him, fair enough. Some of the things they see as facts about him are a little bit strange though really.
Well done Chelsea today. They bossed the middle of the park.
I think we suffered with Diaby being pulled off but Torres was fantastic today and he totally pwned Koscielny for that first goal.
Wished Per had been playing instead of him since he was at fault for both goals.
Interesting that both Carzorla and Hazard were not at their best today but Mata took up the slack and dominated.
Ramsey was poor and I'm counting the days til Wilshire returns. The Ox is up to it at the moment to play in the middle.
We were actually excellent! I was surprised.
The pressing from the front 4 was like watching Barcelona, the way they kept winning the ball back time and time again. To be able to disrupt one of the best passing teams in the world the way we did was great. I think Oscar was very good again, the way he's stopped Pirlo and Cazorla in only his first few games is a great sign.
Mata was incredible again, I said earlier in the thread how Hazard has been getting all the attention, but Mata has been head and shoulders above him.
Mikel decided to have one of his great games too, if only he could do that 75% of the time, not just the 25% he does at the moment.