^^^ Yes, indeed.
Although, being a Spurs fan down the years (too many miserably lean years to recount), if there's one thing I've learned re optimistic forecasts, it's to tread cautiously... VERY cautiously. :shock: :wink:
I didn't see the game tonight, but when I heard Hazard got sent off for kicking a ball boy, I was pretty embarrassed.
I got home and saw it, what's all the fuss about? A 17 year old was lying on top of the ball to stop Hazard getting it, he dislodged it with his foot and carried on. Good on him I say.
I saw the ball kid saying he would be doing it during the game on Twitter. Chelsea had already complained about them not giving the ball back and informed the referee. Obviously Swansea had told them to not give the ball back, it happens. Just a shame nothing was done about it when it first happened and it was brought to the attention of the referee earlier.
It's ridiculous. I just read about the idiot ball boy being on twitter before game saying to watch out for his time-wasting antics... WTF?! Shouldn't HE be disciplined and investigated? Actually, maybe the likes of Villa or Newcastle should sign him up?
Anyhow, you do have to say big congrats are defintely due to the highly impressive Laudrup and Swansea.
I don't even see why Hazard should have been sent off. The ball boy is 17, and was wilfully obstructing the game, and rightfully was roughed up for his trouble by a player trying to get on with it. Had it been a sub-16 year old, or there actually been real force used, then I would understand, but all that's happened here is a gobby kid been taught a largely painless lesson for p!ssing about.
Are you suggesting that every player that feigns injury to waste time should get kicked in? I find myself almost in agreement.
Sagna's fall from grace since returning from injury has been staggering; he's constantly losing possession, always being caught out of position, and his delivery is embarrassing.
Giroud has started to go backwards since his slight improvement
West Ham next, and then Liverpool. We could be below Liverpool sooner rather than later. At least the next few games offer the possibility of turning over a new leaf and trying to build some consistency.
I don't even see why Hazard should have been sent off. The ball boy is 17, and was wilfully obstructing the game, and rightfully was roughed up for his trouble by a player trying to get on with it. Had it been a sub-16 year old, or there actually been real force used, then I would understand, but all that's happened here is a gobby kid been taught a largely painless lesson for p!ssing about.
So true especially re these two. Won't be sad to see Sagna go. Carl can fill his place.
Nice start against Hammers yesterday. Theo has great all year but has a swagger now that he's signed da ting.
Just think how good we'd be with RvP and how bad Utd would be.
I can see that this is complicated by the fact that the ballboy is so obviously a dick. But if Hazard had kicked a Swansea player who had thrown the ball away at a free kick or throw in he would have been sent off. So I can't see why it was wrong to send him off for what he did to the ballboy Of course he may justifiably regret not having kicked him harder.
Funny as I was thinking during the Spurs - Man U game just how good we could be with a top, top quality striker a la an RvP-type (admittedly players of his brilliance are thin on the ground lol.) If Levy could identify a true world class finisher and pull off the signing, I do think Spurs could be a major force.
So Mourinho is out at Real Madrid in the summer no matter what happens to them in the Champions League and if they defeat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
Hopefully he can come back to Chelsea, and take Ozil, Khedira, Modric and maybe even a cool forward like Benzema with him! I wonder who else will exit the Bernabeau in the upcoming firesale. And who will manage Los Blancos next? Has anyone heard the rumors of Wenger taking over if the supporters drive him out of Arsenal? Wenger at Real Madrid with a sizable budget would be awesome.
To be fair, the ball boy didn't simply kick it away. Kicking someone under those circumstances would be wrong on every level, no doubt. To kick the ball from under anyone who was lying on it to waste time? That's different.
Not different enough. Kicking someone for wasting time should see you sent off. All the same the ballboy seems a complete dick.
He kicked him? The footage shows him kicking and dislodging the ball, he didn't touch the kid. If we're treating the ballboy the same as we would a player who was time wasting, he would be the one getting a yellow card, whilst Hazard would of got nothing for knocking the ball free.
When goalkeepers keep hold of the ball after they concede and the opponent tries to get it back, that would mean from now on they would get sent off and the keeper would get away with it.
Someone at work yesterday who is known for his dislike of Chelsea (he's always fun to have a chat about football with ) was backing Hazard, even if he still hasn't forgiven him yet for not choosing Man Utd in the summer! He said if the ballboy was his kid, he'd be making him apologise and would of been ashamed of his actions. Even Swansea fans interviewed on the news yesterday were uncomfortable with it, which is great credit to them. The team have been amazing for the Premier League, it's good to see their fans aren't afraid to tell it how it is.
Time to fess up Ross, I knew 'arry had some shady dealings going on there but it's gotten out of control the more is learned about his time there -- hope you get relegated after finding out this new shocking information
I understand your squad can't afford to lose Bale but cloning him I'm pretty certain isn't legal.
That was a bad day at the office for Tottenham, Liverpool too...:evil:
Not much better for Chelsea either! Azpilicueta on for Ivanovic with 10 minutes to go? Oh, Rafa.
Great first half from Malaga against Barcelona. Shame they lost their rhythm in the second half.
Looks like Balotell is being seriously courted by Serie A sides and I think Mancini is cool with that.
Is it just me, or anyone else totally underwhelmed by him in the Prem?
On his day he can be unplayable. Unfortunately though, that day seems to arrive like one out of every ten games or something. His goals record isn't exactly Shearer-esque. His temperament seems, shall we say, highly flawed. There's always a huge tedious circus around him and his every utterance or bust up.
In short, I can't believe he'll be a big loss for City should he depart for Italy.
On his day he can be unplayable. Unfortunately though, that day seems to arrive like one out of every ten games or something.
Oh yes he's so lazy it's not even funny.
So good in the Euros but not worth the trouble, even Mourinho called him uncoachable.
LOL, they were only good until that red card.
What happened in the Chelsea game? I looked at the scoreboard in the 84th minute after watching the Arsenal game and thought it to be 3 points for the Blues.
Liverpool's 2 goals tonight was worst than Sunday league defending.
When was the red card ? Don't remember anymore.
And I can't for the life of me understand why Wenger brought on Santos
I don't know how to feel about the Balotelli deal. El Shaarawy and Niang are solid, and Balotelli's a bit of a punk, plus he didn't come cheaply.
I think they could of spent better in other areas, particularly centre back, maybe someone who could play out wide, apart from Robinho there isn't really anyone. They don't really play that style, but it would be a good option to have i'd of thought, especially when the game needs stretching. Niang, El Shaarawy and Boateng from deeper could do some real damage when things aren't so narrow.
We needed a solid creative midfielder (there are enough soldiers, utility midfielders, and Montolivo, but he's not quite a trequartista), the kaka deal fell through, since he was "too expensive" yet all that money goes for Balotelli. Management doesn't know what to do (Pazzini-Cassano deal, and on top of that we still gave Inter 7 million on top of that ). I swear, the old men (B&G) should just leave, and let Barbara or someone else run things.
Balotelli has tons of potential though, if he really loves the team as much as he's led to believe, he could be a great signing. On top of that, the El Shaarawy and Balotelli partnership will only blossom even more for the national team. Yet, I like Niang a lot, no clue what's going to happen to him.
Reading went for it, they were behind so it made sense. Rafa made his usual like-for-like, pointless substitutions (Benayoun for Mata, pfft).
His record is shocking, it certainly puts Di Matteo's start to the season into perspective. When he came in, we were still playing fairly well and the Oscar, Mata, Hazard system was resulting in some really attractive stuff. People said Benitez would want less of that, but be alot better on the defensive end. Well, we're just as bad at the back, except he's lost all the creative flair and attractive football we had under Di Matteo. He's basically just come in and messed up the good points, whilst doing nothing to fix the bad.
Looks like something could be happening.. again.
Before yesterdays shocker, the odds on Poyet taking over had already come down from 25-1, to 3-1.
Abramovich never really backed the last Chelsea legend who was in charge, can't see him changing this time round, if it's true!
Again, I completely agree ^. I can almost feel sorry for Chelsea fans. Roman Abramovic definitely seems to suffer from a kind of manager-related attention deficit hyperactivity disorder! :shock:
And talking of prospective managers for CFC... Q. What about the man many of us fear will turn up at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, of course? Isn't there a very good chance he'll have a second crack at you lot? I was thinking the second Real's involvement in the Champion's League is finito, "the special one" would be heading back to W. London.
As a Spurs fan, I hope I'm wrong... long live, Roman Abramovic!... bring on Poyet!... bring on the next fall guy!... :grin:
What do you think about the centre back position? It seems no real effort has been spent on replacing Silva.
ting to see the last day transfers. Haven't checked recently but I believe a few clubs are in for Christopher Samba (would be great acquisition for Wenger.) Beckham to PSG? And, hopefully, someone top tier to Spurs (note to H. Redknapp: Ryan Nelson is not 'top tier'.)