comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago

The most amusing one is the claim of Uefalona when Ovrebo also sent off Abidal erroneously in that game when Anelka tripped over his own feet.
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That one has something about it at least. Fans have a habit of crying corruption without establishing a motive for it, in their heads the motive is the governing body hate their club because x, y, z. But all clubs have fans like this, and all clubs have reasons why the FA/FIFA/UEFA might be inclined to "put them in their place", so the claim is erroneous.

That game however, while I'm sure it was just a case of a staggeringly incompetent referee, if your UEFA you do want Barcelona in that final rather than us. You don't want another all English final after the previous one saw a decline in viewership + you really want to market it as Messi vs. Ronaldo. There's motive, perhaps not enough to rig a match but there's a clear desired winner for the people who decide the referee.

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted about 2 hours ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 minutes ago
Yeah there’s never been corruption in football
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Has there ever been a conspiracy agst one particular club?
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Not the point. The point is you guys laugh off the thought of corruption as if it’s absurd when it’s only unproven so far in the capacity you’re limiting it to.
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No, I have not laughed of corruption as absurd. I have written off the idea that there is a deliberate conscious conspiracy by match officials agst Chelsea

comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted about an hour ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 minutes ago
Yeah there’s never been corruption in football
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Has there ever been a conspiracy agst one particular club?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not the point. The point is you guys laugh off the thought of corruption as if it’s absurd when it’s only unproven so far in the capacity you’re limiting it to.
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I think conscious corruption as you are suggesting against one club is an extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence. We have none.

Also, much-reported corruption at the top level of Fifa over bribes for selecting hosting world cups and various other money launderings is a world away from claiming the referees deliberately give decisions against us on orders to stop us winning.
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It also needs plausible motive

And a belief they need to do it once motive is established. Who tf would bother trying to keep us down right now? We've done an excellent job of doing this ourselves

Every club is complaining about ref decisions. Every time the top clubs drop points the fingers are always pointed at the officials. Rightly so a lot of the time. Even the mid table clubs like Brighton and Wolves have been screwed big time by poor refereeing decisions (think they even got a couple of apologises from the higher ups). As BlueJ2 said there’s no agenda against any club. There’s just a bunch of incompetent refs in this league.

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago

The most amusing one is the claim of Uefalona when Ovrebo also sent off Abidal erroneously in that game when Anelka tripped over his own feet.
---------------------------------------------------------
That one has something about it at least. Fans have a habit of crying corruption without establishing a motive for it, in their heads the motive is the governing body hate their club because x, y, z. But all clubs have fans like this, and all clubs have reasons why the FA/FIFA/UEFA might be inclined to "put them in their place", so the claim is erroneous.

That game however, while I'm sure it was just a case of a staggeringly incompetent referee, if your UEFA you do want Barcelona in that final rather than us. You don't want another all English final after the previous one saw a decline in viewership + you really want to market it as Messi vs. Ronaldo. There's motive, perhaps not enough to rig a match but there's a clear desired winner for the people who decide the referee.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

As I said if this motive was a factor why send off Abidal incorrectly? It was a worse decision than some of the pen decisions?

Truth about that match is we missed several clear cut chances to put the tie to bed and paid the price and as much as Essien is remembered for the goal, he also scuffed the clearance which if if had gone into row Z would have stopped Barca scoring.

The Ovrebo incident was a very strange one. Either it was the worst refereeing performance in the history of the Champions League or it was something more nefarious, only Ovrebo knows. Whatever happened that night it was an utterly bizarre game of football.

Anyway, on a more fun topic: is Poch sacked yet?

The sad thing about that Barcelona match in 2009 was all the controversy overshadowed two things : (1) Essien scoring one of the best goals I've ever seen, (2) what was, imo, the greatest counter attacking performance I've ever seen.

Relative to the strengths of the opposition I can't think of anything that tops it, not even us again in 2012. Created a respectable amount of really good chances & gave the best team in the world absolutely nothing until the 91st minute.

comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 15 minutes ago

Anyway, on a more fun topic: is Poch sacked yet?
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Needs to avoid defeat vs. Spurs. Do that he'll be hunky dory.

Silva leaving thank f for that

Take his trappy wife with him

My guess until end of season:

h) Spurs - DRAW
h) West Ham - WIN
a) Forest - LOSE
a) Brighton - DRAW
h) Bournemouth - WIN

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 15 minutes ago

Anyway, on a more fun topic: is Poch sacked yet?
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Needs to avoid defeat vs. Spurs. Do that he'll be hunky dory.
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He won’t be sacked

Especially now Silva’s leaving. Defo a Poch / Club decision to stop the undermining by his wife every week

comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 3 minutes ago

My guess until end of season:

h) Spurs - DRAW
h) West Ham - WIN
a) Forest - LOSE
a) Brighton - DRAW
h) Bournemouth - WIN
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For the sake of keeping to a prediction (that's so far been correct) I made after the City match, I'm going win vs. Spurs & performance of the season to boot.

I also have to work & can't watch it, another indicator we'll probably win & play really well

I doubt Poch is getting sacked anytime soon.

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 17 minutes ago
The sad thing about that Barcelona match in 2009 was all the controversy overshadowed two things : (1) Essien scoring one of the best goals I've ever seen, (2) what was, imo, the greatest counter attacking performance I've ever seen.

Relative to the strengths of the opposition I can't think of anything that tops it, not even us again in 2012. Created a respectable amount of really good chances & gave the best team in the world absolutely nothing until the 91st minute.
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We should have won the CL that season. The biggest irony is that we won the CL three years later with a much lesser team. Our 2009 team would have killed that 2012 side lol. Football is very weird like that.

I'd give him another season, not entirely convinced by the names we're linked with to replace him. This ownership will just go after De Zerbi knowing them and I don't think he's better than Poch

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 11 seconds ago

comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 17 minutes ago
The sad thing about that Barcelona match in 2009 was all the controversy overshadowed two things : (1) Essien scoring one of the best goals I've ever seen, (2) what was, imo, the greatest counter attacking performance I've ever seen.

Relative to the strengths of the opposition I can't think of anything that tops it, not even us again in 2012. Created a respectable amount of really good chances & gave the best team in the world absolutely nothing until the 91st minute.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We should have won the CL that season. The biggest irony is that we won the CL three years later with a much lesser team. Our 2009 team would have killed that 2012 side lol. Football is very weird like that.
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Just one reason why that 2012 CL win is one of the greatest stories I've ever lived.

It's very true to life. You work tirelessly for eight years to achieve something, completely deserve it for at least half of those years, but you eventually get it only when you've got a bit of luck on the side

We shudda knock u out in round 2

comment by T.J (U15973)
posted 9 minutes ago

I'd give him another season, not entirely convinced by the names we're linked with to replace him. This ownership will just go after De Zerbi knowing them and I don't think he's better than Poch
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I would at this point but my gut says he won't see it out. We'll need to see a significant improvement & need to challenge the top 6 (at least) from the beginning. A fast start will be essential.

He'll need the new striker, whoever it is, to settle immediately. Got a feeling the owners will gamble (financially) on this player & they'll deem him Pochettino's responsibility.

comment by #4zA (U22472)
posted 2 minutes ago

We shudda knock u out in round 2
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You won't care about this but f*ck ima say it anyway

That was one of my favourite parts of the story. It reminded me of Chelsea/Barca in 2000 only the roles were reversed. We were the superpower who repelled the clearly going places team after an initial scare. Lovely piece of symmetry (in my head at least lol).

comment by #4zA (U22472)
posted 59 minutes ago
We shudda knock u out in round 2
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Ashley Cole goal line clearance first leg

comment by #4zA (U22472)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
We shudda knock u out in round 2
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Take comfort in the fact that you got knocked out by the Champs

Once a blue, always a blue

https://youtu.be/2X5d-GH0Vok?si=_h2UHzkMqO8o837B

As a Chelsea fan I feel a bit embarrassed this only has 100,000 views so far. Really hope Thiago Silva comes back as head coach one day 💙

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 28 minutes ago
Once a blue, always a blue

https://youtu.be/2X5d-GH0Vok?si=_h2UHzkMqO8o837B

As a Chelsea fan I feel a bit embarrassed this only has 100,000 views so far. Really hope Thiago Silva comes back as head coach one day 💙
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I think it's hard to garner enthusiasm for Chelsea content right now.

I haven't watched it because frankly, I don't want a reminder one of the few grown up players is leaving and we are stuck with overrated obscure children our American owners were fooled into buying.