Premier league discussion 28th/29th December

L r d wrote:Oh but they still booo ronaldo, what a bunch of c**ts. Not liking this fletch and hargreaves, it's such a limited pairing

Puro wrote:

L r d wrote:Oh but they still booo ronaldo, what a bunch of c**ts. Not liking this fletch and hargreaves, it's such a limited pairing

I'm expecting Ñol to have a good game. These are the games he loves to play, West Ham should be alright.

Puro wrote:

Santa's Seventh Elf wrote:

Puro wrote:Oh shite! what happened to Shevchenko?

Got a slight injury against Villa.

Bullshit! nobody reported any injuries until this morning.

26/12/2007 18:37

Grant: We Dominated The Game Having gone two behind and then twice been in front, only to concede a last-minute penalty, Chelsea manager Avram Grant was in a suitablycynical mood following the 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa...

Stamford Bridge was stunned when Aston Villa took a 2-0 lead in the first half, with many fearing their side's epic unbeaten home run was coming to an end.

A penalty just before half time converted by Andriy Shevchenko gave Chelsea hope, and indeed a second from the former Milan hit-man and another from Brasilian defender Alex put the Blues in front.

It was then that Villa equalised, but when Michael Ballack scored a free kick upon his return from injury the points seemed to be in the bag, only for Gareth Barry to convert a last minute penalty to draw an end to a Boxing Day classic.

Avram Grant's words following the game couldn't have been more apt: "For the supporters it's an exciting game, for us, we dropped two points.

"We dominated the game, controlled the game."

The Israeli particularly rued the manner in which his side squandered their lead, with both equalisers coming from set-pieces.

"We conceded a goal from a free kick, but then we made it 4-3 at the end of the game - then we conceded a penalty," he recalled. "Of course I'm disappointed."

Ashley Cole handled inside the area to concede a penalty in the dying minutes, but Grant protested his man's innocence.

"I don't like to speak, it's the decision of the referee," he began. Yet he went on to air his views anyway. "I saw now it was not a penalty.

"[In the] first half we didn't play good, we conceded two goals from counterattacks.

"Second half we [were] very good, we led 3-2. We dominated the game, of course we played against 10 players, so it was much easier for us."

In a fiery encounter, Ricardo Carvalho had already seen red for a two-footed challenge, which seems to be a common occurrence in the Premiership as of late.

Grant again attempted to clear his player of any wrongdoing.

"I see that he didn't have any intention to harm the player, but again it's decision of the referee," he bemoaned.

However, the upcoming suspensions of Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho only add to the injury problems that already see captain John Terry sidelined, and Frank Lampard - who was eager to net his 100th goal for the club today - was forced off in the first half with injury.


"The situation doesn't look so good," said Grant. When asked for specifics on the fitness of Lampard and Shevchenko, he declined to comment. "I don't know, the doctor said we need to wait and see."

"I cannot say that I am happy from this situation," he said, continuing to lament his ill fortune, recalling how many players have been on and off the treatment table since he took over the reigns from Jose Mourinho earlier this season.


"We'll do our best as we did before," he insisted.

There were of course positives to be taken from the game. Shevchenko netted an invaluable brace, and Ballack's free kick was a moment of brilliance that deserved to win the game.

Grant is optimistic that last season's big summer signings may finally be coming good.

"This is good news, because we needed Ballack," he began. "Of course he is not in his best shape, because it is his first game.

"Shevchenko did what he hoped to do."

Chelsea will know they cannot afford to drop points at home as they chase Arsenal and Manchester United, who are in such ominous form.

Their next game comes at home to the struggling Newcastle on December 29th.

L r d wrote:
Well he's up against the best lb in the world, so i wouldn't lower my opinion of him if he doesn't do shite

Puro wrote:f@ck! Cristiano scores. I tried to make him captain right at the deadline, but it didn't register. Sheva's my captain.

robert wrote:Idiots. You should know Ronaldo guarantees FF points!