Oh, and I must confess to being a big fan of the Welsher's volleyed backheels:hehe:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

It's supposed to be entertainment. Many forget that.

[Classic Jorge]

The commentators seemed to just ignore it and then began to praise Chelsea for their defensive organisation.

#everythinthatswrongwithenglishfootballrightthere

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Mourning would punch one of his players for doing something like that.

[ITSUPFORGRABSNOW]

Even does comedy acts afterwards too

[Classic Jorge]

He's really blossoming into a lovely player, that lad.

[Classic Jorge]

I mean, if a wealth Oil baron decides to pump the proceeds of the former soviet union's energy fields into a club it takes a little bit of the fantasy out of the game, if he then ushers in a period of cynical, defensive minded, niggly football to go with it it stamps on the neck of any romanticism until it expires.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Defensive minded football v a good defensive performance?

Had they played a less cautious game yesterday, and last week v United, and somehow contrived to lose both then how different would things be today instead of the situation where they have effectively won the league. A 4 from 6 point return against the only two sides who conceivably could have caught them. Job done, no?

A quick glance at the relevant statistical collation (the league table) suggests they have actually scored more goals than us in the current campaign to date, us being the poster boys of attractive attacking football, so an open accusation of defensive football would seem inappropriate and inaccurate.

Even in the game yesterday they fashioned the two best or most open chances in the 93 minutes.

They need to do what is necessary now to get over the line, be that falling over the line or sprinting over it. I am sure you do realise this when you see beyond the normal but petty reaction of the football supporter.

[Classic Jorge]

If a plucky mid table club raised their game by keeping it tight at the back, lining up with a 4-6-0 formation and, quite frankly, playing for a draw when they needed a draw you could understand it.

You can't abstract Chelsea from the fact they've had millions lavished upon them and have a team chock full of stars. They're constructed as a Rich man's play thing, a vanity project, a folly.

If anything we should be the dour, joyless, soulless and ugly ones having pulled ourselves up by our, admittedly not inconsiderable, bootstraps to our current position. I get the whole simple, unfussy, unromantic viewpoint that is your trademark but I do think the thing you're missing - and it's quite often the case - is that football should be all about romance, fantasy and derring do.

That said, it was a brilliant defensive performance by them. Hats off. Twiffik passion etc etc.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

or Villareal.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

The rest I am afraid is utter *******s, especially the silly bit about romance and fantasy. Perhaps for you and I and supporters in general, we all dream as such so I can see the parallel between supporters and fantasy.

Not for the professionals or the clubs, the clubs operating at the very highest level.

Your entire post completely ignores and overlooks the outrageously high stakes that were at play yesterday and at this point of a season.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

collation of statistics, it would have died at birth.

[redgunamo]

That's why Juventus are much greater club than Fiorentina, for instance.

[Classic Jorge]

Listen, I'm far from a ray of sunshine myself and can comfortably match you for pessimism and dark outlooks but I watch football for the moments when it transcends all of that.

I'm a romantic at heart, which is why I'm such a cynic - those feelings have been crushed so many times you create a sort of callus to guard against your exposed nerve - but to lose all joy, to hate joy so much that you won't even be seduced by it......

There are no words, SW. None.

Mind you, everything considered this must be a veritable golden age for you right now. Are you enjoying just how little beauty are around?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[Classic Jorge]

Inter would be a better example, especially the reason everyone is glorying in their abjectness right now.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Honestly mate, stop now before you make a complete c**t out of yourself.

I watch football for the exact same reasons as you and take the same immense joy from those moments you allude to.

[redgunamo]

realised through man's industry, do you mean?

You can't have art without work, I'm afraid. And not the other way around.

[Classic Jorge]

[redgunamo]

Same for the Milan clubs too, naturally.

[Classic Jorge]

I agree there can't be art without work but what's the point of work without art?

[redgunamo]

[redgunamo]

We may, or we may not.

Point is that it's the work we have done that allows us the leisure to decide that for ourselves.

[Classic Jorge]

Of course, the irony is that they were the very acme of romantic footballing derring do back then.

I really quite liked the Vialli, Gullit, Zola Chelsea sides

[redgunamo]

[Classic Jorge]

Eddie Newton and John Spencer less so

[redgunamo]

[Ashberto]

Gotcha!

[redgunamo]

Ha!

[Ashberto]

Ner!

[redgunamo]

[redgunamo]

Besser spaet als nie.