Yeah that was another awful challenge I had on my mind, Haidara came out a lot worse off than Matic too.

 

He seemed to forget about Cahill somehow avoiding a red card against Hull & the 2 penalties awarded against Arsenal & QPR (though the former was pretty stone-wall) but they have had numerous wrong decisions go against them that is true. Think it's rubbish there's any sort of campaign going on however.

 

Everyone has incidents go against them though - just look at Costa against Liverpool - he should have been sent off.. instead he stays on the pitch and Chelsea get to the final.

 

Guess he's forgetting about last season as well.. the game against West Brom springs to mind!!!

Mourinho is a f***ing whingebag and if he can't cope with the way the FA operates, he needs to piss off. Van Gaal is not much better, but at least his breakdowns carry a certain comedy value.

If anybody makes a threatening challenge you're always going to react and the sensible thing would be to either punish both or punish neither.

 

Agree with this. I think the referees had a collective shocker this weekend tbh.

 

I think it's a bit of both. To me personally he's losing grip of control. He went off the boil at Inter Milan and at Real Madrid. I think the pressure is starting to tell. You can see old Mourinho tactics are creeping in, i.e. defending a 1-0 lead. Guess we'll see, but this Chelsea side is the best team in the Premier League on paper since the 08/09 Manchester United team. They should be walking the league.

 

Better than the 2011/12 Man City team? That season had one of the best title races in my memory.

 

A typical Mourinho is a 2-0 win; clinical, efficient but rarely exciting. They're the results that win titles and his record against the big teams is almost impeccable. This reluctance to "take off the handbrake" works against them sometimes, they have a habit of dropping points to the weaker teams.

 

Historically, Mourinho's Chelsea's biggest equivalent is Leeds under Don Revie.

 

 

Better than the 2011/12 Man City team? That season had one of the best title races in my memory.

 

A typical Mourinho is a 2-0 win; clinical, efficient but rarely exciting. They're the results that win titles and his record against the big teams is almost impeccable. This reluctance to "take off the handbrake" works against them sometimes, they have a habit of dropping points to the weaker teams.

 

Historically, Mourinho's Chelsea's biggest equivalent is Leeds under Don Revie.

 

Easily mate - the Man Utd and Liverpool teams on paper in 08/09 were brilliant, on a par with the 2005 Chelsea side. The title race in that season was good, but no way that City team was that good.

 

Mourinho's problem is that whilst his tactics are effective, if it doesn't work, he doesn't really know what to do. When they come up against stubborn teams that just want to do what Chelsea do against the big sides then they have a problem. Often these games are decided on those 1/2 chances a game you get.

Easily mate - the Man Utd and Liverpool teams on paper in 08/09 were brilliant, on a par with the 2005 Chelsea side. The title race in that season was good, but no way that City team was that good.

 

The Man United team of 2008 were better I think - just for the fact they won the Champions League. As for Liverpool, the team of January-April 2014 was the best for me.

 

Easy to underestimate that City side, but have they got any better players since then?? They were exciting, and even had an English core with players like Lescott, Richards and Barry. 8 points behind Man United with 6 games to go and still won the league, in the most dramatic final game ever!

Watched all of this video from Sean Dyche, the man is a class act unlike Mourinho. Speak a lot of sense too, the Barnes challenge was a pass and Matic was the only player or coaching staff that reacted to it, it's so easy to ref matches after with replays slowed right down from various angles. I do think he knew what he was doing as his reaction is unnatural, if you did that purely accidentally you'd be apologetic straight away. Didn't realise Ivanovic was so unsporting at the end either!

 

Edited February 23, 201510 yr by RabbitFurCoat

Diego Costa was shoved to the ground randomly during the game at Stamford Bridge with Costa going insane at the linesman which somehow never made MOTD.

 

Chelsea had everything go against them and Dyche claiming that Costa being a penalty is debatable is laughable. Dyche also defending Barnes despite him going high on Ivanovic? Of course Barnes knew what he was doing.

The Man United team of 2008 were better I think - just for the fact they won the Champions League. As for Liverpool, the team of January-April 2014 was the best for me.

 

Easy to underestimate that City side, but have they got any better players since then?? They were exciting, and even had an English core with players like Lescott, Richards and Barry. 8 points behind Man United with 6 games to go and still won the league, in the most dramatic final game ever!

 

Liverpool in 2014 (first half) were good, but that first XI was really weak in certain parts, and was carried by a winning mentality and the thought that we would not loose. In 2008/2009 we ran Man United close to the title - if Gerrard and Torres managed to stay fit for a few more games we'd have won the league in my opinion! Carragher, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Alonso, Reina, Agger - such a spine! Just a shame there was a load of tosh aswell :lol:

 

It was a brilliant end, but between 2011-2013 that's the worst the English league has been in terms of quality for a long time, which you can tell by our performances in Europe. Not counting Chelsea, as that Champions League win was a complete fluke with probably their worst team since they've been under Abrhamovic!

 

Must admit I do love it when Chelsea get riled :D That said, I think another motive for the Mourinho rants was probably to take attention away from the club with the racism storm.

Chelsea are the most hated club by neutrals aren't they?? I know all the big teams are generally, but there's no real redeeming feature to them at all :lol:

 

Closely followed by Man United.

Chelsea are the most hated club by neutrals aren't they?? I know all the big teams are generally, but there's no real redeeming feature to them at all :lol:

 

No.

Liverpool in 2014 (first half) were good, but that first XI was really weak in certain parts, and was carried by a winning mentality and the thought that we would not loose. In 2008/2009 we ran Man United close to the title - if Gerrard and Torres managed to stay fit for a few more games we'd have won the league in my opinion! Carragher, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Alonso, Reina, Agger - such a spine! Just a shame there was a load of tosh aswell :lol:

 

It was a brilliant end, but between 2011-2013 that's the worst the English league has been in terms of quality for a long time, which you can tell by our performances in Europe. Not counting Chelsea, as that Champions League win was a complete fluke with probably their worst team since they've been under Abrhamovic!

 

Must admit I do love it when Chelsea get riled :D That said, I think another motive for the Mourinho rants was probably to take attention away from the club with the racism storm.

 

No.

Chelsea are the most hated club by neutrals aren't they?? I know all the big teams are generally, but there's no real redeeming feature to them at all :lol:

 

Closely followed by Man United.

 

Dunno, everyone hates different clubs for different reasons. I don't hate Chelsea, I just don't like it when Mourinho plays the victim card. Still annoys me to this day how he harpers on about ghost goal in the semi final. All very well, but Cech would have been sent off and a penalty given against them! His attitude puts pressure on the officials as you know sooner or later there's going to be a massive decision that swings in their favour. Mourinho's just losing the plot :D

Mourinho's just bored of not having anyone who he can really get under the skin of. Pellegrini and Wenger have backed off and he gives Rodgers far too much respect.

Good to see the old West Ham are back... :lol:

A good win for Liverpool over Man City surely definitely that has sealed the Premier League title for Chelsea bar a loss in form. Definitely looks like a five-way battle for the final Top4 places although I think Southampton's bid will peter out with their loss in form.

 

Good win also for Aresnal which takes them to 3rd place and just 4 points behind Manchester City for 2nd place. If Aresnal maintain their form, I see no reason why couldn't possibly challenge for 2nd place.

 

 

Great win for Liverpool. The front players will get all the plaudits, but Joe Allen was magnificent yesterday. I think the Top 4 will ultimately come down to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd. Few more twists and turns yet tho as most have to play each other again yet!

 

The title race isn't over yet, Chelsea will drop points at some point again, however it depends whether Man City can capitalise.

Sunderland has won their appeal over Wes Brown's red card where he was mistakenly sent off instead of John O'Shea during the game with Manchester United. He will not serve a one-match ban.

 

 

Predictions for the midweek fixtures:

 

Tuesday:

 

Aston Villa v West Brom 0-1

Hull v Sunderland 0-0

Southampton v Crystal Palace 2-1

 

 

Wednesday:

 

Man City v Leicester 3-1

Newcastle v Man Utd 0-2

QPRv Arsenal 1-3

Stoke v Everton 2-0

Tottenham v Swansea 1-1

West Ham v Chelsea 1-2

Liverpool v Burnley 4-1

 

 

What do other people think?

 

 

Sunderland has won their appeal over Wes Brown's red card where he was mistakenly sent off instead of John O'Shea during the game with Manchester United. He will not serve a one-match ban.

That's hardly a surprise :lol: It must have taken all of five seconds to reach that conclusion.