West Ham v. Chelsea 9/28/02 (R)

[pething101]

The outlook is looking glum. Away to Chelsea.

[El Toro]

I was watching Chelsea away against Fulham last night and wasn't terribly impressed. It seems only Zola's bizarre midlife renaissance has kept them viable thus far.

[etcheverrito]

oh god...i can't go anywhere without someone pointing out the EPL standings...jesus! I thought the US wasn't into soccer...even the homeless guy at the gas station laughed at me.
We need to win this weekend...do or die!!

[El Toro]

I know what you mean. My son, who is still is his mothers womb, was seen sporting an Arsenal scarf. I have been playing "Forever Blowing Bubbles" through head phones to him, but to no avail.

[pething101]

My girlfriend is talking massive amounts of shite and she does even like soccer.

[BridgeMonkee]

Alright lads, how yer doing?
Looking forward to the game?
Do any of you lot listen into the games on the radio? Theres a bunch of us Chelesea FC lads who listen in and chat during the games, you lot are more than welcome to come over and chat and/or shout abuse during the game :)

I reckon we should win this one, but you never know you lot have some great young players and surely don't deserve to be all the way down there. Whats the beef? Is it the manager?
Hows Joe Cole playing these days? Hows Carrick doing?
If you lot go down (god forbid. lol) I'd love to see Joe Cole in a Chelsea shirt :)

anyways - ciao for now

[etcheverrito]

Originally posted by BridgeMonkee

. Whats the beef? Is it the manager?
Hows Joe Cole playing these days? Hows Carrick doing?
If you lot go down (god forbid. lol) I'd love to see Joe Cole in a Chelsea shirt :)
anyways - ciao for now
I doubt it's the manager...though the defence is just pathetic...would be nice to get rid of Repka and Dailly...Breen seems to do well. As for Joe Cole wearing a Chelsea kit...you already have Lampard and he never gets a call to the National side, so why would Cole want to follow on Lampard's footsteps?:)
cheers

[Frieslander]

I don't think it's the backline exclusively. The team is poor defensively in the midfield and they're giving our backline too much to do. We're not winning any balls in the midfield making it more difficult to create scoring chances when we have to bring the ball all the way up from the back.

I blame Carrick, Cole, and Sinclair.

[etcheverrito]

Originally posted by Frieslander
I don't think it's the backline exclusively. The team is poor defensively in the midfield and they're giving our backline too much to do. We're not winning any balls in the midfield making it more difficult to create scoring chances when we have to bring the ball all the way up from the back.

I blame Carrick, Cole, and Sinclair.
I can see what you mean, but then Roeder has been trying to make room for Cisse who is also not very defensive minded. If we had a better stopper, then the balls in the middle would have a better impact. I guess we really miss Hutchison or get Lomas in there before Cisse.

[Frieslander]

Originally posted by etcheverrito

I can see what you mean, but then Roeder has been trying to make room for Cisse who is also not very defensive minded. If we had a better stopper, then the balls in the middle would have a better impact. I guess we really miss Hutchison or get Lomas in there before Cisse.

I think just the opposite. Cisse is defensive-minded. I think he's the only midfielder playing defense. Lomas is the other guy in there who understands his defensive responsibilities. My opinions were formed from the Newcastle and Spurs matches, so obviously I've missed a few.

[hermolt]

I think we need to get rid of Lomas full stop. Case in point was the Arsenal game when he came in like the flaming mongoloid he is, running like a chook with its head cut off and got a yellow, then gave away the free kick which led to the equaliser.

Cissé has impressed me from what I've seen, and Joe needs to stop nancying around the edge of the area and get in there. I feel we lack a little guile, always jumping over tackles rather than going down and taking a set piece - after all, our 2 against the Yids were from set pieces..Also, someone take the armband off that armwaving bastard DiCanio..

[pething101]

Match time.

Starting for West Ham

James, David
30. Schemmel, Sebastien
2. Repka, Tomas
15. Breen, Gary
20. Minto, Scott
8. Sinclair, Trevor
11. Lomas, Steve
6. Carrick, Michael
26. Cole, Joe
10. Di Canio, Paolo
14. Kanoute, Frederic

[pething101]

http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1084707&segment=90945

The audio is awful at the moment.

[pething101]

Had to switch to Chelsea audio. Much better.

[pething101]

So far, West Ham have taken it to Chelsea but still 0-0 after 13 minutes.

[pething101]

************!!!!!!

First time Chelsea cross the halfway line in opening 20 minutes and West Ham gives up a penalty.

[pething101]

JFH puts it away.

Minto with the yellow for the tugging.

Just f-ing dandy.

[pething101]

West Ham equalizes!!!!

Defoe with the tap in from about a yard.

West Ham fans celebrate wildly.

1-1. Just a few minutes till half.

[pething101]

Halftime.

West Ham 1
Chelsea 1

A positive half.

Only negative is the yellow card situation. Have to check on that. Half listening to the match and half watching the Ryder Cup.

[pething101]

Planetfootball has Repka, Schemmel and Minto with yellows.

Not a good omen for the second half.