I don't see any bias.

[quentinc]

Read this link, specifically on the Carling Cup, and tell me if you don't see bias.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=323098&cc=5901

B.S.

[quentinc]

"This should not represent too difficult a challenge"-Steve Wilson, Soccernet

That's stupid, the only thing that kept us from beating them previously was a missed handball and an inadvertant deflection.

[liverbird]

The reality is that the butt licking crowd in London would love for any team from the capital to be very good. Only last year they were having orgasms over the Arse doing a treble or better -- at this stage. We know how that turned out.

Plus if Lampturd doesn't break Xabi's ankle its by no means certain they beat us.

Any thing can happen in a Cup final -- so lets play it and see. Never mind the CL and the none to certain prospect of beating Barca.

[wemess0]

That's stupid, the only thing that kept us from beating them previously was a missed handball and an inadvertant deflection.

The article was certainly dismissive of Liverpool, as the following quote illustrates:

Only a misfiring Liverpool side stand between them and the first silverware of the Mourinho era and, on current form, this should not represent too difficult a challenge. Wins against Norwich and Watford have proved the only rays of sunshine in a stormy 2005, three league defeats and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Burnley drawing the first mini-crisis in Rafa Benitez's short tenure as boss.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=323098&cc=5901

I agree with you that that we outplayed Chelsea on Jan. 1 and didn't deserve to lose. But we've struggled to come close to duplicating that form since (at least in the games televised on FSW) and Chelsea continues to roll. Given that, I can see how a neutral (or a member of the "butt licking crowd in London," as liverbird so eloquently and accurately put it) could write us off.

Of course, I'm hoping press of this sort will put a chip on the lads shoulders. And Rafa seems to have the lads up for the big games, so I don't expect the 'misfiring' LFC we've seen lately to show up in Cardiff. Plus, as someone mentioned in the Watford thread, we always win in Wales. So I'm looking forward to seeing something like this:

http://www.lfc4ever.de/3a9c23b0.jpg

[usscouse]

I was wondering if Chelski have signed up with a certain Tee shirt company yet. There has been talk.....

http://img44.photobucket.com/albums/v136/silentsquid/arsenaltrebletshirtsjpg.jpg
Dye them blue Fred.

[Liv'poolFaninAZ]

I love it! It'll make it that much sweeter when we beat them, then there'll be another article, equally long on how chelski is self-destructing, and how they beat themselves!!! :D

[quentinc]

I love it! It'll make it that much sweeter when we beat them, then there'll be another article, equally long on how chelski is self-destructing, and how they beat themselves!!! :D
Your optimism is infectious. When Moro scores a hat trick and Lampard and Joe Cole both get concussions after being hit by a cell phone, I will put on the :cool: face.

Then I will fall out of my chair from laughing after Soccernet's Insider tries to convince me that Chelsea will still win the quadruple. He will say something to the effect of:

"Since Mourinho is the second coming of Jesus Christ, this has inspired the FA to create another cup competition that will feature four teams. (Semis scheduled for Feb. 15, Finals Mar. 1). If the quadruple is not attained then the Duke of York will promptly be struck by a lightning bolt. This cup will still allow Chelsea to acheive the impossible.
First Semifinal: Chelsea first team v Chelsea U-11's
Second Semifinal: Chelsea U-15's v SW6 Sunday League Champions
This will be called the "West London Cup" and will further expand next year when the FA actually calls the Chelsea U-19's and U-21's to provide more competition and what FSW will bill as "The world's most selective and newest knockout competition" in their promos.

Insider Prediction: Chelsea first team v Chelsea U-11's
Only a misfiring U-11's side stand between them and the second cup final of the Mourinho era, and on current form, this should not represent to difficult a challenge."

[Liv'poolFaninAZ]

Your optimism is infectious. When Moro scores a hat trick and Lampard and Joe Cole both get concussions after being hit by a cell phone, I will put on the :cool: face.

Then I will fall out of my chair from laughing after Soccernet's Insider tries to convince me that Chelsea will still win the quadruple. He will say something to the effect of:

"Since Mourinho is the second coming of Jesus Christ, this has inspired the FA to create another cup competition that will feature four teams. (Semis scheduled for Feb. 15, Finals Mar. 1). If the quadruple is not attained then the Duke of York will promptly be struck by a lightning bolt. This cup will still allow Chelsea to acheive the impossible.
First Semifinal: Chelsea first team v Chelsea U-11's
Second Semifinal: Chelsea U-15's v SW6 Sunday League Champions
This will be called the "West London Cup" and will further expand next year when the FA actually calls the Chelsea U-19's and U-21's to provide more competition and what FSW will bill as "The world's most selective and newest knockout competition" in their promos.

Insider Prediction: Chelsea first team v Chelsea U-11's
Only a misfiring U-11's side stand between them and the second cup final of the Mourinho era, and on current form, this should not represent to difficult a challenge."




LOL!!! Rep Given!

[quentinc]

LOL!!! Rep Given!
Thank you. That offsets the neg rep that I got for nothing.

[Russian Scouser]

I remember when we went up for the final in 2003, no one really gave us a chance against the mancs and we beat them hands down and the thing was - all the time we were in Cardiff (we arrived on the Friday), we were in no doubt we were gonna win - very bizzarre confidence but as it turned out very correct one. :)

[nicephoras]

I don't think any of us regard you lightly.
At the same time, on a neutral pitch, and given your spate of injuries (one of which was, regrettably, caused by a Chelsea player) we do expect to win. We didn't deserve the 3 points at Anfield (although you hardly battered our goal with "how did he keep that out" efforts), but we did beat you confidently at the Bridge.
Again, we're the natural favorites, but I don't expect it to be an easy match by any means.

[quentinc]

BTW, I will be providing updates on the "West London Cup" matches. I will attain the insider reports from joining the exclusive "Chelsea Butt-Lickers Club" which features commentary that is even more slanted towards Chelsea than the regular fare. Now, I bet Nicephoras doesn't have access to that.:p