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Just got back from the Bridge, and usually after nights like this, I feel absolutely gutted. I can remember one night, when we lost to Mallorca in the Semis of the Cup Winners Cup and I was devastated, but tonight I wasn't so despondent.
We were superb and first half we completely outplayed them. We deservedly went 2-0 through Gronkjaer's "poor cross" and lampard's well worked goal, and we were cruising. But following those two minutes of complete euphoria, Monaco grabbed a crucial goal. Now having seen the replays, I think it was handball, and although I'm disappointed at the poor decision, that's football. Some days the handball would have been given, on others the goal would stand. I'm not one to bitterly complain about what might have been.
At 2-1 we still could have gone on and done it, but the timing of that goal was disastrous. I honestly feel that had we gone in 2-0 up at half time, we could have won 4-0 or something like that. However that goal in injury time was a huge blow.
After that we missed a few great chances, Gudjohnsen and Gronkjaer 6 yards out with a free header, chested it down and ran backwards (top stuff Jesper! You magician you...) and Morientes' goal was the killer blow. There was no way we could score 3 more. We'd done all that we had to do tonight, but in the end it was not enough, and we just looked more and more tired as the game went on.
Our fans cheered right till the end (bar a 5 minute period of hush) and with 5 minutes to go, with us crashing out of the CL semi's 5-3, chants of "Ranieri's Blue Army" and "We love you Chelsea we do" rung around the stadium. This just summed it all up. We've had a great season, 2nd in the league at the moment, and we reached the CL semi finals, and it just showed how much we appreciated their efforts this season and how much we love the club.
So well done lads, you did us proud tonight. We couldn't have asked for any more from you, and we look forward to next year's European adventure.
Congratulations Monaco, and good luck in the Final and for the rest of the season.
(Chelsea til I die)
We were superb and first half we completely outplayed them. We deservedly went 2-0 through Gronkjaer's "poor cross" and lampard's well worked goal, and we were cruising. But following those two minutes of complete euphoria, Monaco grabbed a crucial goal. Now having seen the replays, I think it was handball, and although I'm disappointed at the poor decision, that's football. Some days the handball would have been given, on others the goal would stand. I'm not one to bitterly complain about what might have been.
At 2-1 we still could have gone on and done it, but the timing of that goal was disastrous. I honestly feel that had we gone in 2-0 up at half time, we could have won 4-0 or something like that. However that goal in injury time was a huge blow.
After that we missed a few great chances, Gudjohnsen and Gronkjaer 6 yards out with a free header, chested it down and ran backwards (top stuff Jesper! You magician you...) and Morientes' goal was the killer blow. There was no way we could score 3 more. We'd done all that we had to do tonight, but in the end it was not enough, and we just looked more and more tired as the game went on.
Our fans cheered right till the end (bar a 5 minute period of hush) and with 5 minutes to go, with us crashing out of the CL semi's 5-3, chants of "Ranieri's Blue Army" and "We love you Chelsea we do" rung around the stadium. This just summed it all up. We've had a great season, 2nd in the league at the moment, and we reached the CL semi finals, and it just showed how much we appreciated their efforts this season and how much we love the club.
So well done lads, you did us proud tonight. We couldn't have asked for any more from you, and we look forward to next year's European adventure.
Congratulations Monaco, and good luck in the Final and for the rest of the season.
(Chelsea til I die)
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Just got back from the Bridge, and usually after nights like this, I feel absolutely gutted. I can remember one night, when we lost to Mallorca in the Semis of the Cup Winners Cup and I was devastated, but tonight I wasn't so despondent.
We were superb and first half we completely outplayed them. We deservedly went 2-0 through Gronkjaer's "poor cross" and lampard's well worked goal, and we were cruising. But following those two minutes of complete euphoria, Monaco grabbed a crucial goal. Now having seen the replays, I think it was handball, and although I'm disappointed at the poor decision, that's football. Some days the handball would have been given, on others the goal would stand. I'm not one to bitterly complain about what might have been.
At 2-1 we still could have gone on and done it, but the timing of that goal was disastrous. I honestly feel that had we gone in 2-0 up at half time, we could have won 4-0 or something like that. However that goal in injury time was a huge blow.
After that we missed a few great chances, Gudjohnsen and Gronkjaer 6 yards out with a free header, chested it down and ran backwards (top stuff Jesper! You magician you...) and Morientes' goal was the killer blow. There was no way we could score 3 more. We'd done all that we had to do tonight, but in the end it was not enough, and we just looked more and more tired as the game went on.
Our fans cheered right till the end (bar a 5 minute period of hush) and with 5 minutes to go, with us crashing out of the CL semi's 5-3, chants of "Ranieri's Blue Army" and "We love you Chelsea we do" rung around the stadium. This just summed it all up. We've had a great season, 2nd in the league at the moment, and we reached the CL semi finals, and it just showed how much we appreciated their efforts this season and how much we love the club.
So well done lads, you did us proud tonight. We couldn't have asked for any more from you, and we look forward to next year's European adventure.
Congratulations Monaco, and good luck in the Final and for the rest of the season.
(Chelsea til I die)
We were superb and first half we completely outplayed them. We deservedly went 2-0 through Gronkjaer's "poor cross" and lampard's well worked goal, and we were cruising. But following those two minutes of complete euphoria, Monaco grabbed a crucial goal. Now having seen the replays, I think it was handball, and although I'm disappointed at the poor decision, that's football. Some days the handball would have been given, on others the goal would stand. I'm not one to bitterly complain about what might have been.
At 2-1 we still could have gone on and done it, but the timing of that goal was disastrous. I honestly feel that had we gone in 2-0 up at half time, we could have won 4-0 or something like that. However that goal in injury time was a huge blow.
After that we missed a few great chances, Gudjohnsen and Gronkjaer 6 yards out with a free header, chested it down and ran backwards (top stuff Jesper! You magician you...) and Morientes' goal was the killer blow. There was no way we could score 3 more. We'd done all that we had to do tonight, but in the end it was not enough, and we just looked more and more tired as the game went on.
Our fans cheered right till the end (bar a 5 minute period of hush) and with 5 minutes to go, with us crashing out of the CL semi's 5-3, chants of "Ranieri's Blue Army" and "We love you Chelsea we do" rung around the stadium. This just summed it all up. We've had a great season, 2nd in the league at the moment, and we reached the CL semi finals, and it just showed how much we appreciated their efforts this season and how much we love the club.
So well done lads, you did us proud tonight. We couldn't have asked for any more from you, and we look forward to next year's European adventure.
Congratulations Monaco, and good luck in the Final and for the rest of the season.
(Chelsea til I die)
Was a quality game, felt sorry for Chelsea and especially their wonderful manager.
Morientes is awesome. My advice to Real is sell Ronaldo and go back to Raul and Morientes up front!
Monaco should beat Porto...hopefully.
Chelsea will be back, although Roman is an idiot for getting rid of Claudio.
Morientes is awesome. My advice to Real is sell Ronaldo and go back to Raul and Morientes up front!
Monaco should beat Porto...hopefully.
Chelsea will be back, although Roman is an idiot for getting rid of Claudio.
That first Monaco goal was a disaster; once it was scored, Chelsea would have lost all motivation. So near but yet so far.
Hopefully, next year we'll see a Man Utd vs Chelsea final... :)
Hopefully, next year we'll see a Man Utd vs Chelsea final... :)
If only European semi-finals were decided by two-halves, eh? ;)
Seriously, though, I can't believe Chelsea did it again (and I doubt anyone else really can either... Aside from all those Monaco fans, like that Prince-bloke on SkySports News earlier, who strangely sounds A LOT like a Yankee... :P ).
Once again, the first-half was incredible. If only they could play like that for BOTH halves of every games - they'd be Champions all-over, for sure!
I don't really understand why it happened though.
Did they just go into the half-time break a little 'shaken-up' by that scruffy piece of contraversiality in the dying seconds? Jesper Gronkjaer was certainly affected by that yellow card, I feel; as unpredictable as he can be.
Were they just getting a little too carried-away and "cocky", even, with a whole 45-minutes still to be played? (Yet, they weren't no Arsénal, were they! ;D )
Replacing Melchiot was a mistake though. Does anyone know why he had to go off? He had the kind of experience you need in these games, unlike Glen Johnson - who could've easily been sent walkin' for that lunge, had the referee had only a slightly different view!
I agree with Martyn Tyler and Andy Gray - it should've been Gronkjaer instead.
Now it's all over, Chelsea fans still have a great deal to 'shout-about'.
Okay, so you're gonna lose Claudio Ranieri against your own wishes and you will finish the season trophy-less; but, within such a short space of time, you've already achieved some great things.
You haven't won the Champions' League, but you've gotten to the semi's at least - further than Treble-winners Man United and the `unbeatean´ Arsénal (of whom, you also managed to defeat along the way).
You look set the finish second (providing Man United don't improve). When was the last time you even came near such a top-of-the-table finish in recent years exactly?!
One thing I liked about last night's game was how they pretty much resorted back to "last season's team" with the starting-eleven. Ranieri left the over-priced, under-performing likes of Hernan Crespo on the bench in favour of the Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen that made HIS team; not Roman Abramovich's.
As much money has gone into the squad for this fading season, he proved it doesn't really count for sod-all in what the team has really achieved.
Seriously, though, I can't believe Chelsea did it again (and I doubt anyone else really can either... Aside from all those Monaco fans, like that Prince-bloke on SkySports News earlier, who strangely sounds A LOT like a Yankee... :P ).
Once again, the first-half was incredible. If only they could play like that for BOTH halves of every games - they'd be Champions all-over, for sure!
I don't really understand why it happened though.
Did they just go into the half-time break a little 'shaken-up' by that scruffy piece of contraversiality in the dying seconds? Jesper Gronkjaer was certainly affected by that yellow card, I feel; as unpredictable as he can be.
Were they just getting a little too carried-away and "cocky", even, with a whole 45-minutes still to be played? (Yet, they weren't no Arsénal, were they! ;D )
Replacing Melchiot was a mistake though. Does anyone know why he had to go off? He had the kind of experience you need in these games, unlike Glen Johnson - who could've easily been sent walkin' for that lunge, had the referee had only a slightly different view!
I agree with Martyn Tyler and Andy Gray - it should've been Gronkjaer instead.
Now it's all over, Chelsea fans still have a great deal to 'shout-about'.
Okay, so you're gonna lose Claudio Ranieri against your own wishes and you will finish the season trophy-less; but, within such a short space of time, you've already achieved some great things.
You haven't won the Champions' League, but you've gotten to the semi's at least - further than Treble-winners Man United and the `unbeatean´ Arsénal (of whom, you also managed to defeat along the way).
You look set the finish second (providing Man United don't improve). When was the last time you even came near such a top-of-the-table finish in recent years exactly?!
One thing I liked about last night's game was how they pretty much resorted back to "last season's team" with the starting-eleven. Ranieri left the over-priced, under-performing likes of Hernan Crespo on the bench in favour of the Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen that made HIS team; not Roman Abramovich's.
As much money has gone into the squad for this fading season, he proved it doesn't really count for sod-all in what the team has really achieved.
Sadly, this is probably the end of Claudio Ranieri as the Chelsea manager. Sure, he'll finish the season at Stamford Bridge, and I hope he wins both games doing so, but that is probably about it. Roman Abramovich has set the expectations far too high for Ranieri this season. Yes, he'll be wanting his money turned into results and trophies, but in football, you can't just expect to spend millions of pounds and think that you'll succeed automatically. And in its own way, appointing a new manager, no matter how experienced and talented they are, could prove to be a major set-back in a team that I believe could go ever further next season if Ranieri were to stay.
Before Roman Abramovich took over, Chelsea would have been absolutely delighted with 2nd place in the Premiership and a Champions League semi-final spot, but with all the spending that went on, quite a lot of the impact of what Chelsea have done this season has been removed. It's a great achievement, but has been sort of dampened down by Abramovich's millions.
It was good to see Ranieri reverting back to his team last night. The only signings from this season on the park were Joe Cole and Geremi, and those are two players I believe Chelsea could probably have ended up getting anyway. Nice to see Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen up front again; the partnership that has done so much over the past three years for Chelsea.
On the night, Chelsea completely dominated the first half. The last minute goal by Ibarra was a major blow, as they would have gone into the dressing room feeling really disappointed, and Monaco would have been feeling on top of the game again. And the second half showed what that goal did - if Chelsea hadn't conceeded, they could have put in maybe even 5, but the goal really did have a strong effect on them, and then Morientes' goal was a killer blow, because they were never going to get 3 goals in 25 minutes.
Well done, Monaco, though. After their performance in the first leg, they did kind of deserve to go through, but they are a surprise team nonetheless. Porto - Monaco should be a good final, seeing as both teams were real underdogs prior to the tournament, and both have very gritty styles of play. Should be a good match. Well done Monaco, unlucky Chelsea.
Before Roman Abramovich took over, Chelsea would have been absolutely delighted with 2nd place in the Premiership and a Champions League semi-final spot, but with all the spending that went on, quite a lot of the impact of what Chelsea have done this season has been removed. It's a great achievement, but has been sort of dampened down by Abramovich's millions.
It was good to see Ranieri reverting back to his team last night. The only signings from this season on the park were Joe Cole and Geremi, and those are two players I believe Chelsea could probably have ended up getting anyway. Nice to see Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen up front again; the partnership that has done so much over the past three years for Chelsea.
On the night, Chelsea completely dominated the first half. The last minute goal by Ibarra was a major blow, as they would have gone into the dressing room feeling really disappointed, and Monaco would have been feeling on top of the game again. And the second half showed what that goal did - if Chelsea hadn't conceeded, they could have put in maybe even 5, but the goal really did have a strong effect on them, and then Morientes' goal was a killer blow, because they were never going to get 3 goals in 25 minutes.
Well done, Monaco, though. After their performance in the first leg, they did kind of deserve to go through, but they are a surprise team nonetheless. Porto - Monaco should be a good final, seeing as both teams were real underdogs prior to the tournament, and both have very gritty styles of play. Should be a good match. Well done Monaco, unlucky Chelsea.
Nice long replies.. can't be bothered to read..
Wht a gr8 game, weldon chelski & monco. fotbol rooles.
(that better for you Scope? :)
(that better for you Scope? :)
AfroJoe wrote:
The only signings from this season on the park were Joe Cole
> and Geremi
Well, and bridge. Who i'd say has been thier best signing. I would say Duff but he's been injured too much.
The only signings from this season on the park were Joe Cole
> and Geremi
Well, and bridge. Who i'd say has been thier best signing. I would say Duff but he's been injured too much.
Oh yeah, forgot Bridge. For some reason, he's a player I always miss out when listing Chelsea's signings. Dunno why.
Probably becasue his name is nothing spectacular.
I mean, you always remember names like Hernan Crespo, and Adrian Mutu as they are pretty unique names in these parts. While Wayne just sounds like the school idiot! (no offense to anyone called wayne!)
I mean, you always remember names like Hernan Crespo, and Adrian Mutu as they are pretty unique names in these parts. While Wayne just sounds like the school idiot! (no offense to anyone called wayne!)
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