Other Premier League games 11th-12th May

[Shaggy]

Shaggy, you remind me of Balague.

Just filling a lazy afternoon on the sofa correcting mistakes

[Mattshark]

The facts are, they got knocked out of Champs League (i know not his fault), they got knocked out of all domestic cups & they are currently 13 points behind United.

They spent over 70 million odd euros on those 3 players you've mentioned and Victor Moses. 70 million euros! Now that's adding to the quality that is already there.

No matter what you say Chelsea expected to compete for the Champs League & the Premier Legaue when the season kicked off. I don't care who is in charge, they have under achieved.

I'm impartial about it, i don't care about Chelsea and i'm not swayed that it's Rafa Benitez. Just saying that their achievements at the end of the season (Europa winners or not) are no where near their genuine expectations at the start of the season.

They have under achieved this season. You are only making this argument because it is Rafa, otherwise you wouldn't even bother wasting your time defending Chelsea

So do you think three footballers (aged 21, 22, 23) and Victor Moses is enough to take the 6th place team to the top of the league? To expect that is ridiculous it assumes other teams haven't improved and it assumes that all those players will instantly settle, it also doesn't account for the huge loss of what Drogba gave Chelsea leaving them without a decent striker basically.

Your reasoning for suggesting they should be challenging and that they have a great squad are rather simplistic.

[Shaggy]

I think he's more defending Rafa than the club.

It's deliberate mischief making cos he doesn't like the fact Rafa's done well, ignore it. Of course I'm defending Rafa - even when he has demonstrably done well the usual haters deliberately misrepresent stuff and tell porkies (sorry, "poor maths").

Be funny if he wins the Europa League - looking forward to people somehow trying to discredit him being only the 2nd manager in the history of football to win 3 European trophies with 3 different clubs

[danperkins]

I'm not defending Chelsea nor am I arsed about them, I'm defending Benitez's record against the usual misinformation that's out there.

They underachieved in the Champions League, can't argue with that.

Since November 25th, they've at the very least met their objectives. Abramovich gave him an objective of finishing 3rd and deemed anything else a bonus, so by his own boss's definition he has exceeded his objectives.

Back to the original point ...they have underachieved with that team. They won the double last year, spent over 70 million euro on players this season & have scraped through to the champs league & may very well win the Europa League.

You have your opinions and i have mine. I'm impartial about Chelsea and Rafa, and sure i'm talking about from the start of the season when Di Matteo was in charge too. I said that when Chelsea kicked of this season.. 100% Roman Abramovich,Chelsea supporters & any other football supporters (including myself) had them for challenging for the domestic league and champs league. There is no way anyone would have thought Chelsea would scrape Champs league qualification and be involved in the Europa league.

Fact being they went nowhere near either league or champs league. This is not a Rafa debate, it's a debate on the current Chelsea squad under achieving this season, which they most certainly have.

[danperkins]

I think he's more defending Rafa than the club.

I think Chelsea as a club have underachieved, but Rafa given the challenge from the beginning has over-achieved.

CL qualification and a trophy, will probably will be the same outcome as City.

Decent season for then all round. If Jose finishes in exactly the same place next season people wont make much of it.

I know he is defending Rafa but i'm not talking about Rafa i'm talking about the Chelsea squad since start of the season mate.

Everything inevitably ends up in a Rafa debate, it's like Kevin Bacon is connected to everyone on the planet.

[Mattshark]

It's deliberate mischief making cos he doesn't like the fact Rafa's done well, ignore it. Of course I'm defending Rafa - even when he has demonstrably done well the usual haters deliberately misrepresent stuff and tell porkies (sorry, "poor maths").

Be funny if he wins the Europa League - looking forward to people somehow trying to discredit him being only the 2nd manager in the history of football to win 3 European trophies with 3 different clubs

I think dan is also pretty poor at judging players and squads tbf.

[Shaggy]

Back to the original point ...they have underachieved with that team. They won the treble last year, spent over 70 million euro on players this season & have scraped through to the champs league & may very well win the Europa League.

You have your opinions and i have mine. I'm impartial about Chelsea and Rafa, and sure i'm talking about from the start of the season when Di Matteo was in charge too. I said that when Chelsea kicked of this season.. 100% Roman Abramovich,Chelsea supporters & any other football supporters (including myself) had them for challenging for the domestic league and champs league. There is no way anyone would have thought Chelsea would scrape Champs league qualification and be involved in the Europa league.

Fact being they went nowhere near either league or champs league. This is not a Rafa debate, it's a debate on the current Chelsea squad under achieving this season, which they most certainly have.

Who are you trying to kid, you can't stand him

Otherwise...I'm not arsed about Chelsea overall, their overall goals. I am arsed about Benitez because he won us Number 5 to keep forever, so it goes without saying I'm a fan - which is why I've been talking specifically about him and his record/achievements there, not Chelsea per sé.

And....what? "They won the treble last year"? No they didn't

[danperkins]

Who are you trying to kid, you can't stand him

Otherwise...I'm not arsed about Chelsea overall, their overall goals. I am arsed about Benitez because he won us Number 5 to keep forever, so it goes without saying I'm a fan - which is why I've been talking specifically about him and his record/achievements there, not Chelsea.

And....what? "They won the treble last year"?

I can't stand him? I couldn't give a flying **** Shaggy, just because i felt he should leave LFC doesn't mean i can't stand the man. I don't personally insult the man, nor have i bombarded his thread with comments. Silly statement

Suppose i'm one of those "Haters" FFS mate that's embarrassing stuff. My argument was the current Chelsea squad underachieved,regardless of Rafa or Di Matteo.. and you went on your usual Rafa crusade, everyone against him, wanting him to fail etc

It is my opinion that at the start of the season everyone including you would have thought Chelsea would be challenging for the league and champs league. Instead they came nowhere near close.

And the treble was edited, you just replied to quick

[Shaggy]

This debate started cos you said Chelsea have "an incredible squad". I think we've demonstrated that it isn't. And they didn't win the treble last season, just like they're not 26 points behind United.

[danperkins]

This debate started cos you said Chelsea have "an incredible squad". I think we've demonstrated that it isn't. And they didn't win the treble last season, just like they're not 26 points behind United.

I never said they were Barcelona ffs.

The treble was a simple phone typo, the 26 points is a misread. Facts remain that you, me and most other people thought Chelsea would challenge this year for the league and champs league.. why? Because they have a really good ****ing team.

Incredible squad,superb squad,excellent squad whatever, they have a quality side and nobody can deny that.

[Mattshark]

I never said they were Barcelona ffs.

The treble was a simple phone typo, the 26 points is a misread. Facts remain that you, me and most other people thought Chelsea would challenge this year for the league and champs league.. why? Because they have a really good ****ing team.

Incredible squad,superb squad,excellent squad whatever, they have a quality side and nobody can deny that.

They are a decent side, your description is hyperbolic. They are reliant on young players and limited depth.

You and "most other people" could just be unrealistic about what the Chelsea team was capable of.

[Muddled]

Sunday 12 May 2013

1330

Stoke Vs Tottenham

1500

Everton Vs West Ham
Norwich Vs West Brom
QPR Vs Newcastle
Sunderland Vs Southampton

1600

Man Utd Vs Swansea

[Muddled]

Anything but three points from Newcastle and Norwich and it's gonna make an uncomfortable last day for them.

Sunderland, Southampton is another important game too.

[Chazza]

Not sure about that Mudds.

I think Arsenal will beat Wigan so one of that lot will need to get beat to make the last day interesting.

[Shaggy]

1-0 Stoke