What did tonight teach us?

[Gray]

Tough one, they are a stronger team

[hamshanks]

Rafa isn't a tactical genius

[garymac]

We we're so narrow tonight it was criminal!

That was the main thing for me. They had a packed midfield and we kept trying to thread the ball through.

We were crying out for width and though I like Pennnant, he's not a classic winger. Babel isn't either.

We need out and out wingers.

Based on this season, and not just tonight, the players to go are:

Crouch, Xabi, Pennant, Riise all to go from the first team squad.

Overall, it has been a good CL campaign. We go forward with the best centre forward in the World, with the best midfield (when SG is on his game), with potentially the best centre-half pairing (Skrtel / Agger), and with the best keeper in the Prem.

The future is bright.....................................

[Fagan]

I wonder how different the score would have been if Skrtel didn't get injured?

[JPK]

I wonder how the game would of went if Riise did not gift them one at Anfield?

[Kronenburg1892]

To be fair, Pennant came on when the game was beyond getting crosses in from the flanks. I still think he has a role in the club.

It was a slippy pitch today. Might as well have been an FA cup semi final at your local dog toilet.

[Fagan]

Fair point. Just sods law.

[El Jefecito]

I wonder how the game would of went if Riise did not gift them one at Anfield?

Riise et al aside. There were a number of players who had the opportunity to step up tothe plate.

Xabi, Riise, Benni did not. They need to be swapped out. No?

[JPK]

Riise et al aside. There were a number of players who had the opportunity to step up tothe plate.

Xabi, Riise, Benni did not. They need to be swapped out. No?

Arbeloa got caught tonight for the first, caught there in the semi last season when he did not see Joe Cole slip in behind him and caught out against Arsenal in the league when Cesc slipped in behind him. 3huge games and that is not good enough. Squad player at best.

Pacey attackers are needed also.

Riise lost us this tie. Bottom line

[wavydavy]

How anyone, irrrespective of goals against Arsenal, Inter and Chelsea, Can still maintain tha Kuyt is good enough is beyond me. For me he is the personification of Benitez's football philosophy and it's now obvious that he simply is not good enough. His passing and overall play were pathetic tonight. His lack of pace was evident as was his lack of intelligence. Giving away stupid free kicks in the opposition's half .

[Kronenburg1892]

Riise yes. Not the others, unless we get something better.

Riise isn't a knee jerk from me either. He's got no vision, hasn't for years. Ginger rabbit in headlights.

Have you ever run over a ginger rabbit? Just prooves Darwins natural selction.

[Joe King]

Riise isn't a knee jerk. He's just a jerk.

[vonk]

Skyrtel's injury was the turning point. Meant we had no pace against Drogba. Sami was found out tonight to be honest. His pace meant we had to defend too deep. Only Mascher, Gerrard and Torres take ownership in that team

Riise - has been poor for ages. I felt bad for him after the first leg but that was a cowards performance tonight. So much for him being wound up. He was to blame for both of Drogba's goals. Jogging for the first one. I couldnt believe my eyes. Hand up for the third as the Chelsea player strolled into our area. He should NEVER wear a red shirt again. I'm gutted but disgusted with him.

Hyppia - Not his stage. We play too deep with him in there. We can keep him for the lesser league games but that's it. Agger and Skrytel for me next season.

Arbeloa, Xabi - average. Squad players.

Pennant, Kuyt, Bennyoun - out of their depth completely. We will never get within reach of the top with these players.

My lesson is that we need to give Rafa money this summer or we are destined for 4th for 10 years.

[Gray]

they are the better team. end off

[zimbo]

they are the better team. end off

I'm not convinced that they are. I think tonight it was a game of very fine lines - we could have been given the offside decision for the first goal, could have had a penalty. Ultimately they edged it.

Strangely, I don't feel that bad about it, and, rather worryingly, am less ill-disposed towards Chelsea than I would ever have thought possible given the circumstances. I think both teams showed great character, and it could have gone either way.

On the negative side, I think it's clear that we are just not as good as Chelsea or Man U defensively, and that has finally caught up with us. We were very disappointing in both full-back positions, with neither Arbeloa nor Riise offering anything as an attacking force and always likely to be caught out positionally when put under any kind of pressure. The lack of a settled defence has really cost us this season.

Similarly, it's folly to play the 4-5-1 system when the wide midfielders cut inside every time they have possession. Tonight was crying out for width, to keep Chelsea's midfield stretched and allow Gerrard the freedom to make runs beyond the back four, but we got horribly bogged down and failed to keep possession for long periods (particularly in the first half).

I've always disliked Lampard intensely, but have to admit to some grudging respect for the way he took that penalty. Showed a lot of bottle. Fair play.

I've also learned that it would be handy if I brushed up on basic mathematics, given that I spent most of the extra time period screaming at rafa to bring Crouch on, throwing all the colourful epithets that I could muster at the telly, before realising that we'd already used all 3 subs.

We're out. It hurts, but we keep our heads up and go on. With the right additions we'll be stronger next year. It's not the end of the world.