Rafa's pre-match criticism of Drogba

[Craig_H]

Nah not having that.

I think it was clear from his reaction in sliding in front of our bench on the 1st goal, that he was keen to make a point to Rafa, in reply to the criticism he had. That was obvious to me. Whether his performance would've been better or worse without those comments, is impossible to say, but Rafa obviously annoyed Drogba and he was keen to 'shut rafa up'...in the end, he did.

[Craig_H]

Thanks for that Syd.

Why do you bother getting involved in this when you still haven't got round to explaining the contradictions in your posts I raised in the 'Defence' thread?

You go round telling someone to '**** off' mate, for little or no reason.

[Maxiedge]

Why don't you shove it up your arse?

[Pacman]

I think it was clear from his reaction in sliding in front of our bench on the 1st goal, that he was keen to make a point to Rafa, in reply to the criticism he had. That was obvious to me. Whether his performance would've been better or worse without those comments, is impossible to say, but Rafa obviously annoyed Drogba and he was keen to 'shut rafa up'...in the end, he did.

I don't care if he annoyed him or not I very much doubt any comments Rafa made about Drogba made him play any better. It just so happens he did make comments and he did score so automatically people think it was a mistake by Rafa. I would also like to point out that I thought the ref was strong to Drogba's playing acting last night so maybe Rafa's comments helped us slightly? At the end of the day Drogba is a very good footballer who has scored and won games for Chelsea against us in the past to it's harldy surprising he scored last night.

[Kenneth]

As would seem to be the case with most people here, bickering on here improves my mood after a bad result.

[Neil Young]

You go round telling someone to '**** off' mate, for little or no reason.

So that question - which frankly didn't need an answer - you take the trouble to respond to.

Yet the question of why you claimed you weren't blaming Rafa for the defeat when you quite clearly have in an earlier post remains unanswered.

I'm not surprised.

[Craig_H]

I don't care if he annoyed him or not I very much doubt any comments Rafa made about Drogba made him play any better. It just so happens he did make comments and he did score so automatically people think it was a mistake by Rafa. I would also like to point out that I thought the ref was strong to Drogba's playing acting last night so maybe Rafa's comments helped us slightly? At the end of the day Drogba is a very good footballer who has scored and won games for Chelsea against us in the past to it's harldy surprising he scored last night.

Well i think he had that extra bit of motivation and his smugness at the end, along with his little dig at Rafa, does nothing to convince me otherwise. Each to their own though.

[Ketario]

If we're speaking hypotheticals Rafa's comments actually stopped the ref from giving 12 free kicks in or around the box, an extra 2 pens and booking Gerrard and Carragher for late tackles on Drogba.

[Pacman]

Well i think he had that extra bit of motivation and his smugness at the end, along with his little dig at Rafa, does nothing to convince me otherwise. Each to their own though.

Extra bit of motivation? So he isn't already motivated to the max because it's a CL semi final? That would surprise me.

I guess the Rafa bashers will claim this as another stick to beat him with.

Pathetic really.

[Helios Creed]

I think bad idea - Dogba was furious that someone criticised him and played like a madman - almost gave us a pen or two as well tho. Strange that he didn't dive all night, if Rafa was wrong...

[IJM]

As far as I'm concerned, Rafa's strategy of pointing out Drogba's diving worked. At no point during the match did he dive. He didn't dare. Rafa successfully turned it into a fairer contest and not one decided by cheating which was Rafa's aim all along.

[LFC1892]

Those comments by Rafa was a huge f*ck up IMO.

I can see what he was worried about but he had already made his point with comments regarding the ref the day before. No need to single out a Chelsea player - and Chelsea's most dangerous player at that.

Grant didn't need to motivate Drogba for that game, Benitez had already done the job for him.

[Pacman]

Those comments by Rafa was a huge f*ck up IMO.

I can see what he was worried about but he had already made his point with comments regarding the ref the day before. No need to single out a Chelsea player - and Chelsea's most dangerous player at that.

Grant didn't need to motivate Drogba for that game, Benitez had already done the job for him.

So you are suggesting that a professional footballer NEEDS motivating for a CL semi final?

[LFC1892]

So you are suggesting that a professional footballer NEEDS motivating for a CL semi final?

Go back to sleep.

[BFG]

So you are suggesting that a professional footballer NEEDS motivating for a CL semi final?

It really is like living out One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest reading some of these posts after a loss. Incredible.