Chelsea Barcelona

[diplodocus]

Petr Cech was the main reason Barca only scored two, the best goalie i've seen since Schmeichel, now that's a hard thing to say from a Leeds fan

[Deuce Bigolo]

and yet those 2 chances had him beaten/stranded but you might be right in that the Barca players respect for his ability meant they went for that little bit extra and missed

The best since the great Danish...maybe but 1 season in the top team which plays a defensive counter attacking game isn't the best way of knowing wether a goal keeper is really good individually

cheers
B....OZ

[eduardo]

I agree with you also that their arrogance might come from the Catalan thing.

I lived on the Costa Del Sol in Spain for 3 years and you can tell in the national papers that the Catalans are very suspicious if not paraniod about the "idiots in Madrid" which is their reference to the Central Government of Spain.

I've never thought of it that way but you may well be right.

[eduardo]

I totally agree. Petr Cech has to prove himself against the best over a period of time and in truth he is definitely helped out by a team who are defense minded. It means he doesn't get tested as much.

Look at Jerzy Dudek and his first season at Liverpool and in english football.

He played in a very defensive team that got 2 banks of four in front of him at all times (when we didn't have the ball) and he had a great season.

Most of the pundits said that he was not only the best in the Premiership but some lauded him as the worlds best.

The following season onwards as Liverpool evolved things he has been found out.

I'm not saying that will happen to Petr Cech but he still has to prove himself. He is a very good keeper but lets not call him great yet.

[jaybo]

I think he's good too , although i think Cudicini is also good but unlucky in the fact he's done nothing wrong and been dropped in favour of Cech , but they got 2 decent 'keepers and the devils and gunners ain't got 1 between them . I heard Gerry Armstrong last week on "la liga" describe Cassillas as the "Best goalie in europe" , luckiest maybe but not the best ? JJ .

[chatterji]

Can't quite believe I'm writing this on a thread in praise of CFC, as I'm Spurs forever, but...

To me Paul Robinson is a better keeper than Cech. Spurs are wobbly at the back, although better than we have been for the past couple of years. Mourinho has created a strong, defensive team, as he always does. So who has to play harder? Robbo.

Robbo has been exceptional for us this season, frequently keeping Spurs in games when we should have been dead and buried. He hasn't yet shown what he's made of for England, but I think he's matured a lot this season. He's one of the few players at Spurs that is consistently good.

[chatterji]

Amazing game, but I just don't understand how CFC fans can get truly excited by their success. With an unlimited budget, it would be staggering if Chelsea wasn't challenging for Europe.

Both United and Arsenal fought their way to the top, through the skill of their managers, the careful, longterm construction of their teams, and shrewd financial management. Fair play to them. Chelsea haven't earnt their position in any way, so where's the sense of achievement? Where are the years of heartache and hope invested by the fans, as they will their team forward?

I'm old enough to remember when Spurs, (my lot), still won things, and the incredible feeling when we took the UEFA cup in '84. It felt so good precisely because the road to it had been so long, rocky, and full of bitter disappointments. That's what football's about. You can't buy glory. You have to earn it. Which is why, personally, I find it impossible to view CFC as a real football club any more, despite the brilliance of its performances, players, and manager. I'd rather have years of mid-table mediocrity, than lose my club's soul.

[Ace]

As far as Im concerned, Carlo is better than Cech, having proved it on the big stage many times.
Cech is blessed with a brilliant defence, and has talent in abundance, but I, along with other fans, would like to see Carlo get another stint as #1.
Mind you, for some great keepers like Cech, Cudicini, DeGoey and Kharine (in his first 2 seasons) wev'e had some dog shit ones as well........Bosnich, Grodas and Kharine in his 3rd season spring to mind.

[colin]

my worry for Chelsea is that the antics of Mourinho are in danger of overshadowing the accomplishments on the pitch. he does seem to be unable to step out of the limelight at times and let the players have their moments