ChelseaBoy

That's a good call as Ancellotti relied on Ray massively until Ray was sacked which then undermined Ancellotti and he was sacked after limping on for a while. With both those formations the 2 or the 1 (defensive midfielders) are crucial. With a 2 Jorginho can get the ball and set things going, but Kante must have some discipline and patrol the space in front of the back four. Too often have we been exposed when he or whoever is playing there fucks off up the park and a break is on. Use the rest of this season to get the 4 new players used to playing in the PL and then sort the defence out in time for next year with dominant CH and Keeper being a priority.

Cally Thistle apparently has called for all Scottish Football to be suspended after Championship sides given till Monday to express their preference to carry on or suspend the league. Surely the SPL will continue.

Thanks for the breakdown Bluedell and it is certainly a warning that vigilance is needed going forward.

Easy Cam !!

Yes, imagine some of the managerial characters of the 60s, 70s and 80s in today's woke society. How many FA charges would the Doc, Cloughie, Jock Wallace, Big Ron, Malcolm Allison etc be on each week, or players moaning that they are too tough on them?

Respect to the Doc. Modernised an ageing Chelsea team that had lost Jimmy Greaves with youngsters such as Terry Venables, Charlie Cooke, George Graham , John Hollins and Peter Bonetti. Funnily enough, he was also responsible for changing the kit from an eton blue shirt, white shorts and black socks (no red tops though) to blue, blue with stripe and white socks - I wonder why he didn't like the former!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone and a safe and prosperous new year, with at least one new trophy in the cabinet!!!

I think that is one of the big differences to last year. There is competition for nearly every spot in the team.

Sitting pretty. Hopefully the table will look similar after the Christmas period

Leicester 2-1 United Villa 2-1 Palace Fulham 1-2 So’ton Gunners 1-2 Chelsea City 2-0 Magpies Blades 1-1 Everton Leeds 2-2 Burnley Hammers 2-1 BHA Liverpool 3-0 WBA Wolves 1-1 ‘Spurs

See it out, just see it out

Oh ffs, i've seen some crap defending over the last 2 nights to last a season!

Leeds 2 WHU 1 Wolves 2 Villa 0 Newcastle 2 WBA 2 United 1 City 3 Toffees 0 Chelsea 1 Southampton 3 Sheffield 0 Palace 1 Spurs 1 Fulham 0 scousers 2 Gunners 1 Burnley 1 Leicester 2 Brighton 0

If this is your last comment on this, I wish it was more sensible. They are forced by conformity, peer pressure and pressure from MSM - this is hardly voluntary. Also, following through on your voluntary theme, surely as fans at the game or watching on TV are a captive audience, why should they not be consulted on whether if they want to see this "voluntary gesture" before each game?

Totally agree with this sentiment published today; "To make booing BLM a punishable offence would be to place movements of various kinds above disagreement, criticism and scrutiny. This is wrong, and must be fought against. Freedom of expression must be preserved, for fans as well as for players".

I should clarify, its not productive to the team, but it is productive in getting a dissenting voice noticed. Just look at the shit storm Millwall have faced with all these self appointed experts analysing why they did it and desperately upset that there isn't a legal way to punish these truculent fans. I'm not stuck on booing, despite it being effective. I think turning a back while they are taking a knee would be just as effective.

They are, but tell me the last time the football authorities, MSM or clubs themselves ever take any notice of fans forums?

Could well be!! FC Honka, new one on me

Exactly, how dare people have an alternate view and how dare they express it in a totally legal way. Free speech in the UK, don't make me laugh.

It has everything to do with the working class, and in particular the white working class. Who do you think this virtual signalling is for, the chairman and the board? Millwall FC had to come out with the statement they did as Lewisham council would have had them over the coals and already have plans in progress to build on their ground again. Banners are checked before going into a ground and fans would have been prevented from putting anything up that went against the insane group think of BLM, the virtual signalling that accompanies it and the messaging that bodes no dissent. Did you hear how the usual radio stations put down anyone who chose to have an alternate view on this? They were bullied and made to look small by smug presenters who for the sake of their jobs, toe the line and push back any unwanted questioning or views. Booing may not be productive but i repeat it is often all the fans have.

What political nuances. They are worn to remember the British dead of conflict around the world, primarily the two world wars. Do not confuse poppy wearing with a overtly political organisation like BLM - just don't go there.

I would say that it's the only way working class people with no other route to show their disapproval and it has always been so. I would also argue it's been very effective in raising people from the stupor of mindless participation. As Ghandi once said, “It’s better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction.”

Again you miss the point - what other means has working class punters got to show their disapproval? Making pithy banners isn't going to cut it. Really? Maybe said players should educate themselves on the wider aims of BLM. If they then decide that yes, i do support defunding the police, the end to familial life as we know it, the smashing of capitalism and that all white people are inherently racist - then then can kneel all they want and not worry about booing.

Take a look at Millwall's history sometime and you will see that disturbance on the field, off the field and on the terraces has had minimal effect over the last 100 years. If you equate booing by around 500 out of 2k supporters at a match led to Millwall losing the game, then i'm sure the manager will have words with those players. Even the thickest of players should realise people are booing what taking the knee stands for and who it is primarily aimed at not the players themselves.

https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/12/09/why-football-fans-are-fed-up-with-taking-the-knee/ Follow up piece to one at the weekend against dumb obedience and covers a lot of the points made in this thread.