Guz

He was as bad as anyone in that first half (except the ball to torres). A lot better in the 2nd half I thought though. I'm still very much unconvinced about him playing this role against quality opposition though. Also think with the way Kuyt and Yossi played we were far too crowded in the middle of the park

He was awful tonight. I dont hold him solely responsible at all, his own goal was part of a string of defensive errors we've made over the two games that has cost us a place in the final but i'm reisgned to the idea that Riise is just gash nowadays.

Dont think it's ever been a question of work rate with Xabi though. He can and will put the legwork in but tonight that wasn't enough. The stage was set for him to dominate. He has to if we're going to play that system against quality opposition. If he is sitting deep - the whole team is deep, if he constantly gets the ball high up the pitch then we move up another 10 yards and get our wingers into play more often. I am dubious about this 4231 system, especially with Gerrard behind the striker, against quality oppositon when we need to win. It's worked sometimes and hasn't others so the jury is still definitley out. It requires whoever is in Xabi's role to be dictating play though.

He was just spinning around in the box for the first goal without a clue where Drogba was and again clueless as to Anelka's position for the 3rd goal.

We have improved so much in Europe over the past 18 months it is untrue. Our performances in 2005 were plucky, corageous and battling. We've added a lot of maturity to our play now and it shows. We've also scored at Barca, PSV, Arsenal, Inter and Chelsea. Forget the fact that we put 4 of those sides out, the notion that we can go away from home and score is something in our locker that we didn't have 2 years ago. I fear absolutely no one in the European Cup and if we can improve our wide men again this summer would expect us to get far in the competition again

We are better than what we showed tonight though. From the moment riise put through our net last week we never really looked like we were on the front foot like we did for about 65 minutes last week. Yeah we're not gonna goto stamford bridge and t*** them 4-0 but we had too many players who struggled tonight and we defended like mugs. There was nothing wrong with the attitude and work rate of anyone today but our application was poor and sloppy All the talk was how we havent scored there before yet we get two and then conceed 3. Unbelievable

Hope they t*** the mancs

Torres has a hamstring injury. I know people will come on and say thats an excuse - well f*** off really. If Rafa says he has an injury, he has a f***ing injury. Benayoun, Kuyt, Arbeloa, Riise. That were our full backs and wide midfielders/wingers that started this game. Any surprise we played s***? Mind you we should've taken our f***ing chances at Anfield and made all this irellevant. Oh, and Riise should learn not to head a ball 2 yards off the ground

I will be in 3kings by west ken station. The back room there is always packed with reds with some good singing and bouncing going on. Landlord is a red too. It's chelsea "territory" but I literally saw about 4 of them last week

Not sure about his future beyond the end of this season but I do know that Xabi is going to be absolutely vital to us today. If he keeps getting on the ball, keeps it moving quickly, gets it out wide and plays high up the pitch we WILL play well. He is essential today. Come on xabi

End of april, a*** feels like there's a conga line going on inside, butterflies in my stomach, can't concentrate on work, dying for some drinks and all caused by 11 men in shorts chasing a football for 90 minutes. Wouldn't have it any other way.

At the time obviously gut wrenching but looking back that celebration is f***ing hilarious. He realised no one joined in with his f***ing little dance and so gets all high and mighty pointing at Wallcot!

I just do not know what I'd do if he rips Chelsea a new one and guides us to Moscow on wednesday. Honestly, just thinking about it gives me f***ing goosebumps. Could've had 2 in the first leg and put the tie to bed to be honest so hopefully he'll be at them even more on wednesday and get his reward

That's the sort of money Gillet is waiting to lap up. My guess is that's a little small time in terms of what Hicks is waiting for i.e. a return on the investment of a new stadium on top of success during the period leading up to that

I'm sorry but I fail to see how anyone can judge the players and the management staff this season based on the absolute s*** they have had to put up with off the field. Rafa's job was in danger, until January he knew this and he knew Parry, Gillet and Hicks were trying to get him out. Since then Rafa has been kept out of it but the focus has shifted to the owners basically not talking to eachother except in public outbursts. I am not making excuses for the players or the manager. Some players have let us down this year during our s*** patch in the middle, the manager has also inevitibly made some mistakes/strange decisions. There is responsibility to be had by the collective there definitley. But there have been strange circumstances to deal with and though it's absolutely impossible to quantify the damage the off field problems have had on the club - they HAVE had an effect and I can't believe anyone would say otherwise and judge this season without taking it into major consideration. We've had a very indifferent league season but we are "only" 11 points off the leaders, which is probably how it will end this season. Thats not a mile off where we want to be. Benitez has my full backing (doesnt mean much eh). Yes we need to start putting pressure through the season on the leaders but I don't see the benefit in discussing what might happen in 12 months time IF we dont challenge for the league because this year has taught us that a hell of a lot can happen in a year.

Said for a while that he's the sort of quality we should be looking at in terms of squad depth. Not good enough for a regular starting role but still has a role to play at the club IMO.

Rotation, disrespecting the league, prioritising europe etc etc

Hopefully a 95th minute chelsea 2nd goal (to win the game) but some injuries along the way Early second half goal for chelsea and I can see Grant giving a couple of attacking players a rest

Cant believe Ronaldo is being rotated in the greatest-football-encounter-of-all-time-super sky-extravaganza

His best position is where Gerrard is playing IMO. Allowed to roam, drift wide, run with the ball from deep etc. He doesn't have the guile to be playing deep like an Aimar or Scholes in that role but would benefit from being able to roam across the final third. We have no one else to play out on the left though so I can see why Rafa has kept him out there all season

With your first point I totally agree and i'm very happy that he's getting some credit and his hard work is paying off. I'm happy for him but know that we need better. Re Babel and Kuyt. Didn't make myself clear, I dont want Babel replaced but if we start the season again with Kuyt on the right and Babel on the left we'll have missed a trick over the summer. Personally would like to see someone come in for the left side and Babel moved to the other wing. If Rafa really wants to play Babel on the left I think we'll need a quality right sided winger and a new agressive left back.

95th minute own goal after John Terry smashes a clearance straight at Drogba (who is lying on the ground in his own penalty box after Riise breaths on him) and the ball goes flying back into Cech's goal. Please. Or any win/score draw will do like

But we should aim for much better. We get the ball down the right a lot and can get much more penetration down that side with a better player. I love dirk, I really do and hope he stays as part of the squad next season but if we have Babel and Kuyt starting on the wing every game we'll have gone wrong badly somewhere over the summer

He has great talent in fragments, if he can bring it together he will be sensational. If he's still up for it I'd start him next Wednesday and keep Crouch/Pennant/Benayoun on the bench

We were more cautious because Arsenal are a team who play with the sheer unshakable belief that they can score goals away from home. We have to be the same next week. Keep things solid, don't panic and just believe a chance or three will come our way