Hate Barca, but Messi over Crynaldo all day (and night!).
Take that gif for example.
He is capable of beating those 2 defenders just as CR did and when faced with the keeper, he would have probably finished using a higher percentage technique such as a dink, pass through the legs or shoot to near/far post utilising a feint or just simply continue his dribbling round the keeper. If he was knackered he would then resort to the old "kick it as hard as you can" technique employed by Christie.

Messi and dare I say it Ronaldo are great players indeed but lack charisma.

Give me Maradona any day of the week.

I agree. Maradona was incredible. More than a player.
Kind of what my dad says Pele was.

apparently Dortmund have their keeper and Klopp sent off.

and Chelsea is losing to FC Basel at home!

1-2 Chelsea v Basel....89th minute

Is it just me or did Chelsea somehow contrive to spend millions weakening their side over the summer?

Messi with a sweet hat trick tonight in response to Ronaldo's yesterday.

Chelsea have a good squad.

Mourinho's forte isn't developing young attackers though, nor is it playing attractive football to please the owner.

I can't believe Mata doesn't start.

Chelsea Fulham is massive now.

More 'crises' for our rivals the better.

Plus more pressure in their CL group the better too.

otfgoon wrote:

Is it just me or did Chelsea somehow contrive to spend millions weakening their side over the summer?

Reinstating John terry helps to!

Mourinho has gone from Terry, Carvalho & Makelele in their prime to Luiz, Cahill & Mikel. That is a big downgrade in their defensive spine imo, Gallas who was a world class CB at the time couldn't get a game in the middle for them! I'm surprised he didn't bring in another CB and DM tbh. Mikel seems to be stuck at his current level for years and Cahill has looked suspect since the day he joined, looks great when they park the bus and he needs to put in last ditch blocks etc but he seems bamboozled at the sight of clever movement from a striker in normal play. I remember my mate laughing we signed Per instead of him but fuck me he would of looked like a pub defender for us considering how bad we have been defensively at times.

I suppose if anyone can get them playing better defensively it is him so he must have faith in them. Early days still and they will improve unfortunately, too cosy with the media at the moment. They are licking his arse but I think he is the type of guy who needs to be hated and his team to be hated to work up a siege mentality in his squad.

Ballack, Carragher and Redknapp ripping into Chelsea's defensively 'weak' midfield. And after seeing their goals, I have to agree. Lovely finish by Oscar but very weak stuff in the tackle for Basel's first. And general laziness from everyone. Or maybe they just don't have the legs for it.

Eto'o on the corner was very slow off the mark too.

I still fancy them for the title but I think there are some obvious problems.

Fully agree Jazz esp ur last sentence.