I would have... oh forget it.

I watched this game and the keep was caught in a surprized. He is really good usually. Chelsea didn't play convincing football but Shalka deserved a gool but the luck was not on their side. Plus the terrible missed red card but didn't even call a faul.

I don't expect to see Drogba with Chelsea next season, but I am glad he is still giving 100%. As for Malouda (although I miss him at Lyon) what a nice bit of play.

Allez Chelsea
Allez Drogba
Allez Malouda

"I don't expect to see Drogba with Chelsea next season" -DQ

Drogba to United, anyone?

I didn't realize the Schalke goalkeeper trained with Troy Perkins.

Anyone else here get tired of the announcer saying over and over that Chelsea deserved to win because they were the better team, but Schalke should probably have at least a goal for their efforts?

Schalke is a fine team with a fraction of Chelsea's budget and their GK Manuel Neuer is class. He's just 22, but managed to unseat Schalke's regular GK last season. He's also already been invited to train with the German National Team, ahead of much more experienced German GKs like Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese. After this flub, he made a number of astounding saves. He's also strong outside the box, with a good ability to charge for the ball. Unluckily, Schalke lost their key striker, German international Kevin Kuranyi, to injury in the warmup. They're a good team, they just don't have deep pockets.

based on commentary seen the last couple days on the insider, next year's lineup should look something like this:

henry--drogba--emilio

riquelme--gomez--veron--olsen

burch-boswell-namoff

perkins

on the bench: moreno, kpene, simms, carroll, mctavish, etc..

estadio rfk would be sweet in '08.

dco:

sub Namoff, insert CANNAVARO!!!!

We really, really want to beat Chivas next year.

Stop the emboldeningification of the Enemy!

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Schalke's goalkeeper has a bit of trouble:
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He definitely should have saved that first one. But admittedly, it did look like the shot (headed for the far post) took a very quick deflection off a defender and put it right back at the keeper (and between his legs).

Tommy Smyth and Sean Salisbury will be arguing which football is better on ESPN's "First Take." This is probably going to be the dumbest thing I've watched in a couple years, but I can't turn away, it is like a car wreck.

I didn't realize the Schalke goalkeeper trained with Jens Lehmann.

Tommy Smyth should always shut up. Worst color man in soccer.

That first goal was embarrassing. The second goal was a nice header by Drogba. Give credit where it's due, even though I can't stand Chelsea (or Arsenal, or Liverpool, for that matter).

"Tommy Smyth should always shut up. Worst color man in soccer."

Have you ever heard of Wynalda and Stone?

Tommy the worst? Not even close. The level of suckitude knows no bottom.

He's actually the BEST of the Thursday night bunch. Often the only one with an eye on the game.

Think. About. That.

"The level of suckitude knows no bottom."

But oh how they have tried to find it.

After Drogba scores, you think he's smelling his hands after either giving or receiving a "stink palm"?

"Have you ever heard of Wynalda and Stone?"

Yep. They're terrible, too. But Smyth's "bulge in the onion bag," not to mention his obvious bias, makes me want to throw things.

Can't we import some good British commentators?

""Can't we import some good British commentators?""

I'd like to nominate the Scottish guy on the Adu/Celtic/Benfica tape.

Sounds a lot like the janitor from the Simpson's.

The EPL has the best commentators in the world. Those guys know the game and share their love for it. They make the Wynalda Smyth show all the more pathetic!