Bouma Looking To Keep Place

Well, I certainly seem to have misread the contribution from left-back Wilfred Bouma last night. According to most, my 5.5 rating (above average but only just) has produced a moral outcry and indignation, calls for me to be horsewhipped and run out of town! Not so sure about the running but the horsewhipping might be ok!

As said, it was a view from the armchair last night and that is never the same as being at the game (especially when it was a horrible view as the camera kept panning passed my empty seat by my mates!). Just seems to me, when you work so hard to get the ball back, you don’t then give it immediately back to the opponents, but hey ho, in a game of opinions, it seems mine was wrong yesterday, far too many disagreeing with me to suggest otherwise! lol

Bouma was given man of the match by the match sponsors and some say he might have staked a claim to keep his place in the team when we face Man Utd in the FA Cup on Sunday, which would then free up the returning from suspension Gareth Barry to play where he is most effective, in midfield.

Bouma said: ‘I played against Shaun Wright-Phillips who is a very clever player with a lot of pace. I tried to get as close as possible to him and not give him the space to turn and run at me. I think it was a good battle between us.’ Adding on the official site: ‘It was nice to be named Man-of-the-Match, but what really matters is the result. I knew I was playing OK. In the last minute Drogba had a header and if that had gone in, being Man-of-the-Match would not be important.’

‘I thought we defended well as a team. That’s the main thing you need to do. If you defend well, then it’s hard – even for the Champions. I think we were tough opponents for them and that’s why we got that result. Of course now I want to stay in the team. Gareth is back again on Sunday, but hopefully I will stay in the team. If not, the manager knows I’m always there when he needs me.’