toddandrewblue

BEST: Cech Ivan Luiz Terry Cole Essien Ramires Meireles Sturridge Drogba Mata BEST AVAILABLE: Hilario Ivan Alex Terry Cole Mikel Ramires Meireles Sturridge Torres Mata

The way the squad looks, it needs to be around 50% different for the remainder of the season to have a good year. Sturridge starting when he's off suspension, Luiz starting when he's back, Ivanovic starting, Josh starting, Yossi starting, Torres to consistently get a full 90, and Lampard firmly on the bench to play an important role late in games. Any other new additions we make need to PLAY not watch or go out on loan. Perennial starters need to earn their minutes, and the youngsters need to prove their worth. We couldn't have looked any worse with our young players in today than we did most of the game today. I feel like Roman is pulling the game-day strings, not AVB and his staff. This can't lead to success, just more mediocre play and continued malaise among the squad.

This looked like a return to the "bad moment" in my eyes. We played hard, didn't get a few calls, but there is so little intensity, such a lack of urgency, and absolutely no creativity. I'm not jumping on any bandwagons be they "sack AVB" or "we lost the title already", but if the team looks like this all season, we will be lucky to be top 4. I know we will get some players back, which can change the picture, but the culture of the team must be changed, to force a better attitude out of the squad. I agree with previous posts, and have stated since last season that Lampard needs to sit in favor of Josh, Yosi, etc. He is a shadow of his former self, but will make a fantastic spot starter and bench player. Losing his entitlement to a starting spot may even kick him in the ass and get him producing more. These guys all need to know that no one is guaranteed a starting job so they fight on the pitch for their starts and their place in the squad every week. Complacency seems to have set in last season and looks to be carrying over. I know it's only one game, against a tough team at a tough ground, but time will tell. We have a lot of the right pieces, we just need to add a few more and hope AVB uses them properly.

It's on Fox Soccer Plus at 8:30am Eastern.

Very pleased this deal has been completed. A much needed injection of youth, heart, and talent. Welcome Romelu!

Granted, but ramires played quite a bit last season, and Luiz, if he's not careful, can be reckless to the point of being a liability. Do you really think Benayoun and oriol will make a substantial impact? Do you think Sturridge will get enough time to have a say in things (I hope he does). And Lukaku is still up in the air, no? Just feel like the existing infrastructure is stale and/or broken down.

Top 4 PL Carling Cup win with a chance to see that our young talent has what it takes to move some of the old guard onto the bench. Maybe a FA Cup final appearance. CL - Quarters Top Scorer - Barring injury or mosquito bites, Drogba. If he goes down, it's going to be a group effort. No faith in Torres atm. Star of the team - Cech

Such a disappointment that, at the moment at least, it appears they will be running out basically the same squad as last season. We all know how that went, and I'm afraid it's going to go the same way the second time around. I'm a fan of stability, but everyone knows this team needed to make some serious changes to challenge in 4 competitions this season. Unless AVB is a miracle worker, or barring any last minute transfers (tired of waiting), I don't know if I can re-watch last season all over again. So frustrating.

First the poor play our our players, then the sacking of Carlo and now this kit? The jokes just keep on coming...

How long 'til we hear a decision on Carlo? Tonight? Tomorrow? A week? I give it a few days I think. Whatever the decision, I wish all of us a better time of it next season. KTBFFH!

Chelsea look today like last year's team made most other teams look.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Amen

I like it! Though it looks more like he's saying "F you Wayne" - maybe he was yelling at Rooney?

It's understandable, to a point, that they'd be less-than today. Problem is, we've seen so many games that look like this throughout the season, when something was actually at stake. I'd say this game is just masturbation, but it doesn't even feel that good...