Kostas

BBC's David Ornstein reports:

I wouldn't mind being within 10 points from the first place.

The top 4 is no more. Last season Livepool under Benitez were shocking, losing to relegation fighters and failing to reach the CL knockout stages only a year after their "historical" 86 points that only got them the 2nd place. It looked like either ManCity or Tottenham would take their place among England's finest teams.We won the league with 86 points, the lowest total since ManUnited in 2002/3. During the summer none of the top 3 clubs improved significantly. United got some young players with potential while we got rid of the dead wood. Arsenal replaced their vulnerable central backs but still can't deal with direct teams. Some claim the league is more balanced now and much more competitive. The way I see it the top clubs are just shit. We have the thinnest squad in the league and also the weakest since Roman took over,United haven't been this bad since 2004 and Arsenal remain serial bottlers and and overrated kids who can pass the ball. None of the clubs is strong enough to convincingly and consistently beat midtable opposition not to mention decent teams who can properly defend. Sure you have teams like ManCity and Tottenham who can actually step their game up on a special occasion but they were never going for the league. The team that will win it will in my opinion just be the best of a horrible bunch. 80 points will be enough to win the league, English clubs stand no chance in Champions League this year.

That's seems to be what most believe. On the other hand just a few months back we were ready to pay 30 millions for Neymar and around 7 for Begovic.

Our Football board is responsible for building/maintaining our squad, Ancelotti never had full control of it. Moreover he would have never said that our squad is bad, he's a diplomat. And I hope for CFC's sake that Ancelotti won't be blamed by either our board or our owner. Any statmen here? When was the last time a team won the league having lost 4 times before Xmas?

Not going to get too disappointed over the score, loosing against Liverpool hurt much more. Birmingham is a disgusting team though.

How many times you've posted this?

He has had worse games.

Both Ugly and Unlucky.

This is getting frustrating. We've hardly created anything in the 2nd half.

Typical Kalou. Didn't look like a pen. Doesn't look like we'll score today.

Not going to win this. Counter-Jinx

If only points were given for corners.. Our inability to score has got Ivanovic bomping forward with every oportunity.

So that's what, 6 halfs we've failed to score in the league since November kicked in? Alarming, to say the least.

'avin a chat there ref? Have to score early in the 2nd or else I can't see us winning it.

I haven't noticed Ferreira at all.

The last time Drogba was so wasteful/unlucky he scored 3 in the second half.

We've been wasteful, on another day it could have been 3 nil to us. Ramires still hasn't got used to PL's refs.

A few details aside I think we've been good. Haven't seen Drogba so lively since September.

Damn that was close!

With so many monsters in the box you HAVE to cross.

Uphill battle from now, undeserved lead.

Good one by Drogs.

We can't know yet, but I think it's safe to say that he's better than one player ahead of him.

I wouldn't blame any young player for being hesitant to join our club, I mean what does Sturridge think when Kalou is starting and he's left on the bench. He'll get more game time at Juventus and can possibly join one of the giants a couple of years later.