Kostas

That's the most important point IMO. The chance Luiz created for him in the first half was the first purely Torres-que chance I remember him getting at Chelsea, at the time I wasn't sure whether to read more into him getting that chance or failing to score from it. His second goal was a result of a tidy and calm finish, a pretty shocking fact considering what we're used to.

As almost always, I agree 100%. I can't believe there are a couple of dozens pages of hate/posts slating him while happy smiling "triers" like Kalou, Ferreira and Essien have more pages about them being underrated and criminally scapegoated. It's like fans are more affected by smiley hat doffing faces than performances and abilities.

Ditto. The people who go on about 'plastic fans', 'no history', 'big club' etc show themselves up for what they are - the fakest spoilt glory hunting muppets going.

I think it's safe to say we have reached a point when we should be placing the blame on the players, or rather our overblown confidence in their abilities/potential, instead of the loan itself. I'm beginning to lose count of the loans that seemed ideal both toevery single one of us and made sense football-wise but resulted in disappointment. McEachran is barely 19, he still has around 3 years ahead of him before the club gives up on him.

Same here, last time I run out of likes was while reading a long closed Ancelotti topic and the annual new Chelsea manager thread back in June. I see however no harm in upping the limit for the more generous of users. Oh and while you're at it lower the limit of Justin's likes, it's like he likes every post that answers or refers to him. *craving for attention*

Those two chances plus Terry's handball (which was a pen to me) look much worse when compared to the squat we created in the first 75 minutes and especially the football we (didn't) play.

Nevermind Kalou, apparently getting the result needed also turns embarrassing games into displays of tactical intelligence and defensive solidity. This game is easily one of the 5 worst I've seen this season and despite the inspiring performance by David Luiz we could have easily been 2 down in the second half.

Good result but the match was hard to watch until the goal. They probably should have had a pen and a world-class save from Cech denied them an opening goal. Luiz my MotM with Cech and Ramires (due to his part in the goal) following. A one goal lead does not guarantee us a place in the semis but Benfica were also exceptionally poor.

Not a fan of the starting line-up but it certainly shows balls. Not sure we can afford such displays in the CL. After-all "big" experience players have gotten us this far in the CL.

Congrats. Keep the things ticking as they were.

Not an original point by any means but there's just no way we'll be able to play football with him on the wing. In the match against City our left side was non-existent and Cole was basically alone versus 2 City players for the whole match. The effect that Mata's license to roam has on our on-field structure is beginning to remind me of Anelka's time at DM in 10/11 when we were the most one-sided team in the league.

As soon as Torres scores his next goal.

Journos heard ManU were about to get an experienced English midfielder with huge reputation and since one guessed Lampard they all went with it. There was never anything to the Lampard to ManU story. To live up to my sig I'd question that point. It really was a choice of midfield passenger with poaching stats and a shit midfielder. I know which one I'd rather if I wanted to create a dominating midfield.

Either he was sacked for nothing or was sacked too late. Still a major fuck-up by the club.

And I thought TX had a knack for over-dramatizing things

I'm sure even he wouldn't disagree with that. Call me crazy but I'd rather the best contributors (Killamanjaro, LDN,) kept doing what they do best (contribute to forum discussions) instead of assuming the exhausting role of moderators.

Actually it was rather sad. Despite suffering much worse defeats and turn-arounds this year I don't remember ever looking so weak when compared to the team we played.

No need to apologize as far as I'm concerned. I realize I am bound to upset someone in topics that I come across as strongly. Glad you decided to stay, a forum is nothing without its best posters and we can't afford to lose one while some garbage posters are still around and some embarrassing posters have made a comeback. Brakes from both forums and football are quite useful and normal as neither are as important as your personal life.

2 weeks too early.

I disliked how he didn't even try to catch the ball, kinda like with the Nani shot in the first ManUtd game. Due to his height I'm more worried about his effort than his positioning in such cases.

A moot point since the biggest Kalou bashers are not the unreasonable Torres fanboys. No need for that. If the tone or the content of my post offended you I do apologise.

I swear I've seen you post this well over 5 times. Do you expect a specific reaction or just post this to wind-us up?

This thread will now hit 300 pages.

Still don't see much wrong with any of Lampards quotes regarding AVB. Everything he's said reminds me of a player who want to play and the press give him the chance to express that sentiment rather than the plotting sob he's been painted by the press to be. All his bad performances under AVB could just as easily be those of a player who is past it instead of one who picks his games. My 2 cents.

He deserves what is currently the most difficult managerial job in football based on 3 games? Get real. Di Mateo is nothing more than a temporary caretaker, the quicker people realize and accept that the less cluttered this thread will be. Journos have absolutely no-one inside the club* and less than 5% of the articles being written about our future plans are anything more than fabrications, considering the Euro coming up in the summer we'll be lucky to know whose head Henrique will be asking for next season by July. *Remember the Hiddink fiasco/tale last summer? We didn't know anything until a there was a leak on Porto's side.