Kostas

What is going through this kid's head?

Seeing as I don't care much about the result I'm all for any experimenting in either our line-up or our build-up play. Wouldn't mind if that meant that Kalou, Benayoun or even Bosingwa played up-front.

Scolari had some say in the transfers as-well. Mineiro, Deco and the Robinho saga anyone? And I wouldn't turn this thread into yet another pointless discussion about formations. We suffered from the same things we did when we used a 4-3-3. This topic is very similar to the brilliant "is our midfield good enough" and such discussions usually boil down to 1the midfielders available to a team and 2it's manager. So, since most of us know the capabilities of our main midfielders (Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Ramires, Benayoun?*) could any of you claim with confidence that they know Carletto's preferred playing style? Off the top of my head the majority of the goals we scored when we were playing good football came from either a combination of Cole and Malouda or Drogba's brilliance. It's safe to say the first has been found out since October (way before Malouda's performances started annoying people) and Drogba can be a figure of frustration at times. *Has he played 10 games for us?

You registered on the day we completed 70m transfers, claim to know our views on Ancelotti from all the way back to the summer and you have the audacity to say that I've got a fast trigger finger? You've hardly taken part in any of the previous discussions and resort to playing the "I'm a better fan than you" card before even bothering to check arguments, some of which were voiced during the last season (ie shit subs). My previous post still stands. Kalou hater isn't as bad.. It's used only on a specific subject while Glory Hunter could be used, or abused (see Justin 3d) for every single debate regarding this club or football in general. Not to mention that Kalou hater isn't nearly as insulting as questioning your love for a club that you've been following for years, even decades. Much, much better. Styles answered to the fallacy about the plethora of managers after Mourinho and I'm sure you'd agree that, even ignoring the competition that he was allegedly brought for, the "he did better than Mourinho" part is subjective. Because I never saw how winning the league with 86 points and a cup having to beat Watford, Preston, Cardiff, Stoke, Villa and Portsmouth is better than 95 points and overcoming West Ham, Newcatle, Fulham, United and Liverpool. Moreover, while I dislike Arsenal as much as you do Wenger and Ancelotti are not really comparable. The difference between the resources available to them is vast and Wenger has consistently managed to keep a side worth half as much as ours in the top 4 for many years while had it not been for an injection of 70m during the winter transfer window our double winning team was in real danger of missing the CL spot and everything it means Chelsea. I don't remember anyone denying that the players deserver their share of blame but as spuz points out witnessing a group of world class players underperform for almost the whole season is hardly a coincidence and at the end of the day the manager has to take responsibility for things like that (and Ancelotti has). Finally I've never see anyone on this board claiming that CA should be sacked because Chelsea could go a whole season without winning anything. An odd view to say the least. Tbh this sounds more like supporting Carlo FC than Chelsea FC I'd suggest you check your priorities.

35 pages. Get your ass reading them before throwing around names.

Took you two long enough.

Wonderful!

Not too fussed about the pen decision as I've accepted that we don't get those in the CL but I just noticed that this season there are extra officials behind the penalty box.

I didn't remember the Zilina game at all so you have a point but his relationship with Torres is overstated as Benayoun wasn't Liverpool's main playmaker and mainly operated on the wings whenever he started

Cech 7 Ivan 6 JT 6 Ash 6 Bosingwa 3 Essien 4 Lampard 5 Ramires 7 YZ 6 Torres 5.5 ? Drogba 8

Any Benayoun talk is groundless to say the least. He's hardly had the time to prove that he's on the same wavelength as his teammates and we're going to depend on him being our creative force? Experience aside he could be almost as much of a risk as Kakuta would have been.

Hopefully it's just due to fans being defensive against the scousers and the media. I can't imagine many having the same attitude if he keeps playing like this.

30 pages and you've yet to provide a proper argument. Didn't expect you to change now.Keep blaming refs and luck.

Useless formation talk. Used to be quite popular during our "bad moment"..

In that respect I agree with whoever said this was similar to Inter last year.Edit: It was Olly.

Would love a stat on his shots on target since his move

Not quite but I'll be very surprised if we go through now.

We will go to Old Trafford and we WILL win if we get lucky on set-pieces. In case people didn't notice that's the only way we score nowadays.

Hell I wonder how Ferreira and Mikel would.

Those are the kind of things that get you subbed

Cause our midfield was nowhere to be found.

Who gives a fuck Barcelona/Real are going to rip Fergie a new one if they meet.

Guess what? Bosingwa gifted them the right to waste time and fake injuries.

Anyone willing to make excuses for Torres and Ancelotti? I'm sure you'd love to. Bosignwa and Essien were a fucking waste of space. The same could be said about Lampard. Our midfield is just not what it used to be.