DYC.

The most important thing, well one of the most important things, is for CA to pick his starting forwards. They need to grow an understanding between them, and the rest of team, and constantly switching them doesn't help at all. We really need our strikers to start scoring goals and make teams 'fear' them so they have an psychological advantage on top of it.

You're kidding right? And about the draw, boooring. UEFA doesn't want another three English teams in the semi-finals scenario so not really surprised we got an English quarter-final. Oh well, we can definitely knock them out so let's hope we're in good form by then and hope for the best.

The tucking in is CA's decision, we don't play the traditional 4-4-2 like Man Utd and Tottenham do. Malouda did it (the tucking in), Zhirkov's doing it and Ramires does nothing else so it has to be CA's tactics. Probably because he wants the strikers to have support, it worked well in the first half, but that was mostly because of the fact Kopenhagen gave us a lot of time and space yet again, but the players obviously chose to save their energy in the second half which resulted in a boring second half (but I hope he changes his mind though and let them stay out wide more and let's Lamps support them while the other CM supports the defense). And I disagree with you on Zhirkov. In the first half where we actually 'cared' to play, Zhirkov was one of the better performers (the guy is absolutely tireless by the way, just keeps running).

Poor second half, that's all I have to say. But we're through so it's all good. We need to work on that one poor/terrible half and one okay/good half though. Let's hope we get Schalke.

Noticed that since the start of the season. He's ageing so it's normal and nothing he can do about it.

Very good first half, should've scored. On and off the ball we've been playing very well, something that was not the case in previous matches in our new formation (yes I know we won all matches but our overall play wasn't that good). Very happy to see the boys are getting used to the formation, at least so it seems. Mikel's having a great game. He's been quality on and off the ball, something which was not the case for a long time, so I'm glad to see him playing so well, he's looking very fresh. Anelka's having a very good game as well. I like 'CL Anelka', this Anelka plays with urgency, actually runs on the ball and stays upfront showing very good movement. If he could only always play like this, then he would've been starter for sure.. oh well. Everyone else is having a good game as well so I hope they keep it up in the second half. A goal for us should come soon. And almost forgot, anybody notice how we play with tucked in wingers, it's definitely a tactical decision by CA (the man loves a packed midfield). Was confused about our wingers constantly drifiting inside but now I know why. It's working well today but didn't exactly work well the previous games so hopefully the team keeps this up.

Alexis Sanchez proves his class once again by scoring a goal and providing two assists, he's really growing in his new 'roaming striker' role. The same goes for the never ageing Di Natale for scoring two goals and bringing his domestic total up to 24 goals. Wonderful players and hope to see Alexis in our beautiful blue shirt soon.

I don't understand how people don't see Sturridge is a pure striker. He won't make it as a winger and he shouldn't be asked to make it as a winger. The winger position is a very difficult position (try to name ten world-class wingers in current football). We all saw how well using a striker as a winger works out just because he has pace.. *cough* Anelka and Kalou *cough*. (This isn't specifically aimed at you BL.) And we definitely need a creative midfielder, everybody and their pets can see that.

Time is RIGHT to give John Terry captaincy.

I've only seen like two or three games of Dzagoev so I can't say much about him but he did impress in those few matches I watched him. Definitely the type to deliver that final ball so if he has what it takes to make it at Chelsea, I would of course support buying him. And having a Russian star in the team would make Roman a happy man. Dzagoev, Sanchez and a left winger and we would be pretty much set.

Thank you. Exactly (and a playmaker). Torres is the type that needs to be fed so we absolutely need to get a player that loves to feed. And about Sanchez' price, don't if you heard but a club offered a amount between 30 and 35 mil and they rejected it. Also, recently the Udinese president said Sanchez is as good and worth as much Messi () so you do the math..

@ LDN You're right about our players and changes but this being the 4-3-3 formation that has become 'our own' formation, i doubt there would be any kind of confusion. I went with Kalou because Anelka offers us nothing (we actually need) from the right-wing. I'd rather have Kalou, who can be frustrating, but at least he has the will to run on the ball, doesn't drift to the centre of the pitch constantly and he's a lot more direct. @ MetsajCFC Thanks.

I don't see us messing this up so the best thing to do here would be to rest a few players. Can't remember the day where our line-up didn't feature Lampard, Essien and Cole (would add Terry to that list but with Alex out and Luiz not being able to play, he has to play). They should be rested as we are about to enter the most crucial part of our season, McEachran, Mikel and Bertrand/Zhirkov being their replacements. Think we should switch back to 4-3-3 for this one: Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Bertrand/Zhirkov Mikel Ramires - McEachran Kalou - Torres - Yuri/Louda

Yeah even though it pains me to say it, I agree. City is Chelsea's kryptonite. It's not impossible for us to beat them but they know exactly how to beat us and have the players for it too and they always perform 10 times better than they normally do when they face us. But you never know, luck may be on our side..

Poor first half and a okay/solid (except for the last ten minutes) second half. Yup, sounds like a typical Chelsea performance to me. Terry and Essien were our best players tonight. Kalou was great when he came on but showed he's still the same old Salomon with that last miss . Torres still not looking good (although poor service has to do with it as well) and has to start performing soon. Three points, I'm happy.

Exactly. He should start for like 4, 5 games so he can show what he can bring. Our other option on that position hasn't been playing well at all for months.

Yeah but when he did get the ball, he didn't exactly do things that made me happy. Personally I never believed in a Drogba-Torres partnership but I was (still am) hoping i was wrong. Yeah you're right, it painful to watch overall. But if we get three points today, I won't complain.

Nahh Torres was worse, the same goes for Drogba. Zhirkov is having a bad game though and he keeps drifting inside :unsure:.

Drogba and Torres have been so poor.. painful to see. They don't click at all. Poor first half overall. Luckily we scored but we'll have to score again quick.

He (Ivan) could've been dropped because of the lack of a attacking threat from the right with the combination Ramires-Ivanovic there. And you're right about Drogba. I wouldn't go as far as saying Drogba deserves a start cause it's more down to Anelka's inconcistency. Ivanovic was probably dropped because he's got too many yellos cards and we don't want to risk him getting one against Blackpool.

Great line-up by CA . Now just hope it works out .

I was hoping for a win with a good/great performance tomorrow but I'll take any kind of win now. :cfc:

I agree with the idea of resting Cole although Zhirkov has to start in midfield if you ask me. Both Ramires and Kalou aren't wingers, drift inside and dont stretch play. We need at least one winger who doesn't that. People shouldn't forget our first half performance against Man Utd in which created practically nothing and Man Utd had no problem defending against us since everything went through the middle (in a slow tempo to make it worse). And Torres can't be dropped. This is a game where if we play well, we can create a lot of chances since Blackpool aren't the type of team to park a bus in front of goal. He needs to get that 'first goal for new club', mixed with a 50 mil and playing at the hated Chelsea, pressure off him. I would go for something like this: Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Luiz Ramires - Essien/Mikel - Lampard - Zhirkov Drogba - Torres or Cech Ivan - Terry - Luiz Bosingwa - Ess/Mikel - Zhirkov Ramires - Lampard Drogba - Torres

Exactly. The combination Ramires and Ivanovic provides us too little offensively. It's either Bos and Rami on the right or Ivan and Kalou/Benayoun on the right.