LDN Blue

Stunning save from Cech to deny Puyol! Especially because (I think it was,) Pedro was incoming and a slight touch would've meant a goal!

Indeed, it's been the case that no matter who we bring in as a forward, Drogba will always shine above them. He did a great service to replace Hasselbaink, who I will always maintain left a season or 2 too early. But what the Hasselbaink-Drogba senario does show is it is capable to replace a great striker like this, providing the former is no longer at the club. Drogba will go down as a club legend through the ages.

He sounded agitated in that interview

If we get the opening goal at the Nou Camp the odds will swing dramatically in our favour. That away goal that Barca didn't get is very important in the grand context of things, we've shown we can compete and past results have shown we can get goals at the Nou Camp. One goal can change everything, no doubt, but one goal for us can do wonders.

Ashley Cole was my man of the match. All the old guard looked shades of their former selves, it was remarkable to witness. If this is their last CL games for Chelsea, I'm glad they're showing the will and desire to go all out.

Well this is awkward

There's nothing more I could add to the reactions here, but I was amazed by his composure when he had Lionel Messi running at him. Amazing not to slip up in concentration and concede a penalty or let him skin him.. Nope, just a solid no nonsense game. Well done to the lad, proving to be a wonderful addition to this squad.

So that's 6 consecutive games that Barcelona have failed to beat us. Furthermore, they've also never turned a first-leg defeat deficit. The odds are in our favour.. Dare we dream?

ChelseaTV say Drogba starts

I'd just love the reality shock he's going to get when he realises he won't be the star at Barca and will lie in Messi's shadow. The man who forced out Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Ibrahimovic & Villa.

:cfc:

I really think Torres is suited for this match more than Drogba. I'd play Drogba at the Nou Camp though.

It's potentially Cole, Terry, Lampard & Drogba's last chance to grab a Champions League Medal before joining that list of great players never to win it. They have to play their hearts out, give us Drogba from Sunday and we can get a result. In 4-2-3-1 we trust

I think Cahill will be fine with Terry next to him.

Mine was Schmeichal Sagna - Adams - Terry - Cole Ronaldo - Makelele - Scholes - Giggs Zola - Henry

Fat Dowd, wahey. Would rather have Webb, he hates Liverpool. Being a United fan and all that is.

- Laurent Blanc

I read somewhere it was a toss up between Milner/Barry or Lampard for Ranieri. Thank f'ck he didn't tinker around with that decision

Yeah but you just know we won't capitalise. We've had so many opportunities to grab this race for third by the neck and each time we blow it. If we'd have just beaten Tottenham in the league we'd be in such a favourable position at the moment with Arsenal this weekend and Newcastle coming up. Sigh, hindsight

The most impressive thing I see with Bale is that pace with control. It's very rare to find players who can just about do both, let alone excel in it as Bale does. For all of Ramires' pace, his dribbling and control isn't his best asset.

I'm of the naive pool of people who believe we should retain our best players ahead of profit. That being said I'm concious of the fact Real would want someone like Ivanovic, so £12million is a ridiculous sum, but realistic because this club doesn't do high-profile sales.

We shouldn't even be thinking 'loan.' With Drogba leaving, Torres being our Di Santo & Sturridge either on the wing/leaving.. We should gamble on this one to lead our attack instead of spending atrocious amounts on someone like Cavani who we might not even be able to secure without CL football.

Ramires' goal epitomises my point that Harry lost the game when he took Van Der Vaart off and left that midfield far too exposed.

Indeed, couldn't agree more. He's been very good in the important games this season, it's adding a good gloss to his farewell season. But we shouldn't let this gloss blind us of the simple fact Drogba is a hindrance to anyone looking to take up that CF role. I'm not even talking about Torres, just anyone really. Because Drogba is plan B, and with Drogba at plan B it means an excuse to include Essien, Lampard & Cole in the squad simply because it works now & then.

As FrancoZola rightly points out, we showed immense resilience to back Torres through this horrendous spell he's going through, but we're allowing it because we know what he used to be capable of etc. It's very unfair we don't show the same attitude with Sturridge. Yes he can be frustrating at times, but at the beginning of the season we loved it. We encouraged it, fed off it and were almost mesmerized as to why it took so long for him to get a place in this squad. Sturridge is brilliantly talented, you can literally play the worst ball to him and he'll attempt to making it work with his persistence not to let it phase him if he doesn't score. He showed at Bolton he's more than capable of playing CF. Himself & Davies produced a great attacking duo, he's not as selfish as is being made out (though I'm under no illusion he's not). He's said he doesn't mind playing on the wing, as long as he's playing, but it's my belief he's struggling to making these passes we expect because he's been forced out there and is trying to make an impact. Can he blamed? Absolutely not. He's young, hungry, has international ambitions and it just keen to play. Especially after seeing Mr. Ancelotti favour Kalou. Kalou, for all his lack of football intelligence, back tracks very well. Granted. But I think Sturridge's omission of late's been really harsh on a kid just trying to do the best he can where he's deployed.