LDN Blue

Petrescu - Desailly - Carvalho - Cole Terry is a great leader, a club legend. But I think the other 2 were better centre-backs in terms of pure defending. Would've gone for Chopper too, but never saw him play properly so can't comment. Right-back there's no contest, Petrescu any day. Same for left-back, Ashley Cole is the best we've ever had. Hopefully one day we'll consider Luiz, Ivanovic & Van Aanholt :eyebrows:

Disagree, I think Drogba's finished. Thanks for everything, you've been important in the last few years, but time for you to go. Priority if finding a strike partner for Torres now.

4-3-3 works, if you have pure wingers. Anelka is not a winger, but got by on that pace he had. That's gone now. Malouda was great last season on the left, but now, he's gone back to that same infuriating player we say back in 2007/08. Zhirkov is nowhere to be seen either, and probably wouldn't get his chance at left-wing. Sanchéz would be a good one if we're serious about playing 4-3-3, so that's the right-wing sorted. Now we need a left-winger. And before someone says it, Kalou is not a winger

Agree with most these points. Wouldn't mind seeing Josh get his chance, not saying he's our messiah, but can't hurt to give him some minutes now can it.

Haha don't get happy, we'll see the same 4-3-3 with Drogba. Not sure what's worse

Cup-tied.

I really don't understand why people are making this out to seem like the worst game we've played this season. I'd say it's one of the most insightful, so many positives we can pick up from it, with the level of improvement we've shown in the 2nd half I'm not that worried about 4th. An attainable target imo.

No Torres so this will be a standard Drogba sulk-fest

With that kind of comment, don't bother.

Yeah wingers are a problem, but I was glad Ash & Ivanovic covered for our so called "wingers" on that front. Cole's definitely showing that attacking charisma he'd been lacking over the last month or 2, and Ivanovic/Luiz show they can handle themselves on the right. Malouda, imo, justified why he was dropped in the last few weeks, he's showing that same player we resented in 2007/2008. I think he needs to give 4-4-2 another chance. Ramires & Essien showed great improvement tonight, add in Mikel for cover & Josh as that wildcard. We've got something to work with. Your last few lines are a reflection of my feelings too. A win would've been great but considering we're not chasing the title now, a draw isn't the worst thing that could happen. We have games coming up where we can accumulate the points needed to capture 4th. Good luck to teams trying to break down this defence

Can't justify that comment. Carlo didn't stop Torres's horrid time, it was lack of service from the midfield. Lampard couldn't get his passes through, Malouda kept shooting from long (thus wasting chances) and Anelka went back to his usual non-positional self. Perhaps the personnel of the squad can be blamed on him, but at the end of the day, it's up to them to be intelligent on the ball, something they didn't do today.

Am I the only one looking at the positives? Luiz is brilliant. If Kalou looked up once or twice, he would've seen Luiz in the box, ready to strike the ball into the back of the net! Total Football . Torres is showing signs of improvement, his movement was better than Drogba ever puts in! If he got the ball more, it would've been a beautiful night for him. A sound night for our defence (still think Mikel needs to be there) and 0-0 was a justified result. If we carry on being so sounds in our half, we can work on the attack without having to worry about defence. Positive signs for Chelsea

I held my reservations about Ivanovic at right back but today showed it works! Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole That's that sorted. 23 years old.

brilliant game!

Thanks for keeping a sensible voice here, bloody hell!

Like Steve said, we lack confidence. If ugly football is the only way we can get the results now, so be it.

David Luiz was exceptional. Every time he lost the ball, he won it back. He plays Total Football - Doesn't look to thump it clear but travels with the ball or looks for an accurate pass (like the one to Torres. Has a bright future as Terry's successor. Torres is suffering from lack of confidence but will grow into this game. I really hope Ancelotti doesn't take him off, that first goal is all it'll take for Nando! Let's be patient guys. It's not like he's getting good service (except that pass). Anelka and Malouda are a bit blunt. They're not really feeding in Torres - They must stop trying to shoot from distance. I think one of them should come off and make way for Josh. This will free Essien & Josh to push forward and find that killer pass, knowing they have cover in the other player.

Is this carrying on a theme of making a new thread for every niggling comment we have?

The man will never slag us off! Even when we sacked him the first time

I love when Wilkins defends us

Big mistake leaving out Mikel

:goodpost: Well balanced, taking account both sides of the argument! Could do with more posts like this.

Media can say whatever they want. We were there to see Malouda, Drogba, Mikel & even Ramires prove us wrong. We've learnt to be patient.

Then my mistake, I thought you meant out of the club. As for the rest, you're right, but with this board it's unlikely. Ray will not be replaced, this role is no longer available at the club. Carlo will only have 2 assistant managers (Bruno Demichelis & Paul Clement)