LDN Blue

Without a doubt it's Cech. Cech, Terry & Ivanovic have been our most consistent players all season. The all deserve the award, but Cech literally kept us in several matches (especially during the crisis period!)

Great post Blue Heart! Chosen that specific part because it embodies the course this thread has gone, it has really shown the impact Ramires has made & how quick his improvement has been since joining us last summer. I'll be the first to admit I had my initial doubts - never wrote him off, but thought he's not what we needed at that time - but he's proving me wrong. Still improvements needed (such as those you've pointed out), but brings a lot more positivity in our midfield. The players love him, the fans love him & he believes in himself (proof: that goal on Sunday).

As much as I'd like to think we can, I just don't see it.. I don't see United slipping up to the extent that will grant us the title (I know we still have to play them). It's an ideal dream though, especially to clinch it from under their noses. The Champions League will be a huge distraction too. We've got a difficult fixture vs United, they'll make it a hard & long battle and it will test the mental & physical strength of this squad. Imo, all efforts should be on the Champions League now.

Good luck

P1 W1 D0 L0 Good start .. Time to beat last season's champions now

FA to investigate laser pen incident

Good call about Coentrao, Mike! Shone at the World Cup last year, and I hear he's been on great form for Benfica. Though I think they'd be reluctant to sell to us now, they & their fans must be sick of us by now

Agree there. Kalou complimented Torres very well, a bit greedy (perhaps trying to do a Malouda in front of Carlo), but his positioning and awareness is the type of player we should look for. Like you said, we need a player like him but tactically better. In terms for the last point, it wasn't Lampard's best game. But he is showing signs of his old self in the last few games, we'll have to be patient with him really, he'll find his good form soon. Remember that pass to Anelka vs Copenhagen in the first leg?

I dunna. Depends who's instigated the transfer though isn't it. We all have the feeling Carlo's say on transfers is not 100%, I think Torres is definitely an Abramovich buy. Luiz might be different, he could be the case of Carlo telling Roman he needs a defender, Roman's scouts coming back with Luiz and starting proceedings - with minimal say from Carlo. We can't say for sure, obviously, but it's well established he is a bit of a yes-man. Remember, Ballack said, Carlo wanted to keep him.

This could've been a disaster in all honesty. Torres was very annoyed at being taken off, he was shaking his head and notably upset. Had we not won today, that could've had serious implications for Carlo.

& also, "thank you geezer"

Cech 7 Ivanovic 8 Luiz 9 Terry 8 Cole 7 Essien 7 Lampard 6 Ramires 8 Malouda 4 Torres 6 Kalou 7 Zhirkov, Drogba, Anelka N/A

Indeed. Didn't look too happy when Torres was taken off though - Perhaps he'll forgive Carlo because it worked (Drogba assist) A great, solid, organised win today. Defending was class, as was the midfield discipline. Missed the first half, in the second, Torres look lively - It's a shame he wasn't allowed to carry on (instead of Anelka coming on). Going 3rd will be a huge boost for the team, especially with a game in hand. If we stay organised, 2nd can look a possible target. Inconsistency of Arsenal will grant us that wish

4-5-1 from City. No surprises there

Yep! End of the day, it was his fault really. He's brought himself as much negative press as JT's getting

This should've been Torres' first goal for us.. http://rd3.videos.sapo.pt/MROdgR5RU2MjQc2YYf3n Looks like he'll have to do it vs the "noisy neighbours"

I just don't see the logic in making such things public. It just gets the media circus excited, for them to start implying (strongly) that Carlo is definitely gone at the end of the season. As if we didn't get enough negative publicity!

That's how you know their defence is sh*t

Another thing to point out, if Capello was upset about the way the captaincy was passed around in Copenhagen, surely it was up to him not to keep taking off the captains?

Well Brendan Rogers is still regarded highly at the club, maybe we're just doing him a favour

I thought he'd hit it wide first The resemblance to Kaká (appearance wise) is amazing :| - Great strike though!

The UN is just as useless as American intervention. They have a track record of screwing things up in any hostile country they go, Rwanda & Somalia come to mind. Their ill-thought sanctions in Iraq led to mass famine, many children died because of sanctions which prevented medical supplies entering! Don't get me started on the stupid food-for-oil plan either. No. They just kill others who oppose their capitalist views. Look it up, since 1945 the US has attempted to overthrow over 50 foreign governments. South America has suffered tremendously under American intervention because they didn't comply with their agenda. El Salvador, Columbia, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Cambodia.. & the list goes on

:tophat:

Right now that I'm over this, I've got to say.. Capello is a class A, twat. As if Terry hasn't had enough scrutiny over the last year, this will completely start that again! Just as the boo-boys have settled down and gotten over the whole Bridge fiasco, Capello does this and has the whole country gunning after him again. It's an awful decision to be honest, in reality (as a neutral) I'd be against this, not because of Terry (who's the true) captain, but because Capello already took it off him. This move will not be accepted anywhere - except within the Chelsea community - and for that Capello is an idiot. This would've all been avoided if he'd never stripped him off the captaincy - But the fact he has, means he should stick with that decision (for the sake of national unity).