LDN Blue

Real don't play till tomorrow?

De Gea Maicon - Lucio - Terry - Cole Ronaldo - Xavi - Lampard - Bale Messi - David Villa

They're ageing quite a bit aren't they? Most are in the 29/30 region.

I know it's off-topic but I'm hearing a lot about Burnley wanting to sign Cork permanently, what do you think will happen with that?

The return of Gronkjaer

I think Carlo (or whoever's organising this) want Neymar because he'll fit our system in 4-3-3, perhaps they feel we do not need another midfield player like Ganso (which they're wrong about). In all honesty I wouldn't mind if we sign them both What do you think about both their futures? In realistic transfers?

AC Milan.

Ferugson trying to play mind games with a squad who played under José Mourinho Good luck with that one.

He's right about the experience thing. I don't think he realises we've got our full strength squad back though, and I think we've got enough experience on our bench now (hopefully we'll get Zhirkov back).

This season, Nasri's been superb. Definitely one of the best players, if not THE best, this season. Malouda had a great 2010, aside from the World Cup fiasco, last season was perhaps one of his best in a Chelsea shirt (after 2 years of us cringing at his name on the team sheet). Because of the World Cup fiasco, I think all the members of that French team were made instant public enemies. I really don't mind Nasri's won it, I like him, he's a very good player for an age of only 23. I'm just glad a prick like Ribéry or Gallas hasn't got it

I'd love to see Essien reclaim his defensive midfield role. I say that, with knowing the other side of the coin, which he's he's also a great attacking player too. Still, he's made his name playing defensive midfield, he really was pipped to be the next Makelele. Mikel is more attack, or used to be anyway, I'm sure he's not forgotten how to play there, and we know he can certainly pick a pass. We should switch their roles, do I think it'll happen? No.

The sad thing is, even Danny's not a winger. He's being told to play there, he's gone on record to say he's a centre half. Reminds me of Eto'o being played on the wing by Inter when he claims to be a centre forward.

Desailly's also doubting our chances. Like Jim said, ManUtd game will be vital. Lose, and we should think about just focusing on the Champions League, draw/win and we're still in it.

Good ol' dubious goals committee. I wonder if they're using video technology to work this out?

Again, I think he's being taken out of context. He's not saying he doesn't like his team mates, he's saying he doesn't socialise with them. I'm sure they already know that

Be fair though, the Lampard thing last year, was taken totally out of context by the French media. He did not mean anything by it. As for the second one, I don't think there's anything wrong with not mixing outside of football. It's like me in college, I have many friends there, but I don't hang out with them outside of school, because I've got other friends outside of it who I prefer to hang out with. That doesn't change my relationship with people in college though, you can see this applied on the pitch. Malouda has a lot of respect on the pitch and gets the ball when asked.

I thought the Times would publish something more, impartial. Mainstream media for you, I guess.

We have Ashley Cole & John Terry. They epitomise "personal problems"

I'm not sure what the general feeling is here after that game, but I'm quite upbeat. Yes, it is true, we could have won if Drogba converted, and Lampard may have scored if he'd chosen to take it, but this is what football is like. I'm, personally, glad we came away with that result because it's not just 1 point we came away with, it's the passion, the hunger and the desire we've lacked in the last 3-4weeks. Defensively we were a much more tighter unit, our passes stuck and were to feet and our strikers were creating good chances. Carlo tried the same tactic at Liverpool by leaving out Drogba and then bringing him on, back then it was because Drogba and Carlo where aware he was sick. This time it was a genuine "You're dropped" and when he was brought on, Drogba's mentality looked like "let me show you, why that was wrong" and he came to life. Paulo Ferreira. Though we cringed at his name being read on the team sheet, he was great. He was disciplined and he concentrated on the danger posed from Bale. He never went too deep and he never sat off too much. He always knew Bale's pace would out do him, and he respected that, but also kept him contained (with the help of Essien). So well done for silencing your doubters Paulo Finally, Carlo Ancelotti. A lot of question have been raised about him, we can't base it on one game, but Carlo did also quiet a few of his own critics. His team sheet was a strong as he could make it (keeping form in mind) and his substitutions were well timed and thought about. We knew Drogba would come on in the 2nd half but the question was for who, I believe taking of Mikel was a good idea, because he had been suffering with a flu and he wasn't having the best of games. Sturridge got a good run out too and the return of Lampard, for morale boosting purposes more than anything, was well thought out. So well done Carlo. We've got good momentum heading into our crucial clash with Manchester United and hopefully we will overcome the table leaders

Manchester United showed how their defence really "defends" on Monday night. Rough. They pushed around the Arsenal players, and they went in for all body-barges and crunching tackles. They will struggle to do this against the likes of Drogba, Malouda, Essien, Lampard ect. However, Vidic has been terrific this season and he will prove a worthy opponent of, an improving, Drogba. They are weak at right back, Rafael does not look the most solid defender ManUtd have ever had and that means Ashley Cole and Malouda will terrorise him (as they did last season in the first goal). Rooney and Berbatov look very dangerous in recent games, and despite being left out on Monday, I expect Berbatov will start this one. Terry and Ivanovic will certainly have their hands full with this one. Credit to Ivanovic for not getting himself booked on Sunday by the way. We can get 3 points here. The first goal will be crucial. A ManUtd-Chelsea game (in recent times) has been very closely fought and usually decided by a single goal. I think it is imperative we score first. If we do, then that game is ours for the taking.

John Terry was sensational. He showed what a real captain does, less talk, more action. His runs into the opposition half were a great sight to see, from a fans point of view. He epitomised the "passion" the players lacked in the last month and he will truly be credited (by me anyway) as one of the key men who saved our season. He's a year older & a year wiser (p.s. I do believe Malouda deserves an honorary mention for his consistency to create in the last few games)

He's proved his loyalty to a football club is short and limited. One of the reason he wants out of Manchester City, reportedly, is because he misses his children and his wife (who he's apparently divorced from now). For that I think he will go back to Argentina anyway. But if he is looking to move to an English club, then perhaps it's not totally out of the question, let's be honest, Tevez is probably one the most hard working players in the Premier League and would fit into our team very well. I do believe he's been selfish to Manchester City though. Their whole team was built around him. Players where brought in to support him and he, in return, should honour his contract with is worth a lot. From what I'm told. Manchester City give him enough time (every month) to fly back to Argentina and see his family, he should have known his sacrifices before even joining City.

With Rafa Benitez at the Inter realm, they are more vulnerable than ever. The signing of Santon, should therefore, be easy negotiations for us. He does fit the category we are looking for, an all round, young, talented defender who can play on the both right and left. However clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool will all be interested in him too, the question is, does the management like him?

There's a reason Chelsea are chasing Neymar.. He'll be a guaranteed starter ahead of Sturridge & Kalou. There's no point in saying "we've got Sturridge". The management clearly feels Neymar is better than Danny or else they'd not chase him so badly.

Can't stay long, I just want to say.. Well done to Carlo for benching Drogba! Hope that doesn't backfire on us. I'm glad Ramires is playing, we'll be a good, solid defensive unit. Good luck to Chelsea today. I won't be able to stick around and watch the game, so here's to hoping for 3-points :chelsea2: