LDN Blue

Good News

You're right. They're not u21 so they have to be registered.

Mick will probably kick up a fuss over Mancienne, but Burnley should release Cork to us.

Are we allowed to?

McEachran is about to come on for the England u21. There's only 4 minutes left though

True. But Barton has a history of being a thug. He beats up his team-mates, starts brawls on the pitch, ran over someone. Just look at his Manchester City career and you'll see abuse on everyone.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7409943.stm

Don't see us winning with the amount of bad luck we're having. Draw would be the best result from this I guess. Ideal formation: Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Bruma - Cole Mikel - Ramires McEachran Kakuta - Drogba - Zhirkov But knowing Carlo he'll do this instead (& I genuinely believe this, after the whole Sunderland shamble): Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Bruma - Cole Mikel Ramires - Zhirkov Kakuta - Drogba - Malouda I think he will change the attacking options by sticking in Kakuta for either Anelka or Malouda. From the way he praised Malouda on Monday I'd be surprised if he's dropped. I'd love to see McEachran get a start in attacking midfield with Zhirkov playng the wing, but I predict it'll be the same midfield (that was non existent) vs Sunderland. After watching the defensive collapse, if Bruma does not play for Ferreira I will be very surprised. Also if Ash is out, PvA will have to fill in (hopefully.)

Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Bruma - Cole Mikel Malouda - Essien - Zhirkov Anelka Drogba Would like to see a system like that tried out. Mikel would play as a holding midfielder, then we pack our midfield with Malouda, Essien & Zhirkov with either Zhirkov or Malouda making runs down the wing. Carlo has to make it clear that only one should bomb down the wing with the fullback. Otherwise we're simply too exposed in the back. A 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-1-1 can only work if Essien is playing. Ramires would not show enough attacking play.

I can see Carlo now.. "our team is good enough". Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Ferreira - Cole unused sub: Bruma.

Cech does set a very good example about getting back up when the cards are down. To come back from his horrid injury to regain his great form is truly inspirational. And he does know how to shout at the defenders when they're being complacent.

Mancienne would be a great idea. Unfortunately I think this may be his last season with us being his parent club.

Problem is he's not very vocal. Like you'd want your captain to give you a bit of slack when you're under performing. I don't think Ivanovic could do that, he's more of a silent, but deadly ninja.

A nerve problem on his leg? This is the first I've heard of such a problem. I though it was his back

Agreed with BlueLion. Drogba is more commanding when he isn't captain, but this is unlikely to change really. As for the 4th captain, I think we should let Ashley Cole have a go. His temper on the pitch would be enough to scare the living shit out of you if he's your captain

:getyou: Handbags come out. Abate and Pandev has a squabble over a silly barge by Pandev. Pushing starts and a tussle kicks off. Abate is shown a second yellow and sent off.

Woah shit. Surely that's not...?! :|

Yeah agree with Kostas. We've been playing pretty poorly since Aston Villa imo. The game vs Wolves, Blackburn, Liverpool & Fulham have been quite poor by our standards. But I strongly believe once Lampard & Essien are back we'll be back on form. Until then we have to ride the storm of the next 2-3weeks.

Oh yeah.. Metro headline guys:

Anelka & Malouda need to start tracking back more I think. It's all good when Bosingwa & Cole are bombing forward, but sometimes they lose pace running back. I think Nico & Flo have enough pace to run back and defend when the ball is with the opposition. This should've happened today, of all days, when we'd had such a weak defence.

Cech Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Cole Mikel McEachran - Malouda Anelka - Drogba- Sturridge I'd like to see that. Shame it won't happen.

Half Time: Inter Milan 0-1 AC Milan AC Milan have certainly dominated this match so far. Ibrahimovic has had the most chances including a superb, Van Basten like, volley which narrowly went over. His first chance came in 4th minute when he was fouled in the penalty area by Materazzi and scored to make it 1-0 against his old club. InterMilan look totally lost tactically, Joell Obi went off, bringing on Coutinho who's looked the sharpest Inter player in the last 1st half. Rino Gattuso is also riding his luck here, he's been booked early and in all honest should have seen red late in the half when he conceded a free kick right on the corner of the 18-yard box, which Sneijder nearly converted in. Inter have a lot to do in this game to get back in, with AC in complete control. Seedorf, Robinho and Ibra are destroying the Inter defence.

A certain blip in form we're going through right now. Rooting from the game at Aston Villa, we've not been quite been firing all cylinders like we usually do. Thankfully, victories earlier in the season have meant we still sit at the summit, albeit by a less margin then we'd hoped. The return of Lampard, whenever it may be, will be a huge moral boost for us. I believe his and Essien's return will be in the same fixture, which should be a St. James' Park vs Newcastle on 28th November.

Inter Milan 0-1 AC Milan '4 Ibrahimovic (P)

Nothing like a Milan derby to take your mind off a humiliating defeat.