Styles

I gave up on the idea of AVB dropping Lampard when he called him 'Lamps' in a press conference. He seems to soft to drop him in my opinon. I'd rather moan about players he has the balls to drop or replace i.e. the infamous pair now known as Kalouda.

I honestly think that there are some people working within the club who are trying to sabotage the team. The absolutely shambolic mismanagement of the playing staff has resulted in all of our key players being 30 or other and their deputies consisting of absolute rubbish like Kalou.

Exactly. You make you own luck.

It's depressing isn't it when Man Utd have Young, Nani and Valencia who can all beat a marker and deliver a cross or shoot. We don't have a single player who can do that. And Malouda and Kalou are the two clowns who complain about getting longer contract or not getting enough games. They are shameless. What the hell is that potential based on? He has absolutely no quality. He wouldn't make the Stoke team for f*** sake. Why is he in the Chelsea team?

There's nothing lucky about beating you marker and making things happen. I wish we had players who did the same.

Well done to Bosingwa and Torres who were excellent. Malouda was bad and really let himself down today. Kalou was his usual self i.e. utterly dreadful in everything that he does. He was easily the worst player on the pitch like he so often is. For a club with a billionaire owner it doesn't make any sense to have a player as bad as this. How can you justify havig a player that has absolutely zero technical ability and physical qualities i.e. strength or speed? How can you explain his presence at the club let alone in the starting 11? You can't. Nothing has changed in the grand scheme of things.

I didn't think of that but you're right! They're probably too afraid to vote as they don't want to seem anti-Chelsea to the die-hards

We've broken Stoke's heart so many times since they came into the league. Malouda and Lampard's last minute goals have been some of our best moments in years! It always made me laugh when Ballack tried to claim Lampard's goal because it slighty brushed his back as it went in :giggle:

This went well then. I think the 5 undecided should be chalked up as a yes to the question.

LOL DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT MAN! :redcard:

A draw away at Stoke isn't the end of the world. They've already played competitive Europea League football so will be pretty sharp in terms of fitness. Obviously a win would be ideal but I don't see why a draw would have an impact on morale. If it was away to QPR then yeah that would be sad but away to Stoke? No way.

One thing I would say is that we cannot make any real conclusions on the team selection today. Sturridge is suspended, Torres suffered a concussion so really shouldn’t even be in the squad as that is dangerous and the boss has already said that he is searching for two more players in the transfer market. So if you see some players you are personally unhappy with in the team today then don’t jump to conclusions and think that is his best team. The squad is still not final and perhaps somebody who plays today is not really in the long-term plans i.e. Ferreira, Kalou etc.

I’m not at all surprised that AVB is a big McEachran fan. For his philosophy of ball retention, finding and exploiting gaps/spaces and smart, forward-thinking football as opposed to the sideways stuff then McEachran fits the bill. The thing is though that having just one of those players in your midfield isn’t enough. Where most teams fail is that they have a player like that and surround him with destroyers in midfield. What they actually need is more of the same. What we need to do is scour the world and try to find a youngish player similar to McEachran in terms of ability and play them together in midfield. Two players in midfield capable of taking the ball, dictating possession, linking-up with the attackers and having the ability to dribble in central areas would be ideal.

Man City are a different breed. We were far ahead of them than they were when they were taken over. We were already a Champions League club and could attract World Cuperstars like Crespo. We have done well since Roman took over but not close to where we should be if we're all honest.

I don’t think 3 leagues in 8 seasons is that good of an achievement considering the money that has been spent on players, transfer fees, wages and managers. Exaggerated expectations is a result of the squads we have had available since 2003-2004. And we’ve been more or less second best to just one team for many years in what was essentially a two team league.

You don't think we should have a few more league titles? Manchester United have won 4 of the last 5 leagues.

Fingers crossed...

Since the club was bought by Roman in 2003 we have won; three Premier League titles three FA cups two League cups In that time we have also appeared in one Champions League final. That is 8 seasons work. The question I want to ask is do you think that we have underachieved considering the level of investment and some of the players we have had at our disposal since the 03-04 season?

Besides McEachran, who we know isn't going to start, that is the same team that failed so miserably last season. Anelka in the hole? Really? Who wants to see that again? I don't. Absolutely zero balance in forward areas. We have too many strikers and not enough variety in attack. We're likely to play 4-3-3 and have five strikers (Drogba, Torres, Anelka, Lukaku and Kalou) for one position. I wouldn’t want to see any one of those players play in the RW or LW positions next season. So we have just Malouda and Sturridge for the wing positions. How can the manager be happy with that? How can the manager be happy with having a player as bad as Kalou in his squad? Cech Terry Cole Ivanovic Sturridge Ramires Those six players are in my prefered first 11. The rest I'm not so sure about.

HAHA!

Drogba is technically gifted. I don't know what you've been watching for the last 8 years or so but his control and touch is incredible. He does some utterly amazing things with the ball that some of the players you mentioned couldn't dream of doing. I'm amazed you don't think he is technically gifted, gobsmacked actually. I think the unfortunate thing about players like Drogba is that they are put into a box by the mainsteam sports media ie. he's a battering ram with little to no skill and most people just believe it.

Are you saying Drogba isn't technically gifted?

Big smile on my face reading that. I really hope this boy succeeds here.

I don't even understand why Utd would want him. For the role he plays Rooney gives you so much more not just in terms of goals but assists and link-up play. I hope they sign him so he ruins the balance of their team.

LOL, I was hoping Lukaku can score goals for us so maybe Torres isn't the best person to learn from.