Tomo

All the notices with Hazard suggests he's staying for quite a while, despite the myths about his big ego he is incredibly humble. If I'm honest I'm more worried about Courtois leaving, I reckon he might see an opportunity now De Geas move to Real collapsed and apparently he's Madrids number one choice anyway.

My point was even if Ivan was playing like a reformed Bosingwa, we still wouldn't be conceding 12 goals in 5 games if the other defenders were playing to even half of their ability.

Well if we are going to go down the pure footballing route then Costa is already as good as Drogba has been since he has scored 20 plus goals the last two seasons and led his teams to titles in both, in fact the season before that he hit 21. Also I didn't keep up with his record vs Barca and Madrid in Spain but for us his big game record ain't too shabby, goal in the cup final, has scored the only time he's faced Arsenal, both times vs Spurs, was unluckynot t net at Ethiad last season and played akey part in Andres goal, winner at Anfield...

Let's not rewrite history here, there was many times Drogba was almost invisible in a game, especially in the last two seasons where he almost couldn't be bothered if it was any opponent below Spurs, Everton standard, Costa may have his faults but I don't think he will ever see any opponent as beneath him trying his hardest, something Didier did on a few occasions. The point being however is back in 2008-2009 period similar chat was being made for Drogba than what's happening with Costa now, "he will never be on the same level as Villa or Eto'o" the same way people say it now about Costa regarding Aguero, Benzema etc etc

People use to say similar about Drogba pre double season, good striker but not on the same level as Eto'o, Villa, even Torres etc etc, it took him dragging us to a double for the him to get the credit he deserved.Drogba didn't get that credit because he was not the "purist" or most "flashy" choice of striker, similar is happening here imo, Costa may be off form at the minute and he may not be the most pleasing on the eye footballer but lets not forget what he brings us when he's on song.

Honestly I believe dropping Iva will improve our defence, with the way he's playing it would be hard not too , but it would only take us so far. We wouldn't concede 12 goals in 5 games if the other three in the defence were on point, no matter how bad Iva was playing, Terry and Cahill have been average at best, awful at worse, Zouma has been showing inexperience lately and even Cesar is starting to lose 1 on 1 battles which is unheard off, dropping Iva will be a start,but we got a lotof work to do on this back four. And about Torres (manpe this is my response to you aswell so you don't think I'm ignoring you) he was holding us back loads, he was useless unless he scored and that was once in 5 and a half games, a 33 year old Eto'o was a breath of fresh air in comparison.

It's funny you mention Drogba, as it took him 6 years and a leading us to a double to win over a fair chunk of the supporters. After Moscow in 2008 very few were that bothered if he stayed or went, similar in 2009 to a lesser extent, in fact a bit like some with Costa now they wanted a more "flashier" or "likeable" striker.

Dropping Ivanovic as much as it should happen will still do nothing to change the overall results. The current form runs a lot deeper than one player being picked,Torres started the bulk of the games in 12/13 yet we still stayed relatively competitive.

I never got why its widely accepted Benzema is better at Costa, he might be more flashy but the Frenchman is awful at decision making and is average at movement, any tactically astute CB locks him out of the game.

Torres isn't back, he's is playing at a similar level he did under Jose in 13/14, i.e. still average but at least resembles something off a footballer.If wiki isn't lying to me he has 4 in 22, including tonight's game, in La Liga, that's actually a worse strike rate than what he had here.

Call me old fashioned but shouldn't they me judged for their defending first and foremost? Ronaldo is dreadful defensively but if anyone used that to suggest he wasn't in the top two that person will be laughed out of the room, why is it one rule for wingers another for fullbacks? Furthermore the ones who are great going forward leave a lot to be desired as an actual defender.

Sorry what? Azpi is as good as it gets from a defensive POV.

Remember the times people wouldn't have minded letting Drogba leave for a more "fashionable" striker? Be careful what you wish for.

I think we will beat Arsenal but that will by no means mean the struggle over. Arsenal have a massive inferiority complex with us, even if you look at the Shield I know they won but everyone else has been creating chances at will against us and they barely really created anything.

Not good but bringing a manager with arguably the worst track record in a crisis isn't the answer.

Quite funny that one of my least favroite fixtures to play is our only win so far

There's no comparison between second half of the season to now. In the former we were just getting the job done, I never felt we couldn't win, now we could have Watford at home and I'll fear defeat. Although we have Arsenal at home next, we usually win that one regardless of what form we are in.

These calls for Carlo are hilarious, are you people forgetting he oversaw a run of one win in nine games?

I'd agree if he was a player with potential to make it here (like RLC will start) but he is just not good enough, there's a reason he was #3 at Boro.

We got Magnus Herman when Carlo and Pete got Crocker at the Same time so I imagine we will find a solution. Basically we have an even worse keeping situation than we had 11-13 until Tibo gets back.

Wasn't that not to dissimilar to what use to be said about Drogba? Only difference being the play acting instead of the confrontations. Many thought we would need to upgrade on Didier back in the day, it took 38 goals in a season for the masses to be won round.

We should have got a number 3 on a similar level to what Hilario gave us. Blackman in the nets will have us pining for Turnbulls return.

The only thing Hazard has done wrong was not be born ten years earlier, if he came along in the 00s he would have been universally adored and appreciated. Pre Messi/Ronaldo could you imagine anyone critisising a winger who regularly and consistently hits the late teens in the scoring, creates an unreal amount of chances for teammates and often carries his club for not doing enough?

Exactly, its really tedious when people say players destroy their career by moving to big clubs, if the move comes off well (Joe Cole, Carrick, Milner) they have made a huge step up I'm their career, if they flop (Wright Phillips) they go back to a similar level to what they were playing before just without the hype knowing that they had a shot at the top and failed.It's just a natural part of the football pyramid, footballer go from the Championship to the prem to test themselves, some succeed (Steven Reid) others fail and go back to the Championship with their tail between their legs (Jason Scotland). Same with bottom of Championship to top, league one-championship etc etc etc...... Although while we are on this topic am I the only one who doesn't see a huge issue in what Delph did? It must be sore for Villa fans but he probably committed to them with the right intentions but realised with it he blew his big chance of regular CL footy and title challenges, all he did was exercise a right every human being has and that's to change their mind

I hope he flops because he is playing for a major competitive rival of ours.