Tomo

Im off out to salvage my weekend

I don't think Ballack would have made any difference in 10-11 (it's also worth noting he was hardly pulling up trees when we were struggling under Scolari). Our issues that season ran so deep that not one player could have papered over the cracks, let alone solved them. We signed Mata that summer and while individually he was a breath off fresh air, our issues collectively were still there. Last season we were going back in the right direction but still weren't out off the woods and this season we have made great steps in recovery and hopefully we will never let the squad stagnate so bad again.

It would have given us a week to laugh at Liverpool fans, but not much would have been different from then on.

Before the CL final i had a dream Bayern pulled out and instead we faced Liverpool at Selhurst Park Out off interst, who scored Pools goal in your 4 1?

Im glad his injury isn't serious, but i don't want him anywhere near the team.

If Torres got two against Spurs, regardless off the circumstances, we would have post after post proclaiming he is back and any remotely negative comment about him for weeks and your up against a firing squad.

Villa is a must win, because if we win this could be a pivotal weekend in the race. City have a tough early kick off vs Hull after dropping out off 2 cup's while Arsenal and Liverpool have away games against their bitter rivals. This has the potential to be a great weekend for us, please please don't blow it at Villa

Just shows that a consistent defence equals consistent results, the best form off defence is to attack notion is bullshit, we have been picking off those type off teams for years.

We won the CL in 2012 but we were inferior to all our opponents from Napoli onwards, and i include Benfica in that. I believe in 09-10 our squad was better than Inter's, but they had Jose and we didn't, as much as i love Carlo, Jose is a level above him. In terms off it being a tie it's a one off, manager's prepare effectively for a 180 minute match, which is why first leg's in the latter stages can turn into tedious game's off chess, cause really it's a 90 minute first half.

Last two world cup years Eto'o has got the winner at Stamford Bridge in the round off 16 and his team went on to win league and CL. If he scores the winner vs Gala something is happening.

We haven't got past Gala yet, but IF WE DO, then we are strong enough to beat anyone in a 1 off tie. We have already given Bayern a run for their money this season and if Arsenal can match them in their own stadium im sure we could. Barca have been poor for their standards this season and with our defence and counter attack i would actually have us as favourite's if we faced them. Real are the team i would most like to avoid, but Carlo had the stronger team last time he faced Jose and we know how that ended. In other words, bring whoever on, im cautiously optimistic about our chances, if we had Matic available i would seriously fancy our chances.

If it's 4 years then so be it. The average player for a top team breaks in (the first Xl) about age 22-23 and is about 32-33 when he needs to get reduced to a lesser role, so in short Ivan has probably still got a 3rd off his 'top level' career left and even after he is still an extra experienced head. Also with Cole likely to be gone in the summer and Lamps i would guess summer 15, throwing away an experienced servant for the club when he has probably got a few more seasons before he enters his twilight years would be beyond idiotic.

Josh is a confidence player, he has all the talent in the world (which is why i think the club will not sell him for atleast another 3 years) it's other factors that's holding him back. If (and unfortunately that's a big if) he has a screamer vs Arsenal, could that be the start off his recovery?

Azpi will get more than enough games covering both positions, it good to have a player who can cover both FB positions effectively gives us an extra squad place.

They probably deserved a draw would have probably been fair and we were pretty crap, not sure they did enough to warrant a win. Furthermore we dominated Stoke in 3 off the 4 half's vs them this season.

But he wasn't the best player on loan in the championship.

In no way am i suggesting this will be a walkover, but our struggles at Villa Park and Villa being our bogey side has not been the case off late. We have won our last two games away to Villa and it should have been 3, furthermore they were a top 6 team the last time we lost there, now their relegation fodder and apart from Agbonlahor, do they have any survivors from then? We could drop points, but like with Fulham, a few slip ups when they were miles better than what they are now won't be the reason for it.

As amusing as Arsenal's trophy drought is, if we win the PL comes as part off the deal, ill drop the FA Cup to the Emirates myself.

We have had games this season were we have played some great games with good football, Hull at home, Liverpool at home, Southampton away and the second half vs them at SB, Newcastle at home, Stoke at home, even West Ham whenwe cut through them at will but Adrian had the game off his life. Was Schurrle and Hazard's link up play vs Fulham turgid and boring? We should be playing a bit better on a more consistent basis maybe, but we tried to change the style under RDM but had to go back to type after going on our worst run off results for over a decade. Despite this misguided fantasy we played great attacking football under Rafa, we didn't. Jose's first task was to get more consistent results and get us playing like a team again, pretty 1-2's and fancy flicks can wait.

His creativity and passing is criminally under-rated.

Tottenham's aggregate score against this season's current top 4 is 24 -2.

Maybe we would if his attitude was a bit better. We are talking about a guy who sulked after we made him a CL winner, walked down the tunnel after getting subbed off and admitted to not caring about results. If he like Sheva accepted he has been shit for us and got on with it, then most people would lay off him a bit, instead off gobbing off to the media about how he didn't care if we lose. Look at Ash for example, he hasn't played for weeks yet still celebrated the winner vs Everton like the supporters, the didn't care comments were unforgivable.

He should have got the league cup, Steau home and Derby FA Cup games and if he impressed build his apps from there. Im not that bothered tho, the club has made great progress this year and if that's at the expense off Kalas having the hump so be it.

-----------Courtois----------- Ivan---Cahill---Terry---Shaw Can see this being our back 5 next term with Azpi providing the rotation option at full back (both sides) and Zouma being gradually bled in (can see us selling Luiz and sending Kalas on loan). Can also see us changing Cech for Courtois, Mou has already shown with Ash and Essien that he doesn't do sentiment's. Would like the look off that defence if im honest, would offer a good balance and we will probably have Kane, Omerou and Kalas on loan incase of injury crisis.

I think he was told to by the board, Chelsea was his dream job, you could see how badly he wanted the full time gig he would have accepted the "clause" no questions asked.