Tomo

U read my mind i was about to say the same thing. It would sure suprise Fergie, maybe Andre should let "slip" in the press conference that Torres will play up top then play Lukaku?

Don't understand this play for a draw bullshit, were not Swansea, we have gone to Old Trafford with weaker sides and United been stronger and got results. Pre Roman we use to get results there on a regualar basis. Plus i found this stat that's pretty interesting. Roberto Di Matteo's West Brom came from 2 down to draw at Old Trafford last season, the last time United blew a 2 goal lead at home was in 2000 in a 3-3 draw to Chelsea, a match that Di Matteo was playing. Di Matteo has never lost at Old Trafford. Maybe it's meant to be that Di Matteo will never lose there

Can any one re-call the first time we went to Highbury under Jose when every one predicted we would get stuffed? We came away with a respectable 2-2 draw and only the Henry show stopped us from picking up 3 points. Whats to say we can't do as good or better next week?

Lol at all this negativity, we went to a tough arena were may i add Arsenal, United and City all lost points last season and won. fukcing hell.

who tackled Ramires? im guessing Cattermole.

What is it with Terry and the Stadium of light? thats the 4th time he has scored there i think.

Looks like the days over Sturridge playing well and getting overlooked in favour of expierence (cough*Blackburn at home*cough) are over.

If this game won't convince people Andre will rotate then what will? Kalou on the bench but i will be stunned if he comes on tbh. The only chance he has is if the game aint going our way and Andre does a Jose throw half the team up top late on. Would have liked to have seen Ryan as with Levekusen and the mancs coming up would have been a good time to rest Cole but Danny starts so i won't complain.

Word is Asamoah Gyan has left Sunderland for a side in United Arab Emirates. http://www.ghanasocc...d-for-uae-side/ EDIT: Alex beat me to it. Think thats bad news for us, was not going to play today and was at the ACON when Sunderland came to The Bridge, so he wont be able to bang them in against our rivals

The last time he led the attack was at White Hart Lane last season in the first half and to be Frank it was one of the worst performances ive ever seen by a Chelsea player. Having said that i think he should lead the line saturday.

Found this interesting peice on another forum and i thought i'd share it on here, if you think at any point this season that our season is going to pot read this and realise it could always be worse. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25th June 2011 - Rafa Benitez is appointed Chelsea manager on a 6 year deal worth 500k a week, Roman Abramovic decides to use this moment to give his first Chelsea interview "im very happy to announce the appointment of Rafa Benitez to Chelsea FC and as a show of my grattitude i am going to back him with unlimited funds". 28th June 2011 - "Drogba, David Luiz, Torres and Sturridge leave Chelsea for Man.City for a overall package of £60m, when Rafa was asked who he was going to replace them with he said "im looking for a centre half to replace David but only one forward needed as we have Anelka and Kalou already i can confirm i have made a £15m bid for David N Gog". 30th June 2011 - David N Gog completes his move to Chelsea for £15m, Rafa signs Danny Shittu for £10m as David Luiz's replacement and Rafa says he intends to spend the rest of the money on a couple of full backs. Also Rafa has decided to terminate the contracts of Gael Kakuta and Patrick Van Aanholt. 5th July 2011 - Rafa is delighted to announce the signings of Eboue and Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal for a combined £45m, the gaffer said "im happy as they will provide decent cover for Bosingwa and Cole". Rafa has decided to extend Kalou's contract for 6 years and give him a pay rise to 150k a week, Rafa describes him as "vital" to his future plans. 11th July 2011 - Josh McEachran joins Fulham on a season long long with option to buy for £1m, Ryan Bertrand joins Reading for 100k. 24th July 2011 - Rafa appoints Iain Dowie as his assistant, Rafa spoke to Roman and Rafa has sold Roman on the idea of Rafa moulds Dowie to be his succesor when Rafa leaves. 30th July 2011 - Rafa signs Darron Gibson for Man.Utd for £35m in the last move off the summer, Rafa says "im delighted to get it done so quick, i thought i might get trouble from Fergie but he accepted my first offer straight away what can i say? i am happy". 14th August 2011 - Chelsea lose 4-0 to Stoke, Rafa said after the match "i thought we were going to concede from a Delap throw but we didnt so i am satisfied". August - Chelsea lose 1-0 to West Brom then draw 0-0 to Norwich, Rafa said "we have improved by score every game so we are progressing". 10th September 2011 - Chelsea lose 3-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Rafa said "last year Chelsea lost 3-0 to these lot at home, this year it was away so it was not all that bad". October 2011 - Chelsea lose 2-0 at the Stadium of Light in the carling cup " last time it was 3-0 this time it was 2-0, footballs about progression and you can see the progress we make". December 2011 - Chelsea get knocked out of the CL group stage finishing last Rafa said "we can save money on air travel which can go towards players". End of the season Chelsea finish 8th David N Gog started and finished every single game of the season and finshed with 1 shot on target asked if he was going to replace him Rafa said "no absolutely not, he is getting used to being forward at a new club and with a summer break he will fire us to glory next season and thats a fakt". Rafa quits over apparent lack of funds avalible to him, Iain Dowie takes over the reigns at The Bridge and signs Andy Johnson and Matt Duke.

Im too tired to make a long comment but just wanna say good thread

Optimism i like Welcome, stick around

Making him take the deciding penalty at Blackburn didn't help, what the hell was Carlo thinking gambling his good start at Chelsea like that

Funny how after Bulgaria all off a sudden the future looks bright. Sad thing is England will probally with comftably in Montenegro then all off a sudden the hype come May will be the same as the all the other tournaments i can see it now, "Capello has finally got it right", "Joe Harts as good as any keeper in the world", "Chris Smalling is the new Cafu", "Cleverly will outshine Iniesta", then England will sneak through the groupstages by the skin of their teeth come up against Portugal, Spain or Germany lose 4-1, be doom and gloom for the next 6 months until the boom gets hit in 2013 then all off sudden England will have the best players in the world again just intime for Brazil 2014. Got no passion for the Natinal team anymore and haven't since Sven left, even in the WC i wasn't that bothered, i was in a club for the Algeria match with everyone kicking and screaming and i was sitting there, trying to act interested.

I really do not understand all this Mikel bashing, he might not be a flashy player but thats not his job. What does he have to do to get credit? pick up the ball from Luiz 25 yards from Cech's goal at the Nou Camp, have Messi, Villa and Pedro on their ass in one flick off the ball, turn Iniesta and Xavi inside out 10 times each they eventully go off to be sick, convincigly outmuscle Busquets off the ball shortly followed by Puyol then turn Pique inside out then keep coming back for more 10 times before seeing him off then doing a backheel lob inot Valdes goal. Anything less i can't see him getting much credit, even if he did that their still find some fault somehow.

If Coyle can pull Kakuta back from the abyss like he did with Danny i will be his slave for a month. @Justin have to dis-agree sadly i think Coyle is one of those managers like Roy Hogsdon that belong out of the limelight, i'd like to be proved wrong but i think he might go down the same way Roy did at Pool if he came to a top challenging team.

Does not make a difference if the gaffer buy's shite England B players.

less Neymar's and more Lukaku's then this sport will be more healty.

still be the same -------------------------Cech------------------------- Bosingwa-------Ferreira--------Terry------Cole --------------------------Anelka-------------------- --------------Lampard------------Essien--------- Kalou----------------------------------------Malouda -------------------------Torres------------------------ Beckham on the bench to add to expierence if need be.

Bit shit how Alex is surplus to requirements. Maybe the board should play the United game at Old Trafford at the end of last season and watch how he single handedly stopped us getting stuffed horrifically.

Im tepted to play Anelka up top and change things if its not working out.

I accept that we are not fav's for the title this season but City and United also have weaknesses that if exploited with have them in serious shit. Whether De Gea comes good down the years i for another day but right now he is a pale shadow of VDS (the goallie that won them 15 points single handedly last campaign), you cannot win the league without a top keeper, in top form look at Arsenal 07/08 IMO they should have walked the league that year but didn't because Almunia was shit. Jose's first season we were struggling to find rhythm like we are right now and Arsenal on the back off a unbeaten season started like a steamtrain, left us behind and it looked more likely they will go unbeaten again then we will catch them. If we are still playing like this come November then i will re-access but i am in no hurry to press the panic button just yet.

There will be lots of competition put it that way

I wanted him to be a regualar last season but looking at what has just happened to Wilshere i think we should wait and be patient.