Tortilla9

I'm way behind so I deleted my post. Think the 3-0 score is flattering based on what most were saying during the game.

View from the Press Box: Good ball from Mata looking for Torres but the striker just fails to get on the end of it. Sunday January 8, 2012 4:26 View from the Press Box 4:24 View from the Press Box: Good ball by Lampard to Malouda but the Frenchman's cross is easy for Henderson. A second goal would certainly ease the tension inside the ground.

View from the Press Box: Ferreira, Romeu and Hutchinson warming up...........

Sounds like better play: View from the Press Box: Cole crosses from deep to Torres who knocks down for the oncoming Ramires, the Brazilian can only head straight at henderson though. Better from Chelsea. Sunday January 8, 2012 4:20 View from the Press Box 4:19 View from the Press Box: Again, headed away, Blues on the front foot now though. Sunday January 8, 2012 4:19 View from the Press Box 4:18 View from the Press Box: Good cross by Bosingwa, headed behind for a corner.

View from the Press Box: Mata, Torres and lampard link up well but the latter's effort is deflected over. What Chelsea TV said happened to Terry. View from the Press Box: Pompey almost level. Luiz loses the ball, Cech saves well from a point blank Futacs shot, the rebound falls to Norris who fires goalwards only for Terry to clear off the line before Norris shoots again from the rebound but again Cech saves well. Terry now down injured following his exploits.

No video, most of us aren't listening to audio, it's halftime, 0-0, the team is playing shit, what else are we going to talk about? At least talking about Torres hair is less painful then talking about the team's performance.

"Pedestrian'turgid football" is how somebody described it on twitter.

@ChelseaAnalysis: HT: Chelsea 0-0 Portsmouth. Torres and David Luiz looking very sharp today. #CFC

chelseafc: Malouda booked now for a foul on Ward. That looked harsh. 39 mins gone and still goalless. #CFC (SL) [via Twitter]

chelseafc: First booking of the game, for Pompey defender Pearce for pulling back Torres with both hands after the striker had left him trailing. #CFC [via Twitter] View from the Press Box: Great skill by Torres to evade Pearce but the defender clearly pulls him back, free kick to us.

View from the Press Box: Pompey growing in stature as the half progresses........

Radio 5 live pundit Craig Burley at Stamford Bridge: "People talk about Andre Villas-Boas being a tactical genius but he needs to find a way to get Mata in behind the striker and let him go into those pockets behind people and play balls alongside centre-halves. At the moment he's playing wide and if you're up against him you'd be happy. I've got a huge reservation about the manager and there are a lot of people within this club who aren't sure about this fellow."

Agree a good midfield would not only help Torres but the entire squad. TBF at Liverpool they weren't overflowing with wingers per se. It was the spine starting with Reina, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard and Torres. Add a workhorse around Gerrard/Torres a la Kuyt or Yossi and it worked for Torres. IMHO so take it for what it's worth - at Atleti and LFC he was the man and the team played to his strengths. His confidence and swagger fed off that. At Chelsea it's the opposite.

Does he drop deep of his own volition or is it instruction from AVB?

I changed the fee above to a certain player wearing red. When he starts being just as critical of LFC's current #9, may be it'll be easier to take him half seriously. Torres for all his faults as a player has never been considered a selfish teammate so I'm unsurprised by his link up play.

If Thompson said that about Torres what is he saying about the current #9 at LFC? Torres for all his struggles at CFC is head and shoulders above Carrol.

Hope it's media spite/exxaggeration. If not, then it's just sad and spiteful.

"Anxious Chelsea fans are affecting the players...." post-match from AVB.

Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Ramires, Kalou, Mata, Anelka

CFC: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Alex, Luiz, Bertrand, McEachran, Romeu, Lampard, Malouda, Lukaku, Torres

Everybody but Torres warming up so doesn't look like Torres will play again. Something not quite right between Torres and AVB.

Because we don't play the Wolves every week. Let's be honest they are sh*t.

"Many Chelsea fans would like to see some of the club’s tyros, such as Romelu Lukaku and Josh McEachran, given a chance. Villas-Boas shook his head. “Lukaku is competing against three of the best strikers in the world [in Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres]. Lukaku’s looking good and strong and is a boy for the future. Josh’s time [on the pitch] is maybe not up to his expectation but it’s a question of them raising competitive levels. “The philosophy is that. if young players survive in this environment with the best players in the world. they will be an amazing talent. And you have to tell me who is not at the top level?’’ Terry? “I don’t agree that JT’s form is bad.”" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8917156/Chelsea-owner-Roman-Abramovich-tells-players-that-Andre-Villas-Boas-is-here-to-stay.html

That is a fantasy land lineup. I think a few of us would like to see that but I think there is a snowball's chance in hell of that happening.

Is the board deaf, dumb, and blind?