Tortilla9

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?

Cech also came out in support of Carlo about this time last year. Insider? Who knows. I believe there may be a little bit of truth to it. Senior players unhappy. Locker room divided. Maybe not direct quotes but a word here, a word there. There is blood in the water and the sharks are circling.

Maybe BL and LFC were listening to AVB's words about the 'collective'. Doesn't seem Chelsea players heard it.

After the holidays I'll donate a month. Too bad the US dollar to the pound is such crap.

How much are hosting fees? This site keeps me off the porn and gambling sites.

Cech's comments about AVB after yesterday's loss. http://www.sportingl...ad.html&BID=165 Compare to Cech's comments about Carlo last year. http://www.sportingl...ea.html&BID=312 The insanity, doing the same thing over and over yet expecting different results, continues at Chelsea. The one constant, the players, remains while managers try to accomodate these same players and lose their jobs because of these same players. At some point a Chelsea manager is going to have to say "ENOUGH", grow a pair, and make hard decisions. It's a given with Roman's track record a Chelsea manager is going to get the sack anyway. Might as well go out doing it your way. What's so frustrating is AVB seemed to be doing it his way early on. There were hiccups but there was also a distant light at the end of the tunnel. Now, he seems to have reverted to something else. I still see a distant light at the end of the tunnel but I wonder if it's the oncoming train.

Yet they all remain. It is just more of the same.

You make your own luck and Chelsea aren't doing that right now.

Have to agree to disagree. Drogba did much of nothing for 80 minutes (and that's being generous). Mata is being isolated on the wing. He is best in the hole behind the striker.

Valencia 2 up.

You and I have a better chance of getting minutes than Josh.

Follow a few different forums and twitter - most seem surprised that DD is starting. Guess AVB wanted us all on our toes.

I admit to some confusion which is especially easy today given I'm doped up on cold meds. I don't think either DD or Torres have set the world on fire this season but what is AVB doing with Torres?

You could still go, have a beer and warm up for the Chelsea masterpiece. It'll be on Fox in the US at 4pm ET.

In the US it's not being shown live on Fox. We get live Arsenal or Barcelona. We get Chelsea on delay.

Differently could be anything. Formation, high line, playing better, who the hell knows. Yep, the author mentioned Kalou. Not sure why but he did.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8908204/Chelsea-prepare-for-the-future-by-allowing-French-striker-Nicolas-Anelka-to-leave-Stamford-Bridge-in-January.html "Anelka is not in the squad for the CL... but this is not beleived to be connected to his departure. Chelsea manager AVB said: "He's not injured. His ability is tremendous, but we've decided to do something differently for this game." That might include giving a rare opportunity to Salomon Kalou. (those are Burt's words about Kalou)

Was Anelka even on the bench Sunday? Nothing's been mentioned about injury....

Anelka evidentally didn't travel to Germany. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22112011/63/anelka-misses-chelsea-trip.html

Warnie, I really hope this is an exaggeration. If not, it sounds worse than high school and it's embarrassing. No wonder nobody ever wants to leave. I think of that movie "Mean Girls" that my daughter dragged me to years ago because she needed a ride and $. I still try to get my head around Roman being open to all of this. I have a picture in my head of the typical Russian businessman (good and bad) and just can't see how or why he puts up with a bunch of bs from his employees.

AVB fought the fight, now focus on what needs to be fixed, short-term and long-term.