dodojojo

Do you have the minutes played for them? I'd like to see what the numbers are. Torres definitely has had more minutes. Drogba, 2 goals, 1 assist this season. Torres, 4 goals, 3 assists.

Sorry, I feel AVB has modified the game to accommodate the old spine and it's not worked. If something isn't going to work, why not risk it with the younger more dynamic players? Mata has been ineffective for many games now. Like Torres he has been isolated. Are they both in poor form? Or is AVB accommodating one set of players hurting Mata? Mata should have been in the hole today, not Lampard.

Yeah, but that ain't going to happen is it? Valencia will score.

Well, I hope this game puts to bed the argument that it's Torres who is keeping Chelsea from scoring. It's not one player...there's something fundamentally wrong here.

Actually 3 games as he didn't start Blackburn either. But I agree with your latter sentiment. It certainly is a huge sign.

I disagree with dropping Torres for the 3rd game in the row. He was scoring a brace against Genk only a month ago and Chelsea should have built on that. But I think AVB's plan is to pair Sturridge up with Drogba since the latter holds up the ball better than Torres. Then Sturridge on poach goals. I disagree with this plan, I think it's regressive as I don't see a side with Lampard, Drogba and Terry playing the uptempo football AVB claims he wants. But I think I understand what AVB wants. Wouldn't be surprised if Drogba and Sturridge switch it up throughout the game. Sturridge and Torres have not developed an understanding. I had a feeling Torres was going to be dropped when Anelka didn't even board the plane. He's basically the only forward aside from Mata who's clicked with Torres.

Wonder if Torres and AVB have had a falling out. If it's purely tactical then AVB is saying he can't find a way to play Torres at Chelsea.

Really? The office is closing early tomorrow and I was planning to go to a bar to catch the game live. So I shouldn't bother?

Hernandez gave us a big clue of the type of striker he is by scoring his first competitive goal for United with his face.

Take your common sense and logic elsewhere...

January is 6 weeks away, Anelka can't play meanwhile? Maybe it's an injury rather than a transfer move.

Damn, Anelka would have been a nice option. I'm walking around thinking Chelsea are going to win this. Not even thinking of a loss. But if I sat myself down and looked at the 5 game trend for Chelsea--this is a draw at best and a loss will not be unexpected. Let's hope the guys play inspired and pull one out.

Hernandez is Inzaghi. They may not resemble footballers but they sure know how to score. Not the type I enjoy watching but happy to have them on my team if they're world class. It's the average poachers who are unbearable to watch. Oh you mean you have no skills, do nothing for the team and you hardly ever score?

Presumably he was reassured by RA that Chelsea would spend to rebuild. Apparently he wasn't given the same assurance by LFC's new owners. How it all works is a whole other matter. But yes, of course, after losing to LFC yet again, he has egg on his face. On the other hand he is playing CL football...

That and to overhaul the squad on the cheap with FFP in place. From skimming, it would seem pretty difficult.

Sorry, can't find a source. Just something I read in one of the forums. Therefore the "Any validity to the rumor?"

Read at another board from two match goers that the reports of him clapping the LFC fans are garbage and that in fact they were abusing him with words and coins. He was angry but did nothing more than give them a look (but Torres' "looks" can be pretty lethal...). Bosingwa did give them a wave though.

Oh the dreaded player power situation. If it keeps happening for every manager since Mourinho, maybe it's time to stop placating the players...RA really needs to give his managers a steel rod of support or some players will do as they please. Can't imagine anyone would even look sideways at Ferguson. Guardiola gets the odd rebel or two and Barca sends them away.

AVB got outwitted tactically by Dalglish/Clarke like Carlo was last season. Sure the players should get a lot of the blame but AVB has to hold his hand up. As the manager the bucks stops with him. He decided to play long ball with Drogba and world class defender Skrtl ended up with a 100% stat in aerial challenges. Instead of changing course earlier, he waited well past the 80th minute to bring in Torres. When Chelsea went down a goal, we had to boot the ball up again. Which didn't work with Torres either.

Yes, well it's a reason why Chelsea are in the bind they are in now. Ferguson would have gotten rid of certain "legends" for some cash before they got too decrepit for other clubs to buy. AVB can sit them and make clear they won't play. The problem is the pressure he gets from above. I've read that Abramovich told AVB to treat the old guard better recently. Any validity to this rumor? I can't think of a worse thing to tell AVB. If anything RA should be conspiring with AVB on how to get rid of the older players and/or huge contracts. Freeing up a 500K a week for younger talent is the only way to go with FFP in place. RA should give AVB a medal if he can convince the old guard to stagger their leave in January and next summer.

Best way to convince some people to leave is to tell them they have no future at the club and they will not get game time.

You really have to wonder how much the old guard has truly bought into AVB's regime. And I wonder who will be leading the charge to RA's door if there are a few more losses before Xmas. I know it wasn't realistic at the time but I was one of those that preferred a clean slate in the summer and thought a couple or three of the old guard should have gone. It was psychologically necessary and not one left. Not one. If the title is a faint hope, then let's focus on players who will be around in 2012-13, Mata, Torres, Sturridge, Meireles, Luiz. How many games have we have seen Mata, Torres, Meireles and Luiz start together? I know Torres has been infuriatingly inconsistent this season. Having said I can think of at least 4 MOTM games from him this season. Drogba as great as he has been in prior seasons isn't the future. Can we find one great performance this season? Start Mata, Torres, Meireles and Luiz for every league and CL game from now until January. Chelsea will lose some of those games. Torres will be poor for some of them. Or he could have a run of a few games like he did from Bayer Leverkusen to Genk. But at least he's capable of doing that. I don't see Drogba doing it anymore. Throw Sturridge, Romeu and maybe Josh in the mix too. Let's see what they can develop. But let's give them a run. And let's try not to blow a gasket because Luiz has one bad game. Or if Torres doesn't score for 2 games. Am I being hypocritical in advocating patience? Logically it makes sense to give time for the future. Why give that time to the past?

Cech Brana Luiz Alex Cole Meireles Romeu Ramires Anelka Mata Torres Maybe Sturridge for Ramires if he's knackered. Poor Mata will have to play since he's the only decent creator. Him and Anelka to switch positions throughout the game.

Fuck this shit. He came on in the 82nd minute. He didn't even have time to be shit. Suarez was a shit striker and somehow Chelsea contrived to lose to Liverpool anyway.

No one here wants to admit this because it's Rafa Benetiz's masterplan, but let's just go with 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 with Mata playing the Gerard role behind Torres. Again, we won't the league, but since right now whatever AVB is doing isn't catering to any strengths of the key players why not go this route and bank on Mata and Torres. Keep those two guys close and let's see what they can do. Please let this happen for more than 45 minutes. I felt sorry for Mata today. He was everywhere trying to make it happen but he didn't connect with anyone at all. Reminded me of Torres in the Stoke game.