dodojojo

It's a Hodgson team though. They won't be as physical as Stoke but will keep a tight shape and counter. Only way to open them up is to score first which we have seen is quite difficult for Chelsea...

Exactly. Lipton must be miffed that he reported AVB wasn't impressed with Torres in the preseason and even thought it was against Stoke and he had a freaking concussion, Nando started the game. Lipton, he couldn't get the time of day right. When Torres scores, the Mirror headline will be "Torres doesn't score hattrick."

Somewhere Carlo cocks an eyebrow.

Boswinga is never going to cross well but I thought he did alright otherwise. I beg the football gods, bring some creativity and width to Chelsea. Barring that, AVB, please play Yossi and Josh more.

Torres and Drogba on this team and no f'ing supply or guile to these guys. Torres was very good today, imagine what could have been if there was some creativity behind him. What a waste. No matter, the tabloids will slate him for not scoring of course. This team cannot break teams down and will struggle to challenge. So frustrating because it's there, it's there...just a player or two away. Please sit Lamps down and bring in someone to play with Ramires. He was very good today and someone who can pass along his running on the ball...imagine the possibilities.

http://www.rojadirecta.es/goto/goololimpicotv01.blogspot.com/

Drogba comes on and that means Nando goes off. Why if he's been one of the two best players on the pitch for Chelsea? Yossi on for Kalou and go 4-2-3-1 please. And yes, Stoke are trying to injure Torres.

Aside from one moment of brilliance from Ramires, zero guile and creativity again. Hello 2010-11, it's been so long since we've seen you...not. Chelsea doesn't need to add a creative player and winger? Torres doing all he can. And the wimpy little man is standing up well to Stokes' behemoths. Hope Torres stays on and Josh and/or Yossi comes on in the 2nd half. A little bit of creativity please, please. Baffling why Kalou would start. Torres, too. But he's actually played well.

Them places aren't Los Angeles Oh, never heard of that one and I know Pasadena well. I'll have to look into it for my Xmas visit.

I'm an Angeleno in exile. Do you go to a bar or pub to watch a game? Wouldn't mind suggestions for when I visit.

Why is the Mirror so hard up on Torres? Seriously, they hardly go a day without writing something negative about him. And it's not just dedicated articles about him either. Even the most minor reference to him is laced with venom. I'm convinced he won't give them the time of day and the Mirror pays him back in spades.

5:30AM PST USA

Hopefully, the Spanish docs told him he was ...in the stands. Don't think he should play. He can debut at home against West Brom.

That actually works out better for me. Get the game done and have the rest of the morning to do stuff. Told ya it's better to move to the east coast!

I thought it was a 10AM game for EST US? Isn't it 3pm in England...or was that the original time when it was on Saturday?

You have competition...

Being a bit of a nan about it but fresh from a concussion, I don't think any player should be considered for a game only 4 days after. Yes, it was a mild concussion but the fact that he lost his hearing and he still has memory loss....that's enough for me to be very cautious. Besides he may play very tentatively, worried about getting hurt again. And we know a tentative Torres is no good.

Martin Lipton: "See, I told you AVB was going to start Drogba. My secret sauce was that I knew Torres was going to get concussed. Did I mention Chelsea signed him for £50million?"

Does that mean he's training? Or not?

I really think Torres will sit this one out as a precaution. I also think Ramires would get overrun in that midfield. Lampard's runs into the box and Malouda's mindset that he's really Pele will leave Ramires all alone.

I wish I looked this good and happy after one of my concussions. If he checks out fine by the Chelsea docs, he looks to be perfectly okay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8zdwpvI38s&feature=player_embedded

HE HAD TROUBLE HEARING AND FELT FAINT.

Concussions, even if you check out fine, may require inaction because the risk of getting another concussion and the long term effects. And since there's heading and flying elbows, football on Sunday would be a risk.

So Smith jumped to a conclusion and didn't expect any response? Fair enough, maybe not outright abuse but it sounds like he's too embarrassed to admit Torres' concussion made his comment look very stupid and instead wants to point the finger at CFC fans.

Add in stupid and classless. So par for course for some of them then. How anyone can find joy in injuries for a player is beyond me.