steve5221

You know this could all be nipped in the bud if Roman (not one of his arse lickers) made a personal visit to Cobham and called a brief meeting with the players. He could strongly emphasise to these players that AVB is in charge, has his full backing and they are to respect him and his decisions. He could also explain that every one of them are playing for thier futures every time they step on the pitch. I would then bet money that in the next game you would see a reaction. I've read in a few reports that AVB works so hard that he actually sleeps at the training ground sometimes....FFS the bloke has 2 young kids..

Charlie Sale has an intersting angle on who holds power at Chelsea. “Troubled Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, already under extreme pressure before the start of December in his first season, will gain a good impression of Roman Abramovich’s current thinking on his uncertain future by paying a visit to the Stamford Bridge office of the Russian owner’s 14-year senior adviser Marina Granovskaia. She has been brought in to act as the liaison between the Chelsea board and her compatriot Abramovich and is increasingly being seen as the real power behind the throne at the club.” This is a Daily Mail reporter, but an interesting story anyway. Lets hope AVB remembers to refuse a cup of tea!!!!

That is clearly the best thing for the club but I do not think AVB is mentally strong enough to do it... I hope I am wrong, I really hope he succeeds

When a group of blokes get together trust me childishness remains very high on the list. Plus the fact that they have known each other for such a long time..obviously they are professional but it is all about getting that extra 5-10% out of a player..thats what makes a manager.. Jamie Redknapp has been hinting in the press that the senior players do not respect him because of his previous role...he is Lampards cousin, so they must discuss it....no smoke without fire.

Very True but remember AVB worked for these players as a scout and with thier ego's I am sure they laugh about him behind his back and remember those days.....will he ever command total repsect of the dressing room why they are still their?....what was the nickname they gave him when he joined "Bambi".... I would like to see him grow a set and drop Lampard and Drogba against Wolves....

It is so frustrating to see Torres on the bench..Sturridge and Torres up front with Mata in the "hole" would be a great attack....

Could be worse, could have been 5 years.....

Sturridge needs to be right up top with someone in support. I think with Mata playing in the "hole" it will benefit us alot more. He gets isolated out wide and cant affect the game. AVb always reverts to this formation when we are losing - we always score with it, why not start with it???

Espcially in the last 5 minutes. I was counting down with the clock last night pacing the room. We had the ball in the middle of the park when the clock hit 90, instead of keeping possesion and seeing the game out, Sturridge tried something stupid on the half way line lost the ball, that led to the corner, that led to the goal........gutted..

Thanks, Antibiotics perscribed and gotta have it pulled out next week!!

I had a look on twitter today and alot of the top writers privately are sideing with AVB and feel sympathetic to the job he has to do. What they then write in thier "papers" is material to get the average Joe bloggs to buy it and discuss down the local pub.

Agree with the 3 totally....but not in a 4-3-3 in a 4-3-1-2. Sturridge and Torres with Mata behind would be a very dangerous front 3. Play Romeu, Ramires and Mierlies behind them..

Roman has to also realize that because of the new rules he can't throw his toys out of the pram and sack the manager anymore when it is not going well. He used to be able to pay them off out of his own pocket and just appoint the next one. Now all that dough will go towards FFP. We only have 2 realistic options, either stick with AVB or out him and give his role to Roberto Di Matteo.

The thing that is starting to bug me about AVB is that the "Old Guard", seem to be cemented back in the team. Terry-Lampard and Drogba have played the last few games. Where has this refereshing of the team gone we where promised?? The fact is the only young player he has implemented in the side is Sturridge....glimpses of Romeu - who has done very well but then cast back to the background - Mcearchan and bertrand have done well in CC cup but have been given no opportunties in the league. If it continues to go pearshaped and they do sack him - I feel we have a ready made replacement already. Roberto Di matteo - got West Brom promoted and played good football. Was very harshly sacked also. Chelsea Legend who would command respect of the players. Could guide us till the end of the season and then make a judgement. Anyone else think RDM could step up and do the job??

I think the way forward for us would be a 4-3-1-2 formation, with mata behind the strikers. We have looked our most dangerous in that formation and although we would be vunerable defensively we would create a lot more. I also think that Sturridge should be used in a 2 man strike force attack, he looks dangerous but is trying attacking things too deep in his current position, if he loses it up top not a huge problem but further back makes us vunerable to the counter. It also appears that AVB has reverted back to the "old boy" spine - Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba - so much for the new young side...I like this side: Cech Iva Terry Alex Cole Luiz Romeu Ramires/Meirleles Mata Sturridge Torres/Drogba/Anelka Would have Lamps on the bench and I like Luiz in the midfield due to his passing ability, think he is wasted at centre back... Also I dont want to see Malouda anywhere near our team again...Wasteful and weak in possession. Any thoughts??

Every manager makes mistakes, but it is how he learns from them that matters, lets see what AVB does tonight..

The only players that would be a huge loss would be Mata and Sturridge....Terry, Lamps, Cole, Torres big earners in contract who contribute little now....would you care if they left?, I wouldnt..

Yes, obviously I want us to get in the top 4, but I don't think it will be a disaster if we dont make it, providing it is for 1 year. We wont be able to attract any big name players but I think we have a good enough squad to get it anyway next season minus the players I mentioned. Cech, The belgium keeper on loan at Athletico, Turnbull, Iva, Luiz, Alex, Terry, Cole, Bertrand, Bruma, Kalas, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Romeu, Ramires, Lamps, mcearchan, benyaoun, Kakuta, Lakuka, Torres, Sturridge, Mata. If we bought De Bruyn and a young right back, i like the look of that squad and it would be affordable in wages for a year.

Yes, but if we get rid of Drogba, Anelka, Kalou, malouda, Ferreria and Bosingwa at the end of the season we will save that amount annually on the wage bill. We can afford to be without it for 1 season if these players leave. If we dont get top 4 this year, then surely the club will not be in a postion to offer the out of contract players new deals in the summer (Drogba, Anelka,Kalou, Hilario, Bosingwa) or if they do they have to be on vastly reduced terms., they will then HAVE to leave and the club will be forced to play younger players (Mcearchan, Betrand, Romeu, Lukaku, Kakuta, Bruma). This then FORCES change on the club re: playing staff. It will also have a knock on affect on the following season when we wont be able to offer Cole Terry and Lampard big deals when thier contract expire. Bottom line is the club HAVE to sort the terrible wages policy and missing top 4 will force them to do that. Of course the other option is to call Uefa's bluff, spend big again and see if they have the balls to kick us out of champs league when we return...but that is a risky approach.

Yes of course he does. I'm not knocking Frank, he has been a Chelsea legend - but a new contract when he is already here till 35, no chance...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3951996/Chelsea-news-Frank-Lampard-keen-on-new-contract.html Of course you want to stay for longer Frank, on 150k a week who wouldn't....plus Ms Bleakley has just lost her job on TV!!!

These players are out of contract at the end of this season or next, surely we should be busting a gut to get rid or resign them on lesser terms. We will be saving £16 mill a year if we can get rid. Drogba Kalou Malouda Anelka Ferreria

AVB was always gonna be a risky appointment as boss for 2 reasons. Firstly, his lack of experience and more importantly the fact that he used to work at Chelsea as a scout when alot of this squad were already there. I was against the AVB appointment but now i think differently. He should be given the time and support to turn our club around, I want to see change at Chelsea. He is still learning and making mistakes - but it is how he learns from these mistakes that is important. Ok this season we may not win anything or get top 4, but in the grand scheme of things would that be a huge disaster???. I would be prepared to lose Champs league for a year, if it a meant a big revamp of our squad and getting rid of the old guard, to free up money for new signings who would command alot less in wages and play exciting football. Anelka, Drogba, Malouda and kalou are realistically the players we can get rid of at the end of the season.. Also AVB says he won't change his style in public, but that has proven to be bollocks...against Blackburn he dropped Bos and brought in Iva and Alex into the team. He also reverted back to the old style longball v Liverpool. He has also shown he has a set by dropping Lampard earlier on in the season. Lets see what he does from now on before we judge him and lets see how he copes under big pressure..

I went to this game and it was the last season I had a membership at the bridge and went on a regular basis(my first kid was born next year)..... I can remember that team clearly so can easily compare it to the current side..... Keeper - Cudicini vs Cech. Cudicini was very highly regarded at the time, but more for his athletic ability and shop stopping rather than commanding of the area...It's a close one to call but Cech's size and presence wins it for me. Winner - Cech. RB - Melchoit v Ivanovic. Melchoit was very tidy in possesion and good coming forward but very suspect defensively(sound familar), Ivanovic is a better defender and has decent crossing ability. Winner - Ivanovic CB - Gallas vs Luiz. As much as he is now loathed at Chelsea, Gallas was a very good centre back and kept a young JT out of the side, also very versatile. Luiz,well I don't have enough space to discuss him!! - winner Gallas CB - Desailly v Terry. This is interesting as both were/are coming to the end of thier careers. Desailly was a legend world over and taught Terry alot and aided his development. JT is currently struggling postiionally and that was always a main strength of Desailly right to the end. winner - Desailly LB - Babayaro vs Cole. Baba was an underated player who could defend and come forward, the problem was when the going got tough he went missing. Cole, enough said. Winner - Cole CM - Petit vs Mikel. Although Petit was a very good player, when he represented Chelsea he was absolutely useless and came to us purely for a last big payday. Anyone would win here ahead of petit. Winner - Mikel. LM - Le Saux v Ramires. As the above played 4-4-2 and we now play 4-3-3, I cant get a completely accurate like for like comparison so have gone for these two head to head. Le Saux was a very good crosser of the ball and was a border line - left back/midfielder. Ramires wins due to his work rate. Winner - Ramires. CM - Lampard v Lampard!. The lamps of the above team was still young(and alot heavier!!) and was still finding his way in the game. I remember in this season Ranieri was getting alot of stick about paying £11m for him. Winner - the old, experienced Lampard. RM - Gronkjaer v Sturridge. Gronkjaer a natural winger ,very frustrating. On his day he was unplayable but the biggest pussy winger I have ever seen, If someone shouted at him he would even cower. Sturridge wins for consistancy. Winner Sturrdige. For - Gudjohnsen vs Mata. Eider was a very clever player who helped JFH alot and they had a great partnership. Was very techncially gifted as Barca bought him latter on. Think Mata just edges it though due to greater pace. Winner - Mata. For - JFH vs Drogba vs Torres. If have done this a 3 way battle, as we do not know who the main striker currently is at Chelsea. We have seen very little good from Torres so he is out. JFH was a great goalscorer but offered little else to the side and always moaned at teammates. Drogba wins this due to his allround game. Winner - Drogba. Hope you found the above interesting...

if you read Redknapps article on Sky sports he says that the reason we need to get rid of those players (Terry, Lampard and Drogba), is because they worked under AVB as a scout and do not respect him as a manager http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,18932_7314237,00.html