Slam Dunk

Anyone watching Madrid? They're on fire. 0-5 away at Valencia... ..And it's only half time.

Can understand Ba being rested. I'm more disappointed in Oscar starting than Torres to be honest. Lampard and Ramires really need to turn up today as well.

He'll be even colder on the bench now without that hair to warm his ears...

the wages being reported are going up and up. He'll be on £500k a week soon.

Pep can fuck off.

3.5 year deal at £100k a week? Well played, Theo.

I've got no problems with booing after a poor performance, but while the game is going on, you're 2-0 up and then you concede one, the away fans are jubilant, chanting, cheering their team on, it's essential that you score the next goal to stop the other teams ascendency. Obviously it's never as black and white as that, our conversion rate has been shocking recently, as has our defending on the break. The performance was not good enough. A lot of that I feel is down to the players, rather than Benitez, who didn't really have many options on the bench. Nobody is blaming the draw on the atmosphere (at least I hope not), it could just be a contributing factor. If we want to make SB a fortress again, the fans will play their part.

Maybe Pep turning down the job here will make Roman wake up and realise he needs to start giving managers more time... ...Didn't think so either.

You can't deny that the atmosphere generated by these fans is having a negative effect on the team. They don't like the appointment of Benitez, I get it, but they're still Chelsea fans first and foremost. I'm indifferent to him, frankly because it's obvious to me that there's no longer room for sentiment in football. Roman's been here a while, you'd think the fans would have realised that he doesn't listen to them. They may as well sing for the 11 on the pitch, not the one standing in the dugout.

Hope the boo boys are happy. Not heard an atmosphere like that for a long, long time. After that Lambert goal went in, the pressure put on the players was immense. Not surprising that our home form is so poor to be honest. You can complain all you like, Benitez is the fucking manager until the summer, deal with it. Our defending on the break is atrocious (deja vu), Azpilicueta was skinned and there was nobody there to double up on the attacker... Oscar out wide is an absolute joke. Either play him centrally, or don't play him at all. His work rate is pathetic out on the right, especially when you're up against players like Shaw and Ramirez. I want Moses back. No idea where Cole was for the second goal either, Cahill was busy being terrorised by Lambert. Mata was another who was very poor today, been disappointed with him as of late. To be honest the only positive was Hazard's continuation of good form. Anyone blaming the draw on Torres, or even complaining about Torres needs to reevaluate... We should never have been in the position to need a goal in the first place. Lampard was taken off because he didn't have a great game, and Torres is simply another player there to occupy the defenders. I don't understand what Benitez could've done better? Can someone enlighten me?

The anxiety inside the stadium is ridiculous.

If our home support was anything like our away support, you can bet our form at the Bridge would be so much better.

Poor defending from Cahill, completely lost him.

Damn that's a strong lineup.

Jose or bust then...

Was expecting him to go on loan, not to Malaga though. Although it makes sense on their part, i'd have expected us to keep him in England. I'd be very impressed if he broke into the first team there and kept his place.

A loan for Piazon would be great. Marin, not so much. Benitez needs to start giving him minutes as an impact sub imo.

Wouldn't be surprised if we have Guardiola and Mourinho both in England next season. One at City, the other here. Can't decide who i'd prefer. As much as I respect what Guardiola did with Barca, it'd be difficult to have Jose's presence at another PL club.

Didn't see the game, just read it this evening. I wouldn't say cynical either, seeing as it was from an LFC fan that I read it. Just wondered if it was true, seems a bit odd.

Is it true he celebrated by signalling 5 European Cups? If so... wow.

A guy that big should not be able to backflip like that...

I'd rather Bertrand on the wing than Oscar or Marin to be honest.

All depends if JT is fit to start I imagine. Would prefer Luiz in the midfield also.

Yeah confirmed now. Luiz back in defence?

He held his own. Didn't look out of place against one of the Championship's best wide players in Sako. Handled the one vs ones well, got caught out a couple of times with overlapping runs from the opposite full-back. Went on a great 50/60 yard run from defence to opposite half and was hacked down, winning a dangerous free kick which Rochina wasted. Had a shot which went way wide thanks to Sako tracking back and putting physical pressure on him. He was good going forward, and was running the flanks all night. Great energy. I'd never realised how quick he really was. His positioning will get better because he's up against better quality opposition. His distribution was a little lacking (long balls out from the back, but he was constantly under pressure). All in all, a solid start considering it was his first game at a new team. Hopefully the new manager keeps him in the side.