Slam Dunk

So disappointed, but I expected it to happen sooner rather than later. As much as I don't think RDM was a long term manager and that he was only given the job because Guardiola wouldn't take it, the man oozed dignity and it's such a poor move by the board to treat him this way. He gave a lot for this club as a player and as a manager and deserved better. That being said, he's done his reputation no harm and should be proud of what he's achieved in his time here and I've no doubt he'll be getting plenty of offers soon. He was not a 'top level' manager before he came to Chelsea and I still don't think he is. Therein lies the problem, Roman wants the experience that can guide you out of a difficult winter period, something I don't feel RDM had. Expect an announcement 'shortly'. Must be someone lined up then. Benitez? Don't you dare Roman.

I'd understand that it's embarrassing if it were the same team that won it. But this Chelsea team isn't. The experience/the desire/the hunger that came with Jose's team after 8 years of disappointment is gone.

Don't really understand the need for sacking another manager right now. We're 3rd in the table - where we expected to be. We're likely to finish with 10 points in a very tough CL group (provided we beat the Danes) - what we expected to get. We're still in the League Cup and we've got the FA Cup and Club World Cup to contend for. Not exactly a disaster, is it? Maybe the board had higher expectations than me for this season. I wanted a top 4 finish, and possibly to win either of the domestic trophies. CL? Nobody retains it, so I don't see the problem of leaving the competition early(ish). Obviously i'd like us to go as far as possible, but this Chelsea team doesn't have the authority on the pitch you need to win the Champions League. Last night was a prime example of that. Guardiola has already said he won't cut his sabbatical short. Neither Grant or Benitez has the dignity or grace that RDM has represented the club with when we've been lambasted by the media this year. Maybe he's not the best manager for moulding a side of his own, maybe he's not a long term option. But if the club sack him now, there won't be another RDM waiting to take over.

If Di Matteo did indeed say he'd be more defensive, then expect him to put Bertrand on the wing, not Ramires as Lampard isn't back and I don't think Romeu will be trusted. Same story with Sturridge. Hazard will probably drop to the bench and make a sub appearance. No idea what he'll do about the CB situation though. For me, Cahill is a must though.

I can't see RDM dropping two of the three maestros, reckon Hazard will be benched and Moses will start ahead of Marin.

Hmm... I think his agent means; 'If Wallace goes to Chelsea, he will be playing in the NextGen Series, or even the Capital One Cup there'.

We are not worthy. What a quality goal.

Shawcross vs Zlatan. Wasn't going to end well, was it? 2-2.

Fucking hell. Tom Huddlestone. England clearly looking to showcase our nation's talent.

Every time I see Cleverly's name in the England line-up, I die inside a little.

To normal people, sitting back and allowing possession means allowing the teams to attack the flanks and put it into the box, clearing it and countering. Obviously not to superhuman tacticians like SeB I would've expanded on my points because I believe we're going to need genuine width to beat this WBA team. They're usually good at winning the ball in midfield, but i'm not convinced by their ability to keep the ball for extended periods, maybe it was just because Wigan were overcrowding the midfield.

WBA are a different animal when they're at home. When they play away they sit back and allow possession, but at home they try and dictate the game. Clarke has got them well organised from the midfield back to the defence so we're going to need to move the ball quickly and press them high, which we're more than capable of. Whoever is playing at CB is going to be in for a tough day though, because from the looks of it, Shane Long is a pain in the arse to play against.

Perhaps his goal return is worse, but you could argue that Torres is a better option for the team, which is obviously what RDM thinks. I couldn't care less where the goals come from in the team personally, as long as the team is winning. And we are winning games, today was down to the whole team not taking their chances, not just Torres. Perhaps he should get dropped, but we all know he won't be. I've learned to accept it. Roll on January!

I can't dispute that. I'll just repeat that we don't have any other true strikers. I won't get into comparing their goal return purely because they have been in and out of the team and in and out of favour with the different managers we've had. Personally, i'm of the opinion that we'd be a poorer team with Sturridge up front than Torres, but then again i've never really rated Sturridge and I fail to see why so many people hold him in high regard. Playing the lone striker role when you're not scoring goals is difficult, yes we know he's not good enough when it comes to goal return, but I don't just base my opinion of a striker on goal return alone. It's pretty clear to me that Torres is the no.1 striker until at least January even if he isn't playing well, Sturridge is a backup option at best who is probably going to leave anyway. I've accepted it, hence why I get bored of reading 'Torres this' and 'Torres that' after every single touch of the ball he has.

We don't have anyone to rotate him with though, same story with Liverpool. They have Borini, who is a striker/winger, we have Sturridge, same difference. Neither are true centre forwards. Obviously RDM isn't convinced by Sturridge up top either and we can't afford to give him a few games to see if he's good enough to be our lone striker (there have been suggestions for Moses at CF as well, but as far as i'm concerned, that'll never happen, nor should it). You can wish for Sturridge to get his chance and perhaps come good, but it ain't gonna happen. We're stuck with Torres as the number one striker at the club until January, and that's the unfortunate truth. The board took a gamble, and as yet, it's not paying off.

Or, maybe you're wrong and RDM thinks that Torres is a better option for the team than Sturridge is and you have to accept that fact that playing Torres ahead of Danny is simply making the best out of a bad situation. I've no doubt that we'll be buying a new forward in January, so you have to accept the fact that Torres will be no.1 until then at least. It's evident that he was given this season to turn things around for himself and he's not delivering, but it's not going to change the fact that we don't have anyone better. The board made a mistake in that aspect, it's not Torres' fault that we don't have any other options aside from Sturridge. Frankly I don't know what Sturridge has done to become so highly rated on this board anyway, because, based on what i've seen of him, he's not a better footballer than Torres and he doesn't work anywhere near as hard. He's never played the CF role at the club, so to expect him to instantly be the answer to our prayers is simply naive. Thanks for that, i've made a note of it.

Jesus Christ. This is why I usually steer clear of the forum after a game.

Meh. Pretty much what I expected. Liverpool always perform well at the Bridge. We paid the price of not being clinical enough and not killing the game off. Onwards and upwards.

I can't imagine Mrs. Lampard will be agreeing to move to China somehow.

Did we deserve to win? No. Do I care? Not really. Made up for Moses getting the winner.

Shakhtar are awesome going forward though, has to be said. We're having the same problem as the last game, no authority whatsoever.

We need to start working harder. A lot harder.

Commentators are terrible. Azad, Romoo-oh, Athpilikwaytar and Me-shoo.

Same old story with Nando. Never looks like he knows what he's going to do.

Of course Drogba was going to be voted #1. Think about the audience that voted for it. How many people who were alive to see Osgood play buy the CFC Magazine/would vote by social media? A minority, i'll bet. TX said it best.