nullabletype

Think if we put a similar squad out as the one against Newcastle and play as we did we can get what we need from this. Wont be easy, but sure, what is?

You could watch that game a thousand times and he'd always be good because he had a good game. As I said a page or so ago, that's probably been his best game this season. On the whole, he has been poor and whilst people might not like it, he has been worse than Torres. We need to watch the game and read the sats, not one or the other. When you do that, Torres has been the better of the two. However, he's been rubbish too, but to say in your other post that he's not good off the ball isn't really true. Watch him, you can see that he is, but whenever nothing falls to him, what can he do? The Torres gets no service argument is old, because the whole topic is old. But unfortunately it's true. You can't chastise him because at Liverpool he made up for his lack of team play with his movement and goalscoring, when he now plays in a team that can't utilise him. He'd be doing just as he did at Liverpool, or at very least attempting to if we could use him. But we can't. It's really why I can't get annoyed with him most of the time. It's easy to get angry with Drogba because he does fit in to the team we have. So when he under performs you're left scratching your head. Torres doesn't, which is why a lot of people are more forgiving of him. And because they can see that a lot of his problems are not just his, but team problems.

We still on about Drogba v Torres? Sad as it is, Drogba's has been sub-power just like Torres. We can talk about stats, or we can talk about watching them. Either way, Torres has been the better player. Which is really unfortunate for the club because other than a few good flashes (and they were pretty good) he has been tripe 90% of the time. Drogba's performance in the Wolves game was probably one of his best games this calendar year. Like it or lump it, Torres is part of the future of this club, with Drogba likely out the door in the summer. As that's the case, we might as well start trying everything we can to get the best out of Nando since he's highly likely to be sticking around. Edit: Hoping for a win tomorrow obviously, not expecting one though. Happy with a draw to be honest.

If true, they probably don't eat, park etc in the same place, moreso due to timetabling than anything else. I assume the reserves and the first teams wont always be training and all the rest of it at the same time. Doubt they're being shut out.

francozola, assuming what you have posted is true, that's great. I think we all know AVB can get the job done if he gets the support and as the players he wants. I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if Roman is happy to let him play the older guys who's contracts are soon to expire now, so as not to rock the boat. Let them go, and then get some new signings.

Can somebody point me to the AVB out thread? wee jokes. But really, how bad is this side now? It's unreal. Must say, I've seen Lukaku a few times now and he does nothing for me. I know he's still young and has plenty of time to develop, but I don't get the hype. Ramires looked off tonight too.

I think it was an intentional yellow. It seems he now misses the Carling Cup game. If he knew a yellow would get him the match ban, approaching a game where he was unlikely to play anyway, might as well get it over and done with.

I don't love Romeu nor do I hate Mikel. But I would start Romeu over Mikel everyday of the week. As for most of the points you made, well I'd have to respectfully disagree. But maybe I was watching a different game to you.

As it stands now, we may have some of the best players in the world, but we don't have a team.

Lets be real though, he'll use Bosingwa just as he has tonight.

I read this also and thought much the same. He'd have some pair of conkers to make a claim like that if he wasn't sure it was true.

When AVB arrived most of us knew some of our top players were getting on a bit. We knew if we were going to carry on using them that it should be sparingly. AVB said that all these players were good enough and didn't need replaced. I for one don't believe he meant it for a second. I genuinely believe half of the old pros are going this summer and I think they're just being used and talked up so as not to rock the boat. After all, why create bad blood when they're at the end of their playing careers at this club? That's not how I think it should be handled, but it's how it comes across. This manager is renowned for his attention to detail and strategic knowledge, so there is no way he can't see what the rest of us can. I can see him buying big in the upcoming windows. We wont win a thing this season and whilst that's disappointing, I don't really care if it means we are getting everything in place to start building for the future. Anybody who expected AVB to come in and get us back to the world class team we used to be was kidding themselves. I do think he'll get the job done. Just not this season with this squad.

Mark my words. If Torres scores tomorrow, pants will be shat.

Fair dues.

I don't recall ever bringing it up before other than at the time? Recent events in the world of football have nothing to do with how this forum is run though. I'm not saying the comment that I referred to was sincere and that the poster is genuinely racist, I don't believe him to be so. I was merely pointing out that at the time the comment was made, other posters expected that should something similar happen and the same actions not be taken, that the mods would open themselves up to criticism. And I know it hasn't gone unnoticed. But perhaps a tougher banning policy will prevent the same in the future.

I do recall an esteemed member of this forum referring to Kalou as a "stupid motherfucking nigger". The instabans were kept well in check that night.

Was that the exact same goal they pulled off the other week?

"Genk got beaten 5-0 a fortnight ago by a team that lost to a team 5-3 that were thrashed by a team 8-2 that got mauled at home 6-1. Gotta love football." This is crazy. Think I'm going to take my boots down to the Bridge and see if I can get a start. Could well put on a better performance than what we've seen recently.

Yeah, I can understand why people find him frustrating at times, but some times folks need to look at the bigger picture. I'm not trying to suggest you in particular think that, just quoting your post because you had mentioned it. Truth, MotM.

I agree, he's not been greedy recently that I can think of. You could see he looked up and decided to go for himself. Can only presume he thought it was for the best.

That's my point though, 9 times out of 10 he'll score them and when he does they look so cool it's unbelievable. In contrast, Frank Lampard's penalties always look full of effort, he scores the vast majority but if he did miss, few people would say anything about it. In reality it's the same thing. Non-chalant is Nico's style, it would be fair enough if he always hit Frank efforts and then took a lazy one like tonight and missed. But we all know how he hits them, and so on the rare occasion he does miss we shouldn't be quick to complain.

I don't think it's particularly note worthy that Anelka's effort was non-chalant since that's how he takes most of his penalties. It may look like he's not trying, but that's why they look so good when he converts them. Unfortunate, but it happens. I'm sure the laser pen didn't help.

Can't believe we're even giving this the time of day. Such a non issue and clearly some daft fans clutching at straws trying to stir up some controversy. Move along, nothing to see here.

For all of the man's cons he has many pros. Top player and one of my favourite at Chelsea. He's still young and has plenty of time to improve. Lets not forget he's not played a full season in England yet.

Honestly it's not anger at all. I agree the players showed good character to do as well as they did, but it wasn't amazing. This is QPR we're talking about. Anyway, we'll agree to disagree I guess.