Blue Armour

Normally, I thought you wouldn't be in the mood to type in a summary of the match, especially after one like that...but full credit for being up for it.

3 of our our best headers near the ball, and it stil gets through. Why is it that when we screw up a set-piece, it happens in the most comical way...

He bungled up big time there, as he said afterwards, but it didn't help that the fans were on his case before the equalizer. The man scored one of the good penalties in our CL final, FFS...and a crucial one at that, right after Mata's was saved. He did NOT deserve those boos, even if he tried to play crappy mind games before the match.

Again, this happened in Jan. We were in peak form in 2014. Our current form is incomparable

Not questioning Zouma's addition,...just wondering why Matic was taken off

Could have and should have won the penalty in the first half. That dribble in the box deserved one. I refuse to blame this one on Costa, or any single player. Failing to outperform ten men has to go down as a bad team performance and nothing more.

I was thinking it was a real daft decision to take him off for Zouma, but I suppose this was the real reason why

Funny thing is Cahill's body language makes him look like he wanted to attack our goal instead of defend it. Not sure where he was rushing to. Little surprise that Terry got bamboozled.

How typical. Just because of one match, PSG now look like they got a steal, by getting Luiz for 40m..... This was just a shitty matchday, almost designed to bring all the fans down to earth..with bizzarre substitutions from the gaffer, clueless performance against 10 men.. Another reason for the press and rival opposition to gloat. The worst feeling is we will never know what this squad was really capable of, with it not playing at its best when it really mattered. Just terrible.

So to answer that thread: "What happened to our early season form?". Simple. Oscar was in form and in the starting 11 back then.

His off-the-ball movement is still very good though, despite what can be said about his technique on the ball. That in itself is should be a big benefit to the three players behind him.

Gerrard and Lampard really went over the hill only after 32/33. I don't think its that often that players have a rapid decline in form after age 30, especially if they have had a fantastic season. At least, it shouldn't be that case for defenders unless they are absent for long periods due to injury. And I remember the Malouda case clearly. He did NOT lose form after signing the contract. In fact, for a while after he did, he was playing in his best form. He lost form right around when Lampard and Benayoun succumbed to injury and he was the only one available as a creative focal point for the team. Too much pressure, and he clearly wasn't the type of player to carry the entire team on his own. In fact, after these players returned, his own form was back and he finished the season as the team's top scorer. I will concede that a 4yr extension at this stage may not be the best, but I don't see the harm in offering a 2yr extension.

Yeah, having that kind of policy for over 30yr old players is ridiculous...Drogba had his best season ever when he was 33, and I remember at the time he had obtained a 2 yr extension..Plus age is not the only factor. They should look at how crucial he is to the lineup and the impact he has on matches. Its not as if he's coming off the bench to influence the odd game...

He was fantastic for the amount of time he got yes..but can't help but feel how much better he would have been with full backing. Another common factor is how all three players were not played in their natural positions...Sturridge was tossed onto the right wing...Salah the same, and atm he's playing well in a free role for Fiorentina...even Schurrle was kept away from his preferred left wing role more often than not.

Like I've said before...political correctness. Same reason Matic got banned for a push, while Barnes got away scot free

Have to agree with that..players like Sturridge, Schurrle and Salah were under too much pressure to play with full confidence, unlike for their current clubs where they are more or less guaranteed to start. That's the problem when you have a star studded squad. There will always be victims.

Drogba at the end: "awww look at them..."

Hah,...the way it loops over and over with the music makes it funny

Tbf, I think Cahill's tendency to back off will be reduced in midfield, seeing as he knows that he will not be the last line of defence. DESPITE that, we cannot afford to have someone who has poor ball retention and passing in the middle of the park.

If the number of matches in which Matic didn't play were far greater, then the stats might paint a slightly different picture.

Seeing as he probably never reads from the English press, he might well be using the Mail as toilet paper.

Yep, love the sauces they use with it.

Nah...too bitter

Haha, forgot about Ivanovic. But yeah, the first eleven is bound to include him and or others from the pic. Whatever the formation. I doubt it will include anyone other than those 11 (and Ivanovic). The 3 CB nightmare is more likely than Ake/RLC in the middle.

Think he's a big anime fan..