Blue Armour

Nice to see Drogba acknowledge Anelka with his goal celebration...After he was subbed, he went straight to Lampard and hugged him.. Just like Mourinho said, Drogba genuinely cares for his team-mates and managers...

Drogba did well to put us in the lead,Cech and Terry did their best to make sure we held onto it, Kalou may or may not have been a waste of space over the years,but the way the manager and the players celebrated Kalou's goal will tell you all about the importance of that piece of contribution from him.

From the article: "The absence of a specialist, trusted right-back means the line is split – Ashley Cole pushes up on the left, but the more defensive Branislav Ivanovic does not – and the team lacks balance." Hasn't the writer realized that it was after Ivanovic came in for Bosingwa that our defense actually started finding some balance, (without two full-backs bombing forward almost simultaneously)? Wish these armchair tacticians would at least pay more attention...

Even if Sturridge only tucks in (which is false, as he does play on the wing as well) you'll have Mata on the other side who can move all over the place. I guess neither Romeu or Mikel really bomb forward, which is why the attack seems more fluid when Meireles takes on the holding role...If that analysis is right, then we're bound to succeed if Essien comes back fully fit and on form...

Aside from the highlighted part,

Liked RZA, Peace, Warnie666 and francozola's posts past month... However. going with KieranVogel

I don't believe its as bad as people think it is...there was a section of players who decided to act against the coach because he was just too bad, (and for other reasons like dropping Anelka,etc.) and those that didn't want to revolt..I've never heard of the players turning against each other (certainly not from the side of Malouda/Anelka)...I suppose Peace can tell us more though.. Anyways, here's training before the Valencia game: Doesn't look too bad...only Kalou looks unhappy here, .. Edit: (That's the away match btw...thought it was before the upcoming match)

Yes there are groups within groups just like most multi-national/multi-lingual communities...but it doesn't mean there are gang wars going on within the club.. Malouda and Anelka have barely any say in the French squad..especially Anelka who has rarely played for France..There were reportedly disagreements with Ribery and the coach on playing with Gourcuff, but nothing more..

There is no "conspiracy" when its blatantly obvious about what they're doing.

I think you should have put this thread in the "banter section"....No serious discussion will come from this m'afraid..(.seeing as how news about lack of unity in the squad come from a certain Mr. Lipton)

For the same reason he's not going to do it in Jan. No sane manager will give up so many players mid-way through the season without reinforcements. That article is exaggerating and is just trying to make AVB look like some sort of villain who doesn't give any respect to the older players, when he's given enough respect by allowing them to stay beyond the summer transfer window. They know they're not going to tie down a regular starting role and they want to leave..simple as that. Its not as if the manager is hell-bent on getting rid of the dead wood..

Maye not, but some backup is better than nothing...at least he has a future, unlike Kalou...

Not going to pretend that his departure isn't long overdue, but credit where credit is due...Despite all the screw-ups along the way, he HAS pulled the team out of tight spots a lot of times... Even today, within a few minutes of coming on, he sets up Sturridge for a one-on-one with the keeper, and also gives us a two goal lead..Its a shame that not too many people pay much attention to "little" things like these...

I hope this is the last (for now)..any more departures without reinforcements, and our squad won't be able to take it...Maybe its time to recall Kakuta from that pointless loan

Same here...

Happy B'day!

Its almost like the Mourinho days...Clean Sheet, rugged defending from Terry, Drogba header, Kalou as an impact sub!! Edit: Oh and Danny Boy!! (That's the difference)

Torres and Kalou have great chemistry....

Its a number 11 who scored...fitting, eh?

See the advantage of an IN FORM STRIKER?!!!!

I certainly hope not...I do NOT want to see a repeat of the Scolari season, even if it means Guus Hiddink will return and take us to a CL semi-final

Alex totally lost it against Liverpool this Tuesday though...He's normally solid and one of the best we've had in recent seasons, but this season he just seems so slow and lumbering on the ball..Reluctant to bring the ball out of defense and generally disinterested...Its a shame as I thought he could have been a solution to our defensive problems this season... Anelka on the other hand probably deserved more chances than he has got..seeing as how he was far from terrible whenever he played this season

Guys, drop it...just watch the game and hope whatever first 11 is out there does their best..

Not to the point where you're going to lose everything, namely top 4 and progression to CL knockout stage..AVB probably made a mistake in experimenting with his starting 11 for too long since the start of the season (its been 4 months now)..If he was going to use Torres he should have stuck with him for the month of November...more rotation at this stage will not be good for the team and certainly won't be good for the season.. Abramovich might be more lenient with our new manager , but if he screws up this season royally (in Roman's eyes, not mine) then he will get the chop (which will put us in an endless cycle) ..I think AVB also realises this and is looking to make amends..

Can understand them not training together, as he will have to get the team used to playing without them, but isolating them completely? Anyways, like I said earlier, this could just be a massive exaggeration...