Blue Armour

While agree Drogba was great today and should be played more regularly if he can keep up this form, I think its a bit harsh to call Torres "shit". His only last real involvement was when he spurned that chance against Blackburn more than 3 weeks ago when he was still on his way back, and hasn't had much game time after that...

So sick of hearing the useless Torres-Drogba debate... The fact is neither have exactly outperformed the other during the minutes they've played. Drogba gets points for "actual" contribution (in goals and assists) , but Torres gets points for the effort and motivation.. AVB has two options and a possible. Give Torres regular playing time (and see if he can maintain form for a few weeks rather) , or assure Drogba that he can win back his starting 11 spot as main man. While many might think that Sturridge should be handed the main role, (and I don't deny he should be given a more central position), I have doubts as to whether he has the experience and qualities needed to be LONE centre forward. I think the best would be to employ him in a strike partnership. Drogba and him seem to have good chemistry, and it remains to be seen whether he can link up with Torres.

While I love Anelka's contribution, I feel putting him back would be a step backwards. I was all for him having more game time earlier on in the season, but its clear he's being phased out. It might be interesting to try him on instead of Malouda coming on, but putting him back in a major role, namely that of a CF (even if he's at his best), is a big risk, as there are times when he can be ineffective. In fact, the only real edge he has over most of the other players right now is that his name hasn't been dragged into the mud by some of the recent results.

Ok enough is enough...I expected things to get rocky, but I didn’t expect it to go to heck...Started top of the CL group, and now in one day are on the verge of exit. If this was the “old” Chelsea (one filled with younger and motivated players ready to take on the world), I would have expect them to grind out a result against the Spanish side, and progress....but times have changed and worse things have happened in recent times, and now I want a turnaround because its crucial.. This is what I want to see from the team during the next few weeks: Clean sheets: It’s been in short supply this season, and the manager has at least noticed their importance, but he hasn’t driven the point clearly enough to the team it seems. The vast amount of goals conceded during the early weeks of the season has clearly had an effect on Cech, who now seems to be short of confidence. Choose CB pair and stick with it. Choose a second pair for the less important games. DO NOT mix up the CB pairings ever as this will only ruin their chemistry. Clean sheets in the next three games (including the CC cup games) are a must. This will only help the defence regain spirit and confidence before the Valencia tie Clearly the problem is in defence, and unless you have a good solid base your team won’t reach anywhere Don’t try to be a nice guy. Clearly AVB wants to rotate his squad, be fair and give everyone (apart from Kalou and Josh apparently) in his team as much playing time as possible. It might be the respectable thing to do, but this doesn’t seem to work, clearly. Now Drogba is getting some regular playing time and his form is improving, but this is obviously going to affect Torres’ form when, or if, he returns. Either pair them up, or stick with one. (Personally I feel Drogba and Sturridge have good chemistry, but that doesn’t mean Torres doesn’t deserve a look- in). You need a first eleven that is highly motivated, and you especially a highly motivated striker like AVB had in Falcao, and its very difficult motivating members that don’t play regularly. Not everyone will see the bigger picture like Anelka and make the most of what playing time they get. WHY SO CARELESS?!! This is something that has upset me the most this season. We score first and then go on to lose. That’s something that has rarely happened to Chelsea in the recent past, but its become a miserable pattern during the recent weeks. Although most of my initial thoughts are aimed at AVB, I feel the players are not fighting hard enough for him. How else can they lose confidence and motivation after taking the lead?! They shouldn’t have conceded today after Drogba scored, or even after Sturridge equalised against Liverpool at home. And even the older results are coming to bite back. If the team had made the most of the chances in the Genk game at home, or beaten them away they wouldn’t have been in this mess. Now, it might feel like impending doom, but the situation could have been FAR WORSE. We thankfully are only facing them at home, and nearly beat them away, so we have a good chance. But the problem is, Valencia can say the same for themselves as well. You have 3 weeks, AVB, to see who your most inform players are choose your best 11 for this match. Another thing I hope for is that the Bridge will be full and at its loudest. The team is certainly going to need all the motivation it can get.For now, I just hope for a win against wolves and a clean sheet, so that they don’t open up another can of worms. For anyone upset things have suddenly become difficult in the Champions league, don’t be upset about the Valencia match or the fact that we might up end up second even if we manage to go through. Finishing first hasn’t really helped us in recent times, and its big matches like the one we’re about to have that make this competition exciting. Not some 7-0 thrashing of a little team. So get behind the team like always, and hope for the best.

In Mourinho's own words: "These are the players who are special not because of there footballing ability, but because of their mindset....these are the players that can go on forever..."

Where did you read that one?

That was because till the Liverpool scored their second, our team was looking like it would take the lead in the 2nd half...its all about not upsetting the attacking flow, and Drogba was central to it during that period Also the team selection wasn't too bad to be honest. Its what a few people were in fact, expecting and it nearly worked in that 2nd half. The real failure here is that they didn't turn up for one half, and that the defense makes more individual errors yet again this season for the umpteenth time...

Agree with that point.. Also feel that apart from the Arsenal match (which was a big failure tactics-wise) he's been unlucky against the rest of the big 4, and in that QPR matc,. Though having said that, I think its not too much to expect more consistency from his team for at least the next two months...If he can't do that, (namely what Spurs and Newcastle are doing atm),then his methods will be rightly called into question...

Carlo started saying that a lot when the "bad moment" began last season. If the results don't pick up and we don't return to top 3 by Jan, I can definitely see the chop..

Its what I've been saying as well. This is a team that now thrives on results and achievements...That's why I said targets like the C Cup and FA cup are very good, and and winning the former could be excellent motivation for the squad especially the youngsters involved...

Maybe he meant a smile like this one:

Terry was clearly not fully focused in this game. Might be fair to drop him in favor of Alex till he regains his composure, but will AVB drop his captain especially under the glare of the media? It worked for Lampard though, so never say never...

The line-up was fine and almost worked actually. Malouda and Drogba came quite close to putting us in front..but once again, as has been the case several times this season, its taken the team an opposition goal (while in other games a red card) to get really fired up... And there are these defensive errors..The high line leaves them exposed yes, but most of the goals have come from situations which you would otherwise consider harmless...like today when Cech takes a goal kick, or when Johnson comes up against JT and Cole all alone...

Can't take any risks in this match, definitely a must-win game...

I did criticize AVB in the Arsenal game, but in this game I can't find any real fault with him. Who would have expected to Glen Johnson to dribble his way past Terry and Cole? Its not like he's Tevez, or Suarez (who ironically did no harm)... I would however suggest that he sticks with one CB pairing (and another one as backup) as well as one CF as players in these positions need more consistency. Its also clear that more than Terry and Lampard, Cole is the one who needs to be rested more often, as he's struggling to track back a lot after spending so much time higher up the pitch.

I keep saying this a lot but, winning the Carling Cup is an excellent target for the team at this moment. And no I'm not being sarcastic or pessimistic. I think the lads should keep their heads low, concentrate on winning all the upcoming EPL fixtures till Jan (and at least drawing the ones with City and Newcastle), getting through the CL group stages, and do their absolute best in the Carling Cup. Winning this Cup would send a strong message to the other teams, as we would have had to get past virtually the best of the top 4 to do so! More importantly it gives us the label of being the first team to win any real silverware this season, and also reminds the players that they are still in the hunt for trophies. This will give us the drive needed just like in the end of 2009-2010, and of the 2008-2009 season... Say all you want about it being a transition period, but its better to finish a season brightly even if it doesn't necessarily mean finishing as English or Euro champions. It will also set the tone for the next season..

He's being practical...nothing surprising about it. Concentrate on making the most of what's left, and try extra hard to get the Carling Cup and/or FA cup. Majority of the fans may not think much of them right now, but silverware IS silverware, and is something the team and the club admin will like..

Considering that our top 4 place is at risk..AVB has got to make sure the teams settles down in matches quickly enough... A lingering question is why it takes a second half/opposition goal/red card to get the team fired up.... Also choose a fixed first 11 with whatever combination of veterans and youngsters seems useful...Its not a good idea to keep changing the main striker, and the centre back every game because these positions require players in consistent form, and the only way they can get that form is if they play regularly...

AVB's first season here is starting to become a lot similar to Scolari's with defeats to Arse and Liverpool at home... Only difference here is that the defence is letting him down again and again...Glen J should never had skipped past Cole AND Terry..

Fucking unfair...

Thought the starting line up was meant to be more solid and defensive...irritating to concede like that..

Lol...this could be potential for another thread in the posting games forum, methinks...

Agreed.

Irregardless of what he's done in the past, I feel that this one incident is perhaps taking things too far... If he did say it (which most likely seems the outcome) I would say he was just tactless, and a bit of an idiot (not the first time JT has blurted out something) to risk losing his armband. There absolutely no chance in the blue hell that this incident would make his stature diminish in my eyes, because from what I've seen in the past JT doesn't come close to being a racist.

Lol..yeah fully agree with you.. Just said that your post could be interpreted in more than one way..