Blue Armour

Ok, I think everyone just needs to move on.... Really wanted this CCup victory because it was our best chance of silverware, but we're out of it now...time to focus on the League and the game against Valencia... It was disappointing result in every aspect..Josh injured, Players disinterested, no goal scored at home, Chants of "Dalglish" filling the air, Liverpool defeating us at home for the third successive attempt ... So, its just best to forget about it and get on with more important things

That's funny, my original post just disagreed with your statement about respect. I don't know how you picked up the condescending tone from the remaining words on the screen, seeing as they were not even addressed to you in the first place... Have a good look at your own replies, before you start gauging the tone of other people's posts. Hah, I'm GLAD you found my "kiddish" (childish more appropriate, I suppose? The irony...) remarks amusing. I could have used something else if I really wanted to make a comment out of spite.. And yes...there's no point in contesting your hypocritical remarks...I will refrain as well.

Are the acoustics at the Bridge that bad? Can't hear a thing from our fans...heck, they chanted "Torres,Torres" well the other day...

Ughh...how the hell did they even take the lead? Alex was no-where near Maxi when he arrived...

Sigh...This is what happens when you don't have a clue about sports (At least I think you don't....heck if you can make assumptions about me, then well touche' pal, tit for tat)...Remember Zidane, WC final? Absolute travesty, that was... But no-one hates for it...Yes he let his team down, but no-one can deny he was the one who took them there. Bottom line: Players like Drogba and Zidane, are emotional and passionate on the pitch..yes they have flaws but this makes them a more complete player..A refreshing change from the cold-hearted money grabbing mercenaries you see these days..Maybe you like to surround yourself with such people...good for you "In form blah-blah-blah"??? That my blue friend, is gibberish for you and shows that you didn't even spend time to comprehend what I was trying to point out..doesn't matter, I'll say it again: The team supersedes the player. The manager just wants an in-form CF to support Sturridge and Mata. It could be Drogba or it could be Torres. You get an in-form CF only by allowing them to play regularly. Simple as that. Hardly anyone is "slandering" Torres here. If anyone isn't bothered about Torres here doesn't mean they hate the guy. So please don't go around like some deluded twat hunting down people for making comments that don't exactly paint him in gold.

Simply superb, Romelu Lukaku!!! Well done to Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu...want to see more from Torres Can someone "bump" into Phil Dowd, please? I'm afraid the poor man's on something strong...

11 45...gr8...just after my classes.. But there's no live telecast, right?..radio will have to suffice then..

Aye...a midfield that doesn't give rarely gives away possession in the middle of the park...

Ridiculous statement. Don't see what kind of "respect" he needs to show, as long as he contributes when it matters. Anyways leaving the Drogba-Torres debate aside I don't think you see what the crux of the argument here. No one really cares who's getting more chances to prove themselves. What this team needs is an in-form and consistent CF to support Sturridge and Mata who are the real ones taking the team forward. To have such a CF, AVB should settle on one CF and stick with him for the next few weeks and get him into a good run of form. Right now this happens to be Didier. Now it could just as easily have been Torres, but the manager seems to prefer the Ivorian atm. So Torres will have to make do with the minutes he gets and look to supplant Drogba the old fashioned way: In other words, the same way a second-choice player supplants a first-teamer. ONCE AGAIN, we could all be wrong, and AVB probably chose Drogba for the type of opposition we were up against. This I hope is not true...anyways, we'll find out from the team selection during the next few games

As well as CF...

It might only be my opinion but the CC is one of our best chances of silverware this season, and winning it can give good momentum later on...so the CC game is not as unimportant as many may think.. That being said, no-one wants to get Sturridge, or more importantly Mata to get injured...but face it, injuries can happen anytime, anywhere...even in training or playing an international..its not like he's an older player who would get worn out body parts after playing one too many minutes..

There's also a chance that AVB is actually choosing his strikers depending on the type of opposition we play (at least that's what he claims in some of his interviews)... In any case, it will be interesting to see his team selections for the next few matches..we can get a better picture then

Drogba should be rested...Danny's in his early twenties...should be the best period for him to play in the weekend and midweek...

That's something I found strange as well..Its been about since month since he has started, and I put it down to AVB finally deciding that he will stick with Drogba as his first-choice, simply as a matter of preference. I just hope he doesn't go back that to that policy of giving each striker equal minutes, because they're not able to find consistency....

Unfortunately yes, given that AVB seems to have given preference to Didier, Torres will have to make do with appearances as a sub or during midweek where he'll have to shine...Of course, I could be wrong and AVB will go back to his old rotation system and it'll be the same old stuff again from both the strikers..

Not exactly...MALOUDA doesn't pass the ball to Torres even when he's free....Kalou on the other hand, does pass to Torres, but, only when he's surrounded by at least three defenders...

Exactly what I've been trying to point out. Torres should fight for his position and prove that he can consistently do a better job than the one Didier is doing right now...Tossing him back into a regular starting role now will only upset the rhythm Didier seems to have regained and will be detrimental to the team..This scenario where one striker plays two games and the one plays the next two will not benefit either of them...

Well..not all investments reap rewards... I'm not saying the Torres transfer is a failure...No he still has time to prove his worth..atm I believe he has lost his starting spot to Didier, and so he'll have to make the most of the minutes he has, namely as a sub or squad player. If he can prove that he's better than Drogba in those opportunities he should be given the starting spot back. Giving the starting 11 spot right now and tossing it back and forth between the two strikers will not be good for either of them, as they both need to settle down to hit, and more crucially, maintain top form.

If you had said that around the time he got carded I would have agreed, but in the last two games he was definitely more involved, and Torres is looking pretty hungry himself which is a good sign (I think you wanted something like this earlier in the season?) ... the fact that the Bridge was chanting Torres name doesn't concern me in the slightest....Heck they even had a banner ready for Torres before he hardly played a game for Chelsea..that's something Drogba never had in his three title winning seasons with the club.. Anyways, I'm pretty sure the Torres name chant had nothing to do with Drogba really,... they just wanted to see their star striker get at least a few minutes to dazzle them.... Also being a sub has its advantages..If you're experienced enough you'll know how to take advantage of tired legs

Meh..its easier to look good when you're a sub...Not taking anything away from Fernando though..hope he can show his worth and win his place back

Look, I support Torres as much as the next guy, and I hope he continues fighting well for his place this season, but to think he's going to be our man for "years to come"? That's ridiculous...Considering how long his previous slump in form lasted, there's every chance he can go into a downward spiral again and God knows how long he'll take to get out of that one...And I doubt he'll be as good a striker at 32 as Drogba was... The man who we're grooming for years to come is a certain Daniel Sturridge...Drogba and Torres are merely the supporting act, and right now the Ivorian is doing a pretty decent job...After these two "main" men hang up their boots, the role will maybe go to Lukaku (if he's good enough) or someone else...

That man Mata...needs some rest though, the little guy seems overworked...

Really excited by the way Danny played today..at the start of the season I said I was pinning my hopes on him, and today, despite the chances he missed, shows how much more we can expect from the lad.

Was quite solid and robust IMO, but anyone saying he makes more forward passes than Mikel, needs to get their heads checked