Blue Armour

Well tbh, our midfield seems to lack a bit of shape without him but yes, RESTING him is good idea...Playing continuous games (and the whole 90 mins) is not the best thing for his fitness

He can come off towards the end of the game just to give Torres/some one else a few minutes.. AVB looks to be settling on a CF to rely on for this season, and right now it looks to be Drogba and I believe he should stick with it...Rotation of strikers for the sake of it DOES NOT help...Besides, I do not see any reason for him to be hauled off after just one half

Looks like AVB has finally decided on a CB pair and CF. Terry, Luiz and Drogba. I guess the door will still be left open for Torres, but I'm glad he finally realizes (I think) that rotation for the sake of it is just pointless.....

Finally someone who agrees with me! Yes with the current rotation policy neither striker is able to settle and maintain a good run of form...Drogba needs to maintain fitness while Torres needs to retain his match-sharpness..I don't think AVB is doing either striker a favour by dropping them every alternate game..

Yeah this is just as stupid as the Torres-Drogba debate... Heck, BOTH these players are here to help the club and not to compete against each other (at least not directly). On current form I would pick Sturridge and Drogba to lead the front two since they seem to link up very well, and because they can find each other in the final third with ease. However, Torres has barely played in the last month, and has not been given a chance to play games on the trot (and I mean starting during games) so that he can pick up consistency. Rotating your main strikers every time is NOT GOING TO WORK. This was what Harry Redknapp used to do with Crouch and Defoe. You only need to look at how successful Drogba and Anelka were for Carlo and how Rooney and Berbatov (when he was playing regularly last season) were good for Sir Alex, and now Van Persie for Wenger to see the benefits. AVB should choose his best Strikers and best CB pair and stick with them for the rest of the season, till injuries/suspensions do them apart

Yep, think we can all agree on that..

Yes, which is why we call them filthy hypocrites.

Don't understand why Torres has suddenly lost a lot of support here. Personally I would pick a Drogba-Sturridge front two because they link up so well, and because they're in form, but the Spaniard has hardly played at all in the last month and last time he did, he showed how much he had improved his game from his arrival last season. He has to take his form further (especially with making the most of his opportunities), but he still deserves the chance to play games on the trot, without being relegated to the bench every alternate fixture. In fact right now our biggest worry shouldn't be the attack, as we still manage to score in just about every game. It should be regarding the fact that we're giving away possession cheaply in dangerous positions, and the failure of our defense to react properly to goal-threats on a consistent basis.

'nuff said.

I think that was answered Hiddink and Ancelloti took the same squad Scolari had inherited and turned them into sides that won silverware. Anyways, its too early to judge AVB. The Scolari scenario was unique, and the guy never really had the support of the players (apart from maybe Deco). Still, there are similarities between this season and the 2008 one..let's hope AVB can turn things around.. I think he can, but his biggest problem is an unsettled back four and a captain constantly under the glare of the media. Not exactly a happy working environment.

I don't think he'll be any better than trying to start with Anelka to be honest... He's a good impact player and has his moments but when he starts a game, there's always a chance he'll be nothing more than a waste of space on the pitch. I thought he had turned over a new leaf under Carlo in 2010 but the good form last only so long... Constantly rotating your central strikers and centre backs is a WRONG decision imo..These players need to achieve consistency for the club to have a good season. Choose the most in-forms players and stick with them until need to be rested or become injured.

That's a pretty good suggestion...Sturridge will be more effective in a strike-partnership I feel..I think he can link up very well with Drogba/Torres (I've seen that happen quite a few times with the former this season and before), and with Mata feeding them it should work. Onus on wing play will rest in the hands(or feet) of our full-backs though...

Hey it wasn't all doom and gloom until that QPR game...Before that the manager's tactics were working like a charm, and our style of play was good, minus the occasional goal conceded. The latter fact has now come to bite us in the back, as our open play against top opposition (which ALSO includes Bayern at home) makes us more open. It remains to be seen if he can deal with this obvious flaw in how our team is set-up...whether it be changing parts of our back four, or the easier option, change our tactics slightly against the top sides..

Sorry if I sounded rude in my last post (just irritated whenever I think of our games nowadays!)... No, do not have the exact numbers, but I'm fairly certain Torres has had more starts than Didier, even if those starts were limited for him is well this season

Read my post again and notice the phrase "minutes played by them" Read my post again and notice the phrase "minutes played by them" Read my post again and notice the phrase "minutes played by them"

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...