CHOULO19

Yes but if we lose today, we will NEED to win at Juve away which no small feat. A draw today would be good imo but we must not lose.

Absolutely must not lose match. I'd honesty take a point right now rather than risk loosing. Anything less than 4 points in our next 2 matches would mean that we are probably third favorites to qualify from the group.

If Lamps features in this match he will be the first Chelsea player ever to make 100 appearances for the club in Europe

Tbf, Ramires doesn't exactly help them by having his legs so far apart

So is the whole background. It's actually a poor job.

Completely agree. And in today's modern systems, very very few teams use systems that utilizes a pure number nine and none of the top teams in the world do that. Nowadays a striker is expected not only to score and finish but to create and assist. A striker is expected now to make space for others and most importantly a striker is expected to defend. I've probably said this a thousand times, but give me a Drogba over any striker in the world any time.

Probably to remind him how he raped him in the European Super.

Don't poke the bear.

I completely agree, I was more highlighting the incredible 6 goals and assists in as many games. I wish we could add terms in players contracts to make them retire from international football when they join us.

I know everyone is saying that we should start Sturridge instead of Torres, but I think he should start instead of one of the three maestros. We played a very tough game on Saturday and have one of the toughest game next weekend we need to rest our key players, and let's face it, Torres is not one of them.

Well that depends on what you mean by 'right'. When I said right attitude, I didn't mean he should be a good person or a nice guy. Both obviously have the dedication and discipline at least in training or they won't be at this level. Being a football professional take hours of hard training every day for years as well as special diets and a very difficult life style. More over Zlatan always (and Ballotelli sometimes) put 100% on the pitch.

Oh yes it was his right. I'm ashamed I didn't remember that, I've watched that goal over a thousand times

Say what you want about Ballotelli, but when he puts his mind to it and has the right attitude on the pitch, he's a world-class striker.

I also just remembered one a couple of seasons ago against utd at the bridge as well when he crossed (with his left!) and it came off Iva and fell for Luiz who scored his first goal for us.

I don't think it is the players. I think RDM has convinced players to play his way. Even with Lamps who is now getting less time than under AVB. RDM is still implementing AVB's 'project' but he is doing so quietly.

Good to know Josh's injury is nothing serious but a huge shame for Sam. As the article said, it was rather predictable.

Yes but their pressing game is getting better by the match. On Saturday it was the best we pressed all season. Mata, Oscar and Hazard pressed the back 4 for the whole 90 mins and were successful at creating 'traps' with Mikel and Rambo to retrieve the ball. RDM managed to implement what AVB wanted to do better and faster than him.

Barca had money and the best academy in the world while Milan are broke.

Except hazard was the star of Lille while Cole was mostly a rotation player here. From what I've seen from Hazard so far, I have to agree that Cole was a better finisher. Although Eden is far more superior in his movement and football intelligence and obviously his dribbling.

Still worth it!

Call me old-fashioned but I never liked zonal marking. It often fails and it's always nobody's fault when it does. It is simple for me, get a player marking every opponent with your best defenders marking their best headers. If someone scores then it's his marker's fault.

Ba'd luck for newcastle there

It was a bit harsh, but the tackle was absolute stupid, especially that it was after the whistle had gone.

Almost predictably, Tiote sent off.