CHOULO19

I agree that a win is important, but a loss is disastrous. Against Liverpool and Arsenal we really went for the win when the games were level, but that backfired in both matches and we lost both from the counter. So maybe if the game is level at the closing stages we are better off playing it safe.

I think you really underestimate the German side my friend. They are in great form, Ballack is scoring...a lot, and if I'm really honest, I think their midfield is better than ours. Plus, like all german teams, they are extremely organized and hard to break down defensively, so if we concede first, we are very likely to lose the match. I think this is the worst game for us to start a comeback.

Although I agree that we haven't been nearly as clinical as we ought to be, my point was that something that does not affect our overall performance in a match (such as Reina making a save) should not affect the way we view this performance. Bottom line is: Yes we lost 4 games, but we were not out-played in any of them. With slightly better luck we could've won 2 or 3 of them and be in 2nd place and everybody would just be saying how sexy AVB's squat is!

I think what we are missing most is a descent CDM. It's not about the mistakes that Mikel does, it's about what he doesn't do: tackles and interceptions in the middle which are vital to the system we are playing. Sure this system needs a bit of fixing and tweaking, but until we get a good CDM (or play romeu there ) we will continue to suffer. People, let's not forget that we are attempting in this season to completely alter the way we play, including our defending, style of passing, attacking system.....we can't expect it to work straight away.

Thank you. It's amazing how the result influences how fans view the performance of the team. I mean if Reina hadn't made that save, or if Malouda had finished better at the back post we would've won the game and AVB would've been celebrated as a tactical mastermind for bringing on Sturridge and changing the formation from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.

He is as much over as Frank Lampard, our best player and scorer this season, is. He is just being used as the scrape goat for our defensive failure because he simply does not have the pace to chase attackers when they break our high-line defense, not now, not even when he was 25. But our problem with the high-line, in my opinion, lies in the midfield and not the defense. The only way a defensive line this high could work is if we don't lose possession in open play, so practically only barcelona could do it. It's not a matter of personnel but rather system. I'm confident that AVB will soon find a compromise between how we used to defend and how defended (or attempted) to defend this season.

I wouldn't exactly call this new. We've tried signing youngsters(Sidwell, Di Santo, Glen Johnson, Kakuta, Sinclair...etc) before, it just was never very effective for us. I think the reason is first youngsters are always like a 1 to 10 chance, second is that at a club of the size of Chelsea a new signing is always expected to have instant impact on the team.

Problem is, in my opinion, the best football we played all season is when we played our old system in the second half against Liverpool (yes we lost, but we created chances to score at least 3 or 4 goals and kept liverpool from having more than two shots). If I'm honest I think we would've scored in the last 10 mins if Torres and Meireles. I have confidence in AVB but I'm not sure that this new system is going to work at Chelsea unless it is modified.

That truly was a great team. But we have to admit that the league was so much easier back then mainly because there wasn't this much money in the game. I think our current team has more quality, but our old squad compares better to the teams that were in the league in 2003 than the current compares to the teams that are now in the league. (does that make any sense? )

FFS Suarez should be playing in the swimming Olympics, he can win the diving competition blind folded!

I fear we will pay for missing those easy chances. Stupid ref!! That was not a foul!!

Malouda, almost scored an amazing goal!

One chance is all we need to score...come on lads!

Nando warming up. I don't think he'll feature though. DD is doing a very good job so far.

The change in the formation has made all the difference imo.

DANIAL!!!!! In your face liverscum!

Our worst 45mins this season. Let's wait and see what AVB will change at halftime.

Oh FFS no one is releasing the ball early. We're getting caught on possession like a bunch of 5yo!

Someone should just punch Charlie Adam!

Anyone else thought DD had scored?!

Hahaha Luiz is a monster!

Iva has been great so far. Totally bullying the Liverpool attack.

Our attack is looking well early on.

Oups, my bad, I miss read the clock

Juve 1-0 Palermo