BlueLion.

Merry Christmas to everyone from the TC Staff! Have a good one! I'll see you guys on Boxing Day

No Deco? Means Cole will most likely start at the top of the diamond. Needs to step his game up, though, he is still working his way to full fitness apparently.

The way Birmingham are playing means there is going to be a lot of expectation for them to come away with a point or better on Saturday. Their own fans will be expecting a result, and that means the players will be under pressure. They know we're not in great form, but they also know we're top of the Premier League, so they will be forced to show us some respect with a more defensive line up than usual. This game will be about us breaking their defence down. They're nothing special, but this could be a tricky match. Drogba needs to show up for this one, and not have a hissy fit like he did against West Ham.

And if he doesn't, we have to rely on Super Frank to pull us through Christmas yet again.

TribalFootball must get so bored at Christmas.

Good for Ivan.

Cech's made a few errors this season, but no-one is perfect. You have to consider a goalkeeper's position. The reason why there have been so many calamitous errors by all the teams in the division is because of the new Premier League ball. Its lighter than its previous incarnations and its aerodynamics make it prone to sudden movements. Goalkeepers hate it. Why do you think we've seen so many goals from long range this season, and goalkeepers making errors with crosses? The trajectories of the balls are very difficult, and a lot different to what goalkeepers are used to. The mistakes he's making wouldn't have been made seasons ago because the balls have got increasingly lighter. It isn't Cech who's been making mistakes. Name me one goalkeeper who hasn't made an error recently? You can blame Cech, but the defence have been very slapdash and haphazardous recently in my view.

Its a bloody great omen in my view. In spite of poor recent form, if, in August, you'd have offered me Chelsea being top by four points at Christmas, I'd have bitten your hand off. Its a great position to be and we have the chance to push on in 2010 and put 2009 behind us.

Its improving; he already has scored seven this season.

Wouldn't be a bad move IMO.

We'll swap him for Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema plus £50 million. We can't afford to let our most consistent performer so far this season leave.

Last six games; Birmingham - W, W, W, W, W, D - unbeaten in two months. Chelsea - D, D, L, D, W, D They're gonna give us one hell of a game with the confidence they have at the minute.

If we don't sign Aguero or another striker, he, besides Borini, is the only option we really have. He did more in 45 minutes than Kalou yesterday, and looked pretty lively. I just think Sturridge needs to learn when to pass, and when not to; instead driving on and getting the shot in. He'll learn that with experience, but he has a lot of potential.

I can see us getting beat tbh.

Branislav, once again.

It isn't a blip, its a rot IMO. However, I think its because of how competitive the league has been this year; everyone and anyone seems capable of beating whoever they are facing.

The loss on penalties to Blackburn seems to have dented the players' confidence massively. We went up there with an air of invincibility, but six games later, we look a shambles in terms of our mentality. There was no urgency at all. This isn't a blip - its a rot. One win in six games is not Premier League form, and I can realistically see us getting beat on Boxing Day by Birmingham, who are on an absolute role.

VS.Chelsea F.C. vs Fulham 28 Dec 09, FAPL, 1500 KO, Stamford Bridge Match chat here

VS.Birmingham City vs Chelsea F.C. 26 Dec 09, FAPL, 1245 KO, St Andrew's Match chat here

Dicko or Kalouseless for me.

Interesting draw; plenty of reunions being made; Beckham at United with Milan, Benzema going back to Lyon and now José returning to the Bridge. I'm fairly confident we'll beat them - we're the stronger, tougher team of the two - but we can't afford to underestimate an Italian team. We did that with Roma last season and that made things difficult for us. Sure we'll progress though, especially if we have a fit and ready Drogba back.

King Ivan was yet again brilliant. Been really consistent for us this year.

I disagree to be honest, we didn't miss him even half as much as I thought we would. Anelka was brilliant tbh.

I blame Roman for sacking Mourinho, to be honest. I have nothing against Grant; fall guy or not he was the manager and he gets the credit for us. Only bloke to have taken us to a Champions League final, afterall. But we wouldn't have been in that mess if Mourinho hadn't have been sacked. But anyway, its all in the past, all I'm concerned about is the fact we won.

The number 14's vacant. Besides, 7 and 9 should be reserved for Ribery and Aguero