Thor

I'd consider that an offensive problem. We played the same way with Carlo defensively last season but we still looked good in offense and created nice opportunities in front of goal. This season its just a big shamble up front, and our two strikers Drogba and Torres can't score more than Terry, our CB for the whole season. That's a structure problem that needs to be sorted out by AVB because he's got it all wrong. You won't find another top 4 team in any league that has the CB scoring more than the two star strikers who two years ago were considered the two best strikers in the league. I don't know how we are sitting 4th with Drogba having 3 goals and Torres 2. People need to quit harassing Torres for his performance this season and look at the way we're set up and the opportunities he's actually getting with our style and structure. Drogba can't even get hold of the ball and score either. Our midfield play and coaching is the problem.

I'm not one to make quick, brash assessments on anything, but after 20+ games, I think I can make a fair judgement on our club at the moment. I'll start by saying I love AVB's passion and the way he handles himself in the media. Clearly, this is one of the things I can't question; he is well learned on these topics. On the other hand, I will say this is some of the ugliest football I've ever watched in the last 10 years from our club. We have a problem getting the ball to our forwards. This is a coaching problem, completely, totally and undoubtedly. John Terry has more goals than our $50 million striker for the season, and is equal with our club legend who also happens to be the 2nd greatest striker going by numbers to ever grace the EPL in Drogba. I'll repeat that, John Terry has equal goals in the season with Drogba and one more than Torres. This is not the players fault, this is clearly a system designed by the coach that is not working. There is no way this should ever happen, and I don't think you can find this at any other top 4 side in any league where a CB has the same amount of goals as one of the premier strikers in the league on the same team. This is also the point where the people who say "its a transition, it takes time" need to pipe down. No, it doesn't take time for a team like us to look better offensively than teams like Blackburn, Swansea, Wolves and Wigan. Know why? All these players we take for granted and can get better than like Malouda, Bosingwa, Kalou, etc, who most would like to see gone from our club are still far more potent and better than anything those clubs have. We are a quick team and yet we play slow boring football that doesn't look to push the pace. I'll say it again like I did in the match thread, David Luiz is the only world class player in our squad. For all those that like to get on his case, he's the only one that looks to push the ball forward and get something going at all times. Ramires is the other, but he isn't quite the same caliber in terms of touch and shot. One more thing. Cech is a sub par goalkeeper. Say what you want, but I'm sick of seeing him get beat on sup bar shots on goal, and out of position. A change is needed since it's been a 2 year thing, not just a game here and a game there. I think most people that reply to this thread and are in fact a little peeved with whats going on at the club aren't exactly worried about where we are on the ladder, etc, but more of the quality of football we are stringing together. It's just pestering football with no quality offense going forward, no good shots on goal.

I'm sick of AVB. People saying "he needs the right players before we can see what he can really do". How about, he just deals with what he has now, and actually coach this team into one that can get a decent shot on goal. Our best chance in the second half when we were playing around their goal was the Essien strike from 35 yards out, and that was just a sheer punt from no where. That says a lot. AVB is clueless. I am sick of watching a team that can't get a decent offensive action towards the goal. We play some of the most boring football in the EPL. I'm saying this about the team I love and support, which will tell you plenty of how dreadful we are going forward. Do our forwards ever touch the ball? Can we at least get them the ball? It's no wonder John Terry has more goals than Torres and is equal with Drogba. Ronaldo wouldn't be able to score in this system. Why? Well he wouldn't ever get the ball, and when he would, it'd be somewhere up the ground and out of position. Malouda, you are a hack. I can see why you don't pass the ball, because you can't. Every time he touched the ball I felt like punching my TV. What a great player to have in the team. Bosingwa had a great game, but that's once in a blue moon. And I don't care if people don't agree, but get Cech the hell out of Chelsea. He's lost it. I'm sick of him letting in cheesy goals, and seeing him give away cheap ones at the near post what seems like nearly every second game now. I don't care who it is in between goals, just not Cech. Why is his spot a lock when he is constantly under-performing? As much crap as David Luiz gets from everyone around the league and a few on this forum, he's the only world class player on our squad. He's the only one that looks to push the ball forward and move it quickly; get something done at least. Romeu was similar when he started out but it seems like he's been hanging around Mikel too much. I'm sick of this boring ass football we're playing. Enough of this pass the ball back and around the goal shit. Be direct and look to do something with it. I honestly wouldn't mind 10 Luiz's out there, that way I know we'd at least try to get something going forward and attempt to win the game.

Was I the only one that did a little jig when I saw Mikel was unhappy? I know he's been great for us over the championship years but... go on son, put in that transfer appeal.

It's been a couple of games. Nothing crazy. And if anything, I think it's more likely that Balo leaves than Dzeko.

Fixed for present day Cech.

Try him at striker when Drogba leaves for ACON. He's clearly not a very good keeper.

It's not 18m yet. I believe it's 13m and could go to 18m depending on how he turns out.

I was thinking before the City game that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have him as the CB, though it is blatantly clear now that he should not be playing that role for us, since we really need him up the ground. He is our spark on offense, and our best chances usually come from one of his quick passes forward. I think he may be one of the sole players to bring that attitude back in the side, along with Meireles to a lesser extent. They look to move the ball forward instead of side to side allowing the defense to adjust.

I know you list Lukaku as his one major blip in the signings, though I'm pretty sure that one was sought out by Roman, and not so much AVB. So you could say he's 100% in terms of getting an immediate impact player for our team. Not saying I don't like the Lukaku signing, because I do; can't wait to see what kind of player he develops into. One major one I will agree on is the way he handles the media. Perfect. He doesn't get angry and lose his cool at them, so that they go back to the office with even more to write about us, but he almost manipulates the media by posing some tricky questions to them himself, and it's funny seeing them all be baffled by it.

Torres needs to play. Get his confidence up and get a few goals, that way if we need him against the Spurs in the second half he can come on super confident and slot one or two to finish them off.

I love the fact we didn't concede for 92 minutes as well. Big hand to all the players on the pitch for that. We were up against a team that drills goals into the net like its nothing and we essentially kept them scoreless for an entire game outside the first 2 minutes. All this without our CB. Another thing, they really didn't threaten the goal with 10 or 11 men which was even more pleasing. Outside of that first goal I didn't really feel they had any opportunities. It's 8:45am here on my side of Australia, what a great way to start the day.

Sitting deep in the rain and having the ball slip and slide any which way possible? Not a fan personally. There seems to be too big a gap between our two defensive lines. Close that up a little and should be fine. Haven't been this nervous for one of our games in a while; it really is make or break in terms of competing for that number one spot. LETS JUST FRICKEN DO THIS!

I don't think a RB is necessary at this point. Ivanovic has slotted in perfectly, and can occasionally fill in the gap at CB. Saying that, we do need a CB, just to have someone there for the sake of having a back up. As far as the winger situation goes, I would honestly love a winger for the left instead of the right, since I'm starting to like Danny on the right permanently. Unless AVB is going to change it up and have us play two up front; if so, get someone who is able to play on the right. I say this for the simple fact that if we can get someone on that left, we can have Mata being that creative midfielder in the middle which I guess has usually/kinda/sorta been left up to Meireles as of recently? A striker/CF is definitely a must IMO. Drogba getting old and possibly leaving, Torres still out of form it seems, and Danny looking good on the wings. I'm a big Pato fan, so I will always be pushing for him, but anyone who can put the ball in the net at a decent rate and is a quality player is fine. Cavani doesn't look likely, and I don't see us being linked with a whole lot others (as far as I know, someone correct me and and fill me in if wrong), so I would love Pato. Looks to be highly likely in my opinion especially with Milan being interested in Tevez apparently, and Pato falling out of favour with the coach... So to sum up... A CB, a winger - right or left depending on the desired formation and a striker.

He plays for Basel, there hardly ever is a pass to be made. It's not like he's surrounded by great players. Put him on a decent team like ours and he shines. Just like Modric would get even better on a team like Chelsea. He's incredible techincally, and I've been following him for a while. The ball does not budge from his feet, he has incredible control. Messi like in that way I think. Then there is the bulldog in him where he is able to hold the ball very well. He essentially reminds me of a less shot minded, more playmaking Rooney.

He mindfucked the shit out of Valencia.

Ramires is 6 foot. I'd say that's above average in terms of height, especially when it comes to football.

Man City have been playing the same way we did last night the whole season. Simply sitting back and counter attacking. With Luiz out, bring the lines in a little closer like last night, and see how it goes. They have to many lethal finshers for us to play high and allow them to get behind us. Dzeko, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli... Not worth it. Hit them on the counter. They've got big strong, quick backs, but Sturridge and Ramires on the counter are quicker. They'll need to have damn good games if we want to win.

Your blatant cheering for a Chelsea player to fail is quite sickening honestly. Wise cracks and sarcasm to try and hide your hate don't help.

Ramires is by far the quickest person I've ever seen on a football pitch. I think Sturridge is just behind him. Both are helped by the fact that they are tall and have long strides which is something Walcott and Lennon don't have. I'd back both of them over those two with Ramires just beating Sturridge.

If Drogba does go... it's going to be a whole different brand of football we play. We're going to have to get Pato in my opinion and play him with Sturridge up front, or Torres, and simply use the pace of those three to destroy teams. None of them are great at holding the play up apart from Sturridge who actually does a good job. Add Ramires into that who comes charging in from the midfield and we'll have the quickest team I've ever seen grace a football pitch.

I don't think the guy has had a bad moment in the press. He seems incredibly intelligent and articulate and knows how to get his point across in a spot on manner. He handles it beautifully. I loved his answer to a question about what the game against Valencia meant to him. - “It’s irrelevant what the game represents to me,” Just what you want to hear from your manager. I don't know about the rest of you, but he genuinely seems to me like he already loves the club, not just the fact that he's winning here with us.

I was happy with the game, no complaints. I loved watching Drogba play. I missed seeing such a dominant performance from him, it was absolutely incredible. One thing I do want to bring up is, would anyone feel comfortable letting Man City have that much possession against us coming up in the next game? City have players who are slightly better on ball than Valencia, and they have much better strikers of the ball who can hit goals from outside. Actually, that was another pleasing thing about the game. All their 'big chances' to score came from outside the box essentially, and when it comes down to that it has to be struck perfectly, not just magnificently, but perfectly to beat a keeper like Cech.

All I'll say is, I'm happy with the result. And screw vintage Drogba... that wasn't vintage Drogba. That was one of the best halfs he's ever had as a Chelsea player. That was new beast mode Drogba, and I love it. Another thing, Mata looks bothered by the physicality of the game. So do some of the other players. Need to harden up a little. And, I guess AVB listened to us guys. He's dropped the line so far back we practically have 11 goal keepers haha.

First time I went to the pub to watch a game instead of staying at home. Might have to keep it that way if it keeps us winning. Great performance from just about everyone. Danny, Iva, Terry and Sturridge were absolutely fantastic. Just need to get Ramires and Danny a coach to teach them how to place the ball in the net when one on one. It's bizarre how many one on one chances they actually do get, but then again the common theme with them is both blistering pace which helps them get behind the defensive lines. It was nice to see Torres have a good game, and he doesn't seem to be pouting or disappointed with his role. Great team player in the regard. As for the talk of Luiz and some of you saying he shouldn't be playing; I strongly disagree. He is an anchor in defense, and we shouldn't be so rash as to want him out after such a performance. He's been our most consistent back this season along with Iva. He should be a sure thing every week. The guy has the passion and ferocity of a lion and he's a guy you want in the team.