Jase

Seems that John Carew will be joining Inter very soon!

Barral thanked Drogba for the concern and visit after this incident at the weekend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mstiLT0AEu8

Well, that wasn't exactly the point I was trying to make. Just don't go generalize everyone into one category here.

Like I said, it's just a case of being realistic. If we are playing well and getting the results under Benitez now, we wouldn't even be pessimistic one bit. Some are just reacting based on the circumstance that we're in right now. Can you really blame them? Man United are doing so much better than us right now. Lethal in attack, good in defence (lately) and playing much more cohesively as a team. And we are lacking in those aspects right now.

What happened to that news or rumour about him getting a new 5-year contract back in December?!!

Think everyone would want to be optimistic for games like this but there is always a need to be realistic in situations like this. More than happy to be proven wrong here but better to lower expectations and be surprised. Has worked well in the past. And it's not like you haven't been negative before certain games too. Moreover, getting KOed by Boro could well be blessing in disguise in terms of allowing the team more rest and time to prepare for other games especially the league ones.

It's probably more of being realistic than being pessimistic with the way things are going Benitez and as previously highlighted, his poor record away against the big teams. He just doesn't instill confidence whatsoever when it comes to matches like this.

You forgot to mention that those 2 games were at home and we were then under RDM, who played attacking football. Now under Benitez, he's more concern of not losing first than trying to go out and win games from the start.

Worth remembering that there is the Confederation Cup this summer which Mata is likely to participate in.

Probably Boro. At least they're a Championship side, not a League 1 or 2 team. Barnsley were a Championship IIRC when they KOed us out in 2008. That would certainly be better than going to OT and getting smashed by 3-4 goals. Negative thinking I know but with Benitez around, he just doesn't instill confidence one bit and his tactics away from home against big teams is always negative. His past stats at Liverpool have proven that.

Indeed. Benitez flogged Mata to death in those matches but yet seem to needlessly rest and rotate Hazard when he has looked to be our freshest attacker due to the rest gained from the ban. How is he being a winger related to your point about him being groomed as a striker in the 1st place? Also, a second striker is different from a striker. The former role sees one play in the hole behind the striker and that is his main and best role, which is the No.10. Striker is someone who plays up top and since when he has played as the striker for Spain?!

Probably not but it was the manner in which we lost that has annoyed many. There was hardly any fight, desire and determination. We were just going through the motions and hoped for the best.

4 years ago...

This is healthy...

Most of those appearances are in the lower leagues. Not sure how much one can really look into that. And yes, he's only got 2 England caps so far but he's only starting to get into Hodgson's. He's only 23, not 27, 28, 29 FGS! Easy to ask that question now and say it's Shaw when he has been a given chance to play consistently at LB while Bertrand hasn't and at times even being played out of position! Looking at this (short) debate, think it's clear that both of us have our own opinion on this matter. Probably best to just agree to disagree rather than going around the bushes.

Next 2 league games for: Chelsea vs West Brom(H) vs Fulham(A) - (depends if we get past Boro in the FA Cup) Tottenham vs Arsenal(H) vs Liverpool(A) Arsenal vs Tottenham(A) vs Everton(H) - (depends if Everton get past Oldham in the FA Cup though) Wonder what are the odds of us picking up 6 points from those 2 games or even 4 given that we look to have the easier games than the other 2.

For now, Benitez because he's the one managing the team and is hardly doing much right!!

Never said it was wrong for you to offer your opinion about Bertrand and Shaw. And me not offering not an opinion there? Deary me. Clearly said that we should not jump the gun with Bertrand yet. Might end up being the better one. He's a solid young LB who is still developing. Nowhere near a finished article yet. Even if Shaw has showed more potential at 17, that doesn't mean anything. Lots of player have showed potential at a young age but failed to make it at the very top level. Not saying Shaw won't but it's one thing to have potential and another to have fulfill it completely.

Down to 4th now. 2 points behind Spurs and 2 ahead of Arsenal. RAFA OUT!!! :rant:

Both have potential and neither are finished article just yet. Bertrand might turn out to be the better one, who knows? It just seems that people want Shaw mainly because he's a Chelsea fan and had a couple of decent performances against us. Bertrand was patient and worked hard through the ranks to be where he is now. He deserves to have a right go playing at LB before being written off completely. Furthermore, he is still young and developing. All this change in managers recently wouldn't have helped either.

Some can work. Some won't I believe. And try to remove the 'large' text part from the URL before putting up the image. Might work then.

So much for wanting to see a player from our own academy playing in the 1st team...

BAH! Beaten by seconds to it!

Just like after the Juventus game last November, looks like he was in tears again yesterday.

Dzeko talks up Bundesliga return