MagicManMata

Yes but 4-3-3 is back my friend, it is taking over games and coaches are slowly going back to it now, over the 4-2-3-1 (which is still the dominant formation, but not for long IMO).

I thought HGH (Growth Hormone), in the form Messi was taking it, was a banned substance as well?

More precisely, the shift is from a 4-4-2 formation, to a 4-2-3-1 formation. This started en mass circa 2008. The Prem has ironically been late to adapt. In the last year or two, I'm noticing a shift from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 formation (thanks to Barca in particular). I predict that in 1 or 2 years max, 4-3-3 will be the preferred formation, as this is allows for more flexibility and players interchanging positions up front.

Ramires and Torres were awful today. Lamps and Mata at least showed us some spark.

To have a good striker partnership, first you need good strikers. This team has none. Nando cannot finish, and Drogs is getting long in the tooth.

Happy about the lead, disappointed about the card situation. We need to kill this game off. Let's go Blues!

The key is we would have to beat Barca through two legs. Realistically, I cannot see that happening, as our team is not built to deal with their tiki-taka. Milan are just one match away from doing the business for us, the result was very favourable for the Italians in the first leg, and their inferior quality showed in that match as Barca dominated possession and scoring chances. I will always support Chelsea but if Barca is in the way, this year I would not be deeply saddened to bow out at the QF stage, so that our lads are fresher for the big PL games coming up. What would you have, more matches in a competition we have little chance in (assuming this is the case), or fresher legs for the winnable clashes with Arsenal and Pool? At any rate, just 12 hours left to find out who our SF opponent will be. Can't wait!

Let's take this out of the football world for a minute. Buster Douglas defeats a prime, unbeaten Mike Tyson for the Heavyweight Title, before a young Evander Holyfield can get his title shot. Does this mean that Douglas, having just defeated the #1 fighter on the planet, is a comparable threat to Holyfield in the next matchup? Evidently not, as their fight showed us. The same principles would apply here.

**** the Europa league, for real. We cannot become Liverpool, we must make it into the CL one way or another. There is 30 odd million on the line and with FFP such a sum cannot be passed up.

I agree but Milan are an old team (ok, so are we), riddled with injuries, and will likely have card issues in the semis to boot. As for the final, it is only a single match, a total crapshoot.

I get where you're coming from, but the Barca-Milan match takes place 24 hours before our match with Benfica. Therefore it will be hard for many of us posters not to speculate on the winner that "would be" next, in that 24 hour period, before we play the Portuguese.

Honestly not bothered at all by the FA cup. Would rather focus on the league and CL atm.

And if they lose, I am happy taking the L against Benfica, in order to focus on the league. I feel like our team is strong enough to beat the likes of Milan and Bayern, but have no chance against Barcelona who are on a different level.

What a game!!! Torres, Mata, and Ivanovic were the stars. UP THE CHELS!!! CAREFREEEE!!!!

Quoting myself from the other thread. The underlined has just happened this weekend. We got the W, Arse pick up an L. We are now just 5 points back of Arsenal. IF City can do as they are supposed to and get the win against Arse, and we hold serve, there is only a two point difference. Since we play Arse, our destiny will likely be in our own hands then. Win that game and we're up a point, hello CL money! Tottenham has a very easy run-in. They could falter, but Arse has been the target all along.

I for one have not given up on finishing in the top 4. If we beat Arse and keep winning when (they likely will) they lose to City, we are only 2 points back of them. That's less than one result difference in the other 6 remaining games, all of which are against weaker sides, bar Liverpool (who are struggling).

Getting there, but no, not quite yet. We have to pick it up in the league, starting with AVL this weekend. Anything but 3 points would be a massive failure.

Must-win game. The league is still our only shot at the 30+ million of CL money that is at stake. We must win against the smaller, dangerous sides like Villa. Going on a big win streak in the league would be great, if we beat Arse heads up and they lose to City who knows what will happen.

Probably best to play the B team in the FA Cup now. All efforts must be made to secure CL money for the club next year, so the league and now the CL are top priorities in my view.

The only thing Torres has proven is that he has excellent link-up play. Otherwise, he has been a massive choker in front of goal for the better part of two years now. Drogba is still our first choice striker, Torres a backup who can fill in against lesser sides. When used in a creative role however, Fernando is still starting material. Just don't count on any goals in the big matches (eg. Arsenal).

Sturridge does seem to have a real weakness when it comes to link up play. The lad needs to improve on his passing and decision-making if he wants more starts. Not only that, but whenever he does get into a shooting position his accuracy has been rather mediocre. Keepers also seem more confident when facing Sturridge because they know he will always go for the shot. With most proper CFs (and wingers) they still fear the passing option. This is the biggest worry for me. No wonder he has spent time on the bench recently.

Tasty draw.

No way we are beating Barca. IMO Losing in the QFs will be a blessing in disguise. Now if Milan eliminates Barca, all bets are off! Particularly if Bayern upset Real to boot!

That's right, I am happy with the way our CBs have been playing.

Disappointing match. I think we still have a shot at CL qualification however. Spurs are not exactly that far ahead, and we play Arsenal head to head. If we beat Arsenal, which is definitely within our abilities to do, things will quickly turn around. They still have a match against City (should be an L for Arse), if we hold serve in the meantime suddenly the gap becomes a mere 2 points. With 6 other matches still to be played. There is still hope! The only thing that worries me is our brutal schedule. I honestly don't see us beating any of Barca/Real/even Bayern, so a relatively quick CL exit may be a blessing in disguise.