Wxgba

I think Di Matteo's scared to make "big" changes to the formation, what with his reputation and former connections to the club at stake. He wouldn't want to lose the support of the fans if he's got his eye on the job full-time, and as a result, is reluctant to make dramatic alterations. Thus far, I can't see any improvement in terms of performance but he's managed to claw some results out of the bag, which has ultimately kept the fans on his side. We need someone of Mourinho's stature; someone who's not afraid to come in and stamp his foot down. Mourinho would be ideal, but realistically, he's not going to be available so Roman will have to find another option. Di Matteo's done well during his period in charge in regrouping the dressing room and restoring a little bit of pride, but I don't think he's the long-term solution. Genuinely think we made the wrong decision letting Villas-Boas go. If anyone was to depart, it should have been the big egos that made his time in London difficult. No point dwelling on the past mind you... and hopefully Roman's concentrating on the future too and is searching high and low for a full-time manager to take the reins in time for next season.

I'm using Google Chrome but it turns out the problem is as Jim states! I see! It's only one click more, I just wasn't aware I had to click on forums before checking my notifications. In fact, I ought to save the bookmark to the forums as opposed to the main site. Thanks, Jimlaa.

Not sure if it's just me that's encountered this problem, but I've selected for the site to 'Remember me' so it logs me in straight away. However, if I open up TalkChelsea and I have some and have some unread notifications or messages, it doesn't allow me to click on them to open them, a loading circle just appears but doesn't do anything thenceforth. When I log out and log back in manually, I can open them. It's not too much hassle, but I was just wondering if it's just me that's facing this hiccup.

Regardless of the strikers ability, it's almost impossible to score goals regularly without good service. I'm not saying that he'd suddenly start firing them in like there's no tomorrow, but given the right service he would be much more of a threat. Without Mata on the pitch, there's no-one capable of that creative spark. We're void of out-and-out wingers leaving us extremely narrow, thus leaving Torres feeding off scraps. People really need to stop with these knee-jerk reactions, though. One minute 'Fernando's back!', the next it's 'Sell him he's useless!'. Although his form has been a little erratic lately, he's often proved to be our most influential player and deserving of that starting place up top. It's very easy to jump on the bandwagon calling for his head, but Fernando's goal-scoring form ought to be the least of our worries right now. There's plenty of other problems that need addressing; such as the formation, strength in depth and some wingers willing to hug the touchline and cross the ball!

Another disappointing performance, to say the least. The second half display was just abysmal, and the defending for the corner... don't even get me started. People also need to understand that strikers can't score goals without good service, no matter how much of a world-class player they are. Torres is begging for goals and we don't seem to want to give them him as the service to the strikers in recent games has been sporadic at best. Bertrand looked a bit nervous at times but was otherwise impressive again. It's quite a sad state of affairs when you're most reliable player at present is an inexperienced youngster. He's definitely proving his worth though and that he should be in contention for a starting place week in, week out. Think it proves a point though: those who are on the highest wages couldn't give two shits about the club and where they end up come the end of the season. We need players who are willing to fight and show passion. Unfortunately, it's hard to find players of that calibre in this day and age. All that negativity aside, we've played the worst I've seen us play in quite some time and we've still come away from Craven Cottage with a point. Had Spurs won or even got a draw earlier on today, a draw would've been catastrophic. However, they stumbled and hopefully that'll prove costly come the end of the season. Onwards and upwards (hopefully)!

5 goals isn't a lot to "cost" the team. Many other players within the squad will have squandered that number of goal-scoring opportunities by being selfish and not passing to a team-mate in a better position, not just Sturridge. Yes, we've got the funds available, but that's not the right mentality. If Sturridge is aware that he'll just be loaned out/sold on after a few more mistakes - remember they are just that: mistake - then it's not helping to build confidence. He needs time to learn and develop, and I hope that fans such as yourself don't allow for Sturridge to be released as he's a great player lacking in confidence at the minute.

That was my intention anyway, mate - I'd sent Jim a message containing the profile and then happened to stumble across this topic so thought I may as well post it up here. Every post counts and all that... Here's the updated, more "fleshed" out version: Again, feedback would be appreciated.

It's a universally-accepted fact that, on occasion, Sturridge is renowned for being too selfish. He may not be too comfortable with his role in the team, but he's happy to be playing regularly and is doing what comes natural to him: running at defenders, trying to score goals. I think "dictate" is a very strong word, as I don't believe for a second that Sturridge has been dictating anything in the dressing room. That's my first gripe. Secondly, and more importantly, "you think he should be let go in the summer"? Are you kidding me? One of our best and brightest assets and you're prepared to let him go whilst he's still undergoing developmental changes? Sorry, but letting him go would be a foolish move, if you ask me. He's got so much talent - yes, he needs work - and surely you'd like Chelsea Football Club to nurture such a prospect as opposed to one of our arch-rivals? Say if we're not to finish in the top four and we release players such as Sturridge, it's not exactly a statement of intent, is it? Be patient with him; get behind him; and he'll soon be firing on all (and hopefully less greedy) cylinders.

Fernando Torres, Chelsea’s number nine! He hasn’t always been a number nine, though, as he first started playing football trying to keep out strikers such as himself. He discovered that his talent wasn't to prevent goals, but to score them instead and was soon scouted into Atletico Madrid’s youth set-up when he was just 11 years old. Four years later, his progression in the youth team saw him warrant a professional contract with the club. After a few hindrances due to injury, Fernando deputised for Atletico two years later, in 2001. The following week saw him score his first professional goal for the club. Torres’ development continued as he started to further improve his goals-game ratio, and was awarded with the captaincy at the tender age of 19 as result of his hard work and commitment. Torres and his team-mates made it to the Intertoto Cup final, following their seventh place finish in the 2003-04 season, allowing Torres to showcase his talents to wider audience. Chelsea were said to be interested in this young prospect but the club soon eradicated any chances of Torres’ departure, claiming there would be “no chance” that he would be leaving the club. Torres himself publicly announced that he’d refused an offer to sign for Chelsea after the 2006 World Cup, though it wasn’t too long after that he departed Madrid for Liverpool in what would prove to be a great move for the Spaniard… A rumoured £25m was the amount Rafa Benitez forked out for this talented striker, which turned out to be quite the astute investment. Torres didn’t take long to find his feet on Merseyside, scoring on his Anfield against none other than guess who - yes, Chelsea! – in a 1-1 draw. He soon won the Kopites over and was a fan-favourite in no time. He made 102 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals in that time, which is rather impressive. That impressive that Roman Abramovich could no longer witness Torres in a red kit and was persistent in acquiring the Spaniard – perhaps a bit too keen, with Fernando Torres soon becoming the most expensive British transfer and the sixth most expensive player in history. Since arriving at the Bridge in 2011, he’s not been able to find his prolific goal-scoring form of old, but has nevertheless managed to win the Chelsea fans over, being somewhat of a favourite in the stands. When you’re paying £50m for a World Cup-winner, the least you’d expect them to do is win the fans over... Thankfully, Torres – although still lacking goals – is starting to find his feet in the blue of Chelsea, and I’m sure it won't be too long until we see Fernando bagging goals left, right and centre again. He’d rather walk alone he said…Torres, Torres! NB. Don't judge me or my writing as I'm pretty tired (probably got some "facts" wrong too), though constructive criticism is recommended!

I'm expecting another gritty performance from us. If we're to beat Fulham, it won't be emphatically - far from it. Fortunately, Fulham will be suffering from fatigue, too. This is a very tough, intense period of the season and it's another must-win game. I'm hoping for a better performance than against Wigan, but a similar result will leave me happy. I'd like to see Bertrand retain his place at left-back after his performance against Wigan. He doesn't see too much playing time so should be fighting fit. Drogba ought to be rested with the big game against Barca coming up, replacing him with Torres up-front. Other than that, I'm not too fussed on the line-up, so long as we come out of the game with three points and no injuries.

I just want to reiterate what LDN Blue replied in this thread almost a month ago. Daniel Sturridge is one heck of a talent, and heading for goal for him is hereditary. If Sturridge's "selfishness" is seen as a problem that needs to be addressed instantly then we, as Chelsea fans, have no hope of witnessing exciting football at the Bridge. Yes, he often keeps hold of the ball too long. Yes, he often makes the wrong pass. Okay, he doesn't track back as much as is expected from a winger... You want to know why? Because he's not a winger. He's a striker going through a learning curve. Not everything can revolve around him, and he can't always be the focal point of every attack - he's learning this, slowly but surely. He's one of the finest, young, British talents plying his trade in the Premier League right now. We have him at our club. We ought to be proud, rather than jumping on the "Sturridge is too greedy" bandwagon. Not many players possess the threat he does with the ball at his feet, and it's always nice to have a player in the team that's willing to run directly at opposing defenders. It causes problems, and without Sturridge doing that, who else will threaten people by dribbling with the ball? No-one. Sturridge is an asset to the club, and I'm fully behind him, seemingly against the majority. Give him time to improve and develop as a support striker/winger/whatever his actual role is, and he'll come good. Very good. And we'll all be laughing!* *Whilst reading the above post, please listen to Take That - Patience, thanks.

I agree with Malouda and Essien, yes, but Drogba? Give me a break. He's a defender's worst nightmare. His physical presence alone is enough to warrant a place in the starting eleven. "Other than coming somewhat close to scoring 3-4 times what else does he do?": 1. Isn't a striker's job to create chances on goal? 2. Do you even watch the matches? Drogba's great at holding the ball up and is often an efficient outlet when we're in trouble at the back. A big hoof up the pitch is wasteful in most circumstances, but when Drogba's up there he's a presence that will more often than not retain possession and start one of our attacks. A great team player that definitely deserves his time on the pitch, whether that be alongside Torres or centrally on his own. The fans were definitely booing him, but I think that it's totally unjust that they did so. Okay, his decision-making is one of his weaknesses, which I'm sure himself and the coaching staff are fully aware of and are working on improving. The fans ought to understand that he's still raw and needs a lot of development to fulfil his potential. At the minute, he's still a hot prospect learning through experience - people need to understand this and cut him some slack. It's not our job, as fans, to boo any member of our team, regardless of their actions on the pitch. He's a Chelsea player, get behind the lad. All booing will succeed in doing is hinder his confidence, and a player such as Sturridge strives on confidence. Booing him won't make his decision-making better; it's more likely to affect it negatively with him giving his all to try and win the crowd over. A player should never have to do that to his own fans. The kid's a breath of fresh air. He's positive and always looking to run at players. Yes, he might be a little selfish, but as I've said, I'm sure the background staff are aware of this and are helping him to improve on a weekly basis. Cut him some slack, will you?

I keep coming back with varying identities, so I feel a name change quite fitting. In all seriousness, I don't stick around for long enough periods to warrant frequent name changes. 'Bruyne' it is, then! P.S. I'm back.

Can I change my name to 'Bruyne', please?

What's the chances of our "strongest team" struggling to overcome Pompey then? You've simply got to play the youngsters in this... surely.

We did pay £50m for Torres though, which wasn't exactly deemed a gamble, so surely it's worth taking the risk? Personally I think Hulk would set the Premier League alight given the opportunity. Unfortunately, I can't see us signing anyone other than Cahill in this transfer window.

He's decent, yes. But he has set high standards that I doubt he'd be able to replicate if he was to make a "big move" elsewhere in the forthcoming transfer windows.

I'm happy with that, though I don't think he'll get two. I do, however, feel confident enough in us to think we'll beat them by a couple of goals. Drogba out isn't too much of a problem (as has been mentioned), as it makes Villas-Boas' team selection that little bit easier. Ashley Cole's absence, on the other hand, does worry me slightly.

After some careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion that, although I was raging at the time, Bosingwa's red is justifiable. Foy may have been lacking some common sense sending him off, but he was refereeing to the rulebook all day long. Well, at least when it concerned us he did. Wright-Phillips was through on goal, and would have been able to produce a shot on goal had Bos not hauled him down, therefore denying him a goalscoring opportunity. Seeing Cech's positioning, it would have been difficult for SWP to score, but the decisions aren't made on the likelihood of scoring per se. When down to ten men, and even nine, we were still, by far, the better side. We were unlucky to come away from the game with nothing. On another day, we'd have hit about five or six against them, because they were woeful at best. Although they entered the top-half after the game on Sunday, there's no way they'll be there come the end of the season. They'll be in, or around, the relegation zone. A poor side, with a bunch of overpaid, erratic and controversial players. That only leads to one thing... disaster. Enough of QPR anyway, that's done with now. Bring on Arsenal.

I don't think we should get too carried away, thus far. Some good, sharp and incisive passing has created us many chance, yes, but don't forget the quality - or lack of - opponent we find ourselves against. Two goals, even if he doesn't manage to go on to gain his hat-trick, will do Torres the world of good. He needs this. Here's hoping the second half brings us more goals and excitement (and a clean sheet)!

We, as Chelsea fans, need to stop being so ignorant and look at the bigger picture. Long-term success supersedes short-term fame and gain, and I hope AVB sticks to the philosophy that he's seemingly begun with; attempting to unearth and nurture young prospects who will be the future of Chelsea Football Club. We need to stop being so greedy and realise the facts - mainly that big-money, big-name signings aren't exactly our forte.

He's flown out with the squad, yes, but he's still recovering from injury.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Johnson, and I like the fact that he's more than capable of playing on both wings. However, as he's young, English, versatile, and at the country's richest club, there's no way we'll be able to acquire him for a reasonable fee - it'll be massively inflated and I don't think he's worth more than £10-£15m. City being City will want more than that so I'm hoping we turn our attention to a cheaper, more reasonable outlet.

Thanks, mate. I made a reappearance the other day and liked the look and feel surrounding the place so thought I might start frequenting more often again.

Can mine be changed to gdostephens, please?