The Big Drog

How has he had a big dip in form? How can anyone have a big dip in form when they haven't been playing? Yes his cameo against Man Utd wasn't great, though considering the conditions he came on in it is understandable.

He hasn't played a lot of football lately which is a shame because he is a tremendous player. Im not sure why people are down on him at the moment, he is a terrific talent, in a completely different league to Mikel.

Fair play to Capello. Saw that his role was clearly being marginalized by the FA and rightly stuck to his principles, even in public, on the John Terry matter, innocent until proven guilty. I have all of the respect in the world for Fabio Capello. The English media wanted Terry stripped of the captaincy, the English media wanted Capello out oft he England job. I saw Martin Samuel describe it as a social lynching, a perfectly adequate term on this occasion. I also never understood the complaints of English fans about Capello. Look at what he is working with and look at what he has had to deal with. When the Terry/Bridge incident was turned into a full blown scandal by the media it deprived Capello of his rightful captain at the World Cup and disturbed his preparation. The English hysteria about captaincy also threw him off balance. At the tournament itself, his star player, Rooney, didn't perform and there was little he could do against a far superior Germany team. Since then signs have been a bit more encouraging but fans haven't forgiven him for the World Cup debacle. Personally I don't think any manager can or will do significantly better than Capello did. There isn't any great suggestion that the crop of young players England have at their disposal will be any better than the last bunch and Capello did all he could with them. The way Capello was ridiculed in the papers was ridiculous. They painted a picture of a bumbling buffoon who always made the wrong decision. In reality this is one of the most respected and successful managers in world football. A Seria A winner. A La Liga winner. A Champions League winner. What makes people think Redknapp, with his significantly less impressive CV, will do any better? I respect Capello for having the moral courage to speak out against what he believed was wrong. I also think Fabio probably saved himself a lot of headache and saved himself from a media bashing once England performed poorly at the Euro's this Summer, at his age, with the success he has achieved in his career, he doesn't need the bother.

Especially considering how they look as if they are related.

The proposed idea from Kostas is excellent and has been proven to work on other forums. As someone who generally analyses matches, Id like to be able to read other people's view point of the game but it is very tough to do that at the moment with the sheer amount of posts in the match day thread.

Probably because without him we haven't got a right winger.

The chance he had at 3-2 summed it up. Score that and, Howard Webb or not,we would have that game. Did the first bit, to take the ball away from Ferdinand and make space to get a shot in brilliantly, had a gleaming opportunity to shoot but took an extra touch to try to beat the defender and lost the chance, the old Torres would never have taken that touch. His cross for Mata's goal was superb, his general play was quite good but that miss proved so costly. Im looking forward to the return of Drogba.

I don't know about everyone, afterall Malouda was on the pitch.

Im sure the 5 yellow card totting up period has past, to be suspended at this stage you have to pick up 10 yellow cards so Ivanovic should be available.

Excellent article/blog. He was sublime yesterday, it is a big shame that we haven't been able to play him through the centre more often, I look forward to next season, when with a new left winger, we should be able to see more of Mata through the centre. He is an incredible player, the kind of player we have not had at Chelsea since pre Mourinho years and his adaptation to English football has been flawless.

I just watched the AVB interview with MOTD. I like AVB, I've liked AVB since he arrived, I like that he takes exception to the sly little digs that the media constantly take at Chelsea and from hearing him speak it is obvious that he is very intelligent and knowledgeable about the game. It hasn't been an easy start to his Chelsea career, unlike other managers who have arrived at the club with a team of champions ready made, AVB has had to overlook a period of transition as the remains of Mourinho's great side have been slowly fazed out to make way for a new look Chelsea. Its is a lengthy process that has taken longer than it should, due to the club firing managers to soon and creating an environment in which transition is not possible. I like AVB's approach to football, the way he wants the team to play, I honestly believe he will be a big success given the chance.

Yes he is considered England's top referee which is ridiculous, he refereed the Champions League final and the World Cup final, his World Cup final display was awful.

I think there are more than 7 but your point is correct, he does need to be allowed to spend. The absolute necessity must be a left winger who can go past somebody which will allow Mata to play in a central position week in, week out.

lol bit of both. I genuinely think he is probably the best ref in England and he is considered by Uefa to be an elite ref (which is why he refs Champions League games) and yes he might occasionally do Chelsea a small favour or two but nothing to rival Howard Webb's love affair with Man Utd.

I like Martin Atkinson, good ref, not too picky.

In an ideal world we would have gone for the kill but our team isn't as good as Man City's , the league table doesn't lie. This was a Chelsea team missing half of its first team regulars, with a centre back making his debut for the club and a midfielder making his first start after a long term injury, with all of that taken into acounr we did well to get it to 3-0 in the first place. And yes Mourinho is a wonderful manager, however Mourinho also had a much better squad to work with when he was at Chelsea than AVB does now, AVB is trying to build a top quality squad so that we can challenge in the future.

2 very good goals for Roma against Inter. It definitely looks like we missed a beat by letting him go, particularly when our current main striker looks to have some kind of phobia of scoring goals.

No need to worry. He will be against merseyside opposition next weekend, afterall Man Utd play Liverpool, expect him to keep his place in the side after an impressive showing at the Bridge.

Ah yes, so you did, my apologies. However your point is still a bit ridiculous. Even if Ferguson is one of the best managers in history, unless he is some kind of Maradona/Messi hybrid and plans on coming onto the pitch himself then Id say it is reasonably acceptable for fans of a club the size of Chelsea to expect them to hold onto a 3-0 lead. Of course that is difficult to do when Howard Webb is around. Im all for taking the positives out of the game but not expecting us to hold onto a 3-0 lead makes it sound like you think we are a Confrence team or something, we aren't, we are 3 time Premier League winners.

As i've said before, I've got sympathy for AVB. Today we saw a little glimpse of what his Chelsea could be. I have no doubt that he would rather play Juan Mata in a free role, but he hasn't got a quality left winger so he has to use Mata out wide. Juan was sublime today, if we can sign a decent left winger then we can look forward to seeing more of Mata in that same position. He has put his faith in Luiz and it is being repaid, he also looked excellent today. He hasn't had a chance to pick Essien because of injury which is a shame because Essien showed that he still has a lot left to give, he was terrific. AVB is lumbered with deadweight of previous regimes that we haven't had a chance to clear out. Id much rather take the positives from today than the negatives.

I watched the Athletico vs Valencia game tonight. He didn't have a lot to do, what he did have to deal with he dealt with well but he was well protected by a disciplined and hard working Athletico side who have found a new lease of life under Diego Simeone.

I remember something similar a few years ago. Spurs leading Man Utd, Webb gives a penalty that was never a penalty in a million years, Man Utd get the momentum from that and go on to win the game (and the title), vintage Howard Webb.

Come on now, one of the best teams in history? One of the best clubs in history yes, but this current Man Utd team is average by their standards and the standards set by the truly top teams in Europe (Real Madrid and Barcelona)

I agree that it is tough for AVB, im just saying, Mourinho definitely had more of an edge in press confrences than AVB (Mourinho has more of an edge there than anyone)

Another point I didn't make in my post. A managers influence on referee's is often talked about, we all know Ferguson has a big influence on refs, AVB does not, Id be willing to bet any of my limbs that had Mourinho been in charge of the team today, 2 penalties would not have been awarded against us.