Rubber bullets

Marin is back from the dead.

But that doesn't make sense, why always have Turnbull on the bench and not Hilario (not to mention the only time Cech was rested it was Turnbull that started), that's a big indication that Turnbull is the current no.2

To the whole idea that Lampard should be given any sort of contract because of what he can teach the younger players (something that never got to me as why its the whole grail of having younger players) there was an interesting article in The Times that puts questions on this whole mentalility (and shows fridge thinking to the idea). http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/chelsea-right-in-refusing-to-be-held-down-by-lampards-anchoring/story-fnb64oi6-1226546070246

Where are the reports saying we are about to sign him? Apart from one (very brief) report in The Sun all other articles were done on the 30th December.

Well my News Year Eve has gone from going to the pub for the night to being stuck home to look after my 3 year old niece while her parents go off celebrating, great .

Do you think the sacking of AVB could possibly be the case if it turns out that the board have not even started negotiations of his contract? I remember reading a news report (can't remember where) that the supposed break down in relations between AVB and Lampard has meant that Roman still holds a bit of a grudge against Lampard because he was seen as playing a big part in AVB's sacking, and since Roman personally invested £13 million pounds in AVB, sees this as the perfect opportunity to force Lampard out of the club rather then go through a messy process (with both the club and fans) of trying to force him out in a transfer window.

Problem is that no one wanted to buy them so we had no choice but to keep them or at least spend them out on loan (although I'm sure Yossi is not paid that much), ironically this is what can happen when you give players who are 30 or about to approach 30 long term contracts and then later you don't want them in the team.

What are the chances that no other club wants to buy him and we are stuck paying his wages while he sits on his arse until the summer?

No worse then Ashley Cole, who I feel has been lackluster the last few games but won't get much call outs about it.

Looks like he will end up like Zhirkov, an injury before the season starts and all of a sudden managers hesitate using them due to being accustomed to other players (e.g Moses)

I really hate the idea of trying to find so called replacements for past stars (if your implying trying to find someone who will play exactly like Lampard and score 20 goals a season). What really needs to happen when looking at new midfielders is looking at their individual attributes and seeing how they can shape the team, for example Mata is not like Lampard because he does not position himself in midfield to make runs forwards (he starts behind the striker) and focus more on creating goals or others, wile Oscar also prefers starting in an advance position while thinking he opposite fro Lampard, because he likes to run deeper in the midfield to help the flow of the play. We need to be thinking how their way of playing can help the team be successful. Same when we buy new midfielders. Taking the mindset of who will take the place of Lampard is a bad mentality and gets us no where when trying to progress forward.

Maybe its the source of his powers. If so god damn it.

Knowing us, I bet his knee goes on his debut. Oh such a cruel world.

Passing Luiz: 54 passes, 74% accuracy, 2 key passes, 9 long balls Lampard: 49 passes, 61% accuracy, 2 key passes, 2 long balls Various: Luiz: 2 tackles, 4 interceptions, 6 clearances, 3 fouls, 2 aerial duals won, 1 shot. Lampard: 2 tackles, 1 interception, 1 clearance, 0 fouls, 0 aerial duals won, 4 shots. Having said that, Luiz did look a little bit too brash for my liking.

Is it me or has Cole been lacking in the last few game? Is it a case of tiredness?

The problem is will he fail his medical? He has failed them for two clubs in his career.

Big shock, Turnbull with a cleansheet.

Its quite ironic that our 3 worst performing players all played a part in the goal. But we need to perform much better, or Everton will easily score again.

I bet you Lampard will never be criticized the pundits in this game.

Put Ramires n the centre for god sake's.

Lampard and Luiz look completely loss. I knew this would happen.

The big problem is that I think his body is starting to break down. Whn he got the injury against Liverpool, everyone was saying how much iron he is made of as it was thought he would be out for about 2-4 weeks. Yet its been well over a month and could extend into the begining of January due to his knee swelling up. I would not be surrprised if the club moniter his physical health for the next year bfore discussing a new contract to see how much time he spending on the sidelines.

Very solid defensivly, Mikel showed that he does have uses when it comes to defending, Holt and Hoolahan could not get a sniff.

I may be the only one, but Mikel should get credit for keeping Holt and Hoolahan at bay, who can cause team great problems in the defencer (just ask Arsenal or Man Utd).

Comfortable but we need to be more assertive in attack.