Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham

[YouNameIt 1,511]

We need a new fucking midfield, and im not just talking about one player...

[Chelsea? 892]

If our mids suck then we should move to the 4231. but in all honesty 4231 isn't gonna save our season.

[francozola 2,040]

Before this turns into a rant between the Drogba and Torres fanboys, and before I go insane after another 'fucking disgrace' of a performance, I think we can be grateful we even managed a draw. Pathetic display, woeful management from Villas-Boas and again we saw the team completely rely on Mata today. Mikel and Meireles were fucking useless. Can't fault any of the defenders. Kalou and Lampard both did nothing when they came on, and come to think about it, neither did Drogba. Brilliant header from Sturridge, with a cross supplied by the man of the match Branislav Ivanovic. Not at all happy, but we're still in it, which is all that counts.

Alex, don't you agree that these types of woeful performances have been happening since last season under Carlo? Personally I think the AVB hate for this game is harsh. I'm not saying he's faultless, don't get me wrong.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Yep that's our biggest problem. Our midfield takes way too many passes. Apart from his bursts and energy, Ramires isn't good with the ball and with a pass. Mikel lol. Meireles poor. Lampard poor. We just haven't got anyone there ATM.

Drogba and Torres are always in good positions to be slipped in but instead the midfielder with the ball just passes it sideways.

I like Meireles at least he tries to get the ball to them, he just doesn't get enough power on it most times.

[Laylabelle 9,359]

Didnt think Drogba was that bad..ran around at least tried to get things going...random 'ow my arm' moment but other then that..

And like said..still in it.Only half time and all.Didnt think we'd get a replay way we were going 2nd half so bit of a surprise!

[francozola 2,040]

According to Henry Winter (daily telegraph football correspondent) our fans wasn't singing 'Jose Mourinho' it was the Birmingham fans.

He also said he asked all the other reporters in the press box and they agreed.

thanks for that. Glad to hear it. But wouldn't be surprised if some plastics had joined in as well.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Two things we can do:

• sack the manager, because he can't motivate this team, is tactically inept and clueless with his substitutions
  
• sack the squad, because they're fucking useless and if they can't be motivated by their wages and the prestige of playing for the club, they shouldn't be playing full stop. Plus they hardly help with their half-hearted performances.
  

One of the options is the easier of the two, but the bottom line is that neither our coach or our squad is good enough.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Alex, don't you agree that these types of woeful performances have been happening since last season under Carlo? Personally I think the AVB hate for this game is harsh. I'm not saying he's faultless, don't get me wrong.

Oh yeah, we've been seeing the same shit for the best part of 15 months now. I'm near the breaking point, as are many CFC supporters. HOWEVER AVB isn't helping himself with stupid team selections. Why play Mikel and Meireles today? Why not play them when defensive players are needed, like against Napoli? Why not play a more attacking midfield with Essien and Lampard? Why play the Useless Spaniard?

[Fernando 6,465]

Bull shit i seen a spark, it was almost impossible for him to control 2 of the long balls he got given to him, he made a quality backheel to Ivanovic great link up, where as Torres, you know nothings going to happen if you pass that cabbage the ball, mayaswell just just kick it out of play.

You saw a spark!

I saw nothing.

Two strikers that can't score for their life, but theoretical is not their fault. Is what we been saying over and over again.

Hence AVB and the board a bunch of fools for negating this problem.

[francozola 2,040]

Drogba and Torres are always in good positions to be slipped in but instead the midfielder with the ball just passes it sideways.

I like Meireles at least he tries to get the ball to them, he just doesn't get enough power on it most times.

Yeah with Meireles you always feel that he has some ideas but his execution is really poor.

[Chelsea? 892]

According to Henry Winter (daily telegraph football correspondent) our fans wasn't singing 'Jose Mourinho' it was the Birmingham fans.

He also said he asked all the other reporters in the press box and they agreed.

well, i really hope avb knows this. Would have been nice if our fans could have out sang them with an AVB chant, but can't complain

[Kojo 4,676]

We need a new fucking midfield, and im not just talking about one player...

All we need is a playmaker, trust me, Ramires is a good player and should stay in the team, a DM is possibly needed however, not seen too much of Romeu recently and doubt he's going to stay at Chelsea, but then again who knows. That passer in midfield is vital, it would of changed the full team, changes the mentallity and adds confidence, because no one has ideas in the midfield, Meireles is also a good player but he's out of form because he needs a good player next to him, it's useless having two box to box midfielders next to each other, Meireles should never of been a starting player, he's not good enough, squad player at most.

[Kojo 4,676]

You saw a spark!

I saw nothing.

Two strikers that can't score for their life, but theoretical is not their fault. Is what we been saying over and over again.

Hence AVB and the board a bunch of fools for negating this problem.

Well to be fair it might just be me getting too depressed about Torres coming to think of it, he's just really doing my head in.

[chrismada9 1,948]

1) Mikel and Meireles were fucking useless.

2) Can't fault any of the defenders.

1) Exactly! First and foremost, you could clearly see the results as to why Mikel has been away from the squad for a while because of Romeu's participation, and I don't know why, but AVB just seems to love Meireles too much, even though he appears to do absolutely fuck all for this club! At Everton, he should have taken Meireles off for Lampard, but he took Essien off... and today, he should have taken him off for Lampard, instead it was fucking Mata!! It just goes to show that he has no logic in his changes at all!

2) Agreed! I think Cahill, despite some costly errors such as pointless tackles getting him booked in the process, he was pretty solid! Ivanovic can cross much better than "Boshitwa" can, and Luiz played like a true captain! Really good display from him! If Luiz can reduce the "cavalierism" in his play, and he learns some English a little bit more, I think he would be a fantastic captain for us!

[francozola 2,040]

Two things we can do:

• sack the manager, because he can't motivate this team, is tactically inept and clueless with his substitutions
  
• sack the squad, because they're fucking useless and if they can't be motivated by their wages and the prestige of playing for the club, they shouldn't be playing full stop. Plus they hardly help with their half-hearted performances.
  

One of the options is the easier of the two, but the bottom line is that neither our coach or our squad is good enough.

Thought his substitutions were okay today. Drogba for Torres - no explanation needed. Kalou for mikel also a good change because mikel was shit and Kalou is a better option than Malouda. Mata going off surprised me but I guess he was being rested for Napoli. Anyway I couldn't really see us getting a winner tbh so while controversial I understand why he was taken off

[Laylabelle 9,359]

Defence wasnt to bad until it came to set pieces..all went mental then.Everytime B'Ham had a corner or a free kick a bit eeeek here we go moment

[zolayes 14,489]

disappointing but not the end of the world or even the end of our cup run

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Thought his substitutions were okay today. Drogba for Torres - no explanation needed. Kalou for mikel also a good change because mikel was shit and Kalou is a better option than Malouda. Mata going off surprised me but I guess he was being rested for Napoli. Anyway I couldn't really see us getting a winner tbh so while controversial I understand why he was taken off

The Drogba-for-Torres one made sense. Mikel shouldn't have been playing in the first place.