Closed Birmingham 0-2 Chelsea

[Term-X 7,891]

Mata clearly offered Torres the chance to take the penalty, Torres rejected the offer.

If Mata wasn't in the right frame of mind in the first place, he should have forced it upon someone else.

[francozola 2,040]

Why Mata didn't allow Torres to shot that penalty...he already scored a goal, and penalty was on Torres....Mata missed two penalties in row...

Torres isn't a regular penalty taker. And I would bet my house that he would miss the penalty.

[zolayes 14,489]

Reply to Sheva

We made the game look like it could of went either way, still not impressed, i expected a lot better than this and it looks like we still have huge problems with that performance. I am gald we've won i said that, i'm just gutted with the performance i expected better, Birmingham bring on a striker and take off a defender, you would expect the premier league side to domiante it even more, but no we get easily presured and back down, Birmingham should of scored at least once when that substitution was made.

FFS Sloth cheer up and have a drink

[Kojo 4,676]

They gained momentum when Mata missed that pen, but for the majority of the match (except the sequence at the end) i thought we did well.

And RDM has only been manager for 2 days, didn't expect anything spectacular, just wanted a win, and players who looked like they wanted to be there.

And this is exactly what i got

I expected us to at least be in control of the game, obviously not dominate like 6-0 with conceding no chances what so ever. I was just dissapointed with how easily pressured the team was, and it didn't start from then, we were in control a bit like we were before afterwards, when they brought on the striker that's when we were getting battered for about 10 minutes, Hopefully this gets sorted out, can't stand seeing anymore stupid shit.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Anyone else notice that the player that gave away the pen didn't have a number on his back? Weird.

[Blue Armour 4,466]

Why Mata didn't allow Torres to shot that penalty...he already scored a goal, and penalty was on Torres....Mata missed two penalties in row...

Can you imagine what would happen to his already tattered confidence if Torres had missed?

[francozola 2,040]

Based on body language the old guard will definitely be starters in most of the remaining games. Shame.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Mereiles goal:

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/golazo-raul-meireles-chelsea-v-birmingham/

[Kojo 4,676]

FFS Sloth cheer up and have a drink

No, it's still not there, could of went either way that game. We had to have luck so i'm dissapointed.

[Term-X 7,891]

The first thing Mata did was confront Torres and offer him the chance to take it, Torres rejected him.

[BlueSanti 290]

Now I can't wait till Stoke game. It was such a nice to see my beloved club to win again, Reberto celebrating with players, god I feel very good now.

But to be fair, if we want beat Neapoli or get in top four in PL than there's so much improvment to be done.

Thank you very much lads, I was feeling very miserable last week and even after first half, but this feeling I have now is great. KTBFFH

[francozola 2,040]

The first thing Mata did was confront Torres and offer him the chance to take it, Torres rejected him.

Oh, I didn't catch that. Not surprised at all

[Blue Armour 4,466]

Forget about his goal record for one second, the fact is he creates chances whenever he's on the pitch.

Wish i could say the same for many of our players. And like i said last week, play Torres with a striker, he can't score but he sure as hell can provide.

This, I would definitely like to see.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Cech says the players don't need to prove themselves. Yes they fucking do if they want my respect back.

[Sheva. 5,373]

The first thing Mata did was confront Torres and offer him the chance to take it, Torres rejected him.

He doesn't take pens, even when he was still a very good player.

Pretty sure he himself knows he'd miss it

[zolayes 14,489]

No, it's still not there, could of went either way that game. We had to have luck so i'm dissapointed.

if you expected a perfect performance you must have been on something .... And by no stretch of the imagination

could it be called a lucky win , We were clearly on top ..could easily have scored 6 to their 1

[ChelseaFanMKD 41]

From what im reading on twitter, Brana tried to convince Torres to take the penalty, but Torres rejected. I support him, he wants to score goals from games, not penalties.

[Term-X 7,891]

Oh, I didn't catch that. Not surprised at all

Nobody did.

Itv just showed a close up replay (after the game had finished) of Mata clearly offering him the chance to take it, Torres down right rejected him.

[Tortilla9 390]

Torres has only taken one PK in the PL. It was with LFC his first pre-season and he missed. He used to take them at Atleti but since he arrived in England he hasn't.

[manpe 10,861]

Positives

• Win
  
• Clean sheet
  
• First half of 2nd half
  
• Notable players: Luiz, Cahill, Mata, Ramires, Meireles, Bertrand
  

Negatives

• 1st half
  
• We didn't make B'ham look bad even with their injury crisis
  
• Creative issues persist
  
• Defensive issues persist (the only reason we didn't concede is because we faced a weakened Championship team)
  
• Torres - not a striker anymore, can't shoot for love of god (but he was robbed an assist by Sturridge)
  
• Notable players: Torres, Sturridge, Lampard (was invisible yet again)
  

I'm happy for Di Matteo and Newton. However, I'm not overly optimistic by what I saw, but I'm glad that my prediction (I predicted a loss) was proven not to be. It's a good first step for our previous assistant and current caretaker manager. All in all it was a positive reaction by the squad (not a surprise) in what I feel was a sense of relief by some players in the wake of AVB sacking. I don't think the group would have hugged after a goal with AVB like they did with RDM, so it confirms their former dislike or lack of empathy for the Portuguese.