Closed Chelsea 1-0 Stoke

[Sheva. 5,373]

It is so easy to play against a team that play with 9 defenders and 1 striker....

[LDN Blue 7,903]

"Chelsea created EIGHTEEN chances today (Mata 5, Kalou 5, Lampard 4, Terry 2, Cahill 1, Mikel 1). Stoke created only 3. Dramatic difference!"

[Wavy Crockett 190]

Bloody hell, they cant do anything can they they lose you lot slate um we win still slate them, i think some of ya need to relise who gives a fuck how the 3 points come as long as they come this is the situation we are in for the rest of the season.... a VERY MUCH NEEDED 3 POINTS>

problem is...not every game is at home against Stoke who play with 10 men for 70 mins

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Important 3 points, puts pressure on Arsenal and made even better by Liverpool's loss. Performance wasn't great, Stoke went down to 10 men fairly early which pretty much meant they presented no attacking threat for the duration of the game so it became a question of could we break them down? It turns out that yes, we could, once.

The game did highlight the continued problem of creativity in the side. It doesn't matter who the manager is, if he has to rely on playing the likes of Kalou, Mikel and Ramires on the right wing in the hope of breaking down a mid table side then he is destined to fail in the long run, it is a situation that desperately needs to be fixed in the Summer. Far too many times all we seemed to have were shots from long range, most guilty of this was Frank Lampard whose only thought these days seems to be "shoot" that isn't good enough anymore, there has to be more craft in the in the team.

That being said, if there was ever a reason to be optimistic about the future it is Juan Mata. Played in a central position and looked on an entirely different level to everyone else on the pitch, his clever 1/2 touch play, his darting movement, his jinking runs and the clever slip passes, the lad is the talisman of the team and his outstanding assist for Drogba won us a hugely valuable 3 points today, he borders on the sublime.

Cahill did quite well at the back when he was called into action, infact this was probably the ebst I've seen him in a Chelsea jersey, dealt very well in the 2 one on one situations he was forced into. Drogba took his goal very well, managed to find some room in the box and delivered a cool finish, nice to see that one of our strikers can still score.

Wednesday night the initiative will be with us to break down Napoli and score, all the while be aware of their lethal counterattacks. Our attack will have to be far more creative, far more varied, far more fluid and far more penetrating than it was today if we are to qualify.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Bloody hell, they cant do anything can they they lose you lot slate um we win still slate them, i think some of ya need to relise who gives a fuck how the 3 points come as long as they come this is the situation we are in for the rest of the season.... a VERY MUCH NEEDED 3 POINTS>

because that performance against the majority of teams wouldnt result in 3 points. 3 points IS the most important thing but we should expect much more from our team in playing terms but as i say its hard to guage a game like this when Stoke for the most part park themselves in their box

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

We could have played better but one thing is for sure we play more like strong team when both Mata and Sturridge are on the field.

[francozola 2,040]

I think we played better when it was 11v11 lol. Ivanovic and Cahill with some great chances! Afterwards they just stuck everyone back and we couldn't find a way through.

If this is our "HONEYMOON PERIOD", wow! I am very worried indeed.

[Badboy 1,526]

That was bloody shit, if that was United or City they would of crushed Stoke by cutting them open consistently. Do not for one second allow Drogba's goal to paper over the cracks ! Raul is really pissing me off, he's just sooooo average and its not good enough. Kalou has got away with playing for this club for 5 seasons now and i think he has done well for himself because the truth is he's a lower premierleague standard player.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

While I congratulate Drogba on reaching the 100 mark. Let’s not forget that he was awful for most of the game if were not the sheer genius of Mata, then we would have probably drew the game.

I honestly did not celebrate when the final whistle went (or when Drogba scored) I feel sad that many will just use this game to paper over the massive cracks. Lampard was o.k, but how many games have we said that? Drogba was laboured and lacklustre yet will probably get to play 5 or 6 more games while playing cr&p before he is dropped. I just feel so depressed over our future. Insult me if you want we still need a massive overhaul where most of the old guard (including Drogba and Lampard) are gone. Otherwise they will give us another season of disappointment like they have given us the last two seasons.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Ivanovic was brilliant in the 1st half, why did he go off? Luiz did nothing in his place.

but as i say its hard to guage a game like this when Stoke for the most part park themselves in their box

This and only this. We're not creative enough to break down a side with fucking 9 men behind the ball.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

This game reminded me of the Mourinho era. Good deffending, dominating possession, and a 1-0 win. Who needs mourinho when you got RDM?

[Madmax 9,219]

At the outset, happy with the result. But only that.

RDM's team selection hinged on the negative. Leaving out two of our biggest threats going forward when we're struggling for goals and inspiration upfront was baffling. Trying to match Stoke with like-for-like physical players is something I don't agree with. Space was going to be everything so to have players who can manipulate and utilize it should have been been the emphasis. Hopefully the Mata pass that led to the goal will serve as an eye-opener.

Performance wise, more of the same. Lack of invention, any meaningful pace or tempo. Would have been naive to expect instant changes but even so, what was on offer wasn't too encouraging. Confidence matters nevertheless, let's hope this gives us the impetus to try and make a match of it against Napoli.

I couldn't help but notice how every player who's openly supported AVB before and since the sacking was left out - Mata, Sturridge, Meireles (substituted 35 or so mins in) while the established set-up survived 90 mins.

[zolayes 14,489]

against 10 men we created very few chances , that is a major worry . Secondly some of our passing was abysmal.

my MOM was Cahill . thought he was superb

[bababoom 4,478]

I did not celebrate when Drogba scored or when the final whistle went. I feel sad that some will use Drogba's goal and Lampard's performance to paper over the massive cracks.

What? i swear some people on this forum just love it when we're losing or going through a 'bad patch'... we won ffs.

[Santiago. 1,500]

Wait....Kalou played the whole game?