Closed Chelsea 1-0 Stoke

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Let's not make useless pointless threads that can/should go in the post-match thread.

[francozola 2,040]

If they were being rested for Napoli, what a fucking shit decision it is. The Premier League should be our priority.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Didier Drogba speaking on Final Score: "To play Stoke is always difficult. Tactically they have a good shape, and we focused on the win today. It was a lovely pass from Juan Mata, knowing their defence played really high. We brought him in because he can change a game. He's very good."

Summed up perfectly.

[Wavy Crockett 190]

This will be my last negative post today because time spent complaining is time wasted but did anyone watch Ath. Bilbao play against United two days ago? You would honesly believe they played a different sport than us..

happy with a win and hoping for improvement next season

signing off :cfc:

[Madmax 9,219]

Agree with the 'papering over cracks' sentiment. Horrible timing nevertheless.

[Badboy 1,526]

Mata, Sturridge & Torres ALL on the bench was a very poor decision by RDM indeed. You have to play at least one of them.

Torres shoulda played some part today. But with that rubbish first XI, we didn't have a choice. The substitutions that were made were necessary and I don't argue with them. But the problem was that if all 3 weren't left out, we could have saved a substitute and used it on Torres.

If Torres had started and played the whole game Stoke would of got a shut out and we would of drawn 0-0. Torres would have hit it against the keeper, Drogba is finished but he still has a lot more to offer for the rest of the season then Fernando Lipstick.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Why make a thread like this after we've just won? Why don't you just enjoy the victory, have a few pints and enjoy the rest of the weekend just like i'm going to do.

Because I want people to be brought back down to earth. I have horrible feelings of a lot of the old guard being kept, playing regularly next season and like this and last season, play shit for long periods and another manager gets sacked. The player that made a difference was Mata, had it not been for his brilliant pass we would have not scored. It was staggering that all of the old guard (and those that created muting against AVB) started and played the whole 90 minutes. To me they gave me absolutely no confidence on why they should be kept, but some (importantly the current/new manager and the board) will in a stupid thought that they might have something to offer keep them, only for them to disappoint once again.

[francozola 2,040]

If Torres had started and played the whole game Stoke would of got a shut out and we would of drawn 0-0. Torres would have hit it against the keeper, Drogba is finished but he still has a lot more to offer for the rest of the season.

lol I'm not Torres' biggest fan at all but he could have been brought on in place of Kalou

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

Like many of you here I totally disagree.He wasn't great today but he certainly wasn't terrible.He helped out his defenders whenever he could and made some exceptional runs and passes.He is able to offer us so much and lets not forget that glorious free kick chance.

Its sad to know that there are some who don't believe in him and criticize him for no reason.The man scored his 100th premier goal for us!Surely he deserves some respect if not appreciation.

[Sheva. 5,373]

If Torres had started and played the whole game Stoke would of got a shut out and we would of drawn 0-0. Torres would have hit it against the keeper, Drogba is finished but he still has a lot more to offer for the rest of the season then Fernando Lipstick.

He couldn't have done worse than Kalou.

[Badboy 1,526]

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.

Sam who would you play instead of Drogba ??? Lets be honest, Torres went through the whole Africa cup of nations without scoring a goal. Sturridge is probably needed out wide and Kalou is Shit. So we don't have many options and he's scoring at the moment.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't think (hopefully) anyone here's under any illusion that Lampard, Drogba etc are still cracks within the team. I don't think anyone will suggest they should be here next season either. (hopefully).

[zolayes 14,489]

post match thread or drogs own thread

[Sheva. 5,373]

10 points ahead of Liverpool

(they do have a game in hand against Everton at home )

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

If Torres had started and played the whole game Stoke would of got a shut out and we would of drawn 0-0. Torres would have hit it against the keeper, Drogba is finished but he still has a lot more to offer for the rest of the season then Fernando Lipstick.

I am sure Torres wouldn't even have anticipated Mata's pass that eventually led to the goal.Even if he had,he surely wouldn't have been able to convert it to goal like Drogba. At 33,Drogba can offer more than a 27 year old Torres.

[francozola 2,040]

Re: the Torres issue, my point actually is that the first XI was very poor IMO and I can't believe some of those players were chosen. Only two of Meireles, Mikel & Lampard should have been played. Or maybe only one! This is Stoke at home for crying out loud! Having all 3 of Torres/Mata/Sturridge on the bench means that with the Ivanovic injury, only 2 can come on. Rightly so, Sturridge & Mata came on. But one of them should have been playing

Premier League should be our absolute priority atm!

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Sam who would you play instead of Drogba ??? Lets be honest, Torres went through the whole Africa cup of nations without scoring a goal. Sturridge is probably needed out wide and Kalou is Shit. So we don't have many options and he's scoring at the moment.

But my point is that we still need an overhaul. I'm not picking out individuals but I am saying that these players have been shit for the last two seasons. I have great fears that if we do get 4th some (including the board) will then kee pthem, they will force the new manager to play them and we go through long periods where we are shit again next season. I can see this happening if we get 4th.

Interestingly, all of the old guard played today, is Di Matteo making sure more mutiny does not come against him/

[Ollie 4,400]

Because I want people to be brought back down to earth. I have horrible feelings of a lot of the old guard being kept, playing regularly next season and like this and last season, play shit for long periods and another manager gets sacked. The player that made a difference was Mata, had it not been for his brilliant pass we would have not scored. It was staggering that all of the old guard (and those that created muting against AVB) started and played the whole 90 minutes. To me they gave me absolutely no confidence on why they should be kept, but some (importantly the current/new manager and the board) will in a stupid thought that they might have something to offer keep them, only for them to disappoint once again.

Worry about that after the season, if we've come 5th, if we lost 4 more games, if we start pre season with all the old guard. Don't think negative after a win otherwise you just aint ever gonna be happy are you. It's been a tough season so i'm grateful and happy for the wins we do get and now we can relax not worrying about a Chelsea game this weekend. Maybe we don't wanna be brought back down to earth because we aint won many lately.

Enjoy the win, be pissed off when we next lose with a whimper.

[bababoom 4,478]

So apparently the last three months when these supposed experianced players played like shit does not bother you. Or the fact that they were shit today, were shit last season, and could easily be shit again in the future does not bother you? Are you happy that in the future we will just be shit with the same players?

I'm just happy we won, so should you, it hasn't happened much the last couple of months so be happy and not fucking negative all the time.

[Kostas 1,468]

One of the main reasons I want us to move on from the like of Drogba and Lamps is so that we could collectively enjoy wins once again instead of dreading how they'll block any reform attempts, this has been going on since 09/10.