Closed Chelsea 2-2 Southampton

[Jase 43,479]

Am really baffled as to why Benitez only made 1 change. Marin was on the bench FFS! Playing Hazard-Mata-Oscar behind ST is just not working at the moment. All too narrow & at times, Oscar was tasked to play as a winger on RW! As much as Marin hasn't exactly set the world alight, don't think Oscar is exactly doing much better than Marin at the moment. Moses gone to AFCON. We need width and Marin is not even been used provide that and given a chance to claim a spot in starting XI. Additionally, bringing off Lampard(for Torres) was mind boggling! He was poor but he's a goal threat. Oscar should have been the one subbed off.

As if our home form isn't bad enough, we have Arsenal on Sunday and Benitez's record against Wenger in PL reads - P12 W3 D4 L5. Rafa Benitez's overall record against Arsene Wenger - P17 W4 D5 L8. And it's a London derby against Arsenal this weekend and we have yet to win one under Benitez - P3 D1 L2. Perhaps the saving grace right now is after Arsenal this Sunday, our next 4 games are all away from SB - Swansea, Brentford, Reading & Newcastle.

Overall, it's the 3rd midweek in a row that the Wednesday night & following days have been ruined, thanks to the poor results at home!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I agree with everything but the very last word...

We absolutely do lack talent...we have potential but that's not the same thing. (That's talent for a team that rightly considers itself one of the best in Europe. Obviously a lot more talented than most clubs.)

[DJames 729]

Horrible results...expected a win when we went 2 up. Guess the boys were expecting one too and sat back. I thought Luiz had a good game wonderful passing from him today. Mata was not that bad but not his usual best. We are still third at the moment and hopefully the team comes out to win on Sunday. KTBFFH!!!

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

<p>Have to be honest, wish the fans would stop signing on the 16th minute EVERY WEEK and actually cheer/try to make the players feel like they are at home for the full 90 minutes of the game rather than just sit booing constantly. Support the team or don't go to games. Seems like some of the so called 'fans' just go to games to remind Roman about sacking Roman then just boo the fuck out of Rafa. </p>

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<p>Sure Robbie was a nice guy, legend at the club as a player and first CL winning manager for us which makes him a legend in another sense but theres no Jose, Carlo, Scolari, Hiddink or AVB tributes on certain minutes. We're clearly losing points at home because of this booing bullshit, its kind of rubbing off on the players and they are playing poorly.</p>

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<p>Out of the first XI, how many players do you reckon actually felt like they were at an away game at times? I'd imagine a lot of them. Not saying this to anyone in particular on here but sometimes its embarrasing to hear such a hostile atmosphere at the Bridge. Especially all these new players adapting to the culture, I wonder how they feel.</p>

[zolayes 14,489]

I'm really embarrassed by the lack of support at the Bridge. Thank God for the 16th minute or els i would've forgotten there were people in the stadium. Seemed like an empty stadium U16 match.

Ramires and Lamps had a horrid game. Gave away possession so easily at times. I'm starting to worry a bit about Mata as of late, the goals have dried up and the only special thing i remember him doing the whole month was that cross to Ivanovic against Southampton.

It seems like that every shot on target is going in at the Bridge, we can't catch a break at home. All Cech had to do today was gather the ball out of the net. Cahil and Luiz were excellent in the first half, the latter had a few good passes that the attackers failed to work with. I'm feeling bad for Oscar right now. He started so bright but as we can see Benitez is ruining him, so far. It's either DM or Right wing? What's the point in playing him at all...

The only bright aspects were Hazard and Ba. Great hold up play again by Demba with Hazard getting all the knock downs/flicks.

All in all it was a SHIT GAME and the icing was Torres coming on and making an embarrassment of himself as usual. At one point where he tried to head the ball and just randomly jumped like 2 seconds early haha

I am sick of armchair fans critising those who go to games especially our travelling fans ,,,Many of our season ticket holders where there before Roman there before Jose ,,,but what right have you to criticise then .

[Rmpr 8,977]

We absolutely do lack talent...we have potential but that's not the same thing. (That's talent for a team that rightly considers itself one of the best in Europe. Obviously a lot more talented than most clubs.)

We have talent: Ba, Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Moses, Lampard, Luiz, Azipilicueta, Cole, Terry and Cech.

I cant see how much more talent we need to beat teams like QPR, Soton, Swansea, etc.

[Blue Armour 4,442]

The Lampard off Torres on sub must be one of the most unpopular and frustrating subs of all time at the Bridge.

Probably when the stadium was at its loudest...

I'm watching through a telecast yes, but for me during the past two seasons the bridge has been disgruntled most of the time. It started during the Carlo slump and has been noticeable ever since, when things don't go our way in a match.

I'm not saying that's the reason we drew of course, (Cahill was culpable for the 1st goal, and Lamps and/or Rami for the second) but its no coincidence that our better results are coming away from home.

[Beepu 1,714]

I am sick of armchair fans critising those who go to games especially our travelling fans ,,,Many of our season ticket holders where there before Roman there before Jose ,,,but what right have you to criticise then .

The travelling away fans are absolutely amazing i think, loud and proud. But the home fans hasnt been amazing so far in Rafa's reign, i understand the hate of Rafa but the booing and the negative atmosphere MUST have an effect on the performance.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

The away fans are amazing. That is for sure. No doubt about that.

But morale with the fans and therefor the team at home is surely low.

I don´t blame them. It is more than understandable given the performances they and we all witness at the Bridge but I think it won´t change before the booing stops.

It's the other way around. Our fans don't start off the game booing. They cheer, they sing. The only boos all game were by mostly Southampton fans for Torres. And if our players are so emotionally distraught from hearing "One Di Matteo" (only at home games mind you) that they just cry inside and play poorly, then they have no business playing professional football. Professional athletes take criticism and they have to take it. They take awful abuse, things about their mothers and girlfriends, and they have to take it.

I'm sick of this ridiculous narrative. What do you think happened? We went up 2-0 and then the players got discouraged by the level of support and blew the lead?

@RMPR-We have the talent to beat those teams easily. We don't have the talent to compete at a higher level. (We have a lot of good players and very few elite ones).

[zolayes 14,489]

The travelling away fans are absolutely amazing i think, loud and proud. But the home fans hasnt been amazing so far in Rafa's reign, i understand the hate of Rafa but the booing and the negative atmosphere MUST have an effect on the performance.

I think the home fans earn the right to show their anger ,,,not sure that internet warriors do

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

I am sick of armchair fans critising those who go to games especially our travelling fans ,,,Many of our season ticket holders where there before Roman there before Jose ,,,but what right have you to criticise then .

Yes many fans were there before Roman and Jose but still, would you years ago have ever seen Chelsea fans boo a manager every fucking week and being most active and positive on the 16th minute of games? We have a bad reputation as a club due to how it is run from the top and it looks like people will think our fans are mugs if they keep this up I wouldn't be surprised if other managers start criticizing supporters for the treatment of Rafa etc. Rememeber criticizing the board for sacking Jose/Carlo/AVB/Rafa etc, they have every right to be criticizing certain fans right now for booing the team and coach most games. I know football is nothing without the fans but still I think its fair enough for a coach to be given some sort of respect and support from the clubs fans.

[Styles 9,790]

This was supposed to be a bad day for Roman and the board. Ever since the Guardiola news broke I had a funny feeling about the game.

[Rmpr 8,977]

The people blaming SB for the results are ridiculous!

[edetarod 2,155]

positives: we're one game closer to the end of the season

oh and BTW

if the Brazilians are expecting for Oscar, luiz and Ramires to guide them to world cup glory, they're going to have a bad time

[Beepu 1,714]

I think the home fans earn the right to show their anger ,,,not sure that internet warriors do

Why because you paid for your ticket and we payed for our cable??? if we live in london or anywhere in england for that matter we would be home fans too. Dont see why watching chelsea from our living room gives us less rights and all that.

[Zone 290]

I am sick of armchair fans critising those who go to games especially our travelling fans ,,,Many of our season ticket holders where there before Roman there before Jose ,,,but what right have you to criticise then .

You don't know anything about me so humble up there with the name calling. If the great season ticket holders are attending then instead of the boos and early departures they might as well make some noise and encourage the team a bit. Wouldn't that help ?

and if your angry trying to score some likes with that post towards me u might wanna sit your ass down for a second.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

how can you blame the fans? they sang their heart out every fucking game. they carried the "we know what we are" chant to every stadium we've visited this season. they travelled to the other end of the world. and you have the guts to blame them when the team is fucking rotten?

If you think the atmosphere at the bridge today was okay, then you must have been watching another game.

Anyone that keeps saying the boos are not PART OF the cause for our players (especially mata's) drop in peformance at the bridge then they must be naïve.

Let's keep booing, insulting the coach or preserve the hostile atmosphere and keep loosing. I'm sure that's more important than chelsea winning these days

[Blue Armour 4,442]

I think the home fans earn the right to show their anger ,,,not sure that internet warriors do

I think you'll agree that both sets of fans have an overstated sense of entitlement

[HNKS 508]

Ramirez and Lampard arent good enough as a partnership. It was apparent for minute 1.

Oscar has a shocker today and Mata play crap overall.

Cant believe Torres came on.......

Cant believe fans were still singing about RDM. We have the stupidest fans in history.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

I think the home fans earn the right to show their anger ,,,not sure that internet warriors do

You can't deny that the atmosphere generated by these fans is having a negative effect on the team.

They don't like the appointment of Benitez, I get it, but they're still Chelsea fans first and foremost. I'm indifferent to him, frankly because it's obvious to me that there's no longer room for sentiment in football.

Roman's been here a while, you'd think the fans would have realised that he doesn't listen to them. They may as well sing for the 11 on the pitch, not the one standing in the dugout.