Gem

I want to win this game... So having Lampard and Drogba fit would be a huge boost. On a selfish level, I'd have them both on, even if only 50% fit. However, the Manc game at the weekend will no doubt be a tougher test - and we need them for that. I wouldn't mess about with the back 5 (unless Ricky is back) - it looked fairly decent against Blackburn. I take it Bridge is a while off yet? Mikel didn't offer anything new/needed against Blackburn. If people thought Sidwell was useless... I think Jose will save Maka for the Mancs (a midfield of Essien, Maka, Lamps please God ) so we could see Sidwell, Essien and Mikel all start this game in the middle. SWP & Cole on the flanks, Joey on the left so he can cut in on his right. Having said that, I'd like Cole 100 for the Mancs, so maybe Malouda instead. Pizarro and Kalou upfront. Then Sheva to come on and score a stunning hattick

If we only showed the same sort of urgency for the rest of the match, not just the last 10 minutes - we might have won. As it is, we never do. Its a f**king joke, and its either arrogance or terrible tactics. Bring back a half fit (or 25%, hell 10%!!) Lampard and Drogba.

Players often play their best game when they don't play... Lampard my man of the match by miles. Although on the pitch, J.Cole and Belletti impressed, especially the former.

75 minutes gone, Joe Cole the only one showing any urgency.

From the official site: Chelsea will line-up in a 4-4-2 formation as follows: 1 Petr Cech 35 Juliano Belletti 33 Alex 26 John Terry © 3 Ashley Cole 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips 9 Steve Sidwell 5 Michael Essien 10 Joe Cole 21 Salomon Kalou 7 Andriy Shevchenko Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 22 Tal Ben-Haim, 12 John Mikel Obi, 15 Florent Malouda. ------------------------ I'm glad Sidwell is there, he's a better alternative than Mikel for a game like this - against a nitty gritty side, I'm sure he'll get stuck in. And of course... Joey Cole! About time

Shit.

Have PMed you, but I'm probably too late. EDIT: Alas, just as I expected. Another nervous day infront of the tele watching Soccer Saturday for me.

And Given is probably the second best goalkeeper in the Premiership - certainly top 3 IMO.

come onnnnnnnn tour!

I hope he does too, Barry deserves it, Gerrard can continue to risk his toe (hehe) and Lamps is fit for Chelsea. Everyone wins. I don't really remember seeing TBH, was he at fault for any of our chances/goals?

= Out of space? Take him with you? HA! Talk about ungreatful. I don't intend to turn this into another Lampard thread but my God. PS- I would have liked to signed Michael Owen when Madrid did. I'm in the minority I know. Singular is probably the right word.

Good 3 way Chelsea combination for the first, Cole to Cole to Sweep Great stuff. Barry had a solid game, easily our best central midfielder today. by miles. 394 infact. maybe more. certainly more, actully. anyway... SWP & Cole can play together, let them start together for Chelsea. Great goal by Owen, more valuable than Rooney, Crouch, Johnson, Bent etc for England. Heskey had a touch of the Drogs about him today, played well. Downing didn't get onto the pitch, excellent. Bentley booed. Turning down your country regardless of the level clearly isn't acceptable. Then agaim, some of those 'fans' boo Lampard, so they can be equally as narrow minded and quite frankly (HA! pun) f**king idiots. Come on England. But I'd rather Lamps not play Wednesday, keep him fit for the important matches - CFC matches. Whoop!

Its a beautiful image, Tim

Clearly not true though: We do the following better than Americans Humour Bangers and Mash Binge drinking Maintain a reasonable ratio of churches to population Brewing beer Whisky Welfare State Yorskhire Pudding Marmite Getting on with Canada Managing elections (well we are marginally better, although we are still worse than most of the Western World...apart from the italians) Having our language bar stewardised (there is a a 'u' in colour and there is nothing French about what my chippy serves up! We get on with all countries better, even France. Won wars after being involved from start to finish, no late glory hunters here. /offense

Agree completely.

Echoing what I've been saying Loz.

Team according to the official site: Chelsea will line-up in a 4-3-3 formation as follows: 1 Petr Cech 35 Juliano Belletti 33 Alex 26 John Terry © 3 Ashley Cole 5 Michael Essien 4 Claude Makelele 12 John Mikel Obi 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips 15 Didier Drogba 15 Florent Malouda Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 22 Tal Ben-Haim, 10 Joe Cole, 14 Claudio Pizarro, 21 Salomon Kalou. No Lampard or Ballack and Sidwell can't even get a place on the bench No Sheva either.

Best wishes go to his family, sad news indeed.

Good times to be a Spudshater.

Raised their game? Derby at home FFS! On the other hand................ Gerrard & Carajacker...... who?

Bad news, wonder how many points we'll drop

Arseski! Brilliant

5live want Carjacker's babies.

Didn't see that coming (when do awards go to those who deserve it?!) great achievement big Pete!

Yaaawn, its been a while since they've had a Jose vs. Player story and with Robben gone, Joe is the next believable candidate.