bar24rat

New manager, an Italian , so be sure the search is on for the new stars to replace the old. There have been few Italians at chelsea, one very notable magnificent exception, one will be remembered for his 43 sec goal and a CL victory and one I can remember passed his best. Expecting more from that source but await the end of the Euros.

surely fat lady has finished singing on that one

His time is over. We hoped it would be more productive than it was. The fat lady has sung her song and now let us RIP

On Saturday I was surprised when he was caught in possession on two occasions plus one potentially catastrophic pass across midfield. Nowhere near the scale of the pass by the sub that resulted in Mikel's moment of splendour and the new sainted one's goal but evidence that sometimes speed adjustment to premier league could take a few games. However evidence to date has been excellent.

Sorry- another time!!

Indeed. A Tore Andre Flo day to remember

Correct the spelling errors and find a " mole" to sneak it onto a United site. Then watch the "fun"

Lots of votes cast either for one half, or one save(albeit a superb match winner), or one brilliant goal. Overall , for 95 mins, Ivan was outstanding

As a 11year old, I was at the Wolves game, Easter 1955. Only remember specific moments but was one of the boys behind the goal when Billy Wright punched out his shot. The referee did take an age to award the penalty, nobody understood why it took so long. Peter Sillett converted the penalty to the same corner that Frank Lampard's was saved by Joe Hart. Sillett's was harder and faster. Seamus made many important contributions that year. RIP

Probably the majority of the Anti-Rafa fans were the same ones who were supporting the 16th minute group chanting RDM's name. Have they ever stopped to think that Chelsea were on a downward slope, and increasing the rate down it, when de Matteo was sacked. The board clearly thought he was not the man for the job. Sacked by WBA is hardly a creditable CV. Goals were being shipped! Yes we had CL success but not with any kind of PL system. Rafa was not the wisest choice, he was on a hiding to nothing, but surely he was right to ask the fans to support the team. Celtic would never ask Walter Smith to be their manager-obvious reasons

Sorry omitted the word "never" as 3rd word of last sentence in previous post

Whatever anti-rafa feelings you hold , acknowledge that there was a clear improvement in defensive concentration on sunday. One of the reasons RDM lost his job at WBA as well at Chelsea may have been connected to his sides losing goals. He never seem to have defence in mind unless you play as we did in the last games of last season's CL. That would succeed over a season where the emphasis has to be both on scoring AND defending

Inevitably ,not a popular appointment. One of the most hated men at Stamford Bridge. Let's be realistic! RdM was only ever a fill-in . Was he given the manager's position as the thank you for his successes but was never going to be a permanent appointment.In the latter stages of his time at WBA, the side shipped goals as they played to stay in the premier league. Without JT we have done the same. In the CL success we won by 11 men defence , never a successful method in the premier league. Lately every attack against us has suggested the strong possibility of a goal, last night there could easily have been more than 3. If Benitez improves our defence , we prove to be solid as well as attack minded and success comes, will then be the moment to judge, to criticize or to applaud! Does a club really exist for the fans ? It will always claim it does but that must be doubted. If Chelsea did, then Benitez would not be there whatever his record may be

drop it now

Ken Bates was a great fan of Claudio. I agree with those saying he got Blues on the CL treadmill and deserves his part in Chelsea's recent history. Let's hope he lasts longer at Monaco than he has at some of his more recent stopovers.