ethicalstrategy

Absolute bollocks. In fact its a disgraceful thing to say. Its obvious that Frank and AVB didn't get on but I didn't see him causing a lot of trouble.

The only one I'd have given more time to was Claudio. With hindsight though, bringing in Mourinho was the right decision. Obviously I think Jose should have stayed.

Sad day, but it was inevitable after yesterday's defeat. It's all very well calling for the manager to be given time but there was no sign of any progression. What ever you say we should have been doing better than we have been. You can blame the players but it's the manager's job to manage them and get the best out of them. He clearly wasn't doing that. With hindsight it was the wrong decision to hire him but that doesn't mean you have to compound the mistake.

Not so much a dig as a bit of helpful guidance.

Topic title changed to something meaningful.

I'm probably being a bit unfair on Parker. It's not his fault that everyone is going overboard about him. He doesn't lack for passion or commitment. I just think he is limited. Agree about Sneijder and Van Persie. From what I read the Dutch press gave Van Marwijk and the team a roasting for their attitude.

I'm sorry but I don't buy in to the Scott Parker love in. He is no better now than he was before. He is a good, solid midfielder of Premier League standard. He can do a job in a midfield as long as he has the right players around him. Last night we saw the best and worst of him. He's great at snapping at your heels and throwing himself in front of shots. He is pretty poor on the ball. If he doesn't have good players around him then he turns in to a mad man galloping all over the pitch trying to put out fires on his own. He gave the ball away repeatedly in the second half and nearly cost us a goal on one occasion when he fell over his own feet. I thought Barry, Milner and Young were also very poor and Baines leaves a lot to be desired defensively. Holland were just treating the whole thing as a glorified training match. They were streets ahead of us. We don't have any players in the same league as Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie.

I saw a few comments about this in the papers too. I think it is stretching the point a lot to place any blame on Sturridge for Robben's first goal. The fault lay with us giving the ball away high up the field and then backing off him and letting him go on his left foot. Smalling tried to cover Huntelaar's run when Cahill already had that covered.

I watched the second half and thought he did well. He was playing deeper in more of a Pirlo type role, which I still don't think allows him to shine. Nevertheless, he was very composed and made one lovely little run towards the end where he just glided past three or four of their players. Having said that, there is a big leap from Under 21 to the Premier League. I was expecting that he would get a bit more game time at Swansea, but he hasn't been there long so we'll just have to wait and see. He's still only young.

I was there Chippy. I didn't see any interaction between Frank and AVB although I have to confess I left before the final whistle. I did notice that Frank was very pointed about kissing his badge and signaling his loyalty to Chelsea when he scored. He also bigged up Didier after his goal. I thought at the time that he was making a point to the crowd and maybe to the manager. When Didier was subbed he exchanged a friendly word with Torres but he and AVB completely ignored each other as he walked off. I'd be pretty sure that the things we have been hearing are true. The main thing though is that those players conduct themselves in a professional manner whatever they think about the manager.

Delighted with the win. Second half performance was much better once we had the first goal. I wouldn't be fooled though. All the same problems that were there last week still remain. We have 3 very winnable matches coming up and if we are to build some confidence then we really do have to win them. If we can do that then I give us a fighting chance against Napoli provided we pick the right team of course.

You must be the only one!

Just polished off a pizza at Fulham Broadway. About to wander down to the ground. Don't know what the team will be but it really ought not to matter. We have to win this game. No excuses. If luck goes with us and Spurs take points off Arsenal then we will be back in the top four and maybe, just maybe, AVB will get some breathing space. If we don't win then I fear the worst for him. The novelty of going to games and not knowing what will happen has well and truly worn off. Time to resume business as usual. Come on you Blues!!!

I'd be tempted to go with two strikers though.

Apart from the unfathomable title (which I have amended), and it being in the wrong forum, I see this as an exemplary post!

First name I associate with Chelsea is Ossie. Closely folloewed by Frank and then Franco.

Three times the chances for Torres to miss!

That's ridiculous!! Is every bit of each piece done with tape? Or is some of it drawn? It's really hard to tell from the pictures. How do you even come up with the idea, never mind execute it so brilliantly?

I've amended the title of the thread and put it in the correct forum. The link to the Sky Sports report doesn't make any reference to a bust up btw.

Do I sense that you don't agree with Mr Z Marking?

I think he wants and needs regular first team football though. He won't be happy sat on the bench and he won't be learning.

Luiz is a big frustration. For most of the match he played very well but his one poor decision cost us a crucial goal at a crucial time. Having said that, I think the rest of the defence and midfield need to take some of the blame too. Although Luiz ought to have put the ball in to row Z there was still quite a lot of poor defending before the ball went in the net. Cole for not running with Cavani. Cech for being all over the place. Whoever ought to have been tracking Lavezzi.

Luiz I'd agree with, but Cahill looked very vulnerable early on to the ball played over the top. I am still to be convinced by him.

Well, that's a difficult one. Overall not a bad performance. Much like the Man U match. Unfortunately, individual errors from Ivanovic and Luiz have left us really struggling. The good news is that we can score against a pretty poor Napoli team. The bad news is that we will struggle to keep them out.

It would be funny if it wasn't us.