ethicalstrategy

I beg to differ! Ballack would have been exactly what we needed in terms of leadership, presence and experience.

Everton next

Not really to be honest. Against Brum we were unlucky. Yesterday we didn't create many clear cut chances. The stats don't really tell the full story. We might have nicked it and Newcastle offered very little threat in the second half (Cole's goal line clearance aside) but I never really felt we were going to get a winner. It's the sort of match though where a draw would hardly be a disaster normally. Away on a cold and snowy day at Newcastle with several key players missing. I'd normally take a point every day of the week. The problem lies with the defeat at home to Sunderland and the unlucky loss at Birmingham. It meant that we really needed to pick up 3 points. We didn't help ourselves by gifting them a goal to hang on to. After that it just emphasised our lack of confidence.

I thought Ivanovic was excellent. Took over Carroll duties from Alex and did an excellent job. Malouda did well, as did Ramires in the second half when he played a bit more on the front foot. Overall though a listless performance, lacking in confidence and any sort of drive from midfield. It was news to me that we played 4-4-2. Anelka spent more time in midfield than upfront, mostly slowing play down just give Newcastle a chance to organise. Essien and Frank can't come back quick enough.

Jumped before he was pushed?

Thats sort of how I expected Wilkins departure to be dealt with.

I'd definitely agree that he would be better further forward. (but he still played in the holding role all match on Tuesday!)

A new version has just been released and it is pretty good. £0.59. If you are a Chelsea TV or a Chelsea TV Online subscriber then you get video and highlights included. If not you can pay extra to get access to them. Otherwise it includes news from the website, fixtures and results, player and club info, some chants and wallpapers. It all works very well and is a lot more polished than the previous heap of junk.

I can't believe that I forgot Robben in my selection. He has to play. Last season, when fit, he was outstanding.

Not sure what match you were watching but Josh played in the holding role throughout the match. It's true he was further forward in the second half, but that was because they rarely got out of their half.

From the given list, based on their performances over last season and trying to get a balanced team: -----------------Cesar Maicon---Lucio---Pique---Cole -----------------Xavi -----Robben---------Sneijder -Messi--------------------Ronaldo ---------------Drogba Subs: Cech, Lahm, Zanetti, Iniesta, Lampard, Muller, Villa Well, I couldn't get a balanced team so it will just have to attack, attack, attack.

I think it is established that Wilkins was dispensed with expressly against Ancelloti's wishes. I'm not sure why it would make a difference whether or not he hired him originally. Ancelloti doesn't have or want responsibility for many aspects of running the club. His concern is the playing side. Therefore he should be, and I'm sure he is, concerned with the playing and coaching staff. Whilst he may not have or want the final say on who is hired or fired he must surely expect to have an important input in this area. We don't know if there is more to the Wilkins story than meets the eye, but on the face of it it's very hard to believe that Ancelloti could be anything other than unhappy about the whole situation.

UEFA charges Mourinho, Alonso, Ramos, Casillas and Dudek with unsporting behaviour. UEFA really don't like him at all do they :)

Really? The club want to replace his assistant. He doesn't want them to and yet they go ahead and replace him anyway. You don't think that would bother him? It would bother the hell out of me.

I'd be happy with that.

Well, I'd guess I'm a lot more Guardian than Daily Mirror too! I read some of the reports this morning and they were frankly ludicrous. The best balanced was Henry Winter in the Telegraph.

I'm certain Alex will play. He was rested tonight specifically for Sunday. Once JT is back then Alex will have his operation. Other than that I'd put good money on that being the starting line up.

You can rest easy again now Nibs, you've got a replacement for Joey to champion :P I voted Kalou because it was his introduction that changed the game for us. Like you, I was disappointed by Kakuta. I thought Josh did well (very well for a 17 year old, but that shouldn't really matter) but not sure he was MoTM. I still think he would be better further forward though.

Given the number of younger players on view last night I thought I'd do a full review of the match with ratings. Match Summary A slightly subdued feel to things before the match started. The ground, as usual for midweek games, was pretty empty right up to kick off. In the club's keenness to sell all the tickets they ended up with a lot of Zilina fans sat all round the ground. On another night this could have caused problems but, as far as I could tell, nothing major kicked off. I think they were just happy to be playing against us and not being slaughtered. I was pretty relaxed about the evening and very keen to see how our youngsters would perform on a big stage. That feeling didn't last too long though. We were very tentative from the outset. Kakuta picked the ball up in space a number of times but didn't show any inclination to turn and run at the Zilina defence, instead settling for simple lay offs. There was a general lack of urgency about our play. Considering the calibre of opponent it indicated that it would be sometime before any of the youngsters were really ready to push on in to the first team. The goal for Zilina stunned the ground in to near silence except for the away fans in the Shed End and those dotted around the rest of the ground. However, it also proved the turning point in the match. Almost immediately, we started to pick things up. Ancelloti pulled Kakuta inside and we dropped in to a 4-diamond-2 formation. Kakuta looked a lot happier in that position and slid a beautiful pass inside their left full back to put Sturridge through on goal. Unfortunately his finish lacked composure as he dragged the ball badly wide with his left foot. McEachran was looking composed in the holding role and with plenty of time on the ball he started to link things together . Van Arnholt got forward and and linked well with Malouda as we started to get on top. At half time I felt we had shown enough that we could get back in to the match if we continued to press on. The second half saw the introduction of Kalou for Kakuta. I was a little disappointed because I thought Kakuta had just started to get in to the game in the run up to half time. However, the move was to prove a smart one as Kalou caused them problems right from the kick off. The big scoreboard kept a display of the shots throughout the second half and the number for Chelsea just kept rising. At one point it reached 25-4, with Zilina not having a single shot in the second half. The equaliser wasn't long in coming, albeit with a bit of luck as Kalou's scuffed shot come cross found it's way to an alert Sturridge to slot in at the far post. After that it was a constant barrage of attacks with several opportunities going begging as Zilina defended desperately and we couldn't quite find the final ball. Ramires went close with a long range volley and Drogba saw his wicked freekick turned on to the post by the Zilina keeper. Still we kept pressing with Kalou and Sturridge tearing their left side to pieces. The second goal kept threatening with Van Arnholt particularly unfortunate not to cap a good performance with a stunning left foot shoot from 20 yards which cannoned back of the left hand post after some clever build up play between himself and Malouda. Sturridge was replaced by Anelka as we pressed for the win and it was Anelka's delicate chip in to the box which Drogba headed back across goal for Malouda to slide in for the winner with 5 minutes to go. Zilina never looked like adding to their early goal and the only thing left was for Josh to receive a standing ovation as he was replaced by Jacob Mellis. What started off worryingly ended on a high note. I don't think we will see any of the youngsters starting against Newcastle on Sunday, but they showed enough to convince me that given time and the opportunity to play with the senior players that we can hope for some of them at least to graduate to the starting eleven over the next couple of years. I left the ground feeling pretty upbeat about the whole thing. Player Ratings Turnbull - 6 Didn't have a huge amount to do, but made one excellent save at his near post and his handling and command of his box were exemplary. Ferreira - 6 another who didn't have too much to do. Didn't venture forward much in the first half but was much more attacking in the second. Bruma - 6 Looked comfortable throughout the match but wasn't ever under much pressure. Is quite happy on the ball but doesn't yet have the physical stature to play against some of the more robust Premier League forwards. Wouldn't put any blame on him for the Zilina goal. Ivanovic - 6 Steady without being spectacular. Didn't have much to do in all honesty. Van Arnholt - 7 I really like the look of this boy. He is big, powerful and fast. He needs to work on the defensive side of his game but he looks like a natural replacement for Ashley in a couple of years. I'd be quite happy to see him playing if Ash was injured. He was very unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with a cracking left foot drive. McEachran - 7 Looked nervous early on and played a few loose balls which were cut out but he didn't let that bother him. Got stronger as the match progressed and played some lovely balls in to feet when we were dominating. Whilst he did alright in the holding role, he did let his man go for the Zilina goal. Comedy moment of the night was watching him track back shoulder to hip with Ceecay, trying to barge him off the ball. I would like to see him given a run in one of the more advanced midfield roles where he can influence things a bit more. Ramires - 6 Much the same as we have seen over recent matches. He is a good footballer and is comfortable on the ball but he does want too much time and does get hustled out of it too much. Looked much better when we were on the front foot in the second half. Malouda - 7 I've been a little disappointed with Florent recently. As one of the senior players he hasn't really stepped up in the last few matches. He was another who upped his game considerably in the second half. I'd like to see that same level more consistently. Sturridge - 7 Once he found he had the beating of their left back he seemed to grow in confidence and took him on at every opportunity. Was our biggest threat in the first half and with better finishing might have got us level before the break. He deserved his goal and I was slightly surprised to see him replaced. I still can't help feeling that he is like a younger version of Kalou though. Drogba - 6 Still struggling to find his form after his illness. Showed some signs with a wicked freekick and a super header to set up Malouda's goal but more ofter than not he was wasteful and a yard off the pace. I'm sure it will come given time. Kakuta - 5 Didn't look happy or confident out wide on the right. Didn't show any appetite to run at his man even though he was given yards of space. Looked much better when he came inside and played a couple of delightful balls. Would have liked to see him again in the second half. I suspect that his current poor form is down to lack of confidence and playing out of position. Subs: Kalou - 8 Maybe it was Carlo's halftime bollocking which changed things, but there is no arguing that Kalou was the catalyst for the way we played in the second half. If he could finish like Van Nistelroy instead of Kezman he would be a world beater. Anelka - 7 His strength is in the subtlety that he brings to the game. Didn't do all that much but was involved in a few chances and played a lovely delicate ball in for Drogba for the second goal. Mellis - N/A

Yes. If he hadn't fallen out with Mourinho then I'm confident we would have won the CL by now. We would also probably have at least one more PL. BUT, without his ownership we probably wouldn't have won any silverware. Gotta take the rough with the smooth I guess.

I was going on what Carlo said. He was clear about which of the youngsters were going to start, so I assumed that Borini, Sturridge, Kakuta and Van Arnholt wouldn't. I would be happy enough if Kakuta and Sturridge played but I don't think it will happen. To be fair, we do need to get a result. not just to qualify but to end a two match losing streak and build a bit of confidence.

So that sounds like something along the lines of: ---------------------Turnbull Bosingwa---Ivanovic-----Bruma--------Cole --------------------McEachran ------Ramires----------------------Malouda Anelka-------------------------------------Kalou ----------------------Drogba That seems a good balance of youth and experience. It's certainly a team that could hope to win against a fairly poor team.

Jose was guest of honour at the LMA Hall of Fame dinner. Full story

Oh, do grow up! I've no problem with you slating him, even if I think you are talking out of your proverbial, but we don't need comments like that.

You know I'm right! Can't say I sensed that from this interview. Probably a little disappointed not to stay but he seems pretty relaxed about it.