just

No, I'm sorry chaps but I don't know how anyone can accuse him of "tactical indiscipline" yesterday. Your interpretation of it must be entirely different to mine. I don't know when he did all these "tricks, flicks and showboating" because he played a very restricted role yesterday. He never strayed out of position. We were under pressure for periods of the game and he unfailingly tracked back to help out Belletti whenever Quedrue and Kapo ventured forward. Plus he got in a fair number of tackles and blocks. He did run down a few blind alleys going forwards but, as I pointed out previously, Belletti didn't get upfield half as much as usual and Cole often had to try produce something with little or no support on that flank. OK, he didn't manufacture a stream of chances, (it was a very tight game), but he still created one or two, and that was one or two more than Malouda managed from the other side. And he became more influential as the game went on. I re-iterate, Cole wasn't brilliant. Or even very good. But he worked hard throughout and was one of our better performers on the day. To say he was shocking is a million miles from the truth.

Of course everyone's entitled to an opinion, but it's better if they are prepared to qualify it with reasons and examples rather than simply make a bald statement.

You must have a bit of short term memory loss there. Off the top of my head:- Cole's run and great ball across the face of the six yard box? You Know. Directly before Pizarro scored from the corner? Right after half-time Cole robbing the defender right by the corner flag when the defender was waiting for the ball to go out and getting the ball in? Cole doing three players tight on the touch line and turning defence into attack 2nd half ? If you noticed, Belletti got forward less today than he has all season. That was because Kapo and Quedrue offered plenty of threat themselves going forward and he rightly stayed deeper to defend that. That meant Cole was often very isolated on the right flank. And he did bloody well in the 2nd half. Not saying Cole was MoTM or anything, (you are right about Maka), but he was far from shocking and so much better than Malouda it wasn't even a contest. And it should have been Malouda not Cole taken off.

Mate what game was you watching today? I think you're confusing Cole and Malouda. Easy mistake to make I suppose.

Got to watch the whole 90 on widescreen TV courtesy of a German TV station. Tough game, Brum gave it all they had. Would have lost today but for two players Makelele and Carvalho. Maka was absolutely imperious. Think he only gave the ball away twice in the whole 90 minutes. He gave a masterclass. Joe Cole got more and more dangerous as the game wore on, and Anelka oozed class everytime he got on the ball. Did you notice how the Birmingham defenders practically shat themselves everytime he closed them down? Him and Drogba could be awesome together. On the downside Malouda was total crap. Mr. Anonymous. Someone on here the other week said Malouda rarely loses possesion. Well, I had good look today and figured out how he does it. By hardly ever touching the ball! And the number of times today he failed to track his runner. Awful. I'm sorry but Avram made a mistake today taking off Joe Cole with five minutes plus injury time to go and leaving Malouda on the pitch. And if Birmingham had managed to score in that time he would have been quite rightly slaughtered for it.

Surely, even mentioning any other name is a joke isn't it? Over the whole 90 minutes there was only one contender. Makelele. The greatest defensive midfielder.......................... ever.

So would I. Him and Gordon Durie. And Mikael Forssell. With those three back on our books we wouldn't need a physio's room. We'd have to build an Accident and Emergency Dept!

That's what I am going to do as well. I want to see proof that he can: 1. Tactically out think Fergie, Dough Boy and Wenger. And that includes not being second best in the mind game's department if those three want to go back down that road now that Jose has gone. 2. Be a shrewd investor in the transfer market. 3. Man-manage players effectively. I also believe, with the squad we have, he should be able to deliver some form of silverware this season. Even if it's only the Carling Cup. We weren't exactly up sh*t creek without a paddle when he took over. All that said, he has done well since taking the reins, especially when you consider our injury situation has continued practically unabated since the start of the season. So I'm gonna give a cautious but hopeful........................

Heard from my contact this morning. It's Theirry Henry. Don't tell Pauly or G4.

I agree with you Butch on two important points. Firstly, I too think both players will get back in on merit. Lamp's case is obviously helped by Mikel and Essien being away on international duty. If both those were available it would make it a more difficult choice. And when you consider the excellent game Maka had on Saturday, the choice becomes even more accute because, as you noted, Frank has not been at his dazzling best this season. The point you make about JT being so much more than a good central defender is one I thought many others would have picked up on. JT epitomises Chelsea in the same way Tony Adams did for Arsenal and Roy Mental did for Man U. He gives us the leadership and never-say-die spirit those two gave to their clubs. And that is a crucial factor to be considered. However, I still think Alex would have every right to feel aggreived if he's left out the minute JT is available. This assumes of course he continues to play to the same remarkably high standard until JT is fit.

Having thought about it more I actually think neither JT or Lamps should expect to walk straight back into the team. I realise what a great player he is and the benefits he can give us, but Frank is the easier decision for me at the moment. This is because, IMO, (based on form), Ballack is the best option for us at the current time. Put simply he is playing better and more effectively than Lampard was before his injury. JT is different. I have read some people saying he was not performing at his highest level prior to his injury. Well, all I can say is I didn't see that. However, and this is the crucial bit, Alex has come in and done brilliantly and, for me, performed every bit as well as JT was. As such it would be grossly unfair to consign him to the bench the minute JT is fit again. Also think how damaging it would be, not only to Alex's confidence, but to every fringe/young player knowing that, if you do get into the side and perform consistently well, you will still be left out of the team the minute the previous incumbent is fit to play. It would be totally dis-heartening.

Belletti for me. This bloke is getting better and better. Ballack, Joe Cole, Maka, SWP and Alex all played very, very well. And Le Sulk looked better than Sheva and Pizarro put together when he came on. Very mobile. Very dangerous.

Assuming that the mesmerising form of Ballack means that Frank should not be a nailed on starter when he comes back, is the same to be said for Alex when JT returns? Not an opinion either way. Just putting it up for discussion. Alex has been 120% solid.

Here's my pick since the Roman revolution. 1. Sheva. I don't care about the money. AS has been a footballing hero since I saw him play live in '99. I had followed his career closely since then and knew he was not the same player he was in his youth. I felt he would struggle in the EPL and be ridiculed because his cost. He has and it hurts to have to watch it. 2. Veronimo You didn't have to be Mystic Meg to see how it was going to turn out with the Baldy One. A hugely expensive flop at Man U. A very expensive flop for us. A fish out of water in the whirlwind of any EPL midfield. 3. Cashley Cole I rate Cash a lot higher than many people do on here. He is a truly astonishing athlete. But we didn't need to buy him. We already had a quality left back in Bridgey and there is very little to choose between them IMO. All we really needed was a back-up to Bridgey. Chimbonda would have been ideal and alot cheaper. 4. Kezman I hadn't seen a great deal of him before he signed but what I had didn't impress me that much. He was at PSV for a long time and many of the top clubs in Europe had had a look at him at some time or other and decided to leave alone. We should have done the same. and lastly, a controversial choice: 5. Robben Band Aid Never knew what you was gonna get. Would have games where he made all the difference. Would have games where you didn't know he was on the pitch. And very often he wasn't. He was in the treatment room again. Had all the ability in the world but could make you tear your hair out at his inconsistency and failure to produce the goods against the big boys. Possibly one of the most naturally gifted players I have ever seen at Chelsea. Definately the most frustrating player I have ever seen at Chelsea. PS: If you want one name pre-Roman, how about Vialli's choice............... Gabriel Ambrosetti? The Italian Ryan Giggs.

When Frank was taking all the corners he was getting dogs abuse. Since we have switched it round I'm longing for Frank to come back. He may have been inconsistent but used to get our fair share of goals from them. Now we are much more consistent - consistently bad. Belletti is the only player I have seen this season deliver a corner that could be described as half decent. The set-piece delivery, (and also the crossing from the flanks), by Villa in the 4-4 was excellent. Why can't our boys do that?

According to JT in last week's programme notes, Maka has only been rested recently to ensure he is fit and ready when the African boys go off on their jolly.

We may not agree on everything Brit, (JFH and Robben), but you are spot on here mate.

Cech Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge Maka, Ballack Cole, SWP, Malouda Anelka Subs: (from) Hilario Sinclair A.Cole Sidwell Pizarro Ben haim

just, hate to quibble, but to paraphrase the last public words we've had on the subject: Lampard: "I intend to stay at the club foreover, and look forward to signing a new deal once the season is over." Drogba: "Let me repeat what I said in October. I want to leave the club. I haven't been happy since I came to London and Mourinho's departure has increased my desire to leave. I will play hard the rest of the season, but once the season is over, I'm gone." so i would think there's not an equal chance of them leaving. while Frank still might pull a reverse-Stevie G and change his mind over the summer, he's said he's committed. and Drogba has said he is committed, too -- committed to leaving in June. Until Frank signs on the dotted line his words mean very little. Lampard was made an initial contract offer a year ago. He wasn't happy with that deal and further negotiations took place which he personally called a halt to. He still has not signed the contract. Drogba has stated all along that he will leave. He's done that a bit too often for my liking but at least the club know with 100% certainty what his intentions are, (unlike Frank), and can plan accordingly, and with plenty of time, to bring in a replacement. Besides in your scenario you can protect any eleven players and Drogba would be one of the first players I would want to protect to stop other clubs getting their hands on him. I bet Grant, Roman, Buck and Kenyon wish they could do the same.

Guys it's simple. SWP often has a good game when he is played in any position that doesn't require him to cross the ball. Douglas Bader could cross the ball beter than SWP.

Just watched the whole game again on Sky+. It was never a sending off in a million years. I am all for the footballing authorities cracking down on horror challenges such as Crouch's and Carvalho's. Those types of two-footed lunges have either dangerous intent or are plain reckless and should be punished with a straight red, regardless of whether there is any actual contact or not. But Mikel's was not a two-footed, off the floor lunge. It was an honest, committed, (albeit slightly late) attempt on the ball. IMO, it was 50-50 call to even be a yellow card. Apparently, as I understand it, the refs are cracking down on all "studs up" challenges. Well, that rules out any form of the sliding tackle then, (which in itself could spell the end of Ricky's career!). How else can a player go to ground and slide for the ball without showing studs? The only way I can think of is if players wear trainers or carpet slippers. And while I'm on the subject of ref's decisions, didn't Mr Walton bottle it big time with the Neville foul on Malouda in the 2nd half? Everton are not a bad side but I felt we played very well and were in total control of the game until the sending off. However, I do think Avram took the decision to replace an attacking midfielder, (Joe Cole), with a defensive one, (Sidwell), too early. Avram had Sidwell stripping off his tracksuit before Mikel had even got off the pitch. He should have waited a bit longer to see if we were going to be put under anymore pressure in our own half. Because in the five or six minutes that elapsed between the sending off and the substitution, we carried on where we had left off. Dominating possession and playing in the Everton half. Indeed, during this period we fashioned a very good chance for Pizarro. The substitution changed that. As well as obviously reducing our attcking options, it broke our tempo and allowed Everton to push higher up the pitch.

Had to spin a coin on this one. Couldn't decide between Ballack and Belletti. The toss came down in Belletti's favour. He really combined well down the right with Cole. SWP played very well. He generally does when he is played in a position that means he doesn't have to cross a ball.

I think it does Loz. Colin Hutchinson was the undisputed master of transfer negotiations and Uncle Ken used to say a big part of his strategy was to make early face to face contact. Not just with the intended target, but with his family as well to get them on board. I remember reading the Michael Laudrup signing was clinched by Hutch personally presenting a Chelsea shirt, autographed by all the players, to his young kid. How I'd love those type of transfer dealings to return. Pick up the paper in the morning to find we'd already done the deal and signed another Guillit, Desailly, Zola or Di Matteo. All completed without the media having had an inkling any such move was in the offing.

People forget what happened the last time the Spertz made it to a Wembley final. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/891485.stm The bloke actually got it off with at court as well!

I will assume Drogba stays and so should you. He's not gone yet. And if we leave Drogba out of the equation we should leave out Frank too, as there's just as much chance of him not being here as well. 1. Cech 2. Essien 3. Terry 4. Carvalho 5. Bridge/Cole 6. Lampard 7. Ballack 8. Mikel 9. Drogba 10. J.Cole 11. Belletti