ZippyNW

Good point and it was poor. However, he often starts runs to get in behind the defence, or is holding off the run into space, shouting for the pass. The long pass in is not great all the time but occasionally I am shouting for the ball to be played over the top to him - last night he was looking really pissed off on at least one occasion.

The problem with not capitalising on chances has and will come back to bite us unless this tightens up. I also think they are not playing to Lukaku as much as they should. He is often getting into positions/starting runs and calling for the ball only for it to be passed back and around. He is often looking very frustrated.

It is back to boring fooball. I know keeping the opposition to 0 is good but there seemed no urgency, or even interest, in getting a goal until 80 minutes again. (Why play the ball forwards when we can go sideways or back?) Even the substitutions were boring, like for like. Why not two up front to try to create something?

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Oh well. Hopefully, we get Leipzig after we beat Bayern.

I've never been to Leipzig but then again i never have enough points for anything these days.

2012 outside Camp Nou, I talked to a fully armed policeman...machine gun, full armour etc. I told him that there was no need for that for Chelsea. He replied "Yes, I know but you should have seen Stoke in Valencia!"

Definitely.

I just hope for a better result than last season. I enjoyed the day - pub and in the ground - until the ref blew for kick off. My Mrs is season ticket holder in home end so the drive home was not good. 2-1 to Chelsea.

I remember going to City v CFC in the late 80s in the home end and getting told off by the City fans for hiding my shirt under a coat. "This isn't United" they told me. Nowadays, I think you wouldn't be allowed in with it.

Well said. My worry is that a legend will get sacked after 3 months if results are not top form - that would be awful. I do hope there are more like you who will support Lampard through a couple of rebuilding seasons with Morris guiding the youth through. A 3 year plan to be challenging for the top titles by the end would work for me. Target next season: maybe get through the CL group stage and finish 6th in PL. If the spirit and work is there, I will enjoy the days out whatever.

I hope it is not Lampard. Purely because I would hate to see a legend sacked after 3-4 months. If it were him and JM, then I hope they are told that they have 3 years to start winning trophies and have to bring through and play the youth.

Looks like he's playing to be sacked. The team should have stepped it up after 1 minute, not 80.

I find the play in the last third disappointing. Higuain was running into spaces and shouting for the ball but we preferred to play back or wide. Higuain went mad at one point. If we sre playing a centre forward then use him or put Giroud on from the start if Higuain isn't up to it. Sometimes a long ball, cross into the box or even, god forbid, a shot would be nice to see. Some bleeding inventiveness. Thanks to those involved for the tickets, though.

Any idea which pub today? The Arkle is not for cfc today.

It was sh*te. But many thanks to the lads in The Piccadilly for sorting me out with a ticket. I had fun (until the goals mounted up).

Benitez?

They lost the chance letting JM go. He should have been made the assistant with a brief of playing the youth and a 3 year target. I know these days a long term goal is not ever given but we had the chance with youth who had won everything for club and country. There was debate here about whether we would be happy not winning things for while but at least, with a firm goal in sight, we would know the plan.

Interesting. Among my small group, we have not been at all impressed with him. Until now, my opinion has been he has been one of the weaknesses in Sarri's system and has only been played as he is one of Sarri's favourites. Is he generally like then? Maybe I need to watch him more carefully.

Kante where Jorginho is and Pedro where Kante is? Not keen on Jorginho at all.

I noticed City's ground was quieter over and just after Xmas. A lot of fans have to make choice where to spend their money. My Mrs is City season ticket holder and cannot afford to pay extra for the various cup games. I suppose there are many CFC fans in the same boat but it is a smaller stadium - or maybe just more loyal supporters :-)

As my wife will be in the home end on her season ticket, I hope for a Chelsea win even more: a silent car journey home and 3 days in the spare room in peace and quiet! (On the other hand, a happy wife and scousers not winning win the league does have a lot to appreciate too.) ps. 1 or 2 tickets for away end would be greatly appreciated. :)

Any chance of a contract? I am paying to keep fit at the moment. And I would be cheaper.

It was my pc first which had problems. My antimalware things came up warning of Trojans. The software seemed to deal with it so I continued. I then tried on my mobile and it refused to load with warnings. Afterwards , I ran 4 antimalware programmes to clean my pc in case but they all came up with nothing. It has worked fine for 2 days now.

Even my phone gets through this morning. It shows someone is working hard behind the scenes.