Chippy

I can't believe anyone is feeling Drogba has in any way tarnished his reputation, legacy or whatever here, I commend him for coming back to a club he loves and doing his best to help them achieve more success, he hasn't let us down in any way, maybe a couple of lacklustre performances (how many of our players haven't had a couple of them this season?) but some decent ones as well. He will always be the player that won Chelsea their first CL and he will always for me be a legend. If he has a bad game, I'll support him, the manager watches him in training and feels he still has something to offer, we rest other players when he's on the field and he has been decent enough off the bench as well, I've not seen much of Remy to say he is a better second choice and obviously its horses for courses, Jose will know when to and how to use the two of them to our advantage. I think he's doing as much from the sidelines and in training to have a big influence on how our season pans out and I don't begrudge him a minute on the pitch. I really hope he stays on in some capacity after his playing days are over but I'm in no hurry for the day to come.

All the talk about Wilian and opinions on him so far can only really be significant if you know what the instructions are in the managers game plan. Players at other clubs that play right wing better or more direct than Willian really don't (imo) have his workload, he isn't really a wide player, he could likely do the job of hugging the line and sprinting down the wing but that would make it difficult to get back and cover the space that a marauding Ivan has left, he drifts around mopping up and pressing all over the place and I don't think that's his natural game, I think it's the role the manager has asked him to play. It's the same as Ivan doesn't take it in his head to do what he does, it's again Joses instructions and I'm not sure the "better" wingers Willian gets compared to could do the job as well as he does when Ivan does what he does. Obviously we expect the new man to be more direct, get in more crosses and generally take some of the weight off of Hazard but Ithink that was the plan with Shurrle, Willian for the games Jose wants more pressing and tenacity and one other that has turned out not to be Salah or Shurrle for games where he feels a more creative threat on the right is the key. Willian will likely play many more games where he has been playing but hopefully when a change is made it will involve enough of a threat going forward to negate the need for the harrying that Willian does so well, so far replacing him with a player offering little threat has left us a bit open. I like Willian and he will be an option in Oscars place if Jose wants to rest him so there will be a few options if Cuadrado fits in as well as we all hope. I'm fairly happy with Willian to date and think he, like Oscar is an important part of the team, I'd certainly have kept him ahead of Salah or Shurrle on what I've seen.

Although their manager would try to have everyone believe otherwise, he would have been drumming into his players that if they didn't beat us it would mean they were relying on other teams to do it, now they have to rely on other teams to help them hang on to their title. Costa and Fabregas being the difference between this seasons Chelsea and last seasons made them a bigger loss to us than the players they had out which gave them another boost. Liverpool on the other hand have hit a bit of form and gained confidence from a couple of good performances against us, add to that the return of Sturridge and you can imagine they are starting to believe that top four is a real possibility (being Liverpool they probably think the title's on as well) I had a fiver on the 1-1 today and expected us to be a bit cagey, I think we wll play some better football around the business end of the season and kick on.

considering the the hard fought cup game and the absence of Costa and Fabregas I think a draw was a decent result, ok City had players missing as well but they for me do have more strength in depth. Looking at our bench today wasn't a confidence booster and it still took an unusual error from our keeper to let them back into it. I feel Jose was ready to settle for the draw when he saw the tiredness creeping in and although from my comfy chair I hate to see us lock up shop, he was definitely right to do so. Great to see Zouma play well again at the highest level and nice that Remy got on the scoresheet, not a lot of positives to come from the game but our hardest home game out the way and if we can get maximum points from the next two it will have been a nice rest for the future golden boot winner.

What was that from Tibo?

credit to Willian for his strength there as well ha ha just saw your pot youlots

Maybe this signing will turn Ivan back into a top class defensive RB? his marauding up and down the pitch is great but there are times against certain opposition where it leaves us too open, these might be ideal games for the new boy. Anyway I don't know much about you Juan but in the unlikely event you read the forum, welcome .

"Stomp...Stamp" What I saw was Costa treading on a players leg, no jarring down of his foot like the words imply, maybe he didn't try to avoid either players leg as they laid on the floor but had he intentionally stamped or stomped damage would surely have resulted. I doubt either have a bruise or mark, it looked about as pain inducing as getting involved in a pillow fight with Graham Norton. I don't know if its an agenda against us or an agenda to keep the league wide open as long as possible hoping that it will add to viewing figures but the FA shouldn't be so easily influenced by the media and in particular a pundit with an obvious grudge against Jose. Everyone knows he was made to look the mug he is by Jose and he is now bitterly trying everything he can to put Chelsea down in some sort of revenge bid secretly hoping Jose doesn't get the chance to put him in his place again. It will be so sweet if he has to comment on a top performance from us against City without our number one striker and another tactical masterclass by his favourite manager.

Horrible result and display but you have to credit the Bradford Team, manager and their fans for their never say die attitude, being 2-0 down to the premiership leaders who have brushed all aside at home this season must have looked like a huge mountain to climb but they dug in and showed what pure spirit and a bit of ability can do. Our back up players just don't get enough time playing together, the eleven that started should have been good enough but you have to play together to be a good team and with the rotation in our first eleven being minimal (even the substitutions at Anfield very late instead of giving players some time on the pitch) it's always going to be difficult with eight changes even if they are big names. In hindsight it's easy to say we should have played more off the younger lot and that for me would have been fine but had it been my choice I'd have done what Jose has usually done and stuck with almost all the usual suspects, I love the FA Cup and I'm gutted we're out of it. If it wasn't the scousers up next I'd have definetely preferred to have won this and lost that given a straight choice but a cups a cup and now Jose has to think hard and right the last couple of wrongs that he has to have a big part of the responsibility for, the late and strange subs at Anfield and the naive performance today. I hope he gets the next couple of matches meticulously planned and gives Pool and City a lesson in tactics. Hopefully he'll make sure the players that he puts out understand the importance of the games.

Strange performance and strange managing from Jose, it was as if he was content to let them keep knocking on the door without bothering to change anything, unusual for Jose who is usually very proactive with his substitutions. Looked like he gave them too much respect from the off to me and was content with a draw, hopefully his confidence will be justified in the second leg.

Drogs for me around 67 minutes...lets have 0-2 and rest a few for the return.

If I could influence a change in the second half I'd bring on Dave for Ivan, Ivan doesn't look good today and I think it could cost us, we'll likely sit back second half and the more defensive Azpi would do fine for me. Other than that I'd still get Drogba on and whack some long balls up to him.

Jose talking sense about this being only a half game but leaves me feeling a draw would be enough for him tonight.

Bets for tonight, any returns half gos to the site. 20 Jan 2015 - Liverpool v Chelsea - Correct Score Chelsea 2-0 @ 10/1 Stake : £3.00 Estimated Returns : £33.00 And 20 Jan 2015 - Liverpool v Chelsea - First Goal Scorecast Diego Costa / Chelsea 2-0 @ 35/1 Stake : £1.00 Estimated Returns : £36.00 And 20 Jan 2015 - Liverpool v Chelsea - Last Goal Scorecast Didier Drogba / Chelsea 2-0 @ 40/1 Stake : £1.00 Estimated Returns : £41.00

Little bit more protection with Mikel in midfield and another chance to see what Cesc can do further forward, hope to see us get ahead early enough for the Drogs to bang one in late on.

All that could make it better is a late city goal...I'm on 1-2 so could do with my William Hill account topping up.

Cesc was at the center of everything and gets my vote just ahead of Oscar and Costa, both of which deserved a hat trick today. Willian again although missed a couple of chances had a telling input and again shouldn't be singled out for any criticism. some lovely passages of play today that must have had the owner smiling to himself, pretty football, strong athletic players and the right mindset...we must look ominous from an oppositions point of view.

No faith in Arsenal but what I will say is even with their obvious failings they are a very dangerous side and City have come up short against worse sides...we can but hope.

Bets for today, any returns half gos to the site as usual. Chelsea 3-1 @ 12/1 Stake : £4.00 Estimated Returns : £52.00 and first scorer with 1-3 Diego Costa / Chelsea 3-1 @ 40/1 Stake : £2.00 Estimated Returns : £82.00 and last scorer with 1-3 Diego Costa / Chelsea 3-1 @ 40/1 Stake : £1.00 Estimated Returns : £41.00

Ha ha, I just watched Taken 3, exactly what I expected...you know whats coming and as long as you go in to it knowing that you get what you deserve , I thought it was OK, like the first two if you're in the mood for a load of banging about.

I watched the Interview last night, one of those films you have to turn your brain off and soak in the stupidity if you're going to enjoy it. I did that and it was quite funny, can understand why the North Koreans might find it a bit tasteless though

CF of the CFC is he, the best football brain you'll ever see, his assists are a thing of real beauty, CF of the famous CFC. Over there on the hook is it? I'll stick it on then it's chilly out there.

I had a nine accumulator on the premiership games and got them all right bar the Everton City game and when Spurs went 0-1 up I said to the missus looks like only the city game let me down for £1560...I was happy with that, then Palace turned it around and I only got seven right so even easier to take. I also had Kane to score first and the Spuds to win, never count on a spud thats what I say not unless its one ulike anyway .

Difficult one today, I thought Willian broke up play well and hassled them, with his quick thinking for the corner I can't see why he's getting stick, Zouma looked really assured and today JT looked like the new boy in the center compared to him, Costa second half was a different animal and hopefully this will be the start of a return to top form for him. Shout out for Luis as well who although did nothing special didn't live up to the fear I had after watching Dave being skinned... Cech for me, top top keeper.

For all the complaints about Willian I thought he had a decent game, nobody was shining first half but his tracking back and putting himself about broke up the play when they were looking dangerous, second half he as did most of them improved.