Arq

I think Wolves, Blackburn, and QPhahahaha will drop. I like Owen Coyle and Bolton, so I have a soft spot for them a bit. Well, just enough to not really want to see them drop.

I have to say, now that I have Modric the squad is doing much better than I had expected. I made only two moves during the summer window. I sold Malouda (to Barca funny enough) and bought Modric.

Blasphemy of the greatest kind right there... Don't really care for Townsend and Poyet. I can't quite put Gallas in that category and while I thought Bridge's antics were pathetic I don't necessarily dislike the guy, I just don't care about him anymore.

Any of you play manager mode and try to buy Modric? I had to pay the Spuds $72.5million and $325k/week to get him. Once I started the process, I just had to see what it would take to pull it off.

That's a tough question. I'd be ok with an one goal Arsenal win or a draw. A draw makes up ground on the Spuds while gaining ground on Arsenal.

COYB! Hope we can strike early and be comfortable. Would love to see Torres come on about 60th minute and snag him a goal. 3-1 for me. Excited, nervous, and wanting more coffee. Let's get this match going! N.B.: Am I seeing Fox Soccer right? Is that Luiz at LB and Cole at CB?

Welcome!

I didn't get to see the match (and haven't read through the thread yet) but I did listen to the second half on the way home on the radio. Sounds like we had the midfield controlled but our back line was horrid. The announcer said that Ivan was responsible for the second goal. I heard it live obviously when the third went in (sounded like Luiz tried something tricky and it didn't work?). I need to read and catch up, but I feel horrid. I'm not sure I can really put a finger on what this team needs...

Bad grammar during posting under the influence is acceptable imho especially with the drama we've had this season so far. Carry on!

Positive spin on Rafa: He can get the best out of Torres. Maybe? Yeah, I'm stretching.

As a fan who considers myself to bleed Chelsea blue, it's so hard to pick a side. Don't the lot of you find it hard to pick a side on this situation? Preferably we would be challenging for titles and not worry about it but unfortunately here we are. Anyone that slags Lamps, Drogs, JT, or any of the old guard should have their heads examined imho. These are the players that have brought us trophies and the best period that this club has experienced. I have to believe in the core of my bones that these players are professionals and act as such. We can see that players are not happy and there's unrest. We do not know who it saying/doing what. No one wants to admit that their skills are diminishing. I know that every player believes that he can help his squad by being on the pitch. I don't think anyone is here just to collect a paycheck. So when I see Lamps angry that he's being pulled in whatever minute, I think it's because he believes he can help us more by being out there. However, if any of these players is causing unrest, it's up to AVB to put his foot down and show the club that he makes the decision. It's one thing to be unhappy but it's another to try to skirt the manager. Being the professionals they are, they need to help the club in whatever way they can, even if that means by being more of a leader off the pitch instead of on the pitch. Only AVB can determine a player's time on the pitch by what he sees. Slagging off during a match just isn't professional and I can't buy that anyone on our squad would do that. Where I stand? I'm behind AVB. I can't believe he's tactically inept. I can't believe that he's lost our clubhouse. I do scratch my head at some of his substitutions but I don't know the motivation behind them. Most of all, I'm behind Chelsea and RA. If RA believes and stands behind AVB, then so do I.

I didn't watch it, been studying for a certification I've been wanting for a bit now. Test tomorrow, hope I pass. This is rough... Anyway, sounds like we were pretty bad. This was the match we could/should have won by a few to get our confidence going. Ugh. Frustrating. Back to the books...

I don't see it on any of the channels here. Shame.

Welcome. Located in PA myself.

I missed it also.

Normally, I'd want United to draw or lose... Not against Liverfool though. I hope United put quite a few by Reina.

Didier Drogba... I don't know of a player that makes me scream for joy or drives me to rage like our Didier. Incredible talent, and one of the best of this generation. I fully believe it. He's had some games where he's carried the lads on his shoulders. He's also one that makes me want to toss something at my TV when he's just "not in the mood" to give it his all. The man has done boatloads for this club. Add him to our CFC legends, absolutely. Add to the fact that his entertainment value, good or bad, is usually pretty high.

Luckilly for us, this article also has Drogba in the bottom 10... With this link, I'm not sure if trying to support the argument that it's Torres that's the issue or our front man in general.

Good for Capello. With the FA going over his head to strip JT of his Captaincy, they basically told Fabio that it's their team and his say doesn't matter. As a manager, that's a very bad situation to be in. It should be his squad and the FA should know that he'll do what he believes is right. I wish that JT would walk away as well. And I agree with the folks that say that JT will be blamed for this. The FA is at fault, not JT or Fabio. Unless JT is guilty, then he should have done the right thing and stepped down. Innocent until proven guilty is how it goes, isn't it?

He was his last match at Bolton. Other than that, I'm not sure.

I know we just got Cahill, but I would consider him a candidate in a few years time. And that's only if I remove Frank from the equation who will probably be gone in that time. I think Cahill has the tools to become our Captain. Of course, that's purely speculative considering he just got here and all. I just look at him and can see him possibly being that guy. I think Cech would be top though on my list though. He's vocal, he's been here, and I think he'll be here for years to come. Again, this is assuming it wouldn't be Frank.

They're too worried about Bobby Valentine getting ready to tank the Red Sox. And as a Red Sox supporter, I hope I'm wrong... About the whole tanking part.

Only if we can get better. And we do need to get better.

Amazing stuff in this thread. Love seeing the videos and reading it through. I still have lots yet to read.

I would say it's a good result. The Spuds don't get any further ahead while the Scousers don't catch up at all.