Matt F

Ivanovic is looking great going forward, I could almost see a 2nd there.

OH MY HE DID IT! KALOU!

Sadly I agree with everything you said, although I was really hoping to see Anelka weaving through the defense.

Unbelievable... at least we're controlling the game.

1. Man City (h) Win 2-0 2. West Ham (h) Win 3-1 3. Blackburn (a) Win 2-0 4. Portsmouth (a) Win 3-1 5. Aston Villa (h) Win 2-1 6. Man Utd (a) Draw 1-1 7. Bolton (h) Win 4-0 8. Tottenham (a) Win 3-2 9. Stoke (h) Win 3-0 10. Liverpool (a) Win 1-0 11. Wigan (h) Win 3-1

My thoughts exactly, with those players (and more) missing it went well. It was nice to see Paulo and Bruma getting some time also.

Not the best of the season, but for all of the changes in the starting lineup I thought it was a fine away match.

Absolutely, but what if Malouda or Zhirkov go down or need a break. It's just not safe to rely on one player in each position.

That's another good option. I wonder... supposedly Bosingwa will be back in 3 weeks or so, is it too much to hope that Ivanovic could try out the left side?

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1963317,00.html This is not good, I hope Kakuta is getting prepared for the left of the diamond. This leaves Ferreira or Hutchinson as backup to Zhirkov now?

I might be completely alone but I put this down to poor tactics rather than poor form. Granted Anelka and a few others didn't look comfortable on the ball, but overall I thought the ball movement and possession was not nearly as bad as some previous games. A few of the middle of the road teams seem to have figured out the key to breaking Chelsea down in their current form. Everton's game plan from the start was an extremely compact defense followed by an extremely long ball and a hopeful breakaway. The two reasons it's has been working for the opposition are, like today, sometimes our CB's just get beaten 1v1, and poor fouls just into the final 3rd. It's a simple fact that the CB's wont be perfect 100% of the time, and the way the rest of the team is pushed forward it's too often a 1v1 or 2v2 situation. Against Arsenal we used some of the tactics Everton did today, and it obviously worked. Chelsea is amazing on the counter-attack, but suffer against it in the same way our opponents do. It's no wonder our home record is excellent and our away record lacking. On the road it's thought that we need to play a strong offense against the home side's strong defense, but it just leaves the centre backs without support. I really don't think it's as much their fault though as the issue of poor fouls and corners from counter-attacks leading to set piece goals. My thoughts to a solution are to stop changing the formation per game for one, then fight the tactics of the opposing team rather than stick to the initial plan. If Everton plays a compact defense, draw them out and look for the type of quick counter-attack plays that dominated Arsenal. Pull the midfield deeper to protect against the long ball, or stop the full backs from making runs up the side. Did anyone else notice that even in the 4-3-3 the midfield had no width, and it ended up being a 2-5-3 with Cole and Ivan on the wings? Why not just stick to the diamond, the changes in formation are confusing our own team as much as the opposition. Again I might be alone in my evaluation but it just seems that the tactics are the issue here rather than the player performances.

What a way to join the forum, how's the weather in Manchester? I rate the midfielders in this order Malouda>Ballack>Lampard>Deco. I can't believe how many bad passes were played with open field ahead. We looked rushed and impatient in the mid/front and slow in the back. The midfield has to improve in all areas right now and, like the defense of a few months ago, they need a leader to step up. Terry is doing his job taking charge in the back now Lampard or Ballack needs to make it happen in the middle. The kindest thing I can say about the match is that they looked tired from the get go. Maybe they need to plan a little more and train a little less.

This is a perfect example. The ratings for the Birmingham game by, who else, The Sun. I wouldn't say our entire team was excellent, but putting both teams on 6's and 7's? Unbelievable. If anything Chelsea deserved 7's and 8's for a good game against a tough opponent, and Birmingham deserved 4's, 5's and 6's. Chelsea Petr Cech 6 Branislav Ivanovic 6 John Terry 7 Ricardo Carvalho 7 Ashley Cole 6 Michael Ballack 6 Frank Lampard 8 - STAR MAN Deco 5 Florent Malouda 7 Joe Cole 7 Nicolas Anelka 6 Subs: Yuri Zhirkov (for J Cole) 4 Daniel Sturridge (for Anelka) 3 Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Alex, Matic, Borini. Birmingham Joe Hart 7 Stephen Carr 6 Roger Johnson 6 Scott Dann 6 Liam Ridgewell 6 Sebastian Larsson 6 Lee Bowyer 7 Barry Ferguson 6 James McFadden 6 Cameron Jerome 5 Christian Benitez 5 Subs: Keith Fahey (for Jerome) 5 Michel(for McFadden) 5 Subs not used: Taylor, Queudrue, Vignal, McSheffrey, D Johnson. REF: S Bennett 6

Goal!!!! 1-0 Malouda Of course the feed dropped immediately after the ball hit the back of the net.

I stand corrected, looks like a 4-3-3. Maybe I should change my prediction from 2-0 to 3-0!

Not a bad point, maybe it should be adjusted to Ivanovich--Carvalho--Terry--A.Cole --Lampard----Ballack----Malouda-- --------J.Cole---------Deco---------- ----------------Anelka----------------

I might be mistaken but I don't see the 4-3-3 being used today. Carlo prefers a defensive formation at home, and I think it will almost certainly be the Christmas tree 4-3-2-1 with that lineup. Although I don't actually dislike any of the players listed, it seems there are too many offensive players in this defensive formation. No worries here though, Birmingham averages about 1 goal per game both ways. I'm predicting a 2-0 win, Anelka and Lamps to score. ----------------Cech------------------ Ivanovich--Carvalho--Terry--A.Cole -----Deco-----Ballack----Lampard-- --------J.Cole--------Malouda------- ---------------Anelka----------------

Well what'd you sleep for! I turned on Fifa 10, grabbed a few beers, and buckled down until 4:30!

This is great, thanks!

Does no-one else see this as another attempt by the tabloids to break down the team? I say appreciate the history but don't dwell on it. Thanks to Mourinho, Hiddink, etc. but I'm supporting Carlo!

Just sounds like he played the same role at Liverpool, and he thought his form was better then. I think he's mostly irritated with people not giving him the credit he deserved. Another comment twisted and relabeled to sound like a big controversy.

Isn't Matic still injured? I could be wrong but I think that's the reason we haven't seen him.

I don't mean to get off topic, but I don't know why Ballack hasn't been considered for the tip of the diamond. Some seem to think he is good in the holding role, but that is most of the reason why he isn't playing at his best at the moment. He was never a defensive midfielder. Think of Lampard at the tip, he did OK but not great by any means. It doesn't say anything about his quality but that he's in the wrong spot. Ballack needs to be tested there, he was great for Bayern and Germany in an attacking midfield role, and needs to be tested there now. For everyone that will undoubtedly disagree, just consider that the tip of the diamond is the position for feeding your forwards the ball, taking a long distance shot, or getting in for a header. That fits his style perfectly. It doesn't have to be a player with tricks or incredible pace. Just my opinion, but I'd like to see him up front with Zhirkov/Kakuta on the left and Lampard on the right, with Essien in the holding role.

I still like Pato. Great player, young, and with Ancelotti coaching we have a better chance than most other clubs. We probably will spend, I just hope it's in the right areas. My only worry for strikers is that Anelka will get pushed out, but who knows what Ancelotti has planned. I also like Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern, he would be really solid in our often changed right mid position.

Excellent point, that does change things.