BigIzz

How is talk of winning the title overly optimistic? It's not like we need some sort of crazy scenario for it to happen. Just win the last three matches and we've got a fantastic shot.

Let's not forget how surprising Carlos lineup and tactics were in this fixture last season in a very similar position.

19 year old Joe Strummer wouldn't have gone for modern day Chelsea. That is supposing that 19 year old Joe Strummer could exist in present times (he couldn't). 50-something Joe Strummer would have remained a Chelsea supporter and I'm sure had mixed feelings about some things, as many of us do. Either that or his passion for football would have dissipated. I doubt he would have just switched to Spurs or Arsenal.

Luiz isn't a rock solid defender but he has other qualities that make him a better centre back then Ivan or Alex. I'm not sure he will ever be a rock solid defender because he is a gambler and likes to get forward but he can improve his decision making and positioning. We saw the improvements Ramires was able to make after a few months and I don't see why Luiz won't take a big step forward next season. I also love the versatility that having Luiz and Ivan on the pitch together provides. Both are great in the air, both can get forward and both are comfortable in the middle or out wide. If Luiz wants to push up and join an attack from a central position, Ivan can just slide over and cover with very little lost.

Malouda is a question that needs to be answered after we have our manager and their system sorted out. For me he really only fits in as a wide left attacker in a 4-3-3. If were going to play any sort of 4-4-2 system, Malouda doesn't fit. And even if he is the left sided attacker in a 4-3-3, he is pretty inconsistent so we need a good plan B. It may be best to just cut ties with him and sell.

Drogba needs to stay at least another year. He hasn't had a great season but you can't overlook having malaria. His form of late has convinced me he can still produce at this level.

I don't think Terry should have to rotate. I had big doubts about him coming into this season but he's really impressed me and turned in a great year. Of course Luiz should be on the pitch as much as possible so that will be our centre back paring next season.Ivan is a valuable and versatile reserve and, if need be, can fill in at centre back even if he is the first choice right back (as he did this season). That is dependent upon having good depth to fill in at right back if Ivan needs to slide over. We have that now but will Boswinga stay? Will he return to his pre-injury form? Can PF turn in another season? And where does Alex fit in? He is best case scenario the third choice at centre back. Will he be content with this?

Everton look like sh*t today against United. This feels like a team in the fourth tier trying to hang on for a replay in the FA Cup. Although I'm reasonably confident that they'll find they're form by the last day of the season and look like world beaters when we play them. Maybe United will be unsettled because they couldn't score in that first half.

Goal difference with United isn't bleak either. in order for it to matter were going to have to win our next 5 so we will be +39 at a minimum. United are also going to have to lose twice so they would be at least down to +36 if that happened. Supposing United won their other 3 games that puts them with at least +39. it will be awful tight. I hope we don't regret not getting more favorable score lines in these last two games.

And since the title race is not dead it would be very helpful if we improved our goal difference in this match. Right now United is +38 and were +32. It's not quite as bad as that because in order for it to matter we will surely have to win the next 6 which would put us at least at +38 and United would need to lose two matches so they'd be down to +36 at minimum, not counting what they did in their 4 other games. Looking at the fixture list we probably won't have the opportunity to give many 4-5 goal thrashings. if Foster plays our of his skull like in the last match well be lucky to get a 1-0 result.

Let's just win the next six matches and let the chips fall where they may...

3rd place goes to group stage. 4th qualifies for playoff. If you recall this season, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal all made the group stage but Spurs had to play Young Boys in a two leg playoff. Which is why I think it's strange everyone wants a top 4 spot, I want a top 3 spot. That said, let's not go an concede the title yet. Let's win our next 6 and see what happens. If United lose to Newcastle were only 5 behind with a match against United to play. I'd start the same team as on Saturday for this one.

It was a decent performance but at the end of last season or the beginning of this season this match would have been 1-7.

Josh doesn't strike me as a replacement for Lampard. Perhaps he can be a replacement as the focal point of Chelsea's midfield but they seem very different players. Josh doesn't seem to have any of the goal scoring knack that Lampard has but looks like he can be a better playmaker, I'd be quite surprised if Josh consistently scored 20+ goals.

If you recall, Lampard wasn't great for portions of last season either. At the end the goal total was impressive but he wasn't a factor in many midseason matches. He can still be a very important player but needs to be handled properly and not considered an automatic starter in every league, champions league and cup game. With a midfielder of his age less can be more.

I agree with Marcotti about one point very much, it's stupid to fire Carlo (or anyone else) as punishment for not wining. Teams lose, all of them. Winning the Champions League is an unrealistic expectation for any club as it's simply too unpredictable. Barca looks a clear favorite now but I'd say the odds they don't win it are still at least equal to the odds that they do. We should pick our manager based on the future, not on the past. Who is the best man to lead Chelsea next season and in the future? For me, that man is Carlo without a doubt. No, he isn't Mouhrino or Fergueson but he is on tha next tier of top level managers. He's proven he can win the league. He's proven he can win the FA Cup. He's proven he can win the a champions League. Why replace him? Who is waiting in the wings that is better? And if he ever is fired will we ever achieve any stability? Where would United be had they fired Fergueson after two seasons?

Ugh....the most annoying team to watch ever. And their stupid thrown in gimmick works great. If I recall last year at Stoke correctly, didn't we do a very good job in limiting thrown ins deep in our defensive third? Maybe it was the home game against them this season I'm thinking of. I reckon tha Stoke should be more afraid if David Luiz then David Luiz is of Stoke. He's the first name on the team sheet for me, which is a little problematic because it would be nice to see Alez play if he is fit. Obviously Terry is going to play. Is it asking too much to take a 0-3 advantage into half time so we can tinker with our back four in the second half and get Alex some playing time?

I chose our best player, David Luiz. What a warrior.

I think we should try something a little bit different. Not to take anything for granted but it's pretty difficult to imagine Copanhagen beating us at home by two goals. I'm not saying start Borini or anything but we could tinker with a different lineup/formation here and hope to figure out some stuff. This might be our last opportunity to do it this season.

I guess you could pick Lampard because of the two goals but I'm going to go with Terry. Scored one and had a fee good blocks. Was our best defender.

1. 07 MAR Blackpool (A) 0-1 Win 2. 20 MAR Man City (H) 1-1 Draw 3. 02 APR Stoke City (A) 1-1 Draw 4. 09 APR Wigan (H) 3-0 Win 5. 16 APR W.B.A. (A) 0-1 Win 6. 20 APR Birmingham (H) 2-0 Win 7. 23 APR West Ham (H) 1-2 Loss 8. 30 APR Tottenham (H) 2-2 Draw 9. 07 MAY Man Utd (A) 1-1 Draw 10. 14 MAY Newcastle (H) 0-1 Loss 11. 22 MAY Everton (A) 2-1 Win

Luiz. What a stud.

Not to say I'm rooting for Arsenal but I'll be happy if anyone knocks Barca out of the CL.

Which isn't going to happen on a permanent basis. So Malouda is left without a spot.

I think we will see the same formation that we saw against Liverpool with the only changes being Ramires on the right side of the diamond, Essien in for Mikel at the base and possibly Luiz at CB and Ivan at RB in place of Boswinga. Not to say this is how I'd line up but I think it's what Carlo will do.