BigIzz

What we ought to do is find a manager for the long term (be it CA or whomever), open the checkbook and let them build the team the way they want. Otherwise there will be a constant mish-mash of players and managers with no continuity or stability. I could care less if Carlo plays with width or not, if he brings in guys who fit his system and we are successful in the end what does it matter? Here we are four managers later and basically still have the squad Mourino built only older. Make a decision about Carlo - is he the man to lead the team for the foreseeable future and if he is support him fully. If not, find someone else who is and support them fully.

If anything about this match gives me an uneasy feeling it's Mourinho's involvement. I don't think there is anyone else on the planet that I would less like to see leading Inter today. Thankfully I don't think his players will be nearly as motived by this circumstance as he will be so I'm not sure how much it matters.

I think the injury ends up being a blessing for England. It looks like Beckham was going to be on the team if he deserved it or not. I'm not sure Capello could have or would have thought it was worthwhile to deal with keeping him off the team. Now this decision is made for him and he avoids the entire circus, plus England can still tote him around as the face of the 2018 bid. It looks like a win for everyone, save Beckham himself obviously.

I don't think the Arsenal and ManU matches have anything to do with this one. Were playing a quality opponent with a great coach. Not to say it can't be done but it isn't going to come easily.

You aren't but I doubt it happens - especially the first two.

Exactly, look at the goals we conceeded they had nothing to do with formation. The first goal was a comedy of errors from Mikel, Carvalho, Terry and Hilaro. The second came because Carvalho wasn't positioned well and gambled to cut out a pass that went sailing over his head, Mikel didn't have the pace and one on one defensive ability he needed and Hilaro wasn't positioned perfectly. The third came because Billetti found himself out of position and was clumsy in his recovery and the fourth because we had only 9 players and committed too many forward to deal with a counter attack. I don't see how Ancelotti or his formation are accountable for this at all. At best you can have an issue with him bringing on Belletti whose penalty/red card ended any hope of us salvaging points. But Carlo either had his best players on the pitch or are injured, it is up to the players to focus and preform at a high level. Any formation without Drogba in it can't seriously be considered, can it?

I picked Ivan. Apart from Drogba's extraordinary ability to score goals, Ivan has been our best and most consistent player this season and today was no different. The only other two who I thought played well were Malouda (who is settling in very well at fullback) and Lampard.

The problem for me wasn't so much the penalty but the penalty and red card. I suppose he has to give a red card there if he gives a penalty because he denied a goal scoring opportunity but it is very harsh to give both. It's a stupid rule and the referee should be allowed some judgment

Oh boy... Hilario looked terrible today. I think he could have done better on the first two goals and looked rather indecisive the rest of the match. I think we need to see what Turnbull has. Our defense was awful as well. The first goal was just a disaster. WTF was Riccy doing on that second goal when he stepped up to try and stop the pass at the halfway line? Terry played like crap. Obviously Mikel played a terrible match and Ballack was quite poor as well. That penalty and red card on Belletti was BS and Mike Dean basically decided the outcome with his poor decision.

That was an awful goal to allow. Absolutely pathetic. How does Tevez beat our two central defenders and goalkeeper like that?

Could be worse...7:45 am for me tomorrow That means I can't even drink (a lot) tonight I'm not sure what we do with the lineup. At the back do we give Alex a start? Is Zhirkov fit? Do we keep Malouda at left back or go with Belletti/Ferrara? I'll assume Ivan and JT are locks for the other two places. Do we go with Anelka - where does he fit in? Did Kalou earn more playing time? Joe Cole get a start? Do we keep the Christmas Tree/4-3-3 or go back to the diamond? I guess I'm all questions and no answers.

1. Man City (h) W 2-0 2. West Ham (h) W 4-1 3. Blackburn (a) W 0-1 4. Portsmouth (a) W 1-3 (if it even happens) 5. Aston Villa (h) L 1-2 6. Man Utd (a) D 1-1 7. Bolton (h) W 2-0 8. Tottenham (a) D 2-2 9. Stoke (h) W 2-1 10. Liverpool (a) W 2-1 11. Wigan (h) W 3-0 This season has had far too many twists and turns for us to just win out, no? No way do we win out but thankfully I don't think there is any way Man U or Arsenal do either.

I voted for Kalou. He scored, looked pretty decent and should have drawn a penalty. Maybe I should have gone with Ivan but that was the sort of performance he puts in every match whereas Kalou's play was suprsing and encouraging so I chose him.

I just got home from watching the match - had a great time at Nevada Smiths in NYC. Of course the result was disappointing but I don't think that we played terribly. If the same match were to repeat itself in three weeks at the Bridge, I'm confident we will advance. Inter are a quality opponent and they certainly presented us with some problems but I felt that Chelsea were the better side despite the scoreline. That second goal along with the Cech injury seemed to kill whatever momentum we had in the second half. Still we were denied an obvious penalty, had a free kick bang off the underside of the bar and missed a few other good chances. Combine a little better luck with a little better health going back to London and I'm optimistic.

Donavan has always had the talent to play among the great players of the world. Look at how he has preformed in World Cups (2002, against Italy in 2006). I think he didn't succeed in Germany for a few reasons. First, he never really got an fair opportunity from any of the managers he had over there. They never really believed in him. At Everton, he walked into the starting lineup from day one and preformed. That was never really the case with his stints in Germany. If Moyes had made him "earn his spot" at Everton, I think we would be seeing more of the same. But Moyes was smart enough to understand that Donavan was a quality player, gave him a regular spot and wasn't quick to pull it away after a misstep. He didn't perceive the other players on the team as higher quality simply because they are Premier League players and Donavan isn't. Donavan's personality and personal life is a big part of the reason as well. He's always been looked at as a savior here in America so who can blame him for having an inflated ego, especially at an early age? He was pretty immature until very recently. One of the turning points for him was calling out Beckham's failings before last season it showed a lot of growth. He has never been the most ambitious player either - he is quite content to play in MLS and I think would be content to return after his loan deal. His critics look at him being scared but I don't think that is fair. I think he is more comfortable in America, makes a very good living, is a big fish in a little pond and prefers to live in Los Angeles rather than Liverpool or Munich (who can blame him?) I also think he would rather play in MLS and be a star rather then have to fight through some of the difficult situations he's had in Germany. I'm curious to see what happens - I can't see how Everton can afford to let him go but he is overvalued by MLS because he is the league's signature player. Many people still don't think England suits him as well as some other leagues might (Spain, Italy, etc.) but his pace sure is useful in the Premier League.

I think so. Who else on their squad really concerns the opposition? Of course they have quality all over the pitch but not the type that will make an opposing manager stay up at night. Berbatov can score but he's missing that special something that a great striker has. Nani and Valencia have ability but are far too inconsistent. Fletcher and Carrick are competent but don't control a game (the commentators brought up today that they hadn't called Carrick's name until the 84th minute and I don't think they were exaggerating. Moments before I was wondering to myself why he wasn't playing in the match, I had forgotten he was in the lineup.) Ferdinand and Vidic are solid but not spectacular however they are often injured. Giggs ans Scholes are legends but both past their prime. I like Park because he is a hard worker but he surely isn't a game changer. That just about leaves Evra, who is fantastic, and Rooney. I think you also have to credit their manager who despite being a whiny asshole always gets his teams to preform at a high level. Think about it another way. If you were a United fan (yes, awful I know, but just pretend for a moment), whose shirt would you buy besides Rooney?

Cech He's turned it around, hasn't he?

Gotta take care of business now...

Drogba for me too

Malouda can play left back and would be a great attacking option back there. He did it quite a bit for Lyon, even played there in the Champions League.

This is a terrible injury but we have some decent options. Clearly no one who can replace Cole (who could?) but we should be alright. Time for Zhirkov to start earning his money. He hasn't been great so far but hopefully he can pick it up getting a regular start at a regular position.

Terrible. One Point out of six against Everton this season despite having leads in both matches. This may be our downfall in the end.

Own goal is their second leading scorer after Rooney My Iraq goals stream isnt working anymore

Me too - so much for the couch

1-0 Villa - maybe this won't be so bad after all?