Castiel

United hate coming to the Bridge. I'm feeling fairly confident. This is also our last realistic chance for silverware and the last prize to complete our set. Cool heads, watch the counter attack, keep a clean sheet and we'll be laughing.

Do we need another player who wont pass? Seriously though, good luck to him, think those defenders are a bit weak though. Like iron filings following a magnet.

Considering Cech was the only member of the defence with his head in the game consistently he practically defended that one point we somehow managed to walk away with. Encouraging performance by Drogba, nice flashes from a few others but far far too seldom to make any impact. Looked a completely different team to what we saw last week. My vote goes to Cech.

Its hardly from his lack of trying, I only remember him getting hold of the ball moments after he came on and his pass to lamps which was then promptly screwed up moments later.

So much for our last minute title defence. CL is our last hope.

Anyone else wish Lampard would stop doing that...

Really poor so far, just a matter of time before one of the numerous attempts by stoke goes right for them.

Is it against the rules for me to post one?

Cos we're gonna give them a spanking and want to milk it!

Background wallpaper on the official site for the CL fixture. Just above Lamps. http://www.chelseafc.com

I'd rather have them fully fit for United 3 days later.

Liverpool ignore 1990 to this day so we're clear.

Would be a spectacular signing for us. He's a class act and as mentioned he is perhaps most effective when played as a second striker to a point man, which coincidently is the optimal formation for Torres (arguably the best point man in the game on form). Imagining Neymar's service to Torres in the box is an exciting prospect, not to mention his own danger factor to opposition defences. Add to that his openness about wanting to come here (his heart will be in the game) and to me, he's a far more impressive signing than Aguero or anyone else at this point, on every level when considering the reality of how the future of our attack will develop. That's not to downplay these players either, I just feel Aguero and many of the other strike prospects we're linked with are too similar to what we already have to make a realistic improvement whereas Neymar has the potential to be exactly what we need. Same reason I suspect Drogba and Torres aren't the force of nature a lot of people hoped for together - they're both top guns. What we need is service and creative ability, not another top gun. You can see Aguero and Forlan almost compete in athletico and I fear he'd do the same with Torres/Drogs here.

This match is also a big strategic opportunity. With the CL clash with United up next and they're playing a banana skin fixture in West Ham, coupled with their recent form, history of bad games after breaks and injury issues - we could really hammer their confidence over the next week in both competitions.

I recall reading a quote from him that he had to sort of force the issue when it came to being put out on loan, and to me that indicates that the club intends to use him. Bringing him into an active role as strike partner with Torres next season would be a wise move in my opinion (with the alternatives being a new signing). He's performing for Bolton, he's performing for England. You can only beat what's put in front of you and Bolton run the same marathon we do every season. He deserves a real chance, as in a full season of regular play before we decide whether he's our future or an export talent.

Bit worried one of those dirty bar stewards gives Torres a kicking or something. Other than that should be a win, if not a comfortable one.

Feeling optimistic about this round tbh. I can see us knocking them out with reasonable comfort. Hopefully it'll demoralise their league campaign too.

I'm not sure how healthy it'd be to have Jose back here. He isn't exactly known for long term investment in a club, he's infamous for immediate impressive results. As much as I love what he did for us, I wouldn't want another few seasons of glory and a repeated backlash when he moves on to his next project. Could you all honestly handle the consequences of his second coming or would you rather someone like Carlo willing to stay in the long term? The prospect of him managing Man United or City might be a blessing in disguise as well. Sure he'd likely explode onto the scene and win a treble (though Real Madrid are losing the Spanish league to Barca and the CL is still anyone's prize so he isn't tactically infallible.) But following his success he'll inevitably leave for his next project in nothing less than a celestial pantomime of earth shattering proportions throwing the media into a championship w**kathon, which with United in a fragile post Fergie state or City in a building period, would weaken either of them substantially in the longer term. Add to that the business of "life after Jose" and the series of failed managers who live in his shadow and you could be looking at a major rival spending half a decade of mediocrity among the English elite only outshone by Arsenal.

We can absolutely do it. Arsenal will bottle it, they always do, they're in the process of doing it as we speak. United are a house of cards and we're coming back to form. When CA figures out the strike partnerships and Torres finds goal we'll improve even more. Also we'll beat United at OT if it becomes the title deciding match. Some stats for you: Last 100 Premier League home games at OT: Won Manchester United (85) Chelsea (71) Arsenal (69) Liverpool (67) Tottenham (58) Manchester City (54) Drawn Manchester United (9) Manchester City (18) Arsenal (21) Tottenham (23) Chelsea (24) Liverpool (26) Lost Chelsea (5) Manchester United (6) Liverpool (7) Arsenal (10) Tottenham (19) Manchester City (28) Goals scored Manchester United (245) Chelsea (224) Arsenal (223) Liverpool (208) Tottenham (178) Manchester City (155) Goals conceded United (55) Chelsea (62) Liverpool (64) Arsenal (81) Tottenham (96) Manchester City (98) Points gained Manchester United (264) Chelsea (237) Arsenal (228) Liverpool (227) Tottenham (197) Manchester City (180) We can, have and will beat them there if its necessary as we're the team they hate coming for tea the most. A good way to think about this is to imagine if you wanted United to win the league, where are your banana skins? Considering for a theoretical moment from a United PoV makes their run in (considering form, injury and general sh*teness) look a lot more daunting. We're not kidding ourselves, its their title to loose at the moment. But I trust Chelsea to punish them severely for any mistakes and to make them rip the trophy out of our lifeless fingers at OT before considering themselves safe. I wouldn't be surprised if we have the greatest title usurp in history in the cards, and if not, there's always the CL.

This is my concern with him exactly. The VDS retirement is only a matter of time and we've all been hoping that transition will unsettle them at the back for as long as possible, but imagining Arsenal with a competent keeper is not an amusing prospect from our point of view. Just hope neither Arsenal nor United are willing to pay out for him and he ends up in Italy or another League. Failing that, best case scenario for us in my opinion is a move to United. Better the devil you know.

This. I back Carlo 100%. Its pretty clear that the problem with Chelsea is the depth of our squad, though the future looks bright on that front with Roman's bold statement of intend during the January window. We have, without a doubt, the best starting XI in the league (hell I'd fancy them against the likes of Barca and Real Madrid any day). Fans of our rivals even agree with this. But when elements of that starting XI are injured/misfire or generally go missing our lack of depth really starts to show. Our rises and falls over the season I feel have been the results of this deficiency and its not Carlo's fault. The squad needs a balanced blend of youth and talent with the experience and grit of the old guard to become world beaters (look to the Mancs for that example - Terry and Lampard especially should be shifting into those roles at this stage in their careers). This Man United squad is absolutely appalling compared to what we're used to seeing. Couple that with their unlucky recent history and its nothing short of a miracle that they're most likely dethroning us of the Premiership this season (lets not kid ourselves, stars would need to align at this stage). To emulate their level of success and ability to keep plowing through the season even in the wake of constant disaster and setback (just using them as an example, old school L'pool and Barca are equally relevant) we need to strike our own balance. Carlo is the first manager since the Abramovich era who seems to be aware of that and that's why I'll back him until the end.

From: http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2321641,00.html Agree 100%. Since when did we care what the red media had to say?

I'm really happy with how he's coming on so far. If you look at how he was in Liverpool this/last season its a complete turnaround. He's demonstrated to me that he's an unselfish player which is also an excellent sign (look at Malouda to see why that's worth noting to me.) What's important is, the team is winning and he is personally improving and adapting to our style every match. When that final click between him and the midfield/strike partners occurs he'll be a force to be reckoned with again. Even in his current state he looks dangerous and does a lot of work around the box which seems to scare the crap out of defences. The effect he has on the opposition defence just by being here is a worthy enough contribution to the remainder of this season as far as I'm concerned. Remember the long term plan for him must be the ultimate replacement of Drogba as our star striker. So keeping things in that perspective he looks happy here, he's working hard and he's not being selfish in some kind of personal crusade to score goals and the team be damned (ala malouda). Next season will be his true goal scoring test.

Well the house of cards is collapsing now isn't it...

Really not a fan. I think signing him would be a mistake. I have a feeling he's one of these players that looks good in a good premiership team like Villa, but as the international stage is exposing - at top level he can't cut it. I can't see him handling CL football any better than he's handling the WC and as someone mentioned, far too expensive for a squad player.