alan'82

We'll be okay, we will claim the third spot because despite recent results to the contrary, we are much better than either the arse or spuds. The dippers in the cup will be a tough one but we seam to play a more fluid game against true quality opponents so as we owe them for the League Cup and they will probably be in the CL final, I reckon we'll claim that trophy as well.

I'm calling it right now...…..... the truth is your real identity is cousin Giacomo's pet donkey Cristina and I claim my five pounds. I'd take a box of matches for Willian though.....

Because he reminds me of an Italian version of Chelsea manager of yesteryear John Neal, perhaps with less hair ………… I'd give him another year That gives my age away!.

I like the guy, he strikes me as a real thinker, a guy who studies football down to a finite level in an attempt to make his players perform to their best. I suspect that approach comes from being the coach of mostly average sides in Italy. For a chap new to England our football culture and language, he fronts up to press interviews even though those b*stards try to set him up because of his lack of English skills. He did the same on Sunday even though Kepa made him look like a mug. That takes character and they way he dealt with the situation I feel is a mark of the man himself. Truth is, there is to few goals and to little clean sheets in this team to win much at the level we live at. We are not going to out spend everyone else and we can't offer Champions League football either. If there is player power going on at Chelsea, Sarris approach may be the perfect long time answer. I couldn't imaging Jose/Antonio putting up with what happened at Wembley without blowing a gasket. Agreed, for him to succeed long term, he does need to be more flexible in his tactics and team selection as the games require but remember he's only been here five minutes. Give him to the end of the season, see where we are and what has changed and then think about it some more before making a decision.

I miss Andre Villas-Boas inspirational press conferences. I rate Steven Gerrard on and off the pitch and think he would have been a very good fit for Chelsea. And before the pills wear off...... I just don't get how folks give England players dogs abuse when they play for their clubs then expect them to pull up stumps when they play for their country. The first sentence was a joke. The second sentence doesn't excuse most scousers of being total melts. The third sentence has had me perplexed for years to tell you the truth.

On the other hand, he just might be looking for the ball after an attempted cross into the box by Jesper Gronkjaer's grandfather.

It truly is a 'funny old game', roll on 70 odd years & it's the West Ham fans that now need the binoculars. Great pictures by the way.

I wish David all the best 'cos he's now a Chelsea player (err..again) but with his transfer fee first time from Benfica plus Matic, who we eventually brought back for 21 million, I can't help but think he's Chelsea's most expensive player ever. Or in other words, the player who has cost the club the most money to date. Wondering if his time in France has improved his defensive abilities I took a butchers at the 2015-16 French League season. PSG won it with a 31 point gap over the second club and with a rather tight goal difference of plus 83. Oh shirt! . I really do hope that this transfer somehow works out but I can't help but think on seeing this news, in Spain Nando is brushing the dust of his Zorro mask and is looking forward to January.

In the drivel I posted above I forgot to name two other teams/results that I feel need a mention. For any true Chelsea fan...... any negative result against the No 1 enemy............ Tottenham Hotspur. For family reasons and for someone born in Dagenham, ( sh*t happens!) .....any result that isn't a crushing beating against, 'World cup winners' (w**k) West Ham United. I have never seen so many replica shirts around here before until those plums moved into the London Taxpayers Arena!. Ironic really when you think most of these numbskulls have never stood in the North Bank at the Boleyn ground and seen players like Frank Lampard Snr, Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking and Phil Parks play for them. Yet I have and I don't even support them.

Chelsea vs Sunderland Milk cup semi final 1985......really believed that our name was on the cup that year.... Clive Walker killed us in the second leg and after his goal at Bolton kept the club alive 2 years earlier!... who would have thought it?. 2005 Champions League semi final second leg v Liverpool, that was never a goal no matter how many bias media tossers say the Kop 'sucked' the ball into the net. Fecking bellends, yes Cech may have be sent off and a penalty awarded to those deluded half wits but that still doesn't count as a goal does it. I'm slowly getting over it but Clive's 1985 mullet is taking some time by jingo.

I know Willian is a great talent,but even I didn't think he could be on the pitch & in the stands at the same time.

Can't be quite sure if I heard it correctly but I'm pretty certain on the t.v. highlights the fella mentioned that everyone's favourite underpants salesman Ronaldo has just scored his 334th goal in his 320th game for Madrid. That can't be correct surely?.

Great effort from the lads tonight and we'll done to them.A well deserved & comfortable win in the end. Special praise for Jose though who made the right team selection while under massive pressure. Well done sir.

Agree about Matic, but Zuma was very solid also.Willian as reliable as always.....where would we be without him this season?. Chuffed to see Oscar show a return to form.

Good points jk and much wisdom from the old fella chippy (as always).Nice to have a debate instead of a slagging match. Jose can turn it around no question but,I have major doubts if the scale of investment many belive Roman will spend on team rebuilding will actually materialize. If he is to have a long term future here, I belive it will depend on him getting a tune out of this present lot. And I think he need's that to happen tonight to be honest with you.

Interesting point made by Didier when he was trying to flog his book (yes I know). He said in Jose's third season in charge,however hard they (the team) tried to listen,his message wasn't quite getting across like it used to. Could be cobblers I know,but I don't think the big guy has anything less than the highest respect for what Jose did for him. I can however see simularities with todays team & Eden in particular.At the beginng of last season Jose challenged Eden to peform to a higher standard with more consistency than ever before in his career. He listened & was a joy to watch,he won player of the year awards and was quite rightly singled out by Jose as the best player in the world. Why did he listen then but appears to have turned a bit deaf this season?.

No probs mate,you make many good points by the way.

He wasn't Pablo Escobar was he Baz?.

Sorry mate if i didn't make it clear that i actually belive that Jose is the right man for the job.Provided that is, he makes the changes necsessary for the task ahead. Also if I may,the true double is the F.A. cup and the League title & not the league cup ( as good as it is). The only manager who's won that for the club,with a record amount of goals scored, is Carlo Ancelotti & we know how that went. Jose won trophies for us for which I'm truly thankful for,but he also won about the same amount for Inter & Real Madrid afterwards so I don't quite see what that has to do with a long term vision. The fact is Robbie Di Matteo won us our only CL trophy to date but he didn't get a chance to build a team either. Building long term in todays football world means getting every last drop out of the players you have available today.And in that respect I think Jose's come up short somewhat.

I do think Jose is a short term manager,his club record proves this.I belive that may be a reason why Alex Ferguson didn't want him at Old Trafford.But while I have respect for Sir Alex's opinion,I really couldn't care less about that to be honest.I did wonder when Roman brought Jose back to the Bridge how he would re-invent himself for the long haul. I also don't think it's wrong for genuine Chelsea fans to offer a critical opinion on Jose's management either. It would never reflect on him or his achievements here or the grattitude and respect we have for the guy and his qualities. But... he's f**ked up this season & there is no question of that. The greatest challenge he faces right now is to turn himself into a long term leader,someone who will build a genuine confidence throughout the entire playing staff.With the club facing a massive cost in redevelopment of the ground,there won't be millions available to throw at the squad in the seasons to come. I think he can do it & he has my support,but I also belive it's really up to him. Either way,the club was here before Jose & it will still be here afterwards.

I guess after reading these posts,some supporters belive Jose is either a short term, 'shock an awe' type manager or for others, given time & resources, he's able to build a dynasty.

Just very grateful to be staying at the Bridge to be honest.Looks an impressive stadium but a costly one to build with all that brickwork though. Hope the club have more luck with builders than I ever have.

Jose has just been told he's getting Rafa's autobiography for xmas.

Biggest game of our season so far this one,with Kiev likely to smash Tel Aviv,Porto will have nothing to lose in going head on for the win.This game could actually give our season and the lads a big lift. Or........the wheels could fall off. I would start Costa if fit, because he might make all the difference........ or he could drop us right in it.I think it's a risk worth taking. Either way we'll ( & Jose ) will know if he has a future at this club & if he does balls it up,the club just might then back Jose and give him the funds in January for a replacement,even if it's short term. Come on lads!.

To me,Jose looks a little bit fatigued and looks like he may have benefitted from some time out of the game after his time at Madrid.