gojo_ed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/26/chelsea-fa-cup-semi-champions-league?newsfeed=true

I admire your optimism TWW, but it's not just Spurs we're competing with, Newcastle are in decent form too. Of course we have them at home which could be a factor, though judging by our performance on Saturday this might not count for much...I hope your optimism is proven right anyway!

1. How do you think Chelsea have done so far this season, and where do you think you will finish in the table ? Poorest season in a long time, but hey we've had worse times in the past. Our run-in looks pretty tough so realistically I think 5th or 6th if Newcastle keep going... 2. Who is your star man at the moment ? anyone we should watch out for? Luiz has been in pretty decent form despite the media fanfare that jumps on every mistake. 3. What are your feelings on Roberto Di Matteo, is he the man for you ? Chelsea legend, but not too sure long-term. Sound like a broken record, but whoever we get this summer needs backing and support to build his own team. 4. What are your views on Aston Villa? Solid if unspectacular, you always seem to raise your game against us. Not sure McLeish will do much for you long-term, was a baffling choice. 5. Where do you think we can finish in the table ? Mid-table if you have a good end to the season 6. What is your score prediction? 1-1. Our record at Villa Park is franly awful, not sure we'll be changing that.

Fantastic news!

critical still sounds like a desperate situation. From what I've read he's a top guy with a young family..23 years old, really frightening stuff. Thought I'd add this from Pirlo too, class touch. http://www.football-italia.net/16780/pirlo-dedicates-win-muamba

Horrible, horrible. Thought I was having a bad day and then this puts things into perspective. Pray to God he pulls through.

Up until the title decider at Old Trafford we'd won 8 of the 10 previous matches in the league; I'd take that now. After the Utd game our season was dead, admittedly the Newcastle and Everton games were painful, but even then that beats the 3/12 run we're on (though I'm not saying either sacking was at all justified).

Just watched it on MOTD and cannot believe what I'm seeing. We win 3-0, and yet Alan Shearer still chooses to focus on a footballer who played for 15 minutes. Christ, we even scored from the section of play he criticized, absolute joke of a pundit who has the tactical awareness and insight of a donkey.

Not surprised at all really, I'd normally be gutted but have about 100 other things to worry about, and with this result hardly unexpected feeling a more mild disappointment. On a sidenote, is Bertrand in our CL squad, I thought he didn't count as homegrown due to a ridiculous UEFA ruling where being on loan doesn't count as being Chelsea-trained?

Think Bosignwa did pretty well considering he was on his weaker side. Luiz played well but was culpable for the Hernandez header, otherwise I generally agree with you

Mata, he seems to be playing on a different level to the rest of the team. Great finish.

The whole thing is a complete mess. If Terry is guilty then fair enough, but who knows yet? If they'd done it immediately after the incident I would have weirdly had more respect for the FA, this dithering and indecisiveness helps noone- not Terry nor the team. To add, by making him available for selection they're basically saying "we think you're racist, but it's ok you can still play for us". Well which one is it? Either ban him completely, or keep him fully as captain. Strikes me as gutless, and passing the buck to Terry. Now if Terry retires he'll be labelled a racist before his trial, and if he doesn't he'll be labelled as greedy and disrupting the squad. And then we have the alternative, Gerrard. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but didn't he captain England whilst facing a court case for assault? Now far from it for me to condone racism, surely actual bodily harm is just as bad an offence as what Terry is alleged to have done. And isn't Gerrard the captain of a football club that has fought tooth and nail to defend the reputation of Suarez, who committed a similar offence to Terry? You couldn't make it up.

Goodness me I was not expecting that...he gets a lot of stick for his terrible delivery, but Bosingwa was the only player getting into consistently dangerous positions for us. We have to look at that as a point gained, and looking ahead to Sunday I feel there have to be changes. Essien has to start- look at how Newcastle battered Utd's midfield, somehow I don't think Meireles or Malouda will be capable of that. Similarly I feel Lukaku has to start. He may be raw, and I have been a supporter of Torres, but tonight I feel he was hiding. Whether he was told to or not, he drifted out to the left far too often, and didn't look at all like scoring. Lukaku showed a bit of fight and something different that I think we've been lacking in recent weeks.

Silly boy. And now the folly of never giving Bertrand any minutes will be shown, good luck to him vs Valencia on Sunday.

I suppose this performance is a microcosm of what's been wrong...We look like a collection of individuals devoid of inspiration, outplayed and outpassed by a team that has been assembled for a fraction of the cost. Usually I'm upset/angry when we're behind, but I don't feel it as we don't deserve to be level at all, and I admire the way and spirit in which Swansea have played. Indeed it's telling that a player deemed not good enough for our squad has scored an absolutely quality goal, whilst our glamorous expensive forwards haven't looked like scoring at all (not just in this game, but QPR, Norwich). However there is still a half to go, we do have the quality to turn it around, so I feel we should wait until the end of the match before the inevitable knee jerk reactions...

Great goal. Can't say they don't deserve it...Respect to Scott for not celebrating

Suppose Bos starts with one eye on the pace of Dyer/Sinclair? Otherwise as expected really, not too confident but hopefully I'll have a nice surprise to distract me from my lovely dissertation..come on the Chels!

Get well soon Bobby, Ed.

The highest we can get mathematically is 89 points. So at the very most we can only afford to drop 9 points realistically, if we are going to be anywhere near. The way we're playing it would have to be one hell of a turnaround...

Interesting from Grant Holt: It is far too easy for teams to stop us getting through, we either need to change formation (unlikely given the players in our squad) or buy a bloody winger.

Average performance, though to be honest I think we actually did play better than in our win against Sunderland. Our defence looked pretty secure for once, it's just the same old ponderous build up play that is killing us. Bosingwa takes about half an hour to cross the ball, and inevitably rarely finds anyone due to lack of quality and people in the box. We desperately need a right winger, someone to stretch other teams and provide a spark.

Definitely agree. Might have changed from a few weeks' ago, but I'm sure they have the highest number of headed goals in the league (maybe %wise, not sure). Morison and Holt are dangerous players.

Reminds me of the Southend game a few years ago...

The thing that annoys me about Bertrand is that he is no callow youth. He's 22 and played over 100 league games (as well as several for the U-21s), I wouldn't think he's much of a risk against a team at the lower end of the Championship.

Beat me to it Geezer. Saw him play at Exeter where I'm a student, scored a hattrick (admittedly against a weak defence) and looked a class act. Apparently Joe Jordan was at the game today watching him so looks like Spurs are interested. I doubt he's the type of player we'd go for in any case, but will be interesting to see if he does well at the top level like Grant Holt or fades like Jon Stead/Beckford etc.