Zeta

I don't know why I'm surprised at the lack of either Bruma, McEachran or Sturridge starting, deep down I knew he'd go for the same old players. Just hope against the worst team in the league we can actually find a win and a good performance.

Saw him live in the youth cup final and was quite impressed. I was hoping he might get his chance this season with McEachran, Bruma and Van Aarnholt, but he's gone out on loan instead, so hopefully he'll get a chance next season and prove himself, because he could be the replacement for Lampard we're going to be needing soon.

If he was enjoying his time there might as well have let him stay, what's the point in upsetting him just so he's closer to London...He's not going to break into our team anyway.

http://www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/reports/2010_11/SohamTownHomeZCD.shtml

I'd go for: Ivan, Bruma, terry, Cole as the back 4 for Wolves. Bosingwa can always come on later if we need him, to add more pace down the right hand side.

I'll probably get shouted out, but I'll tell you who I'd like to see us sign: Scott Parker I'm not sure he'd want to come back, especially when we have Lampard, Essien, Ramires and Mikel all in that position as well, but he puts in so much effort and he actually cares. Lampard is getting on now and can't play every game, whilst Essien's form is leaving a lot to be desired recently, and Ramires is still proving himself. What we need is someone with a drive similar to Terry to play in that midfield to pull us through this bad form, and I think Parker could be that player.

Pato may be reaosnably good, but the last thing we need is another injury prone player who's only going to get a few games a season.

Is Kakuta still injured?

4-0 Win 2 for Drogba 2 for Bruma

It was a foul by their player, but Malouda could have stayed on his feet if he wanted to, he did throw himself down.

He's 22 now though, I think if he was going to break into our team it would have happened by now, rather than him being loaned out all the time.

I suppose I should pay more attention to European football, because I've not heard of a lot of these players.

Mikel has certainly improved this season, but to say he's one of the best in the world is to seriously exaggerate his abilities. That's not to say he won't become one of the best in time, but he's not there yet.

I think the major thing we are lacking at the moment is creativity...that spark of something different. We used to have it from the likes of Zola, Duff, Robben, Joe Cole. But now we don't. We have strong players, good athletes, but not players with any real invention about them who can run at a defence and actually frighten them. So many times we get Anelka or Malouda or A.Cole approaching their penalty area, but then they stop, cut inside, pass backwards or sideways, never stretching them and it allows the opposition to get 10 men behind the ball, and we then proceed to try and pass through them and more often than not, we simply lose the ball. Wolves aren't a great side and we should be beating them comfortably, so I really think he has to try something different for that game. I would go for something along the lines of: -----------------------Cech-------------------------- --Ivanovic----Bruma------Terry------Cole----- ----------------------Mikel/Essien------------------ -----------Lampard--------------Ramires--------- -----------------------McEachran------------------- ------------Drogba-------------Sturridge--------- I know people don't like the diamond, but we simply don't have the quality of winger required to play 4-3-3, and this way we can still utilise the wing backs to bomb on. It also gives us 2 players up front instead of 1 sole striker supported from the wings, which too often sees us hoofing a long ball up to Drogba, only to see it come straight back. With Lampard and McEachran in the midfield we can start playing somie nice through balls and being a bit more creative, rather than doing the same thing over and over again, by giving the ball to Malouda/Anelka and watching them dither and faff around until they lose it. Something really has to change and Carlo has to be brave and do something, or we're just going to end up finishing the season scrapping for 4th/5th place.

I'd rather stick with him until the end of the season and see if he can turn things around. One problem we've had recently is lack of stability, because we've been through about 5 managers in 2-3 years. We need to give him time to bring the youth through and rebuild a new squad, because this one is aging and lacking in lots of areas.

Maybe Ray played a bigger part in the actual selection and tactics for games than was first thought. I remember him discussing things with Carlo all the time on the bench, but now he's not there Ancelotti has to decide everything himself, and possibly he's not up to that job? Or maybe it's just a co-incidence that we've hit a poor run of form at the same time as Ray leaving.

the f**k?! Ramires is the only one playing well....

not going to get anything now, all confidence has gone, can't even pass 5 yards.

Thought we looked bright at the start and deserved our goal. But it's all going a bit pear shaped again now. Ferriera's been very poor, Essien was just stupid for their penalty. Up front we've looked light weight. Drogba losing most of the headers, Anelka and Malouda not really doing anything except trying to cut inside and then losing it. Need someone to actually take a few chances, run at people and commit them the way Young is to us. But I can't really see anyone on the bench or pitch who is going to do that, unless we bring on Kalou and hope he has a rare good game. And now my stream has gone as well, brilliant.

Anyone got one working yet?

Of the choices in the poll: Andy Carroll - English, young and knows the Premier League. Plus can bag a few goals here and there, which would be handy. I wouldn't pay more than about £10m though. Bastian Schweinsteiger - Quality player. Has an eye for a pass, creative, etc... Him, Lampard and Essien would be a great midfield trio. Gary Cahill - Reasons already outlined by other people. In reality though, I doubt we'll buy anyone in Jan. If it was up to me though, I'd buy back Carlton Cole. Never should have let him go, if he'd been given a fair chance instead of wasting money on Mutu, Crespo, etc.... he could have been great by now.

Because we're no longing willing to spend outrageous amounts on fees and wages, like City are. And that's all the "top players" are interested in 99% of the time.

We've not got a great record at Villa Park in recent years, so I#m stil quite worried about this one, especially if we start how we did against Bolton. Knowing Carlo, I imagine we'll line up with the following: Cech Cole Terry Ferreira Bosingwa Essien Lampard Ramires Malouda Drogba Anelka We could really use an early goal or 2 in this one, to settle the nerves and let the players play with a bit more confidence.

I'll take that, but it was still a disappointing performance. Second half was a bit better and we actually showed a little bit of fight and creativity, but the first half was abysmal. The players just don't seem to be on the same wavelength as each other any more. So many times someone plays a pass and it's nowhere near anyone else because they didn't expect it, or they ran in a different direction. Players getting in each others way as well when going for the ball. Just total lack of communication. Earlier in the season everything like that was going right, but not anymore. I don't know what's changed, maybe it's just the lack of confidence, but they need to improve soon because we won't scrap many 1-0's if we're still playing like we did in the 1st half yesterday. Ramires was actually alright yesterday which was surprising, although Bosingwa was terrible.