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To be fair Roman did appoint Robbie, how many of us would have done that ?

Guardiola or Mourinho in the summer ?

Benitez manager to end of season ?

It looks nailed on - but surely the club will look at the way he destroyed Jose's Inter and showed contempt for Chelsea it's history and fans in the past. Mark my words a couple of defeats and fans will turn against him and Torres. This is an appointment for all the wrong reasons, surely Capello's interest should be followed up instead.

We have suspended betting - looks like Benitez but some small money on Capello

Just, I get 100 per cent your post and admire the way you intend taking your stance. Jose Mourinho has caused these 'knee jerk' sackings of the years simply because nobody could live up to the 'Special One' Roman could yet go down as the only man in history to sack the man who you rightly say should have been given time to build a Chelsea dynasty in the way Sir Alex had done at United. However, I cannot bring myself personally to question Roman at a game, I tried it once in 1982 when Batesy stripped me of our Chelsea and I have no intention of doing it again.

Sack the 'kin board ! The bloke deserves better A DAMN DISGRACE - he goes a Chelsea legend. Benetiz favourite what a laugh what is this a plan to get the best out of Torres ! It has to be Guardiola or Mourinho. Nobody and I mean nobody can do better with this squad - it needs Lampard Terry to be fit and bleedin Centre Forwards !

Providing we sign a top striker in January I cannot see us being out of the top 4. Without Champions League involvement we have seen it in the past so many times teams being able to handle things domestically better. I agree we miss Lampard and Terry and we cannot make an easy transition without these two guys and I would add Ashley Cole to that list too. Great European sides in history blend youth with experience and it is asking far too much for the kids to succeed without old heads around them. Drogba without doubt has been missed and anyone can see that !

Can't fault anything you've said there mate - a great post

What makes matters worse is those smug scoucers I know being proved right that Torres would flop here and Suarez as a replacement at a fraction of the cost would prove to be a Liverpool legend in the making.

I have not put this in the defence thread because I feel the positioning of Luiz - in the main will solve everything. For me, him in Central Defence is like playing Mikel Centre Forward. Our Brazilian maestro would be played where I suggest by Sir Alex Ferguson among many I guarantee it.

Most recently the 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane with my Mrs to be, when Joe Cole scored I 'lost it' !

Rotherham, when they stuck six past us, escorted by police to the Chelsea end long before Rodney Fern completed his hat rick !

Ok Torres deserves all the stick he is getting lately but Luiz was at fault for both goals yesterday. He lost Long when 'touch tight' for the first and when we were perfectly set to deal with the winning goal he came inside when marking the wide man and then when realizing his mistake dropped his arms behind his back and thus never closed down the cross correctly, I have mentioned this before, whilst talking to Pat Nevin and I noticed in the last edition of the Chelsea magazine he had him in his all time Chelsea side in the holding midfield role. I maintain he has the ability to become a Chelsea and world great, but the man who ironically arrived during the same January transfer window as Torres still 'switches off' at times causing problems as well as goals. Going forward with the ball at his feet and his range of passing and ability to hit the killer ball and onion bag from distance or in the box are not typical of a Centre Half. I am not saying a typical holding midfield role is his best position, but when Ramires is not avallable he can play in the '2' behind the #3# and would be a tremendous asset there if we are chasing a goal or indeed with JT and Cahill defending behind him will have less pressure in picking up players. Defensively at set pieces we would have an 'extra header of the ball' as he tends to defend better when he does have time to think about it, this may explain his raw attitude to things in general when defending.

You heard it here first !

Who said this ? As far as I am aware Chelsea made no move and that is why a decision was not required.

The boy Rhodes is probably the best finisher outside of the Premiership - more of me thinks ''our age policy' put us out of a move for Van Persie and I have no doubt had we signed him and not Utd we would be safely in the next phase of the CL and top of the Premiership. In short we lost one of if not the best centre forward in the world in Drogba and never replaced him and ultimately it could cost Robbie his job at the seasons end.

The funny thing is Anelka came here with the 'Le Sulk' reputation but gave nothing less than 100% in his time here despite being played wide and consistently out of position. I guess both Danny and Torres could learn something from Nic. As finishing, attitude and quality movement goes Anelka completely outshines Torres and in comparison he cost us peanuts. Only a 'Drogba loan' in January can help us unless we sign Falcao !

I am certain he or Jose will be here next season, but I really hope RDM turns things round to change Roman's mind.

Who plays against Juventus ? My guess is Robbie will play safe with Torres to his cost

Merse is a good judge and a Chelsea fan to boot. Must confess when I got in the ground and saw Romeu alongside John Obi - and no Mata once again ( Wasn't QPR and Swansea enough ! ) I had a cheeky tenner on WBA

We miss JT - defensively we concede far too many goals - yet against Barca' and Bayern we defended brilliantly. I love Robbie and Eddie but now there is pressure and expectancy they are showing AVB type nativity. They will learn the lessons on the training pitch, Stevie Clarke taught them a few things today on how to defend as a team.

Just coming out of ground, just to say Chelsea fans as one have lost patience with Torres after yet another dismal showing without hunger or passion. I strongly believe this is the beginning of the end for him. Now he has lost the faith of the thousands of true blues his days are numbered.

It annoys me when I hear of creative players playing deep, Pirlo was a one off as was Makelele in the holding role. To me the role has evolved and Ramires has the ability to get up and down to attack and protect. Mikel is getting forward more these days and I am amazed nobody on here is giving him credit for an excellent start to the season!

Fair point there Loz. I'm kinda thinking that the Premiership Title is key to Robbie keeping Guardiola away from Roman's clutches though.