Davey Baby

Kalou has hit the target in training.

I was at the game last night but I don't see why anyone in their right mind* would pay upwards of £40 to watch us play a bunch minnows from the Belgian league, in a game that probably won't have any bearing on anything, at night when you have to get up for work the next day, and it's live on the box. I guarantee you if I had watched the game at home last night, I would have enjoyed a better atmosphere and had a better view! As it was I was stuck up in the heavens. Gourley has got it all wrong, and I can't believe his short-sightedness. Higher prices do not necessarily equate to more revenue. It's basic economics. A full ground is the preferable option every single time, for so many reasons. Last night was an important game, it was against decent opposition, it was the return of Ballack. There were less than 34,000. Mata must have been looking around thinking, "Is this the big club I joined..?". * I am not in my right mind.

Nobody specifically, but he's cited our midfield. Seeing as he made those comments prior to Saturday, that means Mikel, Lampard and Ramires. So you see, he has named somebody. Three people in fact. That's not good for morale. That was before the interview. Long before. He was popular then and he may remain so, though I don't think this interview will have raised his popularity. That's why AVB's intervening publicly, to maintain spirit. Spirit is vital, we have seen that with Man Utd, we have seen it under Mourinho. Without it you win nothing. Torres' words were ill-advised, regardless of the merits of his argument. Spirit, morale are the vital ingredients, even more than the things Torres longs for, so he should have kept his mouth shut. Our spirit under Mourinho and Hiddink was incredible, and that's what we want back. Edit: If AVB's words have ensured he shuts his mouth .. Good.

If those comments are true then I'm not surprised AVB has taken the approach he has, and I'm not surprised the press have run with it. When he says "It's not easy to find midfielders because the best ones are in the best teams", he's suggesting we need to buy midfielders. Regardless of the right and wrongs of that argument, it's a totally inappropriate thing to say, not least from a player that is relatively new and has been sh*t since he turned up. It's passing comment on our current midfield, and that's disrespectful to the present incumbents. It's not his business to be commenting on the parts of the team that need strengthening. How would he feel if Lampard came out tomorrow and said, "It's not easy buying the best strikers because the best ones are in the best teams". I don't think he'd be too happy even though Lampard (a club legend) would be far more within his rights to pass comment on Torres, not that he would of course. He would offer nothing but support. He then goes on to say he hopes our midfield will adapt to the "pace". Again, passing comment on our midfield, telling them they're too "slow". Whether he's right or wrong is irrelevant. It's hardly good for team morale and that's what AVB is addressing. It's disgraceful. He should concentrate on his own game rather than worrying about everyone else. Let the manager do that. It's not his place to be telling everyone else how to play, but that's what he's doing. He then says, "That's what you need in the Premier League. If not, then the teams do not work." Imagine what seasoned Premiership performers make of that comment. Players who have won Premiership medals, which he hasn't. Telling them what you need in the Premier League. Telling them what works and what doesn't. They must be looking at Torres, who can't even trap a bag of cement, and thinking, "Why, you cheeky git", and they'd be right. It's totally disrespectful. That's my take on it anyway, assuming he said those things, which he might not have. AVB is right to look into the matter, and he's right to come out and say something. He needs the squad behind him, and by doing this he's defended the squad, and hopefuly put to bed any brewing resentment against Torres. He needs to be seen to be doing something, and he needs Torres to know who's the boss. Torres clearly assumes high status, possibly because of his transfer fee and the fact that he was wooed by Roman. The players can't think he's being favoured, hence AVB has nipped that idea in the bud. Smart management.

Great players work it out. Regardless of whether the team suits his style, a great player turns up and goes, "Bam, here I am". A great player imposes himself on the team, he makes the team play to his strengths, not the other way around. He collects the ball and he does something with it, something that makes all his teammates sit up, that makes them think, that makes them start dancing to his tune. That's what great players do. They don't talk about it. They earn it. If there's a problem they sort it out. If things aren't going their way they work it out. They find the solution. On the pitch. And they don't rely upon anyone but themselves. That's what great players do. They work it out.

Like this ..

Surely the best way to shut them up would be to score some goals? I hope you're wrong with the last line but I suspect you're right. This might be the most spectacular flop of all time. It's hard to argue with any other word in your post. If Torres turns this around, it will be almost unprecedented. He has been here 8 months now and it has been bad. Spectacularly bad. I don't remember too many occasions when such a scenario ended up being a sea of bliss. We shall see. It might help if he actually acknowledged it, rather than blaming all and sundry.

What about Beckenbauer at the back? That might free up Modric, which in turn would create more space for Torres. Alternatively, Torres should not have said what he did, and the manager needs to assert his authority, which he's doing. Torres in effect criticised his teammates, teammates who have won a hell of a lot. AVB was right to respond in the way he did. It sends a message to his squad, one they will welcome, not least because they are being defended and they are being shown who is boss. Torres has only been here 8 months, he's hardly done anything, and he's started moaning. AVB's response should hopefully motivate him, or it may cause him to leave. Either way the manager gets what he wants, that's my suspicion. I'm sure there was method behind the words. Perhaps the fact he isn't getting any chances isn't solely his teammates' fault. Those teammates were third favourites to win the CL last season, above Utd. Shortly before they won the double. They are no mugs. Klasnic has scored four goals for Bolton. Would you swap their team for ours? Have to admit I share those sentiments. Nobody's saying Torres wasn't a great player. We know he was. He was incredible. So was Kaka.* * Roman, don't get any funny ideas.

If these quotes attributed to AVB regarding Torres are true, he's sending a very good message to his squad: "We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview. We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview." "If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him. Of course. Anyhow, it's one player's perspective." "I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares. I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes. I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem. Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well." "I just made the changes. I think any player who's not part of the squad or the selected players is not happy. I'm glad because maybe you can stimulate them to go one step further, or motivate them a bit more." http://www.guardian....torres-slow-old

I have no doubt Torres would score more alongside the type of player you advocate. Let's face it, he could hardly score less. But anyone would score more alongside that type of player, so what's the point? Kevin Phillips would score more, shall we sign him? He has 3 goals this season, and all without Mata and Sturridge to put them on a plate for him, how is that possible? My post wasn't directed at you specifically but to all of you who keep on trotting out the same old excuses. If Sturridge scores, it's because of his teammates, if Torres fails, it's the same reason. Torres must be reading this forum. He's just put the same excuse on his website.

Someone needs to have a little word with Torres. And it looks like the manager is just the man to do it. Either he's trying to motivate him or he wants him out, and this is his first (I would say second, after his words last week) step in engineering that. I am fully convinced that had Torres not been with us, AVB would have purchased Falcao this summer, but he is being prevented from signing the centre-forward of his choice because of the presence of Torres. It's a difficult one because centre-forward is a key position, and may be the difference between us coming first and coming second. AVB has the task of getting the best out of Torres, but it may be that he feels that Torres is not up to it, in which case he really does have to engineer a way of getting him out, and that's going to be difficult. We put all our eggs in one basket with this one, and I'm afraid at present we have all those eggs on our face. 16 months ago we won the double. Drogba was Golden Boot winner. He was playing out of his skin. He was scary. Literally unplayable. 8 months after that we signed Torres. Sure, Drogba had had a poor 5 months, what with malaria and us generally performing below par, but surely it was too early to write him off. By doing so, we did every other club a favour. We shot ourselves in the foot, spectaculary. Not only that but we did Liverpool a favour. A massive favour. They got rid of a player on the wane, were given a massive war chest, and bought Suarez. How stupid are we? Even after Torres arrived there was no doubt who performed better for us: Drogba. The fact that he found himself on the bench last season for the game at Old Trafford (the CL game) would have upset him, particularly as Torres was playing sh*t. Drogba replaced him second-half and promptly scored. The fact that he found himself on the bench for our first two games this term, and having to play alongside him for the third, would have upset him even more. Every other remaining member of that double side was on the pitch, except him. He will be looking at Torres, and asking why. Why? Why is he on the pitch and not me? It's a legitimate question. We've sabotaged. We had a great striker. We've put his nose out of joint. We did so to accommodate Torres. Who is awful. I'm going on what I've seen in a Chelsea shirt. Awful. We have spent billions and billions of pounds on our team and we no longer have a centre-forward, due to our own stupidity. Opponents couldn't find a way of stopping Drogba, we solved the problem for them, we've given him legitimate cause for grievance. Well done Chelsea. Now we have a Drogba whose heart's not in it and a Torres who can't hit a barn door with a banjo. There are lots and lots of good strikers out there but we're prevented from signing them. I'm talking about established high-calibre centre-forwards who will bag you goals. We're prevented from signing them. How can we buy Falcao when we have Torres? We can't. It's a serious problem and the manager's words today hint at a solution. They can only be designed with two objectives in mind: 1. He wants to motivate him. Or .. 2. He wants him out. Either way I'm glad he's come out and said what he's said. It was a stupid interview by Torres, regardless of any translation issues. It was published on his own website in English. It was pointed. It was suggesting that things weren't completely his fault. It was completely the wrong thing to say. It was disrespectful. Torres had a chance on Saturday to show what he's made of. Having been demoted even though Drogba was injured, he could have used it as a motivational tool. He could have come on with 20 minutes to go and thought, "I know, I'll show the manager". Instead what we got was a player who doesn't want to take any personal responsibility, who shrugged and threw his arms in the air, who generally blamed everyone but himself. A sulk. Having seen that performance, I'm not surprised AVB is alarmed at that interview. That interview would raise a few alarm bells with me too. We spent £50m on you kid, you haven't done the business, keep your mouth shut. Something has to be done. I appreciate a manager that takes action. This is not something that will go away. Torres is becoming an issue, and it's not just media piffle anymore. We are a club who spent millions and millions of pounds and we don't have a centre-forward. The manager has serious questions. He either gets Drogba back by playing him, or he persists with Torres, in which case we're playing without a centre-forward. No Drogba no Torres. Nothing. That's why I think AVB might be seeking a solution, and that solution might be to get rid. He is not good enough for our team. If Drogba needs replacing (which is by no means a certainty ) we might need a centre-forward. Lukaku and Sturridge might not be ready to fill that void, not if we want to challenge for the main prizes, not if we need a consistent performer at the top level right now. That's the manager's call. I'm sure he would love to be in a position to choose his centre-forward, but that's not going to happen while Torres is at the club. An interesting move by AVB. Watch this space. If the manager doesn't rate you, you really are on borrowed time.

People are just not "getting" Torres. Even if he were playing for an under-12 side against an under-5 side, there would be no point playing him unless he had a creative player alongside him who operated between the lines. You simply cannot expect him to score otherwise, and the fault lies wholly with his teammates, not with the man himself. He can't help it that he has never played alongside Mata and Sturridge in a front three. Look at every other player that has to make do without Mata and Sturridge, they don't score goals. You don't see Leon Best scoring goals for Newcastle .. oh wait. You don't see Di Santo scoring goals .. oh wait. Emile Heskey hasn't got one this season .. oh wait. Dong-Won Ji .. Yes folks, Holt at Norwich, Long at West Brom, Klasnic at Bolton, Doyle at Wolves .. they've all miraculously managed to score goals depite the fact they're playing alongside a bunch of cloggers. How can this be? Quite clearly they are playing for strong sides, against weak opposition. Not being funny but I'm not surprised Formica has hit the net for Blackburn. Anyone could score goals in that side. Come and play for Chelsea Dempsey, then we'll really see what you're made of. It's one thing getting goals for Fulham, when you'e playing alongside Bobby Zamora, but try having to make do with the journeymen that play for Chelsea. Have you seen the Norwich defence? Of course Torres couldn't breach it. You'd need to be Superman to breach that defence, or failing that, Peter Odemwinge. We bought a player that doesn't fit into our style of play. Torres plays off the shoulder, facing the goal. He is unique in that respect. No other striker in the world faces the goal. They all face the lamp post. Torres runs into space. Again, unheard of. No wonder his teammates aren't on his wavelength. He's facing the goal and running into space. And managing not to fall over. All at the same time. Give him a break people, for christ sake. He's being played out of position. The truth is he's a centre-back. Not your everyday centre-back, a very special kind of centre-back. A centre-back who has to play alongside a partner who operates between the lines. Otherwise you're just not getting the best out of him. We have bought him with no idea how to get the best out of him. We've stuck him up front. He doesn't want to play up front. That's where Jonathan Walters plays for Stoke. You can't expect Torres to score goals for Chelsea if you stick him up front. He needs to play at the back, alongside a more creative defensive partner. We stuck him up front and expected him to score goals. How stupid are we? Football isn't lego you know. It's not lego. You can't just buy a striker and put him up front. You need to get the right players around him. Why do you think Fabrice Muamba has all those goals for Bolton? We need to buy 10 more players, starting with the keeper. Peter Cech just does not operate between the lines. How can you expect Torres to gel with him? Have you seen Jussi Jaaskelainen lately? No wonder Kevin Davies is scoring goals. It's Torres I feel sorry for, having to play alongside 10 other footballers. On a footbal pitch. Whose bright idea was that? We even gave him a pair of football boots. We're really not "getting" him at all. In other news Veron wasn't a flop at Chelsea. It was his teammates. They couldn't read his game.

Or alternatively, Sturridge just played well. As he did for Bolton. Regarding his goal, he made a run and was found, not by Mata. He then did the difficult bit. You can say it was because of this and that, but it was because of Sturridge, either entirely or mostly, take your pick. The point re. Jimmy is this: Despite his flaws he scored goals. Wherever. Whoever. Not my kind of player but be fair. Question .. Torres is playing for Rangers, in Scotland, and he isn't scoring, or contributing, do you blame Malouda?

Sturridge proved yesterday that if you make the run, your teammates will find you. The rest unfortunately is up to you. Incidentally, Mata didn't make that pass. Anyone would think Torres was playing for Rushden and Diamonds, given the limitations of his teammates. Hasselbaink, for all his flaws, scored goals wherever he was, and whoever he played alongside.

According to The Observer (and I tell no lie) Lampard has created more chances than anyone else this term (14). Nasri, Nani and Petrov are second with 13. Rooney and Silva have 12. And no, they don't have Torres top of the goalscoring chart, before you ask.

Well, my default position is to agree with you, as I have never been an admirer of Boswinga defensively, not even when he first came and we saw his class. However Stoke away was a test and he passed with flying colours, standing up to their physicality. Regardless, he will play at Old Trafford (a far sterner test), because his performances thus far have merited it, and we have a manager that picks the side on merit. The signs are encouraging but you're right, wait and see. I thought of Frank when I made that point. There is an element of truth in what you say, but Frank brings a lot to the side in terms of personality, mentality and leadership. Of course that's all by the by if he's playing badly, but it's a major call to drop him, and one I'm sure the manager is capable of making, but I don't blame him if he's being reticent at the moment, namely because we have few options. Josh is a major talent but if we want to challenge for the title we really need to be gaining maximum points at places like Sunderland, and Lampard brings presence, if nothing else. Josh will be weaned in this term, I have no doubt about that, but throwing him in against the likes of Cattermole for 90 minutes might be risky, not least away from home where the home side tend to be treated more leniently by referees. I think AVB made the right call in bringing in Mereiles for Mikel rather than Lampard, but I dare say Lampard will sit games out if his form continues. Incredibly, today's Observer shows that Lampard has created more chances than any other player in the Prem this term, and he has coverted a penalty (a pressure one at that), so he's not all bad, there is still an effectiveness to his game, and I suspect he will get better, he has often started seasons slowly. Anyway, here's his jibe at Souness, which still brings a smile to my face. Souness actually won the FA Cup at Liverpool and (given AVB's attention to detail) I'm sure he knew that, but he put him in his place, and it's good to have a manager that finally does that. There was no need for a retort, and it may be perceived as precious, but players respond well to a manager that sticks up for himself and the team, that has that confidence, that bravado, and I'm sure there was method behind the words. I welcome it. I've been waiting a long time. Mark Hughes made a very public play for our captain while at Man City, breaking every rule in the process, and Carlo said nothing, allowing liberties to be taken. Ashley Cole and JT were given scant protection by Carlo in the face of media storms. I could go on. Lambert came out and more or less called Ramires a diver, for what was a blatent pen. We've had too much of it, and we're discriminated by refs as a result, even in the CL, where our reputation precedes us. AVB came out and had a pop back, just as he should, asserting himself and letting him know we're not everyone's patsies. Quite frankly we've been disrespected way too long. It's about time someone stood up. Anyway here's that quote .. Graeme Souness, for example, suggested Villas-Boas, who is just a few months older than his senior players, was too young for the job. 'No, no,' he said. 'Souness made comments about it's easy to win at Porto. But when Souness arrived at Liverpool, it was easy to win at Liverpool in the Nineties and the Eighties, wasn't it? But he was five years there and didn't win anything.' http://www.football.co.uk/chelsea/chelsea_manager_andre_villas-boas__from_the_shadow_of_mourinho_comes_the_special_one_ii_rss1781700.shtml

When a new manager arrives, performances are unimportant, as they are still in the process of implementing their ideas and imposing their identity on the side. Results are important of course, particularly at a club like Chelsea. 4 games gone. 3 wins and a draw. If we had dropped too many points by now, the press would have been on our back, making AVB's life a misery, citing his age, piling on the pressure, trying to sow seeds of doubt in the players' minds. Also, given the way the Manchester clubs have started, we may well have conceded too much ground. We have won 3 games 2-1, often through sheer will, sheer determination, and a philosophy based on attack, to get the points. Not to wait for it to happen. To make it happen. Everybody's banging on about City and Utd. AVB has started very well. We are playing with purpose, not spectacularly, but with purpose. I see signs of us becoming formidable once again. Yesterday the signs were good. Pressing. All over the pitch. Moving the ball quickly. High tempo. Movement. These were things that went missing under Carlo. We put in a shift. Throw-ins. We no longer take ages to take them. We no longer concede possession everytime we get one. We use them as a platform to get moves going quickly. Things like that. AVB has made the right calls, and been brave. He has no qualms about dropping players, substituting players. He has no qualms about hauling you off. He picks players on merit. Mikel dropped (praise be). Alex dropped (Ivanovic is far superior). Malouda and Kalou. Torres. If you ain't performing, you're out, and there's no favouritism, therefore the players can't point fingers at the manager. One rule suits all. For me, he makes the right judgement on players, and that's the most vital ingredient for a manager. He looks at two players and he instantly knows which one is better than the other. He got flak on these boards for losing Benayoun and signing Mereiles, flak which showed a remarkable lack of faith in the manager. Do we really think he knows so little that he would forsake a valuable member of our squad for no good reason? Perhaps the truth is that Benayoun wasn't as valuable as people thought. As for Mereiles, hopefully yesterday's performance will allay those doubts. Not naturally a holding player, he gave a performance that has so far eluded Mikel in all the time we've had him. I'm not saying Mereiles is the second coming, I just think he will prove a valuable member of our squad (i.e. the very thing Benayoun wasn't). I say this because I think our manager can spot a player. The signs are good. Furthermore, Boswinga. I probaby wasn't alone in thinking Ivanovic would be our regular right-back and hoping we would sign some quality cover. Boswinga has been a revelation, right from the off. First and foremost a manager has to be able to judge a player, after that he has to be able to get a performance out of him. Boswinga is suddenly a vital cog in our machine, and I never thought I'd say that. He looks motivated, hungry. He looks like he wants to be here. AVB has obviously got inside his head and unleashed the talent. Players become better under good managers, under bad ones they regress. The signs are that we have a good manager. Drogba was injured. It made the manager's job easy. Instead he put Torres on the bench. Like your style. Lastly, the media. For too long (since the days of Jose) we have been cannon fodder for other managers, players and pundits. Everyone can have a pop at Chelsea and we will stand back and do nothing, showing weakness, as if we have to apologise for being wealthy, as if we have to take the jibes on the chin. We have a manager who bites back, and not before time. For too long I have waited for someone to stand up for us, while our players have been fed to the lions and our club has been dragged through the mud. Take a bow Andre. Already you have told Sounness, Pulis and Lambert where to go, showing a prickly side to your nature, showing a scent for a scrap, and I've no doubt the players will welcome it and be inspired by it, for if you show courage so will they, if you stand up so will they, and if you don't allow others to take liberties they might eventually stop it, or at least think twice.The idea is to put everyone on the back foot, and you've done it. Well done. A very promising start.

At last. Someone says it as it is. With 30 seconds to go of yesterday's game, Torres picked the ball up on the left flank. It was 3 against 1. All he had to do was collect the ball and hit it sideways to Ramires, who (typically) had made a burst through the middle. Ramires would surely have gone on and scored. Torres (typically) failed to even get a simple thing right. A thing most of us could have done in our sleep. I know ! Let's blame Malouda ! If Torres were through on goal, 1 on 1 with the keeper, I don't believe he thinks he would score. When a player thinks like that, they stop making those runs that might make them 1 on 1 with the keeper. It's a subtle trick, and one they're unaware of. It's borne of fear. Torres has resembled a pub player since he joined us, and if it weren't for the fact he were called "Torres", more Chelsea fans would have said it. Of course, if Hansen or anyone else point out the obvious, they're "anti-Chelsea", whereas in fact they're just telling the truth. Torres' body language was shocking yesterday, and if I were his manager, I would have a strong word with him. He seems to be blaming his teammates for the fact the ball is not falling at his feet. It's called "BSE". Blame Someone Else. He is feeling awfully sorry for himself and that's got to stop. Nando, if you're blaming your teammates, you should take a look at all those other Premiership players who have more goals than you. Most of them play with far inferior teammates to you. Stop sulking and start scoring. There's a good lad.

1 silly haircut. 342 daft tattoos.

The David Silva of 2/3 years ago was a phenomenal player. Your opinion is (I imagine) formed by the fact you hardly saw him. For Valencia, he was outstanding, week in week out. Sure, he didn't start most of Spain's WC games, but looking at the players at their disposal, that's hardly a disgrace. City were buying guaranteed quality and it was a big statement of intent when they signed him. Last year (though he improved) we saw nothing. That was his settling-in period. This term you are seeing the real Silva, and for those of us that watch La Liga regularly, it is a very recognisable sight. A tremendous player.

Assuming Essien was registered (and there was no reason not to register him, regardless if he's fit or not, given we have the space to put him in our non-homegrown allocation), we have our full quota 17 non-homegrowns plus only 6 homegrowns, making a final squad of 23 instead of 25. We can also field as many U21s as we want, of which 3 are definitely going to get game-time (barring injury or being shipped out on loan), those 3 being Josh, Romeu and Lukaku. Indeed Lukaku has already played and Josh has already been named on the bench, so let's call it 26 .. Keepers Cech Hilario Turnbull (HG) Full-backs Boswinga Ferreira Cole (HG) Bertrand (HG) Centre-backs Terry (HG) Luiz Ivanovic Alex Midfield Essien Mikel Romeu (U21) Ramires Meireles Lampard (HG) McEachran (U21) Wingers (I use the term loosely) Mata Malouda Sturridge (HG) Kalou Strikers Drogba Torres Anelka Lukaku (U21) It's a pretty formidable squad, with depth in every department. Defensively we couldn't ask for more, apart from a back-up keeper. We all know a creative midfielder would be nice, but I doubt our pursuit of Modric is over. As for the flanks, I still think we miss genuine width and that's something that will hopefully be addressed. Maybe Kakuta will come good. I think we missed a trick with Duff. I wrote to the club and suggested it. He's a good player, not the player of old, obviously, and injuries have hampered his playing style, but he could definitely do a job for us, and he's already in West London. Duff would jump at the chance of joining us, where he was always popular and where he has happy memories. It would be one last hurrah, the chance of challenging for the main prizes and playing in big games. He would fancy his chances of claiming a spot, either on the left or the right (where he plays for Fulham). He would have given us more depth in that department. I'm not saying he would be an automatic first-choice, but he would provide quality back-up to Mata and Sturridge. He's a team player, has a good attitude, a good work ethic, is experienced and intelligent, and contributes goal and assists. He also links very well with teammates. I have been very impressed with him lately, both for Ireland and Fulham. I think he would have been welcomed back by our lads, and fans. Suffice to say the club ignored me ..

Not sure you're reading me correctly. Every manager makes mistakes and I am by no means suggesting we shouldn't question the manager's decision. Personally, unlike a lot of Chelsea fans, I found the appointment of Di Matteo strange, for reasons I won't go into. However I believe AVB got the job on merit, I was very happy with his appointment, and I am more than happy for him to come in and get rid of those he wants rid of and bring in those he wants here. Unlike other managers we have had, he seems clear in his own mind about what he wants, in terms of personnel, and I'm very happy about that. The loan of Benayoun to Arsenal shows confidence. Maybe misplaced confidence, we shall see, but rather than losing any sleep over it it in fact gives me peace of mind. You see, at this stage, I trust the manager, it's just a hunch but I trust him, and I'm glad he has the courage of his conviction and the bottle to make decisions. It would have been easy to keep Benayoun. We didn't need to register Essien this September, thereby we had room for him. He could have kept him as an option. But he didn't want him. He didn't see the need for him. He didn't want players skulking around the place unhappy at not playing. I think he's made the right decision. I will not be bemoaning the loss of Benayoun anytime soon. Forgive me for not joining in the general mourning. When AVB came in, I was eager to see who he brought in and who he released, as we all were. When Jose came in, I remember the immediate cull, and I approved of every single departure, of which there were many. He brought in his own men, the type of players who would do the job he wanted them to do, who would put his ideas into practise. He had a philosophy and the player had to fit into that. He was decisive, as AVB has been here. Benayoun is simply not a player he wants and if that's the case, full power to him, let him release him. He goes with my blessing. There were players I wanted out and they have stayed. Top of that list was Anelka. I'm sure if AVB had his way, there would be many more departures and many more arrivals, but forming the squad in his own image has not been easy, and I think he's done a fine job, but it's work in progress. Does he wants Torres for example or would he rather Falcao? His hands are tied to a certain extent. You do the best you can in the circumstances. In that respect the signing of Mereiles is important. Ask any LIverpool fan, he is a fine player, better than many are giving him credit for, and yet you claim to be bitter at our deadline day dealing. We lost Benayoun and signed a superior player. Fact. The manager decreed that Benayoun wasn't going to get time either as a wide player or an attacking midfielder, because he had better options. And here's a reminder for you .. Benayoun has hardly played in a year. Yes, I'm saying I trust the manager on this one, forgive me. If he had sold Josh, or Sturridge, or Cech, or JT, or Ramires, I'd have said different, but the manager isn't that stupid. Mereiles is AVB's man. He's his signing. He's obviously not his first choice, but in the circumstances, it was a canny transfer, I'm convinced of that. We have a formidable squad, it's just not perfect, but it's certainly good enough to win the title, believe it or not. I don't believe we should have gone out and bought any creative midfielder because we lost out on Modric. That's just nonsense, and AVB knew that. Once you've bought that player that's the position filled, you have to show faith in him. You can create a problem if he's the wrong man, you could be missing out on the right man a year later. It's not like we have complete donkeys in midfield. Some people are going to be surprised by what we have. Sure, a Modric would have been nice, and would have enhanced us, but it wasn't to be. In the circumstances AVB did the right thing. Exactly the right thing. He didn't buy a player he didn't believe in, and he did buy one he did believe in, giving us quality cover (cover incidentally for Ramires and Lampard, two players who are being written off way too easily, I have seen Lampard have many dodgy spells and bounce back, and as for Ramires, I have never read so much rubbish in all my life). Thank you for reading.

Gullit, I regard Ramires as an outstanding footballer, but that's another story. I also think Lampard is being written off too soon, but that's another story. Mikel I have little time for. You think that midfield three could be strengthened? Guess what? So does AVB. That's why we went for Modric. The sort of player I guess you're clamouring for. A player I rate highly. We didn't get him. That's life. I'm not sure where your argument lies after that. We will come back, when we target the right player, the player who could walk into that midfield, that we feel is worth the outlay, that is realistic in terms of wages. AVB didn't see anyone else, and that's fine by me, I'm glad he kept his hand in his pocket, it would have been easy to tell Roman to splash the cash. He did not see the creative player you're seeking that ticked those boxes. Meanwhile that first three needed cover. We bought pretty good cover. Yes, we could do with more creativity in midfield. Xavi is not available. Not many can automatically command a first-team spot. Benayoun? He did not want him, either because he doesn't rate him, he doesn't like him, he doesn't trust his achilles, or he doesn't want a player that wants out. I don't know, but whichever of those reasons apply, it's good enough for me, just as it should be good enough for the scousers that Dalglish didn't want Mereiles. As someone else has said, a lot goes on behind the scenes that we're not privvy to. The manager didn't need to lose Benayoun. He chose to. He's a lot closer to what's going on, and I'm damn sure he has good reason. He has to go on his hunches. He was not going to give Benayoun playing time, and he backed his judgement, so much so that he gave him to Arsenal. I admire that. It shows bravery and it shows strength, and that's a good message to give the players. He's not afraid. He believes in himself. He backs his judgement over Wenger's. It's all good. You think Benayoun gave us something we otherwise lack? He gave us precious little as I remember, and I don't believe he was capable of giving us anything better than we already have. Josh is staying. We have Mata. Sturridge etc. That's three more options compared to last season. All significantly younger. All with their achilles intact. Mereiles will serve to assist Josh's development. He can stand in for Lamps or Ramires over a run of games (thereby enabling us not to lumber Josh with too much responsibilty too quickly). Benni (a player of insufficient quality in terms of holding a regular spot) will only have hindered him. Josh is a special talent. We have done the right thing.

Lot of guff being written on this thread. Benayoun wasn't up to it. The manager knew that. He had a look and came to that conclusion. The manager didn't want him. The manager backed his judgement. We want a manager that does that. That knows what he wants and knows what he doesn't want. He wasn't bothered about giving him to Arsenal, and full power to him. He has the courage of his conviction. Take a bow son. We offered Dalglish Benayoun as a replacement for Mereiles. We valued Benayoun at £3m. Dalglish didn't want him. Redknapp didn't want him, despite the fact he was desperately short of numbers. Benayoun is 31 years old, has had a year out with injury. He was never that great to start with. He was good, but for a club like ours, was never going to command a regular spot. There is no guarantee his achilles is up to it. Either way, he is no prized asset, there was no long line of suitors. The manager looked. He didn't fancy him. One bit. He wanted him out, so much so that he sent him to one of our major rivals on loan, a major rival that was desperate, given the fact they've just lost two heavyweights and run out of time. Even Arsenal wouldn't take the risk of a permanent deal, despite the fact they could have got him on the cheap (just as they like it). Will he pull up any trees at Arsenal? Not likely. AVB decreed he was a dud, or a crock, or both. That's good enough for me. He's closer to the squad than any of us and he's achieved more in the game. I think he deserves our trust at this stage. Cut him some slack. Mereiles? Good signing. Very good signing. Far better than some of you appreciate. We wanted Modric. We deemed him good enough to walk into our first team. We deemed him good enough to strengthen us. We deemed him realistic in terms of wages and worth the outlay. We did not find anyone else that ticked those boxes, not in the manager's opinion. So what did we do? We held back, quite rightly. I congratulate the manager for this. It's quite obvious the money was there, but he was prudent, quite wisely. Silly sums on a player the manager deems unworthy of granting a first-team spot is foolish, for once you have him you're stuck with him, and you preclude yourself from buying a replacement (as we'll find with Torres). AVB has done us all a favour here. Prudence was the order of the day. Mereiles has come as back-up. Quality back-up. We needed back-up, badly. Ramires or Lampard get injured and we're f**ked. Josh is potentially our best player but he's not ready to play ten games in a row in the frenetic and aggressive Prem, not if we want to win it, not in high-octane top of the table clashes. We must not rely upon him, for this will impede his development. He's ready to feature, not to play every game. He's nowhere near that stage yet. Midfield is the battleground. AVB has protected him with this signing, and for that we must all be thankful. We will see Josh but we will not be relying completely upon him. That's as it should be. Every squad needs its foot soldiers and we have bought a better foot soldier than Smertin, Maniche, Tiago, Jarosik and the rest. Mereiles may not be the world's greatest player but he is no mug, give him his due. Five years younger than Lampard, at his peak, 50 caps for Portugal (who aren't a bad side), the same nationality as the manager, and popular with scousers even though Hodgson signed him. Furthermore he's adjusted to the Prem. At £12m I'd say we've done good business. I'd say we needed him. I'd say we're lucky to have him. We could have done a lot worse. He will know he can't walk into our side. He will know the quality we possess, the trophies we've won. Similarly he will know he has a shot because he's a good player and he will get games due to our limited options in midfield. He will give us quality, far more quality than Benayoun. He will give us versatility. Presence. He's the manager's signing, someone he can depend upon. That counts for a lot. Modric would have been great (if not worth £40m). I will console myself with the fact we bought Mata and that will give us the subtlety we crave, albeit in a different position. Let's not be too greedy. Remember every squad needs its foot soldiers and not every signing can be glamourous. Mereiles will do for me, given what he's been brought in for. I commend the manager and I welcome Mereiles to our club. And so should you. EDIT: Thank you for reading.

No pocket money. Simples.