rockhead

And...if you really want an eye opener...check this out: Assists- Drogba 13 Lampard, Anelka, Malouda, Essien, Mikel, Kalou, Ramires COMBINED 16 Torres- 2 Zhirkov- 2 Any questions about the horrendously ineffective midfield/forward play that we had last season? Based purely on offensive effectiveness per minutes played..Torres, DD and Zhirkov should play 90 mins every match. I realize there's more to it than that, but when your star striker has more assists than your entire midfield combined...there's an issue.

Malouda is simply ineffective....the numbers: 33 matches played, 88 shots, 41 on target, 13 goals (6 in the first 5 matches) and a whopping 4 assists. Zhirkov started 6 matches, had 10 shots, 2 on goal and 2 assists (no goals in the EPL). Malouda also had a disturbing tendency to not pass to totally unmarked forwards 8 yds from the goal, Torres in particular. He also had a tendency to fire shots from impossible angles. Haven't seen his giveaway %, but it's high. Zhirkov was the Man-of-the-Month in November when all around him were doing nothing but collecting paychecks. His injury was due to the arificial turf in the Motherland playing for Russia. It has been established that the Chelsea physios messed-up the diagnosis (when have they not) setting him back and when he did return to fitness in late March, Carlo was set on playing Slo-Mo-Flo on the left. Selling Zhirlov for 12 mil. when we paid 18m for him and not giving him a chance to shine makes little sense. When he has had the opportunity to play, he's done far better than Malouda...just look at the Pompey match... Is he the end-all for us at LW, probably not, but is he a better choice to keep over Flo based on age, productivity and attitude...yes.

Thank you for the welcome...we'll see about the intelligent part :)

I'll agree with 4 of the author's 5. Can't see letting Mikel go with the Essien knock. He's played well, other than 1-2 mindless blunders per match. Young, never injured, he's worth keeping. Anelka on the other hand...brilliant against minnows, horrible against the rest...lazy, slow, doesn't track-back, slows play and looks like he's playing for the check rather than the shirt- away with him on a free. Zhirkov is a keeper...recall he was man-of-the-month last November when all around him fell apart. Team him with Yossi with Torres up top and watch the ballls streaming into the back of the net. Who would be better on the LW? Malouda? Seriously? He shoots from angles that would give Pythagorias a headache. Turnbull gone...he's like watching a circus performer...and not a skilled one. Paulo...steady, experienced and doesn't make mistakes...sell Bosingwa instead.

Decided to join after searching around for fellow supporters of the Mighty CFC. Been active on several other forums/boards, but thought I'd see if intelligent life existed elsewhere as it's lacking on a couple of other sites. Looking forward to discussing the state of things at our Club and post match banter/analysis...