axman2526

Check out the following link: http://www.wwe.com/videos/the-jbl-cole-show-episode-2-26074277 Not bad given "Soccer" is still viewed as a sport beneath their Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and NFL. Seems even the WWEs lead commentators and the WWE universe has something to say on Roman, Robbie and Rafa.

Now you ask for too much Moos. No Mikel so how about: Cech Cesar Brana Cahill Cole Romeu Luiz Moses Mata Hazard Torres

Some good sides in that lot. Some possible long trips for the away fans as well. Think the best draws we could get to go through would be BATE or Prague. If I was told we would for certain give it our all a rematch against Atletico could be nice, although a couple of games against Ajax could be good viewing as well.

Two sides badly out of form usually points to a draw. We have been saying we need to win for a while now, maybe this is our best chances of doing so. We need the boost ahead of the CWC that is for sure.

Not where we wanted to be but here nevertheless and hopefully we make the best of it. Some good sides in it and since we have never won it I hope we go all out for it. Our history in it, or rather the Uefa cup, though leads me to expect another shambles and limp performance and result like Hapaol, Viking etc etc...

Well I did expect this out come. We won but Juve did what they needed to do. It is a shame Shakhtar did not bother to give it a go but is not like we have not been in their position before and played beneath ourselves in the final game when already through to the next round. At least on the day we went our as a Champion should bow out, giving it our all and putting on an impressive display. End of the day poor concentration at home cost us our place in the knock out round. Overall the group had 3 very good, but not great, sides in it and by the thinnest of margins we go out. Disappointing but given the heartache we have had in the CL over the years this one does not rank high on the list. Hopefully we give the Europa a good go, but our history in it (or rather the Uefa cup) leads me to doubt it somehow.

Real for Jose, if not them Bayern.

Score the goals or set up the ones that beat Juve and we manage to win and Roman may just agree to pay the fee Shakhtar want as a "reward" to both... EDIT: You can add as well, since both ourselves and Shakhtar have lost in the group already it is about time Juve lost one as well. Not that I expect it to happen but would be rather amazing as third seeds to go through the group unbeaten.

Will call it now, if we manage to get through to the next round I would not be surprised for us to draw Bayern and for them to be able to get their revenge for the final defeat. That said though I'd be surprised if Juve did not claim at least the draw they need. This is an Italian side we are talking about after all.

I agree with you there. But some of our fans thought it was a good idea to abuse Jokanovic because his performances were not deemed good enough, others abused Bogarde because of the high salary the club decided to give to him and he decided to just sit on it. Flo Mo might be next for sitting on his last year of contract rather than just moving on. I did not want Rafa as manager, I do not want him here as manager, but as much as I love my club I have not, and will not, ever abuse another person in their name.

Win and hope for a favour from Shakhtar, but somehow if this does happen am not sure we deserve it for our performances so far in the CL.

Worse than I expected. Disappointing but not a surprise. Sadly appears Roman will have to dig deep again to sort out the mess he helped to creat with his insistence on Torres coming good. As far as repairing estimates go 80mill is a bit on the high side even for the most expensive plumber. But as suggested above, Falcao and Fellaini would solve a lot of what is going wrong.

We do and we will not, and judging by what has gone on so far we will not win the CWC in a few weeks either. Though it seems Roman is going to suffer big time from his choice to sack Robbie.

Torres the unsubable and our better players being taken off. Whoever predicted 1-1 you might be able to cash in if you bet on it. Deary me, 1 good half out of 6 so far in Rafa's reign....

I think Jamie Redknapp has a point about Torres here: http://www.skysports...8295169,00.html I wonder if having someone alongside him would help, where Torres is told to stay in and around the box and the other forward can be second striker two him and offer knock downs. I know we paired Didi with Torres at times but Didi was the main man up top and never one to have a strike partner, he did it all on his own. Torres as a lone striker simply has not worked for us, we all have seen that. With January still a while away could not hurt to try something else, maybe something like: Cech Cesar Brana Cahill Cole Mikel Ramires Oscar Mata Moses Torres Could swap Oscar out for Romeu or Betrand if you want a more safer option. Maybe Moses would help create a bit more space and allow Torres to remain in the box area. Probably wont work but what is the harm in trying?

Could see this one ending up 1-0 to West Ham to be honest. Rafa has shown his cards, set out looking to not let any in and try and nick one to win it, very like the early Jose days only less entertaining. Could see it being 0-0 till late on Carroll knocks down to Nolan for a late winner we have no reply too I would like to see us use this side for the game though. Cech Cesar Brana Luiz Cole Mikel Oscar Mata Marin Moses Torres M squad behind the lethal one lol.

Yeah I think it would have been. Said "thank you very much for the great job you did but it only ever was a short term deal as I have another direction I want us to go in, thank you for all your efforts" Would have been easier for the fans to accept then. He was, after all, an interim manager and that interim period was done. We would not have agreed with the choice but still the same, Robbie would have filled his contract and would have been released rather than sacked. Though at any point bringing in Rafa would have not gone down well. We have gone from the "Barca in Blue" to "Rafa's Liverpool" with a far poorer version of Torres up top.

"'I was just concentrating on the game, the performance of the players on the pitch and what I could do. I can understand it because of the rivalry in the past but I am sure the majority of the fans they understand I am a professional, I want to do my best for the club and I want to win. 'The fans are with the team and hopefully they will be with me in the next games because I will do a professional job and try to win. 'The main thing is the players are focused on the games and because I have confidence that we will do well and win games, I think some of the fans will realise it is not the way to support your team. If I do my job properly and we are winning, I am sure they will be there. 'How do I change the perception? By working hard, doing my best and winning games.'" -Rafa From our own website.

I really liked the minutes applause in the 16th for Robbie, well done to the fans there today for doing that a great mark of respect to a guy who truly deserved it. That said I am, and never have been, not comfortable with our fans booing and getting on the backs of anyone representing Chelsea FC at the game. Ok on this forum, other forums, on the streets etc if you want to have a go at anyone, in this case Rafa, fine by all means if that is how you feel. But at the game all our focus should be on supporting our side, not dragging them down. It cant help the players to see the signs and here boos against Rafa. After yet another truly terrible November (which we have not yet pulled out of) I would like to look on the positive side. Defensively we were good, against one of the most talented attacking sides in the league (behind United only imo). City have 4 quality strikers and a creative midfield. So to keep a clean sheet is impressive, although Aguero should have easily scored that first half header. All of the back line looked good, the midfield worked hard. City also have arguably the best deep mid in the league in Yaya and a very good defense so that did not help us. Fulham should be interesting, but I just do not see Torres offering us enough. Kompany dealt with him so easily. Just a little physicality and Torres gets knocked off the ball, and most of the CBs in the league will see that, do that and break up our attacks. I guess we see just how stubborn Roman is.

0-0, a scoreline us and Roman have to get used too under Rafa. Hardly "Barca in blue" now is it? City have hardly been defending well of late, but such a limp attacking display at home is very poor on our part. Though as many people said, Rafa did indeed sure things up at the back. Torres lost almost every duel he had with their back line. We will be left leaning on our trio of Oscar, Mata and Hazard, along with set pieces, to win games. Good to see us defending as a team at least again, and thought Oscar looked excellent.

First half thoughts. At the back we look decent, Cesar and Ash doing very well, Brana looking better at CB this time than RB. Saying that we should be at least 1 down, Aguero should have burried that header.. Mikel and Ramires need to make sure of their short range passes, both gave it away cheaply for city to counter. I would like to see Rami and Oscar swap positions and have a better passes deep. Hazard knocked out of the game whenever he gets the ball, Mata cannot find a foothold. Same Torres we are used too, and not creating a single decent chance for 45 mins is disappointing but not surprising. Only way I see us scoring is from a set piece.

Oscar

And can we tell the other players to only pass to Torres when he is running at goal because his ball control when in to feet is terrible.

Can we swap the positions of Oscar and Ramires around maybe Rafa?

Ramires and Mikel's use of the ball and short range passing is too poor too often for the deep positions.