Spudulike

No. I've heard fans on 606 saying that Man U are 'toying with the league' by fielding a team with so many changes. My view is (a) it's to be expected and (b) Utd were not weak today. I want us to get a top four finish but where we end up will be a reflection of our season, not just of these last few games. Man U and the Gooners have taken the situation into their hands and we are relying on others slipping up. Pleased with our season overall tho. How do you feel about Chels? You've two finals ahead and a fourth place or higher finish looks on.

Batten down the hatches would do also. Sorry for the correction but you won't mind, after today's result.

Webb got the two most important decisions right. Didn't expect that either.

Treating this as a game in isolation and genuinely backing CFC. Wed is another day and I like CFC.

None taken at all mate.

I'm conflicted. Today, want CFC to win (not on Wed :-) ) and it can happen today. Hope RB changes system and is more agressive.

Some change needed, imo. Man U are there for the taking, just need some pace and energy from Chels. Still 20 mins to change game...

Robbie Savage (good pundit imo) on Radio 5 - "the...decisions from Webb seem to be going United's way..." He was implying that all 50/50 decisions are going to Utd.

Perhaps Davey Baby and Bluehatter are the same person?! You're always on at the same time...:-)

Good first half from Chelsea but an end product needed. United will get a talking too from SAF at half time but they are there for the taking if Chels can open up the defence more efficiently/often. That half flew by.

Yep. He's a cock but he's a natural, instinctive centre forward. Liverpool are skint (about eighty million in debt). Make them an offer they can't refuse.

P.s. that missed penalty against Basle was my breaking point for Adebayor. He did this stupid foot movement thing, before striking the ball (at which point I knew we were f*****) and then powered the ball into the crowd. The crowning glory was him smirking to himself as he loped back up the pitch. It was a worse penalty than James May's on Manlab. At least make the keeper save it...

Talk about Torres not performing, you want to see Adebayor. A lot of fans are frustrated with him. The difference between last season and this is v marked. I was v impressed before this year and was praying that we'd sign him. Now, I feel he's let us down. What frustrates me is that he's often in the right place (to his credit) but clumsy in his execution. Off the ball, he walks or lopes around as if he's knackered. He's got three (3) PL goals this season. I reckon he's hoping to be sent on loan in the closed season. In August, he'll burst onto the scene at his new club and will be so impressive that he's signed. After that, he'll go off the boil again...

Yep.Subbed at 59 mins, for Adebayor. Sub made, I think, to mix things up as Southampton were closing us down v effectively. I don't think he went off because of his prev injury, but probably a wise move anyway.

Today's (fortunate) result for Spurs keeps us in the race but doesn't confer an advantage on us. It's in your hands this weekend and a win against Man U isn't out of the question (saying that cos some posters thinking a draw is an outcome they'd settle for). As to 'our' match, that is going to be so close. Dembele's injury is a real hit for us. To tense for words.

No need to apologise - it's hard to keep track of all the posts here Moi :-) You make a good, fair, assessment of Torres. The combination of the price tag, fragile confidence and a difficult start, may have been too much. The situation must be incedibly frustrating for Chels fans. Like you, it's the unpleasantness (i.e. 'how hard is it to grasp?') and the absoluteness that is a problem.

Well said - we have got carried away. Good debate, by and large, and interesting to read views re 'Nando.

Can't argue with anything you've said there TD. I'm not well-placed to argue about the overall form of Torres, but - as you say - the view that he's useless, full stop, is over the top. He does need to improve - couldn't disagree at all there. It must be frustrating to see him up and down, particularly when you see what he can do, when playing well.

I give up. I'd like to continue this battle of wits, but you are unarmed.

This is a subjective list, obviously; Torres increasingly making good runs, pulling defences out of shape, creating space for himself and others. He isn't selfish, imo: I can recall seeing several assists this season. He is useful all over the field - he tracks back when needed and makes useful challenges (that last one isn't what he's there for, but it does help). Torres has more energy than for some time, and there's a sense of hunger and confidence about him. That's what I see in his body language and in his facial expressions. He doesn't look (as he often used to) defeated and petulant. As to centre-forwards who are less capable than Torres, there are many. Aside from issues of injury, etc, I can suggest Petric, Holt, Anichebe, Remy, Di Santo, etc. For what it's worth, I agree completely that Torres is some way off being in form. However, he isn't the worst centre-forward. That's my issue; the word 'worst' means that every other centre-forward is above him, in ability. I can't see that.

Over the last two years, Torres hasn't been the striker that Chelsea needed. Without reference to statistics my personal impression is that Torres is much more confident and there are signs that things are beginning to 'click' for him. I say without reference to statistics because I am saying what I personally think is the case, based on lot of years of watching the game (young feller me lad). IF he's about to come good, what's gained by a sale? Lastly he's not the worst striker in the EPL. There's a big difference between lack of ability and (albeit a long term) lack of form. To quote Tom Tucker: 'I am outta here' (doodles on notepad and goes off air)

I'll put my hands up to not seeing Torres regularly. Also, I haven't seen him consistently over the past two years. I think that, from seeing live matches, TV matches, etc, he seems to have gained confidence this season (about time, you might say - fair enough); he's looking sharper and, despite what you believe is his poor performance over the past two years (and I can't argue) it seems odd to think about losing a player who is improving. That said, you've heard this before, so you could be sceptical now. I don't want to piss off a Chels fan on his own site. I did make my point too assertively but it's weird seeing people making it sound like Torres is absolute s**** when he clearly isn't, imo.

I can't call the Utd v Chels game. Or our Southampton match. I thought that SAF would motivate Utd to keep going but they weren't good last weekend. It could be that, as many have said, they know the games aren't significant, no matter what SAF says. Chels are on an upward curve, defo getting into their stride. Think you might get a result at Utd. We should get something from our game but Southampton are the sort of team that will trip us up. Sod it - don't know what to think now, about top four. Too bloody close for words.

I was getting a bit Radio 4 - about to start a discussion about truth... '...today on The Moral Maze, we ask: can truth ever be absolute; is it not shaped by the societal, cultural and...' etc. :-) What do you think of Torres, Moi?

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