with a toe injury...explains his poor performance on saturday...big blow as he misses first leg of champs league v liverpool

Could be a blessing in disguise. Now Hiddink will have to go with some wide players. It feels like he has been trying to shoehorn him in to the side.

Could be a blessing in disguise. Now Hiddink will have to go with some wide players. It feels like he has been trying to shoehorn him in to the side.

just what I was thinking. And I will add to that that Nico's scoring ways have faded recently.

A starting three of Kalou-Drogba-Quaresma across the top for the better part of 90 minutes could do some damage. RQs crosses tend to be very hit or miss, but if there is anyone you want pulling down high balls in the area, its Drogba.

Anelka will be missed, his parnership with Drogba was without doubt a problem to the opposition becasuse both players could play wide and central and switched at any given time through out the game making it impossible for defenders to mark them

Its a shame for Nic as he was playing well before Drogs got back to some sort of form, He would still be main striker for me with wingers and Drogba off the bench either as a swap or to pair up with Anelka second half.

I know the two of them should spell trouble for most defenders but in truth they have for whatever reason rarely clicked and I think Anelkas Golas should see him as first choice...be a shame if some stinking scouseer gets the golden Boot after the way Anelka played early on.

I realise Drogba is a whole different player to mark but still think at this time Anelka deserves his place and unless we play 4-4-2 with wingers I would sooner play with one up front.

Hiddink appears to believe Drogba and Anelka can play in front of a few midfielders and would rather play defenders on the wing than wingers and I can't see that helping either of our main two score.

These international breaks are taking the piss... ¬___¬

Quaresma is cup-tied for the CL. I'd prefer it if Hiddink had his best squad to choose from, personally.

Cheers,

Butch

Excellent. The world-class duo of Kalou and Malouda blazing down the wings then...