Who stood out?

Petr Cech for me (again). Another of his many flawless displays that everyone cares to overlook when slagging him off relentlessly.

Ivanovic. Cech, Zhirkov and Studge get a worthy mention too. Zhirkov only did 1 or 2 things!

i'll give it to frank for showing massive composure with the retaken penalty.

I agree with both Stride and Gem. What was Dean thinking by awarding retakes when it was the Pikey players who were swarming into the box? The penalty was soft, I must admit.

On second thought, I disagree with Gem about Ivan, since Diamonte was turning him in circles, but that guy is a very skillful player.

Edited December 20, 200916 yr by Phillip

Christ, er, this isn't easy. In fact, i actually have no idea, so I will ruminate and vote later.

Tough one again today. Ivan was good again and you will never fault the guys commitment. Lamps for the balls to take that penalty three times and not bottle it. And Sturridge for making out attack look lively and start making things happening.

I'll go for Sturridge as I think he helped us get a point.

I did consider Cech for the two good saves he made, and in particular the one at the death that would have given West Ham an offside winner however I actually thought that was the only really difficult thing he had to do as the earlier one as pretty routine. There was further evidence of misunderstandings in defence between him and Terry when he came for the ball and terry headed it away (again apportionment of blame isn't possible without knowing whether or not Cech shouted for it).

So for me it goes to Sturridge for his second half display. He came on and ran at players, committed them to challenges and put them on the back foot. If Anelka is not back for the next game and Kalou starts ahead of Sturridge then Ancelotti needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

. If Anelka is not back for the next game and Kalou starts ahead of Sturridge then Ancelotti needs to take a good long look in the mirror.

how Kalou could start after the shift he put in on Wednesday is open to debate. MOTM had to go for Cech he did what he was asked for and at preserved our point gained. Bad day at the office for at least 7 today though Lamps has to get credit for holding his nerve.

Question to the masses:

Were the two retakes because at least one of our players was in the box? I assume so.

However, for each instance, there were about 7 Pikeys in the box.

So, that being the case, if Lamps would have missed, I would assume that the kick would be retaken, but I bet my last dollar that Mike Dean would not have allowed a retake if that happened.

Lamps for me - great composure for the pen, and he, Zhirkov and Sturridge were the only ones with any attacking imputence at all. Best game in a while for him.

Sturridge. Followed by Zhirkov. And that really says it all.

Mentions for Cech and Ivanovic as well.

Lampard for those pens. Bloke has balls of concrete.

A special mention has to go to Strurridge. I think we all agreed he did himself no favors against Bolton in the CC but today that was reversed.

As i have just posted in the match thread , CA simply has no excuses for playing Kalou ever again. Strurridge showed more drive and quality than Kalou has all season and quite possibly in three years.

Edited December 20, 200916 yr by bjd

Lampard for me

Frank. Played well all game, and those penalties show he's the ultimate professinoal. never once did he look at Dean and say "you're f**king joking, right?"

Phillip, I've answered your questions below

Question to the masses:

Were the two retakes because at least one of our players was in the box? I assume so. In the 2nd take there were Chelsea players in the box, but in the 1st and 3rd it was only Pikeys,

However, for each instance, there were about 7 Pikeys in the box. Correct, I think Dean was clutching at straws and was just trying to make himself look good on the back pages tomorrow

So, that being the case, if Lamps would have missed, I would assume that the kick would be retaken, but I bet my last dollar that Mike Dean would not have allowed a retake if that happened. If he was being true to the rules then yes, he could say that Lampard missed due to the encroaching Spammers. However, there would have been no way he would have blown had Frank missed! In fact, if he was being consistant, then he should have made Frank take a 4th (same encroachment as penalty 1), but at no time did he talk to the West Ham players..... in point, he's just like many other refs who want to be the centre of attention!

Joe Cole for me

Joe Cole for me

Nice to see someone has a sense of humour!

Petr Cech for me.

I agree with Loz about Sturridge. We looked ponderous and lacking in ideas in the first half. Sturridge certainly livened things up when he came on. Ivanovic was good and I really liked Zhirkov, although his contribution was limited by only getting on for the last 15 minutes, but I would like to see him start against Birmingham.

Joe Cole had been active throughout the match. He had some good passes and shots.

Petr Cech for me (again). Another of his many flawless displays that everyone cares to overlook when slagging him off relentlessly.

:P Good to see someone actually giving him the wrap he deserves.

I went for Frank though. Not just for the mental strength to slot three from three especially after missing recently, but I also felt he really directed most of our play in the second half, similar to the way he did against Pompey midweek.

Honourable mention for Branislav as well, who was excellent in the air and in defense, though he could still do with some work on his crossing.

This match showed how vital Anelka and Essien are to us. Having said that, I thought Sturridge did well - he seems to have self confidence and a good temperament.

Yuri Zirkov also did well in his cameo role. Now that he's fit, I hope he starts for us in future games, rather than Malouda, whose confidence seems to have dropped again, having been in and out of the team (perhaps unfairly).

I thought Joe Cole looked a lot sharper today, before tiring latterly - he's slowly getting there but his finishing is appalling.

Peter Cech did well, after all his recent criticism and Branislav is now a rock solid fixture - probably the best header of a ball in the league.

Frank Lampard showed great composure in taking his hatrick of penalties. Drogba should be fined a fortune for his brainless repeated encroachment at the penalties, as should Carvalho for his kamikaze fouling at opposition corners.

Joe Cole had been active throughout the match. He had some good passes and shots.

He had some good shots! What was he aiming at - an ex girlfriend in the stand?

zhirkov for me.

what did ivanovic do to get soo many votes?

Joe Cole had been active throughout the match. He had some good passes and shots.

Which match ?

Which match ?

THIS MATCH! :angry: