JT for me.

Anelka

Anelka was fantastic. The decision to move him up on the last line was the key to us looking better in the first half, and he won the pen from that position. Then he was tracking back brilliantly as well was at right back at one point. Unlucky to be subbed.

JT, showed exactly what we have missed and to do it so easily after so long out shows the mark of the man.

Anelka was definitely putting his shift in near the end.

But motm was JT today. His effort alone was deserving of three points, and I loved the way he didnt back away when he thought Petr had been hurt. Superb player and we missed him so much.

I'm just so depressed about today.

Anelka, then JT.

Terry.

Carlo's 2nd half performance was horrendous.

Unlucky to be subbed.

unlucky?

foolish more like

Terry played like he'd never been missing and was a real presence at the back. In the first half, it was like we were back to normal.

Anelka was the spark that kept the forward engines moving though. If everyone played as well as he did today, we'd have steamrollered them.

No one

Comic poll?

Every player and the manager should hang their head in shame after that second half performance.

Anelka was the spark that kept the forward engines moving though. If everyone played as well as he did today, we'd have steamrollered them.

I can only assume you watched the match with your balaclava on back to front.

I can only assume you watched the match with your balaclava on back to front.

Anelka was one of the hardest workers on the pitch today. He also got us the penalty which got us on the scoresheet in the first place. He was the highlight of the forward line which was excellent in its fluidity and dominance in the first half. I seem to remember people praising Carlo for telling him to play off the shoulder of Distin in the first half...

Also we can't afford balaclavas on a student budget. We tend to cut holes in newspaper and sellotape them to our faces.

Edited December 4, 201015 yr by PloKoon13

In fairness Plok most of those people were me. Maybe we weren't watching as closely as we thought?

Went for JT. Did seem to add a little stability. Not a flawless performance by any means though. He does seem to get drawn to the ball on occasions where he should hold his position. A better team would exploit this as there is a gap behind, but he did well today. I wonder how much pain he is in now?

Anelka was one of the hardest workers on the pitch today. He also got us the penalty which got us on the scoresheet in the first place. He was the highlight of the forward line which was excellent in its fluidity and dominance in the first half. I seem to remember people praising Carlo for telling him to play off the shoulder of Distin in the first half...

Also we can't afford balaclavas on a student budget. We tend to cut holes in newspaper and sellotape them to our faces.

Any credit earned in the first half was pissed away in the second.

If he played off Distins shoulder in the first half then Distin must have been playing an attacking midfield role for them.

I don't see the point of playing a striker who rarely gets in the box.

JT for me, good to have him back.

Any credit earned in the first half was pissed away in the second.

If he played off Distins shoulder in the first half then Distin must have been playing an attacking midfield role for them.

I don't see the point of playing a striker who rarely gets in the box.

I think the reason is we just dont have a "playmaker" right now worthy of the name. At various times Malouda and Anelka, and Drogba, hang back and try to be that link between the midfield and bring that link between the midfield and something happening in the box when it isnt a cross or a moving break.

We still dont have that dedicated player whose role that is, taking the ball and dissecting an opponent with passes into the box. Malouda is really the guy, but he is often out wide.

I know Frank is back soon, but a dynamic midfielder would be something we need bad right now.

Agreed that most of the problem is in midfield. There is no link between defence and attack.

Essien played well in the first half but disappeared completely in the second.

Wtf going on with chelsea someone sort lt ?

I thought Ivanovic

Any credit earned in the first half was pissed away in the second.

If he played off Distins shoulder in the first half then Distin must have been playing an attacking midfield role for them.

I don't see the point of playing a striker who rarely gets in the box.

That would be some defensive line considering the number of times he was caught offside.

If a striker is getting poor service, then all he can do is drop deeper in order to win possession.

On another note, I've heard a lot of moaning about Drogba being a 'baby', but no credit for when he went down with groin trouble, and after some treatment was immediately back in the defensive line, getting stuck in, winning the ball and clearing a free kick.

That would be some defensive line considering the number of times he was caught offside.

If a striker is getting poor service, then all he can do is drop deeper in order to win possession.

On another note, I've heard a lot of moaning about Drogba being a 'baby', but no credit for when he went down with groin trouble, and after some treatment was immediately back in the defensive line, getting stuck in, winning the ball and clearing a free kick.

I did actually mention Drogba's defensive qualities as a counter to the accusations of laziness. If I noticed this today, then I'm sure plenty of other people must also have done so.

I did actually mention Drogba's defensive qualities as a counter to the accusations of laziness. If I noticed this today, then I'm sure plenty of other people must also have done so.

My mistake. It was intended as a riposte to all those who accused Drogba, as you said, of laziness and being a 'baby'.

My mistake. It was intended as a riposte to all those who accused Drogba, as you said, of laziness and being a 'baby'.

Yep. I know. And the intention of my reply was to emphasise the ridiculousness of those accusations.