The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[Norf Tyrone]

Sent you a PM there Zap.

[ross4life]

Well deserved point for Everton today! Baines MOTM.

[The Worker]

What has happened the chelsea steam roller?

[muppet]

Just saw the penalty decision there. That's harsh as fcuk. MOTD commentator was wondering why Howard didn't walk.

Anelka (I think) just ran straight into him. Howard just stood there.

Anelka knocked the ball right and then ran straight into Howard. Not much of a penalty but they are usually given, especially to a top 4 team playing at home.

[ross4life]

The Phil Neville pass to Anelka was almost as good as the Steven Gerrard one last season.

[muppet]

Howard wasn't even looking at him. He turned to look at where the ball was going and got blattered by Anelka who made no attempt to go by him.

Pathetic decision.

I like it. Did Drogba sepp up to take the peno?

[Norf Tyrone]

Shocking display by Chelsea today. Absoloutely shocking.

The last few weeks I was not overly worried, as with the injuries to the spine of the side, and a few players not fully fit I thought get one or two back, regroup and kick on again. No excuses today, and that's a worry. It's not a major concern when a side plays bad. However when a side plays bad, look disinterested, pass as poorly as Chelsea did and avoid rolling up the sleeves when they have their backs to the wall it's time to question what's going on? Unfortunately I don't have the answer.

Individually- the positives first- only John Terry and Ivanovic can hold their heads up after that. Terry especially tried everything to get the rest of them going, and at times the two boys were met by a barrage of Everton balls into the box which happened due to the absence of Chelsea's middle five today. Baines especially was allowed time and time again to amble forward and pick his cross.

Shockers- Anelka, Mikel, Bosingwa, Kalou and Essien. Dan Sturridge may retire now if Kalou, in current form, can play 90 minutes in front of him. Here is one that may surprise non Chelsea fans. Every time I read on here, and talk to people about Chelsea, injuries etc they point out how much Chelsea miss Essien.

There is no doubt Essien is a quality player, but to date this season he's offered nothing, and today he was worse than that. I appreciate that he was injured/ suspended but he is a long way off what he needs to be offering to class himself in the class that some rate him as. Considering the amount of football he missed last year, this year, and the off the field party boy rumours, it's time he knuckled down again.

The gaffer got a lot of things wrong today too. When Everton were coming back into the game in the 2nd half the subs were very negative, Paulo for Bosingwa and Ramieres for Anelka. It just invited pressure onto the side. As said previously a young, hungry, fit and speedy Sturridge for Kalou would've drove Everton backwards again and given Baines more to worry him.

A big few weeks coming up. Spurs, United and Arsenal among the games. Nine points the aim! 

I never watched MOTD tonight, but for all you stating it wasn't a penalty (I am still undecided) did they show Coleman's foul on Ashley Cole in the box? That was a more clear cut one IMHO.

Marseille and the kids next up....

Frank Lampard... Get well soon and SOS!

[new devil]

Very fair NT...3 weeks a go i thought Chelsea would walk the league...having seen a team implode as bad in a few weeks like this before
Do you think its anything to do with Ray Wilikins getting the boot?

P.s f**kers let me down for $1300 

[ross4life]

Marseille and the kids next up....

Cech,Drogba,Terry,Ferreira,Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Essien, Malouda, Kalou very impressive group of kids there Norf.

[Norf Tyrone]

Marseille and the kids next up....

Cech,Drogba,Terry,Ferreira,Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Essien, Malouda, Kalou very impressive group of kids there Norf.

Thanks ross. I am delighted to see the sporting integrity of the competition is maintained by Ancellotti and Chelsea. No half baked outfits to fleece the hard work Marseilleise and Chelsea away support of their money. UEFA must now look at Chelsea as ambassadors for this competition as once again we uphold the corinthian spirit.

[ross4life]

 

[ExiledGael]

Another defeat, should have played the kids. All is definitely not well with Chelsea.

[Norf Tyrone]

Another defeat, should have played the kids. All is definitely not well with Chelsea.

Er. He did. Brauma, Sturridge, MacEacheran and Van Aarnholt all on at the end and I think when the goal was scored.

Another so so performance tonight, with the lowlight again the midfield. Essien again was AWOL, Kalou was Kalou and Ramieres continues to struggle. The highlight once again was Josh MacEacheran. Ancellotti in his wisdom played his as the deep midfielder in the first half where he was under a bit of pressure and give one or two away. In the second half though his passing and vision were so much more obvious and dangerous. I'd love to see him keep his place.

As a team goes through a crisis of confidence, luck seems to avade them, and tonight was no different.

Malouda and Kalou both clearly brought down tonight and confirmed so by the after match analysis. However Drogba was also clipped in the box and elected to stay on his feet for a change and lost the chance. Three penalties turned down by a guy officiating his first ever CL game. Typical. Even the Marseille goal had a hint of luck with the ball taking a big deflection. That's the life at the minute.

The big problem for Chelsea this weekend will be that Ferreria will be RB against Bale after Bosingwa's injury tonight. Last year Bale roasted him.

If Lampard is fit- and I pray he is- I'd love to see Essien at RB with a middle three of Lampard, MacEacheran and Mikel with a forward three of Malouda, Drogba and Sturridge.

It'll not happen though.

[ExiledGael]

You're right about when the goal was scored in the last ten minutes but they started out with
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ferreira, McEachran, Essien, Ramires, Kalou, Drogba and Malouda
and still played poorly. Agree on the penalties though, the game could easily have had a very different look. Their luck has certainly nosedived but it's here you learn a bit about cartain players and about how crucial Lampard is to the midfield.
Still think the team that finishes above Chelsea will win the league.

[Norf Tyrone]

You're right about when the goal was scored in the last ten minutes but they started out with
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ferreira, McEachran, Essien, Ramires, Kalou, Drogba and Malouda
and still played poorly. Agree on the penalties though, the game could easily have had a very different look. Their luck has certainly nosedived but it's here you learn a bit about cartain players and about how crucial Lampard is to the midfield.
Still think the team that finishes above Chelsea will win the league.

I know. It was a bit pedantic of me.

Your part about learning about certain players is very appropriate. People like Essien, Drogba, Malouda etc have not stood up to the task in the form you'd expect. Granted they have injuries, lack of form etc but still.