Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the RAFA ride

[Red_Al_77]

I'll be convinced when I see our strikers knocking in goals on a regular basis. I'd like to see Bellamy and Fowler play up front for a few games as well. If Kuyt does come in then I think we'll be very competitive this season. #19 is within our grasp with such a squad.

[Laz]

I'm interested to know if anyone is of the same opinion as me. While I watched the game through red tinted lenses, a fact that I am well aware of, I try to be objective after the final whistle.

I do not think we were put under any sustained pressure during that match. Drogba was on the field according to the starting line-ups but I cannot remember the commentators mentioning his name during the match. Robben was not much more involved.

Maybe the squad that Chelsea have, whilst being their biggest asset, will provide their biggest problems. Will Mourinho be under pressure to play certain players thus affecting the shape of the team?

[Laz]

P.S. Sod being objective, bring on No.19.

[REDSCOUSER]

That's the spirit LAZ, ya know deep inside the REDS have a very good chance this year.

[kurtangle01]

I'm interested to know if anyone is of the same opinion as me. While I watched the game through red tinted lenses, a fact that I am well aware of, I try to be objective after the final whistle.

I do not think we were put under any sustained pressure during that match. Drogba was on the field according to the starting line-ups but I cannot remember the commentators mentioning his name during the match. Robben was not much more involved.

Maybe the squad that Chelsea have, whilst being their biggest asset, will provide their biggest problems. Will Mourinho be under pressure to play certain players thus affecting the shape of the team?

spot on mate. he'll be under pressure alright. just look at the problem various real madrid managers had in recent years.

[carrsim]

wasn't rafa's valencia nicknamed the crushing machine?

i can see the same thing with us. not many teams will live with us this year.

at times our possession football from front to back was very encouraging and when we didn't have it everyone seemed to know their job to win it back. pressing high up the pitch and forcing errors meant we got the ball back quicker.

and when you think that for an hour stevie, bellers and xabi weren't involved, robbie, sami and paletta didn't even get a look in (for various reasons), dudek and warnock fill out the squad, we have a promising set of youngsters to call on and there's a good chance of at least 1 new player to come, there is a lot to be positive about.

the optimistic part of me says we will walk the league this year. the pessimist in me says we'll win it by 2 points

[REDSCOUSER]

the optimistic part of me says we will walk the league this year. the pessimist in me says we'll win it by 2 points

nothing pessimistic about this mate, it's all optimistic