Tonight's Team and Match Thread

[lfcruleus]

Halftime Kneejerk Reaction Post.

Zenden ffs how does someone play for Barcelona on the wing and not learn to cross the ****in ball.

Too narrow Stevie infield too much and Arbeloa having a bit of a mare.

Drogba making Agger look inexperienced.

Riise just **** off. (This is an attempt for him to make me look a **** and score in the second half)

Zenden again poor selection Rafa up to now.

Oh and we have **** all up front bring Peter on early.

[Ron_Mexico]

Pennant for Zenden and Crouch for Bellers has to be the option. Zenden is seeing a lot of the ball but can't do anything with it. Bellers is just wasted.

that should have been how we started ffs

[Jayesh87]

I think Rafa has got the team completly wrong. We need a ball winner in their (Sissoko) and he has done very well against them in the past. Pennant is our most in form player and should start every game atm. And imo our biggist goal thread is sat on the bench. Fingers crossed for the second half.

[kopash]

we have to score tonight or we're out IMO. I'd take a 2-1 loss right now

[certifiable]

What annoys **** out of me is how Mourinho has talked before about us being a long ball team.

All his team has done is pump balls up to Drogba, knowing he's a complete mare to handle.

[Imy]

Take the plonker Zenden off (maybe he's colour blind?) SG to go on to left so to have Ferraira up and being able to drift in a shoot with his right peg and bring Pennant on

[tsb]

We're ALWAYS better in the second half. Have faith ladies and gentlemen

[kopash]

Plus Zenden off, Crouch on, Bellamy to the left to rinse Ferreira. Else Pennant on for Bellamy if that's too attacking.

[Guest]

Our passing has been erratic at times but generally good. We need more penetration and we should use Crouch now. Chelsea are playing on the counter attack and that suits them. Chelsea are very direct and they are trying to isolate Drogba with Agger and that's what happened for the goal. Maureen has his tactics spot on in this half. We'll need more of that Barca magic now for the second half.

[James]

The problem is def no ball retention up front.....we can only play Bellamy if there is room to run in behind a defence, what we need is Crouch to hold up the ball and allow Gerrard and Kuyt to receive the ball while they are facing the Chelsea goal.

Zenden isn't playing that bad considering some of the performances but it looks like Gonzalez might have some fun on that left flank - if we played Pennant there he would have to keep turning inside.

[Ron_Mexico]

What annoys **** out of me is how Mourinho has talked before about us being a long ball team.

All his team has done is pump balls up to Drogba, knowing he's a complete mare to handle.

he gets away with so many fouls. then if he knows he's beaten he flops to floor

idiots like merk buy it every time

he's falling for all the chav diving tonight

[BrooklynRed]

My concern has been our lack of width and the fact that, since the ref is allowing physical play, our back four seem a step off the pace. If Stevie is going to play the middle, bring on Pennant and get Zenden out of there. Even when we've had a sniff, too many fancy passes and not enough straight forward buildup, especially on the left. Drogba was too physical for Agger, but he should have got a foot in way up the pitch when he had Drogba in his sights and before he was close enough to cause havoc. Arbeloa- cut to the near post, lad!

ah well. Let's get one in the second half and take an away goal home with us.

[kurtangle01]

Zenden has been poor. For all those who stick up for him just look at his performance tonight. He's seen more of te ball than any of our players and done **** all except give the ball back to the chavs. He's a liability.

[livvy145]

What annoys **** out of me is how Mourinho has talked before about us being a long ball team.

All his team has done is pump balls up to Drogba, knowing he's a complete mare to handle.

Mourinho's tactics have been spot on.

[Tom]

Rafa has got it wrong so far, Negative tactics trying to get the 0-0

I don't think he is playing negative tactics. Chelski are playing like the away team and catching us on the break.