Why oh why....

[dww]

The team was set up more or less as we usually set up. Slight emphasis on width versus creativity in the three behind Torres. Exactly as we setup for all big games when Torres and Gerrard were fit last season.

He made two obvious attacking substitutions yet you focus on the one which was defender for defender.

[Redspin]

was our best player so far this season, on the bench for our toughest game?

Benny made an immediate impact when he came on today, he's the only player we have who has the quality and technique to take any team on comfortably. It doesn't matter whose in front of him, the little lad will glide passed anyone and Rafa once again leaves him on the bench.

Possibly because, as was very widely reported, he was carrying an injury that had previously made him doubtful for the Florentina game.

On the other hand you can jump to conclusions and assume Rafa's left him out because he's an idiot and you know better

[dww]

Also we tended to start with Riera - Gerrard - Kuyt behind Torres in the big games last year and that worked pretty well. Also Yossi while generally having a good season was very poor against Fiorentina whether through injury, having an off day or whatever.

[FatTony]

Possibly because, as was very widely reported, he was carrying an injury that had previously made him doubtful for the Florentina game.

On the other hand you can jump to conclusions and assume Rafa's left him out because he's an idiot and you know better

I didn't hear that he'd taken a knock, if thats right, then fair enough.

There's no hidden agenda here...

[cream]

We need better on the left, without a ****ing doubt.

[Redspin]

seems a few of the players are lacking confidence/desire?why maybe there's a few rumblings with the manager

Or maybe you're putting two and two together and coming up with completely unfounded, groundless speculation

[red g]

Or maybe you're putting two and two together and coming up with completely unfounded, groundless speculation

well the reira speculation isnt unfounded he said it himself

[The Erectile Banana]

We need better on the left, without a ****ing doubt.

I'm not a fan of Riera at all.

He's very gifted technically, but just doesn't seem to have the balls or hunger to make a real impact on the team. He always just seems to drift through games, doing just enough.

[Redspin]

well the reira speculation isnt unfounded he said it himself

Riera I could possibly accept as it was reported that Liverpool turned down a bid from Barcelona for him in the summer, hence his possible sulking (I don't buy it myself; he's always an in-and-out player and just played poorly).

I don't see any evidence of other players having issues with the manager, Mascherano apart - for the same reason as Riera - and his attitude was spot on against West Ham and against Chelsea yesterday (shame about losing possession cheaply leading to their first goal though!).

It's easy for fans to scratch around looking for excuses after a defeat, but issues with the manager is just plain daft.

Chelsea didn't put us under any real pressure and never really looked like scoring before Mascherano gave the ball away and we were quite comfortable. A draw would have been a fair result as there were never two goals between the team in terms of each other's performance. Missed chances and poor defending on two critical occasions caused the defeat, not players being despondent or having issues with the manager - easily the daftest reason I've heard all season

[red g]

Riera I could possibly accept as it was reported that Liverpool turned down a bid from Barcelona for him in the summer, hence his possible sulking (I don't buy it myself; he's always an in-and-out player and just played poorly).

I don't see any evidence of other players having issues with the manager, Mascherano apart - for the same reason as Riera - and his attitude was spot on against West Ham and against Chelsea yesterday (shame about losing possession cheaply leading to their first goal though!).

It's easy for fans to scratch around looking for excuses after a defeat, but issues with the manager is just plain daft.

Chelsea didn't put us under any real pressure and never really looked like scoring before Mascherano gave the ball away and we were quite comfortable. A draw would have been a fair result as there were never two goals between the team in terms of each other's performance. Missed chances and poor defending on two critical occasions caused the defeat, not players being despondent or having issues with the manager - easily the daftest reason I've heard all season

if we were well beaten you need to look at other potential issues, but no to me the man of the match on our side got caught in possesion and once again Drogba owned our defence as he always does.

[sambirken]

I agree with Rafa and think that Benni did so well because the Chelsea players were tiring and I think this is when he is most effective. I think we needed to have a more solid starting formation and I think Rafa's tactics were good.

I think the reason we lost was due to players not not playing well on the day. We had a number of shots with players in space and they just put them into the top tier every time. Gerrard and Johnson should have done better on a few occasions. Same with the wide players missing their crosses and when they did put a good ball in, Torres was mis-firing.

I think Rafa's tactics and team selection were good, I just think the team aren't playing well. I, however, don't know how to remedy this.

[wiw]

The plan looks to have been "keep it at 0-0" until 60 mins or so and bring on Benny and Babel to try and get something. Riera and Kuyt gave a decent combo of width/hard work to pin back their full backs on paper, but sadly both were poor with the ball. They're both more effective with overlapping fullbacks, but we never seemed to risk getting either forward. Even Kuyt/Riera seemed reluctant to get too far forward (possibly rightly so)

I dunno..that's how I saw it anyway. Both teams were strong in the middle and were happy to concede space out wide in the middle third. It almost worked perfectly, sadly Mascher topped off an almost-perfect performance with an error that lead to a goal and ****ed up the plan