In other news, come to us, Mr. Rangnick.

The problem we have in midfield is that we are basically a poor man's Arsenal - All pretty passing from side to side, but absolutely zero penetration, bar Baines's crosses from the left, which, if the opposition do their homework correctly, can be successfully foiled.

We lack pace, a killer pass and, most importantly, a leader in the middle of the park.

I agree that its doubtful we will be relegated, I was pointing out that I don't think there are definitely 3 sides worse than us....Similarly though, I struggle to see a great number of teams who are a lot better than us either.

Ultimately, the league is very tight from top to bottom and it worries me massively, that our lack of firepower and midfield penetration could leave us in great peril.

Superb. That is how I see it too. Very attractive moves at times but as penetrating as an inflatable sword.

Awful display by Utd today but three very big points.

Put it this way, if City sacked Mancini tomorrow, I would not want Benitez. Hitzfeld, Hiddink, Del Bosque and van Gaal would be easily ahead of him on my shopping list. And Mancini is another one who has won a load of scudetti but seems to be unable to properly deal with players and indeed the fans.

Now that would be a good appointment. He was unlucky at Schalke, considering the horrendous money troubles he had to contend with.

I hadn't heard anything about this, but the article in Frankfurter Allgemeine suggests that trouble has been brewing for a while and that this was the final straw. So doesn't look like he's been tapped up by anyone and walked. Which is what you like to see in a manager!

So as of tonight there are vacancies at:
Burnley
Preston NE
Crystal Palace
Bristol Rovers
Barnet

Incredible for so many jobs to become vacant in such a narrow window. Not sure who would want the Preston job unless some transfer money was on offer, and Palace looks like a bad bet right now.

I'd agree with that, we're never going to go down. There are a lot worse than us this season and we'll be fine but our league position may well be a poor one this year.



I've got to disagree here mate. Have you seen much of Everton this season? I ask because if you have I'd be evenmore surprised by your comment because out midfield has been woeful this season, I know what you are saying about us dominating games but we have the ball but we're not doing anything with it, we're not creating chances for the front man or taking pot shots when we get a sight on goal. Barring Arteta's goal against Liverpool he's been awful, horrible to watch and today was probably his worst, he hardly found a blue shirt. We're badly lacking now, Stoke made us look second best at times and barring patches of play we never looked likely to score.



At the time of posting that was, of course

He's doing fine as far as I can see, on both counts.

Lose a couple of games and the crowd drops to 35400.

*cringe*

Think the referee has got both penalty decisions right. Villa may claim it was harsh against them, but Collins was wrong side of Malouda, was getting nowhere near the ball and jumped all over Malouda with his arms flailing.

Essien. What a mug.

Thought the first 15 minutes of the game the ref should have put a Villa shirt on. Villa defender shields the ball and tries to use his body weight to force the Chelsea player away. The Chelsea player takes a step back, Villa defender falls over because he was expecting a collision which never came. The ref gives a free kick to Villa.

Numerous challenges like that and virtually every one he gave to Villa. I'd have preferred Houllier to have been ref than that mug.

We should have enough to win this game even after Essien's stupidity.

Think your penalty was extremely harsh on Villa, as the ball comes over the top he chases the ball and Malouda just stops so Collins is bound to go in the back of him, he barely touches his shoulder and he throws himself over. As for the Villa one, no question, had to be. Terrible tackle by Essien.



Deary me, have a word. You've been given a generous penalty and from then on your players only had to fall over and it was a foul. It was a joke of a booking for Reo-Coker, he barely touches Drogba, plays advantage and he decides to just stop so Mason pulls it back and books Reo-Coker, yet minutes later Ferreira just trips Ashley Young and Mason doesn't book him. Both sides committed 9 fouls in first hald yet Mason dishes out 6 Villa yellows to Chelsea's one.