[Rock316AE]

Originally Posted by Rock316AE

This game was the painful moment you realize that the Drogba/Lampard/Terry/Essien/Cole/Cech etc era is over, the dominant, intimidating, powerful team in the greatest period in club history is gone. There's no sign of any of it. What I see in the new Chelsea is "just another" ordinary team with young talented players. You took what symbolized Chelsea more than anything else and that's the force and character, it was really a sad sight to witness for me. You don't have the guy who can push these young talented players on his leadership, character and experience. Hazard, Mata and Oscar are like a Porsche without the engine. That's where a game-changer like Drogba shows just how much he meant to this team. There are no big game players and with the ridiculous formation RDM tried tonight, I don't see any pattern.

Rafa:

"We did not manage their (West Ham's) physical game, the long balls, the second balls, the corners. We gave them too many options to play their game and we could not be comfortable in possession.

"That is when you have to show character and quality — and we did not do that. Character and leadership is always necessary in a team.

"Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team had a lot of character but it is a different time now."

Basically spot on. Now get back in June with a blank check. Before that send to Spain or to whomever wants to take him and bring an effective striker in January. Unless they want to play on Thursdays next season(Which already happens )

On another note. What's Mancini obsession with Dzeko? The guy is hopeless 9/10 against any defence and has the worst technique I've seen in a long time for a player in a club on that caliber. He's a scorer, no doubt, but that mostly reflected with a chaotic pressure in the end of the games, you put him against a proper, orderly defence and he's completely worthless. Should never start above Aguero, Tevez or Balotelli unless they're getting a rest or something.

[JOAL.com]

lol dzeko has been the saving city's asses all season

hes one of the few players actually getting the job done. all aguero does is fucking pass in the box

that being said, any of the would be a huge step up for us. but oscar/mata/hazard feeding through balls and long balls to dzeko in the box? wouldnt that be something

[DwayneAustin]

[Joel]

Xmas SPIRIT is HIGH at City...

[Kiz]

mario pulling bon bons, kolarov reciting christmas carols, micah with MEMORIES and silva trying fruit mince pies. + more to come.

they're pretty fun.

[Joel]

That guy couldn't wait to get his mouth all over Silva's mince pie. He even bit at the part where Silva was eating.

Doubt Kolarov's will be topped. That was just a moving rendition of Jingle Bells.

[Kiz]

i laughed probably way too much. but any video with kolarov shows he obviously has a very dry sense of humour. the askaleks video with dzeko is brilliant.

[Cookie Monster]

http://www.skysports.com/video/inlin...307632,00.html

Thought this was quite awesome.

[NoGimmicksNeeded]

Originally Posted by Joel

I would add SN0WMAN, Forevershadowed and NoGimmicksNeeded to your good list, Mr. AndreBaker.

Originally Posted by Segunda Caida

In fairness I do ramble like a mad cunt. I'm not quite at Monster's level yet but tbf whenever I've read one of his posts I've never regretted the time and effort. Good call by Joel on NoGimmicksNeeded. Sadly he seems to have been really inactive across the board for a few months (bar the music section) but he's very smart and argues his point as well as anyone I see regularly post in this section.

Cheers guys, unfortunately I don't really have the free time to post a lot. I'll scan through the thread occasionally if I'm in the mood for some 'banter' discussion, on the whole it's usually good for a laugh. I'll have to go back and read through from when Rafa was made Chelsea coach. The music section is currently really good for a huge variety of recommendations incidentally, if anyone wants new albums.

FWIW, if I had to pick a favourite United fan it'd likely be Segunda, just cause the dude has a real good knowledge of English football simply from going to games etc so I can relate to his posts. I wouldn't like to try picking someone based solely on insight and knowledge about the sport, there's a fair few.

[AlexHumph]

Originally Posted by DwayneAustin

I raise you 1 frank