derry

I'll say now that I can't see why we signed Davis. Has he ever made a tackle? His negative ball retention is ok but his dynamism is poor and he has been found wanting several times in the box when presented with real chances. He certainly doesn't pressurise the opposition floating in front of them but never getting tight. Having said that I was disappointed with the team initially selected, but I can understand the thinking bearing in mind the inability of Chelsea to play well against teams that close ranks. Davis was the weakness because of his loose play. I can understand the solid nine and one up front but by halftime the plan was under pressure. We could easily have gone for it then but It was sensible to give it another fifteen minutes, we needed to contain them and not damage our goal difference. The substitutions were timed well, Lambert coming on and scoring inside three minutes was unbelievable. What a lift that gave the team and made them believe that they could compete. Adding Chaplow was a surprise and he did well giving us something Davis lacked. Ramirez added quality at a vital time and within a minute we were level. The changes were much more dynamic and gave Chelsea problems so in the end it was ten minutes of Hail Mary balls into the box, glad it wasn't Stoke. I think it was a hell of a good performance all round, Guly put in a good shift but his A game wasn't there last night. Rodriguez worked his socks off and will benefit and gain confidence the more he plays, it couldn't have been easy for him. Getting the ball forward quickly broke Chelsea down for both our goals but I'm not sure we would have been in that position if we had played a more open team. I think it is crying out for a dominant midfielder to play in the five across the middle to give us more resilience, Davis can't do that job. Great result with our free game.

They were talking about early freezing fog/low cloud which could have hidden the crane which the BBC quoted as according to NOTAMs around 800ft.

I'm surprised at Boeing, they were usually very reticent about using unproven by others technology. That's why although used in military aircraft Boeing resisted fly by wire in passenger aircraft until the B777. Lithium batteries were a banned cargo because of the fire risk.

A pretty soft penalty, Halsey gave it, Mayuka was pushed over and Webb didn't give it, Dean gave Chelsea one for a ball hitting Davis in the stomach, so as far as I am concerned, tough on us now tough on Villa. I believe in technology to review these decisions but as long as the laws don't allow it, this is what happens

I just hate the way we surrender the initiative when defending a lead, we were bloody lucky to hang on in the end. Bringing on Fox and Davis just handed the midfield to them, SDR helped a bit but would have been a better replacement for Ramirez. The back four plus the two central midfielders were in charge while we defended from the front but Benteke really punished us in the air when we packed the box. Boruc let one rebound but in the last half hour earned MOM from me. Rodriguez is growing into it and needs a bit more confidence, Lambert was classy, Ramirez quiet but a good player and Puncheon worked his socks off, unlucky hitting the post. Good to see Clyne back even if a little ring rusty.

I made him MOM for block, and a couple of decent saves, The one straight at him that came back out was dodgy and lost himself for the header that hit the bar. He played pretty well and this will do his confidence good. He should keep his place on this display.

All blocs, alliances etc have a finite life, eventually they become corrupt/defunct and the people dictate what happens. The only people that can't see we are coming out of the EU are the politicians and vested interests. It is just a matter of time.

Against WHU he was awful, the first goal was a cock up for a free kick cross that went in at the far post, the last goal was poor and his general performance was below par. Against Spurs he looked slow and immobile, before that he was poor for the U21s v MU. Against Arsenal he was ok ish and against Chelsea hardly made a save except for Ba's header that hit his foot. I want Gazzaniga back in because I think he is a better keeper than Boruc's current form. The two mistakes keep getting highlighted but he has let in less goals and we have taken more points per game with him in goal. When Boruc performs, fine keep him in. but his performances are a long way short of his reputation.

Going back to the eventual 10 point deduction. It may be that the League will apply the date criteria for points deductions that are used when a club goes into administration. Sometime in March I believe is set, I think before that date the 10 points is deucted immediately, after that date the 10 points is deducted at the end of the season if the club is not relegated automatically, but if the club is relegated automatically then the points are deducted at the start of the following season.

Maybe if Boruc showed anything like the alleged Fiorentina performances at Southampton, there wouldn't be any criticism. At the moment he looks a mere shadow of the goalkeeper being put forward. Last year means nothing, he has to perform now, after all, as all his supporters keep saying, a class, experienced international goalkeeper, so that should be easy for him. Unfortunately he isn't living up to that reputation.

Maybe one game would be a welcome change.

A couple of months ago Reed told a friend's mate that they had four in mind, CB, CM, LB and a defender ( presumably somebody that can play anywhere in the back four). The two named so far match that, whilst maybe the emergence of Luke Shaw has taken the priority off a LB.

I do know what they are saying about Lallana makes sense as I know from his father the expected recovery time from the date of injury within a couple of weeks.

He offered her a choice of jobs not to leave. I think she needed a change from the 24/7 environment.

Only to say that they never discuss work. I've never heard even a snippet from either. Even the PA that has left won't comment about anything.

I haven't read this thread as I think it's made up speculation. What I do know from two very good sources, 1) Cortese's previous PA, 2) The sister of his current PA (son's best mate's girlfriend). NOBODY that works close to Cortese talks about anything to do with Cortese or the club, ever.

Have you got a screw loose? I said he was injured for the Arsenal game. Whether he is fit now and third choice I don't know. I do know Adkins rates him highly and that he wasn't dropped, as he was injured for the Reading game. I do think that as Boruc wasn't that good, Davis got another go but stlll wasn't good enough, so as Gazzaniga was injured he put in Boruc against Arsenal, I also think Gazzaniga is his preferred choice and he will put him back in unless Boruc makes it impossible by playing well. Boruc has been a major disappointment with his displays to date.

He wasn't fit for the Arsenal game. I know that. You can keep on pushing a goalkeeper that is leaking three goals a game as long as you like. He hasn't made a save yet that wasn't straight at him or hit him on the foot.

He is a poor goalkeeper on his present form and won't be playing much longer unless he improves. As for Gazzaniga, he has made some mistakes, some good saves and has a much better record this year than the other two. Neither of the other two are playing well enough to keep him out. I'm fed up with our keepers conceding an average 3 goals a game, at least Gazzaniga didn't do that And I don't give a damn how allegedly good Boruc was at Fiorentina, he isn't now and that is the only thing that matters, how he plays for us.

His father said it was his good knee, not the one he had the operation on eighteen months ago. He has been going in every day but until it heals properly, he regains fitness, breaks himself in, he won't be back until it is perfect. The club know coming back too early could damage his career.

Those that keep on about leaving Fiorentina to play in the Premier are missing the point. If that's the case why didn't he keep/get himself fit because even an idiot would know no Premier club in their right mind would employ an unfit, unproven in the Premier goalkeeper. He wasn't just unfit he was grossly overweight and now three months later the same experts are banging on about 'when he gets fit', if he isn't fit now he is never going to be. As far as I am concerned the man is a joke. We need a goalkeeper and Gazzaniga is better than the other two.

The Echo had a bit of information that he tried to jog in a straight line but couldn't turn because of the pain. If that is true we can close this tread until the beginning of March at the earliest.

The same people that are defending the indefensible in Boruc are ruthlessly pinpointing a few mistakes by Gazzaniga who has let in far fewer goals per game in which we have won most of our points this season. I wanted Boruc to do well but he hasn't. Great goalkeepers look great even letting in goals against sides that are completely dominant. It is more of an opportunity for them, we have often seen great displays in those circumstances, apart from the obvious neither Davis or Boruc have made a save that mean't moving in all their games. Gazzaniga is better than either of the other two.

If Davis plays regularly we will get relegated, he is a waste of space. Yoshida for me.