15 goals should be Torres' target

I wrote in Febuary that time had run out for Fernando, but under Roberto Di Matteo he has started to find some short of form infront of goal and has actually managed to score! A lot of tweets are going round saying "7 goals/15 assists, not bad for a flop".

Technically they are right, for an actual flop that's not a bad record, not a great one but still. Torres however, is not a flop, he is a proven goal scorer in the Premier League with a 50 million price tag, so a record of 7 goals and 15 assists is bad.

He should be the highest goalscorer in the Premier League, admittedly formations haven't been favourable to him, which is why the new 4-2-3-1 is starting the bring the best out in him. But never-the-less, his record in front of goal is bad, and however you want to dress it up, Torres should be scoring more.

Too put a good light on a bad season, Torres needs to score another 8 goals for his season to be considered "not bad", with Drogba looking likely to leave at the end of the season, Torres need to prove that the club don't need to go out and buy a replacement for the Drogs and the only way he can do that is by scoring goals.

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @samsungbridge and @deanmears.

Up The Chels!

How to solve a problem like Gareth Bale

Phone Andrew Lloyd Webber, we don't need him now, there will be no BBC 1 show for this problem, because I think I know, how to solve a problem like Gareth Bale.

The solution is quite simple really, don't let him get anywhere near Bosingwa. So, if he starts on the left, Ashley Cole starts on the right and when Bale tries to go down the right hand side, Cole is swapping wings with him with the help of the two holding midfield players.

Swapping wings is a tactic used by many sides who play 4-3-3 as it unsettles defending teams and creates new angles for wingers to attack from. So why don't defending teams swap full backs to counteract this? The new angles created by a right sided player on the left hand side would be blocked by a right sided defender on the left hand side.

Think about Barcelona when Cole was out and Bosingwa played left back, how quite was Messi?

Bosingwa has come into a lot of criticism recently for this performances and his slack defending allowed a Nasri cross to almost catch out Petr Cech and with Bale's pace and direct running I don't really fancy him against Bale.

If Di Matteo plays 4-2-3-1 like he has done recently, he can use the two holding midfield players to sit in and right back and left back while the two come across the pitch to change positions, meaning for a short while they sit in the holding roles until they can move across. It's the perfect flexible formation and could stop Bale.

If anyone remembers an old Bolton tactic where Kevin Davies would go to Cole on goal kicks and would beat him in the air, to counteract that, John Terry would go left back and Cole at centre half when they played the ball long.

With Lennon out, Chelsea only have to worry about pace on one side of the pitch, meaning they can focus on stopping Modric's midfield work and focus on their own attacking game. But keeping Bale quiet will be a key point if we are going to win this game and get our 4th place hopes back on track.

Guardiola is the only man who can realise Abramovich's dream

It took 9 years for Roman Abramovich to realise his dream of being a European Champion, however his next target will be even more difficult to achieve and there's only one man who can make that dream a reality, Pep Guardiola.

You would have thought that after winning the 'Holy Grail', Abramovich would have moved quick to secure a deal for current Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo, but Abramovich was reportedly unhappy that the club he has spent over a billion pounds on was such massive underdogs against Barcelona.

The style of football under Di Matteo has been 'Italian', defensive and counter-attacking, which is successful, Chelsea won the domestic double under Ancelotti this way and won the FA Cup and Champions League under Di Matteo this way.

However, it's now not enough to simply win, which to me, seems to show how far the club have progressed. Under Mourinho, it was all about winning, but now it's about winning with style. Roman is reportedly giving the next manager a £100 million transfer kitty to bring some of the best young attacking talent to Chelsea next season, and with that, not only does he want to win, but he wants to win well.

Abramovich wants his Chelsea team to be feared like Barcelona, to command football matches and play the type of football that leaves the fans purring, and although Di Matteo has won the big one, he won't be able to achieve this transition.

Sadly for Abramovich, Guardiola isn't yet ready to return to management, he promised Barcelona he was taking a year out, and that is what he will do. The least Di Matteo deserves is a one-year contract and that is what he will get, but he would have to drastically alter the tactics and philosophy on the pitch if he is to stay any longer.

The infrastructure is in place, the youth talent is coming to fruition, and his manager is a year away, at times Abramovich has got things badly wrong, but more recently the club have spent wisely and are focusing on things like a new ground rather than a new squad.

One day Chelsea might go into a Champions League semi-final and have 80% possession, but until then Abramovich will never be satisfied.

More fans priced out of the Bridge

After seeing @CFCaway tweet this picture of the ticket prices for Benfica away, I was left feeling pretty sad at how Chelsea's working class fans are being priced out of the game by the men in suits looking to make as much money as they can.

It doesn't come as a surprise to me, it's been happening ever since Kenyon took away cup games from season ticket holders, I would hate to see the cost of attending every Chelsea game for a full season, it would probably go a long way to spending a lottery win.

I've been around Chelsea with people who sell tickets for games, at the FA Cup final against Manchester United in 2007, a Chinese man brought two tickets for a £1000 pounds.

Football started as a working mans game, on a Saturday afternoon when they clocked out of work, sadly today, football is a rich mans game, at any time other than 3 o'clock on a Saturday. Ticket prices have been a problem at Chelsea for a long time, even for games of little significance (Genk at home) but sadly there is nothing anybody can do (not even the Chelsea Supporters Group)

Now, where did I put that lottery ticket?

Selfish Di Matteo has cost us fourth place

The team selection by Di Matteo last night proved what he sees as Chelsea's priorities, the FA Cup and the Champions League. The race for fourth place was second in his opinion and his team selection played into Newcastle's hands and now we have to beat Bayern Munich to qualify for the Champions League next season.

I don't blame Di Matteo for his actions, in his position I would have done the same, his only chance of getting the Chelsea job full time, relies on him winning not just the FA Cup, but the Champions League. Simply guiding Chelsea to fourth place was never going to be good enough and Di Matteo knew that.

Unfortantly, this is a crucial period for the football club, the rebuilding that should have happened under Andre Villas-Boas will have to happen before the start of next season, but how can we dream of replacing players like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda if we aren't playing Champions League football?

Why would somebody like Yohan Cabaye leave Newcastle if they qualify for the Champions League?

Beating Newcastle to put us within a point of Tottenham was more important than beating the History Boys in the FA Cup final on Saturday, it was more important for the future of the club, however beating the History Boys is more important for Di Matteo's future as Chelsea manager.

Di Matteo has to vindicate his team selection against Newcastle by winning both cups and qualifying for the Champions League, if he does, I will hold my hands up and say so, but if he doesn't he should receive criticism and shouldn't receive this job full-time.

My end of season prediction

Below is my view on how the season will pan out for the teams immediately above us in the Premier League; Arsenal, Newcastle and Spurs. I will not include our games as bias will undoubtedly come into to play, so the end will set us a target to what will we have to aim for.

How it stands

3rd: Arsenal- 65 points

4th: Newcastle- 62 points

5th: Spurs- 59 points

6th: Chelsea- 58 points

Remaining games

Arsenal:

Having been several points off third place Tottenham a few months ago, Arsenal's turnaround has been quite something. Today's draw will assure them of Champions League football next season. Arsenal travel to Stoke, where it is always difficult and I think Arsenal will draw this one, but will win the next two games at home to Norwich and away to West Brom.

Points earned- 7

Newcastle:

The Magpies are the most inform team, winning six out of six putting them into real contention. Newcastle's next game is away to Wigan, which I believe they will win easily, however they then take on City and Chelsea, I think United will have won the league and Newcastle will take advantage and beat City, then a tough away trip to Everton will see them pick up a point.

Points earned- 7*

*excludes Chelsea game.

Tottenham: 

In poor form and looked shaky in defense against Chelsea and QPR. However, their next game against Blackburn should bring them three points, Spurs are then away to Bolton and Aston Villa- two games I think they will win  and a final home game against Fulham will also bring all three points.

Points earned: 12

How that leaves the table

3rd: Arsenal- 72 points

4th: Tottenham- 71 points

5th: Newcastle- 69 points (plus Chelsea game)

That would leave Chelsea 12 points from Spurs in fourth, meaning we would have to win all our remaining games to give us a chance. With tough games against Newcastle and Liverpool (at Anfield) I don't think we can do it and our best bet is with the Champions League.

Let the rebuilding commence!

Pre-Arsenal thoughts

With a grueling mid week match with Barcelona, were the whole team ran themselves into the ground for the cause and were rewarded with a handsome 1-0 victory, I fully expect Roberto Di Matteo to ring the changes, if he needs inspiration, here's what I would do.

Goalkeeper- Petr Cech
Had an outstanding game against Barcelona, and even 'keepers need a break, but sadly our back up 'keepers just aren't good enough to step into a game against Arsenal and with not a lot of running to do, I'm sure Cech will be ok to start.

Right Back- Jose Bosingwa

With Ivanovic suspended, the right back slot should go to Bosingwa, some question his ability to defend, however his pace will be vital against Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott.

Centre backs- John Terry and Gary Cahill

Unfortantly for the heroic blockers of Wednesday night, there are no replacements ready to step in with David Luiz injured and Ivanovic suspended.

Left Back- Ryan Bertrand

Where players can be rested and a suitable replacement can come in we should do so, Bertrand impressed when he stepped in for Cole earlier in the month and has pace to counter the flying Arsenal wingers.

Defensive midfield- Oriol Romeu

Has gone missing since Di Matteo took over and hasn't played a game since February, with Arteta missing, the 'number 10' role will be less dangerous and even a game rusty Romeu should be more than capable.

Central Midfield- Michael Essien Essien hasn't been himself this season, and almost unthinkably, his Chelsea career is in the balance, so needs to perform here to prove himself capable of staying at Stamford Bridge.

Central Midfield- Florent Malouda Malouda is another facing the axe from Chelsea next season, so a big performance from him will help convince the Chelsea hierarchy he is worth keeping.

Attacking Midfield- Juan Mata

Didn't have the greatest game against Barcelona, but the tactics used in the game weren't suitable for the way Mata plays. Was subsituted during second half, so should be fit enough to start again in a more natural position. 

Striker- Daniel Sturridge

Another player who has found himself stuck in the wilderness under Di Matteo, a goal and a good performance from Studge is needed to force himself back into contention. 

Striker- Fernando Torres

Was just coming back into to form, when Drogba puts in some great performances against Napoli, Tottenham and Barcelona. Drogba is ruled out of this game with a knee injury and Torres could himself starting against Barcelona in the Camp Nou if Drogba cannot win his fitness race. Despite some good assists, Torres really needs to score goals. Prediction 2-2r