OTF

Ref having a shocker, but we're not helping.

Fuckity fuck fuck.

Ben Arfa stripping off, about feckin' time.

Come on Pardew do something to get the crowd on side and involved. Complacent out there at the moment.

Still calling it the First Direct Arena... Tee hee

Ryan. Taylor off for Ben Arfa would bring some life back to the crowd. Ryan Taylor has been decent mind you.

Shit! Deflected goal. We've started this half very slowly.

Ouch... Did O'Hara just attempt CPR?

Demba hurt.....

Ronald Zubar is a funny name, but Tiote isn't laughing.

Up to Pardew to liven things up during the break. We're not playing poorly by any stretch mind you. Ba wi surely want to get his name on the score sheet.

How are other teams still not covering the long ball to Williamson on our corners?

Cisse working really hard to impress... and so far is doing just that.

Seeiously who knew he had that in his arsenal? What a strike!

Jonas what a fucking scorcher!!!

Simpson piledriver forces a decent save.

Tiote's looking very switched on.

Finishers goal there. Cheeky attempt at a back heel from Ba.

Papisssasassss!

Hope Willo improves

CT mate shouldn't you be enthusing yourself across this thread by now? I suppose ten past seven is pretty early....

Chelsea 3 Bolton 0 Newcastle 3 Wolves 1 QPR 1 Fulham 1 West Brom 0 Sunderland 1 Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2 Man City 4 Blackburn 1 Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1 Norwich 0 Man Utd 2 Stoke 1 Swansea 0

Cabaye certainly has a better pedigree than Guthrie, there can be no denying of that. However Guthrie really has stepped it up to a new level in his performances this season so the point where there really isn't a great deal between them. They're both not without their negative points - they can both spend a little too much time on the ball and sometimes try to be a little to precise with their passing ie. try something that's not on - but they both can be superb strikers of the ball and an excellent passing ability. Cabaye has an additional level of tenacity that usually serves him well but can sometimes get him into trouble like when he gave away a needless penalty, or through picking up yellow cards. It's ultimately Cabaye's position in our side that Guthrie is currently filling, but based on the merit of his performances I don't believe that Cabaye should be instantly thrust back into the side. Taking into mind their current performances we're not losing a lot by having him there and he probably deserves a chance to play alongside Tiote. Taking him out of the side now whilst he's in good form may hinder his development. Now that it has been discussed at length they'll probably both get injured and the Perch will make an ominious return.

Haven't we been fed rhetoric by the club that there has been a 6 or 7% increase in the wage bill even after the departure of these players?

Guthrie doesn't deserve to lose his spot, but I could understand if Cabaye was started. I do hope that Pardew isn't tempted to play Guthrie in a wide position just to include him because he doesn't play well in wide channels (historically). This should be a completely different game to our last run out.