[wba_1996]

I didn't catch any of the match today, and I'm pretty glad judging by the comments.

How was Baird at LB? Wouldn't have been my choice but obviously being British, defensive and very average meant he was a shoe-in for AI's selection.

I'm not sure AI has the organisation to set us up to park the bus against the big teams, and he sure as hell doesn't have the guts/will to play attacking line-ups against the smaller teams. In all honesty what does he actually offer us that Clarke/Downing couldn't?

[Tom_Wba]

I didn't catch any of the match today, and I'm pretty glad judging by the comments.

How was Baird at LB? Wouldn't have been my choice but obviously being British, defensive and very average meant he was a shoe-in for AI's selection.

I'm not sure AI has the organisation to set us up to park the bus against the big teams, and he sure as hell doesn't have the guts/will to play attacking line-ups against the smaller teams. In all honesty what does he actually offer us that Clarke/Downing couldn't?

Spot on! He's so far out his depth its unreal i presume the crowd will turn when we fail to beat West Ham and Villa at home in a few weeks time

[Salopbaggie]

Is he supposed to roll out the red carpet and let Costa have the ball?  Madness.

What a daft question ........... of course he is, its Chelsea  

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Sadly, that's true. Multi-millions in footballing talent, and they still need match officials to hand them everything on a plate. I don't doubt we'd still have lost, because we were shocking in that first half-hour, but way to prevent any danger of an even contest breaking out.

As others have said, if we'd had eleven on the field then it may have ended up a hammering, so silver linings and all that.

[wba_1996]

Also, did anyone catch Mulumbu's tweet?

Youssouf Mulumbu @mulumbuofficial · 5h 5 hours ago
In the stand looool ....

Out of order imo. Mulumbu was and probably still is my favourite Albion player when on form, and I don't agree with many of AI's current decisions, but posting that is a bit childish. The fact that he obviously wants to be involved is a good sign but its a bit arrogant of him especially considering his recent poor performances.

AI not commanding the respect of the players in the way we were led to believe?

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

It does all have a nasty feeling of disunity, after all we were led to believe about a "positive climate" round the club.

---

Arsenal sliding to another defeat. On the one hand, maybe their bad form is good for us. On the other hand, they're going to be desperate for the three points next week.

[Slick_Footwork]

Was happy enough with the result to be honest, 2-0 is far from embarrassing.

The performance on the other hand was very embarrassing and but for Foster, could've been a lot worse.

Mulumbu's tweet shows the strength of squad we have this season. Him, Olsson, Blanco, Varela all aren't making the bench and that's with Pocognoli out injured.

A top half squad, IMO.

Unfortunately though, I really can't see past relegation with Irvine in charge. We look poor defensively and haven't created much all season, but for the Burnley game.

Our only hope is that there will be 3 worse sides.

We've ridden out luck in games like Leicester, where we managed to win without creating anything, but I worry that luck isn't going to take us through the whole season.

We've already failed to beat Sunderland and Palace at home, who are two sides that will definitely be in the shake up, while mid table Newcastle and Everton dispatched us with ease. Are we going to go to these places and get results? It looks like we will need to.

Very worried after the last few games.

[Squirrel Regis]

Hmmm, whilst everything isn't quite rosey in the garden it's not time to hit the panic button yet !
We were never going to get anything out of today's game but it's still not a bad start to the season. A.I does need to make us a bit bolder at home I agree but we came from 0-2 down to get a point against Palace and we are a better team than last season.
Chin up folks, we still have players to come into the team like Varela and Ideye who may ease the goal scoring burden of Berahino.
Keep the faith.

[bomberbrown1968]

When we've been beaten before I've had many feelings, I've had anger, hurt, frustration, bitterness and even consigned that I knew we'd get beat, but it's a long long time since I've felt embarrassed, ashamed or humiliated.

The headlines will say Chelsea 2 Baggies 0, but that doesn't tell the story of the debacle that was today.

Two nil down and down to 10 men after 30 minutes then Chelsea just f*ck*d about with us for an hour, I don't mind being outplayed or outclassed but I can't tolerate us being so bad that any opposition can take the pi55 out of us. Yes, Chelsea, love them or hate them have a cracking side and some great players but they won't get an easier match all season even if they draw a Sunday league side in the cup, they certainly won't come up against anyone who are so devoid of ideas, desire or a willingness to at least try and compete.

But that is what my team did today, it was like an exhibition match, a training session, men against boys call it what you like but we have been made to look a laughing stock today.

I can see the interview by AI now, their 1st goal was a yard offside, Yacob played the ball and the sending off was the turning point of the game, it's hard enough with 11 to play Chelsea, we had to change our game plan from then on because we were a player short.

Bollocks to any of that, their 1st was maybe centimetres offside but certainly too close for the lino to call at real speed. Secondly and remember this is only my opinion, Yacob jumped in to a tackle with both feet, reckless, feckless and downright stupid, as soon as he did it I knew it would be red and again in my opinion the right and easy decision for the ref to make. Let's see if we appeal and it's rescinded if we were so hard done by!. Thirdly, it was to our benefit that we went down to 10 because that's when Chelsea really relaxed and took the pi55 out of us for the next 60 minutes, god knows how many they could have scored if they hadn't gone into training mode. Finally it didn't change our game plan because we never had one in the first place.

I'm sick of reading that we didn't get a fair crack from the officials - offside - never a red card - big clubs get all the decisions, we and probably 12-15 other clubs have to run with the decisions against the top sides we've always known it and it will never change, but if you don't show up to a game, like us today, you don't deserve anything except a humiliation like I've seen today.

Irvines interview tonight should be that I f*ck*d up the selection today, I forgot to have a game plan, I was scared sh*tl*ss by Chelsea, Albion fans deserve better than this and I'm going away to have a think about my future at the club

[wba_1996]

Hmmm, whilst everything isn't quite rosey in the garden it's not time to hit the panic button yet !
We were never going to get anything out of today's game but it's still not a bad start to the season. A.I does need to make us a bit bolder at home I agree but we came from 0-2 down to get a point against Palace and we are a better team than last season.
Chin up folks, we still have players to come into the team like Varela and Ideye who may ease the goal scoring burden of Berahino.
Keep the faith.

Do we? Because from what I have seen they haven't got a hope in hell unless they suddenly change their nationalities to English and Scottish, go by the names of Steve and Craig and lose any ounce of creativity they have in their play.