You would`ve thought that with an Italian manager and an ex AC Milan one at that, that the Chelsea defence would be resonably solid. Maybe the players just don`t understand the way he talks.

Thinking back, I don't think Sunderland have played particularly well (Arsenal being the excepetion) since Cattermole got injured. Without him in your 11, the defense is a little exposed and with that they have become shakey. I'm not sure when he's back but for your (and Brucie's) sake I hope it's sooner rather than later because he'll clean up in the middle of the park and take some of the pressure off the defence.

Hasn't Kenwyne been out suspended too? I don't think it's quite all doom and gloom just yet.

Cattermole came on as a sub late on against Villa and has been back training so im hoping he's back to start at the weekend. I'm not sure if hes quite there yet though. Cana got sent off against Villa so we could use him back or he's probably gonna be starting Richardson and either Henderson or Malbranque in the middle which isnt gonna give us any cover at all.

Jones was out suspended but hes been back for a while now. He just hasnt been doing anything. He's always been accused of being lazy but he had a good start to the season and i thought he was anything but. He was working hard, he was chasing things down, he was holding the ball up well, he grabbed a couple of goals in the air which is what we need him for and he was putting in some great performances. Sadly that hasnt been the case as of late and Bent may as well be up front on his own.

The thing is we have a few more options in defence this season when compared to last, and some good ones i think but its just potential at the minute. Turner is the only definite start for me and even he has made a few mistakes. Everyone else we can alternate every week and get no consistency. It's not all doom and gloom but were slipping back into the mediocrity we were showing last season where we barely managed to stay up. Im just hoping Bruce can put a stop to it and get everyone motivated.

Aston Villa need to beat Stoke, then get at least a result against Arsenal :)

On Match of the Day his English doesn`t sound too good....but seriously, I was referring more to the tactics and his ability to get those tactics across to the players. I think its more of a problem, that the English game is faster than the Italian game and Ancelotti may have to address his defensive tactics accordingly.

As for Cech, I don`t think he`ll ever quite get that confidence back that he had before the injury a couple of seasons ago.

City sack Mark Hughes as manager!

Ex Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini to take over.

Unbelievable. Although not surprised it never fails to amaze me at the lack of patience shown with managers from club directors.
It took Ferguson 5 years to develop a winning team. When will they ever learn?

Dunno if sacking Mark Hughes was the right thing to do,it was something of an extreme solution to a deeper problem of team spirit and organisation.I do think Mancini is a good replacement but can't see him being the miracle worker the board want.

He's only lost 2 games. Both to top 4 teams and both away.
Honestly...its a ****ing disgrace.

There goes Citeh's credibility. I hope Mancini fails...

Too many draws, that`s the real problem and at times a woeful defence plus his inability to probably get the best out of a lot of the team`s big name players on a consistent basis.