After several capitulations by those around us, we were in the bizarre position of fighting for the league with 3 games to play. Unfortunately 36 seconds into that game we were put back in our place, and the fact that we were not going to be champions - after numerous pronouncements of that case anyway - was finally confirmed.

On Sunday, against Newcastle was a chance to sign at least the home leg of the season off with a bang, however a disjointed performance saw it culminate in more of a fizzle.

Drogba. Time to let go? ©Getty Images

Once again it has been a while since I last posted, in all fairness to this season there is only so many times I can come out and criticise a performance when it is the same culprits doing exactly what we don't expect of them.

Football is a terribly fickle sport, last week - before the United game - I was mouthing off about how pride had been restored for this season.

Little did I know that after 36 seconds of the match I would be throwing tantrums about several aspects of our play and that we were a waste of space! My words of my previous post were despatched as quickly as Chelsea from their last push at the title.

Luckily I didn't spout off more before the Newcastle match, a game I went to in expectation of a quality performance to let those watching know that Chelsea still have life in them yet. They weren't going down without a last (home) showing full of vim, vigour and valour.

Unfortunately it was much of the same! The tactics were promising. I liked the shape and look of the midfield. What I didn't like so much was the confusion taking place up front.

Once again service there was minimal. What has become glaringly obvious since we signed Torres is, Chelsea just don't know how to play the ball to the forwards. Of course there is an argument against this, Drogba has been a beneficiary of this great service for seasons.

That is my point exactly. Didier Drogba is a strange beast in that you could hoof the ball anywhere in the vicinity of the opposition half and he is likely to be able to make something of it.

Hoof the ball up to Torres? Nothing. He hasn't the strength to hold it up like Drogba does, nobody else in the Premier League does.

And with this Torres can't be indefensible, in all truth his appearances have been well off the pace. Today was a particular example, he didn't display what we all know he can do.

This year you could say that Chelsea and Torres are a marriage made in heaven. Not their usual class, not their usual fearful characters and not their usual selves. I am confident however that next season they will mirror each other by having more successful seasons.

The point I made about Drogba is relevant here. It pains me to say it, and as on many an occasion I could be wrong, but I think we have to let go. Just as United have had to rebuild after losing players like Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo in the past, and Arsenal had to move on from Henry (albeit not that successfully) we have to rebuild our team not around Drogba.

In fact the players that accompany him in the formation that has been built around him will be better plying their wares elsewhere.

Malouda, Kalou, Anelka are all players who fit around Drogba's style, we need a more dynamic and speedy team. Against United last week we were bedazzled with the pace of their play, we have lacked that pace since the departure of Mourinho and as always mentioned Robben & Duff.

We need a proper right back. I have been in constant support of Ivanovic playing on the right, and even today he was brilliant nipping up and down the wings - but imagine if we had an out and out right back with the prowess of say, Ashley Cole.

Gregory van der Wiel has been mooted as a possible prospect, he is what we need. The inclusion of an out and out right back will allow for coverage in that position from Ivanovic when required, and also a replacement for Alex who may or may not be finally sick and tired of his bit-part at the club.

Alex is a fantastic player, but Ivanovic is better. Were Alex to leave and a right back to come in we have Luiz, Terry and Ivanovic fighting for centre back with Bruma as back up in case of disaster. Ivanovic is also there to cover on the right if needed. That is back to the glory days of having cover for every role, something that cost us dearly before February (Luiz signed on the 31st January!).

The selling of Kalou, Malouda and Anelka would allow for a new style midfield and attack. Currently we employ a 4-3-3 with players who aren't really suited for their roles. Kalou and Anelka are naturally strikers and Malouda is more of an attacking central midfielder. Don't get me wrong, Malouda was exceptional last year, and early this season - but for the majority of the season he was a great source of frustration.

Were we to sign another out an out attacker, and bring Sturridge into the line up. All of a sudden we can revert to an old fashioned four four two with a more traditional front line pairing. With Torres on form we could once again be a deadly prospect.

Part of me would love for Sturridge to come in and form a partnership with Torres, we haven't had a great partnership at Chelsea since the heyday of Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink. And more and more less do we witness these strike partnerships in the Premiership, it is always great to go against opposition with not just one, but two, strikers for them to be afraid of.

Midfield wise? This is a tricky one, I think the natural solution with the current squad would be to have Ramires as the first name on the midfield team sheet. He will inject the pace we need, and then use Lampard more sparingly. The swapping of Lampard and McEachran between games, dependent on form and importance of opponent, would be the intelligent thing for both club and personnel.

McEachran would be afforded the opportunity to make his way into the first team squad, where no doubt he will one day be, and Lampard the chance to rest more - as his age is understandably taking more of a toll by the season. Chelsea will also have the benefit that they get a fully fit Frank Lampard far more often.

Today's game was a sign that the Defensive Midfield role may be eradicated. Essien certainly didn't occupy it when he came on, and I didn't really see anyone else stay in the position for a consecutive amount of time. Lampard and McEachran were swapping the duty by the looks of things.

The point that I made during the game. What is the point in occupying the Makelele role when we haven't got a Makelele?

So that is my crackpot theories towards the future success of Chelsea Football Club. Controversial they may be - there will be a lot of people not wanting rid of Lampard from his role, or Drogba from the club. But we need something revolutionary, the club we have watched for the past season have been a conglomerate of players who have brought us great memories, but we have a future to think of. This season in summary has proven that the great Chelsea of the past few years have been sussed out.

It seems apt to sign off this current blog with my theory on the current management setup. For me it seems silly to change now. We have our first chance of stability in years, a manager who loves the club and knows the players - first team, reserve and youth - and a player who should be given the chance to make the first eleven his own.

In his tenure he has actually only signed Ramires, Torres and Luiz. All players who look excellent prospects for the future of this club, let him build on that legacy.

A lot of people are of the opinion that our slump was down to Ancelotti. I cannot honestly see what he could've done differently from last season to create these polar opposites. The players need to stand up and be counted for me, they were all to happy to have the adulation when they won the league, they must also have the stick that comes with not defending it very well.

So remember, Keep the Blue Flag Flying High.... with extra stability!

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