Closed Chelsea v Everton

[The Skipper 20,593]

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[The only place to be 11,313]

Not that I was into this debate before, but this truly must put it to bed. Torres has not been great for us, but this season he's been alright. Eto'o has been slightly worse than Torres this season (no debate here, stats show it) but I guess you could put that down to him acclimatising to the PL.

Anyway, my opinion before was that we should start Nando, and these stats have just backed it up. Thought he was in pretty good short term form before the injury. 3 goals in 4 appearances wasn't it?

Torres has been unlucky with injuries this season, but he's done well for us. Eto'o has been good too, in spells.

Ultimately we have two strikers with different strengths for different games. When there's space behind defences then Torres is the choice (I expect him to play in Galatasaray). In tighter games then Eto'o probably has better link up play to bring in the likes of Hazard.

But the arguments need to stop and people need to realise that whether they favour Torres or Eto'o, they can all agree on one thing:

Ba is a pile of shit.

[Pizy 17,860]

Have a strong feeling this'll be one of those games we all hate to see our side go against. Can see it being a lame defensive stalemate for the majority of the match with neither side threatening goal. One team will then get a really late goal and win 1-0.

Just hope we look like we actually have a plan in the final third this time. Don't play at walking pace like we did against West Brom and don't act like headless chickens with ZERO ideas like we did against West Ham. The game plan should be to move the ball quickly and use width. Don't have Hazard playing more through the middle than on the flanks where he's been a world beater.

Absolutely crucial 3 points. Everyone talking about the title or us being locked in the top 3. If we lose this one and Liverpool & Spuds win theirs we'll be in a serious battle just for top 4. Which is insane considering how shit Spuds have been this season and their pathetic goal difference.

[Special Juan 27,099]

Huge respect for what Martinez has done at Everton, so much so that even if United had done well under Moyes they still wouldn't have him back. Martinez has them playing brilliantly with a balance of attacking threat and also are real complete unit with team ethic through the roof. It wouldn't surprise me if Everton came to the Bridge and won, they are more a threat than a lot of people give them credit for. They won't come here and sit back, they will come and get at us but at the same time as offering a defensive balance of solidity and togetherness.

Our job will be simple for me, set the tempo, dictate to them and if at all possible an early goal for us would be superb. Despite if we get an early goal it won't change their game plan, they will be mentally strong. Big game for all of our players and the club because as Pizy says there is a lot of teams breathing and closing in now and not just on us. Can't look past Hazard as being our main man for this game, he's the man who can single handedly win this for us.

Focus and killer instinct and we win this.

[Jase 43,479]

[Special Juan 27,099]

Great news that.

[Special Juan 27,099]

Luiz out JT definite starter.

[Namika 922]

Jose was very calm, weird.

[Special Juan 27,099]

Why wouldn't he be calm? And what should of he been like?

[Jase 43,479]

Jose was very calm, weird.

Calm? More like annoyed or irritated. Gave straightforward answers to any Chelsea related questions and batted off any others. Different to the past weeks. No soundbites, headlines, phrases etc for the media to feed on this week.

[Jase 43,479]

Luiz out JT definite starter.

Just to add, Luiz has a muscle injury and hence will not be available for tomorrow's game but Mourinho is hoping he'll be back fit for Galatasaray on Wednesday.

[Strike 6,960]

Cech

Ivan Cahill Terry Azpi

Matic Lampard

Schurrle Oscar Hazard

Eto'o

would be my pick with Ramires and Willian in for Galatasaray

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Wonder if Eto'o will have his rubber band boots on again if he starts!

He will start again assuredly and those "rubber band boots" seem to work a lot more effectively than Torres' cinder block boots.

[iceboy 992]

Will miss this but will have the SKY set to record. Middlesbrough v Leeds....Urrggghhhhhh!!!

Ohh you will watch Middlesbrough instead of our match. . Lol

[Special Juan 27,099]

Ohh you will watch Middlesbrough instead of our match. . Lol

[thekid9 418]

Meh.

Eto'o fan boys have gone quiet?

[Shogun 721]

Chelsea have lost none of their last 18 Barclays Premier League home games against Everton (W9 D9).

Chelsea have had win/win results in their last five home wins

Steven Naismith has scored in two of his three Barclays Premier League appearances against Chelsea.

The Londoners have won just three of the last 11 Premier League games against the Toffees (W3 D4 L4).

Chelsea have had Over 2.5 goals in their last five home matches against top-six teams

There have been four goals in the opening 15 minutes of the last four meetings between Chelsea and Everton.

All six of Samuel Eto’o’s Premier League goals for Chelsea have been scored at Stamford Bridge.

Everton have had both teams scoring in their last four away matches against Chelsea

Everton have scored 10 goals through defenders this season in the Premier League, more than any other side. Their opponents Chelsea have seen six goals from defenders (third most).

Six of Everton’s last 11 Premier League goals have been scored from outside the box; three of which have been netted by Kevin Mirallas.

Chelsea have had 2-1 scorelines in their last four home wins against top-six teams

Jose Mourinho’s side are on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League currently (11 games – W8 D3).

Mourinho’s unbeaten home record as a Premier League manager now stands at 73 games (W57 D16).

Roberto Martinez has lost all four of his previous Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge as a manager.

[thekid9 418]

He will start again assuredly and those "rubber band boots" seem to work a lot more effectively than Torres' cinder block boots.

Sorry , tell me how they have worked any better than nandos recently? Nando has a better record this season?

sit down.