nofacej

0-0 is definitely better than losing 2-1. Would have preferred a 1-1 though. As it stands the tie is very even. We have the home advantage, but that is somewhat negated by the away goal rule. I'm not too concerned about the players we'll be missing for the second leg. Ivanovic can sub in for Terry at CB, leaving Luiz and Ramires to play in the middle and Cole and Azpi as FBs. I also think Schwarzer is more than up to the task of replacing Cech in goal. The man has nerves of steel and has proven himself for club and country in the past. We couldn't ask for a better second choice keeper. I am a little concerned by Mourinho's attitude of late. It would be hugely disappointing if he wasn't at the club next season, but in all truthfulness I think he'd be crazy to leave. He'd have to give up CL football to go to United and their team is in disarray at the moment. Other than United there are no real alternatives. The club has supported Mourinho every step of the way this season from what we can see. Mata and De Brunye were both sold because of his preferences and the club were quick to sign replacements that fit the style he wants to play. Of course we can't know what goes on behind the scenes, but the way the fans sing his name has got to make him feel good.

I am so disappointed by our recent run of form in the league that I've been mostly avoiding these forums. For a while it seemed like this team had a lot of grit to it, and would go all the way, but the way we've rolled over in the last few weeks has left me bitter about a season that, in all truth, has gone a lot better than most of us would have expected. Hopefully next season when we have a proper goalscorer we won't find it so hard to beat the shit teams. At least we might still be able to prevent Liverpool from being crowned champions. Not that I'm a huge fan of City either.

When you're emotionally invested in something of course you worry that things will go wrong. My uncle is a huge Chelsea fan who's been going to matches for, give or take, 40 years and he always expects the worst. That's just how he is, but to say people like him aren't supporters is rubbish.

I'm one person, and I'd much rather things were resolved peacefully, but I did find the ethics conversation tiring. Personally I think the ideal scenario for us is that 8 million gets knocked off Costa's release clause at the end of the season. Courtois gets experience, doesn't resent us for preventing him from playing, Atletico doesn't have to pay us anything, and we get the player we want. On the topic of Atletico, they were the team I least wanted to draw of those available, but I think we still have a good chance of overcoming them. I just hope we don't try to be the aggressors and that they do. We've definitely got the pace in our team to hurt them on the break, but I'm not sure we'd be able to break them down if they decide to sit back.

All this talk of ethics is tiring. 1. Activate Costa's release clause a couple of days before the first leg if they won't honour the contract they signed with us 2. Sue them for the 8 million they should have paid us after the tie is over, and use it towards paying Costa's fee; a court of law shouldn't care about UEFA's regulations in a contract dispute 3. At the end of the season recall Courtois That's if we want to be jerks about the whole thing.

Without a trophy I don't think it could be called a success, but a lot of the groundwork for future success has been laid this season. If City and Liverpool both slip up and we manage to take the league then it will have been a huge success.

Fucking hell. We're playing so badly and now we've gone and scored for them.

I really love the home kit we already have. It's my favourite out of all the past Chelsea kits. I'll be sad to see it go.

I probably didn't articulate myself very well initially. My problem with the Arsenal and United draws is that we seemed to set out to avoid defeat, rather than to win on both occasions. The other matches you mention were certainly cases of dropped points, but the difference in our approach to them leaves me feeling less unhappy with the results. Obviously I would have preferred them to be wins, but no team wins all their matches.

I just hope we don't come to regret not pushing for the wins against United and Arsenal earlier in the season. I view those matches as 4 points dropped.

It's worked out well for us though. He came on leaps and bounds playing for Benfica and we've benefited from that. Hopefully some of our players out on loan do the same.

Personally I don't find Ancelloti intimidating, so that might be some of what you're feeling. Bale and Ronaldo are pretty terrifying though. Would certainly like to dodge Madrid in the CL if we progress, but let's be real, the CL draws are rigged and we'll get Madrid because of the Mourinho connection.

Eww... no. Have this instead:

There are probably a lot of factors behind Mata's choice. Would he really feel like he contributed towards the silverware if we won any this season? As a bit part player I'm sure it wouldn't feel as special. There's also the matter of wages, where we weren't paying him nearly as much as United are now, and his raise potential was pretty much shot by his new found role as a sub which is the opposite of what he probably expected given the previous two seasons. Then there's the whole World Cup aspect, though I very much doubt he will be improving his chances by playing in a mediocre United team. Finally, it's quite probable that Mata viewed his new role at Chelsea as stunting his own personal growth as a player.

Jose's reply:

I think the fact Everton are no worse for having lost him says a lot about his quality. Usually when a team loses a good manager it takes them a while to recover, or they fall off the pace, but Everton are going about things business as usual.

Picture says a thousand words but I put my own in anyway:

United are comedy gold this season.

Not sure. He led with his elbow and made high contact. It's true he won the ball, but for me it should be a foul.

Mata has been pretty poor imo. I've only seen one good pass from him and aside from that he's been as guilty as anyone of throwing in useless crosses to no one.

Bad finishing has just cost Fulham a 2-0 lead. Ridiculous.

I don't often watch United, but I woke up early and can't get back to sleep so decided to watch the game, and I have to say it's very weird to see a team that have played together for so long with such poor understanding with each other.

What the hell was Gerrard thinking with that tackle?

I haven't seen Shaw play much, but I know for sure, however good he is now, he'd only going to get better under the instruction of Mourinho. Just look at what Mourinho's done for Cahill. It would be really nice to see a backline with three Englishmen in it as well. The problem for me is I think Azpi has been fantastic and doesn't deserve to be second choice, and on the flip side Shaw is at a point in his career where he should be starting matches as well. It's a similar problem to the Courtois/Cech one where both are too good to be second choice, but the timing is very poor for us.

There really isn't much difference. Costa has Spanish citizenship and I have Australian citizenship. If you legislate against Costa then you legislate against people in my situation as well. Diego Costa is every bit as Spanish as I am Australian. Anyway, on topic I think Suarez is the best option in football terms, but I don't like him, so I would prefer Cavani.