The Chels

True but Willian does take a lot of shots from the edge of the box (still from range I guess) and you'd expect him to score from there more often than he does.

Seems to score every time he plays. It wouldn't hurt to at least bring him on when we're chasing a goal, Jose.

A goal from range... AT LAST!

Not been listening but apparently Mourinho's been having a go at everyone including Eva?

Might just watch Valencia v Real Madrid instead if there are no streams for this.

when did he say that? I think it's just his way of saying 'Cahill and Ivanovic will never be dropped.'

I think this quote of his sums up the quality of his argument: 'Drogba played against us, something Lamps actually hasn't done yet.'

I see TOPTB is still having a go at anyone who doesn't go along with the 'It's our own fault, we didn't offer him a new contract, Lampard is a legend (bla bla)' notion on theshedend and he's been insulting this forum too

Busquets? Not happening.

It's for the greater good.

I can't believe we actually scout players based on how they perform against us (Salah another recent example). Surely the analysts will have realised that was a one-off and Wilian's end product is consistently appalling?

I can't understand why. Some players are truly rubbish and you understand why they're benched forever. Remy has been quality every time he's played for us.

Luis and Schurrle perform poorly - Mourinho's verdict: drop them from the entire squad for the next game (at least). Cahill and Ivanovic perform abysmally - Mourinho's verdict: "An unlucky situation when people are more tired." http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/final-whistle-verdict-.html

I don't disagree. Out defence (or lack thereof) cost us the game. But if there were ever a time when Remy would (should) have come in use it was yesterday. Very surprising to see Salah picked ahead of him.

Sigh. No ban for Cahill. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9629457/premier-league-chelseas-gary-cahill-to-escape-fa-punishment-for-harry-kane-incident?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

We're playing against a high line, in desperate need of goals and even then he doesn't come on.

Like when he was responsible for Derby's goal? He's not a solid defender at CB or RB.

I don't understand where the notion that Ivanovic is good defensively comes from. Aerially yes but just watch anyone run at him (he will back off) or behind him (he'll switch off).

But it's not a one-off. When you're having a bad game as a team and the midfield goes to shit you need your defence to bail you out. Our defence (mostly Cahill and Ivanovic) do the complete opposite.

Lampard: "There were a couple of opportunities to stay here [in the Premier League] but I can’t imagine playing for anyone else after being 12 years at Chelsea. I’ve got a lot of respect for a lot of other Premier League clubs, particularly the top ones, but I'm not sure I could have done that." Gerrard: 'I won't be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool'. The tone which Lampard uses is quite telling - 'I'm not sure....' Doesn't sound very definite to me and it suggests he never really ruled out playing for another PL team. Gerrard seems a hell of a lot more certain.

He did get skimmed a couple of times in the first half but his work rate and spirit were phenomenal. Spurs eventually all but abandoned attacking his side realising our right wing was much easier to exploit. Also unlike our other right back, Azpi showed once more that he does actually have a football brain and knows how to defend - when to press, what passing lanes to close down, how to block a cross, etc. It's just a shame we don't get to see him on the right side where he could offer a lot more in attack.

I think we could cope if we had only one of Ivanovic/Cahill playing. Having 2 liabilities on the same side is incredibly frustrating.

Even neutrals notice how ineffective Willian and Oscar are so surely Jose must too? Doubt we'll get a new RW though.

'We have players [who I love and won't drop no matter what] and players [who I couldn't give a ***t about].' Imagine if it were Luis who made the mistakes Ivanovic/Cahill did in the first half. We'd probably not see him for the rest of the season.

The majority of City's players have won the title twice in the last 3 years. In contrast most of our squad has never won the PL and Jose hasn't won a trophy in a while so you'd think we'd be well ahead based on motivation. The old cliché 'it's harder to retain the league than it is to win it' is certainly true and you have to credit City for how they are keeping up with us even though they are almost certainly a lot less hungry for the title than we are.