The Chels

Also with regard to the whole FFP thing I can just see us selling some of our best assets like Luiz to fund signings whilst teams like PSG and Man City continue to gain huge revenue through being sponsored by their owners' other companies and buy without having to sell, and without being challenged by Platini. Does anyone really believe he will stand up to his beloved PSG and Monaco? He likely then won't challenge Man City either. A player's attitude can change as they mature although I admit it would be a big risk to the dressing room harmony to bring in Balotelli. He's just too good not to take a risk on though, surely? He can hold up the ball, work well in a counter attacking system, be intricate in tight spaces - and he's only 23! I do think Costa would be a flop but that Cavani would be a brilliant asset. No way are PSG selling though, unless they suddenly and miraculously start adhering to FFP. That set of midfielders is not good enough IMO if we want to be serious challengers in both the Premier League and Champions League. Lampard is too old, and MVG/Romeu are not ready enough. Because Matic does lack mobility somewhat, I think Ramires would be a good partner to him but he is too technically inept and wreckless defensively. Replace him with Pogba and that's a midfield!

Well in that case selling Luiz and Ramires should bring in about 55m and there's lots of other players on loan that can be sold like Moses and Romeu. Yes Balotelli! How long would he be willing to play for a team not in the CL, and he did say he wanted to work with Mourinho again. Aside from his attitude (admittedly a big problem) he's the perfect forward for us - has it all with his peak still awaiting. Besides in the CL I assume Mourinho will be wanting to play counter attacking football against the likes of Bayern and Madrid - isn't Costa, the only viable alternative, too slow for that and plus how can anyone be sure that he won't be a £32m flop that's just had one good season?

The sooner the club realises that FFP is one big joke that will not be enforced, the sooner they can go out and spend big again without having to sell our best players. Courtois Azpi Luiz Terry Shaw Pogba (or Vidal) Matic Willian Oscar Hazard Balotelli (or Costa) That team would be able to take on any in the world - make it happen Roman!

Will probably be Mangala starting! Him and Fernando for £37m would be very good business for them IMO.

Complete fabrication. Those 3 sources are probably worse than tribalfootball.

The Guardian is just as reliable. As mentioned on the last page those 3 are indeed 'the big 3' lol.

It'd be less tiring to casually attack though than to defend as you're able to dictate the tempo of the game. Just ask Barcelona!

Spoilt for wanting the team to carry on playing the way it was instead of reverting to an almost backs-to-the-wall type performance? Okay then.

At home winning 3-0 against one of the worst teams United, who have been our main domestic rivals for the last decade, have put out in many a year with the best part of 45 minutes to go and to then sit back, defend and almost wait for their inevitable goal may not be disappointing for you but it damn well is to me. It isn't just about beating them but also sending a message, furthering confidence in the squad and furthering their setback instead of ending with a dross of a display and letting them leave with a very respectable scoreline.

Are you incapable of asking a question without using the word 'fuck'? By your logic the arrival of a good player should exonerate players who make the same mistakes over and over and the manager who constantly picks them when there are better alternatives (at least there should be with a better CM replacing Ramires, although I heavily doubt such a move will come to fruition in the forseeable future). Incredible reasoning! Ivanovic might as well be classed as being 'the heart of the team' given how he seems to be an untouchable and how often has the opportunity to make something happen in the game, which becomes all the more noticeable when he fluffs his lines and the ball ends up in row Z. There have been absolutely no signs of him being phased out. Fair enough. What's frustrating me is people being dismissive or irrational when trying to argue against any negativity towards Mourinho's decisions (like the starting eleven) because he is always right, of course. His record proves that, don't you know?!

Well it would help if you actually addressed the concerns rather than deeming any criticism of Mourinho as a knee-jerk reaction to the loss. If you read the forums you'd see my concerns with Ramires' and Ivanovic's technical ineptitude hindering our performances is shared by many and has been for a while.

I don't think you actually even addressed my point. Are you referring to Ivanovic and Ramires as 'work/warhorses'? LOL. Yes let's put technically inept players at the core of the team because they work hard - passing the ball to the opposition and row Z must really take the life out of them. Let's not pretend most Chelsea fans (except you who deems any Mourinho move fantastic) weren't disappointed that on the one occasion there was a heavy chance of running riot against a poor United side there for the taking Mourinho decided to shut up shop and they ended up with a much more respectable scoreline.

Indeed. I would be much more accepting of Mourinho's decision to sideline Mata if he was consistent in his approach. Seems like he wants the players to be more all-round, but the fact that he plays Ramires and Ivanovic every game says it all really. Then again he goes defensive when we're winning, which at times is really annoying. Winning 3-0 vs United and a thrasing could well have been the order of the day. They themselves sensed it bringing on a defender.

Guarantee you Ramires will still be a starting-eleven player next season. There has been no indication whatsoever on Mourinho's behalf that he is not happy with Ramires' performances, and I am very sure he will still be a regular and continue not being able to pass, shoot or cross. No reinforcements are needed though because Ramires has good stamina and that's all a central midfielder earning millions at the highest level of professional football needs of course. Brilliant? For his standards, perhaps. Otherwise it was decent but call me again when that becomes anything close to not being the exception. Plus to compensate for such a grand lack of ability on the ball you have to be much, much more than just a 'decent defender' with no pace.

Oh they give it to the magicians do they? I didn't realise the magicians were in the crowd. And yes Ivanovic does offer a threat at set-pieces - the threat of conceding a free-kick or scoring once in a blue moon. Brilliant.

Huh? None of those 4 players have both, but why is athleticism being given grave preference over technical ability to the extent that players with world class abilities (Mata) cannot make the squad but those who break down attack after attack through lack of passing and crossing ability (Ivanovic and Ramires) play near enough every game? Giving the ball away time after time adversely affects defense in that the opposition gain possession lots and fewer goals are likely to be scored offensively leading to more pressure on the defense. Plus it's not as though Ramires and Ivanovic are great defensively. Ivanovic gets done all the time. Mourinho only sees the flaws in players that he wants to see, it would seem! If he sidelines Mata and De Bruyne for not being good enough all-round players, then why not Ivanovic and Ramires too? He must think they're good enough otherwise Azpilicueta would be playing as would a better CM (one bought in, perhaps).

Mata and De Bruyne - limited athleticism and physicality (something which wouldn't normally hinder an AM) but technically very good/world class = sidelined and sold Ramires and Ivanovic - good athleticism (Ramires) and physicality (Ivan), but technically atrocious (to the extent you wonder how they are footballers) = untouchables Mindboggling. Can someone explain the reasoning to me?! Azpilicueta at RB & Cole/Bertrand at LB > Ivanovic at RB & Azpi/Bertrand/Cole at LB Any decent central midfielder > Ramires

Don't know why everyone is pinning hopes onto next season, because in spite of whatever signings we make I'm sure Mourinho will still be playing Ivanovic at RB and Ramires in CM. They're his untouchables, and absolute mediocre ones at that. The number of attacks they break down trough a lack of technical ability (inferior to that of players in much lower leagues) is mesmerising yet he continues to play them regularly even though there are better alternatives. I can't understand the reasoning.

And Mourinho is happy to play him every game. Absolutely ridiculous. It's not as though he's that good at defending or scoring from headers, ffs.

What's with the crowd always telling Mikel to shoot even if we do actually need a goal?!

The number of players in the starting 11 whose distribution is poor, either in this game and/or normally, is absolutely ridiculous. The worst offenders thus far in this game are Ramires, Cech and Ivanovic (except that pass to Hazard) as usual, and surprisingly Willian too - I honestly can't believe that a £30m attacking midfielder approaching his prime can't cross the ball properly and often can't get it past the first man.

A very decent squad player to have but I really can't understand why Mourinho plays him so much. I'm sure most fans would prefer to see Azpi at RB over Ivanovic. IMO he's a greater liability than Cole in recent times given how often he gives the ball away and breaks down the attack due to his lack of ability on the ball. He even struggles to make proper clearances. I also feel he cuts inside far too often, offering very little width and adventure whatsoever. You will never see him take a player on to open space for others. He just doesn't suit the RB position and while he does offer a greater physical presence I think Azpi's more advanced defensive and offensive abilities should warrant the Spaniard a place in the starting eleven instead.

Video on his touches that I found although it doesn't have any sound. His passing was arguably a little erratic at times but I think it was likely due to nerves and the fact that he's always looking to play a forward pass, which is very refreshing to see. Some of his passes later on in the game were excellent - the one to Oscar before Schurrle hit the crossbar and the one to Ramires for the penalty incident, in particular. Indeed as the game progressed he settled into it very well and was a very composed presence that gave assurance to the midfield and as such more liberty to the forward players (as did Stoke's lack of attacking imagination, in fairness). Imagine how deadly the pivot could be with a world class DLP next to him! I don't feel Ramires cuts it personally, because for all his athleticisim, he's just not good enough technically.

According to these reports the board were willing to sell Mata for 45 million euros to anyone but United (who they wanted to open separate negotiations with in order to get Rooney). Obviously they eventually gave in and allowed Mata to leave to United - the only club to whom he wanted to go (why?!) - for this fee without Rooney. But the fact that the club were still willing to sell Mata to City or Arsenal (even if they didn't need Mata), obvious tital rivals this season, seems remarkable.

No player bigger than the club? Rooney would beg to differ!