ChelseasMessiah

He played his cards like a sage poker player yesterday. Full blown gangster.

I've always been a fan. Beast of a player. He was desperate to come to the Premier League but Porto would only sell to the highest bidder, hence he ended up in Russia but they say he never wanted to come there, especially with the way he was treated by his own team-mates.

I just saw the goals, the first was a quick control/turn/ finish in the box, and the second was a bit of a fortunate free kick he probably meant to cross but it ended up in the back of the net. And Piazon got the assist to complete turnaround for Patrick's goal in the 90th minute. Our Chelsea lads seem to be making the most out of their spell at Vitesse.

This lad is gonna be boss. He's scoring for fun in the Eredivisie. just bagged himself another two tonight.

Super save in the second half. Great game. He's got a PhD. in Goalkeeping in the Arts.

He is as silky as they come on the ball, a combination of arrogance and elegance in his technique. As for his game today, he was all right overall, did a few brilliant things here and there but I was expecting a little more - something like a brace of goals or so hehe. He's got to show the boss he wants a spot in the first 11, he's not there yet.

I keep repeating myself when I say there is no other player in the world like him. That assist for Oscar's goal in the second half - which pretty much killed the game - after winning the ball was great to watch. Today's unsung here along with Cech.

You can't judge a player's performance solely by his stats though. And Cardiff, like pretty much most teams we will face this season, out and out parked the bus, there was no space around their box, but we'll just have to deal with it.

Indeed. I feel we just need to judge him in a different paradigm to Ashley, as have been spoilt for having a world-class left back we sometimes take it for granted. Ryan is never gonna emulate Cole in his prime, but I feel he's a worthy member of the squad and produces when called upon.

I thought he did well today, poor decision making at times but decent overall.

That I can agree with. That's sensible Phil.

Oscar and Hazard should be the first names on the team sheet.

That little shimmy was Rivaldoesque. Classy goal.

I was secretly wishing for Mata to have a blinder today, but I thought he was a tad underwhelming in most aspects of his game, and as a result of that we lacked a little impetus and penetration, especially in the first half. Mourinho's style so far does not seem to suit him at all.

Uncharacteristic match from Iva today, shake defensively and dire going forward. Aspi came on full of energy and played well. Maybe he needs a rest.

He is very compatible to our technical midfielders, he brought the experience and will we needed when one nil down today. Great game.

He changed the game, he has got absolutely everything, that ball he won and got the counter rolling with Hazard and Willian was just sublime.

Flashes of brilliance from Eden today, not his best of games but he got the stats to show for. If both are fit, I'd pick him ahead of Schurrle, no question.

Cahill isn't good enough to play for our reserves. Luiz f*cked up big time in the goal today, but other than that he was good, and helped us push forward.

He did well in the second half, he couldn't trap a bag of cement in the first and was tugging players' shirts repeatedly, that said he was one of our best performers today. Two things though, he needs to quit his long high balls, they are just not effective (yes, I know it worked last week with Ba), and he needs to allow the better players take free kicks as he's just wasting them. But good display.

There is absolutely no need to doubt his qualities, let him get a fair crack and you'll see he's top top class.

Of course they do Phil, they play 4-2-3-1 just like us.

My bad, that Brazil side I spoke of does not serve as a reference as they play in a completely different sport, don't they... We just used three centre halves in our last game against Norwich. But that's not what I said, I said we need a box to box player who can also perform that function if or when we need it.

I don't think that role is redundant, see how strong Brazil looked defensively in the Confeds Cup with Luiz Gustavo sitting there and at times playing like a third centre half. That means you can interchange a formation during a match, as in, going three at the back and utilising the full backs as attacking wing backs, and when you have the lead, you revert back to four at the back in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Bayern used something similar last season and Pep is optimising that now as well. Like you say, we need two capable box-to-box players who are sound both offensively and defensively, that's what we have been lacking, especially against the stronger sides.

I read somewhere a few weeks ago from a journalist who is very close to Scolari that he wants to call Willian up more than any other player, as he is quick, strong and extremely technical and tactically versatile being able to play anywhere across the attacking midfield whislt being very good off the ball as well. He only hasn't yet because Willian has barely played, he's finally getting his fitness levels on par with the boys who had a pre season, I think it's gonna happen soon.