Chelsea Buzz

Whoops. Got ahead of myself. No matter. Still a good place to return

Another three points! Team improved with the substitution of Cesc. I hate to say it because I like the guy, but when Willian is on the pitch, the attack looks like under Guus. If there was a time to lose Costa and Kante, now would be the time with Bournemouth at the Bridge. Much better than the following week at White Hart Lane. Thought the back was in control 98% of the match so no real threats. Loving it! Now you can sit back and enjoy the other challengers drop points this weekend! Come on you Chelsea!!

Fabregas improves attack over Willian. I like Willian but he does not seem to have the same fire this year. I realize he is dealing with the death of his father. Come on you Chelsea!!

Yes! Get in! Diegoooooo! Come on you Chelsea!!

LOL. I am 5 hours behind you and am about to hit the sack on go to sleep with my alarm set for 5 hours from now I think this could be another great weekend and pointed our above. Win our match and then see how the pressure plays out on our challengers in some tough fixtures. Man, 9 points clear at Christmas would be awesome. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Lets focus and win first! Come on you Chelsea!!

Sorry I am late the party. Doing my civic duty here in the states and serving on a jury so was in court all day (do you have jury duty in the UK?). Watched the match on replay. Never did catch the reason for no Hazard tonight. Minor injury? We had many fair chances, but oddly in the second half we seemed to work well to get someone open in the box and they would either scuff it or hit right to the keeper. Finishing was just not there. As others have said. Costa is hustling all over the pitch. Very happy for Cesc. We all know his best years have past. We were lucky 2014-15 was perhaps his last year of greatness. However, you cannot question his fight. Even last year, when the season was lost, he fought hard. I remember his goal at the Bridge in January to bring us within one to Everton (2-3) late and him racing around trying to get the fans pumped up. Terry scored the last ditch goal to draw 3-3. I would like to see us get him in the XI from time to time, as the best opportunities present themselves. His vision and touch can be awesome at times still today. Kante was everywhere picking up loose balls. He is a difference maker in these type games where lesser clubs lull you to sleep with 111 behind the ball and then the get a surprise counter and fluke goal. Kante presses and challenges every pass and shuts this down. Courtois. Wow! Was not sure he was going to get to that one. He may be getting focused. Here we are just 10 days before Christmas and sitting 6 points clear of second and top of the league. I believe it was a year ago Friday or Saturday we let the manager go last year. Just wow! Antonio Conte - legend Come on you Chelsea!!

It is matches like this that define champions, where they have 11 behind the ball, physical play, that you are not at your absolute best and yet still you get all three points. In prior years, we would have gotten so frustrated going forward, unable to break them down, we would give up some fluke goal and lose. Not this squad! I was pleased with our defensive focus when WBA had a few chances. Every cross into the box was confidently dealt with, especially in the second half. Diego is such a difference maker this year with more than just goals. He hustles, fights for lose balls, pokes balls clear for a teammate, and then by pure will out muscles opponents to create scoring opportunities. Oh, did I mention, he finishes? How many game deciding goals does he have this year already? Has to be 7 or more. I know Drogba is legend, but Costa is damn close this year. Best finisher in PL this year by a mile! Another good day mates! We are top of the league! Now, rest up and go take care of business up north mid-week. Come on you Chelsea!!

One more random thought to wrap up this weekend. I love this team! From the coach, tactics, attacking prowess, the heart and determination of the players, on and on. We just won the PL title 19 months ago, but this team is reminiscent of the first half of that title year and MORE. Yeah, we still need upgrades, like LB, but everyone is laying it on the line each week. Need some good signings the next two windows to compete in CL, but this team is fun. It has been a long time since the team has played consistently for weeks so well. Love these guys!! Come on you Chelsea!!

Well, Liverpool blew a late two goal lead at Bournemouth to lose 4-3. Keeps them four points back, so our win over City pushes both City and Liverpool 4 points behind us with Arsenal 3 points back in second. Another nice weekend! Need to keep up the momentum in this one vs WBA. Anyone got an injury update on Matic, Pedro or Costa? Costa looked like hamstring issues on the pitch, but not sure. I thought Fabregas played ok yesterday and if Matic is out again would not have an issue with Cesc back in the XI vs WBA. We know Cesc can be a defensive liability, but did not think he hurt us yesterday. We covered for him. He had a superb pass to Costa for the first Chelsea goal. Willian looked really off his game for the most part. He warmed to the task and had a great run and finish for goal number two. I would still favor a healthy Pedro here. Keeping with the injury theme, is Zouma ready to return? This might be one for him to see some late action. Come on you Chelsea!!

Would have to agree mate.

What happened to the post game thread? Are the mods just hammered at the Etihad after the 3-1 win?

Thought the call for a scoring chance penalty on Luiz (on Aguero) would have been wrong. Just a foul if anything. Certainly no penalty in our box even though their player did a flip on his own. There were a couple of missed other calls against each side, but nothing major. I will go back to my earlier comments midway through the second half, I thought City was looking tired, and it really showed on our counter the last 20 minutes!!

Chelsea buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnngg after that one!! What a game.

Sing it loud and proud Chelsea fans at the Etihad, "We are top of the league!!"

City players, like DeBruyne, appear beaten and broken physically and mentally. Yes!! 3-1 Chelsea, just a couple of minutes more now. Come on you Chelsea!!

Stay focused at the back. 6 minutes! Come on you Chelsea!!

Get in you Hazard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on you Chelsea!!

I think he is shaking a lot of rust. Come on you Chelsea!!

Hamstring for Costa?

Come on you Chelsea!! 10+ minutes more. Hold on. Come on you Chelsea!!

Tighten up the back lads and hang on for 20+ minutes!! Come you Chelsea!!

Procedure complete

I think they are a bit worn out. WILLIAN!!!!!!

City is starting to look a little tired (from all of their chances second half of course). Maybe we can take advantage. Come on you Chelsea!!

Willian looks so rusty.