Supermonkey92

It should be as bad as it sounds but unfortunately fernandinhi gets away will 10 blatant fouls a game and 'May' get a yellow card for his troubles

Maybe I'm misreading but isn't the need to be excessive because they can't defend?

To be fair, Costa is best with ball given on the floor, probably the speed of both will be the bigger factor. Is City playing a 4-4-2? The game will be really tight but we may have less attacking threat to deal with

Unbelievable game to watch. From 3-3 onwards the momentum was only one way! So happy lol

Probably my will be our default set up without the ball

Losing would not be the end of the world. In fact u would say atleast a point and it's a success, you won't win every game and this is one of the most difficult. Take atleast a point, keep them from gaining three.

But I can't remember a game where willian has played centrally has helped us, especially defensively. And on the offensive it has been against the smaller sides and we tend to have the majority of possession. Now, he is used to playing right and provides great cover for fullback with the energy to get forward. Fabregas in that position has the most freedom in the pitch I reckon, negates his weak defensive positioning in which we will need in abundance this match but let's him drop as deep as he wants for the ball.

Perfect

Is it too early to say we may actually be missing the physicality that D.Luiz brought to out midfield? Matic was obviously the stand out perform last year but David played fantastically well both in actively pressing and shielding the CB's. Can't see us performing the same way as well, or a win really. Maybe best option is to actually go for it, instead of mainly waiting for possession. Step up and hold on to the ball

Exactly. Good defender when he has to hold is position, consistently lacking when not protected

Put my neck on the line, he should be given a chance. Probably not against city though but after. Either you play a pivot with two players who protect the defence as much if not more than they initiate attacks. Matic and Ramires have not done that. Or you play with one which solely sits in front of defence so the five in front can play with a little less responsibility on each player. Matic hasn't done that. But Mikel can and I have wanted this guy out the team for years! Play him and matic. Let matic get forward. And Mikel sit deep

Likely 11 Courtois Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpi Ramires Matic Willian Fabregas Hazard Costa I actually think jose played a very similar team today to start on chemistry and going from there for Sunday. Take away points from tonight; Cahill needs to regain his form, that is to make less mistakes when he is the one in position to be proactive rather than cover for other defenders The midfield needs to be a bloody midfield. Actually stay solid and defend boys. Ivanovic has been a great attacker, but with the lack of midfield I would consider dropping him to CB and have Azpi RB Courtois Azpi Ivanovic Terry Luis Willian Ramires Matic Hazard Fabregas Costa We are going for points not style. Not every game needs to be an expansive piece of art, sometimes you just go for points. Or you could be Arsenal

Regarding Fabregas, I don't care about his stats with assists. I want him to provide control with the ball. To keep it sometimes and illustrate attacks at others. He is smart enough to know when to do which. I want decent defensive duty, not amazing because he is just not the type of player. His pressing can be worked on in terms if timing but what about just holding the teams shape?

I'm worried. And in all honesty it had nothing to do with drogba. We haven't had amazing strikers for years now ( bar these last few games) but we always had a solid defence and a midfield that could shore up when we were under pressure and step up to take control. Seems we have lost a large chunk of that. Take Drogba away and what do you have? A cesc goal, and cesc miss, a Remy shot and terry header off the line. Plenty to win a match. From Cahill through to our midfield through, it was nothing like what this club has been for the last 10 years. Bloody hell, all they had to drop deep for the start of the second half to absorb the pressure. I'm not seeing much variety in this midfield - seems great at some things but quite poor at others. Just to get in first, this is not a knee jerk reaction. Everton was terrible, the more these games happen, much longer can it be shrugged off as just 'one of those games'? Leicester and Swansea were cutting through us like butter. Literally through the middle.

I wonder when we'll figure out a system where we can control the game when we are under pressure

Cesc has been cheap second half

No hazard is on the right?! Way to take our best players effectiveness away!

Just play a diamond with hazard behind

Off the line!

And costa!

Is that remy?

What has happened to our midfield? It's like matic is out only CM and he's getting turned inside and out. Cesc seems to just want possession and oscar is right near drogba

Yep. Best performances when we play deep. No backing off needed just holding position. Can I be a cheeky b*stard and say Luiz would have been better in that situation?

Oscar on? For cesc I think

Gary Cahill go for the f*cking ball. Ramires put a foot in. Willian had tracked back and forced him inside. Why was Cahill not more proactive?