stroey

Want to see Cesc higher up the pitch, we're missing the killer pass there. Ramires for Oscar, Cesc to #10. Schurrle, Drogba, Remy standby.

2 games in 3 days if my schedule is correct, we'll probably need him in those games. (From the bench)

He will play 2 games as expected: Sporting and Derby and maybe some minutes in one of the EPL games at the end of December. (26 and 28 December)

This thread is more complete, we can add managers, players etc.

Happy with Mikel to start. Ramires just rushed back from an injury for this game, so starting him wouldn't have been too good. Plus Ramires-Cesc is too offensive imo. Willian and Oscar should help the midfield even more this game.

Team: Mancity, have a feeling they do something behind the scenes, especially last year: easy schedule (difficult games spread over the year) , controversial decisions (newcastle, liverpool, southampton, spurs, always easy penalties and more) Player: Pepe, such a nasty player and ungrateful person. Mou backed him all the time but he betrayed him. Manager: Pellegrini+Guardiola, fake gentlemens. F*ck them both.

Probably no Ramires, so I expect from Mourinho: Courtois Iva Gary JT Azpi Mikel Cesc Wil Osc Hazard Costa

DD still the man for big occasions (not expected), scored against ManU and now Spurs. Didn't expect him to do so well, I thought he would score like max 5 goals over the whole season but he already has 5 now. Don't want him to retire, based on current form and role (3rd striker) I think he can still play 1-2 more seasons.

Willian had a very strange game. He was such a workhorse with immense stamina and improved defensively (like last season in big games). I don't think he was as strong defensively in other games this season. At the same time in attack he wasn't as good as in the last 2 games, which was frustrating to watch. If he can combine these two plays, he will be a super player.

Mikel can handle the coming game, he is not good going forward but can provide the same stability as Matic. Cesc on the other hand has been our playmaker, dictates our whole game. He doesn't have a direct replacement, he will be missed very badly.

No Soldado, they will probably play counter attacking style

Bench: cech, zouma, luis, mikel, salah, remy, schurrle No Ramires

Depends on many factors: - will he extend his contract till the end of the season? -if yes, will he play against us in january? -will he score again or make a good impact? -will he continue to score and be important for them in other matches? -will city play against us in facup or cl? -Will he make an impact in those games? Most important: -Are we going to win the title in the end? If yes, it won't hurt that much. -If not and we lost it by 1-2 points, I think I won't be able to help myself to think about that equalizer at Etihad or even more impact if he extended. -same goes for other trophies. if City knocks us out of the CL/facup, where Frank plays and makes an impact, it will hurt even more.

Hope to see Ramires and Matic in the pivot for this game.

Ballon d'or finalists: Messi, Ronaldo, Neuer

At least one week of rest between those games for them, we play Southampton and Spurs away in 4 days.

Coming EPL games Chelsea versus City: CHELSEA: Dec 3: Tottenham (H) Dec 6: Newcastle (A) Dec 13: Hull (H) Dec 22: Stoke (A) Dec 26: West Ham (H) Dec 28: Southampton (A) Jan 1: Tottenham (A) MANCITY: Dec 3: Sunderland (A) Dec 6: Everton (H) Dec 13: Leicester (A) Dec 20: Crystal Palace (H) Dec 26: West Brom (A) Dec 28: Burnley (H) Jan 1: Sunderland (H) Draw your own conclusions, but I've always find the schedule suspicious. Our first 11 games included Everton, Liverpool, Manunited, Mancity away and Arsenal at home. 4 matches after a midweek CL game. Now this period we have so many difficult away games in this busy short period while City have more homes games and more easy away games. Their difficult games are spread over the whole year, while we always have a bunch of difficult games in a row. Nevertheless we must grind out results here, I'm sure Jose can handle this. Start with a victory against Spurs please!

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/manchester-city/9587293/lampard-hails-team-spiritHere he said it. Jamie Redknapp also said it: Redknapp said: “No doubt he’s looking forward to his American adventure but right now he will be focused on one thing: hunting down Chelsea. “He’ll say all the right things in public but make no mistake, Frank is a winner. He’d love nothing more than to help City beat Chelsea to the title.” Read more at http://www.squawka.com/news/jamie-redknapp-frank-lampard-would-love-man-city-to-beat-chelsea-to-the-title/234477#MtdLvQJk71VV76gz.99

What do you think of Ramires?

Jose signed him because we needed a 5th top class senior defender. 4 seniors for 1 full season is not enough. We would get into trouble if one of them gets injured/suspended/a bad run of games. Last year we were very shaky when JT was injured. ( Luiz in CB ) We have a great balance now, 5 seniors who represent 2RB's, 2LB's, 3 CB's and 2 juniors in Zouma and Ake to learn from them and get some minutes here and there.

Spurs, United, Arsenal, City, Liverpool all won. We should let the Sunderland game be a wake-up call that we aren't there yet and should keep working hard.

Courtois Iva Gary JT Azpi Rambo Matic Willian Cesc Eden Remy Bench: Cech, Zouma, Luis, Mikel, Oscar, Schurrle, Drogba

post match Sunderland (0-0) http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/chelsea/9586339/mourinho:-we-tried-everything

Not unhappy with 1 point, we were lucky not to lose. (ball on the bar, Altidore clumsy goal, 2 shots from Johnson) Costa, Hazard, Oscar were all bad, Hazard didn't even try to dribble into the box, really weird. Diego needs to calm down, one day he will cost us a match if he doesn't work on his temper. Oscar didn't press as much as usual. Willian was the only good one in the first half, great shot on the post and created a clear chance for Ivanovic, a lesser second half. I We needed Ramires badly in the midfield, his energy, aggressivity and legs were missed. MOTM: Courtois or Matic.

Glad Costa didn't receive a card for that moment. 1st half was bad and we were lucky not to concede a goal. We need Hazard's dribbles/Cesc passds to penetrate their defence. Costa, Eden and Oscar need to improve in the 2nd half.