Daniel1980

I agree that playing Drogba has some advantages, but I don't want Drogba to start basically for the same reasons you provided: we need a runner and we need our AMs too. Drogba can't give us runs. Willian's pace is needed against Di Maria. Oscar has been great in the last couple of games and our pivot lads are used to playing with him, so I don't think it's wise to drop Oscar either. He's a link between our CMs and AMs. So if Costa and Remy are really unavailable, I'd prefer Andre taking the striker's position, with our AMs unchanged or maybe Ramires starting instead of Willian if Jose wants us to be more solid defensively.

Kinda hard to believe he's only 22. It feels like it's been forever since he debuted at Roma.

I'm still sure he'll play. I'll be more surprised if he doesn't.

I think Oscar's getting a bit better too, but it's still very far from good.

Great goal. Despite the goal Eden scored the other day and the brilliant game he had, his finishing and goal-scoring needs some work. He's a bit hesitant in the box and his decision-making was questionable at times. He could have scored more. He deserved to score more.

No, IMO. I can't say I'm happy with Frank(I'm really not), but the situations are a bit different. Frank didn't leave Chelsea at 24, at the prime of his career. Frank isn't in his prime and didn't have the luxury of choosing between top clubs; Cesc had at least 3 other options besides Chelsea. Frank was visibly upset by his goal against us and didn't celebrate; Cesc ran half of the pitch to hug Costa after his assist and was all smiles and fist pumps. Whatever fondness Cesc still may have for Arsenal, he's far more committed to us already than I expected.

I loved how Ashley described it. "This slice of pizza came flying over my head and hit Fergie straight in the mush. The slap echoed down the tunnel and everything stopped - the fighting, the yelling, everything. All eyes turned and all mouths gawped to see this pizza slip off that famous puce face and roll down his nice black suit."

No, but they've been training for a while already. Both should be fit.

Personally, don't think he'll learn English. Our Brazilians still aren't exactly fluent. And referees wouldn't trust and listen to him even if he does. He looks like a thug.

I don't believe he's a gooner at heart, tbh--for the same reasons many Arsenal fans don't believe that. He was Arsenal's Captain and they made him the player he is, so understandably, he's fond of them and will always say nice things about Arsenal, but I don't believe he's really a gooner at heart. A gooner at heart wouldn't leave Goonerland, no matter what. A gooner at heart would never join another London top club if he has other options, and Cesc admitted himself he had 3 other options only in England. A gooner at heart would not celebrate the goal he created against Arsenal. If anything, he's a Barcelona fan at heart. Cesc looks very committed to us and it's been only 4 months, so I don't really think it would be an issue by the time we'll have to choose the next captain.

A few quotes: It feels great to have a genuinely quality midfield. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cesc and Eden--the 2 most obvious sources of creativity--marked, but it would open spaces for Matic and Oscar. They can do some damage too.

I wonder where Di Maria will play: as a CM or a winger. If he plays a CM, a lot will depend on Oscar--whether he can bully and press him. If Di Maria plays as a winger, it will be Ivanovic and Willian/Ramires against him and Shaw. I almost hope Mata plays. He's useless off the ball and can't bully our pivot.

I think it depends. If we go there with negative tactics, we might get punished for that: they have quality players in attack and giving them too much time on the ball isn't the best idea. If we play like we normally do, we should be able to beat them without much problems. Scoring an early goal would be ideal. One thing United have that we don't is unpredictability. Our starting XI and formation are stable and pretty predictable, but United's isn't. That's what worries me a bit.

If Hazard didn't have such a great game, I would have voted for JT as the MOTM. Fantastic pass and a very special goal for a defender.

That's not what the media is running with: Cesc Fabregas could succeed John Terry as Chelsea captain, hints Jose Mourinho Fabregas could be next Chelsea captain, hints Mourinho Jose Mourinho prepared to appoint 'fantastic' Cesc Fabregas as Chelsea captain It all depends on interpretation I guess. Hits, hits, hits. But joking aside, Jose really didn't need to add, "‘But one thing is [the leader’s] brain needs to be connected with the manager, and his brain is connected to mine during matches." It only fuels speculation. Tbh, I think it will be JT--->maybe Ivanovic for a short while (if he's still a starter by the time JT retires)-->Cesc.

When Arsenal fans sing "Fuck off Cesc Fabregas" and Chelsea fans sing "We've got Cesc Fabregas," nothing would surprise me anymore.

Jose wouldn't play Cesc as a false nine after he criticized Barcelona managers for playing him out of position. He'll play a CM or maybe an AM, but definitely not a False 9. It doesn't matter anyway. Costa will play. You can quote me on that.

If Jose uses the same negative tactics he used against City, I'll be so fucking mad. They don't deserve the same respect. We should go and crush them. They'll be nervous and feel inferior and we must use it. We shouldn't give them the ball for Di Maria to do something with it.

He had a good game, but let's keep in mind that he came on when the game was already decided and he was under no pressure whatsoever. Very nice pass, though. With Azpi missing 3 games he might get some playing time as a defender.

He seems to have great games after average games. I secretly hoped he would be meh today. I'm disappointed, Eden. What a fucking beast.

I'm sure Costa will play.

You're right, it's a great game to watch, but I would have preferred a more modest 3-0, tbh. Just have a bad feeling in my gut. I hope I'm wrong. Fuck it, I know I'm wrong.

I just hope we don't get complacent after this win. The opposition is pretty poor and all these goals better not make us overconfident.

Finally. Eden.

Forgot about Remy. Looks like Jose thinks Oscar needs rest more than Hazard.