DYC.

This man does not get the love he should be getting in the football community and even from Chelsea fans. Ivanovic is a club legend/great. Yes I said it. Not in the same bracket as the likes of Zola etc. of course but a great still the same

Chelsea's back five + Hazard should be guaranteed in Team of the Year

Never said he was poor at creating chances from open play, I said I don't think it was a strong part of his game. Again, set-piece specialists average a high amount of key passes, it includes the likes of Mata, Ozil, Gerrard etc. But some combine it by creating chances and clear-cut chances from open play. Thought he was more of a goal-scoring threat and threatening with his pacy dribbles rather than a 'passing threat' myself in those matches. I think he's a good player at this level and very useful for the team. But he lacks the true quality to be star player imo. Hazard's incredible talent was so obvious, even Stevie Wonder could see that.

He was some sort of a set-piece specialist before. Don't think he was ever the type to create many chances from open play and for some reason his delivery from set-pieces has been quite inconsistent at Chelsea

Samu Eto'o is a a great and a winner and always will be: Club Mallorca Copa del Rey (1): 2003Barcelona La Liga (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09Copa del Rey (1): 2009Supercopa de España (2): 2005, 2006UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06, 2008–09Inter Milan Serie A (1): 2009–10Coppa Italia (2): 2010, 2011Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2010UEFA Champions League (1): 2009–10FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2010International Cameroon African Cup of Nations (2): 2000, 2002LG Cup (1): 2011Cameroon Olympic Team Olympic Gold Medal (1): 2000Individual African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 [79]Pichichi Trophy: 2006[80]UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2006FIFA Club World Cup – Golden Ball 20102005 FIFA World Player of the Year ThirdYoung African Player of the Year: 2000ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006Russian Premier League Top 33 players – #1 Right Striker: 2012/13[54]African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008African Cup of Nations All-Time Top ScorerRCD Mallorca All-Time Top ScorerCameroon All-Time Top ScorerMan of the Match: 2006 UEFA Champions League FinalI'm sure he'll add a Premier League title to that highly impressive list.

Shocking result. I saw the first half and wanted to cry. Schurrle was the worst of the bunch and did absolutely everything wrong. Missed the second half and game ends up 1-3 and Schurrle scores a hattrick. Unbelievable. Looks like Chelsea is the new Man Utd.

There was the period Mikel took over though. It was a poor performance, Chelsea invited the pressure and got punished. That's the thing with defending that deep, it's risky. Happy when it works, stupid when it fails.

I was wondering who would be the scapegoat.

It's insane how the guy is absolutely everywhere. Every time the ball was lost, he was somehow near the ball. Not only does he possess great energy and work-rate, his anticipation is something else. I love how he challenges early, giving the player in possession of the ball very little time to think. I didn't know that was his style of defending so that's a very pleasant surprise. Who needs pace when you're able to do that. A little sloppy in possession against Newcastle at times but you can tell the guy's a good passer so no worries, probably needs to get used to the pace of the game. The ease with which he puts pace in his passes reminds me of Ballack btw. His drive on the ball and his ability to dribble is also great plus to his game and for the team. Mikel, Ramires and Lampard are quickly inclined to release the ball quickly to the most nearby player or simply play it backwards when put under pressure (Mikel can hold it quite well but his passing is too simplistic). With Matic, there's finally a player in the middle who remains very cool under pressure, can get past a player and play a good pass forward. All in all he looks like the real deal. A very good defender but also very accomplished on the ball and improves the overall quality of the team. And I can only see him improving.

I have underlined the importance of a good attacking fullback a couple of times so we're on the same page. Think it's very necessary a player like that is added to the squad.

I actually think Willian is good at taking corners/set-pieces. It's not a coincidence he's been taking them despite being the new guy. Hazard and Oscar are poor at taking them tbh. As for free-kicks, nobody in the team is even close to being a specialist. Lampard from range if he's playing, Oscar from close range. Hazard hasn't been taking FKs at all since his arrival, must not fancy taking them himself.

Agree with this except for the part of him rarely losing the ball. His passing is pretty poor and it was very poor last night. But agree with the main point of your post. I haven't really understood the constant criticism he's received. Defensive he's been rock solid throughout the season. Yes his offensive game is poor but the man is a defender, he's being asked/forced to do things he simply can't do. I'll always have a soft spot for the big Serb. Great goal and great performance, rarely disappoints in the big games.

Gary was absolutely fantastic today. I have never rated him highly but there's no denying he's been doing a great job in recent months. His approach has been a lot more pro-active this season and he's become a better player because of it. Can only hope he keeps this up.

I was wrong and I absolutely love it. And what a match of football.

Eden the Emperor. To be Hazard the footballer for just one day.. Considering the playing circumstances, his performance was pretty much perfect. Looked like he was having fun too.

True but he never played in that role for a multiple years in a row. 1 season under Spaletti when they played the famous '4-6-0 formation' and in the current season. I'm a huge Totti fan but he does rely on his incredible technique and vision. And that's why I doubt he'd be able to perform to the required level, which would mean performing consistently himself without the team suffering in the process a whole, if Roma had to combine domestic and European football. Anyway back to Hazard. It will be hard in this particular match but it would be great if he could deliver a top performance on the biggest stage. He definitely has the ability so it's all up to him.

There's only one truly succesful false 9 in Europe and that's Messi. The only reason he makes it work is because he's an absolute phenomenon who excels in the most crucial attributes in football. It's an incredibly difficult role to pull off and it can work against you. Personally I find it a very overrated concept. Strikers are crucial.

I would love to be optimistic about this encounter but thinking we'll win at the Etihad is like losing at the Bridge back in '07. Can't see City losing at home this season so a draw would be a very good result.

Unlucky in the end but poor finishing has been a issue throughout the season. Why you would start Mikel and Ramires against a team of this calibre at home is a 'head scratcher' for me. The constant attacking through the middle played right into WHU's hands. A good offensive fullback would add a whole new dimension to the team. The lack of pretty much any offensive contribution from the fullbacks is unacceptable tbh.

My man Juan. Can't believe he's really gone.

The traitor claims are absolutely hilarious.

Entertaining as ever .

If he's better than Shaqiri than he has to be some player as Shaqiri is one of the brightest talents in Europe imo (only a mere squad player because of his ridiculous competition at Bayern). But I have to say that I didn't get the impression of him being better the times I've seen him play, although admittedly that's not much.

Would be very happy if he ended up staying at Chelsea even though it seems very unlikely. Still think he could get past this difficult period and get back to his old self. Pace and energy is fine and all but it can't be just about that, you need balance. I'm convinced this side needs a player like Mata, a player that offers clever positioning, precise passing, great vision and is always thinking ahead. Not to mention his set-piece delivery, a huge weapon at all times through a match. The likes of Hazard and Oscar are different players with their own qualities. And I refuse to believe Mata can't adapt. All this talk about him lacking the athleticism and him not willing to work hard is just nonsense imo, think he's just going through a tough spell. Other great players like him, greater even, have gone through the same.

This is absolutely shocking haha. So the guy does somehow know what he's is doing, extremely aggressive rather than reckless.