DYC.

It's called a typo. I'm sure Zouma is familiar with them.

Typo. Thank you. Now for the game vs Spurs...

How long will this go on? FK #5 I think.

3 points Clean sheet 4 goals

People will still try to convince you the demolition jobs are because of the poor quality in La Liga... Poor Roma. Barca should've scored more than 10.

You know, this doesn't make sense. I was convinced he was done for the next few months. Maybe get a few FKs in the final months of the season. But he scores again. At some point, he'll scoring them though and that's the bad thing about his current freak conversion. Game over. A goal from open play. Shocking.

Annoyed. Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass. All safe passes, shifting responsibility. So little incisiveness in terms of passing, dribbling, shooting. And movement! But maybe I'm expecting too much. Hazard, I love you to bits but you have to pull the trigger man. I know he doesn't have that forward instinct and is always looking to provide but he's lost the good balance he used to have. Not pleased at all. Wish he'd get out of this funk. Attention all football lovers: find Barca's second goal and enjoy. Galactic football. The 3-0 is an absolute beauty as well.

What's happened to his positioning and anticipation? I used to praise him for it but it's gone.

I wasn't going to but I'm sorry I could not not to react. Isco better than James? Much better? You sir, are what they call bat**** crazy. I was among those saying 'typical Real, buy a new hot player when you already have a top talent in his position'. As a fan of Isco I was saddened by the fact he was not going to get a chance. But James has performed from day one. I didn't want to admit it after the first few months but I was only fooling myself. James has performed at a level Isco has never reached (for a sustained period). Not at Malaga, not at Real, not for Spain. James is world-class, seriously. Isco is still a prospect, he's far too limited to be considered a top player. His ability to hold the ball in the most impossible situations is superb but that's one aspect. He doesn't offer enough yet. Technically he's fantastic but tactically he still has so much to learn. His positional sense is far from good enough. James blows him away in this. That's why Isco can go hiding for long periods or fails to impose himself and provide consistent match-winning contributions. He beats Isco in every aspect really. Isco's ball control is better but your talking about fine margins as James' ball control is excellent as well. Isco is the superior dribbler, no contest. But it stops there. James' passing, shooting technique, finishing (he scores the most breathtaking goals btw), crossing, shot from range, set-piece delivery and free-kicks are all areas in which he beats Isco with ease. James has a really good engine, high work rate (for an attacking player) and possesses good upper body strength. Isco is still a bit lacking in these areas. They both aren't the quickest players and don't offer much when it comes to physical duels. But these are the key areas that sets the two apart. I already mentioned sense of space. No comparison here. Isco just floats around for the most part, isn't adapt at knowing where to move at which time. It's not good. Ozil is a master in this (mentioning him as the former Real #10). James the same but more aggressive towards goal. And then there's the speed of thought. James is lightening. You play him the ball anywhere and he knows exactly where his team mates are and which one to play the ball too. He'll spot a runner looking for a through ball or someone moving into a good position and play the ball with great speed. He does everything with purpose, to open up defences, to find a way to goal. A really intelligent player. This is probably Isco's biggest weakness. He's still too slow. Plain and simple. Not slow in general but the vision of a Real Madrid #10 isn't there yet. He'll always be that 'extremely talented guy waiting for his big breakthrough' if he doesn't manage to up the tempo and play smarter. Again, Isco's ball retention in any kind of situation is ridiculous. But there are two sides to that coin. He gets into those situations because of his own doing. James is rarely surrounded. He's clever enough not to get into such predicaments. But James' ball retention is class as well. His ball control is very tight, his feet are quick and he shifts the ball away from opponents with complete ease. He too has his wow moments on the ball but he takes less touches. Mentally again, not close. Consistency wise the two aren't even in the same galaxy. James is a weekly performer and one of the stars. Isco is hot and cold. James does a much better job at providing match-winning moments. Leading man for his country, carries the team. All the different kinds of pressure don't seem to get to him. €45 mil move to Monaco? No problem. First World Cup? No problem. Joining the Real Circus? No problem. €80 mil price tag on your head? No problem. Out injured for a while? He just bounces back. Immediately Real's best player in his sub appareance vs Sevilla, grabs a goal with Real 3-1 down. Another class goal. I don't know how he does it. Probably crafted by the same football god who created Zlatan. Isco is still the Spanish golden child. He joined Real with a lot expectations and was supposed to overtake Iniesta or Silva for Spain. But we're still waiting for him to fully bloom. This is why I didn't want to react. I apologise for the novel but there was no other way.

He has no facial hair so that's quite the expansive manscaping kit. I think Sr. needs to have a little talk with him before he cuts a ball off.

Would love to see two up top. Don't think their defence can handle it and scoring three or four goals would be a nice boost.

The only reason Aubame is currently thriving is because he's on the receiving end of excellent service. And I mean excellent. He's not a great player tbh. People thinking *insert new striker at Chelsea and goals will flow* would be in for a surprise if it ever comes to pass.

Too bad Pochettino changed his mind concerning Dembele. Thought he'd be a good player to pick up in the winter. He'd make a very good squad player imo. Kane proving a lot of people wrong. Not looking forward to next week.

Alba was a winger. Moved to LB after a two years in the first team I think. Now he's Barcelona's and Spain's fullback and a key player. Don't understand some of the reactions. This is nothing new or innovative. It happens all the time. Never thought Mourinho would make such a move though. He likes a different type of fullback. Agree with Gilvorak. Fullbacks can be very influential. I'm so tired of these technique-less defenders, lacking any true attacking nous or poise on the ball. Not to mention the lack of pace Chelsea have had for years in the backline.

I think playing Kroos and Modric in the middle against a team of this calibre is extremely difficult to pull off. Barca's midfield usually take control versus a three man midfield so against two it becomes a bit too easy. But if you are going to play them, you have to make sure they only have to deal with the middle of the park and still give them plenty of support. A high energy performance is your only option. But with Bale and Cristiano on the wings, you're fullbacks are exposed (James did his work but tired as the game wore on). Which means Modric and Kroos had to offer support, or one of the centrebacks have to support the fullbacks. But that leaves you with gaps everywhere. You can't defend like that against Sevilla or Villarreal... Barca will murder you. Real's defence was indeed a shambles today but it always starts up top. Real couldn't keep the ball to save their lives. That left them exposed to countless transitions. They didn't press either (lack of back tracking I already mentioned). It took one or two passes to get past Real's midfield. That's unacceptable. And they were disjointed... So all the pressure was on the defence. No defence can deal with that. Danilo was absolutely terrible though. My goodness. Bale had one or two good moments. But it's easier to create chances when you're trailing two or three goals. The team in the lead becomes less focused, make mistakes etc. I thought Real were horrible from the start. Truly horrendous. I agree with Henry's comments (he said Real played without intensity and he could not understand how that's possible). They were so lackadaisical. Look at Barca's second goal again. Modric receives the ball (with Suarez already moving towards him so it was not an ideal move). He turns and no one is available for a pass. They just stood still and were marked (Barca pushed their last line to midfield). Modric continues moving with the ball and gets dispossessed. When dispossessed, they jog back. That's 1-0 down at home. Against Barca. Wow. Both on the ball and off the ball you don't or barely move. I doubt that was in the manager's game plan.

What is a new Real manager without a Barcelona hazing? It's tradition. Bizarre subs. Taking off James as well even though he was their best player. Big mistakes in the starting line-up as well. How do you play Modric and Kroos in midfield with Marcelo and Danilo at fullback and Cristiano and Bale on the flanks? More gaps than a Las Vegas strip club. Preparing for Barca must be the most difficult, intimidating and frustrating task for Real managers since the Guardiola era. It takes a while before the manager comes up with a proper game plan. Someone needs to tell Bale he's not good enough not to work his ass off.

No. Never. But I've chosen to stick my head in the concrete when it comes to Ivanovic. Not that I minded Azpi on the bench today. Nice extended rest for him. Busy times ahead and I'm sure he'll play everything.

Iniesta. Phenom. Should've won a Ballon d'Or. Sad it's turned into a Golden Boot. All-time great. One of the best ever. Edt: Busquets is perfection. James is a stellar player. Benitez took him off even though he was Real's best player. For Isco as well, another AM. Idiotic move.

I actually like the move to LB. Never good enough to start for (the real) Chelsea up front imo. It would be great to have a genuine attacking threat from fullback and a defender that's comfortable on the ball. You can teach a player to defend but you can't teach a player to attack. (Someone should've shifted Ramires to RB for example a long time ago. His technique would even be poor as a fullback, never mind midfield) The only thing that makes this move to LB ridiculous is the fact that you invested a hefty amount in an actual leftback and now prefer a forward in his position.

Also true. Not to forget a transfer to Real means you're almost guaranteed another move within five years. Not many last at Real.

Completely agree. I never thought Hazard would finish his career in Blue. Bar the English, anyone can leave at any time. That's why I never understand the 'signing for the next 10 years' comments. But like you said, I hope he stays for a very long time. The great thing about the Hazard situation for us is the fact that he's a father and husband. He might stay longer than even I imagined because you don't just pack up and leave with a family.

Not a world-class footballer but a world-class striker in top form. What he did for Atletico and Chelsea before the injuries was brilliant. Question is if he can ever get back to that level.

I don't think that's been the case but there was constant talk of his mind being in Madrid and that he didn't care. When the revolt rumours popped up, he was the #1 suspect as the ring leader. Not even a suspect anymore, he was already guilty. Funny how those rumours have died down so quickly. You'd think such mutiny would have devastating effects. Amazing what poor form, the most natural aspect of anyone's career, after three strong seasons can do to people. Hazard has been a top performer for 5/6 years, going from level to level. A slump was always going to happen. I think you're wrong. I hope you're wrong.

He's a traitor, he doesn't care, he wants to go to Real Madrid in abysmal form.

Varane, Koscielny, Mangala, Sakho, Perrin, Zouma, Rami, Laporte, Umtiti. They have so many options. Zouma will have a hard time claiming a spot.