DYC.

Willian can do anything Cesc is currently doing in midfield and more. He has great pace and stamina, he has more upperbody strength and superior balance and he can keep the ball under pressure and carry the ball forward. I want to see him in a proper midfield role so bad. Wenger moved Cazorla into midfield and it worked out great. I wish Mourinho had that kind of inventiveness about him. The best we get is Azpilicueta on the wing and Zouma in midfield...

Good performance? The video you posted only confirmed my initial feelings after his performance. Just look at it. He did nothing. Even worse, he constantly lost possession. I didn't think taking him off was undeserved tbh. Cesc was poor as well but Mourinho was always going to stick with him rather than RLC, most managers would. Greater chance of him turning his performance around (which he kind of did) and he's more likely to produce a match-winning moment. I hope to see more of him though. Maybe a three-man midfield with Cesc, Matic and RLC against Kiev.

He lacks a specialty. That hurts him as a player.

Then I hope Roman smashes one of his piggy banks this summer. I can see Mourinho at the helm of Juventus or Inter. Maybe PSG.

It's his power and pace. He offers a physical presence and finishing. Remy and Falcao only offer finishing, completely lacking in other areas. Remy has pace but I've barely seen the boy run in a Chelsea kit. As much as he receives criticism, not completely undeserved as he does have quite a few flaws, he's crucial to this team. His fitness is key for a top four finish. (None of this midtable finish rubbish for me)

I love reading things like that. This made me laugh so hard.

I don't think I have a specific preference, it depends on the team. But I do tend to prefer pace on the flanks. For all the positives Sanchez brings, I also find him very frustrating at times. He has a tendency to overdo or force things. And when space becomes limited, he can also become a bit lost. But he's a great player. Sanchez and Hazard are too different to compare imo, it's as bad as the Hazard-Neymar comparisons.

I think Cesc ultimately needs too much support to thrive for today's game tbh. He's just so slow, sluggish and weak. Even Xavi was comfortably ahead of him in these areas in his prime and he wasn't much of an athlete either. Cesc's ability to shield the ball and dribble away from pressure is laughably bad (Xavi was a master in this). Xabi Alonso had the same issues as Cesc but adapted his game a great deal, practically becoming a defensive midfielder. He compensated his weaknesses on the ball with his defensive work. Cesc doesn't seem to be capable of doing so. Pirlo was just so intelligent that he managed, he's a rarity. But the most important reason why remained great is his set-piece ability imo. He could always decide a game with his delivery or a direct attempt. I look at Modric and see my ideal playmaker CM. He has the skill, vision and great tactical versatility combined with power and athleticism. He's represents the current shift and the template for the future. Verratti is the example of what is coming, same with Thiago Alcantara. Even though I don't think Cesc will thrive again, he still has a future imo. His ability to create chances and assist saves him. But never in a two man midfield. That first half of 14/15 was a moment, a football honeymoon and it's gone forever. Ideally, Chelsea buy a CM (at least one) in the summer to play alongside two out of Cesc/Matic/RLC (Oscar or new player?). Like a member here said before, the weight of his role needs to be reduced. One of the 11 rather than star man. He needs help in midfield. With Spain, he shares duties with Iniesta, Silva, Busquets when he plays and he blends in well. I think Thiago will permanently push him out of the starting line-up though.

I remember you often comparing him to Messi though. But my point was that you could look at any top player and wish he had this or that. But he can do things others can't. Iniesta, Silva, Ronaldinho and Figo are all wide playmakers. Iniesta was a CM on paper but his role for Barca was practically the same as his role for Spain. Between a wide man and #10, constantly roaming. Same goes for Zidane. At Real anyway. 4-4-2, Zidane on the left in a free role. Very similar to Hazard. Silva only recently moved into the #10 position, but he constantly moves into wide positions so another free role. I honestly don't think Hazard's work rate and defending is bad. Far from it actually. He's better than Neymar and Bale in this for example, comparable to Robben and Reus. They seem to do fine for their teams. But he's no workhorse, definitely. Strange comments considering Chelsea's right flank is the side that is constantly exposed. I didn't mind Hazard being benched at all tbh, but the comments are ridiculous. And you know what else cures conceding goals? Striking fear into your opponents by cutting them open and scoring goals.

Chillng and collecting checks with Djilobodji. They should consider starting a reality TV show. Baba would be the regular guest star.

This is gold.

Thank you. Not a single Barca fan shed a tear when Sanchez left. He did well but he never shone. I rarely heard/read his name when discussing the best players in the world. He joins Arsenal, gets played to his strengths and all of a sudden the whole world sees there's a lot to like about Sanchez. It's to be expected though, thinking about it. Sanchez recently blew up so annoyances grow when looking at Hazard's form. I hope he kicks on soon. He's the type of player that can lift the team rather than just shine on his own. And this Hazard is boring.

That was never going to happen though. Not in the way this team is playing. Under the current circumstances, I didn't think he was terrible at all. I actually thought he was decent overall. And I have to emphasise the word decent. I thought he was so much worse earlier on in the season. But again, I'll accept my madness if I'm the only one.

Agree. He's been playing first team football since he was 17? That's up to seven years of pro football already. And he kept improving himself, became a key player very early on and eventually carried Lille to a certain extent, winning trophies and individual awards. He joins a big club in Chelsea and again, he keeps improving and becomes a key player. He carried his team in the second half of 14/15, wins the league and cup and wins individual awards. That's a go getter. He's already had an amazing career at the age of 24. Most players' career truly start at 24/25. People try too hard to read into things. He likes to have a laugh so if something goes wrong, he's too laid back. He's in poor form, big deal. It happens to everyone. It even happened to Messi. If Hazard hasn't lived up to your own expectations of him becoming Messi 2.0, that's your problem. Messi is one of a kind. But Hazard is quite the player himself.

Didn't think he was that bad overall but maybe I'm crazy and I could accept that. He's just the antithesis of power and athleticism.

Hazard can't be like Messi, like Ronaldo and like Sanchez. It's impossible. Hazard will never have an engine like and the drive of Sanchez, that's where Sanchez's strength lies. It's the same as saying Sanchez should be capable of ghosting past players in the tightest areas, create chances at will and possess the same calm and vision as Hazard. He can't do those things. Hazard is in the Silva, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Figo bracket in terms of style and role within a team.

Exactly. I've been very disappointed by his form thusfar but that's because he's been very poor for his standards, not very poor in general. He looks normal. But you don't want or expect normal from him. Mourinho kills me. I'll never agree with him in matters such as this. How about implementing tactics that play to the strengths of your players instead of vice versa. I honestly think he should go back to coaching underdogs or a 'new power' like Chelsea in 04 and Inter. That's when he is in his element. Chelsea has outgrown that status imo and should aim far higher.

The football gods were smiling upon us today. It felt like Christmas today. The less said about the performance the better. It wasn't surprising and I expected a mere win. I think we can expect the same next week, though winning will be harder. All we can do is wait and see what will happen. This season is something else.

I'm telling you. Play Willian in midfield in this current set-up, with Cesc, Matic and Ramires (taking Ramires' spot) in the middle, and he'd become a new man. I'll continue to say this and will never understand why he's never tried there. This has been such an awful game. Real relegation game.

That De Bruyne pass for his 2nd goal was sweet.

Get used to it. It's gonna go on for a while.

Navas can't score a goal to save his life. That was horrible. Absolutely horrible. I couldn't even laugh at it.

Weak performance but what else is new? Thank you, Guzan. I think a 2nd goal will be crucial as I can see Villa scoring a goal.

You made me question my memory so I did some 'research'. Check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_UEFA_Champions_League_Final (scroll down) Zanetti played in midfield, Chivu at fullback. I really think that was the usual shape. Along with the 4-3-1-2 formation with Stanko/Muntari in midfield and Pandev, mostly in Serie A games.

When you've been awful for so many years, I think the judgment of the paper should be deviated.