The Skipper

We didn't park the bus against City at all...

What did Didier's massive CL experience do for us yesterday? Sorry, can't use that to justify starting Drogba over Remy. Poor reason.

You do know Remy played in the CL quite a bit for Marseille right?

That's understandable, but you cannot deduce all of that from the fact that one took part in pre season and the other didn't.

Oh yeah definitely, but it's something we need to adjust in the system slightly. It'll take time to perfect. Perfect pressing isn't something you pick up over a few games, it'll take a few months to get it to a good level.

No one is saying Fabregas is amazing defensively but he was okay today... It's just a weird comparison because we played a completely different system that relies much more on defensive prowess from your deeper players when Frank was here. Frank's role in the last few seasons isn't really that similar to Fabregas' right now IMO.

Thing is... It isn't just him that needs to improve on his play when we don't have the ball. It's the whole trio in midfield that needs to improve together; but some are making it sound like it's all on Fabregas to improve when that is simply not true. Matic, Fabregas, Ramires & Oscar all need to improve on it but Cesc gets picked out like he's the only one that's doing it wrong. You said in the live match thread that Fabregas had been 'very poor' at some time in the second half as well (think it was before he created that chance for Hazard) if I remember correctly, so it isn't very light criticism either.

Must be forgetting my 100% winning streak now aren't we 'Skipper's Bitch'?

Pretty incomparable because Lampard is nowhere near Fabregas when it comes to creativity, sorry. Fabregas is much better in that deeper role than Lampard is. Same way Fabregas is nowhere near Lamps when it comes to goal scoring. Besides, we didn't even play with a pivot today. It was a 4-3-3, and we weren't even that bad defensively but we allowed Schalke to grow in confidence by not killing the game. If Fabregas scores before HT, if Drogba scores his chances, if Hazard scores his... It's a completely different game mentally.

You shouldn't really be comparing the two to begin with... Completely different positions.

Thank you. If people are going to slate Fabregas for not being Makelele reincarnate they should really learn to understand what Cesc's role is in the team more. Cesc was decent defensively today. If people expect more from him they really need to revise their understanding of what he's meant to do in the team. Sure, he can still improve but things are looking positive IMO. He is mainly in there to create, and he did that abundantly today whilst being decent defensively as well. He was one of our best performers today if you look at the grand scheme of things, hence why I find it strange why anyone would say Fabregas had a poor game when he did his duties well.

I'd like to see this too. Luis was awesome today, definitely our best left back.

I still think we were pretty comfortable today, just lacked the clinicality. If we put away our early chances it's a run away game, but obviously if you miss chance after chance after chance the other team will grow in confidence.

Going by a few comments on here you'd think Schalke dominated us and had chances upon chances upon chances and were unlucky not to win. Stop overreacting guys.

You obviously didn't watch the game.

Jose didn't even get his tactics wrong IMO, we created plenty, just weren't clinical. The only thing Jose got wrong was starting Drogba ahead of Remy.

You can't be serious. They didn't nearly beat us at all. If we stuck away our chances it could've easily been 3 or 4-0. It's not like we played bad today, we actually created plenty of chances. Had we still kept the same team and had Remy up front from the start instead of Drogba it would've been a comfortable result. You've got to be kidding if you think that team we put out there wasn't strong enough to beat this Schalke team.

Unfortunately, Drogba lost us the three points. He squandered way too many chances. Hazard and Fabregas had a few decent chances as well but they both performed very well and created a lot so I'm okay with it. Mourinho tried to be sentimental with the decision to start Drogba but it obviously failed. Didier was awful. Cahill was also quite poor, not sure what he was thinking for the Huntelaar goal. It's why I always say he'll never be one of the best in the world, he will never get the 'backing away' aspect out of his game. Saw some positives though, Luis absolutely bossed it on that left side and was generally brilliant. My MOTM. Hope he gets more games.

Remy should've started, would've put this game to bed a long time ago for us.

Well, if Drogba puts away that chance he finishes the game with a goal and assist. He's created tons today, we're just not clinical enough.

Wow, we don't deserve to win if we can't put away our chances.

Not true. Fabregas has been creating well enough, has scored and has put in a good shift defensively.

My days.

He has been awful today, Draxler is running rings around him, and not sure what he was doing for Huntelaar's goal either.

Costa and Remy.