The Skipper

I disagree. Stoke grew in confidence in the second half because we weren't solid defensively. We lost control of the game when we conceded the first IMO. But I agree with the rest of your post, Mourinho was trying to win it, and like you said it didn't work... But as I've said before we shouldn't have to put him in that situation to begin with.

I agree with you, Torres was rubbish - however my point is, we shouldn't be put in a fragile situation against the likes of Stoke and Sunderland (6 goals conceded in 2 games against average teams is mediocre) - the defence let us down today and unfortunately our offensive players couldn't bail us out like against Sunderland. The problems aren't up front atm IMO, defensively we need to improve a lot. We'll struggle to win anything if we keep conceding 3 goals against average teams.

I agree that he could've perhaps taken off Ramires instead and let Mikel sit in front of the back 4 but at the same time Ramires' drive and energy on the counter and his ability to score goals (even though that wasn't on show today) is possibly why he kept him on as well. I also said in the MDT that I would be tempted to take off Rambo too for Lampard but I could see where Mou was coming from with that sub. Regardless, IMO Mourinho shouldn't have to be put in that situation, we had the game under control until our defence shot itself in the foot.

Mourinho: 'Schurrle came off because he had a calf injury. He told me he couldn't continue.' Now can people stop saying Mourinho didn't make the right sub with Schurrle. It was pretty clear that Andre wasn't fit in the second half, especially after his goal.

So easy to say in hindsight that he got it wrong with the subs today, I disagree. The subs were okay, it was a reaction to our defenders and GK having a nightmare and putting the team in that situation when we should've been comfortable. I don't think Jose did much wrong today.

My exact point. Thank you. 6 goals from Stoke and Sunderland is just not acceptable.

I agree that this was perhaps a game more suited for Oscar at number 10, but he's not fit enough obviously. Mata wasn't horrible but wasn't fantastic either, had a quiet game unfortunately. Shit happens though.

His subs were okay today IMO. Schurrle sub is completely understandable - Schurrle was clearly tired in his general play, lost the ball almost every time he got it after his second goal. He ran his socks off, first game in about a month, of course he's not going to be match fit. You'd want to bring on some fresh legs for the last 20 minutes - completely understandable. Bringing on Lampard was fine too - we were in search for a goal after all. Ba for Torres was spot on too as Fernando didn't do anything all game. The defence let him down today, everyone bar probably Terry had horrible games IMO.

Shocker today. Being overplayed IMO.

Probably (hopefully) next game.

We shouldn't be conceding 3 goals against Stoke. Sorry, I can't believe people are actually trying to shift the blame unto any of our forward players here (bar Eto'o, but we shouldn't have been in that situation to begin with). The loss was 100% the defences fault IMO.

Yup.

All very valid points, but I don't blame our forwards for not winning it today though. We should not be conceding 3 goals against Stoke. You're acting as if we created plenty for our strikers and they lost the game for us, but that wasn't the case. Our defence let us down today.

Romelu I beg you do the business against Arsenal tomorrow.

He tried, but he can't be superman in every game. We should be beating teams like Stoke and Sunderland without him having to play so well.

He wasn't brought on to come and sit in front of the defence...

I cannot believe Jon Walters(!!) had Azpi in his pocket all game, Peter Crouch(!!) bullied Cahill all over the pitch. Ivanovic fails to close his man down for the winning goal from a guy who barely plays at all at Stoke... Cech unnecessarily forces us to concede a goal when we had the game in complete control. The defence is a shambles. Bring back David Luiz.

Nah, I understand Mourinho's decision in bringing on Eto'o. Were people even watching? I know Schurrle was outstanding with his goal but you could see he was tiring in his general play when Mourinho took him off. He's not fully match fit atm and he ran his socks off so the sub was understandable. Eto'o shouldn't have lost the ball though I agree with that.

Not a good game at all from him. Bullied by Crouch all game.

Don't be ridiculous man, we were going for the win, not sitting back, of course you'd throw on a goalscoring midfielder like Frank on.

Please, please, please get well soon David, we need you back.

Oh dear.

But we weren't really creating before that anyway. It's Schurrle's individual's brilliance that has kept us in it so far.

Stoke are absolute scum, disgusting time wasting antics. Idiots.

Ryan Shawcross is a thug. Scum.