The Skipper

Torres looking like that £50m striker.

Should've started Mata ahead of Lampard. Ramires will probably do the job at DM though.

The pivot has to be Mikel - Ramires. I have no idea why we're playing like we're the inferior team. Not good at all Mou.

Too negative from Mourinho.

Nvm.

I meant *on our right*.

DM are basing their line up on yesterday's training session so take it with a pinch of salt. Why would we deploy Ramires on the right? Tottenham's left side is not that threatening.

Name them.

That signing would be just...

Going to try to get tickets for this one. Game should be nuts.

Now MVG is out for the season, I wouldn't be surprised if we finally made a move for another midfielder in January. Right now our only pivot players seem to be Ramires, Mikel, Essien and Lampard.

They should've put on Baker.

How are the attacking trio behind Torres interacting?

No time, moving into my new house for uni so I'm all over the place.

Not watching the game guys so can anyone tell me how we're playing?

No, I distinctively remember correctly that in his last year at Genk (in the January we loaned him back, which was actually a year and a half ago) that he was getting rave reviews for his performances in CM, he was consecutively playing there. I watched him in a few games; so it isn't a fantasy. Sure, he's played more out wide and behind the striker but to say he's not able to play CM isn't true because he's played well there before, ignoring that it is for Genk and that Chelsea is obviously a much bigger step up.I disagree that he'd be wasted in the pivot because he has the potential to be a midfield controller - he can set the tempo of a game and find a pass from almost anywhere; However to play in the pivot for us he'd have to work immensely hard on his defensive game. Apart from his defensive game (which is very important in this role) he has all the attributes to play there but it really depends on what Mourinho will develop him as. He has enough time to develop into a pivot player but like you said, I agree that his probable future lies further up the pitch.

Glad Lukaku doesn't have the same attitude you have.

At Genk in his last season he was in the form of his career back then playing CM in a 4-4-2 if I remember correctly. He was pulling outstanding performances. The notion that it's a fantasy that KDB can play in CM isn't a fantasy. He's done it before, and he's done it well.

JOM is a martyr. #believe

"He scores when he wants, he scores when he waaants, John Obi Mikel, he scores when he wants!" being sung around the Bridge. Quality.

MIIIIIIKEEEEEEESLLLL

No problem mate I understand!

No one was suggesting we should drop Oscar for Mata mate, so I don't know why you're feeling smug about him scoring.

It's you who's making this an Oscar vs. Mata thing. I never suggested that Oscar should be dropped - he's been our best player this season by far. All I'm saying is that Hazard and Mata had a great understanding last season and we were a lot more creative when both played together simply because of that. Like I said it's nothing against Oscar - it's just that we've been lacking a in form Mata and Hazard and as a result of that we're struggling creatively and I'm not blaming Oscar for that. It's Jose.

I'm not basing it on this season, I'm basing it on last season. You can't really use that one game to prove that Hazard doesn't play better when Mata's on the pitch. How many times were we raving about the telepathic understanding Mata and Hazard had last season? I'm sorry if it offends you but I stand by what I said. I said it in the Hazard or Mata thread a few days ago as well - I truly think Hazard plays better when Mata's on the field.