LDN Blue

Yeah gotta agree with Weckerz. By coming out he challenges the striker to act quicker than he thought he would have had to, which put them under pressure. The play was good, but the execution wasn't. It's all part of the learning curve, he'll learn to time such actions better through this.

For £22m I can't use any other word than a 'steal'. It's an absolute steal to get Pedro for £22m in an age where wingers younger are going for £50m! Even if he's a squad player, what's £22m, when he's got enough experience to handle big game environments?! Baffling.

Yeah... I don't quite see that to be honest. -- He had no choice, both Willian and Ivanovic left him for dead. If he made contact he's a hero, but he was unfortunate with the timing. All part of the learning curve. Made enough efficient saves.

Really happy with Costa today. I was more worried than happy when I saw his name on the teamsheet, thought for sure within 20-30mins he'd pull up. But he looked fine and up for it, he's kept his anger in check but hasn't made him any less effective in getting into the opposition's head. Let's hope he can continue this run, because once he gets that opening goal, the floodgates can and will open!

You're right, if we're discussing Chelsea in Europe then it's something else. We've certainly been more of presence in European competitions as compared to our other national members. Only us and United (under Fergie) were consistent in progressing at least to the QF. Then we stood alone, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs & City have offered no significant threat ever. When teams come across Chelsea, they don't fear us, but they know they're in for a hard grind. We often have an Italian feel to our approach in Europe so teams know they have to work hard to breakthrough but don't fear we'll rout them.

Well I take the games on their merits in the league, from what I see we play our most dire football in terms of any attacking incentives but we also do well to shut down and not lose. That's why City don't worry me next week, not even that, even if we drop points its so early in the season that you'd really rather face them now than not. Do we play better? No we don't, not by any means. But we rarely lose.

sorry

If it was Falcao for Costa, I would've understood that. He wants to play a lone striker with more of a presence, fine. But he replaced him for Willian? Remy is the most ideal striker to replace a winger in terms of who's more adaptable. Remy is capable of playing in wide-ish role then coming into the box as a second striker with Falcao/Costa. I don't believe in this idea of Falcao AND Costa in the team. It should be Remy and then Falcao/Costa.

I miss Bosingwa.

And there lies the problem in making a lack of any major signings. Big clubs, they continue to put pressure on their established stars so they can continue pushing themselves. PSG just bought Di Maria, they probably don't need him but he puts pressure on guys like Lucas Moura for example. As someone said previously, our stars are starting to get comfortable, Cesc's complacency was highlighted a lot today. We're in the Premier League's elite, but we're slowly creeping out of Europe's.

Depends what you mean. Do we play better football, no of course not. Do we play more efficiently and look more solid in the back? Yeah, we do. Whether it's labelled 'parking the bus' or not, we play much more organised and rigid in such games.

What's tragic about this signing, or any left-back, is that they'll only come to play backup to Azpili. I don't buy into this fallacy that Mourinho will move Azpi back to right-back, as far as the gaffer is concerned.. Azpi is now a certi left-back.

I'm actually not worried about this game lol. Chelsea generally step up to the plate when we're facing the top 4, it's usually the mid/bottom tier clubs we struggle with.. Costa put in a great shift v Swansea and he'll be one of the big differences. I'm more positive for this than I was for Swansea.

Agreed, made the point earlier. There are teams, where when a red card produced, who can handle one less man and still be an organised composed team. Then there's Chelsea, if anything we like to dig a bigger whole than we're usually in. I'm surprised we didn't have second. In previous games where we've had a man sent off, QPR & City we've ended up with 9 men.

"we win comfortably"? I mean the s/o and penalty made a huge difference, but it didn't by any means make Ivanovic play awful at right-back for 90 minutes. Nor did it make Fabregas & Hazard (the latter for 80 minutes) disappear from their duties.

& cue the TalkChelsea meltdown

True. But hopefully this time, it's the benefit of not being involved in the Copa America that will have a better long-term effect on his season. Fatigue is no longer an excuse for the kid now, it's time to step up.

If Gomis had a bit more intelligence and confidence in front of goal, the Swans could easily be 3-1 up in this game. Bottling it.

It was more of a joke at Ivan's expense haha. I hope he won't be forced to be deployed there for us though (should he sign).

Yeah I don't blame him tbh (though a bit of awareness would be nice), it ultimately falls back on the team selection. Mourinho is a genius, but he's got to wake up a bit here.

Meh it's not important what he's saying. He's not disrespecting Chelsea and that's important, if we're really phased by him praising Wenger what does that say about our own insecurities?

Can he play right-back?

Ivanovic is getting worse and worse in that right back position. Montero has him in his backpocket and it's incredibly frustrating. Their equaliser came from his side of the play and it continues to do so. Mou once said "If I had a team of 11 Azpilicueta's I'd win the CL", well he only needs on at right-back and buy an able left-back!

Yeah, much improved from Oscar. Consistency is key, if he continues to replicate and not disappear then he still has a very good chance to reach his potential.

Hope you didn't mind my corrections there