Madmax

Really confident. Boys look pumped.

"Jose, a very hostile atmosphere here tonight; what are you expecting?" "The atmosphere doesn't score goals ... maybe before goal line technology but not now"

A little too defensive for my liking. Mikel and Azpi screams overkill. Guess Brana will see a lot of the ball.

Madrid can piss off with trying for Courtois.

“Look at Mikel. The first time he played was Newcastle and he was our best player. How can he be our best player if he didn’t play in three months? Because he was working every day at the top level. Sad, frustrated, not happy? Maybe. But professional. That’s what I expect from the players." - Mourinho.

Can you imagine the meltdown here if we don't win tonight?

Dave only the 90th best player in the world in 2014, according to the guardian. Such luminaries as Jackson Martinez, Slippy G, Ezequiel Garay, Luiz Adriano, Dani Alves, St Iker and Daley Blind have all had a better year, apparently.

Dammit. Collect your like, you filthy animal.

Wow, you really broke your back for this one. Btw, was the last away league goal vs Hull?

I'm not saying motivation is the be all and end all or that it's a substitute for tactics or talent ... all I'm saying is that it adds on to the existing ability and should not be underestimated in it's capacity to spark that extra something that makes a difference. The better and more well drilled sides don't always win - everyone here's watched enough football to know that. You speak of the City and Newcastle games - what do you put those dropped points to? Solely worse tactics on the day? Solely sub-par execution? Maybe City were even more determined to get something once they fell a goal and a man behind. Maybe Newcastle were determined to continue their good record against us. 'Up for it' as it's called. Of course I'm not saying that we'll beat Stoke just because Mourinho will have the boys up for it ... the ability is a given (otherwise you cannot be top of the league in England, so I think you're being a little harsh in that respect, but that's another discussion). When we were 8 points ahead maybe we were guilty of switching off at times where we wouldn't have, had that gap not been so wide (Sunderland). Now that the gap's been wiped out, I expect to see a more hungry side out there, and I think that extra hunger coupled with the pre-existing quality will take care of Stoke.

Anyone else like the look of Ayoze Perez? Puts himself about, decent technique, nose for goal ...

You'd be surprised how much it actually adds on to the general level of play - both individual and collective.

Yeah, this was good for garnering exposure and eyeballs but the bread and butter is the I League.

Well contrary to most here, I'm pretty confident about tonight ugh, Monday night. Mourinho's sure to get them well up for it. Nothing motivates like fear. 2-0 Chelsea.

That's harsh .. why shouldn't Mourinho get credit for the defences he built?

He knows he's talking bollocks about Cahill ... it was a dive all day long. But it's a deliberate tactic so it's all good.

Call me naive but I honestly lapped it up whenever he talked about the youth. Once bitten, twice shy now though.

Looking at the fixtures till Aguero comes back (mid Jan): Chelsea Stoke (a), West Ham (h), So'ton (a), Spurs (a), Newcastle (h) Man City Palace (h), WBA (a), Burnley (h), Sunderland (h), Everton (a) Theirs are a shade easier.

So you're saying Mourinho lied through his teeth? Okay then.

Well Mourinho certainly thought he was ready, so what you or I feel is moot. Anyway this'll just keep going around in circles like the Mourinho thread so let's end it here.

I should've been smarter than deciding to watch that. Depressing.

So far, so good ...

Or be blatantly awarded 3 pts by the refs (Everton)

No way Palace keeps a clean sheet. Good thing is City are shit at the back so with a bit of ambition they can nick a goal or even two.