Styles

Moving the goalposts when presented with the facts, how surprising.

And RDM and Benitez had the excuse that they didn't have quality options in the squad. There is no excuse for Ramires on the right now, not when we have 100m+ worth of wingers and #10s in the squad. It was a rubbish decision, and here's hoping that's the last time we see it.

It was a really bad decision, one that goes against everything Jose has said about us becoming a different team and using the quality we have in the positions behind the striker. Jose has criticised how we played in the last few seasons, he has said we will become a different team that will take the initiative, and here he is playing a reactive team that had our best CM playing out wide when a) we desperately needed him in midfield and b ) we have Schurle/Willian/Mata/KDB in the squad. It was a truly awful decision, and a cowardly one in my honest opinion. I'm backing Jose and want him to succeed but Ramires out wide shouldn't be an option now, not after what he has said and the options we have.

Agreed.

Marked by two players and fouled any time he is in a dangerous position. He doesn't get enough protection from the refs.

Hopefully we'll have the title sewn up before the last game of the season and he can get a game.

Honestly, it makes you think there is something more sinister about the treatment Torres gets as opposed to Drogba, Eto'o, Ba etc doesn't it? I mean how else could you possibly explain the completely different attitudes towards them? If only they had blond hair

Eto'o has been fine. He is getting up to speed but he still looks a much better player than Torres. Technically the difference between the two is night and day. I know who I trust not to disappear and contribute more over the course of the season.

Looking forward to what Jose has to say. Most of the interesting stuff will be released later tonight/papers tomorrow.

People still falling for this fraud. His goal required a tap-in from two yards into an open goal. Torres had two very good chances one on one with the keeper and as expected he fluffed them, yet he's in great form and should be our CF! The sheer amount of excuses made for this guy is hilarious. For three years he keeps being given a chance but Eto'o is written off after three games and people hated Ba before he even signed!

Great lad

I love that so many people hate us, it makes winning that much sweeter.

Gutted for him.

Is there another Sandro because you can't be talking about the Tottenham one, surely? He is crap and exactly the opposite of what we need in midfield. Mikel is 1000000000x better.

So Tottenham lost against the only top team they've played so far? Bodes well for Saturday.

Hoping it's like KDB's scare before the season and nothing serious.

Jody Morris (wiki him - I'm sure you've never heard of him) said he watched an U21 game with Jose and said he made some very positive comments about Baker. Baker was selected to train with the seniors and was part of the squad. That's a young English kid developed by the club - not some 5m signing from Brazil being forced on the manager - but somebody the manager has seen and taken an interest in. Poor Lewis Baker, indeed.

He put in a lot of effort tonight and deserves credit. He ran, he pressed and was unfortunate not to get a goal (great save) and an assist (awful finish by Torres).

Why didn't Mourinho start the U14 team tonight? For somebody who says he's here long-term why is he continuing to play the senior team? Why not just start playing the U14 team now and get them ready for the 2020 season? Absolutely shocking decision by this fraud of a manager. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing. I played the U14 team in a Cup Game against a Championship team on FM, and OK we lost 21-0 but the experience was invaluable.

That'll be a huge loss.

Dreadful performance? Hmm. When a team like Fulham defends so deep and with all 11 players how are you supposed to look good exactly? Their sole tactic was to stop us from playing. Fulham and many other teams know we'd wipe the floor with them if they ever tried to play an open game against us. Everton - who have been the most dominant possession team in the league - conceded possession and played counter-attack against us at their own ground. They had been averaging more than 65% in their previous games but had just 43% against us. We are going to play maybe 3 or 4 teams in the league all season that don't employ those tactics. Every other game will be against teams who defend deep and with 11 players. It's very difficult to break teams down and you rarely look good doing so. Mourinho's interview was good because he explained his thought process, something which is rare from most managers. Nothing he said changed my view of the game because I'm not easily swayed.

Lampard's face when Mikel runs towards him is still making me laugh.

Pleased for Baker and hope for his sake it isn't just a token gesture and an actual appreciation of his undoubted talent. He must be buzzing!

Exactly. Even the Mata issue is showing that some people support individual players more than they do the club. You have people on here seriously suggesting that Mata should be exempt from defensive duties, yet they demand that and more from others. It's a funny way to support a club but the fanboyism is rampant.

The ones that annoy me the most are the ones who can't even understand how the games play out and what most opposition teams do against us. Almost every team we play whether at home or away will defend deep with 11 men and try to make life as difficult as possible, yet we're supposed to just steamroller teams and win 4-0 every week. They don't care that we're playing against professional teams with players who earn millions, we're supposed to win easily like we do in pre-season and if we don't then the manager doesn't have a clue. Every team we play against sees us a bonus game so they completely alter the way they play. That some people can't get their head around that is amazing.