Bir_CFC

Matic is the key in this game imo. Silva has started the season on fire. If Matic runs around recklessly again then we're fucked. The midfield 2-3 still are a big work in progress defensively. Who is supposed to defend which zone and which player is still not clear.

You must be trolling lol.

I realize it was a dogshit performance but I didn't expect Chelsea fans to start marginalizing Drogba's status as a one of the great PL forwards. You'd think Chelsea fans of all people wouldn't forget Drogba that quickly.

Yup two games in a row where he's been in prime scoring positions. Goals will start coming very soon.

No one had that big a problem with him returning because people just assumed he'd be 3rd choice and only get late sub appearances when we need to pump the ball in the box. But if he's going to be starting games then something is wrong. Shouldn't happen again hopefully.

Same starting XI as Shalcke, except Costa for Drogba.

I think performance was fine. Pretty much same as all our other performances this season, except we couldnt finish. It's really as simple as that. All the good and bad things we did today, we've done in precious games. But we've outscored everyone so people don't nitpick. Shouldn't have started with Drogba. Worse, he came back out for the second half.

Incorrect. Group stages tie breaker is away goals head to head.

Mourinho's fault. I'm happy with rotating Costa but should have played Remy. Defence was a bit shaky sure but with the chances that were created we should have outscored Schalke.

I don't remember Matic hunting the ball so aggressively last year. He seems to get out of position so often this year. Ramires is aggressive by nature. You aren't changing that, but not sure why Matic has become so keen to press so much higher.

Let's go Luis! Put one on Drogba's head.

Any sport that involves considerable physical athleticism would automatically be favourable to men. It's no slight on women, it's just a genetic difference.

Sign up online for a free 7-day trial for Fox Soccer 2 go.

I like the part that clubs may be able to buy and obtain visa for any player as long as their transfer fee is higher than 10-15m. That'll allow us to buy from South America directly.

Yeah Ramsey has been utter shit so far this season.

Thanks for this! Hazard doesn't talk a lot in the media so this stuff is always nice to see. Everyone should check it out.

Arsenal has got to be the most frustrating team to support with Wenger as their manager in recent years. Someone close to him needs to call him out because he's not cutting it at all imo. How can a manager be so tactically naive? You're playing away to Dortmund. How about not asking both your fullbacks to bomb forward? How about not letting both your CMs attack leaving Arteta as the only midfielder to cover for them and for the fullbacks. How about not playing a luxury player out wide who isn't going to track back and yet still asking your 19 y/o debutant FB to overlap? How can he be so stupid? Don't get me wrong I love to see Arsenal getting destroyed but I'm just curious wtf Arsene actually does? Someone at Arsenal, close to him needs to call him out and needs to hold him responsible. He must not be answering to anyone because he keeps getting away with the same mistakes. Same obvious mistakes too.

The pressing also has a bigger problem. The team bar the CBs defend in a proactive manner whereas the CBs don't. If a DM like Matic does go about pressing higher the CB should be aware and be willing to run forward to close the space left by the DM if he does get bypassed easily. Both Gary and John only move forward when the striker drags them forward like against Gomis but they don't seem to want to be proactive in their defending. I don't think we can change this though because you can't leave JT as the lone guy trying to cover for Cahill and John isn't quick enough or agile enough to run forward and close space near the half-way line. I think Jose knew this and that's why we were after Benatia, he's the best in the world at this imo along with Kompany. He reads the play in front of him very well and can intercept and stop the play by breaking past his CB partner and stopping it right in the midfield. Unless we buy all new CBs this won't change, which is fine, it's not a big problem. Nothing switching to a 4-3-3 with an anchorman can't fix. It's only really a problem when the opposition are very very good at building from the back and our front 4 are ineffective at their pressing.

Did he really punch the dude? It was hard to tell on the video. He def pushed him to the ground though. If it's just a push then it's no big deal, that happens every match.

Good idea for a thread. Question is too easy though. Oscar goal, KDB assist against Hull.

I disagree. I think he's clearly been worse than last year. Even in aspects that don't involve anyone else on the pitch. Risky passes, taking too long on the ball, turning into trouble. All these are individual mistakes which were not nearly as common last year as they have been so far this season. If we're talking about our midfield getting overrun, not being able to press effectively and looking a little disorganised, those are all team mistakes. If Matic is being asked to defend for 2, that's a problem but that's not what everyone is on about. He's making individual mistakes.

Their attack is def world class. That front 4-5 on paper is as good as it gets. With no other distractions for them, you'd think they must get top 4 which means one of Arsenal or Liverpool will miss out. Jury is still out on their defence though, not been tested at all by QPR. I hope they get relegated again.

The match vs City is the big test. Him vs Kompany. Can't wait to see how he does against one of the best CBs in the world. His final test imo. If he performs well, he'll have no problems eventually becoming a future Chelsea legend.

Put in some delicious crosses today too. Best RB in the world surely.

I'd love one too please.