Pizy

Costa looks so out of it lately. Looks really poor with the ball at his feet. He needs to run on to the ball and get a goal rather than trying to create for himself.

Would've wrapped both Cesc and Matić in bubble wrap for this one, personally. Our season can be derailed big time if one of them were to get injured long term.

Dream fullback setup. I just pray Filipe has a good/great match or we may not see him again for a month. Just give him a run of games!

He didn't just mention and praise him out of the blue yesterday, he was asked the question which young players he's given chances to. Like I mentioned before, can't see any way Real Madrid sell him. Unless he wants a 100% guarantee that he'll be first choice going forward and José somehow promises him that and Ancellotti doesn't. Even then we've just sold David Luiz for £50m. Part of that massively inflated fee was down to Luiz being super marketable and globally famous, but Varane is way younger and is a much better defender. Real would probably demand a monstrous fee for him. I'd donate $1000 to TalkChelsea if we got him.

So give him even more time off. Why risk him in a completely meaningless game?He's arguably our most important player.

So that means Matić will be in the squad and probably starting.

The one player I hope doesn't play more than any other is Matić. He shouldn't even be named in the squad. With our recent luck he'd pick up a serious injury in a meaningless game and be out for months. I know José preaches about putting out a strong team out of respect for the game and the opponent but not here and not after our recent results. Matić, Eden, and Terry should all be out of the squad.

Our team is crying out for a right sided attacking player at or near Hazard's level who's an actual goal threat. I know the Reus rumor was squashed, but he'd be perfect. Someone who sends fear into opponents and draws defenders towards him. Schürrle when he's in top form can do it but those days seem like ages ago and are showing no sign at all of returning. Willian always wants to come inside and is so predictable with the ball. On top of that he's USELESS as a goal threat. He's the perfect squad player who should get a bunch of starts and appearances but we should have someone better out there as first choice. Also, as rock solid Iva is most of the time he has absolutely no discipline when going forward. He bombs up the pitch and if he loses the ball he gets caught up there and leaves Cahill on an island to get skinned time and time again. Ivanovic's side of the pitch is left wide open all the time. Azpi and Luis HAVE to be our first choice fullback pairing. Excruciating to watch at times and makes me scream at my tv.

Same story time and time again. Any side that can sit deep and stay well organized can completely nullify every threat we have. We play right into their hands, too. Slow and painfully predictable in the final third. Not a knee jerk here, but I'm seriously concerned with how certain players look. Cahill in particular. We've let other sides right back into the title race.

We've been well and truly found out. Lead at the top evaporated and the side right on r tails coming in to red hot form.

Cahill has once again been atrocious.

Don't have a good feeling about this one to be honest.

Jason Cundy just tweeted that it's the same team but with Mikel in for Matić.

City are well and truly hitting their stride and still have Silva and Dzeko to come back. They also have a ridiculously easy set of fixtures coming up after Everton which I can easily see them winning all of considering the form they're in and momentum they have. Can be very dangerous if we drop points here and they beat Everton. Could dent our confidence and boost theirs like mad.

Mikel to start and score.

Yep, called it their World Cup final as well.

"Some teams see the Chelsea shirt and play the game of their lives. Then the next game they play like they're in a friendly." LOL! Direct shot at Sunderland there. Play as well as they'll ever play against us and then roll over against City.

Not sure why this thread is even open still. Just signed a new contract, plays for the world's biggest club, is very young and surrounded by somewhat aging CB's. He's going to be the rock at the back for Real Madrid for years and years. Zero chance we can get him. This is almost like the Messi thread. Pointless thinking it's possible.

Precisely as I predicted, really. Nice, comfortable win. Slightly concerned after half time when we appeared to just stop playing and allowed Spuds to stroke it around like Arsenal but we were still under control. Fucking sucks that Matić misses out in what's sure to be a tough match. Hopefully we pack the midfield to make up for his loss.

Why the hell are we just allowing them to dominate this game? Passing it around at will.

For the love of God, don't come out in the second half thinking the game is won. Keep playing exactly as we have been and go for their throat. Oh, and fuck off, Sunderland. You just knew they wouldn't match their performance they had against us and bend over for City.

For fucks sake! Making Harry Kanelook like prime Drogba! WAKE THE FUCK UP!

Have to avoid conceding free kicks within shooting range at all costs. Eriksen is ridiculously good at set pieces and that may represent their best chance to score against us.

Fuck off and join an Atleti forum then.

Yeah, wouldn't surprise me. Can see a labored start with one of our usual second half blitzes.