Pizy

We should not risk playing Lamps against that midfield unless we play 4-3-3. I'm now sweating this even more than I was before.

If Ramires is out we could be in trouble against Paulinho and Dembele. We could be utterly dominated in midfield if Lamps starts against them.

FUCK! Ramires likely out for Spuds!

Can't believe people are saying we played poorly there. Why, because we didn't win 10-0? We played with an entire XI that hasn't had any chance to get match sharpness and still handily won away from home. Yes, we should've scored a few more but we came within inches time and time again. Liked what I saw of Willian and Essien and I hope both start this weekend.

Could've won 6 or 7-0 if our finishing was sharper. Willian and Mata both just look like they need a run of games. Willian especially looked very dangerous with his crazy pace. I'd have Willian and Hazard on each wing with Mata in the middle against Spuds. I'd be confident in a win with that trio.

Essien really should be first choice in there with Ramires. He's looked very sharp and he hasn't even been playing this season.

Bertrand still useless going forward. Can't accurately cross a ball to save his life.

Holy shit, Torres! And what a finish!

Kevin looks really rusty.

Put out a weakened, young side and we get slammed for not taking the COC seriously. Field a strong side and get slammed for not playing the kids.

Great post!Almost every time he gets the ball he's isolated on an island and is at walking pace. Exactly right about how Oscar effects his game. Since Oscar is such a work horse, he's rarely near enough to Hazard to relieve the pressure from the defenders on him. Hazard gets the ball just outside of the opposing penalty area on the left and there are 2 or 3 defenders right in his face and not a single teammate near him a lot of the time. He greatly benefits from having Mata constantly within 10 yards of him to take away defenders. Unfortunately, this is what Jose is trying to eliminate. Mata is utterly brilliant in the opponents half, but is too frail and slow to get back and defend. In the huge games against the likes of City or United or in CL matches I can see why Jose will go with Oscar in the #10 role, but I really hope we see Mata and Hazard playing right next to each other very often.

I really hope the rumors of Juve snooping around are true. United fans are creaming themselves about this kid and it would be absolutely hilarious if he left and became a star elsewhere.

Nice lineup that would be. Should be over within the first 30 minutes.

Sounds more to me like he's considering is options but that he's favoring staying with us. Wouldn't be surprised if the likes of Real Madrid are sniffing around.

He probably just didn't feel like answering the same 3 questions over and over again like he's had to recently.

Missed the Basel match so this will hopefully be my first time seeing Willian play in a Chelsea shirt. Hope to see both he and De Bruyne running at players as many times as possible. I hope we play as aggressively as possible and don't just assume we'll win. Go for an 8-0 or something.

They always scrape out results against the bad sides. Like last season, they'll probably be outplayed several times over the next couple of weeks, but in the end RvP or Rooney will score a late winner out of nothing and they'll win.Then the media love in will resume as normal.

Just had a look at their next 5 fixtures. They could and probably should get 15/15 points.

Don't do it Robbie! Spare yourself the pain!

Sure their new manager will have a blast working with the 30 new players Di Canio bought.

I just really don't want to see both Spuds and Arse with 5 point gaps on us this early.Would also look bad for us if our former sacked manager defeats our legendary current one who happens to be his former mentor. Don't want to see any "Apprentice defeats Master" headlines on every headline.

We have to unleash the Spud slayer Mata next weekend! Can't afford to lose this one. Will be a statement game that'll silence our critics.

Great. We could've caught Spuds after a loss but now they'll be even more up for it knowing that if they win they'll have an even bigger gap on us.

Very true this season. Next year when we actually address our needs we'll be able to do this.

In a perfect world my top 4 would be Chelsea City Liverpool Spuds I'd do ANYTHING to see United and Arse to finish outside of the top 4.