Sheva.

He played his role well. He's no longer our main source of creativity in the middle which is good for him and us. He can drop deep and cover Cesc and is more suited to being a 3rd CM than Willian. If he continues like this, I think his place in the team will be safe.

That was Arsenal/Barcelona-esque. Ridiculous.

He's a real difference maker, doesn't matter against who, he will get in good positions and always a threat. Like having another striker on the pitch, who's comfortable on the wings. Anelka replacement.

Reminded me of our game at the Calderon. We defended all game, so i was excited when we got some corners to try and steal a goal. But he just came out and caught everything effortlessly.

Great first half, I can forgive the fatigue and sloppiness in the 2nd half since it's only the first game of the season. Loved how well we kept the ball though and Fabregas was really good.

Tbf Oscar is playing as 3rd CM not AM. He's doing fine imo.

Good shit. This is some of the best football we have played in 3 seasons.

Yesssssss

Ohhhhhhh

Beautiful Costa

I'm happy for Schurrle, he deserves to start. Now he has to kick on and really solidify his place in the team.

I always felt he was the new boy least likely to start this game. I'm sure he'll start at home next saturday.

Expected.

Will we wear away kit for this?

Courtois also has to make great saves. I remember in the Copa final against Jose's madrid, he saved more than 1 clear goal. Also against Milan last season, he made a great save on Kaka. (Obviously i can't list all his great saves since i don't watch him for 60 games a season, like with Cech) Atletico fans rate him highly for a reason, and it's not just because he makes easy, routine saves Everything about this. Atletico defence was better because Courtois is solid and reliable. I watched one la liga game last season when they used their backup GK, was a shitshow. He was so shaky and they ended up conceding i believe 2 goals because of him.

This is funny because the same pretty much applies to Cech. A lot of his clean sheets he doesn't even touch the ball more than 5 times.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/08/mourinho--quality-counts.html?WT.mc_id=social_20140817_29925266

Thing is he isn't coming from some vastly inferior league. That was the case when he was signed from Genk, so he was sent on loan to prove himself and he has done this. Like Tomo said, this is pretty similar to when Cech joined Chelsea and displaced Cudicini. Mourinho could have easily gone with the more PL proven GK, but instead he gave Cech a chance and that has worked out wonderfully. Courtois might/might not turn out to be the same, but him sitting on the bench will achieve nothing but force him out prematurely. He will get the chance to prove he's good enough to replace Cech for years to come.

People keep going on about this "not earning it" shit. He did all he could at Atletico to be in the conversation with a great GK like Cech. GK is not like other positions where he can share minutes with Cech and we see who's better. He either starts, or he wouldn't be back here when other top clubs wanted him.

Well you can point out a fault in every player/keeper's game. Cech is lost on so many corners. Courtois has a tendency to not push the ball wide enough - but i'd bet on a young player improving than a vet. like Cech. Your last few posts make Courtois sound like a vastly inferior GK, when he's actually widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Whatever though, no matter what Mourinho does, Chelsea will have a great GK. It's just a matter of short term vs long term now.

No Ribery? I know he wasn't good after returning from injury last season, but before that he was amazing.

Fuck.

Double digit assists He can get 10 goals though.

Suarez ban upheld, won't be back till Clasico. He can train with the team and play friendlies though.

The goals are nice, but I did not expect him to drop back and link up play like this, and he usually makes the right decisions. Very promising, lets hope he can carry this form into the season.