CHOULO19

I really don't get how you expect someone who can't get into Nottingham's to start for Chelsea. The most he'll get is a couple of starts in the League Cup or against teams of lower leagues in the FA cup. I know that we have some serious issues at CM, but to suggest that the options we have there are worse than championship players like Lansbury, Majewski and Jara that Nathanial would start over them is an over-exaggeration to say the least. He should go back on loan in Jan and hopefully to team where he will play and be a key player, not to the team that pays the most of his salary.

No need for that. If he annoys you that much, just stick him on ignore.

He's rubbing off on me!

So basically you're now one of those TV pundits that everyone keeps saying they are idiots?!

No offense, but most pundits are just idiots. You can't look beyond Essien for the first goal. The back four is blameless, imo because they were caught flat-footed by the ball that came in the opposite direction to their movement.

Perfect today. Just perfect. He really needed that with his recent form.

A lot of players deserve MOTM. Ba changed the game and was excellent throughout and deserved his goal. Rami was just everywhere and made 10 tackles, I read! Mata practically won us the game with two classy deliveries, something we have missed badly in recent game. Azpi was excellent once again despite being out of position and JT continued his incredible form this season. Even Cahill had a great game. But I had to go with Iva for MOTM. I've gave a lot of stick this season, but today he was just perfect throughout the match. Just didn't put a wrong foot in all match.

^^ Speaking of that Swansea performance: "91% pass accuracy, 81 touches and 5 tackles: Chelsea man hailed as MOTM" http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2013/11/29/91-pass-accuracy-81-touches-and-5-tackles-chelsea-man-hailed-as/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co

Excellent ball over the defenses head. If only it was at the other end, though... In all seriousness, it was a HUGE risk by Jose to just throw him in a game like this when he hadn't even been getting minutes off the bench. He paid the price for that mistake.

Starting against Ossasouna after that good performance vs Swansea. Good to see.

Am I the only one more worried than happy that Essien is being tested in this game in particular? I've been saying he should be playing a much bigger role, but a start against a team that press like Southampton when he hasn't really played yet this season is very risky, IMO. Hope he proves that Jose is right and he is ready.

Yet Essien is getting over 100k per week to post pics of training on Instagram. The reason why our midfield looks tired is because Jose insists on playing a 35 year old in almost every single game.

I know you that you think football only exists in England, Phill. You don't have to remind me.

Don't be. They have almost zero rotation. They will drop a lot of points in December when their star players start burning out.

Yup. Doing well from there from what I hear and even got a himself a few goals from pens.

Match Preview by @Strike.

Bump.

What I also noticed about Thorgan is that, even though his defensive work rate was decent, he seemed to have a lot of tactical freedom in attacks. Something we can't afford to give his brother here at Chelsea, IMO.

I very much doubt that 30m price tag. That's just insane for a teenage LB. I'd imagine the real price would be half of that at most.

I get your point. I'm someone who is much more annoyed by diving than the the average football fan (I'm even more annoyed if my team is diving). I think it is disgusting that "looking for contact" is now part of the game. There is a real danger of the game becoming much less of a contact sport. But at the same time, defenders are also learning new ways of making fouls that refs can't see and that is becoming part of the game as well, unfortunately. Luckily, it is still a million times better in England than the rest of Europe or even south america. Regarding Ramos' red card, I am annoyed that the Galatasaray player made the most of that contact, but if you want to go "by the book", it's a sending off. Honestly, what the Turkish player did there was the least of what an average striker does nowadays. (Plus, I think Ramos is an overrated c*nt, so he deserves to be sent off )

Regardless of the luck involved in his goal, I think it is clear to anyone who watches Zulte that he is their best player. Technically he is on a different level. And his teammates know that and always look for him during attacks.

I think Jose would have become used to that by now!

Basically, we need to pray for Zenith or Olympiakos.

He started tonight?! Wish I'd known. Would have watched hi instead of Zulte