Superblue

According to Rafa we're much better defensively since he took over...

Anti-wish list eh?? I'm not fussy...Anyone but Torres!!!

This needs to get into the hands of one of the national newspapers - it will make the FA look ridiculous and double standards!

The more I have chance to think about this whole saga, the stronger my opinion - from a short term point of view, it's a huge fuck up likely losing one of our best and most creative players for a handful of important games. However from a long term point of view, I can't help but think this may benefit us - 1. The biggest benefit may well be Hazard himself. He has struck me as a big character but I think has been allowed himself time to settle into the club and adapt to a new culture/country. I feel that his episode will not only gather him a much stronger level of support from our own supporters, but his mentality will be to let his football do the talking. Rather than hide away, he strikes me as the type of person who will thrive within the environment and more concentrated public eye that has been created. We've seen the potential in spurts, but I believe we'll soon see the real Hazard. 2. With Hazard and Moses out, Marin is likely to get a few games now. From what I've seen so far, I've not really been impressed, and he has seemingly been overlooked by two managers this season so far. However a run of games may give everybody a greater idea of what he can bring to us. It could help us guage if he has a future at the club beyond this season. At worst it will hopefully give Marin more confidence to at least be a more effective squad player for the rest of this season. 3. If we are going to continue winning games in his absence, it requires someone else besides Mata to step up and help the creative side of our game. Oscar has been quiet recently. He seems to have been the fall guy with Benitez looking for more solid over spectacular within his team. Oscar's confidence has seemed to be dented as he's been in and out of the team and when he has played, he seems to have played within himself with Mata and Hazard around him. It's a chance for him to step up. Obviously I would much prefer Hazard to not be facing up to a ban, but we have to try and take some positives out of the situation!

I like how the media have changed their stance and are more widely using the term 'kicked the ball underneath the ball boy' as opposed to the original 'kicked the ball boy'. This softening stance can only help our cause if we are to contest IMO.

BBC think it will be four games

The FA will get what's coming to them in the long run - it's well known a breakaway league is on the horizons which will fuck the FA up financially.

But surely Chelsea are given the opportunity to appeal against it?

No his ban hasn't been decided yet and he'll be given the opportunity to answer the charge and/or appeal before it applies.Same happened to JT in racism ban, he coiuld play until the date he had to answer the charges.

He should be able to play against Brentford though as he has until Jan 29th to answer the charges.

Based on previous form I'd say about June 2015...

Malouda could perform the role. Benayoun would provide backup in the absence of Moses and Hazard.Having these two could also give the option of Oscar dropping into the pivot.

It's not a long term solution but the club needs to utilise Malouda and Benayoun during this period - we pay them wages, let's get some output from them. There's no point outcasting them when nobody will pick up their wages so make use of them and then let them leave in the summer at the end of their contracts.

Even Hulk Hogan has supported Hazard - I'm guessing he's pretty embarrassed by the ball-bloke's play acting given the things he used to 'hulk up' from!

Still holding my own top of the league! I might play my wildcard this week to help consolidate...

Exactly the problem with the English media. They went straight for Hazard last night, everyone from journalists to TV/radio pundits, feeling safe that this would be the side of the fence most of the public would sit on. The Daily Telegraph even wrote an article saying that Hazard may get a 5 game ban - how would they fucking know that! It's just to plant seeds into the decision makers at the FA to pretty much burn Hazard. Now today with all the additional information leaking out, not to mention a lot of support and backing Hazard has received from fellow professionals, they've realised they've acted like idiots and now go complete circle the other way! At least Hazard is starting to get a lot of support within the media which will hopefully help his case. I would expect from a PR perspective the club will accept a 3 match ban if this is what he gets, but I do think there are a lot of factors and evidence that would help an appeal over any sort of ban.

Mark Saggers is a Birmingham fan - I think he has enough with his own club to worry about at the mo, the prick.

I'm at work - what's he saying mate?

We should be playing 4-3-3. Playing a deeper role with licence to push forward (like Lampard previously) will give him more space to operate in but not constrain his attacking talent in the final third like the pivot would. The same would apply to Ramires. Then a more defensive minded and disciplined defender alingside those 2 to bulk up the midfield and provide them with protection should be the way forward for us. This would also give Mata and Hazard more space higher up the pitch to float around in.

With the exception of Rio Ferdinand (surprise) it should be noted that other footballers have defended Hazard.No doubt though that the media will lean on this until the FA throw the book at him.

He'll be a fucking legend in Cardiff!

Once again a fucking shambles tonight. Offensively we are pathetic - this we must remember is the same players who were tearing a hole in the Premier League at the beginning of the season. People who say that Mata, Hazard and Oscar cannot play together are forgetting the performances RDM was getting out of them at the beginning of the season.

Pretty sure they'll make the ban up to 5 games so he misses Man City away.

Has anybody got a link to Hazard's interview with Chelsea TV? Noel Hunt's tweet is brilliant - "I kick the ball from under my niece like that and she starts laughing she's only 2! Mountain out of a mole hill!! Sorry guys #opinions"

I called it a few minutes ago. Unfortunately that is the tribal nature of the game nowadays for any fans to get 'one up' on another team, and the pathetic laws in place in this country.