BlueLion.

For me, "being smart when it comes to shielding the ball" is as unsporting as diving is, but unfortunately both things are part of the game now. When I labelled Hazard a diver, I don't mean like Ashley Young, I mean he goes down under minimal contact quite frequently, which is what Ossie did yesterday. Which is why I'm not making a big deal of it.

Unfortunately not mate. Missed the ticket sales

That makes a lot more sense

That's on Friday? What horrible planning that it. Good for us though. EDIT - yeah, Friday, 7.45pm kick-off. Then we play them at 2.15pm on the Sunday. They'll have about 40 hours to recover from the most high-intensity game of their season! Crazy. EDIT 2 - ignore me. Brainfart.

I think it's only really the Mata sympathisers that are making a big deal out of this. He shouldn't have dived in the way he did. Inexplicable really, since all he had to do was knock it past the keeper and tap it into an empty net. We won in the end, no big deal. Makes me laugh how people can't abide Oscar diving for this penalty, but it's fine for the likes of Drogba in the past, and Hazard nowadays, to win free-kicks after going down with near enough no contact.

Now he has 152 league clean sheets, meaning he is clear of our own Mark Schwarzer (who is 3rd, with 148) in second in the all-time clean sheet table in the Premier League. David James leads the way with 169. So Cech needs 17 more, which he would beat by the end of next season without difficulty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25571428

We should keep him as our second-choice forward in the future. Even if he stays until he's 35, we need to see some bang for our buck. A £50 million investment who has only scored 41 goals in 151 games... we can't let him go until he's at least reached 60 or so goals for us. Surely?

Mata has pissed me off. I won't repeat myself in this topic as this is a thread for the game, not for Mata, but if you check his player database entry you can see my grievances. I think he's acted like a child.

Nobody can, but publicly challenging the authority of the club's manager in the way he did yesterday is petulant, spoilt, and childish. That's why he's upset people, myself included. I thought he was the model professional but he obviously can't take disappointment. The real great footballers respond to these periods and come back stronger. It's not like you can say he's doing all he can. At his best this season, he's been playing at about 60% of the capacity he was capable of last season. Yes, I know it is hard to play well and play consistently well when you're in and out of the team, but he has been given ample opportunity to win the shirt. Look at Azpi. That is a real professional. Looked like his Chelsea career was over before it had properly begun, as Cole was one of Mourinho's Untouchables. He was given an opportunity and he took it, and he has kept his place because he has been one of our most consistent players this season. Mata, on the other hand, has been no better than average every time he's pulled on a Chelsea shirt this season. Compare that to what Oscar, Hazard and Willian have done this season, it is only fair (in my opinion) that he is second-choice at the minute. Huffing and panting, and berating Mourinho so publicly the way he has done will not help him. I fully expect him to be on the bench for the next few games, without coming on. Just so José reminds him who is boss. And I'd fully back him in doing so. This sort of petulance is what I'd expect from money-grabbing weasels like Tevez, Nasri, etc., not from a Chelsea player. If it had been Eto'o who had reacted like that, you'd all be going ape-shit. Instead, because it's Mata, he's seemingly done nothing wrong. But wake up and smell the coffee, folks. Last season seems a long, long way away, when you consider his recent performances. Willy and Ossie are the starters, and rightfully so. It's up to Mata to stop acting like a bitch, man up, and try and win his place back. If he can put his hand on his heart and say he has done the best he possibly can in the opportunities he's been granted (and let's be fair, he's had plenty - he's made 14 starts this season, plus 3 sub appearances, it's not like he hasn't been given a chance, like de Bruyne), I'd call him a liar. Willian has only played two more games, but in his 19 appearances he's contributed far more to the cause (not talking about goals and assists here, I'm talking about his defensive work-rate, which is pivotal to this Chelsea set-up) than Mata has this season. Thus his inclusion is warranted. I have no qualms with Mourinho, but I'm upset with Mata's childish behaviour. Not what I'd expect from him. Maybe the likes of Torres as he can get very angry indeed, but for Nice-Man Juan, no, that's totally out of character. He's pissed, and yes he wants to play football, but acting like this won't help him. Now it's up to him to take his chastisement like a man. If this is going to be the end, I'll thank Mata for his services, he's a European Cup winner for us and I will always love him for that reason. But let's not kid ourselves here, I wouldn't cry myself to sleep if he left; not in the same way I will when Cech/Terry/Lampard/Cole leave, or if we were to inexplicably sell Hazard or Oscar. Maybe Mata likes being the big fish? He has done so in the past, but only in relatively small ponds. Perhaps there's a reason Madrid let him go? It seems to me he can't deal with the competition, and instead of fighting for his place, he's opening a can of worms by starting a war with a manager who can easily put compassion aside. Look what he did with Casillas. Mourinho doesn't give a fuck about sentimentality, and that is for the betterment of this club. We are in a period of transition and thus have to make do with what instruments we have. Mourinho has, somehow, turned this side into title contenders, so he's clearly doing a good job. He chooses to play the other options over Mata, and rightfully so in my opinion. I'll trust his judgement. If this is the end, then goodbye and farewell, Juan. I'd just have expected it to have ended a little less acrimoniously, but then again, you don't really know a person until you see them at their desperate worst, do you?

I would like to think he was being angry at himself, but the fact he ignored Mourinho and then scowled at him is pretty damning evidence, unless he comes out on Twitter later and says he had a really bad twitch.

Yes it is normal that a player who has been a regular should not be satisfied by being benched, but his performances are average at best. He was the worst of our starting midfield five. You say to stop making out that Mata is not mad at being subbed. What is he frustrated at, then? The weather? Losing some followers on Twitter? He's acted like a child and he deserves to be chastised for it.

Hazard's a diver as well to be fair. Many players feign contact to win fouls (mainly because referees are so hideously useless, on the whole), it's no big deal.

Haha, I just sit at a keyboard and let those fingers move, baby!

Absolutely, his public demonstration here is a clear indication he now wants to leave. The biggest "come and get me" you could have asked for. You look at how Azpilicueta started the season on the fringes and fought his way into the side with a positive attitude and some excellent displays. Mata has no divine right to start, as you say. I'm all for the betterment of the team, and we're playing better without him in the side than when he does play, in my personal view. Willian deserves his place, and Oscar and Hazard are Untouchables.

His petulant attitude when he came off was very disappointing. Mourinho is the boss, and he has been totally vindicated in playing Willian and Ossie recently. Mata hasn't been good enough in any capacity; either in an attacking sense or in doing the defensive role the other options do. Totally backing Mourinho's decision, especially since it is his team to manage, and he made the decisions that won us the game. The club recorded a brilliant victory today. That's Chelsea FC, not Juan Mata FC. If he wants to sulk, he can go and do it elsewhere. £35 million from PSG would be a nice little bit of pocket money for the summer, with financial fair-play and all that malarkey. Awful attitude and and a bad, bad example to the youngsters watching. I thought better of him than that, very disappointed in his attitude. The only low point of a wonderful afternoon.

José Mourinho's inspired second-half substitutions helped Chelsea overcome a stubborn Southampton to maintain the pressure on league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners, who only just managed to defeat managerless, hapless Cardiff City, are having their title credentials severely examined by the festive form of both Manchester City and the Blues, who sit just one and two points behind Arsene Wenger's side respectively. What is most encouraging, though, is whilst Arsenal made hard work of a side that has taken just nine points from the last 30 available, and Manchester City were far from convincing in their 3-2 win at out-of-form Swansea, the Blues were utterly devastating in the second half as a flurry of goals instigated by the majestic Oscar saw them to an ultimately comfortable victory. Chelsea, whose quick started to proceedings at St Mary's seemed to be little more than a flash-in-the-pan as the home side finished the first period the stronger of the two, were indebted to two tactical changes by their manager mid-way through the second half, as the ineffective Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle were replaced by Oscar and Willian to offer Chelsea some much-needed attacking thrust. Though Oscar was - somewhat harshly - booked for exaggerating what was admittedly minimal contact when one-on-one with home keeper Kelvin Davis minutes after his introduction, it was his deflected cross that allowed Fernando Torres to bag the opener. Not long later he then played in Willian to rifle home a raking 20-yarder. The Brazilian magician then added the cherry when he raced clear to prod beyond the onrushing Davis, who had earlier made two outstanding saves to deny Ramires. Southampton were toothless and looked tired in the second half; something that the Europa League winners were able to pounce upon. But whilst Mata and Schurrle toiled during their 55-minute stints on the field, both Willian and Oscar were exceptional, and played key roles in this mightily impressive victory. On a day of positives, there was one negative element as Mata looked unimpressed by the decision to haul him off so soon into the second half - but miserly Mourinho was vindicated in his decision as his double substitution totally changed the dynamic of the game, and ultimately won the Blues the points against a side that has impressed and surprised many this season. Sulk as he might, no man is bigger than the club, and the performances of the two second-half substitutes underlines why Mourinho continues to favour the two Brazilian playmakers alongside Eden Hazard, who collected his third Barclays Man of the Match award in as many games for another effervescent display. On this evidence, Mourinho is right to continue to bench the Spaniard. Another worthwhile point is Petr Cech - who was totally untroubled throughout - collected his 208th clean sheet for the club, equalling the record set by Peter Bonetti. This impressive feat looks all the more considerable when you take into account the fact Cech has reached the landmark in almost 270 fewer matches. Overall, this was an impressive display from Chelsea - whilst there were moments in the first period, with Torres looking particularly lively, they failed to really test Davis besides those two opportunities for Ramires. Torres himself (who was good value for his goal today) had already had an early goalbound shot deflected wide by some impressive last-ditch defending. A major concern for Southampton was a significant head injury suffered by Dejan Lovren - though the former Lyon man was thankfully able to play on, it was, in the end, he and his team-mates that were left concussed by this deadly attacking display by Mourinho's men. Chelsea have been accused of being boring at times this season, but the quality of football on display here from the Blues was possibly the best their supporters will have seen this campaign so far. The West London outfit are starting to move through the gears - ominous signs indeed for their title rivals. The issue regarding Juan Mata is the only negative on a day where Mourinho came up trumps. The Special One he remains, and he is most definitely the boss at Stamford Bridge. Mata can sulk and moan as he did when he trudged off the sodden pitch, but, as already suggested, on today's evidence, the Spaniard is well behind Willian and Oscar in terms of form and fitness at present. You really wouldn't be surprised to see him move on this month. But this is a day to celebrate Chelsea; the team, the club, and not the reactions of a single man. Though, that being said, it must be conceded that this day belongs to the magic-man Mourinho, whose miserly tactical masterclass outdid the Saints here. Click here to see the article.

My team needs no bench

Very tough, but I would say: Krul Coleman - Mertesacker - Terry - Baines Fernandinho Eden Hazard - Yaya Toure - Ramsey Aguero - Suarez

Happy New Year from all at TalkChelsea! Wishing you nothing but the best for 2014! Alex.

No, he's married, but any person with a sane mind would be into me. My arse is better than Ivanovic's.

Thanks for reading folks! Yeah, I used to make them so ridiculously detailed! Was no point to it, so superfluous, I literally covered every element of the game. My reports used to be in excess of 2000 words. Even I, when reading them back, found them hard to digest - so it made me realise that to keep people entertained, you have to be succinct, otherwise people lose interest. So I very rarely exceed 850 words these days, makes it a lot easier to absorb the information, but I can still be analytical.

Muito obrigado, B!

WOOHOO! Now rep me you big bloody Belgian!

Samuel Eto'o scored a close-range winner to secure three points against Liverpool following a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters were stunned into silence when Martin Skrtel gave the visitors a third-minute lead as he bundled the ball beyond Petr Cech after a melee in the penalty area - but the Blues immediately responded with a deadly attacking display. First Frank Lampard had a stinging drive tipped over the bar by Simon Mignolet before Eden Hazard restored parity with a magnificent curling effort from outside the box. Samuel Eto'o then poked home from close range before the interval for what would be the eventual winner as the Blues consolidated third place; moving within two points of league leaders Arsenal in the process. It was a superb show of character from Mourinho's side to come from behind against an improving Liverpool side who were desperately unlucky to be beaten at the Etihad Stadium by Manchester City on Boxing Day. It was certainly through a similar stroke of fortune that the Blues were able to profit here, with the Merseysiders bemoaning the lack of a penalty decision when Eto'o appeared to upend Luis Suarez in the penalty area late on. But that moment encapsulated a day where supposed player of the season Suarez was totally ineffective - the best the Uruguayan could conjure was a volley from the edge of the box that was directed straight into the midriff of Petr Cech. Liverpool did have their moments - Mamadou Sakho hit the bar with a lopping header in the early stages of the second half, and Petr Cech was forced into a low save to deny a deflected Glen Johnson effort - but it must be noted that the visitors, missing a number of regulars through injury, looked jaded following the hectic festive schedule, and Suarez was not alone in under-performing somewhat. Ultimately, Chelsea were the better side and were worthy winners of a magnificent match-up between two title rivals. Whilst Chelsea rise to within two points of the league leaders, Liverpool - who were top of the tree just four days ago - have slumped to fifth place. The away side took the lead when Skrtel converted from close range after a fortuitous rebound off of Branislav Ivanovic's backside fell invitingly into his path - but that goal only seemed to awake the monster within as the West London outfit responded with a deadly attacking salvo. After Lampard had a raking effort clawed over the bar, Hazard swept a curling shot into the top corner beyond the goalkeeper's despairing dive - before Eto'o had what would be the final say as he turned Oscar's intelligent pass over the line. Liverpool twice thought they should have had penalties - first Suarez went up for a challenge with Blues skipper John Terry and complained about an excessive use of force from the veteran defender on his 600th Chelsea appearance, before Eto'o cynically kicked out at the Uruguay international in an off-the-ball incident in the final stages. Whilst the first incident was one of those that could have been fairly given either way - in this instance correctly not given, after Hazard had been felled in a similar manner in the first half by Lucas Leiva; a showing of consistency from referee Howard Webb - the latter was a moment of madness from Eto'o, and after recent matches where his wastefulness in front of goal has become a cause for concern, the Cameroon striker was exceptionally lucky to get away with an incident that may have cost the Blues the three points. Nevertheless, it was a performance to be proud of from José Mourinho's men, and the manager can be pleased particularly with the performances of his two goalscorers - Hazard in particular - but also David Luiz for a miserly, no-nonsense showing at the heart of midfield. With Frank Lampard substituted off with a muscle strain, there is a possibility Blues fans may see more of the Brazilian in that position in the foreseeable future. And thus another year ends - a year where the Blues lifted another European trophy and The Special One made a dramatic comeback to see his beloved Chelsea through the quagmire of "transition". Whilst there have been a number of lows along the way, Eto'o's winner ensures that we will look back on 2013 with nothing but fondness, and this result bodes well for the future - Chelsea are not yet anywhere near top form, but they are only two points off top spot. Make of that what you will. But what it all boils down to - quite nicely - is karma. Remember one of those aforesaid "low points", back at Anfield, when we looked to have thrown third place away when Suarez scored a 97th-minute equaliser? Remember when he wasn't sent off for biting Ivanovic? Well, he will recall a lack of a penalty decision here. Karma's a bitch, and it has bitten back. Hard. Click here to view the article