BlueLion.

I am too, to be honest.

4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses isn't the most impressive record, either - 15 points out of 30!

I SECOND WHAT HE SAID.

Exactly. We're good on the counter attack. If teams don't attack us in the first place, we're not even half as effective!

Hazard will win Young Player of the Year, no doubt about it.

The great mystery of Ivanovic is how he is incredible in the big games, like on Monday, yet utter dirge against shit teams like West Ham.

Well, Rambo was put into the 3 behind the striker, with Hazard staying left, and Willian being pushed central to accommodate Ramires on the right. Oscar was left out of the three and Ramires came in to replace him, so strictly speaking he did indeed play instead of Oscar. But again, I'm not getting hung up on the what-ifs, buts and maybes, but I do take your point! José's decision not to play Oscar was vindicated, but he did a good job when he came on, everyone saw that, so people saying we played our best football without him should also acknowledge we played without Torres, Lampard, Mikel, Cole, Schurrle, Salah, etc. etc. We have a squad for a reason!

They are poor, but they always raise their game when they play against us. Apart from the 2-0 at the Bridge last season where we absolutely dominated them, and the 3-0 at SJP in December 2011 where that scoreline really did flatter us, we've struggled against them in the last half-dozen or so games. This will be a scrappy, awful game, and I think we'll be lucky to see more than a couple of goals, I really do.

But then you can say that if Oscar had have started ahead of Ramires, he'd have scored that chance Rambo fluffed and we'd be signing his praises! Food for thought indeed, but the hypotheticals shouldn't be looked into. He has been one of our best players this season, and certainly one of the most exciting to watch.

Meireles' goal pissed off Benfica fans far more than losing the Europa League final! Porto legend! HAHA, how the fuck did Joe Hart run more than Jovetic?!

Ba deserves a run out after his number of cameo appearances recently. He's only been given three starts all season, but has done well in all three, scoring one and assisting one in those three matches.

Nemanja Matic vs Manchester City:

Thanks, NotAPlasticClubFan! P.S.:

I think we were watching different games. The Samu I did gave his absolute all, and in games like that, that is all you can ask of a striker playing in a team that doesn't need a striker.

RIP Yaya.

He is becoming a bit of a general for us, the way Ballack and Drogba were for us. That sort of experience is vital in coaching the kids of the team, like Eden and Oscar. That sort of experience is as good as a goal or an assist.

Haha, you have far more life experience than me Ron, I'll do it your way, sir!

Seemed to miss this shocker of a challenge by Kompany somewhere in the melee...

Actually buzzing my tits off. Gonna go and get smashed and find some bird to go home with, ciao!

A wonderstrike from Branislav Ivanovic saw Chelsea deservedly beat Manchester City to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to a paltry two points. The Serbian rifled in a magnificent drive from the edge of the box on the half-hour after Ramires had seen a shot well blocked by City captain Vincent Kompany, for what proved to be the game-winning goal. Chelsea were absolutely fantastic, putting in what is surely their best performance of the season to totally dominate the Premier League title favourites in their own backyard. Whilst Petr Cech was forced to make a couple of outstanding late saves from David Silva and City sub Stevan Jovetic, it was the Blues who – by far – carried the greater threat, with Samuel Eto’o, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill all hitting the woodwork. It also took fine Joe Hart saves to deny Ramires, Eden Hazard and John Terry as the away side inflicted City’s first home league defeat since May – and preventing them from scoring in the league at the Etihad for the first time in 63 matches. The victory is a result more than warranted by Chelsea’s performance. On a night that will go a long way towards deciding the destiny of the league title come May, Jose Mourinho unequivocally won the tactical battle with Manuel Pellegrini. Mourinho’s decision to field David Luiz alongside Matic in the defensive midfield pivot was a masterstroke – the Brazilian was one of many stand-out players for Chelsea, with his industry and work-rate typifying both a miserly defensive showing and an exhilarating attacking display. This was the full package from Mourinho’s Chelsea. Talk prior to the game was of the Blues’ supposedly defensive-orientated mindset in this type of fixture, with critics pointing to less than exciting draws at Old Trafford and the Emirates as a negative approach to the game. But after a scathing attack on Sam Allardyce’s nineteenth-century football that saw West Ham somehow conjure a draw back at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, Mourinho was only ever going to set his team out to attack. That move, always likely, was anticipated by Pellegrini, who, in the absence of arguably City’s most crucial player, Fernandinho, elected to play Martin Demichelis as their holding player. This tactical game was won in the midfield. Demichelis, a centre-half by trade, was torn to pieces. Hazard, enjoying arguably his best performance in a Chelsea shirt, countlessly left the Argentine defender trailing in his wake. Demichelis’ midfield partner Yaya Toure fared little better. Considered to be the Premier League’s bully-boy enforcer, the Ivorian was dominated by Luiz and Matic. City paid the Blues a great deal of respect with their relatively reserved showing. When you consider this is the same side that has put eleven goals past Tottenham in two games this season, as well as beating the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United by heavy margins, this Chelsea performance is all the more impressive. Simply put, Pellegrini’s side weren’t allowed to play with the sort of freedom that has seen them net 42 goals in eleven home league matches prior to this evening. City created the better early chances, with Yaya Toure scuffing wide and David Silva later failing to make a good connection with the midfield man's cross, scuffing an effort across the face of goal from inside the six yard box. Chelsea, however, were set up to hit City on the counter-attack with pace and movement, a ploy that reduced the home side to the sort of anxiety rarely seen at the Etihad this season. First Hart had to make a fine close-range save to deny Ramires when the Blues had a four-on-one attacking overload after a swift break. Looking back, the Brazilian really should have opened the scoring. Fear not – Ivanovic popped up to thunder an incredible half-volley from the edge of the box past Hart moments later after Ramires had again seen a fine chance wasted. The Blues might even have doubled their lead when Eto’o smacked the ball against the crossbar as the half drew to a close. Chelsea led 1-0 at the interval – and it is likely City would have been the happier side considering the Blues’ first-half dominance. Chelsea came out the far superior of the two sides after the break, with first Matic thundering an arcing effort off the post from 25 yards, before Cahill headed against the woodwork from a Willian corner. Joe Hart was a mere spectator on both occasions, and the home side were incredibly lucky not to fall further behind. That – coupled with the introduction from the bench of Jovetic – seemed to spark City into life, and Cech had to be alert to expertly palm over David Silva’s excellent free kick as the home side looked for a response. Chelsea continued to threaten on the counter, but Cech again had to react to a fierce Jovetic drive. At the other end, Mourinho was incandescent that Matija Nastastic was not sent off after a clear shirt pull on Blues sub Oscar as the visitors broke after a City corner – but he was celebrating moments later. The final whistle sounded to screams of delight from the travelling support from West London. Elsewhere, an eerie silence crept over the Etihad Stadium. City fans have been reminded their team are not infallible. Click here to view the article

Eric Djemba Djemba.

Really? There's 42 points left to play for after tonight, and City have a few games to play we've already got out of the way, i.e. Old Trafford, the Emirates, Goodison, just to name a few.

Welcome back to a proper TalkChelsea legend! Hope you're well, mate!