Thor

Honestly at this point, I think he may be a better player than Costa. You can harp on about consistency, but one guy plays for Everton, and the other for Chelsea. Easier to convert chances when a lot more are being created for you and you're surrounded by far better talent. Costa, for such a big and strong guy himself really struggles for me in regards to playing with his back to goal. Even Torres, for all the talk of being soft and a sissy at times was far better in the link up, and hold up aspect of things, and he originally didn't start off that way as a player. Costa really struggles with his touch and ability to shield the ball when coming back to meet the ball. Kills off a few of our promising attacks. When he is side on with his man, he is fantastic, and knows how to keep his man off him. I also don't mind his runs when he is facing goal and tries to take on 2 or 3 players. I've always considered it a positive since it keeps the defenders on their toes, and he is in fact a lot better at it than people give him credit for at it. Lukaku looks like a completely different player than what he once was. His movement is great in the box, he can still slip the lines and use his pace, and he dribbling has gotten a lot better. If he was playing for one of the top teams, I think he'd be getting best striker in the league talks.

They played with 8 at the back for the last 30 minutes of the game. It was hardly going to be easy scoring a goal, particularly when we're a team who likes to go through the middle and not really get many crosses into the box.

Referee was a wanker. All the crowd had to do was shout a little and they'd get a call. Unbelievable. He couldn't even wait for the full 4 minutes of extra time, even with the time wasting on their free kicks. Really?

Thought we've been good. They had their first shot at goal go in... It happens. Hazard needs a bit of help up front. Pedro has been decent on the ball, but he is getting out muscled at times. Costa has been awful. Moses is doing a really good job bringing the ball up. Matic needs to be a little bit quicker on the ball, but he has been solid.

Scoring in slightly less games, probably in games when Everton needed them is a worse thing now? They needed his 4 goals today. All 4. That is reliability too. Not to mention, he doesn't have world class players setting him up like Costa does in Chelsea. Lukaku is a beast. A very good player, and could very well end up leading our line again. I'm not sure if he is good enough. Certainly seems like it given his level of play recently.

Best keeper we've had in a while. Cech is a legend here, but he was never at the level Courtois was at his best, which is now and even his first season here. Dude is the ultimate wall in front of goal. Cech has always had far too much trouble at his near post for me, even at his best. I'm not one who gets caught up in the moment, but Courtois is very much, if not already in the conversation for best keeper in the world.

He both scores and creates at a better rate than Aguero has his whole time in the PL if you take away Aguero's penalties. Comfortably too. Some interesting stats really.

I think even more impressive for me, considering there are a lot of cup games, and maybe not so important games in those stats is that in 74 Premier League games, he has scored 47. So... 74 appearances 47 goals 14 assists Very impressive.

Even when we're winning games people aren't happy. A lot on here that are complaining about Fabregas not playing were also the ones praising our defensive record recently, and the small amount of goals we are conceding. There is a reason for it. The Matic and Kante midfield is a big part of it. As bad as Matic has been in regards to getting our offence going, he has been a terrific contributor on the defensive side of things. He really tightens up the middle of the park for us. Fabs not so much, though I will admit he has gotten better recently, though it might be due to him coming on fresh a lot of the times, and not having to work for 90 minutes. I think his role is a fair one here at Chelsea, though I do think he should get more starts against the lower ranked teams. Helps us get a lead early, then you can bring on Matic or another CM to sure up the defence.

Teams are sitting back more against us, and it is becoming harder for us to break down defences. To add to that, we don't have the quality around Hazard to help him to create and kick it up another gear. Our link up play is great when the game is open, but we aren't good enough in closed down games because we don't have the players for it. He is a top 5 player in the world. Teams load up against him. More so than other top players, because he simply doesn't have the talent the other 5 have around him. Easier to shut down Hazard when he is one of the few you have to concentrate on. Not so much the case for Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Saurez, etc.

Your post would have merit if Traore was playing wing back to begin with. He isn't. He isn't the "out" for an easy pass like you suggest at wing back. Add that to the fact that he plays on a mediocre team. I've seen people complain when Hazard is our only creative outlet some games. Well that is Traore every single game he plays. His team is hardly ever the favourite to win the game. Put him in the wing back role, I'm sure he puts in a few more tackles and ups his pass completion.

Or one plays for a team who is top of the ladder, can hold the ball, and provides him options to pass. You think Moses or any wing back would be averaging more passes and pass completion rate playing on Boro? Completely outclasses him? Hardly. Look at the dribbles per game. Would open the game up for us.

Actually averages the most per game I believe. I can't believe some people are writing him off or saying they don't want him. Barca reject? Whatever... Find the right position for him, or give him more time to grow and learn. Clearly if finishing remains to be a problem for the future, he would still have a great chance at the wing back position. Being such a good dribbler and so powerful, he is perfect for the role now. But for me, he shows a lot of offensive promise, so give him a shot on the wings to show he can improve.

Just finished up watching that highlight reel of him. Gotta say it is really refreshing watching a winger be so direct and powerful with his play, seeing as we're stuck with watching Willian dance with the ball every which way but towards the goal every week. Get him out here. We need physicality and creativeness. He seems to have plenty of it, as well as a tonne of pace.

I'd take him for next season. You guys are acting as if he will never improve. Fact is, at his age he is already one of the best dribbles in the world. All that needs to be improved is end product, and when you have better options on your team available, that will come too. No, he hasn't played for Barca, Real, Juventus or any other top team. Doesn't mean he isn't a diamond in the rough. How do you think some of the top clubs get these young prospects that turn into wonders? They take a chance. This kid has enormous potential.

Sell everyone. I'm not happy with being top. We need to win every game ever, just like all the other great teams did before us. Not unreasonable as a fan at all. Just get it done.

I'm all for varying opinions mate, but saying we need to look for a long term replacement and that he is done is not a valid one. He is the best in the league at his position. Bar none. He is the best. Hence why success has followed him wherever he has gone recently. Barcelona should look to get rid of Messi after every average game he has too. Just an opinion.

This forum has gone down the drain with some of the people that post on here. Can't even properly discuss football on here anymore. Has one bad game, and gets called out on here. Piss off. Don't come back here and post that garbage. His short passing has been the best in the team by far over the course of the whole season. Need to start banning people that post garbage on here.

Azpi was at fault for that second goal. He has been terrible all night too, but no one will mention it since he is one of our more consistent players generally. Been one of our worst tonight.

Hazard should have scored with the header, and we should have had a penalty/free kick on the edge of the box... We have created clear shots, and clear cut chances. Don't know what more you want. That was all in the first 10 minutes of the half.

We've been pretty good this second half. They scored. It happens. Chin up. We can still draw this.

lol some of you need to calm down. Expecting perfection with every brush stroke... Jesus... We're playing the best defensive team in the league and there is still another half of football left. If anything, we've proven to turn it up a notch when we go down during this streak. If it doesn't end up being our day, fine. Not the end of the world. Enjoy the game.

I don't really care how much we spend. We've seen the amount being paid for defenders and he is far better than a lot who went in that 35-60 mil range. The guy is the real deal. Get him on the team. We need a big presence, and simply need the numbers when one of our back 3 is suspended or injured. The list of players we have to alternate is very thin back there.

I'm not seeing what Conte is seeing. I think he has played quite well whenever on the field. You can't expect strikers to come on as a sub and play some magnificent football all the time when they only get 5-10 minutes of burn. Michy is talented. Got great positioning and seems to work hard on the field. I think he should be given more of a shot, but Costa has been in fantastic form.

All it takes is a chance and some confidence on the players part... He has all the physical tools to succeed. Some of you are hilarious with your analysis, but even funnier with your stubbornness when proven wrong. I've seen it enough with all the people on here who claimed Lukaku will never be anything decent anyway... Seems like he came around, yet they're still chirping.