Thor

We've been solid these 10 minutes after the shaky first 2 minutes.

The twat has complained about every call too. Absolute wanker.

Of course he was on. Of course the ref would make a mistake.

Terry off... well fark me dead. Cahill should have volunteered with how poorly he played.

Jesus... people on here talking about a new manager. What is wrong with some of you? 2 games into the season and you guys are panicking... We suck at the back. Cahill in particular. It'd be nice to have Ivanovic away from the field too, but Cahill is a nightmare. Hoping for a better second half, and Baba Rahman to magically appear out there for Ivanovic and let Azpi play on the right.

Reus is a tier below Hazard, but it isn't a knock on him. Hazard is just top 5 in the world, while Reus falls in the top 10-30 range depending on the day.

England isn't lucky enough to have fine looking Australians like myself and you walking around. Let them have this one... and the Ashes.

Damn, how flexible are you!? I struggle putting my socks on in the morning.

I'm hoping Oscar gets the nod again, and plays like he did against Swansea. Saying that though he does seem to struggle against more physical opponents, and City are top notch at bullying other teams with their size and strength. Yaya alone bosses our midfield most times. Hopefully Oscar can step it up once again, since the first half against Swansea was the best football I've ever seen him play.

Great piece of business by the club to get Begovic. Cech was great, but the same thing came up last night that was evident for the last few years he was keeping for us. That near post. For one of the best keepers I've seen, he lets in so many near posts goals. His one downfall if anything over his career, that has been particularly highlighted recently.

It really is cringe worthy reading some of these posts this early on in the season. Yeah, we didn't do well in the first game based on result, but many will agree we played well outside of our backline. Guess what? We're trying to get that situation sorted. Baba and Stones are both being bid for. A lot of you are saying "just pay the money", but then you're the same ones that complain when we pay too much and they have a bad performance every now and then. Be patient. One game in. Barca looked like shit early on in last season, and they ended up having a pretty damn good year. We're good enough to do the same.

Well we were dominating prior to the sending off. So unless you can find a way to add players to the pitch after receiving a red card and inform the club, we won't do much better given the exact same thing happening.

We played fine with 11. Unlikely circumstances happened and it lead to the scoreline. As well as a terrible reffing job. Jesus... So many positives though, that most on here will overlook because we drew. Who is that new number 8 we signed? Some 50 million dollar wonderkid? If Oscar can play like he did in the first half all season, we essentially have ourselves a new player. He was brilliant. One of the best halves in a Chelsea shirt I've seen by any player in a while.

This made me laugh a little too hard.

See I just can't see the JT line as an excuse. Zouma came on, and I'm not sure if he is a right or left footer, but immediately offered more going forward. Not to mention, as clumsy, big and awkward as he is at times, he looked more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Azpi as shown me in a long time here. There is only so much that can be blamed on playing on the wrong side. And IMO Hazard has been great at tracking back and helping the last year. We need someone who can go forward and cross the ball in and link up, and not stagnate our movement. At times there is a channel of space for Azpi, but due to being uncomfortable on that foot, he doesn't take it. Holds it, and passes across or back. His relentlessness and determination to keep crossing is great, but at times it will be rendered uselss if he isn't good enough at doing it. I think we all remember some of the absolute pearlers that Luis used to produce, and not to mention link up play. But, not to make this a reminiscing thread, or one where we look sour over a player that is already gone, my point is, he doesn't provide enough to the team, to be a automatic pick. The problem though is, he doesn't give away much on the defensive end, hence a player who is far better offensively, but gives away slightly more offensively will never be looked at.

I'll come off sounding "stupid" and "ignorant" with this post to some, and probably a hater who doesn't see what is really going on in the game, but... Azpi is overrated. This has been my general feeling since we got him. Sure, you can say he plays out of position or whatever, but he isn't good enough to play on his natural side, and the guy we have playing on that side hasn't been much better the last year. He offers absolutely nothing going forward, is terrible at link ups, and honestly, at times, struggles to trap a ball if it isn't played perfectly to him. This isn't just based off last night like I said, but actually on his entire time here. Yes, he has had good games, but he isn't cut out for starting every week. He simply isn't good enough on both sides of the ball. I can't believe we didn't use Luis when he was here... Give him a few games to get accustomed to the team and we would be mint right now. Frees up Hazard so much, and gets great swinging balls in, etc. Gets too much praise for shutting down his wing... of course he does, he doesn't move out of defensive position, since he knows he can't help out... Our LB and RB pairing are two of the biggest things holding us back... They are both infuriating to watch at times.

I know I'm going to look like the overly optimistic guy writing this after a few preseason games that got everyone excited, but I know this guy is going to be one of the most efficient strikers in the league this season. He will be getting plenty of media talk this season, and it will be because he is one of the best once again. I know a lot of people were hammering on about how this is Torres all over again, but the situation is far and away different. The EPL hasn't gotten a chance to see Falcao really, or what his strengths and weaknesses are, so he hasn't been playing enough to get figured out. The pace and level of play is still there unlike Torres, and most of all, he is surrounded by players he has played with before. Our strikeforce will be great this season, and Falcao will most definitely produce. If anyone slumps on their form it will be Costa, though largely due to how brilliant he was last season. Hard to keep such a strike rate up, and he won't need to with a much improved range of players to choose from up front. Swapping Falcao in for Drogba is a big improvement, and it won't be like playing 10 vs 11 at times like we were last season with Drogs on the field injured at times.

Suarez is like 5'11 isn't he? How does he have that 5'6/5'7 center of gravity? He is as strong as a bull too. Frustrating watching him dribble our players at times.

Barcelona play with the ball on a string. Them and Real Madrid. I absolutely hate seeing it from Barca given our history with them, but it is amazing to watch. We're playing well though, playing to our strengths. And what a goal from Hazard... wow...

Given the position they play, I'd take Isco. Physical tools are always a plus, and Gotze isn't close to the physical specimen that Isco is. In terms of development, consistency and simple mental aspects of the game are what is stopping Isco taking it to the next level. Gotze on the other hand has his faults which cannot be overcome, like the physical side mentioned. He isn't the Hazard/Messi/Sterling type that uses their lower center of gravity to have that bulldog like strength. Nor is he as quick as them. I think going forward the gap widens in favour of Isco.

Funny seeing how many people underrate Pedro. Clearly haven't seen much of him since he sits on the bench now and it is blatantly apparent when people are excited about other prospects in the transfer section for that other wing position but not for him. He really is fantastic, and a lot better than some of the bigger "names" being mentioned for us. I'd rather Pedro than Greizmann or Sterling. He is a better player than both.

"He didn't score! He sucks" Cool, we get it. We're going to sit here and talk about how bad he is the whole time and how our club is falling apart because we think a great striker a few seasons ago can refind his form. Some of us don't think it is the end of the world, but clearly we're wrong, since every case is exactly like the Torres one, and a loan deal that will cost us 7 million all up will somehow be the downfall of the club. Will we even win a game when Falcao plays? He sounds like the worst player to ever play at 29, and is clearly a chemistry killer that will burn down a club from the inside.

It really isn't if you consider some of his substitution appearances were less than 10 minutes of play, and his playing time being so weirdly distributed, along with LVG coaching and making all kinds of weird changes that mess with their dynamic in the game... None of us really know how he'll do here, but can anyone that is doubting him point to the reasons as to why they are doubting him? He looked fine physically, as well as getting into the right spots when United wasn't just hoofing balls forward to Belgian Afro man. Apart from the terrible management at United, I don't see much lacking in his game. What is it that is the worry with this guy? He looks fine physically, so lets give him a shot and see if he can hit that form again in a more structured and suited team for him. Say what you like, but we won't be sending long balls to him like United were.

4 goals and 4 assists in 14 starts for the season... In a dysfunctional team changing its line up every single game and no synergy... coming back from injury. Why are we pretending Falcao doesn't know how to play football anymore? As someone who watched some United, it isn't due to injuries he played poorly, but mainly looking lost out there and not knowing where to be. Completely understandable in a team where Rooney was being played as a defensive mid at points in the season. He will be fine on a team like ours where his role will be more defined. His creativity and shooting ability is still there.