Thor

Played really well today. Was our only decent player outside of Begovic and Matic. He looks clumsy, and on the verge of losing the ball at times, but he actually has decent ball control. Might just be his lanky style due to how big he is. Quick, alert, strong and knows how to go forward. Perfect build for the modern full back. Becoming a favourite of mine very quickly with his attitude too. Get the sense he is a great bloke off the pitch.

Better now than later in the season. We aren't going to sit back and do nothing about it. Clearly the push for Stones will intensify now, and that backline will be fixed. Mou also needs to get Azpi on the right and drop Ivanovic. He is terrible. Having the opposite footed player on the wings works great for the wingers and midfielders, but not so great for the backs who need to cross the ball in. I can't remember the last time Azpi crossed the ball in. I could sit here for an hour and think about it and nothing would spring to mind. The problems for this team really aren't as big as people are making it out to be. A few fixes at the back and we will be fine again. A midfielder would be great too.

What do you guys want Mourinho to do? Make Ivanovic better? It isn't on him. Tactically we looked fine. Simply our players sucking and not being anywhere near quick enough at times was the problem. i thought we were the better team in the 2nd half. We need Azpi playing on the right, and Baba on the left. Slowing down and stagnating the offence because we have a bunch of backs who aren't playing on their natural side and can't cross it (Azpi) and one who sucks (Ivanovic) is a great blow to this team.

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.