Sir Mikel OBE

You'd drop our best attacking player so far?

Wilian was the only thing stopping their fullbacks from putting the sword to us. Look at what happened when he left.

Dont worry the Mata fan club will find a way to blame Mikel, or the weather, for his faults.

If he cant be trusted this weekend against Fulham at home then he should go. Cole needs a rest badly.

Any other player playing the way he has wouldnt have got on the pitch tonight.

First attacking name on the sheet now.

I dont get the thought pattern Jose had when he removed Willian for Mata. I mean, seriously? Then he placed our most dangerous attacker on the wing, where he was shown not to do well on the wings for like the first 15 min. We lost the game there because he was the only thing keeping them modest on the wings. Hazard needs to meet the bench this weekend.

This is the danger of people getting minutes based on name alone. There is no reason he should have played tonight, especially not to push Oscar on the wings.

Taking Willian off was a poor poor poor move.

Mikel is actually a good move. Since Mata is in the middle and Oscar is on the wings we need a defensive force in the middle now.

They are taking it to us now.

I knew when Willian went off we were in trouble. Game got stretched.

Oscar is running the show.

Willian should have kept his hand down until the play was over....we might have been in there.

Far back for him. I think his work rate is perfectly suited for when he is stationed in an attacking position. Farther back means there is more importance placed on the defensive workrate. Chipping in on defense is an entirely different situation than having to actively structure your game around defending centrebacks behind you. Or future is with a Van Ginkel-Ramires paring at CM IMO.

Oscar would probably leave before he allows himself to be placed further back. Such a move would be damaging for his international career.

Eto'o has been good. Willian looks to still be trying to synch with the team. Nice movement though.

Torres?

As I said. Get wide, spread out the middle, goal

They have too many people behind the ball. I would get a pure winger on to stretch them out since Cole cant do it right now.

To make the narrow game even more narrow?

Van Ginkel isnt ready either. Hope this puts that to bed.

Salah v cole looks dangerous. He's too fast for him

Already liking what I am seeing from Willian on the wing.

Or is Mata not showing enough to get included in these type of matches? Only one who could feel hard done by this selection today is De Bruyne IMO.