DH1988

Because they are Chelsea players that play in the same position, I don't compare Courtois to Harry Kane. That is the comparisons we make, we cannot play the way we want to play this season without Willian, simple as that, he's improved on last season and I hope that next season or the 2nd half of the season the pot shots he takes, which Jose encourages, actually conform to something better than a pea that slips off the plate on a Sunday roast because he has a dynamite of a shot. Its nothing new with Cahill though, he isn't world class, doesn't need to be with the way we play, the personnel we have. He's long been prone to square on syndrome, not tracking the runner in behind, this dates back SO long, sure he's improved but its one loss, a terrible team performance etc. and it wasn't aimed specifically at anyone more a generalization and I get the frustration after a match but to say Zouma in, Ramos in blah blah is an over reaction. John Terry was culpable for years and nothing close to the posts were seen. Would I swap Willian for Sanchez? Absolutely but that doesn't mean there is a clone of Sanchez out there ready made to buy, at the moment Willian does his job to a tee, but the others have to do theirs too, just a note on last night, we missed 3 one on one's with the keeper that went a fraction wide or Lloris had a wonderful camera save to make. Until we go back to having Ivanovic playing defensively we cannot bring another RW in, it upsets the whole balance and tactics of the team. Almost every EPL winning team I can think of has had that utility player or the worker bee. Like I said, he can end the season with 0 goals and 0 assists if he just does his job and we focus on our clinical finishing rather than 1-0, rush the opposition for 10 minutes then sit back.

Our other AMs? What good comes of those? Salah? Schurrle? Who are we talking about here? Fabregas and Hazard? Willian offers more than the first two and who are people calling for in Jan? Reus? Whoever is on the RW needs to conform to a style of play and tactical awareness to allow our RB and our formation to play like we do. Oscar has alot more freedom than Willian does, switch the two for 5 games and we can see where we are. It'll be a sad day when/if Willian is dropped, there's a reason we dominated Southampton after he came on, changes the whole dynamic of the team. If you read through, carefully, you'll see that I'm not Cahill's biggest fan, stretches back to before Monaco. Your saying that there has not been an over reaction to the defeat? If not then perhaps its yourself who might need to read a bit more carefully.

Big manager Big players Perhaps the kick up the arse we needed to be more clinical whilst 1-0 up, cost us again.

Not sure if serious.

Interesting and I agree/disagree with parts of your post, I know thats contradictory but if you/others understand why he's in the team to provide that balance then surely you understand to shy away from stats like goals/assists from someone who is essentially a workhorse for the team down the side where most of our play with the FB for the diagonal outlet comes from, he carries the ball well in the transitioning from midfield to the final third and much improved on at least taking pop shots, is there work to be done? Sure, with most of our team, he gets the rough end of the stick, as does Oscar, not his biggest fan by any stretch but I understand the role he's in and anything goal/freekick/assist wise is a bonus and again, certainly improved on last year tactically/linkup despite statistics. The moment we stop seeing improvement or not at LEAST performing the role he's assigned to do (By Jose) then its time to post about it but he's doing his job and an improved Willian on last season. Its just a massive over reaction that comes with a loss like that, look at the Cahill thread, witch hunt. Overpriced at £32m? For sure.

Agreed, the need is dire now, absolutely dire we need one ASAP after a few shaky games I can't believe the club hasnt done it already. Buy hummels now. £45m. Jk no one called for JT to be dropped after the Southampton game, no one called for JT to be dropped 2008-2011.. This is when big managers and big players step up, we have big managers, big players and I count gary in that. As I said, not world class, but doesnt have to be when our team is back to basics of where we found success this season.

Oh the left back, got you, Nothing to do with the errors leading up to the goal? Blaming Matic too for being pulled wide by eriksen leaving space all game, or him being rolled by Kane perhaps? No because he was obviously asked to pick him up, we then let's blame the other CM right? Team. Share the blame, as a team we rely on work rate, pressing and tactical/situational awareness, something we lacked as a team yesterday. Willian is asked to run like a mad man for 90 minutes, closing, pressing, linking play. Is he perfect!? No, has he improved on last year? Yes, just like others have, patience. We essentially play a back three with iva as a right winger when Willian plays for the aerial diagonal ball from the ball or deep central midfield, why? Because Willians work rate. Sorry just tiresome reading the same dribble after a loss it's like pinning the blame on a few when it was a collective dire performance including the manager. It happens.. No need for Omg Omg Omg reus NOW NOW NOW BUY A RW, BUY A CB. The over reaction and spoilt attitudes are real. My rudeness is not aimed at you, more a general frustration toward the same posts/blame game so I apologise if it comes across that way.

No Willian, no balance in the team in the way Jose wants to play that frees our creative players, even Ivanovic down the right side, evident when he doesn't play - whole team was not at the races yesterday. Couldn't care if he went all season with 0 goals 0 assists as long as I see him charging down people in the 88th minute like I have done almost every time I've seen him when he hasn't been subbed. Need those worker bees.

Considering he cannot hit long range bangers anymore due to his groin that'd be difficult. World class player, in his day, should of retired last year on a somewhat high instead of a wimper.

I hope Zouma plays 5 games in a row and Jose drops Cahill so we can all come back in here then post "Hope Gary had a nice rest, Jose needs to start him" Zouma is a talent, physical specimen, too rash, telegraphs his passing, looks unsure 50% of the time. A talent. Gary? Established quality CB. World class? Nope, doesn't need to be. Midfield were pulled to pieces today by energy, movement and tactics.

So much over reaction on this forum. Terrible performance, Wrong subs but Christ.. Chill out. We were outplayed, out performed, Spurs had more desire. I called this before the match said I had a bad feeling Spurs been very decent lately, chances haven't been going in but close, scoring late on, work ethic, Harry Kane on form ala Charlie Austin, whatever he touches is gold, its called a golden patch (Costa start of the season?) We still have issues with the team but what team doesn't. Calm. Gary is a good defender, not his biggest fan, check my posts, criticism dates well before Monaco (Falcao-gate) but the defence suffered from our midfield or lack there of. Credit to Pochettino, played Rose to keep Ivan pinned back, Eriksen's sole job was to pull Matic away from the midfield leaving Fabregas isolated against mobile movers. Why is it so hard to believe we were outplayed, Jose's tactics were wrong (few times that happens), players weren't at the races.

And when did Jose say this? Or by not offering him a new contract he said this? Your assuming, right? Gerrard leaving Liverpool, said he won't go to a rival. Class act. Loves HIS club. Cheers Frank.

Bad subs, team below par as a whole.

Exaggerate much. Below par games when he got knocked on the noggin, solid game against Southampton and the entire team was awful tonight and wasn't pressing.. Something we depend on. Let alone we missed four one on ones. One of those days.

Why people are calling for zouma Baffles me, did we clone him? I assume he has to replace our back four seeing as they were all equally as bad. Fuming with the result, wrong subs for me but to concede five is terrible and the midfield need to take responsibility for that as much as the defence.

Terrible performance from the squad as a whole but again, wrong subs for me.

They got hit for £49m by FFP fines in the summer which limited their spending somewhat, surely £30m in Jan with no sales limits their summer spending in which they need a CB/possibly CM too.

What the hell.. Out of the blue and are we starting to jump into selling a bit too quick because we made a few good sales recently? Hope not..

Us and City linked £20-30m bids gone in depending on what you/where you read. Both sets of scouts were watching him against Liverpool.

Get him, loan to Leicester

Decent, hopefully Rio isn't a concrete nob and helps him out a bit. Glad to see our players in the prem to be honest.

Guys, its OK to constructively criticize. Nobody wants him dropped. Nobody is calling him bad. Improved on last season. Class above others. Lacks decision making through games in the final third/box and it'll come

Nothing to do with his sister I'm sure judging by those instagram photos..

Interesting.. Very interesting. January signing?

Ok so these are rumours about United, slowly gathering pace for a few months now, reports said that Bale wants a new contract at RM, blah blah blah but Madrid want Reus - typical Madrid but in all seriousness IF it did happen that United spanked £120m on him or even what Madrid paid for him £80m, how can they actually afford that + wages and have any money for other signings? They sure as hell can't sell anyone for more than £10m, thats being generous. I know as Chelsea fans we cannot really moan about spending money but those days are gone since FFP apparently came in and it seems only a few teams are actually trying to get into line with it completely.