Jase

Euro 2016 Group Stage Draw...

Classic Ibrahimovic... http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1725431/zlatan-ibrahimovic-says-destroyed-premier-league?cc=4716

The performance yesterday (and in the last 2 games for that matter) wasn't great and we all do want to see good-great performances from the team but think we would be soon in that period of the season, if not already, where getting the results is more important than the performances. That's certainly not to say we can continue to play poorly though but getting the result like yesterday in the manner that it happened is important to achieve what we want this season.

For all the brilliance and great performances the likes of Hazard, Oscar etc have put in this season, it wouldn't be the craziest of idea to suggest that perhaps Azpi deserves to win the club's POTY season award. If there is anything that defines consistency, it's probably Azpi. He always at least put in a 7/10 performance in every game.

Mourinho after the game yesterday... http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3681858/title/final-whistle-verdict-we-did-everything

The Chelsea app yesterday...

Thought the referee Lee Probert favored Everton a lot with his decisions. The minute an Everton player goes to ground from a challenge, it's a free kick for them but it wasn't the case when the situation was the other way round and it's a bit nonsense of Martinez to moan after the game saying we used "every trick in the book" to get free kicks. Weren't they wasting time here and there with their goal kicks?!

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mourinho-boost-chelsea-loan-stars-6735947?utm_source=GetWestLondon&utm_medium=Twitter

Oscar would have been OK by now if he only needed 1-2 weeks rest. Already had it in past few weeks. Agreed with Barbara's point. Think Oscar needs a more sustained period of rest but don't think that's gonna happen with crucial games coming thick and fast and this being the World Cup year is not helping either. Having so many much in recent years, think Oscar could do with a total shut out from football altogether for awhile. Will help to recover physically and mentally when you take a step back from something you have done too much sometimes but it ain't gonna happen and guess it will depend to how Mourinho manages him with rest here and there from matches. And on Messi, think the problem with him was more of the fact Barcelona tried to rush him back from injuries and not giving him time to recover rather playing too much. He does play a lot yes but don't think that was the cause of the issue. Agree with the notion. It's still a mystery why Schurrle isn't getting more game time but in Salah's case, because he has to adapt and get familiar with the league, our playing style etc, we can't afford to risk playing just to do so in games where we practically have to win, every one of them. Hence, if anything, that was the one downside of selling Mata. Doesn't fit Mourinho's style ultimately yes but at least he had time and close enough to adapt and know what Mourinho wants in this system. Even he himself believed Mata would have played a big part had he stayed but that goes out of the window and now we have a slight problem with Salah.

Agree that there should be a tad more rotation but not buying the excuse for others especially we have had good amount of rest days in between matches in last 1 3/4 months. If this was last season, then yeah. This season, no.

Yes. Was the second one on the list.

I know. Given the amount of games Oscar has played over the past 1-2 years, tiredness is bound to kick in both physically and mentally. It's excusable in such cases. Just don't like how this reason has been overstated and used as an excuse for the last 2 results before today. We didn't play well at all today despite having a week to rest and prepare and it probably shows the last 2 games weren't all just down to fatigue and tiredness.

Think that might have been Willian. Oscar wasn't on the pitch then yet and Lampard didn't play.

He was rested recently against City and happened twice and not to mention, we have been playing one game per week since the start of January. Only in the last week or so we had a game every 3-4 days.

Apparently...

On the left...

Someone's not happy...

10.30pm UK time. You can go to www.firstrowsports.eu to find it.

Just saw the stat that in the last 7 league games, Real Madrid have picked up 19 points from 21 available while Barcelona only got 11. And by the way, it's the Madrid derby at the Calderon next weekend. Real and Atletico could go into the game level on points and 3 ahead of Barcelona if the latter beat Osasuna tomorrow.

Moved to the correct thread...

Cannot believe Dortmund actually lost 3-0 to Hamburg, an awful Hamburg side that even shipped 4 goals in against Braunschweig recently! Anyway, with Dortmund, Leverkusen and Schalke all failed to win this weekend, Bayern can go 19 points clear at the top if they win tomorrow. Madness!

True but TBF, Real Sociedad got relegated in 06/07 and only returned to La Liga in 10/11 season. Otherwise, it's 3 losses and 1 draw for Barcelona in their last 4 visits to San Sebastian.

That is if he actually starts making runs to receive passes and less of that bitching to the referee...

I believe the only goal we scored directly from a corner this season was Torres's first goal against Schalke in the Champions League. Otherwise, you'll have to go back to Ivanovic's goal against Benfica in the Europa League final for the last one.

Feel really sorry for the lad. Deserves better.