Jase

Before people jump on the bandwagon and accuse me of being ardent defender of Mata here, I would like to ask, on what grounds were Mata's reaction yesterday indicating he was challenging Mourinho's decision or authority for that matter? Yes, we can all see his frustration and he's clearly not happy after he was subbed off but we don't even know what his frustration was exactly, do we? It just seems nonsensical that people are coming to that conclusion above based on one reaction like that - a speculation-esque if anything - when there is no 100% evidence to say he was completely challenging Mourinho's decision. And even at that, to say he's 'challenge' seems somewhat OTT of a description. If anything, there's a difference between him 'not happy' with Mourinho's decision and 'challenge' the manager's decision.

That may be a decent point but let's be fair here for a second, do people expect somebody - even someone as cool as Mata - to always stay calm and normal in the heat of the moment and arguably facing an increase in frustration? As I said in the previous post, it's always easy for we all sitting here and just criticize when someone react like that and perhaps not understand enough of the situation or the player's POV.

So much for @CHOULO19 saying this the other day...

Watching the game yesterday, don't think there is anything that surprises me anymore with Torres. He did well in the first half and was being positive as well as showing good attacking intent in making things happen BUT my oh my, his end product were absolutely hopeless, which in the end kinda defeats the whole purpose and rendered his good work useless.

No, Mourinho practically did the same with Inter and Real Madrid and certainly more so with the latter. To say he is only doing it now is somewhat nonsensical especially when transitions are highly important to him.

That two passes for Oscar - one ended in his dive and the other his goal - was rather...exquisite!

A decent point and it does make me wonder if we solve our pivot problems, will he be playing Mata in there? After all, Sneijder and Ozil wasn't exactly the best of players defensively but had good solid pivots behind them to make that midfield work. But then again, given the situation with Mata right now, doubt we'll be able to see that 'experiment'.

Today was arguably his worst performance since joining the club and that two set piece deliveries was damn bloody woeful! However, given he has hardly been playing lately, can't really expect him to just turn it on. Should get another start against Derby to improve his form.

Mourinho was just joking when he said. Obviously Luiz wouldn't be going to Portugal at this time with games coming thick and fast!

Indeed. Their defeat to Wigan today is their first in 10 games and this match is a potential banana skin if we are not careful. Brentford last season, for starters, should serve as a reminder.

It is really frustrating, painful and disheartening seeing this situation with Mata right now, it really is. You pretty much said what I wanted to and just to add, I believe Mata is trying to adapt and change his game a little to suit what Mourinho wants but the problem is and arguably has been from the beginning that, he is not a Mourinho type of player. And because of that, once Mourinho sees or feels Mata is not performing or doing what he wants, he's immediately taken off. Mata is simply suffering at the moment because he's not a player like Oscar, Willian etc. In regards to his reaction today, maybe it wasn't the best and he shouldn't be reacting like that but I don't really blame him TBH. Think it's too easy for us sometimes to be armchair critics and slam Mata for his negative reaction. Even a calm and cool person (like Mata) has got to be frustrated and showed it sometimes in the heat of moment and given the frustrations Mata has endured this season like being subbed far too often, it is normal if he just suddenly loses it a bit. Don't tell me none of you lots have lost your cool once in awhile? It's just like what GodZola said above really, the situation is tough for Mata as when he gets a few games and play well, then suddenly he gets dropped in the next game or in such case like today, he was doing alright but then was taken off and all because he's not quite the player that Mourinho prefers. And not to mention, I don't even think Mourinho has played him as a No.10 yet and allow him to flourish. Mata may be able to play out wide but doesn't necessarily have the abilities to truly flourish there. It's just a case of Mata having his own strengths and Mourinho prefers different of strengths in a player. It's really going to be sad and painful but for his sake, I hope Mata leaves and go to a club where his abilities can be maximized so he can really flourish. There is not much point of keeping a player where his and the manager's strengths and preference are not compatible. Would rather just have the club buying players that fit into what Mourinho wants really. *sigh*

Although Southampton haven't been in form, this was an impressive 3-0 win nonetheless and thank gawd we got the win in the end after squandering countless of chances (again!) in the first half. Gotta also credit the defence for the win after producing some heroic blocks against these lots and heck, Efan Ekoku even said we are one of the best teams in the Premier League history in throwing our bodies in the away and blocking shots (he cited early 90s Arsenal as the other team great at doing this).

Derby County vs Chelsea PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FA Cup 3rd Round 5th January, Sunday 2014 Pride Park Stadium 14:15 Kick Off (UK time)

Derby County 0-2 Chelsea POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FA Cup 3rd Round 5th January, Sunday 2014 Pride Park Stadium 14:15 Kick Off (UK time)

Happy New Year lads. Have a great year!

......................

In practically the last day of 2013, how about looking back at some of the defining moments of Chelsea that happened this past year? What are your favorite moment(s) or highlight(s) from 2013 about Chelsea? Can be about anything, from things from off and obviously on the pitch. Mine would be: 1. Lampard breaking the goalscoring record and securing Champions League place against Aston Villa. After the madness and draining season we had, the emotion and feeling was just like 'OMG YES, GET IN' when Lampard scored the late winner and clinch the top 4 spot especially when we contrived to almost mess things up in that game but the combination of both factors was a joy and relief at the same time. 2. Winning the Europa League - after spurning countless of opportunities to win trophies last season(!) - and becoming only the 4th side in history to win the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Cup. And oh of course, screwing Jorge Jesus in the process, again! 3. Mourinho returning. Need I say more about this? 4. Juan Mata. Just a joy watching this player and his brilliance in the team and then seeing him winning the club's Player of the Year award. Shame he won't be the first in the club's history to win it 3 in a row given what has happened this season.

Champions League: Eden Hazard thinks Chelsea's underdog status is a positive

While that may be true, it doesn't always have to be just a striker to get at the end of things to convert chances into goals..

The paranoid side of me is saying Hazard should just be quiet and continue to play the way he has been to prove the doubters wrong. Don't need to come out and say such things just because he is in a 'good moment'. Otherwise, could well backfire if he suddenly goes off form...

Is that an attempt to blame things on Mikel? If yes, then that is seriously . Don't get how is that a poor article. Michael Cox was just presenting the two sides of the coin with the use of Luiz in midfield and the task he was given to do. While we had a lot of success with it, it was inevitable to leave space behind given the task of Luiz and it was already evident from the start. In both halves, he had someone to sit behind and cover to allow him to do that. First was Lampard and then Mikel. Had the former not picked up an injury, he would have continued to do the same in the second half, like what he did in the first. Both were practically doing a very similar job in the pivot, covering Luiz and protecting the back four.

Seriously, he makes all the other crazy club owners look sane.