Jase

The over-the-top or over-the-defence pass is a specialty of Lampard. We have seen that a lot during his time year especially when Drogba was around..

While one can't fault his commitment and workrate as well as his usefulness on the counter attacks and offering us width, he really needs to improve his ability ON the ball offensively. More often than not, he always seem to lose the ball whenever he tries to dribble past players etc.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9012852/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed He didn't come for a training session because he missed the train back to London from Lille..

Hasn't been easy for him this season but am very happy for Ba to see him score his first goal of the season and his first in the Champions League. And not to mention, it means now all of our strikers have scored this season!

I know people have their opinion and all but there is no win-win situation about Mikel with Phil Driver, does it? Even when Mikel played well, he finds excuses and reasons from elsewhere to lambast him as opposed to judging his performance on that game alone objectively. And yet, if that had been Lampard, he would have been wanking all over him like he put in a Messi-esque performance against Schalke.. If someone forward actually make themselves available as a passing option, we wouldn't be see so much of this ridiculous backpasses between the CBs and DM. And on the other hand, if you are gonna criticize Mikel for that, then the same should be leveled on Terry and Cahill or our CBs in general.

Just like what others have mentioned, as much as Ivanovic has done well defensively this season, it is the complete opposite with him going forward. His use of the ball is absolutely horrible and appalling and yesterday, he proved that. Every cross and pass in the attacking third looked more like a hit-and-hope ones than a proper committed and intentional cross and pass. It's no wonder why teams are happy to let him have the ball because they know he won't produce anything productive in the final third. Moreover, Azpi has shown that at RB if he can't cross and/or pass with his right foot, he is not afraid to do so with his left instead as last season's assist for Hazard against West Brom and Wigan, for instance, proved that and that is something Ivanovic just can't do. Really, if it wasn't because of his height and physicality, I doubt Ivanovic will be starting games at RB now.

Chelsea face Black Cats test in Capital One Cup

Average performance but wasn't really troubled apart from the horrendous opening 10-15 minutes. And once again, we couldn't really muster any chances from open play when we have the possession and have to rely on luck/smart thinking and counter attacks to score the goals. Worrying. Otherwise, got the job done done and win needed. Now, time to get back to winning ways in the league this Saturday!

Speaks volume about Cole's performance at LB when a makeshift RB playing in his position is playing better than him..

Jose Mourinho will go head-to-head against a former Blues player in Gus Poyet as Chelsea will travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on 17th December with the game set to be broadcasted on Sky Sports at 7.45pm UK time in the Capital One Cup quarter finals. The draw was made last week and the Blues were given a tie against either Sunderland or Southampton as the game did not take place till yesterday due to police concern over the Black Cats and their arch nemesis in Newcastle’s match taking place at the same time and place. Incidentally, Chelsea will face the same opponent twice and in the same stadium due to their league meeting between the two scheduled in early December. In Poyet’s only fourth game in charge of the club, Sunderland dispatched a much changed Southampton side 2-1 at the Stadium of Light yesterday with goals from Phil Bardsley and Sebastian Larsson sealing a morale boosting win in a tumultuous season for them so far. On the other hand, Chelsea brushed aside London rivals Arsenal 2-0 with consummate ease last Tuesday - despite 10 changes were made to the starting XI - as goals from the Spanish duo of Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata ensured Mourinho’s men participation in this round. Incredibly, the two sides will meet each other for first time since 1992 in domestic cup competitions and the history do not favor Chelsea. In four cup meetings, the Blues have never won against Sunderland with three of them ending in defeats and the last time this tie took place in this particular competition was further back in 1985 in the semi-finals stage. The Black Cats then won the first leg 2-0 at home before claiming the same result but with a narrower scoreline in a 3-2 away win to seal a 5-2 triumph on aggregate. However if recent history is anything to go by, then the Blues will be confident on claiming their first win over the counterparts in domestic cup competitions. Mourinho’s men have won 18 out of their last 19 Premier League matches against Sunderland with only one blip suffered during the run which ended in a defeat in November 2010. This clash will also offer a trip down memory lane especially for Gus Poyet as he scored this spectacular goal during his playing days for Chelsea against, ironically, his new and current charges. The other three quarter final ties will see Manchester City travel to the only non-Premier League side left in this competition in Leicester City while their city rivals Manchester United will also be on their travels as they head to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke and Andre Villas-Boas’s Tottenham will host West Ham in a London derby at White Hart Lane with Sam Allardyce’s side hoping to repeat their stunning 3-0 win over the same rivals. Should the favorites - Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - win their respective tie, then a Manchester as well as London derby may well take place in mouthwatering clashes in the semi finals. Click here to view article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0DS1L6-cI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2YgZnmDCdo

Wonder if some will come to say he's rubbish and used Lampard's assist shortly after he came on to downplay Mikel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vthVxI2yfM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trI0W3aBq0U

Nadal was apparently watching from the stands too!

Aaah...

Some speculations going about saying Hazard missed a training session because he was at the Lille v Monaco game on Sunday. Was probably late or something..

Looks like Hazard has been a bad boy... Mourinho said Hazard missed the last training and when asked about it, he gave that response..

Chelsea vs West Bromwich PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT English Premier League 9th November, Saturday, 2013 Stamford Bridge 15:00 Kick Off (UK time)

Chelsea 2-2 West Bromwich POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS English Premier League 9th November, Saturday, 2013 Stamford Bridge 15:00 Kick Off (UK time)

Sunderland have beaten Southampton 2-1 in the 4th round tie.

Mikel starts and Lampard is on the bench. #YOLO

That's the confirmed lineup. It's on the UEFA site. On the bench: Schwarzer, Cole, Luiz, Lampard, Mata, De Bruyne and Ba. No Hazard...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGQVL3mIUHk