Jase

Gary Cahill shaping up as Chelsea's man for big occasion Decent interview to read from him in the Telegraph..

Essien looks nothing more than an emergency player right now. And if anything, Van Ginkel looks more likely to start against Swindon than Basel on Wednesday.

Cliche as it is, to write Eto'o off after just 1 game is just nonsensical. It's just the same as most of us thought Ba will be great for us after a good debut performance against Southampton back in January and look what happened since then. Give it a few games before passing conclusive judgment on him..

Essien? Doubt it. Think it will be Mikel and Lampard for the pivot. Van Ginkel on the bench at most IMO.

Don't think having so many options especially in the attacking areas is helping Mourinho right now. Like you said, he doesn't seem to know his best system and team that will suit them. At least with Benitez back then, it was straightforward with the selection since the lack of quality in squad depth was apparent. Was easy for him to just pick the best ones and go with it.

Merged that post with this thread..

Naah. We lost because of those damn black away kits again!

1 defeat and AVB is suddenly better than Mourinho?! He's lost it and mentally ill?!!

Erm guys, Ramires is suspended for this game. Remember that sending off in the Super Cup? The suspension carries over to the Champions League.

So, does that mean he was necessarily was the worst player on the pitch like people seem to make it out to be? No.

Just wondering, mind expanding a little more on what you mean by Oscar controlling the game in ways that only he can and the Everton game proving so.. How on earth do people exactly just come to the conclusion that 'oh Mata is not good enough because he's the focal point of our attack'?!

Any ways to do that? I don't drink..

Remember this incident? Oh dear..

Everything right now just feel so fucking pathetic. From studies to football to having to deal with idiots. Don't even know where to begin to vent out the frustration! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Not exactly. AFAIR, he did make a fair bit of those forward runs when it was still 0-0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNWZCtU4jMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZg88OkIAqk

Guess everyone has gotten paranoid and/or think too much of his situation with Mourinho..

Not just the England games, he previously played all our 5 games before that and yet Mourinho didn't even look to rest him like he did with Lampard today. And he'll probably start the next 2 games before Bertrand gets a look in for the match against Swindon.

This maybe a hindsight comment. I know we had a counter attacking chance, Ramires messed things up that led to the goal and catalogue of errors but why on earth did Cech tried to rush things then in the last minute of the first half? Why didn't he just calm things down a little and don't take any risk so that the game stays at 0-0 at HT?!

Chelsea vs FC Basel PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1 18th September, Wednesday, 2013 Stamford Bridge 19:45 Kick Off (UK time)

Chelsea 1-2 FC Basel POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1 18th September, Wednesday, 2013 Stamford Bridge 19:45 Kick Off (UK time)

The one good reason why Ivanovic has been starting at RB so far is probably because he compensates for the lack of height and physical presence in the team.

Not gonna blame Mourinho for not starting Lampard today?

Am rather frustrated that he isn't taking defenders or opposition players on more often when he can do so and it puzzles me that he has not struck any attacking partnership with Cole on the left flank..

Agree but sadly for us, as it has been, Torres did absolutely nothing..