Jase

Not sure about CB but the record for most assists provided by a defender in a single season is 11.

Uh oh.

You are tying to make them sound like different issues but ultimately, they are the same. Pair Hazard with a passive FB/WB, put Lampard/Bakayoko in a 2-man midfield and they all become far less effective than if we play Hazard with an attacking FB/WB or Lampard/Bakayoko in a 3-man midfield. To be honest, I'm not sure why you are using the argument 'oh because he can work only in one system, it means he's not a good player'. Lots of good players out there work best when they are used in a certain system and they become far less effective when used in one that doesn't suit them. Bakayoko isn't any different. And isn't part of football about finding the right system for the player(s) so that it can bring the best out of him(them)? I agree that he hasn't been all that great but it's also unfair not to give him some time before truly passing judgment on him. It's been said many times - he joined us without playing any part in pre-season, had to be forced back earlier because we had selection issues back in August, he's settling into a new country, new league, new team and a team that hasn't always been consistent all season etc. Give him time for heaven's sake.

Well, duh! It's just like one performance/win doesn't take away from our recent unconvincing performances/results. How does Bakayoko want to play like Kante? The former appears to operate best as a B2B midfielder while the latter works best as a defensive midfielder and in a system like Conte's, Kante does get some freedom to bomb forward. Some of you lot here really have no patience. Had Bakayoko come from our academy, people would be pleading patience for him. But because we bought him from elsewhere, people are quick to jump on his back. At least give him some time and chance to improve. If he's still the same like now in 1-2 years' time, then fine.

Isn't that a tad too simplistic to look at things? Some players work better in a certain system where it can allow them to shine. Remember all the damage that Lampard or even Essien did in a 3-man midfield? They wouldn't even have done half of it had we asked to play in a 2-man midfield because it would restrict their freedom. Bakayoko isn't the first to work best in a certain system and he won't be the last either.

Funny how all but one there are all defenders. Fits the manager.

He's currently contracted till 2020.

People are judging him against our current option. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Sandro was signed. Yeah...but it was not like Luis was pulling up any trees while he was here.

Do not understand why people keep on harping about Luis like he's some sort of genuine world class talent. Did alright at Atletico before we bought him but has hardly been setting the world alight since then, even after returning to Atletico.

One thing that puzzles me is people's - mostly non-Chelsea fans - reaction to Christensen's performance against United. I know he came in for Luiz but he has started in the XI before and done well in previous matches and yet, people seem surprised by the manner of his performance, as if he came out of nowhere. And speaking of Luiz, the situation around him being dropped is just silly. When Conte dropped Cahill, there was barely any fuss even though he's the captain. Conte dropped Luiz, there's suddenly a big fuss being made about it. Guess it speaks of volume of how the two players are held in different regard but the whole thing is just dumb. Would like to think that Luiz is a proper pro and will eventually work his way back onto Conte's good side.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/11/06/michael-emenalo-quits-chelsea-major-blow-roman-abramovich/ Emenalo is LEAVING the club!

Conte on Azpi. https://talksport.com/football/chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-hails-performances-alvaro-morata-and-cesar-azpilicueta-victory

Maybe he got too caught up emotionally after what's happened in midweek? He did go full on celebrating the second the final whistle was blown. On the other hand, it's only a handshake. Not sure why there's a fuss about it.

Watched Sky's post-match analysis last night and really cannot believe Souness and Carragher made excuses for United. Carragher, especially, said United aren't built to play attacking football against the big sides. This about a side who have spent hundreds of millions over the last 3-4 years to rebuild that squad.

I guess. Not confident in this team to produce it on a consistent basis against the top sides, not when this squad is filled with some really average players. For now, will just enjoy any big performance, big win etc against the big sides.

Get your point but not sure if there's a need to play down the victories over Atletico and United. Given they were both big games, we could have easily played it safe. We could have gone to Atleti - with their impressive home record - and played on the break, played for a point. But no, we dominated them from the outset, even after going behind, and deservedly won. You are right that Atleti are having a poor season by their standards under Simeone but we are the only side to have beaten them so far this campaign. As for United, after what happened in Roma, again, we could have been cautious, we could have played the game within ourselves and hid but no, we went at them from the start, determined to put in a performance and get the win. I mean, how many of us were fearing the worst before the game?

Chelsea FC = Hollywood FC

He's hardly the best in defending but maybe his no nonsense approach to defending is what we needed after the mess at Roma.

It helps when there's Kante around. Not sure if a midfield of say Drinkwater-Bakayoko-Fabregas is better than Kante-Bakayoko-Fabregas.

It was Smalling, not Jones. The latter just wandered out of position like a headless chicken.

Such a big contrast between before that Spurs loss and since then...

Can only hope this is not a one off. Need to continue this momentum after the international break. West Brom, then two big games at Qarabag and Liverpool.