Jase

Of all the sides he's managed, the current crop of players is probably the most un-Mourinho team ever. 1. Defense. We're shambolic. OK, we might have ended up with the best defence in each season since his return but we're still making mistakes (really silly and basic mistakes) that are not normally associated with a Mourinho side. Never mind about letting in goals, a Mourinho side usually doesn't give the opposition many chances but this season alone, we've probably conceded more than 30 shots on target in four matches! That's poor for a big club and I think only the relegation teams are close to that amount. 2. Set pieces. Do we actually even practice corners and free kicks in training? It's beyond shocking how often the set pieces fail to beat the first man, are overhit or hit straight to an opposition player. We are already struggling to score from open play, the least we could do is be more threatening, more imaginative with our set pieces so we can score from them. 3. Counter-attacks. For a side filled with fast attacking players, we sure score very few goals from counter-attacking situations. Don't commit enough men forward, not decisive in the final third, like to take the extra touch and making the wrong decision with the final delivery. Mourinho has been working with these players for 2 1/2 seasons now and there hasn't been any improvement. I still remember the 4 v 1 counter attack we had at City 2 seasons ago and we somehow contrived to mess it up! 4. Tiki-taka passing. Maybe Mourinho is trying to change our way of playing but can he tell the players not to over-elaborate in the final third? If there's a good chance to shoot at goal, then shoot. But if the opportunity isn't there, then don't and keep the ball moving. It's extremely infuriating that we're tying to be like Arsenal and walk the ball into the net. Be quicker and direct with the passing (I don't mean just lumping the ball to the striker). If there's a chance to set someone on goal, then quickly do it. Don't take the extra touch and pass to create the perfect goal. Quick, direct goals can be effective and great to watch too! 5. Midfield. Teams of Mourinho tend to contain the strong, physical players especially in midfield but this side has too many softies (e.g. Fabregas). Again, this is perhaps part of Mourinho's attempt to try a new way of playing but we are desperately lacking a physical player or two to go alongside Matic. We need someone who isn't afraid to fight, to do the dirty things (if you can call it that) etc when matches get tough and physical. Imagine what a peak Essien, Ballack or Lampard would do for this side. Mourinho needs to get 1-2 those kind of players in because we need to have a balance of strength, power, pace and creativity. Without that strength and power in the side, we get overrun too easily whenever we come up against a half-decent side.

I know we didn't have many options today but it's bizarre to see Mourinho use the youth players in a desperate situation but doesn't when we're not in a desperate situation (e.g. like playing a dead rubber Champions League match).

First on MOTD tonight even though Liverpool lost 3-0 to West Ham. Oh my.

Harry Kane has now scored only 1 goal in his last 9 league matches...

The recipe for success against us is very easy - get at Ivanovic, cross into the box, score. Rinse and repeat.

Stones will score the winner.....

If true...

:tophat:

Opposition playing with width is not only the problem for us. Even simple passing movement is enough to cause us trouble and they ran us ragged, especially our midfield, that way in the last season's corresponding match.

Unless their name happens to be Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Cole, Schurrle...

Hilarious if people think Cuadrado's arrival had anything to do with his form.

It's the Fernando Torres syndrome.

Ridiculous how people still go on with Remy-offside thing and lose faith in a player who contributed some massive goals last season after one bad half. Fucking hell!

What a stupid stat.

Too lazy to even criticize Ivanovic now after fucking up for the 147845435th time!

Like I said, Willian is totally clueless in the final. Gives plenty of energy, pace, stamina etc but offers very little end product. It's got to the point where it's not even funny anymore.

Honestly, if I was Remy right now, I would be calling my agent to find me a new club. I just don't get what has Remy done not to deserve a single minute of game time in the Premier League so far. This is a guy who scored several vital goals for us last season and has proved he's reliable whenever called upon. But for whatever reason, he has been completely ignored.

Mourinho is probably eyeing that big fat paycheck after signing that new four-year contract.

God, where to even begin with this...? Positives: 1. Err...err...err...were there any positives today? Negatives: 1. Pedestrian football going forward. Plenty of (stupid) passes around the penalty area but very little penetration and to make matters worse, we decided to take aimless pot shots from distance. I mean...HOW CLUELESS CAN WE GET?! 2. The defence...looked OK in the first half but everything that's wrong with it became apparent in the second when we attacked more. Again, both of Palace's goals came down from our right side (FFS IVANOVIC!!!). Mourinho said he's been drilling the defence in training this week but there hasn't been any improvement. NOT ONE BIT! 3. Players' form. If anyone finds the real Hazard, Fabregas, Matic etc, please return them to the club ASAP because those playing out there right now are imposters. They seem to lack the hunger, desire and commitment. At the moment, almost everyone is just going through the motion. 4. Mourinho. Still can't understand his decision to bring on Kenedy and play him at LEFT BACK when we had an actual left back on the bench! That decision turned out to be costly because our LB area was exposed for Palace's second goal. At that point, it looked as if Mourinho was just randomly throwing players onto the pitch. Did we really need to go that gung-ho when we were only 1-0 down?! 5. We have 4 points from 4 games and are 8 behind City in first. Our next three games are Everton (A), Arsenal (H) and Newcastle (A). Based on what we have seen so far, I'm fearing the worst.

Everton vs Chelsea PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT 2015/16 Premier League Match 5 12th September, Saturday, 2014 Goodison Park 12:45 Kick Off (UK time)

Everton 3-1 Chelsea POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 2015/16 Premier League Match 5 12th September, Saturday, 2014 Goodison Park 12:45 Kick Off (UK time)

More Martinez and Everton hypocrisy...

Contender for stat of the season...