Strike

Essien deserves an ovation from the crowd. Hopefully he makes another appearance (FA Cup game) before leaving

Every time there's a big home game the atmosphere is great and it gives the players a big lift. United will probably sit deep and try to catch Chelsea out on the break like last season but I think at home, we should win it especially with their 2 good strikers out injured. Same XI as the last game for me.

Earlier in the season, Jose confirmed that Chelsea had asked about an uncapped English player. At the time many thought it might have been Barkley but I think it was mostly Shaw. Zouma and Shaw in the summer and the defence is set for years

Why is everyone putting Matic in their teams? i doubt he'll pick up on his roles and duties in midfield (pressing) within 2 days

KdB out Matic in. Good business. the fuckin pivot is finally sorted!

yeah. just saw Kompany voted for Yaya and Hazard. Eto'o voted Hazard. Gerrard voted for Suarez. Messi voted Iniesta. Biased votes

Been coming really

All assumptions. Matic signing will surely mean Lampard's playing time is regulated and that will get the best out of him imo

Haha. sturridge is a lot better than Demba

newcastle got mugged. atleast city have injury problems now

come on newcastle. put it in the box

Also, Matic, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard are 4 good starting options. Matic-Ramires, Matic-Lampard is the best midfield pairs among them. better than all current options i think

Haha but it looks like we've got him and the source isn't the Daily Mail or the Daily star Relax. It's from twitter

Chelsea have signed Matic http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/1755350

^Ashley Cole is still okay defensively but he's not bombing forward and making himself available in attack as often as before

it may make us look like mugs but it isn't that big of a deal really especially if he settles in quickly

Jay's posted it in the matchthread

think Mikel would have started yesterday if he had trained on Friday

I would play the same team that played yesterday. The same that played Liverpool (with Ramires in for Lampard). Seem to have struck a rhythm atm.

Thank you Joe Cole for sending him here edit: anyone else notice that almost half the forum has a Hazard avatar now

I don't think we've seen the best from him yet

What the fuck? Dreadful penalty

Torres wasn't good at all but took his goal well.

Good away win. Hazard is on fire now. Cech breaks clean-sheet record. Happy days at the club

fantastic away fans again