Strike

Some were. Here on TC atleast. Ba would hold the ball up and keep possession. Add a presence while defending crosses/setpieces etc. It was a bad call to not make the subs at all but we've come to expect that of Benitez by now

Quite the apologist we have here. Oscar and Hazard were our best performers and he took them off. You can't absolve Benitez here. He didn't even use the 3 permitted subs. Used only 1 sub in the 73rd minute - which was apparently forced - The team began to tire near the end. You could see the intensity drop and players fail to close Spurs attackers down etc. Maybe the first half took a lot out of the players but he got the subs wrong. He should have made changes a lot earlier

It is absurd and unrealistic but forget about that for a moment. Falcao and Cavani are more of the poacher/advanced forward variety who cannot be shifted to the wing or midfield whereas Rooney is versatile enough to do a proper job in a deeper role, especially considering his experience this season. I see him a bit like Eidur Gudjohnsen in 2004. Went deeper at the end of his career to accommodate Drogba upfront but still got a good number of goals/assists. Lukaku will easily get more mins with Rooney than with Falcao or Cavani. He maybe used as the impact sub to add a striker up-front or Rooney could play deeper if needed. Such scenarios will pop up more with Rooney given his versatility

Luiz had a shocker. I know it's a bit harsh on him but it's maddening to think how good he is in defence and how average he is in midfield. For eg, look at the passes he played against Man United - he had more time and more space but in midfield he doesn't get that time and space. Jason made this point somewhere . His hurried passes are very poor imo and his tendency to go long is infuriating. Only 1 or 2 long-passes came off yesterday and he broke up a lot of counter-attacks as a consequence

Rooney offers the possibility of blooding Lukaku into the team next season. I think signing Falcao or Cavani means Lukaku will go out on loan for another year

David Moyes will not suddenly take United to mid-table but they won't score 85-90 points next season, I am sure. Big chance for Chelsea this. Till now, the expectation was that the new manager come in and 'challenge' for the title but now I think a title win is fully within the club's reach

"He couldn't even get Yakubu on a diet" :D

The worst part in all this is that Rafa took off our 2 best performers in that game and replaced them with Moses and Benayoun. If Hazard had a legit injury, I can understand that change but Benayoun for Oscar just has to be the stupidest substitution of the season. What the actual f*** was he thinking with that? Ake, Lampard, Ba were all on the bench and he goes for Benayoun?

That lineup will get slaughtered on the counter.

Cech Azpi Luiz Terry Cole Lampard Rami Oscar Mata Hazard Demba Ba No messing around. Top 4>>>>>>>Europa League trophy

He's been playing much deeper this season. Can he still lead the line at a top club?

the team was tired. the failure to use his subs and freshen up the team cost us the game

Benayoun Played: 10 mins Touches: 5 Passes: 4 Fouls: 2 Game-changing Substitution

Still can't believe he actually put Benayoun in for Oscar

Bale to win it. No doubt.

Benayoun for Oscar is Plain Stupidity

GET THAT STUPID NUMBER 9 OFF!

WTF! Luiz Keep the damn ball. You're not gonna score from 40 yards everyday son

I'd put Demba Ba on. Holds up the ball and is a good presence to defend setpieces

Hazard went straight down the tunnel. Probably his injury acting up again

Eden Hazard >>>>Gareth Bale

Trust Huddlestone to take a shit freekick

Hazard should've done better after cutting back to Right Foot

Who cuts power at 1:30 am in the night?! lol

0 - Chelsea did not concede a single foul in the first half versus Tottenham. Pure. source: Opta