Chelsea Legend 11

So what would you have done, genius? We had the youngest bench we've had in years, all three of our DM's were on yellows and our only options off the bench were schurrle(who came on) and salah(who wouldn't offer anything in defending) guys were clearly tired and we lacked the presence on the bench to change them and keep the same approach.

Think about who Ivanovic had to track all game. Think about who is Utd's dangerman. Think about who we had on the bench should Ivanovic be sent off. Think about the large gap that would've opened up had Chelsea taken the 3 pts. Think about Brana's first yellow card. Think about Brana's second yellow card. Not saying the fix was in but Something was definitely fishy about the decisions made in this game... Its expected though this early into the season everyone needs to believe the title is still attainable. 8pts on city make the gap pretty large and hard to close...

Interesting.... The Geordie has spoken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZUZhwg9Bj8

I just can't help myself sometimes, some of the comments on here make for good entertainment! The fact is when Mikel came on at 65 we had two half chances to score and so did Utd...There was absolutely nothing in the game whatsoever to suggest the sub changed the game. They def had more of the ball but what is possession when you can't use it? every time they came forward it produced nothing. Trying to figure out how some of you read the game. We have 5 players on yellows and you want us to press to try and win the ball back? not to mention we don't have any guys on the bench who can really come in and do that job? The guys were knackered it obvious but this assertion that we lost control of the game when Mikel came on is some of the most comical tripe I've heard on here in some time. You guys need to quit your belly aching and look at the standings, you're crying over a draw at Old Trafford when they equalized in the last minute... I think you need to give it a rest.

So the move where Ivanovic got in on goal and nearly found Hazard was before Mikel was brought on? The move that produced an effort inside the 18 from Willian off a Hazard run was before Mikel? I'm at 75 right now and the best chance Utd have generated up until that point was Van Persie's shot into Matic's chest.... At 78 Van Persie get played in and there's no angle for him to shoot, Courtois makes a foot save. At 80 Wilson got a header just inside the 18 that wasn't even remotely threatening the goal... Trying to figure out what you saw at 85 and we're still very comfortable....

Hmmm... I wonder if the fact we had 6 guys on yellows had anything to do with the tactical switch? How can you be aggressive in winning the ball when the cards are flying left, right and centre? you guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill, seriously.

At what point in the match do you think we 'parked the bus'? I don't think it was at 65 when Mikel came on but I'd love to hear what you thought?

DeGea could've been MotM too. Hazard or even Drogba. There wasn't much in the game you guys are looking at it with a fine tooth comb and blowing the result well out of proportion. Do you even remember one time Courtois had to make an incredible save in the second half? Fellaini's header sure but it resulted in a goal. Most of their efforts were from so far out.

Having said that he was probably man of the match. he was influential but he needs to be finishing off those chances... That was terrible. He'll be better for it I hope.

Takes a big man to admit that well said brother! I agree with 98% of what was said here except the criticism of Zouma. That play when examined in slow motion makes it look like he was ball watching but in real time that was a bang-bang play, very hard to get there for the intervention. Phil Dowd had an absolute shocker... Anyone who watched the game(and I watched it with a shit ton of Utd supporters) agreed he and his crew were so poor. Still, thought we could've saw out the match despite his every effort to keep us from getting all three. The FA wins here! Chelsea go 8pts clear of City and it becomes very difficult to call this a league anyone can win.

You listen to Gary Neville, Carragher and Sourness and they'd say the exact same thing. People are whining over nothing, blaming Mikel for the draw hahahaha! Neville said Utd should be pleased with their performance but were outplayed in the second half and didn't create any chances to equalize until the very end. They got the benefit of a shitty refereeing decision and stole a point. If we go on the balance of the game its probably just about what they deserved since they were better in the first half. Funny Utd were better in the first half and deserved to be up but everyone is crying over Mikel coming on. If you're gonna cry, cry about how poor Cesc and Oscar were in the first half and how Cahill fell asleep to let Van Persie in 1v1 with Courtois. I'm utterly embarrassed for the amount of people here blaming the draw on Mikel and Jose being negative, so funny. Go back and watch the game people you'd be surprised how well we played once your shell shock from the late goal subsides.

I counted one. I think you had the channel switched to an online fifa 15 game... hahaha

I'm sure that has nothing to do with Utd. When you say struggle at what point did you shit your pants? was it when DiMaria crossed it from deep for the umpteenth time only to see it headed away by Cahill or Terry? Or was it the time Blind worked it to Fellaini and he struck it 5 yds clear of the net? This myth about us inviting them on is a joke, they are good attacking players at home of course they're gonna generate chances(half chances at best) were they any less threatening in the first half with everything to play for? You guys all looking for faults when they don't exist because you're bitter we dropped 2pts at OT. Quit your belly aching and get over it we're top of the league, Utd aren't exactly mugs this year.

Mikel cost us the game.... Interesting theory here. hahahhaha

Love Didier! What a legend. I almost want to preserve the pregame thread for prosperity! Lots of CHELSEA SUPPORTERS with Egg on their face right now.

Stats prove it if you didn't watch the game. Which shot do you remember being threatening? was it Di Maria's blast from 40 yds out into Courtois' hands that had you in awe? Or maybe it was Mata's moon shot 30 yds over the net.

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the village idiot.

That means nothing. Van Persie's one chance in the first half yes... To each his own I guess I didn't see the game like that at all.

remember Aston Villa away last year? Willian's red? jokers.

Drogba off... Our best defensive forward off okay. What all of you fail to understand is the circumstances that LED to the change. Oscar, Fab and Matic were on yellows. I bet most of you who say Mikel shouldn't have come on are the same people who said Willian should've come off against Aston Villa last year. What a joke. We were tactical astute today, we lost two points on a bang bang play. bringing on misfiring Schurrle and Salah wouldn't have changed anything.

What does it mean to be dominated? Hahahaha go back and watch the game dude. We were well in control of the match right up until the 85th min. I can't remember one situation where Utd threatened us in the second half... It was nervy because we didn't kill it, not because Utd posed any real threat going forward. Can you think of on play that had you worried? And now you're saying we should've shut up shop right after the goal at 54mins? lol dude you're killing me. Mikel is the last guy you bring on if you wanna go up a gear. We were good on the day, not great but don't complain about the tactical side of the game when there was little we could do to change it. Oscar Matic and Fab were on yellows, not really much else we could do.

Oscar was awful today deserved taking off but I don't think he was taken off because of his brutal play, had more to do with the midfielders having bookings and with the game going as it was someone was bound to get sent off. Jose made the right choice had it come off, the same people chastising him would be applauding him for his high tactical acumen. Hypocrites... when it works you love him, the rare chance it doesn't you criticize.

Hahaha. I should put this in as a sig. since you are so sure it was the wrong move what would you have done differently? Petr Cech?

but that's not what happened though was it? we were still on top of the game and probably looked more likely to score then too. Schurrle for who? and what do you do about the two yellows in the holding position? what manager in the world would leave their two holding midfielders in a vulnerable position with that many cards coming out? Can schurrle shield? lol

I'm mystified at all the people on here who thought bringing on John Obi Mikel with 20mins to go was a bad idea... I'm seriously questioning if those that thought it was stupid have any tactical acumen at all. We were up 1(not safe) Oscar played like a pedestrian all game, didn't make one play that resembled good football. We had the youngest bench I've seen since some Carling cup game and no real way to change the current of the game with the players getting tired. Matic and Cesc were on yellows and with the way Dowd was handing out the cards today, it was almost a certainty someone was gonna get sent off. What would've been the best thing to do in this situation? Keep it the same lineup with our two shields on yellows or bring in another holder who can help control the game while we probe for a killer goal? I just feel like many people here watch the game from the perspective of what they think people will say rather than from what is best for the result. I'm absolutely shocked people here actually think we tried to park the bus once we went up 1-0! we were all over them and they hardly had a kick! Just because we didn't get the goal doesn't mean we parked the bus... We were seconds away from an impressive road win at a tough ground and people are complaining because we conceded late on account of a shit sending off and a bang bang goal. Its clear we have been spoiled if after going to Old Trafford and Etihad we have a 6 pt cushion on our most feared competitor and supporters are still complaining about the two flukey goals that robbed us of a 100% record in the prem. LOL We're sitting pretty right now, not to say there aren't things to nitpick about (Hazard needs to start fucking finishing! wow) but the general mood around here should be up! we are top of the league and clear of City by 6pts. What's the gripe about? Oh and stop listening to the stupid media about negative tactics, we played very positive and could only get one goal from a 36yr old striker who everyone on this forum, save a few, thought was dead and buried! We didn't create much but that's on account of our best players not being at their best and we still had the best chances to score... I don't know about you guys but I'm carefree right now. We played well enough to win with a severely weakened bench and minus the goal pig... Man Utd just helped the Prem by keeping us just within striking distance, that's all.