Stats

He won most duels and was excellent in his anticipation and creating attacks for us. I really do not remember a time where he actually exposed us. I thought Cole was average once again. Gets skinned by players far too often and is very fragile. Just look at the first half when Snodgrass easily bullied him off the ball and skinned him but thankfully Cech made a good save. No denying we deserved the win but we rode our luck as when we went with the 3 man defence they had many counter attacks they culd just not take advantage of. Result even more sweeter now that we narrowed the gap on Arsenal and we got Cardiff next at home. On Mata, not his strongest game but he was not poor. He displayed some fantastic ranges of passing and just needs regular starts to be back to his full best.

Oscar MOTM for me. Luiz was also a rock at the back as well!

We will use him. Big season ahead and if he can score goals like that changes the game I am not complaining.

That is why

This is a time we really can do with Hazard on the pitch. Wake up Mourinho ffs!

Don't get you. Lukaku is 20 while Januzaj is 18......

While we all may agree and disagree on his loan at least we know one thing. That we have one of the potential best complete strikers in the world in Lukaku, no doubt about that and hopefully we have years ahead to watch him play at Stamford Bridge.

Overrated my ass. Does that at 18 years old and 2 excellent taken goals. Can only give the lad credit. Clear he is going to be some player!

He was not much more of a handful than Lukaku was today. Also what was the main thing that was missing? A goal. My point is when we play City none of our strikers do any better than him, especially when playing at City's ground. Our strikers are isolated most games we play against them and if anything Lukaku should be happy with what he done today.

First half he was an absolute handful but second half faded and is general passing throughout the match was poor but let me ask you something. Everytime we have been to the Etihad as there been one striker for us in recent seasons who done better than what Lukaku done today? I don't think so. He was playing against a very good team and overall he can be happy with his performance. Never easy against City. But to say his performance is a reminder of why he needed to go out on loan I totally disagree with. I agree that he was not excellent but certainly was not poor. There are not many strikers who even score at the Etihad besides put in a better performance than Lukaku. RVP and Rooney come to mind but not many I can name so I don't agree to use his general performance today as a general reason why we should have loaned him out.

I use to think your comments were actually sensible but you seem to be splurting out absurd stuff. Enough chances? Only sub apperances and about 1 start in the league his first season and take the fact that he was bloody 18 and obviously was no way near ready then. Be serious please.

They finished 6th last season. Not quite midtable and I really think they are a contender for top 4 this season

Well we can only judge that if he is given a PROPER chance and not just short cameos.

Drogba against Arsenal in almost every game

4 goals in 3 PL games already

He started more games for United the following season than he played at Sunderland. According to he ESPN statistics he started 23 PL games for United that following season after his loan while he was a sub/rested 7 times with the rest probably being through injury so he clearly was an important player for them. SAF integrated him into the team and he reaped the benefits because he was playing with better players and since that he has gradually become a better player. That is why while Lukaku will get goals on loan, playing for us would have done him good because he is around better players and would only get better and he would learn from his mistakes. But he came back here and could not get a start in 4 competitive fixtures so he obviously wanted to go out on loan which he thought was best for him. I am just disappointed that he never got a real chance to show what he could do this season at us. But I am confident that Mourinho sees Lukaku as an eventual key player for us in the oncoming seasons. I hope so anyway.

I think you are confusing Di Maria with Ozil. Di Maria loves to dribble with the ball and take on players. Also Mata and Oscar does not dribble that much, especially not compared to Di Maria. Di Maria is like Hazard IMO as they always look to take on players, cut inside, sometimes look for the killer pass but Hazard is right footed and Di Maria left footed. But yes, you have definitely got Ozil confused with Di Maria even though he actually does like to dribble.

He got into double figures the following season and while he has not scored much recently he is actually a good player. But what I am saying is our strikers are actually no better than Lukaku. Anyway he is not coming back for this season so will just have to support him on at Everton and hope our strikers hit form while he is on loan once again.

This. I hate how people believe he cannot hit it at us just because he scores at inferior teams and there is theory that he will struggle at us because teams defend deep. Look when Welbeck was loaned out to Sunderland 3 seasons ago. He done well in that season and only got 6 goals that season before he got injured but clearly done enough to convince Fergie to make him part of his plans the following season and he became an integral part of United's team, getting into double figures. I am sure teams defend deep against United right? Yet did that stop Welbeck from scoring? No. I hope he has another excellent season at Everton but he really should be here. Compare what Lukaku done at WBA and what Welbeck done at Sunderland. Lukaku scored much more and there would be no doubt once in his stride he would get goals here.

I would like to see that to but whether he will do that for this game, I do not know. I am guessing he will stick to Rami and Lamps as well and Eto'o will start 100%.

Quite a tough place to go but confident we will get the three points. Since they got promoted back to the PL we have drawn 0-0 and beat them 1-0 last season through a brilliant goal by Mata. So has not been much to separate the teams in previous meetings but hoping Mata inspires us to another victory on Sunday

While many of us would like Willian to start I really think Jose has his doubts about whether he is 100% match sharp yet so I doubt Mourinho will start him. I don't know if he will give Oscar a breather from the starting line up for this game and if he does I fear people's worse nightmare may happen again as I can easily see Mourinho putting Ramires on the RW with a pivot of Mikel and Lamps.

Just amazing what a performance can do to turn people's heads. I always believed in him and knew what he was capable of. He has got around double figures or near for the past 3 seasons and is only 22. Loads of years to improve and while people question his finishing it is clear that he can score as his record has shown. Give him time and that will come also. Just funny seeing the amount of comments before the game yesterday who believed that he was not capable of playing and should make way for KDB etc. Amazingly some people judged him on pre-season and used this as reason to show why he might flop here or used it as proof to show why KDB is a better player. Schurrle is suited to the PL because he is fast, direct and always looks to beat his man and is very fast on the ball. I am sure this is just the start. We will see him score a few this season, I am sure about that. Got 16 goals for club and country last season which is very decent. He has got years and years to keep improving and that is the great thing. Don't think Martin/Whittaker knows what is in store for them on Sunday

Those who slated Schurrle before the match started. Slap yourself now! Been excellent.

Eto'o looks so off the pace. Amount of pace he has lost is quite amazing!