Stats

I was speaking with the person who runs the chelsea youth twitter page and has extensive knowlegde on the youth side of thing. He told me that. Not official but see no reason not to believe him. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/561471/REVEALED-Arsenal-Chelsea-Man-Utd-City-Riechedly-Bazoer There it says he rejected City but Ajax were always his first option and one where he thought he would develop best. Has turned out the right choice indeed.

Am I right in saying that some of them have disappeared. Only seem to find the w***r one.

Like Leicester and Tottenham, we are also playing City at a perfect time. They have several injuries to deal with while also having other competitions which is a higher priority for them. Aguero, Silva, Toure, maybe even Sterling will all be rested. Pellegrini just can't afford any more injuries and has already indicated he will play a much weakened squad and looking at their schedule I don't think those were just words. They have to go to Ukraine a few days after which is a game he will be playing his best players. The only first team players you can say are nailed on to start this game for them are Kelechi, Demichelis (who is awful), one of Clichy/Kolarov and the rest may seriously be youthful. He prob will have around 3-5 experienced ones out there but like I was saying, their injury list is tough enough as it is and he will not want to risk any more. Either way, this is more of a priority for us than them and we will playing near enough our strongest available team and being at home we should win this on Sunday.

People right now will say anything to get on his back. Look how many fouls he was drawing first half. I recall him going past 2 players with ease then Maxwell had to foul him to stop him. I thought it was quite harsh, him going off as I thought him, Pedro and Willian looked really good on the counter.

Cahill awful? How. He done well tonight. Them dominating the game is not down to Mikel and Fabregas. It is down to the tactics of our manager who wanted us to keep tight and counter with force. The plan was never for us to dominate the ball. The plan worked quite well tonight too. Unfortunately we just were on the losing side. If Oscar scored that goal, everyone would of been praising Fabregas. When he got the ball, he was effective imo. Regarding Verratti, he just signed a new contract but yeah quality little player

We need to take a leaf out of Arsenal's book with Bellerin and do the same with Baba. Give him games and let him grow. Next season he will be a big part of the revolution. So refreshing seeing 2 natural attacking FB in their correct position. I hope Hiddink and co wake up now and God knows whatever manager we have hopefully they stop this bullshit with playing Azpi at Lb and Ivan at RB. It is ridiculous. Most refreshing thing is Ivanovic showed tonight that he is a really good CB.

Yet he was the best player on the pitch against Arsenal..... I thought he was fine tonight anyway. He made a brilliant pass for Oscar who unfortunately could not execute the finish. Talk about overreaction. WOW.

First half he was very good imo. Second half he dropped off a little but hopefully this is a sign of gradual improvement.

He offered us that all important away goal. Fine for me.

The thing I have been impressed by is he has been so composed too. When some players come into the team without much football, they can look really nervous. He has played his way out of trouble, attacked well and done fine defensively. I pray he is given more opportunites because it is ridiculous that he has to play just when there is a defensive injury or suspension. The cross for Costa was simply fantastic.

So impressed. Hazard has been much more involved and has drawn so many fouls. Baba has done very well and Azpi has been good. Mikel is so lucky he scored that because I was going to give him a rollocking on here. Silly tackle then such a coward move for the goal, not facing it like a man but he came up with the goods so I will forgive him Keep it up! It is funny though that when we are forced into playing two natural fullbacks that we play much better football. Baba really needs more games. COYB!

It is a great learning curve for him to be travelling with a massive club like us at such a young age anyway. He will be appreciative of the opportunity. How much people can say that at his age. He is living the dream.

Big blow with Terry out. Matic a miss also but at least those 2 not being available means the way we line up will have to be one that goes for a more attacking approach. We really should look for the away goal.

I really hope you regret this comment...

Providing he stays for next season, some of these people are going to be eating their words. Same ways some fickle fans were jumping on the bandwagon to get rid of Costa and Fabregas now all of a sudden they are everyone's favourites. Just wait till Hazard performs. Short term memory is the thing round here. There is no denying he has been poor but in the long run, he will show why form is temporary, class is permanent. Just wait on it. Can't wait for people to eat their words.

Was the best player on pitch today by far. Did not deserve to be on the losing side. Reminds me of Lassana Diarra. Look the same, same height and similar qualities but Kante is better. Amount of times he broke down Arsenal's attack and started counters was countless.

But Traore has played up front in those anyway. Not on the wing. I just think Hazard needs to keep playing. After all this was his first start for a weeks IIRC. So hopefully he bides his time and gradually improves.

Yeah the statistic is true but those 2 goals have come in where we have been battering the opposition. To say that means he deserves a start ahead of him is quite knee-jerk imo.

If Bazoer did it for the money he would have left long time ago and he chose Ajax. I think Napoli were even after him in January and Ajax apparently accepted big money for him. He stated he wants to stay until a realistic move to Barca is available.

Are people and especially his critics going to accept that he is just top quality? Absolutely fantastic once again and who would have thought it? On to double figures for the season? Quality player and finally getting the recognition he deserves from pundits and fans alike

He said himself that they suit best, the way he plays which is no way like we play so this move is a no go. Bullshit rumour anyway. No truth in it. He turned us down when he was younger to join Ajax and he strikes me as a level headed boy who wants to play. He will not come here just to pick up money and not play. When he does move it will be one that can give him first team guarantees. Great talent either way. Has everything. His goal last week against Feyenoord was mental.

Brilliant! First time I can say I have watched a home game this season and enjoyed it. Battered them from first to last minute. Cahill was excellent in Zouma's absence and Azpi was also excellent in defence and attack. Matic looked back to his old beastly self and him and Fabregas enjoyed that partnership we were witnessing at the start of last season. Fabregas, another joy to watch. He is the best in the league and possibly Europe at picking out long passes. He executes them so well. What a brilliant ball that was for Pedro. He done an exact carbon copy to Hazard who unfortunately could not execute his finish quite properly. Willian, excellent again and my MOTM. Great assist for Costa and then a great finish later on. Troubled Newcastle all day long. Those 2 goals will do the world for Pedro's confidence. Good to see him back amongst the goals. Costa was fantastic once again. Looks such a complete striker under Hiddink. People keep talking about his goal record under Hiddink which is all good but I wish people would also mention the amount of goals he has set up as well. He is not just a poacher, he is a all round striker. He has assisted in the Palace, Everton and the Newcastle game. Hazard, good game and contributed well but I wish he had that killer instinct more about him. It just seems that he is not bothered about the goal drought at all sometimes. Some ways it is a good thing as it shows he is a team player and not all about himself like Ronaldo however he could be a bit more selfish and look to score. I hate and surely he does, seeing that he has no goals in the league this season and in fact no goals from open play. I remember a few seasons ago when we beat Hull 2-0 at the KC stadium. That great individual goal he scored is the Hazard I want to see more off. The 2 excellent goals he scored against Sunderland a few seasons back at the Stadium of Light was great and the real Hazard. I want to see less of the passive Hazard. Anyway, that is minor as the team performance was great and Hiddink's unbeaten run remains. Onwards and Upwards. Bring on PSG! (Where is the flying blue flag whe you need it? )

He is not small at all, he is quite tall. Just not big, weight wise as you said and on the sliim side. Also, Jason might as well move this to the squad players thread.

That is the fickle football world for you. Last season majority of people on here and around would have said Ozil is not fit enough to lace Silva's boots now all of a sudden he is finally having a quality season and people on here and other forums are claiming Ozil is the best no.10 in the world. I mean it is not a ludicrous claim but last season people would have laughed at that. Matic has been below-par this season but if people can't see that he is just having a rare bad season then it really shows the fickle nature of football fans. Matic is a quality player who is having a poor season. Just like Hazard. Anyone who says Matic is average might as well say Hazard is too then if they are basing that on same logic. New manager next season combined with star additions and when we start dominating games again, we will see the best of Matic. I guarantee he will prove his critics wrong.

Absolutely fantastic. He was brilliant. The dribbling from 5:28 is just insane I assumed because it was his first game, he would have started on the bench and be brought on but the fact that the manager started him straight away and played the full game shows how much of an impact and impression he has made in training and the game itself. Looking forward to Betis game next Saturday against Deportivo already.