dee25

Matic has played that holding role very well. Lucky to have him

Lampard needed to have done better there. No composure at all. We might not get a better chance.

oh Oscar....

I think we need Ramires in this game. If our passing is going to be this sloppy may as well utilize Ramires' energy.

I can't see Mourinho playing Zouma, Shaw and Courtios. I just can't see him making three personnel (and very young ones at that) changes to the back five particularly in a season that he's already said he wants the team to be considered strong favorites from the start - and If it were between Zouma-Shaw or Courtios, then for me the former. I think acquiring Shaw and integrating Zouma are more needed pieces for both the present and future than the replacement of Cech, who might not be performing at the same level he once was but still remains a class keeper with a good few years left (enough time for us to secure another replacement, assuming we sell Courtios). Honestly I don't have a strong stance on this issue. I do hope the club is able to work something out because it would be a major blow to lose a talented keeper....but I would be very surprised if come beginning of the season, Cech isn't no. 1. You never know though.

I think much of goalkeeping success is down to the relationship between the keeper and the defenders - i.e the comfortability level of the keeper in communicating and commanding his defenders. Replacing a keeper that has been 1st choice for a decade, IS a very big deal and one that is likely to have larger implications. Also, I'm prioritizing the development of players like Zouma and (hopefully) Luke Shaw over a goalkeeping change, how is that evident of short termism? How is arguing that we should focus on building continuity, giving sufficient opportunities to the young players that we already have in our rooster and strengthening weak areas in the team a focus on the short term? Well I don't know, kind of was thinking about paying him with cash, but yeah if he does accept hugs, that would be even better.

Definitely. We've been in transition for a few years now and I just feel like one of the priorities next season shouldn't be about replacing an older excellent keeper with a younger excellent goalkeeper. In my opinion, I think that's a luxury we're not in a position to afford. In the past 2 seasons we've finished 6th & 3rd and we're only now getting back to building a sustained title challenge. It's important that next season we build on that and in order to do so the priority then needs to be about strengthening central midfield, bringing in a left back, a centre forward and also we need to find a replacement for J.T - those are the pressing issues of concern. Long-term stability in the GK position? That's like fussing over the color of paint in your house when there's a leak that hasn't fully been fixed. Mourinho has made a lot of promises for next season. I would be gobsmacked if he replaced a keeper we've had for 10 years in a season that he has big hopes for. The best option for us is to negotiate a contract extension with Courtois, loan him out again and look to start phasing Cech out next season.

I know people will disagree with this, but I don't think he'll improve us if he were to come in next season. Looking at our starting back four right now, there's some uncertainly about who will continue to be 1st choice next season. We don't know if Luiz will even be here, we don't know if Terry and Cahill will continue to be the 1st choice centre back pairing and most likely a new left back will be added to the fold along with Zouma being phased in. My point is that we'll probably see some changes. I don't see Mourinho changing the goalkeeper as well. If we had a settled back four then you can afford to do so but right now that shouldn't be priority. The plan is to build a strong challenge for the title next season, my fear is that if we change our goalkeeper on top of the other personnel changes that will likely happen in our defence, then we're going to be forever stuck in transition. Eventually Cech will need to be replaced, but now is not the time to do so.

Yeah but Mikel did pretty turns with the ball and stuff.....

The thing is, we're so reliant on him but yet our attack, movement & passes aren't even designed to make it easier for him. He literally has to beat off the 3 or so players marking him, skip past 4-5 challenges & on top of that still score a goal while also playing 90 mins every 3 days! Ffs he needs better support!

On whoscored, Matic actually received the highest rating out of all the players in a chelsea shirt. He was basically the best out of a bad bunch, so sit down my friend.

He basically can win the ball back but only if it's a loose pass that happens to fall in front of him and he's good at shielding the ball. That's literally it.

Exactly this. I rate Mikel better than most do, but even though Matic had a poor game, he was still better than Mikel and still did a better job of shielding the back four than Mikel does when he's in top form. I've never seen a defensive midfielder playing for a top club who is so slow at reacting than Mikel. His mind works way too slowly and he's just not sharp enough.

But it's a very valid point of discussion. Do you really think that Mourinho would still opt for Ramires pace if Oscar contributed more in attack? Of course he wouldn't. Oscar doesn't help out enough in attack, especially in big games, what Oscar brings is work rate and energy so may as well play Ramires whose pace would at least be a threat. Oscar or Ramires, either way they're not going to play incisive passes.

Well. What can you do. Well played city. That's how you attack.

Mikel needs to move fast than that. He should be winning second balls.

Well he'd be an idiot not to. City are playing like a team that has had a week rest. Fully expected a more dominant performance from them. We just need to stay in the game, don't concede another and try to get Hazard and willian more in the game.

Really hope Mourinho has a plan. Because Pellegrini has lined them up very well against us.

For sure. That's exactly how I think City should line-up against us. Milner and Garcia will give them more control while Jovetic will provide good support to Silva. I don't think Silva will be as easy to mark out this time. Definitely see this being a more tactical, cautious game which might mean that we'll have fewer opportunities to counter, but we'll see.

Basically the same squad that faced city with Luiz back in defence and Mikel in central midfield. Was hoping that Mourinho would change it around, surely Pellegrini would have prepared his team better this time around.....

I love Ramires. Every time he touched the ball though.....

Shame. A chance missed. I probably would have left Eto'o on, especially with us sitting back. Torres is just returning from injury and even when fit, he's not particularly good at holding up the ball to relieve pressure whereas that's one of Eto's strength. The times when we did manage to get the ball to Hazard, the moment it was played to Torres, he turned over possession. Kinda hard not to sit deep if the attacking players are unable to hold onto the ball. Ramires should have stayed on the pitch, even though he (once again) had a poor game. I would have moved him right, Willian in the middle and brought on Frank to sit alongside Matic. With a midfield of Frank, Matic, Willian Ramires, Hazard....... I really don't think we would have been under such intense pressure as we were in the last 20 or so mins. Anyway, take it on the chin and move on. Just such a shame for the players and coaching staff. All the hard work they put in last month only to stumble at such a crucial time.

Personally don't understand it either. It's one thing to take enjoyment in Utd's misery, but why do people feel the need to take the piss with Mata? What has this guy done to warrant that? Because he didn't want to continue sitting on a bench for a team that had no use for him? Can only shake my head. Careful guys, we're in a good moment right now and could very well be on our way to winning the title, but Karma can be a bitch.