The Mak

I'm hoping for this too, but I put money on it at the start of the season! I put money on this and the FA Cup mainly because our 2nd team is so much stronger now and, if I was totally honest, I don't see us winning the league yet since our pivot and striker problems remain the same. But it's José! So he'll go all out for any trophy, even the League Cup!

Sorry, but who cares if teams have defended with a low block or not? We come up against it nearly 90% of the time, but that didn't stop him being effective last year did it?! Low block, high block, Jenny from the block - it doesn't matter. Mourinho basically said he's basing his selections on form and Hazard's form is bad. Even still, if Schurrle can show more penetration than Hazard against a low block, what can he do with even more space to run into?

Exactly my view. In justifying Oscar's selection ahead of Juan, Mourinho said last night that his selections aren't based on 'history' or the past, they are based on the 'now'. Well right now both Schurrle and KDB offering a lot more than Hazard. I think Mourinho needs to actually practice what he preaches and not only when it suits his argument. They'll get their chance for Swindon alright, but if Hazard goes straight back into the starting lineup for Tottenham, well...José will look a bit full of it won't he? Especially if Hazard's replacement performs well (which shouldn't be hard). How would the players feel if they're only brought in for a cup game and chucked back out for an under performing player the next?

Mourinho should've dropped Hazard for this game. He has been average thus far, had his worst game ever against Basel and he simply didn't face any repercussion for it. And I severely doubt with our AM options he'd be playing if he was in anyway still injured. It seems to be simply down to form. Almost as soon as Schurrle switched with him he made the difference for the 1st goal. Hazard needs something. Whether it be the bench for a few games, a rest or a kick up the arse. It's one thing to have all of these quality AMs, but it's another to persist with an out of form player while the rest sit on the bench; It's asking for trouble. Sure Schurrle didn't finish chances at Everton, but at least he was getting on the end of them - unlike Eden. KDB also sits on the bench but has performed well whenever called upon. I don't know how long they'll happily sit there. The players on the bench will be relatively satisfied as long as the managers selection is somewhat justified, but Hazard just isn't justifying his constant presence in the team at the moment - especially since we have such strength in that department now. For now it's just a niggling concern as it's early days still, but I hope José will be a bit more proactive in keeping the squad harmony for the rest of the season.

Great to get the win but it wasn't convincing. It easily could've been another disappointing day at the office. I know they say it's a hallmark of a great team to be able to grind out a result or 'win ugly', but that usually implies that the team usually plays well - we really haven't so far this season (Bayern was a different type of game). I can understand some of José's methods, like playing Brana because he's a boss from set-pieces, but as long as we're unconvincing on the pitch people will be (quite rightly) unconvinced with some of these methods (Mata etc.). Hoping we pick up form a.s.a.p. One thing though, Hazard should've been dropped before this game. He's been average thus far and had his worst game ever against Basel and he simply didn't face any repercussion for it. It was Schurrle from the LW who made the difference for the 1st goal today. It's one thing to have all of these quality AMs, but it's another to persist with an out of form player while the rest sit on the bench; Mourinho is asking for trouble if he continues like this.

Finally. And it came from Oscar playing on the RW, the irony. If anything though it just showed how shit Hazard has been playing on the LW as it was Schurrle who made the difference there.

Oh, I don't know about that. Have you talked to @CHOULO19?

Chelsea isn't Oscar FC either. The same way it wasn't Torres FC for the past 3 years. Not a dig at you at all. I've enjoyed reading some of your posts on the Mata-Oscar situation, even though I may not fully agree on somethings. I just wish others would show the same level of maturity on the matter instead of shit like "Mourinho picks Oscar so he agrees with me, lol, lol, lol!"

Not just that though, if Mourinho wants to play counter-attack for games like Bayern or away games (e.g. United, Everton) then play Oscar, sure. But if we're at home we should be dominating possession and take the game by the scruff of the neck (e.g. Basel). Mourinho could have both a counter-attacking 3 like Willian-Oscar-Schurrle and a possession based 3 like Hazard-Mata-De Bruyne instead of chopping and changing all of the attacking-mids so much that they never really generate any form of chemistry. I think even doing something like that would satisfy a lot of people. I think the fact that we really haven't got any form of identity as a team yet is really messing with us. We look great counter-attacking against Bayern but when we have the ball for the majority of the game we are not as fluent in the final third compared to when Mata was at his best.

Sorry mate, but i'll just come right out and say it: Brazilian bias. There is a reason why Mata had more chances created, assists and goals than Oscar last season. There's also a reason why Oscar has always performed better in Europe; and that is because he needs more space and time on the ball.

If Mourinho really intends to use Mata on the wing instead of no. 10 then, tbfh, Mata should just go somewhere his talents are fully appreciated. Not playing our best player for the past two years in his best position while also adding a bunch of 'no 10. wingers' to the current squad reeks of absolute bullshit to me in all honesty. So does all the subtle blame he's putting on Juan's shoulders for the defeat. I don't know why Mata should be punished because we have such a shitty pivot that we need the ATTACKING-midfielder to defend so much. I'd love for Juan to get back to his best a.s.a.p. just so he can remind some people of what he's capable of, but sadly it doesn't look like he'll get a proper chance as CAM at this rate. I also think this has turned into more of a debate because José is now the manager and some are afraid to question him.

Thank you Stingray. I'm pretty sure it's obvious some posters are blatantly biased towards Oscar in this matter, but that is neither here nor there. I'm no expert, but I'm sure there's a difference between 'fitness' and 'match fitness'. If someone is fully fit it doesn't mean they are necessarily 100%. They also have to be psychologically ready/healthy. They can be as fit as they like but if they're head isn't in the game, if they're not mentally sharp, not acute to their new surroundings/teammates or if they simply have no confidence; they're going to be affected. Because of that, they can look like headless chickens and therefore labelled as simply 'unfit'. Mentally perhaps, yes. Don't get me wrong, if Mata is still physically unfit then sure it's going to affect his play, no doubt. Therefore Oscar should be played more. But I think it's also fair to say that Mata isn't going to get any 'match fitness' by sitting on the bench now is he? To use a more recent example: Rooney. I have to say, as much as I was against having him here, he looks as if he's coming into a fine bit of form. However, he did look average in his first few matches. Even against us; he ran around quite a bit for someone who may have been labelled as 'unfit' but he never really did anything against of note. He wasn't quite 'match fit' at the time (Perhaps because his head was turned ever so slightly?). He looks match fit now though and I'm pretty sure he didn't pick up his form from sitting on the bench... I'll stop now before I start confusing myself!

Congratulations you kangaroo loving bastard!

Agreed mate. I was thinking that about Hazard & Mata as well. I don't know about you, but one of the main highlights of last season was the link-up play between the two in particular. It was uncanny at times. I think the best example that sticks out in my mind is the goal Hazard scored against West Ham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQgxOR91CU Two high quality players on the same wavelength truly is a beauty to watch and it's plain to see there weren't many on the same wavelength tonight. Tonight it was all very 'individual'. I was also thinking about Hazard and what Mourinho has said of him in the past. I believe he said in an interview something along the lines of that he is a lot harder on the 'better' players because he expects more from them; a kind of a 'tough love' approach. Mourinho might want to take some of his own advice and act more like nurturing "dad" if he's to get the best out of some of his eggs! However, perhaps only time will tell if it's simply a dip in form or something else...

This is similar to what I felt from the game overall, as it seems just too easy to point to individual mistakes or players (or even to José at times). I think the key thing you've said was 'focal point' and for me, for the past 2 years at least, that has been Mata. Now as much as I love Oscar, I have always said that he just is not as good as Mata going forward. Say whatever about his defensive abilities and work-rate, but as an attacking midfielder I feel Mata is better at this moment. And for the past few years, no matter how imbalanced our team was, he has always made us look as cohesive as we possible could be. We have always praised him for his vision and passing; whereas Oscar, we've praised him more for his individual ability i.e. scoring magnificent goals. Oscar won't really dictate the tempo of a game, however Mata can. And since we have virtually no DM/CM who can dictate the game, the onus has really been on the little man for the past 2 years. The first half in particular, the front 3 just seemed to be meandering around the centre with no real purpose. I felt (a fully fit) Mata would've brought some order to the attacking 3 as his constant off the ball movement forces the others to move as well. Players in the team are also used to the playing with the little man 90% of the time. It's all very well saying this in hindsight. I could be completely wrong though. I'm just saying this for this particular game however. The whole Mata Vs. Oscar is a whole other debate. And I am in no way belittling Oscar's contribution to the team as a whole. For example, he was our best player tonight (though I voted for Brana purely because of the effort he put in) but I just think (a fully fit) Mata would've brought some attacking order to the team as a whole. Perhaps that's what José was trying to accomplish with the sub. Also, I probably would've started Oscar in the Everton game instead since it was ripe for counter-attacks. Maybe what I'm just trying to say is that it just seemed to be too much too soon; to try to take the heartbeat out of our attacks (Mata) for the past two years along with introducing a bunch of new players is a bit much at this early stage. Maybe José just wants to get his own stamp on the team A.S.A.P. in an attempt to get as far away as he can from what he perceives as 'Benitez's team'.

I loved the whole 'Benitez made Luiz a better defender' crap at the end of last season. So anyway: I'm afraid people will just have to wait a couple of weeks for Luiz to pick his form back up. He does it every damn year and this is no different. It's just the type of player he is; he needs plenty of match practice before we'll start seeing something resembling the Luiz at the end of the previous season. It's like he has to curb is natural instincts or something. Until then, we're just going to have to suck it up and take the madness in exchange for the brilliance.

What's even worse is that there are people who actually pay him for this sort of crap...imagine how stupid they are!

Just saw that Lipton article: Some will find that you are an absolute retard Lipton! Martin Lipton, LOL!

Lest we forget, Eto'o has moved here at Mourinho's whim. He's taken a massive pay-cut and would obviously do anything Mourinho asks, so why would he cause trouble? While Terry and Lampard have nowhere near the influence they once had, as they're entering their twilight years. The same goes for Ashley. The top players at the team now are all young and willing to learn from the best coach in the world. This isn't Real Madrid. There is no 'player power' at Chelsea anymore.

Don't give a shit what he said to be honest...and you'll all see why when you see his reaction/relief when he scores his first ever competitive goal for us.

£50m for Torres now is laughable, yes, but not so much then. We thought we were going to get a proven PL players with a ridiculous goalscoring record, not a meek, broken player. You on the other hand smack massive price tags on potential or records in an inferior league. I know your clubs needs to make as much money as possible, I get it. The price tags on Falcao, Luiz, Ramires were fine, probably should've even been more; but €40m for Matic is beyond ridiculous. You were lucky Zenit came in and payed upfront cash the last time for Witsel, and if you think Chelsea are going to do something similar for a player we gave away for nothing well then, I'm sorry, but you're an idiot. We would never pay such a price for a player we basically threw away, we'd look like absolute idiots if we did. The only reason you sold Witsel last time for so much is because Zenit had to pay the premium for being in such a bad league. So you better hope they come back for Matic, because a club from a top league will never pay such a price. P.S. I don't even rate Matic. Good, but not as good as some think and he's not even good enough to shine Witsel's boots. He played against Chelsea, a team which is a level above the teams he usually plays against, and all he looked like was a midfield thug; resorting to running around and kicking lumps out of people because he couldn't get a sniff of the ball. He was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Benfica logic: We sold Witsel for €40m, so we'll do the same with Matic! :lol2: Porto and Benfica always make me laugh every transfer window, Hulk for €50m+ and Matic for €40m LO-fucking-L!

We just get the PL back, just a taste of it and this shitty 2 week international break pops up. Every damn year. I swear, it's the worse one of the lot.

I LOST MY SHIT RIGHT HERE!!! Came to this thread out of interest on why it's still active, but I stayed for the LOLs.

Exactly