The only place to be

What a fantastically facile article.

And we finished third in the league miles of the pace and crashed out of the CL? There are other factors but so many times last season we looked disjointed whereas this season we actually seem to be building a consistent game plan based around a pressing game and a fast attacking system that suits Hazard, Willian and Oscar. You're right that it seemed incomprehensible that Mata wouldn't be at the centre of things last season, but some people did ask questions about how he would fit into Mourinho's team. Also Oscar was playing on the right a lot last season which really didn't suit him. Now he's in the middle and he's an early favourite for this season's Player of the Year.

To be honest the ultimate measure of any player is whether their contribution helps us win matches. Oscar might not fill out a stats sheet like Mata but his contribution to this team has been fantastic. He's been the best player in a team which is far better than last year's and we haven't missed Mata. Mata's problem now is that I'm not entirely sure what he brings to this team.

It depends what you want from a CAM. If you just want assists and goals then maybe Mata is the better choice (although Oscar is adding that more and more to his game as you'd expect a young player with his talent to do). But Mourinho asks the midfielders to do more, to lead the pressing and link up the team from front to back and in that regard I think Oscar is clearly better. The sense I often get from you is that you have a very narrow scope of what you want from that role and it clearly doesn't chime with what Jose wants. I think you'd be delighted to see us build a team around Mata, rather than build a team and have players fit into the roles asked of them. Maybe that's unfair, but it's what I get from you.

I wouldn't be so sure. The financial benefits of selling him now for a price way over the odds (which it would be) might outweigh the hit to their 'prestige', especially if they look like they're going to fail to make the CL. At the end of the day Rooney is an asset on a balance sheet who is losing value by the day.

Understand the context. We bought in Eto'o two days before loaning out Lukaku. Eto'o was bought in from semi-retirement after chasing a fat paycheque to Russia. Neither of these things endear him to fans, and he simply represents a lot of the bad stuff at this club. Torres has put in some very good shifts this season and scored some very important goals (the first against Palace, the first against Southampton, the winner against City) and yesterday he should've scored but for a fantastic bit of keeping. What is this thing with people removing context from things?

Sorry Rami, but that's fucking poor. I have faith in Jose to try and sort it out before it becomes an issue, because it could cost us penalties in the future.

Luiz/Cahill don't radically change the way we play in the same way Mata/Oscar does in my opinion. Chances created is important, but it's just one aspect of how the team performs and whilst Mata might create more chances I think there are obvious downsides that need to be weighed against it.

I think it was an experiment. De Bruyne looks certain to be gone in January so not worth playing him, but that does raise the question of Mata. Against a team like today's maybe he wanted a hard-working, high tempo team and maybe he doesn't think Mata can do that. The big question is where was Schurrle?

Clear sign of mental illness. I mean, who willingly supports Charlton??

What the fuck? He did okay when he came on today and but for a couple of good saves would've scored. Worked hard against Southampton too and scored a goal. Doesn't deserve the level of vitriol he's got on the back of that performance.

Looks like good work by the keeper to me.

Full strength team again, need to keep the momentum up. Cech Azpi Cahill Terry Cole Mikel Ramires Willian Oscar Hazard Torres Maybe Luiz in midfield but incredibly unlikely. Maybe Eto'o for Torres but after today...no chance. Not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination.

We did produce chances. Don't see how it's embarrassing in the slightest - you know we own Hazard and we needed him to beat Sunderland in the league who aren't much better (if at all) than Derby at the moment. Credit to Derby by the way. Played some nice football and did well to push us. Credit to the away fans too.

Good solid result, JT got a rest, Mikel scored, Willian, Oscar and Hazard looked scintillating again and Lewis Baker made his debut. Coming up against a solid Championship team who are doing well in the league this is a fantastic result. Bring on Stoke (urgh). Willian MOTM for me. Didn't stop running and works his bollocks off with the ball and pressing. Fantastic.

Hiding behind implication. You're a coward mate and I'm going to put you on ignore rather than have to deal with you anymore. Like RMPR and others know, I come here to talk to Chelsea supporters, not deal with insults from keyboard warriors too lacking in tecticular fortitude to back up what they say on the internet. Enjoy your pint and goodbye. Apologies to other supporters for this shit in the thread.

Congrats Lewis.

2-0 up he certainly could do with a few minutes. Him for Rami or Oscar?

Giving you the opprtunity to call me a bigot to my face. Sorry mate, but I don't see where you get off calling people names like bigot. That's a fucking horrible insult, and you clearly wouldn't have the balls to say it to someone face to face.

Careful there keeper. That ball nearly hit you.

It's absurd he doesn't get more goals from set-pieces when you see he can do that.

Behave. Derby are a decent team probably close to the level of some of the teams struggling in the Premier League. That's the magic of the FA Cup.

Yeah...you can't go into a pub in Hertfordshire without seeing swarms of them.

Gonna call me a bigot again? Considering your various meltdowns where you call Chelsea fans who turn up and support the team plastic.... Like I said, I come here to talk to Chelsea supporters regardless of their background. You openly slag off proper Chelsea supporters. That's why I don't engage with you. Enjoy your pint.

Need to step up the tempo and probably introduce Hazard for Essien, move Rami back into the middle. We've created chances and Eto'o probably should've put us one up but I really don't get all the bitching going on. We could play youngsters like....well Kalas is the only obvious one. But Derby are in good form, we're away from home and there's no need to rest players with a week until our next game. If we had the likes of Lukaku, Chalobah or Courtois in the squad then it would make sense but Baker???