The only place to be

Look, I know some people think I'm Saint Defender of Jose (although they wouldn't say such things to my face) but ultimately we all want the best for this club. Now I think that means having the best man in charge and for me that is Jose. We've gone from almost a decade playing one style of football which culminated in CL and EL wins, but now we're looking to do something new with a whole new culture around the club. That isn't going to come overnight and what the boss needs is support - from the supporters of all people. Yes it's frustrating to turn up and see matches like today, but that's part of supporting a football club. It isn't all trophies and champagne and a lot of supporters have either forgotten that or simply not experienced it. Players make mistakes, players have off-days and sometimes the opposition just gets it right. But we're nearly into the next round of the Champions League (something recent history has shown isn't a given just because we're Chelsea) and we'll be fighting it out for the Premier League come May with maybe five other teams. This is very much a time to keep the blue flag flying high.

You're ignoring the part where the wheels fell off and we became a one-dimensional team. Again, in a rush to assign blame some people see fit to misremember recent history.

Someone? You really see things in the simplest of terms.

For the second time you've misused the term 'irony'.

No dear, Mata wasn't starting the game today. Also, I didn't say that. Not for the first time you've either misquoted, misremembered or misunderstood what I have said.

It's not an assumption. I don't know any Chelsea supporter who sees him the way you do. But then I don't know many who start slagging off our players on the internet 20 minutes into the second half.

Yes but that's far too moderate of a view to take. It doesn't matter that he's been something of a rock this season, dealing with alternating partners who throw in the odd blunder, every mistake must be brought up and made a big deal of. Oh, and I'm awaiting the

Being perfectly honest with myself there and I think you're in no fucking position to tell me otherwise considering.

Fair criticism is fine, but some of the comments you find on here are absolutely laughable at times especially after a bad result. That may well be expected but there's a type of fan who seems to expect success without experiencing any of the growing pains associated. We're a work-in-progress, a club looking for a new identity. That isn't formed without mistakes along the way.

Again, he might not be in your eyes but he's a Chelsea player in many supporters' eyes even after a less impressive performance.

No, it was 23 minutes into this match that you decided to gleefully carry on with the same agenda you've had for a while. I'm honest by the way - I'll say when he doesn't have good games and I'll also look for reasons why that might be the case. Like I said, you won't find a single Chelsea supporter who agrees with you.

To slag off players 20 minutes into the second half of matches? To slag off the home support from thousands of miles away?

I'm only addressing you right now, and I think your reaction to his comment was hysterical. You can post the rolling eye smilies all you want mate but it doesn't make you right, and it doesn't make you clever.

What the fuck are you on about with 'spin'? I thought he had a relatively poor game. I think West Brom got their tactics pretty much spot on, but I think the match was actually very similar to the Schalke game except: A. we didn't get a flukey goal B. West Brom managed to take some chances.

23 minutes into the second half....you won't find a single Chelsea supporter who thinks any less of him, his career or his legacy.

20 minutes into the second half and you start slagging players off.

No, you're asking if he's deluded. Personally I think the reactions on here are quite funny and they're taking my mind off the game which was frustrating to say the least. Oh, and Jose isn't unfamiliar with making seemingly bizarre comments post-match. Surprised people don't just laugh them off.

I think only invectives directed towards Jose count.

We have a 'fuck him'. I think that trumps the 'he's deluded' and 'he needs to grow some balls' comments. Does anyone have any advance on 'fuck him?

Are we actually already seeing fans calling the manager deluded? From his appointment people knew this was a team in transition, and the trouble areas are still to be addressed. What we need is patience and a commitment to the belief that he is the best man for the job. I still think he is. And yes, I know today was frustrating but that's part of supporting a football club. You don't get instant success anymore, it takes time but to see some types of supporters turning aiming these barbs at the manager is a little hysterical.

Had a real downturn in his form in recent weeks. Obviously the hysterical responses of some are to be expected, but Azpi probably deserves a match after the break.

What the fuck?

I agree. It's not a massive issue, but he has let himself down, he let his teammates down and he let the club down through an act of absentmindedness/stupidity. Jose seems to have dealt with it swiftly and kept the fuss to a minimum but it's not a nothing-issue as some are making out. Anyone who has been part of a team, or even worked in a team environment knows how important it is for people to work for one another and not let each other down. He did, but it wasn't intentional and I'm sure he won't do it again.

Hopefully the club finds the right club for him in January. He's proven himself at League One level, so if we can increase the challenge for him then it's up to him to rise to it. A club pushing for a play-off spot may well jump at the chance to bring in a new face, full of confidence and with a knack of scoring and there really is no point in delaying a move because time really is of the essence with young players.

Not picking on you but these two points actually reminded me of something I was talking to a mate about at the game on Wednesday. Jose clearly believes in Eden because he's got far more opportunities than almost every other player this season, even though he's been inconsistent. Even if you take his time here in it's entirety, it's been up and down with the flashes of utter brilliance easily recited by each of us. He doesn't have that many bad games, but there's often a tentativeness to his play when we all just want him to run at opponents. He doesn't give up possession and I've never seen a player so expertly get between a defender and the ball often resulting in a free-kick, but still there's a sense that he's just not setting the league alight like he should. The discussion about him is now becoming reminiscent of the one United fans started having about Ronaldo in his first couple of seasons, but everything seems to have kicked on for him from his 100th match for United. I remember that being seen as a turning point, especially when people were talking about Nani's approach to 100 games. Eden is at 75 games. Interestingly, Ramsay is well over 150 games into his PL career despite a serious injury, yet he has taken his game to a level that few thought he would actually reach (at least people I know despite him having a lot of potential). Basically I think he needs a bit more time. Last year he showed tremendous growth in terms of the defensive side of his game and he's already on his third manager at this club, but Jose certainly seems to see something in him which is why I think the disciplinary action was measured and done without too much drama and why he will be back in the squad this weekend. I think he'll benefit tremendously from us now having a threat up front as well, so teams can't creep up on him and double team him. Equally having a presence on the opposite wing in Willian will stop teams from neglecting that area safe in the knowledge nothing of note will come down the right. But it's all about how he reacts now.