The only place to be

By the way, our second string team could theoretically be Courtois Kalas Omeruo Ake Van Aanholt Chalobah McEachran Piazon De Bruyne Kakuta Lukaku The problem is we simply didn't blood players properly a few years ago so we're having to do it now.

Just the result of piss-poor long-term planning a few years ago. The fact that we're now remedying that (as evidenced by the number of good quality players we have on-loan) is a positive but unfortunately we're suffering for not taking action sooner.

He's not completely shit, but he's not good enough for us. You'll note that each of those managers has been sacked, although I think it's entirely irrelevant. He's a decisive player, who looks great on the stats sheet but fails to convince so many supporters in games. His supporters like to imply that he's underrated or that what he does is so subtle, so magical and mysterious that mere mortals fail to recognise his talents. He's just an average player who has managed to get a lot of appearances at this club, but fortunately we have players coming through who are going to surplant him in the near future. I personally can't wait for that day.

I think you're ignoring his 84% pass completion stat.

I disagree. I think players with 700+ appearances between them should be able to space themselves better and look to control the tempo rather than aimlessly hoofing the ball up to a guy who can't win the ball in the air, get behind defenders or simply hold it up when it's played to him on the ground. It's not like this is a new thing either - we've known the pivot was a weak spot all season and any team that can push up on it will get results. Lamps isn't suited for that position and Mikel simply isn't good enough, so why anyone should be surprised about this I don't know.

I thought he was okay today. He had no protection from Mikel and Lampard, whilst Ivanovic had another bad day at the office. He took his goal well and put everything into that performance, sometimes doing the job of four men (literally!).

This is Rafa - he doesn't change the system, but changes the personnel instead. Southampton's players stepped up all over the pitch, whilst we lacked leadership despite having Cech, Lamps and Terry on the pitch. Yet you'll still get people on here saying that we shouldn't give young players a chance because they don't have 'experience'.

The image I'm trying to paint is of someone who has ignored the performances Mikel has put in on the pitch and defended him blindly for fuck know's what reason. People are frustrated with his lacklustre performances and you mock them by saying that 'he'll be in the team next season'. You've nailed your colours to his mast and seem unable to admit you were wrong.

Actually that would be Rafa. Or Torres. Lamps and Mikel were appalling today and showed no composure in possession and no determination in defence. This isn't the first time that's been the case either and any team that puts pressure on that double-pivot will get some something out of the game.

I swear you feel like you've manouvred yourself into a position where you'd rather be right about Mikel being in the team than seeing Chelsea do well. You're starting to sound like Backstreet sounds about Torres. BTW, why watch the match - he had 84% pass completion. That's good enough to vote for him as MOTM isn't it?

Three players who started all FOUR of those games?? Bertrand Ivanovic Lampard

Amazing to see our fans throw this club under the bus so easily. We still have our fate in our hands and I'd back us to make top four. If we do or we don't, the level of pessimistic bollocks that's being thrown around this forum is a fucking joke. People saying they're not going to watch games, implying Rafa's trying to tank the team...it's absurd.

We're a team in transition. We were sixth in the league last season and we're reaping the consequences of mistakes made 5 years ago. Regardless of what happens this season, we've got a great future. If that means missing out on the Champions League for one season then so be it, but the long-term plan at this club is sound.

I heard he invented AIDS and was on the grassy knoll as well..... I think there's logic in resting Mata today if you're trying to win 3 of the 4 matches. We knew we were going to have to rotate at some point and if Mata can only play alternate games then picking him for the United and Sunderland games makes some sense doesn't it? Have some perspective - we've still got a game in hand over Spurs and we've also got them at home.

I don't think Mata could handle two games in three days which is why he was rested today. I think he's got a better chance of playing Monday-Thursday-Sunday in all honesty, so not playing him today was perhaps understandable.

He's the heartbeat of this team. He's the leader of this club now and that has it's positives and it's negatives. But we all knew we had four games coming up this week and that team we put out today should have been good enough. What we've learnt is that we have some dead wood in the squad (and judging by some of the comments on the match thread, in our support too). Bertrand wasn't good enough. Azpi had a bad game. JT did well but got little help from Branislav (the odd bad game is becoming a worrying trend) or the midfield who were awful in almost every aspect of the game today. Moses had a shocker, Oscar couldn't do much and Marin confirmed the suspicions some of us have had for a while. At least Torres worked hard today. Top four is still in our control but it's going to be tough and we need to rest the players on Thursday for the Sunderland game.

Same problems we've had all season. Couldn't control the game in the double pivot and Southampton outfought us. Moses had a bad game, Marin simply isn't good enough and Oscar didn't have a chance with the players surrounding him. But ultimately this comes down to Lampard and Mikel simply not being good enough when there's pressure put on them. Mikel was a disgrace to the shirt and Lamps simply isn't suited for that position.

Don't think he heard you.

Plenty of people. In fact people have been saying Mikel and Lampard have been good enough for us for the last few months. Southampton just exploited the issue we've had all season and they deserved the three points.

Plenty of people. In fact people have been saying Mikel and Lampard have been good enough for us for the last few months. Southampton just exploited the issue we've had all season and they deserved the three points.

Nice to see certain 'fans' throwing players under the bus when they have one bad game in a largely impressive season. Southampton have worked hard and defended well, and Moses has had an off day. He isn't a cunt because of that.

Moses has been good in his first season - get off his fucking back.

Who the fuck is the guy 60 feet up in the air that Lamps has been trying to pass to today?

You've been advocating offering him a new contract for the last few months. I actually qualified it by saying those who wanted him back but hadn't learnt anything about how to win matches. That isn't 95% of Chelsea supporters (thank fuck).