The only place to be

Eto'o scored from a corner in our last home match against Sunderland and Ivanovic hit the bar from one in exactly the same game. In fact Luiz hit the post from a free-kick last night as well.

What has that got to do with him tracking a runner? Are you saying that his calf injury meant he couldn't do that, because he made a pretty good fist of tracking the runner for the third goal and is fairly blameless in that instance. He's not. He's judging him fairly.

Time to class this joint up.

The thing is I actually don't think he did much wrong for their third goal. It's a fantastic ball, but he stays with his man about as well as you could ask a winger who isn't the most natural defender to do. The first is just appalling though. He doesn't have to head the ball out or even block it, he's just got to be in Juanfran's line of vision to give him something to think about. The whole match swings on that error and it's unfortunate it was Eden who made it. Having said all that, you've got to give credit to Atletico firstly for Koke's challenge on Luiz to win the ball and then the way they recycled possession. Costa's ball out to the wing turns every defender and he doesn't get enough credit for his ability to create chances that way.

His marking for the first was pathetic. A couple of times before the ball is drifted in he has a look at Juanfran - he knows that his man and losing him has got nothing to do with coming back from an injury. Ashley Cole maybe gets sucked inside a little to easy which leaves JT as the de facto left-back, but Juanfran is Hazard's man all day long. We beat Liverpool because every man did their job. We conceded that goal because Hazard didn't do his.

This. Nail on Head. When he leaves, every fan of this club will breathe a deep sigh of relief. He's a parasite, although I don't mean that in an entirely horrible way. He simply takes more out of this club then he puts back in.

Because if you had asked most fans if they'd have taken a top three finish, a CL semi-final all whilst building a solid foundation for next season then they would've taken it. The atmosphere around the Bridge and amongst PROPER supporters has completely changed from where it was last season. We have a manager we love and believe in who has given us some memorable times and we finally have a decent framework to add to in the summer.

What the fuck is your problem? You're a Torres fanboy and you've done nothing but slate the team. You're a fucking disgrace. When Torres leaves you'd do well to fuck off with him.

It's times like this when people shoe their true colours. They ain't fucking blue....

Um, they looked pretty concerned with scoring when I was watching. They just couldn't because we defended well. You sure you weren't confusing us with them? We were the team in black. We were concerned with not scoring, and we got what we wanted. We did the same on Sunday. I have faith that we have a manager and players who have the strength of character to do the same tonight, but if we don't at least it gives you and lionsden something to moan about.

In his defence, it's tough for a player coming from a foreign, inferior league into a whole new environment, dealing with the Christmas period whilst playing under one poor manager and then having to play under another. Think it's unfair to judge him solely on this season, although he's hardly the most exciting possible signing unless it's a cut-price deal. Reminds me of us being linked to Guarin.

Schurrle didn't get many chances for a while, Bertrand got shipped out and Ashley got the naughty step for a while. Think Ashton is wrong about Azpi's emergence though because he's been arguably the best left-back in the league this season. Cole should've known better though.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2615930/Ashley-Cole-dropped-Chelsea-going-Arsenals-Christmas-not-form-best-left-Englands-game.html His omission has nothing to do with the consistent form of Cesar Azpilicueta at left back or a decline in Cole's performances under Jose Mourinho. He has been punished for attending Arsenal’s Christmas party the night after Chelsea had been beaten in the Capital One Cup at Sunderland.

Apparently Juanfran is one of the players who is a booking away from missing the final, so I'd love for Eden to just run at him at every opportunity. Not really sure what to expect from this match though. When we played Arsenal at home I was actually quite relaxed, whereas I was bricking it on Sunday. Today I just want to get to the match and see what transpires. Tried not to think too much about the final, although I did smile a bit when Alonso picked up his yellow last night. Just hoping for another great European night and reminding myself that whatever happens from this point on, it's been an amazing season.

Bollocks. He was widely acclaimed as the best left-back in the world for a number of years so who are these doubters exactly? The simple fact is that he hasn't been consistently good for a while now and Azpi has been fantastic at left-back. I know it's unfashionable to see the benefits of Ivanovic at right-back but he's been a solid performer and chipped in with important goals in key games. He's also incredibly important as a target man for goal-kicks. James Harden is probably the laziest defender in the NBA. Bit harsh on Ashley considering he's still capable of being solid. Never quite understood his victim complex. There's not been an English footballer in the last 20 years who has been quite so unanimously viewed as world-class as he has, yet he thinks people want him to fail?? Bizarre.

I don't think his versatility is needed anymore if Willian and Salah can do a job on the wings like they did against Liverpool. I'd rather we looked to have quality midfielders who can play a ball rather than an athlete who has an inconsistent touch. Plus the guys received about 4 suspensions in the last 12 months. If Matic gets injured we're in trouble if Ramires is our backup.

Matic, New Midfielder, Van Ginkel, Lamps, Chalobah is a perfect mix for me. Flog Mikel, Luiz and Ramires.

91 chances in 3 games - 1 goal.

He is a very special young player indeed. His goal last night reminded me of Piazon's against Forest in the Youth Cup a couple of years ago but this kid shows more than young Lucas did at the same age. He's got the tricks, he's got supreme touch for a person of his age, but it's the athleticism and pace with which he did everything that marked him out. His physical strength would be the only question mark you'd put against his name but he looks much stronger than he did last season and is very agile.

I know the argument is that Chelsea ask him to do a different job, but Matic has come in and doesn't seem to be under any instructions to sit deep and keep it simple. In fact in pretty much the same team he's shown himself to be comfortable running with the ball, looking to create chances and even taking the odd shot. They've already filled their 'looks like Vieira but plays nothing like him' quota with Diaby. He could do well at that mid-table Italian team you mentioned though.

Ultimately a pretty disappointing result and the goals we conceded were all avoidable. Two fuck-ups at set-pieces undid a lot of very good work elsewhere on the pitch but we're in a good position going back to the Bridge. Thought Charlie Colkett had a pretty good game and he reminds me so much of Josh McEachran at that age, although with a bit more physicality about him. Still only 17 he's got a beautiful left-foot and sees passes that few others at that age would. His link-up play with Jay Dasilva tore up the Fulham right flank and he showed off some beautiful little flicks in the middle of the park. Dasilva again impressed on the left-wing and considering he's barely 16, he didn't look out of place at all. The goal was taken superbly but his all round play was marked not just by skill but with a fantastic dose of grit and determination. An exciting prospect probably at left-back in the long-term. Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a bit of a quieter game than usual but he took a very heavy fall midway through the first-half and really didn't look with it until the teams came back out in the second-half. Still a quality performer who doesn't seem to ever lose the ball or underhit a pass, but will look to impose himself more in the second leg. Christensen showed exactly why he's highly thought of throughout Europe, and also exactly why his expectations to not go on loan are probably a bit laughable. Terrible marking for their first goal and made a few other tiny mistakes that will probably disappear in time, but he needs to face much tougher tests to grow as a player. Clarke-Salter alongside him looks a very tidy, athletic player and is still only 16. Seems to have a few fitness issues at the moment but as modern defenders go he seems to have the lot. Aina once again played out of position on the right and got caught out for the penalty but apart from that he looked good. Comfortable going forward with the ball and tough in the tackle, he's regularly an out-ball and will hopefully play more in his favoured right-back spot going forward. Possibly the only disappointments for me were Solanke and Brown. Solanke was isolated a fair bit up front alone but made some fantastic runs. Probably should've scored with an effort that was cleared off the line but you'd be looking for him to be a bit more clinical at home. Izzy Brown though...nice player but inconsistent. Always had a few doubts about him whenever I've seen him play.He's capable of some very nice touches but often looks ponderous when in possession of the ball and we really missed Kiwomya on that right flank to provide some direct running at the full-back. The tie is nicely balanced though. Fulham look a good, hard-working team and they have a few nice players. Dembele is a bit of a prick for trying that penalty and was rightly bollocked by our keeper but he looked a constant threat. In fact I think they probably put us on our heels more than Arsenal did over both legs and had spells in both halves where they were fairly dominant. Can't take them lightly and they'll definitely focus on tying down that right-flank a bit more securely for the return game at the Bridge, but if our players turn up and stay switched on for the 90 then we're more than capable of beating them.

When he's asked to just sit in front of the defence and do essentially one thing all match then he's usually very good. I'd just be very surprised if we did that much next year.

Personally I'd rather he stayed too. Matic, a new midfielder, Van Ginkel, Lamps and Chalobah would be enough for me next year probably and that means shifting on Ramires, Mikel and Luiz. Thought he was very good yesterday and didn't stop running all game.

Do you reckon anyone has told Jamie Redknapp that Jose was being sarcastic? Poor little special kid is going to be broken-hearted. Love that not a single person seems to have a problem with Jose burying him either. Is there a pundit held in lower regard than that twat? Cunt of the highest order and I guarantee that Jose's words will be repeated in the future, just like Wenger will face more calls of being a specialist in failure if he loses against Hull.

We're hated under Jose for one reason - he doesn't actually care that much about the football on the pitch. That 90 minutes between the first and the final whistle is completely incidental to him. All that matters is the result and for some that goes against the 'purity' of the sport (a sport governed by money that puts finances ahead of fans most of the time, but that's another point entirely). It was the same under Robbie as well. When we went to Barca we didn't try and play football against them like Wenger did a few years before. We went to stop them and hit them on the counter. It doesn't make for pretty football but all that matters are the results. Now the rub is that in time fancy football will come - It always does with Jose, but at the moment we're all about results and nothing else. That's why we're hated.