Corner

Are you implying a team should one have one Belgian? Nonsense!

I'm delighted that our defence is finally stable. But my god, I really want a goal.

I agree. Fixing the defence was always going to be the starting point when Rafa took over, and it makes sense to build from there. After all, this is a transitional season. We just needs to figure out the workings of what we're aiming towards.

This and proof that Marko Marin exists actually brightened my night a little bit.

Eh. The overall team performance was shit. What we needed was a moment of brilliant from someone, and Oscar provided that moment of brilliance.

Was the atmosphere as dead and awkward at the game as it was on tv?

I beg to differ.

This pretty much sums it up perfectly.

Who needs strength when they can do this? That is all.

Ah, but Oscar, Mata and Hazard aren't used to linking up with the likes of Hilario and Paulo.

He definitely hasn't been making the impact he was at the start of the season, but then again, who is? Average may be an understatement. He hasn't been terrible per se. It's just the team is sluggish and crap creatively at the moment.

Unless Sturridge will be fit in time, we have no other option but to play Torres.

I agree, it has been a while now. But regarding their price tags... that's not really their fault.

I'm trying very hard to be optimistic... The best I can come up with so far is that anything can happen. Bleh.

No, not at all. If we finish in the top four this season and the team has made a lot of progress in understanding each other, then it's a good season for me.

Exactly. While this was a boring game, and I am a bit worried... we have kept two clean sheets in a row. That's the most important thing from me. Once our defence is completely stable, then we start working on scoring more. Obviously, I would have like a win tonight, but we're not exactly on form at the moment, so I'll settle for a draw and third place in the table right now.

Are you suggesting that whenever Romeu plays, it's because he's Spanish? Don't be ridiculous.

Definitely would have preferred Moses over Bertrand. Mikel being rested as expected.

Is that tonight's line-up?

That's true. But I reckon it would be different with Rafa giving the players less freedom. Romeu and Mikel would hopefully be more disciplined and leave the adventurous stuff to Mata, Oscar and Hazard... or whoever happens to be playing in the three behind the striker.

He really has been amazing. Finally we have a top right-back!

Playing with a false #9 is an interesting idea. Obviously, I can see why RDM tried it. Torres hasn't been exactly been playing well. But it made no sense to try it against a team that plays with three centre-backs. So let's say the false #9 does drag one of the centre-backs out of position, there are still two others there. And that doesn't leave much space to exploit. It also didn't make much sense to try it in a match where you set up defensively, knowing you're not going to dominate possession. But what other choice did RDM have? Hazard up front sounds more dangerous than Torres up front right now.

I wouldn't be too surprised if he rested two of 'Mazacar'. Benitez has talked a lot about Oscar so I would expect him to maybe rest Hazard and Mata. I'm expecting Romeu to play too. Maybe Romeu and Mikel alongside each other as Ramires isn't exactly the best passer and we're more than likely going to have a lot of the ball in this match.