The Big Drog

Defensively it's been poor, there seems to be a kind of half press going on, like against Shakhtar, and it isn't working, it's far too easy to play around. For example their second goal, Ferdinand has all the time in the world to pick out Rafael. You either commit to a full press or you don't press at all. However we fought back brilliantly. Ramires doing very well in the middle and Mata, Hazard and Oscar causing all sorts of problems. However the lack of a genuinely top drawer striker is still hurting us.

Not good at all. There seemed to be a kind of half hearted press on the Shakhtar backline when they had the ball but they constantly managed to get it into midfield fairly comfortably so they had good time and possession on the ball and found far too much space and time on the ball in front of our back four. We really should have either committed to a full on press or simply sit back and press the ball when it reached a certain area. Im not a Torres hater, anyone who reads my posts knows that but I genuinely believe that had there been a truly outstanding striker wearing a blue jersey tonight we would have won. Torres had plenty of opportunities with the ball to feet to do something special, he didn't and he ended up being a bit of a hindrance. I think tonight was the first time I really thought to myself "we could really do with Drogba out there."

Can't see any truth in this. He is an integral part of, arguably, the greatest team ever, a club he has come through the ranks at, why would he leave? The article is also a bit ridiculous in suggesting that Thiago would be a direct replacement for Busquets, anyone who has watched Thiago play knows that this wouldn't be the case. A few comments on this thread are stupid. Any club would be very luck to have Busquets, the man is surely the closest thing I've ever seen to Pep Guardiola when he was a player. Undoubtedly the finest holding midfielder in the world, technically top drawer and he has the drive and hunger of a real winner. Perhaps he does have a theatrical side but he does an important job on the opposition players and the smaller players like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi are glad to have him in their team.

Or you can appreciate that you are lucky enough in your lifetime to be watching the greatest group of footballers ever assembled, along with the greatest footballer ever.

5-4. Just a great advert for Spanish football, as was the earlier Valencia vs Bilbao game. This was football at its best, it had it all, great players, great football, unbelievable drama and an astounding solo goal from the greatest player ever proving to be the winner. Terrific win, valuable 3 points and a great night of Spanish football overall.

I'm not sure why we are so down on him. I thought he did very well yesterday, some slick passes, a real quickness of thought and a couple of charging runs, all wonderfully topped off by that sublime pass to Mata for the third goal, that pass was something very special indeed.

A masterclass yesterday from the Spanish genius. I always believed him a better player than Silva and Cazorla, it's a bit of an irrelevant point anyway, all 3 are terrific footballers and it's great to see them play each week. Full credit though to Mata, if he was overshadowed earlier in the season by the new arrivals he certainly isn't overshadowed anymore, Mata, Oscar and Hazard are 3 great players, seeing the 3 of them play together really is a joy.

Even with the Man Utd game coming up it would be childish to think that we wont play our strongest possible side in this game, Away to Shakhtar is not a joke, it's a very serious test and our position in the group at the moment isn't perfect.

The hate for Cazorla on this thread isn't logical. He is a top player, for quite a while he was considered the best player in La Liga not playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona. At the same time Juan Mata is a top player, generally in Spain they seem to think higher of Mata than Silva, personally I'd have both Mata and Cazorla over Silva. Juan had a slow enough start to the season but after his mini break he has gotten back into the groove he was in last season, his current form is blistering. All 3 players are a joy to watch, there's not very much separating all 3 of them.

Excellent half of football. Chelsea fully deserve their lead and more. The quick interplay and clever moves have been a joy to watch, this is the kind of football that Roman has long wanted to see at Chelsea. Mata, Hazard, Oscar and Lampard all terrific.

After the Juventus result it's important that we pick up a win in this one, with that in mind if like to see. Cech Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Cole Romeu, Ramires Moses, Oscar, Hazard Sturridge

Like I said, I don't think Chelsea winning was a huge shock. It's a great 3 points because winning at the Emirates isn't easy and it's the first big test for this new look Chelsea team passed but it wasn't an upset, it was a deserved 3 points for the better team. We looked very competent and assured at the back, Di Matteo's attacking selection was justified by us keeping good possession and pressing Arsenal well. On top of that we had a bit of magic from Torres and Mata. A few shouts for MOTM but Sky's choice if Ramires is the right one. Some said that the Braziliam couldnt play in a double pivot but he is proving them wrong, always energetic, good use of the ball and very combative. Big credit to Di Matteo who went with a brave team selection, he's been rewarded with 3 points.

I know but Terry is so strong mentally and he remains such an influential presence. In my line up there is no Lampard so Terry's leadership is even more important.

Like has been said, I don't want to see Ramires and Bertrand on the wing. Given the amount of money we spent and talent we have at our disposal I don't see why we should be so ultra defensive. I'd like to see. Cech Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole Mikel, Ramires Moses, Mata, Hazard Torres Obviously in the dream scenario Azpilicueta and Romeu might start as might Oscar but that's hoping for too much.

That's an entirely unfair and untrue representation of what Barcelona fans think of Valdes. He is a top goalkeeper, as good a shot stopper as you will see and a superb 1vs 1 keeper, on top of that he is wonderful in his role of sweeper keeper and on the ball there is no finer goalkeeper. In short he is the perfect Barcelona goalkeeper.

For me, Ramos is the best centre back in the world. It took a while for him to fully hone his skills but last season, this Summer and this season he has proven himself to be absolutely top notch. Terrific reading of the game, a formidable 1 vs 1 defender, quick across the ground, lethal in the air, technically very talented, fearless and an inspirational leader, Ramos has it all.

Terrific half of football, bit disappointed that we couldn't hold into the 2 goal lead till half time but an excellent performance so far. We look really slick going forward and Mikel is doing well in the middle. Obviously the star so far has been Oscar. I've been raving about him for quite some time and he's shown why so many are so excited about the young Brazilian number 10. Two goals, the second of the highest quality, involved heavily in the play and doing a sterling job on Pirlo, all on his first start for Chelsea and first Champions League appearance to boot. Yes he is a special player.

It's the equivalent of me going to the Chelsea vs Juventus match and saying I hate both teams. It adds nothing to the thread, I've given no reasons why I hate them both (I obviously don't by the way) its just dumb.

Then whats the point of viewing and then posting on the La Liga thread?

Why? Maybe if you were from Seville or a region in Spain other than Barcelona and Madrid and you supported a club other than Barcelona and Real Madrid then I could probably understand your argument. However you appear to be English, meaning you are viewing it from a completely different angle than you would be if you were a Spanish supporter of a club other than the big two. Put simply you, like myself, are an observer. As an observer with no particularly strong allegiance to a Spanish club there is no emotional attachment there for you. For the sake of the argument I will assume that you watch La Liga, in which case you watch it for the quality. In terms of quality it's faultless. Would it be nice to have a third team challenge for the title? Sure. However put Real Madrid and Barcelona in any other league and they would remain the two outstanding teams in any given league, such is their quality. So what if it is those two every reason? They are the two best teams in the world, they are constantly evolving, constantly revolutionising, constantly improving, always pushing each other. It's a great title race.

Yes it is but it is the two greatest teams in the world challenging for the title, you know it's the two greatest sides in the world challenging for the title, the winner being the greatest side in the world on that given season. Of course there are other things to take into account like the Champions League but in no other league are there two teams of the quality of Barcelona and Real Madrid or with the individual quality of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Ronaldo. How many title races aren't 2 horse races? Man City and Man Utd was a two horse race last season, it might be again this season. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are the two outstanding teams in Germany. Italy is a bit more open but the quality in that league has really declined compared to what it was. If you want to look beyond the title race then there is so much else happening in La Liga and so much quality. We saw it first hand against Atletico Madrid. We saw it last season with Athletic Bilbao (though they are having problems this season), we saw it with Sevilla last night, we often see it with Valencia, we've seen it so far with Malaga who have gotten off to an excellent start this season. There is genuine quality on show.

I agree there, all roads seem to lead to Pep. It's common knowledge that he is Abramovich's dream manager, the constant first choice for the job for quite some time now. Getting him to come to the club might be quite the challenge though, particularly when you factor in that Bayern Munich are apparently quite keen on him once Heynckes steps down after this season.

Luckily it's about more than just stats. Mario Gomez had a far better goal scoring record last season than Iniesta, I'd still opt for the Barcelona man.

But what you fail to mention is that the two teams challenging are the two greatest teams in the world, one of which is arguably the greatest team ever. Yes Barcelona have won but it hasn't been straightforward and I don't think they will end with a 100% record. Great then you think Madrid are still in it, meaning we still have a title race.

Still it's hardly over already and it's not as if Barcelona have had it easy so far either. The word "boring" certainly isn't the right one to use.