ZanSnake

If true, would be nice to see another option in defence with JT coming to the end of his career, though i guess, i would like to see someone like Omerou or Kalas (though he can still be a choice at RB) as competitors. With someone young and JT still going strong at the moment, we could rotate the other CB position till then to get him used to the defensive style/reputation that will be on his shoulders.

More importantly, have the terminator board been terminating the managers as much as the current one!

I think this story kind of shows of what twisted scum these 'fans' are! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-25575833

clearly the club has some interest in the lad, surely the successor of Petr. But it is done to the balls of Jose then anything imo. Will he be able to drop one of his 'friends'?

How is Jimmy doing in management? Another successful Chelsea offspring?

With Mourinho, the transition will be supported around a good foundation - and with money incoming from players that are deemed unneeded (ie. Marin, Moses, KdB, etc.) maybe then we can promote from within and then buy for the actual eras within the squad that needs more depth and quality. We have more depth now then we did last season, and players are finding the consistency they will need in order to become 'elite'. With Jose, we have a great transition potential that can keep pace short-term as well as building for the future

stream link anyone? athde isn't working

A gem in a poor team, but outside of the poor team isn't really a gem - but a golden turd

Always had the compact and attacking mentality that fused with the 'always a winner' philosophy, which was shown in the first half exceptionally, but he just seemed to be a completely different image come the end of the game. Whatever happened inside that locker-room changed the philosophy of the players, and instead of trying to break down the passing space, we decided to break into their space in order to counter - and then completely folded that for holding onto a draw! I get the 'a point on the road is better than nothing at all' but with the results not going our way lately, and the fact that it was going to plan, why change a potential winning formula for a drastic average one? All i heard from the commentators is that Jose has changed, and i guess we will have to expect that - or wait and make do, till he can create his perfected team once more.

A game that started with hope and determination in the first half that was shattered by a sudden change in the second half, and albeit reluctance to go for the win. January can't come any quicker, hopefully we can sign a striker who CAN score and will help bring a change to the style.

So disappointing to see this

In the first half we were, but the pressing has become erratic and desperate - taking off Hazard who was the biggest threat kind of was a sign to me that we are not going for the win. Hell as i type this, David Luiz is coming on for our STRIKER.

What a shit second half performance.

Torres is the only play past the half way line

Another big away game where we are most likely to go for a draw then a win.

Fucking hell that was close! Getting really rash now. Come ON lads!!

Oscar on for Willian - maybe due to the Boxing day game? Maybe too little to late though :\

Need Willian off not Hazard!

FFS! Pressing is erratic, Ivan needs to get his head out of his arse and CALM DOWN!

Yay, an analysis by Sexist Andy Gray

some nice pressing and some nice defending from the lads - a better improvement over the Crystal Palace game - we are holding them down, but we need have more time on the ball or be more clinical when countering.

Been waiting all day for this!! Come on you blues!!

I think if the supposed loan offer from West Ham came in for Ba, and that our demands for his loan wasn't so high, Lukaku would be second choice striker and/or would have been able to break into the team. I think that because Romelu wanted to go out in loan forced Jose to stop the hand if West Ham was the only club wanting to loan, or not wanting to strengthen a rival with Arsenal wanting to take Ba. Either way, there was some communication between Lukaku and Jose which resulted in his loan move due to what happened at the SuperCup - either, like said, Lukaku's morale was shattered or he didn't think his role would be as what he hoped came the start of the season due to the arrival of Etto'o, imo he was the second choice before the SC after Torres as Ba is third now.

Would answer the 'stability' problems we've had But, Buck said the same thing about AVB being our 'long-term' manager, so we can't really speculate. Would prefer someone like Jose at the helm of the club for the long term then, say, David Moyes

It's hard to say really, i once thought Kevin would play as a squad member and that Kalas would be given a few minutes at RB/CB before Christmas - but that didn't really happen. Think the only time we/I could tell will be next pre-season - and even that is somewhat doubtful.