Rubber bullets

Of course he could be just talking bullshit and just wants to go back to the counter-attacking, compact team the last time he was here and he is just saying that he is trying to play possesion to appease some of the doubters for a little while. And judging by all the things he was harping on about during the summer (using young players, making Lukaku a big part of his squad et cetera), that could be a possibility.

But what gets me is what happened after the Basel game. Instead of highlighting the general poor perfromance of the whole team (and that was before Mata came on) and other players that were responsibile for the two goals for the goals (Cahill and Eto'o poor defending during the corner kick that led to the second goal), he just pretty much highlights Mata defensive contribution and styling as if it was the sole reason we lost the match and dropped him even from the bench. Yet other players who have performed poorly for the last few games (Hazard) get exempt from public criticsm from him and never seemed to be dropped. So I do think this idea that Mourinho is trying to isolate Mata becuase he does not want him has grounds in reality and to me gives Mourinho a scapegoat so he can make excuses and shiftthe blame to others for his failings. Which seems to be his modus operandi this season when things don't go his way.

Astonishes me watching this game why we were so defensive when we faced them last month.

Very scruffy and not convincing, but we got there in the end and with Mikel finally getting a Premier league goal my life is now complete.

More goals in the league then Eto'o, Torres and Ba combined. Number 9 anybody?

Oh my god.

Please get a second, please!

Relief with a bit of luck.

It staggers me that Mourinho always give Essien a place on the bench but never uses him. So why not give it to Luiz or Mata?

Jose trying to bullshit his way out when asked a question about leaving Mata and Luiz out just now.

Becuase he's Spanish? Sorry, seems cheap, but its the only reason I can think of.

Its obvious that Jose is trying to marginalize Mata for no reason then to fuel his pathetic ego. No other reason Ican think of

Fucking hell, Mata does not even make the bench. What is Jose trying to achieve?

If they weren't then he could technically sue them. So I think they are.

Needs to start the next couple of matches. Somehow I doubt that will happen.

You don't go from being a player that wins the teams Player of the Year award twice in a row to being under average in a space of a few months. It looks to me more and more that Jose and Mata do not see eye to eye on how he should be used in the team and the tactics that are to be used.

Feel sorry for this guy. Last season he was one of our most consistent players and showed us the benefits of having an actual RB instead of a makeshift one. But for what ever reason (not being over 6ft, skinny, or simply being Spanish) Jose's seems to be ignoring his quality in favour for a player who is not a RB and can have some very poor performances there.

I think its becoming more apparent that we have a conflicting identity between the manager and the team. The team has players more suited for flowing attacking football. Jose wants to go back to his first reign of a robust team that relied on counter attacks. One has to give way.

The way we are going Jose is not gonna last very long.

Hard to imagine we beat them 3-1 with Benitez at the helm.

Ashley Cole went way too narrow for that goal.

Thank god

To have someone who can thread a ball through the eye of a needle, which is what we desperately need.

This game just cries out for Mata. Jose, please put aside your prejudice on him and put him on!

Why does Jose not rate Cesar at all? Yet thinks that Ivanovic is a natural right back?