Barbara

not to give the same old excuse (some see it like that, I don't) but he's been skipping full summer vacations for a few years in a row, it's sort of expected he has less and less energy until he finally rests properly. It don't happen though... next year he'll have Copa América and let's hope he isn't one of the three senior players Dunga - or whoever is Brazil's manager in 2016 will choose. But there's so long a guy can season after season be either the guy who's played more, or one of them, and not start feeling the physical wearing down. I think he's doing fine, he still has to catch up some (most players do) in the fitness department after his brief vacation, he'll improve some, but I think unless he has a proper summer vacation he won't be the player he was in 2012 - energy wise.

I'm defending the second half formation - which has Ramires, and I said it has nothing to do with harmony, so tbh I didn't get your answer

It's definitely an option better than Schurrle atm, but Oscar has been playing well and it worked well. I'm not advocating harmony - as you did with the defense, I just think if it ain't broken, don't change it. Oscar had a great second half yesterday where he did a bit of everything, but of course, Willian is great and could offer a few things Oscar can't, with his silky, pace-y football.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x25wmao_mourinho-goals-change-games-hd_sport

Average passer Cesc Fàbregas (btw why all the other players that have some sign - don't know the proper name in English - in their names have it, but Fàbregas is written as Fabregas?) had a 95% pass accuracy today according to Squawka. Not so bad for an average passer: 6 key passes (don't remember any of them being a through ball), 95% accuracy, two assists today, six overall in four matches. I do agree about their point about the 3-man midfield. We should just switch to 4-3-3 and walk the league We do look much suited for 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 and at least now - during early days - I can see it bringing more stability to our defense. We must play our second half formation against City imo, though I could see Mourinho replacing Oscar - and not Schurrle - for Ramires because of his pace. I'd still rather the opposite as André seems to be having some world champion hangover.

yep, both you did say you were bored hope you have flawless taste in music

Do you? I think he's been as better as he could... how could you see him improving? If he does, I don't know who's going to stop us

I guess anyone who wants to watch MOTD in an hour from now can access it here http://www.tvpc.com/Channel.php?ChannelID=3

x top celebrations

I don't either. Took them from tumblr where people said it was from official FB and then I saw it on twitter too with people saying the same. FB is an awful experience

Official FB account

He continues to be impressive offensively after a few seasons of bad spells in the attacking half. And he's still solid as a rock defensively. If he carries on like that he will become (has been in those first weeks) the best FB in the world.

Whoever is taking charge of our social media currently is an update from previous seasons. Great stuff

This guy is bigger than any curse. winning POTM curse who? He goes there and scores a hat trick after winning the award. Is there anything this guy can't make?

I'll tell you this. Even if I agreed he compromises our midfield as much as some others believe, I would still keep this man in every match of the season... I think we'll need some time to settle the midfield and defense with the new attacking system in place, I think 3-4 matches further we'll have a better idea of how we'll look for the rest of the season. If he needs more legs by his side, then we should switch to 4-3-3 (I think we should regardless of anything else, this team is perfect for a 4-3-3) with either Ramires or Oscar by his side. I think our second half formation is really ideal. Maybe Schurrle is having a little bit of world champion hangover or just struggling with his fitness after a busy summer. He and Willian are good options, but I'd insist with both Ramires and Oscar in addition to Cesc and Matic. Cesc is as important in this team imo as Costa is. I hope he doesn't have a second half of season sleeper (some say he normally doesn't produce much then, and so doesn't Oscar, so we really need both to prove everyone wrong). He's been instrumental to this change of style we've had. Even if he doesn't give the assist to a goal, more often than not he made a good pass starting the play. He's the kind of 'compromise' that is worth. The thing is I'm not even convinced he compromises at all. We just need to move to 4-3-3 for all and once and keep smiling.

more than ours? I doubt it

that formation from the second half is actually a great shot against City. We need to play 4-3-3 against them, especially if Touré plays. I think Schurrle offers a lot in the counter, but at the same time he didn't have a good match and Oscar did. COZAGAS lol... the sound is very similar to cocegas (tickling) in Portuguese. Given how much they've been making me laugh, I vote for this one.

by a fair margin... actually despite the own goal, Matic's and defense mistakes, I think Schurrle was our worst player in the first half. He was really bad, worse than the others who weren't that good - except Hazard and Costa (I do think Costa was good since the start). As for Oscar. It's nice that he reminded us of what he can do. It's actually great, but he needs to keep it up. Now is the time of the year that he normally plays well. It's hot, it's early days, he normally does well from August to December. We need him to keep this level. He showed he can do a flick, and he has some vision and some nice assisting pass on him all while tackling, pressing, shortening spaces for the opponent (he did all those things very well imo). He needs to find some consistency on his game. With no national team distraction and two seasons under his belt, I hope he finally takes that step towards his ceiling, consistently playing better. It's been a needed improvement, but he can do more and he definitely can do it more often.

First in his thread after the match I think he was amazing today - fixed the defensive issues from last match, took our midfield to a new level, gave us stability, played well in the attack, was very good passing, tackling, pressing. He was really one of our best players in the field (Hazard and Costa were out of this world and I think Cesc did very well too, but other than that, I think Ramires was the next in the MOTM pick). And it's interesting to see how he fitted in, he wasn't playing as deep as I expected he would when Mourinho brought him. It was a 4-3-3 imo with him and Cesc alternating the highest position, which was a welcoming and nice surprise. Not only he did well in the attack with his passing and pressing, but he also did well defensively tackling, pressing and filling spaces. I believe we had already turned the match around when he came in - Hazard did that - but still he made our midfield look much better. Everybody here knows I'm a defender of us playing 4-3-3 and today's match just proved it further for me, but while I've always thought Ramires would be an option, not a constant, I might have been wrong. It's too early to tell, but I do think he keeps it up and if he does, he's a nailed starter, regardless of the opposition, regardless if replacing Oscar or Schurrle. I just don't think he should replace Cesc. They should play together.

I think that's something we should really appreciate about this match. He was the one who stepped up when we were crappy. That's the attitude I want to see from him at all matches... even when he tries and things don't work as he wanted (everyone's entitled a bad day in the office). I've watched the match today wearing his shirt (had put Oscar's on, then switched before the match started), hoping he'd have a great presentation and he did. I'd rate this presentation even higher than the 8 I've asked I'd like to see in like 30 matches a season. He didn't score, he didn't assist, but he was instrumental in the win. He took matters in his hands and if he can keep it up, the goals and the assists will come - even if they don't come as often as other players. That's the Hazard we need, and let's hope we won't have to wait 6 matches to see it again.

I have a similar feeling, that's why I said Hazard was the 'enabler'. When we were lost and being ridiculously dominated by them (ridiculous by how easy they made it look, they were actually a very team and I think they'll continue to surprise others) Hazard took it in his hands to turn this around. And then he fired up the team and then Costa scored and never stopped. In a way I feel like if Hazard didn't have a good day in the office, we wouldn't have dominated them like that (maybe we could have won anyway, but he was instrumental in the way we turned the match 180 degrees). Then Diego Costa did his thing and some more. So I understand saying Hazard was more influential, although I don't necessarily agree. He was influential in a way and Diego in another. We don't even need to choose one between them

Where do I start? I won't comment on the goals we conceded, on our mistakes on them. I already did in the live thread - especially the first. I'll choose to focus ONLY in the positive. I have to vote for the hat tricker because I mean, how can you ignore 7 goals in 4 matches? Then I also have to vote for the best assister in the world, I mean, how can you ignore 6 assists in 4 matches? Then I also have to vote for Eden Hazard - who in my opinion fired the game still in the first half and enabled this victory even if his name won't appear in the stats sheet. I'll vote for Costa, but the other two are tied with him imo. Or maybe Hazard is and Cesc is a bit behind them. I also have to praise Ivanovic, has been a beast in the attack again. I still want to see Luís in the team replacing Azpili. While I think Azpili isn't making any mistakes, and has been solid, maybe that's the shake our defense needs to wake up. Ramires, my dear Ramires... Prove me wrong, baby, prove me wrong every single day and I'll concede defeat with a smile in my face. Regardless of the great assist (again) and before that I had already admitted he's been great, then you add the assist and his other contributions after that and there's no way this guy should be left out of our starting lineup now - regardless of the opponent. I hope he has his best season yet with us this year. I hope he carries on, I'll eat as many humble pies he wants to shove down my throat. I'll still have the silly smile I have on my face now. I may have forgotten some unsung hero, but I'm on high adrenaline and oxytocin now to think sort of properly

I can see our league goals scored record being broken this season.... By Diego Costa alone