Barbara

The thing with Ivanovic is that he's the player that gives the most of himself EVERY SINGLE MATCH. You can't look away from that when half your team (when not more) seems to play heartless. Those things make a difference. I just don't get why Mourinho doesn't try to reverse things. Let Ivanovic play in the left (he'll continue to give his blood in matches, will continue to be a good defender, and will continue to do nothing attacking) and have Azpili go to the right. I wish Mourinho did it at least once and see what happens. They're both very reliable players with a lot of commitment every single match, so why not sacrifice the least technical attacking between the two of them if reversed positions in the flank won't affect the defensive part of the game?

What I believe will happen: City x Liverpool will draw Everton will beat City bc they'll be fired up trying to get the 4th place We'll beat Liverpool I'm not saying we'll win the league. Just that those results will happen

but he is sooooooooooo cute and he's a baby, so yeah, my baby is cute

this thread doesn't have enough posts for a guy that certainly deserves a lot more buzz and recognition from us He plays with his heart and has a great personality - in addition to being a great player

he should that to Iva crosses too It was so funny! I think Luiz was just trying to waste time and Eden had a go on him, it was so funny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4_RPmdSejA Mourinho must have had enough of ChelseaTV lol also I love pictures taken from this angle. This from Salah's goal for example. LOVE the shot and Lamps

#beardmenforthewin

on my first post here today I was going to talk about the picture, but I got carried away and forgot. That Basel picture KILLS me and we now have plenty pictures of him.

are some TC posters now writing for The Sun? I said before the match today I was in love with the formation he chose for the match, even if I didn't know if would work out. It worked perfectly and I see a lot of that team being repeated next season with a few exceptions such as Lamps out and Eden in (not one for another)

Thing is Luiz isn't suitable for the most defensive role in the pivot imo. And neither is lamps. We need the result, but is crucial for us to dominate the midfield imo and I don't think a combo of Luiz and Lamps can provide that. I meant Luiz actually... but thanks anyway ******************************************************* q!!!!!

oh yeah, he's the first one to struggle with it... lol He's stopped playing, he's been sick - only flus though - a few times and he seems lifeless. If he says and Mourinho says he struggles with the weather, then I believe it because many people from tropical countries like Brazil struggle with too cold weather.

didn't he get a third yellow? That why I wasn't sure @ must know for sure

I don't know if he's our best #10 player - Oscar and Hazard have good shots in the position too - but I have no doubts #10 is his best position. He plays much more lively there and his pace offers something else. We have three completely different kind of players for the position and I think this is great. One we have dribbles, 1-2s, but not much shots (although hopefully Eden will improve that), another we have good positioning, stretching space for others, tackles and pressing, in addition to good shots from the middle and the third we have pace, tackles and pressing, fancier plays (compared to Oscar) and also good shots. It all depends on what we want from the match or how in form they are. Right now there's no doubt he should play ahead of Oscar next Tuesday. The only problem for that is that we don't have Matic, Ramires or Luiz to play in the pivot, leaving us with only Lamps and Mikel for the position... Supposing we'll still stick with a 4-2-3-1 and not a 4-3-3, I'd say play Willian as #10, Hazard as LW and Schurrle as RW (or even Oscar if Schurrle has problems with the knock cunt Adam had on him. And hopefully Willian will keep his level or maybe even up it. Brazilian players should play better in Europe - even in our small pitch - than they do in the league, so I'm really hoping Wills helps us to go through. Important role today, great attitude and I must admit, a display of character I didn't know he had in him (wasn't sure).

I think it has more to do with the weather. He wasn't that well in January - except the Soton match.

I would have agreed with you if I had seen this post prior to the match, both of us were proved wrong... ******************************************************************************************************************* He was simply great today. He's exactly the kind of player we need for the system to work. He linked up with Willian very well and I'd definitely have more matches with both starting in upcoming EPL matches. We don't know if they'll carry their level, but it was a lovely combination. The boy is a joy to watch. He didn't get intimidated by the responsibility, he stepped up and brought his A game, even if he's barely played for us so far. That shows a lot of character - the kind I think we've been missing. I'm very, very happy with his presentation, attitude, and how well he fits our system. I think he's going to be one of the key players come next season if he continues his adaptation so well. It's hard to pick someone to leave the team so Eden plays, but by elimination that should be Schurrle - who didn't have a bad match imo, but wasn't up par with the other two AMs. Oscar though shouldn't be a titular on Tuesday and I'm positive with this victory and hopefully having the players playing on Tuesday to emulate what we did today + Eto'o, I think we actually have good chances. It won't be easy, especially with that third goal scored in Paris, but I think Salah showed the way to our wings and Willian should be the #10 - at least for now.

he's one of us

Well, I've got only positives in this match. the approach, the heart, the clutch I've complained so much lately were all there. That's why is nice to bring new players, they will take their chances and make the best of them because they want to prove they can continue playing among the starting XI. Salah had one of the best titular debuts in our team since I watch Chelsea. It was magical and special and I think that's why Mourinho signed him. This team today played the style I think he's trying to imprint in the team, but that we keep failing to show. Of course, Stoke had no interest in the match whatsoever, but I'm still focusing on how we approached the game and executed the plan. That's what we should be doing regardless of the players in the pitch. I think Willian made a case for himself for #10 against PSG. He's offered much more than Oscar has been offering and should play that match too. Salah can't play - so ofc Eden is taking his position (if he could play, I'd keep him and move Schurrle to the bench to make room for Eden). Too bad Matic can't play UCL - again another incredible match by him. He has so much composure on the ball that I'm already preparing myself mentally to endure Ramires playing Tuesday. I do hope Rami has one of his inspired days - as rare as they are. Just remembered though he doesn't play. Torres wasn't bad, but he wasn't anything special either. A better striker would have made better, but I have to admit he wasn't as shitty as the norm with him. Our defense wasn't that much tested because the midfield simply ate Stoke for dinner. Our AMs pressed and tackled like pivot players, and the pivot players themselves were very good in the match too, killing whatever attempt Stoke had. the few occasions we needed our defense though, they were there. They just need to be more firm in set-pieces, especially against PSG. This has nothing to do with wasting his penalty - especially because he scored from the rebound. I have a lot of respect for Lamps and I think he's still a great penalty taker, but he isn't technically better than Hazard in that aspect and he shouldn't be our first option anymore. Hazard has the technique, but also the coldness to take them. He's confident and regardless if any of them misses or not, it's about who's taking them better and that's Eden imo. It's not a complaint though, just an observation and something I think Mourinho should take into consideration. All in all a very good presentation by the team. If the usual titulars could play like this, we'd have much less difficulty to score. It's how the team played, the approach, not only the result. Happy cookie here. @calculatingInfinity, haven't seen your gifs in the first page when I posted them in the second. Great work - as I know you do them yourself

Salah and Matic in this goal

Adam is a cunt

I agree. Hazard for Salah and that's it.

what is Willian looking at? That's such an unusual image, lol, and he looks funny

did Probert forget his cards at the dressing room? Cunt.

my point is Hazard is better now, not that Lamps is bad. Just this. If we have a better penalty taker, he should take them, records aren't more important than that neither is history or respect.

he bloody deserved it!!!!! Wills!!!!!!