Barbara

I think Mourinho is smarter than all of us (dargh, that's a stupid statement, but there's a point coming, I promise, lol). I won't cease to mention what @remains of the day wrote in Oscar's thread. Willian and Oscar are all of the same (although Willian does have way more pace) and both slow down our play most time. If Willian doesn't build some confidence and starts being more incisive like Schürrle and Salah (at least I see him as a very vertical, objective player), he'll warm the bench being a backup for either (Oscar or Salah). That's why playing with Oscar and Willian recently was a damper to our attack (although this was highly affected by Oscar's abysmal form). Instead of complimenting each other they sort of nullified each other. They occupied the same zone of the pitch, going for the same shy kind of play. I think Willian is far from being the player he can be for us (it has little to do with his peak and a lot to do with his personality and adaptation process). He'll find extra motivation next season because Salah easily take his place in the team depending on how he handles his own adaptation here. So I'm positive Mourinho knows which kind of player compliments Oscar better. I don't know if next season Mourinho will still be convinced Oscar is his #10 (probably, but who knows?) and while he isn't his main star, he's his main key-player. Mourinho did say he set the team around him. I think there was progress in the chemistry between him and Hazard and it'll only improve... until I see otherwise in a couple of years from now, I'm convinced Mourinho is trying to replicate his RM tactics here down to a T. He wants Oscar to be his Ozil, except better, because Oscar offers some things Mesut doesn't (although there's no doubt Mesut is more creative). Hazard is definitely set to be his Ronaldo, not only in the position, but in the importance to the team, as he's our most talented player (this ISN'T a comparison between the players themselves, only their roles). Di María doesn't always get recognition for the part he's played, not many recognizes what a player he is. We didn't have a player like that, but maybe Salah can become just that. Angel also has a lot of pace (but no one compares to Mo, lol), he's objective, he can assist or he can cut in and finish, his first touch is second to none and he tracks back. He's a perfect winger for me. Hopefully we'll see Salah developing into that. imo that's not who Willian is. He's more similar to Ozil than Oscar is himself, but he's still struggling. There may be matches where we may use both of them, but I think it's unlikely and I'm positive Mourinho has noticed that... and then we're faced with the awful truth: we got a backup for over 30m... unless he turns things around and proves to be a better option than Oscar because I don't think he'll ever offer what Mourinho wants for the RW in the long term. As I said, it all depends on how Salah develops himself here, how long it takes. Willian's own evolution isn't as important as Salah's in the role he'll play in the team because he isn't cut for what José wants from his wingers. But maybe he can surprise us all.

here a goal.com article about what he's said about Pep. I can't stand the guy (Pep) with reason it seems. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/03/24/4705429/mourinho-sometimes-loses-his-mind-claims-etoo there are also some snippets about Mourinho, but I think it was already posted in previous links. That's Guardiola for me... for real.

I was so much into the bandwagon that hated the idea of turning him into a midfielder, but the more I see him playing by Matic's side the less convinced of that I am. Why would we reinforce one of the still strong teams there, fixing their defense and then still have to find someone to partner decently with Matic? Maybe a newcomer won't have a chance to displace Ramires - maybe José won't even look into someone to reinforce us in that zone, but if Luiz makes the best out of the next four matches he'll play for us (two with Matic for EPL and likely two with Ramires for UCL), he could grab the position from Ramires. If he convinces Mourinho he's at least the best partner for Matic in those three matches he'll play there, I'll be happy. I was so happy that the guys from Chelsea TV pointed out to Mourinho that the big matches we've played with Luiz/Matic we won and played well. Mourinho can be stubborn and maybe it'll take him a while do admit his lovely Ramires while very good in some aspects, is a letdown in others and therefore isn't the best fit for our pivot. We saw with Mata and others throughout the years that having a player who's very good in something and very bad in other isn't always better than have a guy who's consistent in all things, while not necessarily impressive in any of them. The thing is Luiz can be impressive defending... so I think it could turn into a win-win situation for us. I hope Mourinho can see the light. And you never know... maybe that could help Luiz improve as a defender too.

and that's why if they win all those matches they deserve to be champions and end of it. If they have to play four matches like those out of ten in a short time span, and they grab 12 pts then they deserve the trophy. But what are odds of City winning all those matches away? United is a given imo, they will win, but they're likely to lose to one between Arsenal and Everton. The Liverpool match is a toss imo and it depends if the managers have their main players available... watching Cardiff x Liverpool yesterday (only caught first half) made it clear to me that their defense isn't reliable at all. It's nearly awful actually. We used to say earlier in the season that the thing with City is that they outscore their conceded goals, but that is truer about Liverpool than City imo. We need them to drop four points, but even then, that's assuming WE win all our matches - which includes Liverpool away. At the end of the day we don't need to look at Liverpool's results. We need to win at Anfield regardless of how they do. We do have one point ahead of them if they win Wednesday. If we draw it's good if you look at them, but a draw here would mean we'd need City to drop seven instead of four and that's very unlikely for me. I'm worried about Liverpool, they have the easiest fixtures imo, but we have a chance to kill them ourselves. The problem remains City dropping points.

their fans are more creative:

The Special One.... so special indeed!

we're the only ones to keep a clean sheet I went out tonight with my Chelsea jersey and a guy approached me to talk about the match, lol, and invited me to watch El Clasico tomorrow. Even non-supporters were excited about us today

oh, so it's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't? Got it. Thanks for clarifying though

I'm officially drunk... without any alcohol in the surroundings. With that one I'm ending my posting for the day - probably the weekend.

all goals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXYOqm3bfps and well reminded by Azpili during the interview... he scored against Arse in the COC... is he the official Arsenal replacement to Mata after Juan replaced Didier?

'do you have a good booty? So Chelsea is the place for you to be'

last, but not least, my man of the match. We have a pivot player that bloody gave two assists today. I repeat, our #6 is there tackling like no tomorrow, but also giving two assists! This man is the best guy - after Hazard - we signed in the last few years. Our pivot with him alone is one of the best. If we find him a partner as good as him or at least someone that doesn't leave him alone, we'll be certified rapists

I have a thing for Arabians... go ash @CHOULO19. It's bigger than me. I should marry one (although I just volunteered myself to marry Azpili. Too bad I can't have two husbands!)

Where do I apply to marry him? You guys were talking about tv show. He needs to be The Bachelor - or whatever - and I need to be the only contest in that show. Now into slightly more serious matters, I had a very hard time choosing between him, Matic (who I ended up choosing) and Schurrle for MOTM. He was brilliant again, he's had a couple of beautiful long balls that were precise and he was absolutely superb in the back. This guy is one of my fave players here already and to think last season I didn't rate him. Shame on ME!

fuck, I kept forgetting that today I'm inebriated, forgive me my slow brain

well that was officially my second post in this thread as this one ^ was the first. I've posted a few times in his thread in the the transfers section. I think it's good business, pace is really one special weapon in a league as the English. I just think it's not the right time for him to get starts. We're in the defining moment of the season, he's young, new in the league, going through adaptation. I don't think we should prioritize giving him minutes - as he'll have that next season after a proper pre-season with us, but it's good if the matches design themselves in a way we can afford to give him minutes already this season. Next season I think he could fulfill Moses' old role here (impact sub) and from there on it's up to him to see how far he can go. And I LOVE him, he's so cute! I want to adopt him and keep him forever.

it must be a relief for him to know he can count on his teammates to have matches decided and that he doesn't need to decide them all himself. I think he had a very good match. He didn't shine because for once others stepped up. It's good for him to have less demanding matches such as those if he's going to play 90 minutes in all possible matches we have.

the cameramen will always need the wide angle to keep up with his pace He's the faster player I've seen recently. Also he did very well with his goal, it was a great finishing! I hope there are more chances for him this season - especially because it'd mean we have games decided by the 60' mark (as I don't see Mourinho using him in any other situation). I also hope he takes part of the bench more often.

I sound like a broken record at this point, but this man is a genius. He has the same shine Didier had to score important goals in important matches and I really hope his problem in the thigh is a very simple one. We need to keep Samuel next season, we need his clinical goals and his intelligence and his guidance to the younger players. He's worth every penny we pay him in his wages. That's a 33 (?) year-old guy, but the class and the fate to big stages will never leave him. If we win this, all players are important, some more than others for the title. Sami is one of the guys who's contributed more.

you were saying? ************************************************* Mourinho is where he is because he's a very smart man and he knows this guy right here offers something no one else in our squad does. This guy's space awareness is something that few players in the world have. He makes use of space - large or small better than most players I've seen playing and he's always well positioned. I remember praising him for his positioning in the first goal he's scored for us in that Torres assist, you can see in the replay how he stopped his spring took a couple of passes back and waited for the pass. Is he inconsistent? He is, but he's very young and it's his first season with us. Is he somewhat short of technicality? Yes, but I think he will improve a lot even in that aspect. He's a key player for us because of the tactical options he gives to us and we need to give him plenty of minutes so he can continue to develop. Also with all his inconsistency, he's better than Willian now. I'd rather his ups and downs over Willian's average-average.

brilliant Khokhi!

I think this pivot partnership is the best we have by far. José should stick with Luiz and Matic as starting XI and have Ramires 'fill' Matic's absence in UCL matches. It makes no sense to have Ramires playing when Matic and Luiz make up his pace with their technicality and good passes. The only situation I can imagine us playing with Ramires instead of Luiz is against a side with a couple of very fast players in the middle as the entirety of our defense and Matic and Luiz themselves are either slow or just just fast enough. I don't think any of the remaining matches we have for EPL fit that description though. Has it been divulged how many matches Ramires is out?

why is this thread so quiet? Oh right, because he scored a brace and had a good match As I've been saying for three matches in a row now, he's ascending in form - very clearly - just when we need him to. @remains of the day has been absolutely brilliant in her analysis. He's much more lively when he's playing with Schurrle alongside him. This boy - let's not forget he's a boy - has great personality and he's developing a great character too. He knows we need him the most now, so he'll bring his best whatever it takes. Tactically I don't have words to say how much he's immense. He's still far from his best, but at least now he's there...