Barbara

Here's hoping Mou is actually sparing Luiz for Arsenal. I definitely think we'll need him more then. Anyway great lineup. We just need the boys to show up. They're capable and hopefully this will turn things around for us. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

No, the point is that (and it took Mata widows long enough to do it) that they said if Mata were here he would be playing better. First of all, he wouldn't. He's created a few chances, but he's only had 2 assists in more than 15 matches... so he doesn't fit the system. And then I made a point that last seasons despite having whatever number of assists (the widows posted the precise amount) we were still 12 points behind the leader and struggling to secure a #3 spot. So I'm not sorry I don't miss the 'Mata days' where we were terrible in the domestic league... UCL and other cups it's about getting into the quarters. From there on anything can happen and the year we deserved the least to win it (compared to other years where we reached F or SF) we won it because it was written in the stars... That's the point is hard for understand. Mata - while a great player - isn't useful for us in the system and the previous system - that showcased him as THE GUY was inefficient as fuck. The perfect world Mata and Oscar are blended together and Mata gets as good as Oscar in his work-rate, space creation, and pressing skills and Oscar becomes as creative as develops such a great vision as well. Then we have two complete players by Hazard's side. That's impossible though and given the system we have now, I prefer Oscar's bad days over Mata's bad days... No one is blaming Mata nor is anyone praising/crediting Oscar for making us run for the title, but if you don't spell out all the damn words people just read it as they want - or as much as their brain allow them. I can't say.

no, it's the change of the system that doesn't afford a player like Mata... it's a whole system, not one-guy system, as if that wasn't very clear by now...

Mata's assists didn't save us from finishing #6 and #3 (being 12 points - at some point 20 - behind the leaders) the last couple of seasons, so we're definitely a step up in the evolution of the team. As you said in a subsequent post, Mata just didn't fit. I'd rather have Oscar playing shit and have us running for the title than Mata's one million assists (that he didn't have this season anyway) and us being double digits behind the leaders, and barely getting a UCL spot.

He has his quality, but he's tired and he seems to be out of it right now (what he did yesterday showed that clearly). I can value Ramires for the good things, but at this point of the season he hasn't been bringing them anymore. And we need more quality, it's actually very simple. As he's the king of pace and work-rate, Mourinho would NEVER drop him on his own, so I think this is really a good thing. We'll use him for UCL and that's enough for now. But I'm beyond relieved we won't use him a few times for EPL and maybe José may find a better combo in the squad and stick with it if it works, even after Rami is eligible to play again. I do believe Lamps and Luiz can partner with Matic now and deliver what we need. My main concern though is if Mourinho decides to bring Mikel instead. Then kill me.

I don't think he's lost interest, I don't think he has extra motivation to play for Brazil or not enough to play for us. That boy is first and foremost a very professional player. His dedication and work for the team are exemplar, and yes, he's struggling with the physicality more now than in the past because he's more tired now with the accumulation of matches on him in the last two years (by far the player in top leagues that played the most, I stopped keeping tabs of how many). And this isn't me defending him or making excuses. It's just the way it is. The problem is he (along with others, Willian and strikers for example) might be what separates us from the title. That's the suckery about being almost there. If we were still #3 in the league, as we were for most of the season, we wouldn't be so mad at him (and others) because the expectations would be smaller. But now we actually have a shot. Nobody (or very few) thought we'd have a real shot when the season started. There were those people who've always said we were ready simply based on how much money we've spent in the last few seasons (money doesn't buy you stability, winning spirit, character, maturity, tactical settlement, among other issues we still have with this squad), but if we ignore them, the reasonable people were saying we'd step up, improve compared to previous years, but I remember many of us saying the title chances were small. The thing is the title chances aren't small anymore. They're quite big if you ask me. We've lost ground yesterday but we could regain it next week - I'm positive City will start dropping points. Fact remains, we still could do it and if we don't, we may look back to defense mistakes that cost us draws and defeats, but mainly what may separate us from the title is our attack. Hazard can't (and won't) free us from jail every time. Although he links up amazingly well with Eto'o for some reason Samuel doesn't play away matches and they're half of our remaining fixtures. It's easy and obvious to talk about that shitty player that currently dishonors our #9 jersey, but our AMs are starting to compromise too. Oscar bailed us from jail when the season started and we need him to do it again. I'm not saying he will deliver (I'm not that hopeful), but if we want to win this title that is now within reach, we need him to step up. Willian is more difficult because he's still adapting. Schürrle needs to be more consistent and I'll tell you what, Hazard needs to be more objective. Just because he's by far our best player now (although I think if we talk really about current time - as in the last few weeks - Azpili and Matic are realistically our best players now), it doesn't mean there aren't aspects of his game he can't or shouldn't improve. I know one of the biggest aspects of his games is his dribbling, but we need him to be more incisive - for many reasons, and one of them is because the rest of the team is lacking. If the rest of the team was okay, we could cope with Hazard holding the ball way too much as he did yesterday. He has the quality, he just needs the confidence to go for the shot (although he desperately needs someone to link up to, sometimes he dribbles and holds the ball simply because there's nobody for him to pass). I'm not even criticizing Eden as I'm criticizing the others, I'm being practical and saying what we need from him. We need Oscar to be more incisive AND creative AND powerful. We need Schürrle to be more constant, more decisive and even more technical. We need Willian to be about the same things, but I can't see him being able to deliver those things. If those 3-4 guys don't do that, we won't win the title, simple as that. Then we go back to what I said first, if we were depending on them to play like that so we'd be assured the #2 or #3 spots, we'd be less demanding about it - after all that's all we've been chasing the last few years (not even that as we finished #6 two seasons ago). This team already progressed with Oscar as #10 and the table standing is the biggest testament to that, but now we're being teased with the TITLE possibility here and we're naturally inclined to demand more because when there's a title at stake the natural thing for a player to give is to walk that extra mile, to convert his motivation into ability he might not even have or can't have physically. I feel those boys - and then I include Eden in the criticism - don't have the winner spirit and that character yet. What Terry, Eto'o, Lamps and others have coming from their pores, those guys (Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Schurrle, Ba, Torres) don't have and they can compromise exactly because of that if they aren't in form (and most of them aren't, Hazard is the only in form player we have in the attack). So while I understand why Oscar may be facing a dip of form, the motivation to win the title should make up for the lack of legs, tiredness, struggles with the physicality. I see Matic, Azpili, Terry, Cahill, Lamps, Eto'o and even Iva bringing that to the table. You can see they're over-performing and that must come from a motivation place as they're all tired at this point (especially the older ones). That's something Luiz normally doesn't lack and that's why I think it's a blessing in disguise that we won't have Rami for a few matches because if we replace him for Lamps or Luiz we'll add another player that has high motivation to just win. If we add Mikel though, we're even further screwed imo. Oscar has to step up, simple as that, regardless of what's been keeping him down. It's time to show character.

no sweetie, you've got it wrong. The only good thing that came out of yesterday is Ramires getting sent off and us having this blessing in disguise of not having to deal with him for three games. I hope Luiz is fit, but if he isn't, I'm sure Lamps can cope with a couple of matches until he is and they can maybe even alternate. It's a blessing for me not having to watch Ramires. What he did yesterday doesn't surprise me at all. I'm not even sure the FA will give him only three games... he could have broken the other guy's leg... Atrocious, just like his performance.

I think the final numbers could be that, but I see more defeats and less draws. But then again, that's pure gambling on my part. I think we'll lose to Liverpool (although a draw is also likely), but I think City and Arsenal will lose at least one of their matches, in addition to the odds draws. I see Liverpool nearly as you see it, except I think they'd win against us... but as I said, a draw is also likely, but with a couple of losses too. My main concern continues to be the Liverpool match and the amount of points City drop.

You didn't offend me at all. But maybe you're mad (rightfully) or something, but lately I've seen you criticizing the team in a way you didn't at first. It's your right to do as much, I just pointed the things I think it's unfair. Maybe you're disappointed (also understandable) or just lost your patience with them. I know I've lost my patience with Ramires a long time ago, and I feel like hitting Oscar's head in the wall to see if something else comes from his brain. I do think Luiz's been poor as a CB (still our best option to partner with Matic imo), but I'm cutting Willian some slack because I think it's the fair thing to do. I agree with everything you said in this post - I just disagreed with the implications in the previous one: that Luiz could have said no to Brazil and that Oscar plays better for Brazil (especially if you implied it's a conscious decision or just that he doesn't put as much effort for us). I think next season all of us will be much happier with Willian. I don't think he's anywhere as good as Hazard. Potential wise, I think even Oscar is better than him. Also he lacks a LOT of character. He's a very simple guy, he isn't very smart (based on interviews) and normally one makes those up with a winning spirit, but he doesn't have it. He needs Mourinho to teach him that - if he can learn about it at all. But technically, I think he has more to offer, but I don't think he will do it this season. It's a huge gap for him (or anyone else) to come from Ukraine and Russia to England. I'm sorry if I offended you - I know I may have, but I didn't mean it like an offense, just an observation that you seem to have changed on how you used to approach the players and the team. If that's the case, I even understand you. When there's a lot at stake, it's harder to keep the emotions in check. I agree with you, I think you just overreacted a bit in the first post

while I agree that the Brazilians are bad now some of your comments aren't right imo. A player CANT choose not to show up to NT when they're called - at least not Brazil NT. Either Chelsea should have said he was injured or Felipao should have spared him. Oscar plays better for Brazil, as much as he would be playing much better if he was still in Brazil or played in let's say Portugal or Spain. The style of the matches is completely different and he has plenty more of space and has to run much less when playing for Brazil. Hinting anything else is unfair. Willian is a playing adapting to English league after coming from Russia and previously to that Ukraine. Sorry if he doesn't blow your mind in his first season here... I'm not defending any of them - I agree with the initial comment by Polo7. They've been beyond bad, but lately, so have your comments to be honest (not beyond bad, but still, different, in a bad way). You used to be more levelheaded in your comments, now it seems you're taking the piss about the players. Newsflash: the team isn't ready. Everybody knew it when the season started... it didn't change, although some think we're more than ready. Being there, fighting head to head for the title didn't change the fact our players are young, inexperienced and don't have the winning spirit yet (or character as someone else put). If anything the pressure of nearly making it may make them crumble.

we need them to lose at least four points, that could be a combo of a loss and a draw, two draws, two losses, etc...

To be honest, we had it coming. Yes, Champions scrap wins like we did in some of our recent matches where we looked appalling, but I think this was our second hardest fixture since we've taken the top position (the hardest being Liverpool). There was a very slight chance we wouldn't drop points for 10, 11 matches, the same way if very likely that City, Arsenal and Liverpool won't too. I think we lost some of the edge, but we're very much there. The day City has the same amount of matches as we do, we'll see where we really stand (does anyone know where that will be? I've seen one of their postponed matches rescheduled, but only one). today we weren't as bad as other days, but I think we're too shy and ineffective in the attack. We created absolutely nothing. We didn't only play with ten, we played against 12 the whole time, and in the first half, against 13. Foy is HIDEOUS, I hate him and have all sort of homicidal feelings towards him. Our attack was terrible (all of them, without exception) and the day Torres is assured to never wear a Chelsea shirt again, it'll be the happiest for me. I can't with that scum anymore. Oscar and Willian need to get their shit together and Hazard needs to be more objective in matches like this...

Well, I continue to think the same. As we didn't win, I think we lost some of the edge, but at this point of the season, teams will drop points here and there. I still think those were the two fixtures we would drop points. If we drop another 3 against Liverpool, we'll have dropped six points in 9 rounds. I think that's a good thing. I really felt like a defeat was coming at some point. We've been scratching some wins playing some mediocre football in some matches (especially first halves). Now that this is behind us, we can focus again and continue from where we were. I won't write us off because I can see the other teams losing as well. They have way more complicated fixtures than us imo and nobody will go the last 9 rounds of the competition (or in City's case, 12) without dropping points when the league is so close as it is this season. So I'm still positive, although that was a good reality check, even if I sort of expected it to happen.

Willian didn't deserve any of the yellow cards he's received. The only reason why I don't turn off this fuckery is because I'm writing a match summary...

I knew Cunt Foy would fuck this for us. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK

The happiest day in my Chelsea life will be the day Torres won't wear that jersey anymore. I can't stand to look at his face anymore while wearing our shirt. Our biggest signing coming next season is offloading that piece of shit.

Hazard has been holding the ball a bit too long imo...

Chelsea playing against 13 today... The second half is going to determine if that's not 14... Miserable officiating in the first half that damaged us...

that's for a FUCKING RED, CUNT FOY

Matic!!!!!

Chris Foy can get lost. CUNT!!!!! He's already had 2-3 bad calls harming us. IDIOT

Willian hat-trick! Heard it first

not to mention how the other teams are any better than us... they aren't. City have depth in strikers and AM, Arsenal only have midfielders and Liverpool have no depth at all. That's not even talking about teams such as Spurs and United. I really don't get some people. We are never enough. Our manager isn't daring enough, our AMs not creative enough, our squad not deep enough. I for one think one between Schurrle, Willian and Oscar make for enough depth in the AM position as we can always move to 4-3-3 and play effectively. We have decent defense backup with Luiz and Cole. We're a bit thinner than I'd like in the midfield where we don't have the kind of player I'd like, but even then... before Matic was here and were right there near the top with Mikel, Ramires and Lampard. It's not ideal in some positions, and we have a chronicle striker problem, but our squad isn't as thin as suggested. Mourinho complaining about being thin for UCL is simply because he's downsizing our chances in yet another competition. While I don't think we have big chances in UCL we have enough to get passed by Gala on Tuesday and until the next round comes around I'm positive Cole and Luiz will be back. If we don't pass by Gala isn't because of our depth, but because 1) we didn't capitalize in the first leg 2) we probably won't have capitalized in the second either.

Come on Blues, 6x0 win. Let's destroy City GD advantage.

I've been dodging the Illuminati but a girl like me was never meant to last long. I was passing in front of a mobile store and they started whispering things in my head. I entered it and replaced my Blackberry for a Samsung and now I'm in the Android system. The whispering is getting intense... they're trying to convince me to do the unthinkable. I'll be abducted, I'm absolutely sure Hold me now I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking maybe six feet ain't so far down