Barbara

we don't deserve to even let them draw it... those woodworks have been really unlucky from our players. There isn't any other fair result here than our victory, so I hope those 'wasted' chances don't harm us.

ikr? That and well... Ramires... are my only complaint in this first half (especially the second part). Ignore me nitpicking on the guy, I just can't help but Willian's set pieces are fucking frustrating!!!! A big waste! Let Iva cross those balls and chances of something good coming from it are better than Willian's.

we're killing it!!!!!!! You just have to give it to Mou and the players. I still think Ramires is having a shitty match (but I'm PMSing and I'm probably nitpicking), but gosh, aren't we ambushing them? That Luiz pass for Hazard, that Hazard play and that unlucky workwood by Eto'o left me salivating here. Hazard is out of this world, he deserves a goal or an assist here to have stats prove how amazing he's been #Cityowned

so unlucky Eto'o!!!!

fuck yeah IVANOVIC!!!!! no comments on Rami AGAIN

I CAN'T STAND RAMIRES ANYMORE. I'M DONE WITH HIM!

two minutes of match and I already had enough of Ramires... really, his form lately is appalling. I hope he gets it together for the rest of the match...

Well I keep everything from my original post (and I'm surprised Mou agreed with me in the pivot) - except the most important: the win. I really hate Ramires as a LW and seeing how terrible he is, I really, really stop believing a victory is possible He could have gotten anyone he wanted to replace Oscar, just not Ramires. Mourinho LOVES to play Rami there, I hate and seeing how bad his passing, finishing and whats not is, I think Mourinho just wasted (or gave up?) our chances of winning here... I was so confident he would play differently here than he did in Old Trafford, but I'm prepared to the exact same shit, the only difference is that ManCity will score (that won't change) and therefore we won't win PROVE ME WRONG!!!!!

well, it seems Mourinho also wanted Luiz in the midfield like a few of us. Sorry couldn't resist

I feel humiliated by [b]@[member='The Skipper'][/b], pre-match reports. I should hide after writing mine... This is amazing, mate.

I really want him to solve one of those big games for us, right now (not implying he hasn't done it in the past). I think this is what we need now for him to move his confidence to the next level. If he, let's say, scores one and assists another, or something to that effect, I think his confidence will sky-rocket and he'll take that final step in the amazing curve he's been in the last few months. Tonight's gonna be Eddie's night :getin:

I don't like him there either, but we have problems right now because of form and we should have the strongest midfield coming to the match. So I wouldn't mind seeing him there, although in general I'm always against him there... We can disagree without people calling others' opinions ridiculous. If you you think otherwise, great for you guys, nobody is ridiculous or stupid because they disagree, so I'm actually disappointed on how you reacted on this. It's just an opinion and as bad as it is, people gave their arguments for wanting that to happen. So let's respect our differences? Calling people stating wrong facts ridiculous, I get, but people having different opinions shouldn't fit the category...

I think Arsenal won't even make the top 3 in the league... unless Liverpool bottles (as they did today). I'm not worried about them at all. It's not about them having their usual bad running every season, it's just they don't have squad depth to deal with the games they'll play during February and March. Simple like that.

although that vid doesn't make justice to Garrincha (I've watched a couple of specials about him and he was an incredible dribbler) you do have a point about Eden resembling him. It's also funny to see how slower football was 50 years ago... it seems to be in slow motion, lol

This is the most exciting league in the world. And that's not only because of the close positions on table... English league is just the best, period. I love it.

did I ever say Oscar was Brazil's most exciting player to start with? We were talking about how he steps up to big responsibilities and doesn't walk away from challenges. That was the only topic we were discussing. Nobody was talking that he's the most exciting player. He was given a huge responsibility which is be Brazil's #10. Only Brazilians or people who know our country and football very well can say how much pressure there's on that shirt. That was the only topic we were discussing... I think you misunderstood the whole conversation we were having. It has nothing to do with how creative or exciting he is, but how he's a little man of steel and he's mature beyond of his years. And I agree with you we as a nation aren't in our best moment for #10s, doesn't that put even more pressure on him?

I don't think either Ramires or Lampard are the men for this match. Their pivot would rape Frank and he'd look lost like he did against strong pivots in recent matches. Ramires is an error machine based in the WHU game. I'd go with Luiz + Matic, but I feel like Mourinho will go with Mikel + Matic (if he feels confident with Matic already starting a match as big as this one, otherwise Luiz + Mikel). There's no way we should play Cole against Navas. He's going to be overrun every single time by Navas. We need Azpili there. There rest is indifferent imo. For everyone saying we should or will park the bus, please, don't be naive. There's one thing given in football this season: Manchester City will score at all home matches. If we park the bus it means we won't have a chance to score ourselves. Watch the match against Arsenal... Arsenal defense was a disaster that day, but City offered them space to score three goals. We need those spaces and we need a solid defense. Parking the bus will only lead us to lose 6-0 like all the others. We need a well posted defense, properly covered by a strong pivot and Oscar and Willian harassing their midfield. We could have a strong pivot for this match with the options we now have, and it's a given Oscar and Willian will press and tackle like there's no tomorrow. I hope Eto'o brings his scoring boots and for Hazard to have a blast. 1-2 away win for Chelsea on my account and prediction.

don't talk about shit you don't know Neymar put in a request to play with the #10 and OSCAR agreed without creating a problem. It wasn't a managerial decision... Neymar did it because that's who he is... that's how his father manages his career. There was a lot of backlash, so yeah, the shirt would still be Oscar's if Neymar didn't ask for it for his vain reasons. And then asked by the media if he was upset about Neymar's request, Oscar answered it was just a shirt, that's not important and he moved on from the subject.

the boy stepped up and wore the most mystical shirt in the history of football as if it was nothing. No other shirt in the sport has more weight than's Pelé's #10 for Brazil and Oscar just shrugged it off and did his thing when he was 21! I believe he'll progress creatively because he has the tools for it and he's already shown it. The thing is for some people there will always be the ghost of Mata and the comparison - which is unfair, Mata is a very special player and his creativity isn't easily found or matched. Oscar doesn't come close to that now, but I believe with time he'll close the gap some (but will never match Mata). I think he'll grow a lot the rest of this season because at least he won't have to worry about Mata's shadow (if he ever has anyway) and he probably feels less pressured to show it all if he isn't displacing Mata anymore, or feeling he wasn't the reason Mata left (as it seems quite clear Mata left on his own accord imo). I think we have a little gem here and despite his legal dispute with Sao Paulo before he forced his move to Internacional, he seems like a very down to earth boy imo and I don't think he will leave anytime soon, nor for money nor seduced by any sort of status another team would give to him. I'm not even sure Oscar interests any other club tbh. Another good thing about how incredibly underrated he is. I don't get the feeling that other clubs look to him they look to Eden or even how they looked to Mata. He may be our next Lampard on that regard (although there were plenty of interest from Lampard from other clubs in recent years). I also don't see him wanting to leave the club if he's benched because any of the other AMs we have play or fit better than him. Playing nearly half the matches and getting some minutes as a sub, like Mata did, wouldn't make him want to leave, based on his interviews (especially to Brazil's media). He's fully aware he has to earn his place at the team and he's willing to fight for it. So even if one of the wingers displace him (while Eden takes the CAM position), I think it'll just motivate him harder to get his position back. The kid is a fighter, a believer in hard work and someone that can deal with the hurdles of depth competition. He's mature way beyond his years and I do hope he stays with us for a decade, regardless of his role and status in the squad. I was a fan when he joined us, but not that much. It's his time with us that really made me fall in love with him.

I think we might be forced to because the league demands British players or at least players formed here. They'll probably only be squad members to reach the quota though. If there wasn't such regulation, I'm positive none of them - except the ones that prove to be really class - would make it here. Which is deeply sad.

I guess it's the pic I have because I don't look like her at all. Especially not now that I have dark hair again, but thanks anyway

The trend continues with now the first loss to Stoke (despite at the Britannia) for the first time in 30 years. #InMoyesWeTrust

rightfully given the amount of nonsense spouted

death is approaching me with a burned throat (got burn with very hot milk) and a flu (reason why I had the hot milk in the first place). I can barely breathe and then I read this and literally I couldn't find any air for a couple of seconds here. it would have been totally worth though, that was brilliant edit: also very nice to see some of our Egyptian fans that were lurking coming to live and posting (as well as new signings )

but for Hazard to play as a striker he has to improve plenty of his finishing and goal flair. I mean, he's not awful, far from it, but I don't think his finishing is good yet for us to do that neither is he's that goal inclined yet - which are two different things, although the second I'm positive I'm not apt to define well, so I'll explain instead There are some kind of players that 'smell' the goal, and they haunt and chase it down. Scoring is second nature to them, their natural reaction is to try the shot and they seem to be magnetically attracted to the goal. I don't see that on Hazard yet and there's no way I'd rather us to make this bet right now than sign a world-class striker. We're talking about six months from now. Can Hazard completely change his goal approach as well as improve considerably his finishing in such a short time? I think it's a risk I'm not willing to take. Another season without a proper striker for us will lead me to pull all the hair off of my head. I also doubt that's what Mourinho has in mind. I think he's probably referring to a player that will only become available then or whose situation in their current club is likely to change 6 months from now. Also there's no need to complicate things like that. RM has the best 'in-theory-winger' in the world, that is basically a striker and who plays with a striker ahead of him. Barça played with Villa (and others) ahead of Messi for a while. We don't need to turn Hazard into our #1 striker if he could enjoy a second striker job (whether in the wing like Cris or in the middle like Messi) while we have a poacher in the box. that's the ideal scenario in my opinion. Developing Hazard (without any rush) to his full potential, give him a free role but still have a striker ahead of him.