Barbara

no, he's saying the obvious... one of the AM should have freedom to roam. Hazard is the obvious choice for having more freedom as he's the fastest AM we have now - except if André is also playing - so he's the guy who'll be our focal point in counter-attacks to link-up with our striker. It's more about letting Hazard available to receive the first ball in the counter, just like in Oscar's goal, rather than stop restricting his attacking abilities. Stamina aside, marking your opponent doesn't take away your ability to attack. Oscar, Willian and Mata, giving their style should be able to mark and still start a counter or give some splitting pass, but they aren't the guys doing the runs (Oscar does them sometimes, Mata can't because he's beyond slow), dribbling or taking on opponents. I'd say defensive responsibilities don't take away the attacking abilities of players such as Oscar, Mata and Willian. Although it should take away André's it doesn't either because he's a Energizer Bunny and has nearly as much stamina as Ramires. Hazard on the other hand seems to tire himself faster when he retreats back too much. Mourinho had decided that months ago... Hazard is the guy he's making his bets on and he's the one I'd bet too, even if I'm much more impatient than Mourinho, reason why he's a manager and I'm not. I can see how it interferes in Hazard's game for the reasons I just mentioned (he runs, dribbles, takes on opponents). Mata is a completely different player, that prefers possession, have the time to decide what to do with the ball and do the unpredictable, genial, splitting pass. What does that have to do with him going deeper if more often than not he slows down our attack (by assessing his options, although he's quite the fast thinker), by holding possession and walking with the ball rather than running? No sarcasm here or trying to be smartypants, I'm interested to know (and learn) what that could be.

Now that's the Eden I know and love. Anyone who wants to shower me with stats about the chances he created for us today be my guest because he was just the best player in the first half imo. I was doing the post-match report for Chelsea Brazil while watching it and every time I had to report an attack I mentioned him. If he carries it on, he will end the season as the player with more chances created in EPL - deservedly and truly to his actual contributions in the match. I'm just heartbroken he didn't score. He deserved it.

so when we lose to Newcastle or draw with West Brom at home we go on and on about how shitty we were against 'weaker' sides, but then we completely dominate a match against a weaker side and no credit should be given? Yeah, they were poor, yeah, that formation needs more sharpening to work against stronger teams, it doesn't change the fact though we had a very solid match, we made them look worse than they are and we were in control all the time with basically all of our players having their best match so far this season. I know we shouldn't get carried away here, but it almost makes me feel like Chelsea can't win with some fans these days, there's always the bad side of things arising. I'm quite happy myself. We struggled against Fulham, despite winning, and that was a terrible display from us imo. I'm happy today we didn't give space or chances for accidents to happen.

played in a position that flatters his qualities, this man can still win us matches and be immense. Today's match is a testament to that. And unlike other players we have in the squad that played in a certain way will pay off, playing Lamps the way we played today doesn't detract from us in the big scheme. It adds without taking away

I've missed his trademark goals x

so here goes my feelings about the match (will try to keep it short, ) Mourinho is a genius and I'm a worshiper in his altar when it comes to football praising. That formation was brilliant and I finally understood why he used it with Ramires instead of any of the AMs we had. This match was all about interchanging. 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, make your pick because we interchanged between the two formations, but unlike other matches it had nothing to do with attacking one way, defending the other. It was like a cyclone, we just rotated it and Lampard and Ramires took turns going forward, although the two of them went at the same time many times (I guess the latter only happened because West Ham was a no-show, otherwise, I think they would stick to interchanging). That's something Wilian, for example, can't do, because he isn't a CM and Ramires is. It's also very clever from Mourinho because he capitalizes the best in Lampard and exposes his weaknesses much less than playing him fixed in the pivot. We've talked before about the AMs interchange and how it confuses the defense, but I think one of the reasons West Ham struggled so much was because we confused them with the 4-2-3-1 interchange in attacking phases and with Lampard and Ramires both playing mainly centered, creating all kind of havoc in their defense. This is variation in a whole new level - one I haven't seen in our team before. We've rotated AMs, we've rotated the pivot and we've rotated the system. As a first time experience we were helped by WHU inability to react and combat that. Poor Sam even did two, not only one, changes in 1st time trying to find a response, but were were just too good for his weak side to handle. I think if we give this formation a few more chances, it can be sharpened and it might be our best option. I just hope Mourinho doesn't bring it to Souton because I think they'll handle better with it, and it may expose us, but it's a great alternative to be our main formation for the season. Hazard was amazing in the first half. Now that's what I call a player who creates chances. I didn't check the stats, but if they tell me he was the most creative player for us, I co-sign. He played liked I expect him to be and like I've been waiting him to play and I hope he can carry on and keep improving. It was a shame he didn't score. Oscar was my MOTM. His passing is still a bit off - to his own standards - and he missed a few easy passes, but he was everywhere, tacking, intercepting, being the perfect AM if you ask me because he also created or contributed for others to create. That's the thing with Oscar playing for us. He helps us dictate matches. He may not be the one that creates us the most chances, but he's the only that undoubtedly creates opportunities for others to create chances simply because he presses, he intercepts, he recovers possession, he starts counter-attacks, he passes the ball smartly to players that will find themselves in the position to assist others. And he's been improving considerably in the wing this season. If my memory doesn't betray me, he had his best match in the RW for us in the many cameos he made in that zone today. Azpilicueta must start. Even playing in the opposite wing, he still managed that great cross for Oscar, and today he was better in the attack than I expected. In the defense he was a MONSTER. Seriously, if I didn't give my MOTM to Oscar I'd give it to Azpili, although Lampard and Hazard were also in contest. So good to see Lamps being played in a position that allows him to give us his best contributions. Mikel was flawless in the pivot and I'd say that's the way to go. Mourinho made me eat my words about the lineup (I had problems with Ramires in the RW) and I'll think twice before bitching about his lineups and just wait and see what he's cooked. Lesson learned.

Premier League ‏@premierleague 25m Frank Lampard: "I'll play anywhere for this manager. Once we went ahead our football was superb. We should have scored more." their bromance is cute, but for God's sake, Mourinho, we don't want to see Lamps everywhere, but just where he played today.

first comment before the analysis or reading any of you SUCK THAT NOVEMBER (told that twice today, couldn't help )

So many times during the match I've seen Lampard playing more advanced, as if he was an AM and not in the pivot. I'm not sure he's fixed in the pivot, I guess he's interchanging with Ramires there, and sometimes both of them are advanced. I don't know what Mourinho did, I don't know how to label this, but it's working great. Lampard seems to be closer to his better position, Mikel is giving a lot of stability, Azpilicueta is playing in such a way he can't leave the team, Oscar is being everything you expect from him and Hazard is making a great match.

but that's what I meant, I think Willian would have worked better at RW, but I can't complain given how it worked in the first half.

Mourinho wonderfulness, that's how I'll call it hahahahahaha

most of all, he silenced all of us with the formation. It actually worked. I still believe would have worked better with Willian, but man, he shut us up there. Also I don't know what's Jason problem with people supporting Mourinho, if anything tons of people reacted negatively towards the lineup and all of us - me included - were proved wrong in our criticism by that first half performance. I guess he just chose the wrong day to go against Mourinho's fans because everyone who criticized his choices today were just wrong. I still defend our right to complain about a lineup though. It's great to be proved wrong when it works

Take that NOVEMBER!

Can I finally move back to my original fave player? My bb is perfect there tonight and it won't be fair if this match ends without a goal by him and amazing defending by Azpili there right now

finally!!!!! That's the Hazard and all know and miss. I've been waiting for him to show up in the EPL for a while now. And gosh, isn't he on fire?

it's going to be hard picking a MOTM between Hazard and Oscar. Both are amazing for us tonight

my boy!!!!!!!!! OScar!!!!!!

we did at all matches in October. It's November when we started lacking the positive attitude that it decreased.

Oscar, so much love heart and clutch

I think we can try to be positive and hope for it to work. It doesn't change the fact that it makes no sense to ignore guys like Willian and André for Ramires in the winger. We may win, Ramires may cross for a Eto'o winner, I don't care, it still doesn't make sense, but I do hope we win. this kind of post is really annoying to be honest, Jason, and it doesn't match the rest of posts showed here. A lot of people are complaining, many are trying to support the team despite disagreeing and I haven't seen one post to back up yours... I guess the sarcasm about Mourinho worshiping is more annoying than the worship itself, especially when no one is praising his choices...

not good enough to bench Willian or even André. That's the problem. When we didn't have good wingers, I'd get it. Now? It doesn't make any sense. Mourinho must be high

Team to face West Ham (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry ©, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o. what the actual fuck? Today's subs are Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Mata, Willian, Schurrle and Ba.

can they all draw, ManU lose and we win? that's my prediction anyway

had a dream he'd score... woke up to find out, he scored not only one, but two goals. Good thing the teams drew. Next is Souton

The Frenches