Barbara

I think he killed a few of our attacking chances with how long he took to pass the ball to players much better positioned than him, but other than that he was amazing, especially considering how little he's played this season. And you know what a great professional he is when he knows he's here only for the domestic cups, and you don't see a complaint, actually he thanked Mourinho in his blog recently (not the latest entry - which I didn't read yet), and he brings on a great performance. no ego scratched, no hurt feelings, just professionalism and a lot of heart. I think when Ramires was brought we improved because he offered the speed we lacked in the transition with Mikel and Essien in the pivot. But in their defense, it's not like we were threatened, so we can easily ignore this

I agree with both of you. I said it was his right in the most basic meaning of the word, meaning it was in his hands. But FIFA rules are terrible. Brazil didn't have any official matches between Olympic Games and CC, so how could he be part of an official match if we weren't playing them? Also regardless of that, a friendly is a FIFA match, that counts points to the rankings that determine among other things the seeds in the WC. It shouldn't be ignored. I don't condone with his decision, I feel betrayed and I think he humiliated us. As for his chances of playing there, if anything he has less competition here. Who knows if Fred won't be injured during the WC? He spends most time injured and the rest of our strikers are jokers, while Spain has some decent ones.

so much class from those two!!! They're really such amazing, nice, good PEOPLE, not only players. Mata is so humble and so nice, he touched me with his speech. Can we play with 13, 14 players? It's so hard to pick between those guys, because they have great character in addition to being great footballers. I still think Willian was better than Mata, but slightly, and Mata is such a sweetheart and that goal was so amazing. Good luck with that, Mourinho.

I told so in the live thread (though I used the word killing it) and someone disagreed, but I stand by my opinion. He was immense. Defensively he was very important, and I don't remember him putting one wrong feet in the attack. He gives us something else that none of our other 5 AMs do (not saying something better, just something different). My MOTM for all his contributions and the kind of lightness he can bring to the team when attacking. It was a pleasure to watch. I guess he guaranteed his place at least among the selected for next match. I don't see Mata starting ahead of him based only in today's matches. Of course, there's training and what Mourinho thinks suits us better playing Newcastle away will prevail, but I'd even go as far as having Willian to start either on Hazard or Schürrle's spot. Probably Schürrle, as Hazard is still in a form recovery process, so we better give him as many games as possible.

I hope we kick Spain's arse again, with him in the starting XI I understand his choice, and I'm really very little patriotic about all things, not only sports, and still I feel betrayed. Yeah, I get he only played professionally in Spain, that he has a Spain passport, being considered a Spain citizen. But his country needed and wanted him. If he was so convinced he wanted to play for Spain, why did he play a friendly for us earlier this year? He has the right to do it, I even understand his reasons, I just can't overlook it and forgive him. I wish him no bad things - except losing to us in the WC, other than that good luck for him in Spain. That is, if he goes to the WC at all. There's still plenty of time for that to happen and while he's a very good striker, they have other players who may have a promising season too. Hopefully Torres is one of those

Well, I'm a Brazilian and a huge fan of European football - or football in general. For each league I watch I have a team to support. The teams rarely meet in Europe and when they do, I follow my heart. It's no big deal, tons of people do the same, good for you that you only support Chelsea. I have 3 in Europe and a Brazilian side and Dortmund is really compelling me to watch Bundesliga. I didn't use to like the German league, but it improved a lot recently. I'm a football fan, to answer your question, and one that likes to have teams to support in the leagues I watch.

with Ozil, we need Ramires in that midfield... ASAP.

with Ozil, we need Ramires in that midfield... ASAP.

Willian is killing it. Best player by a fair lead imo. Essien and Mikel, more Essien than the latter, are frustrating me with holding the ball too long when we have a chance to counter. They need to pass the ball faster to our attackers. But other than that, we're absolutely perfect.

Also Mourinho decided to go with Hazard, Ba and Torres in the bench. It's clear he wants to win this. Watch him use all of them if we are losing in HT or early in 2nd half.

I really shouldn't answer you, but I guess I like you enough to try to prove you otherwise. This is me in a 2006 kit (though the pic is more recent). My mom bought it for me when she went to England in 2007 because I begged her to look for it and bring me the shirt (back then was hard to find Chelsea's kids kits in Brazil). Oscar was still a kid when I started supporting this club. I never implied you aren't a Chelsea fan, just that you used to stay out of the 'stop haunting Belgian players brigade' Cheers, mate

guess I was right about both things. The squads are exactly how I expected them to be... our B team is better than their A mixed team. It doesn't mean we'll win, but that's just mouthwatering. Too much quality

as if you needed to mention his name for it to be clear... I didn't take half my day I was working, sweetie. I just connected again, although it did take me a few minutes to write... And I'm not only a RM fan, I'm also an Inter fan just for future reference.

I agree partially. I agree with how Hazard is Mourinho's star. I've said it a few times myself. As for Oscar being limited compared to others #10, I guess it only applies to Mata, especially because the other three you mentioned play more often [and better] in the wings. Oscar is Mourinho's favorite son in the team because of how hard he works, his general attitude and how he follows closely everything Mourinho says. Mourinho said it all (except the favorite part). So Hazard is his fave star and Oscar is his fave son. Still there are matches either of them won't play. Also watching yesterday's match and how Oscar was more daring in his passes, trying the unexpected more often and more splitting passes than he normally does [until Mourinho sent instructions for him through Willian], I guess Mourinho asked him to try to be more narrow, incisive and creative. Mourinho is trying to make him blossom on that and he had a couple of passes there yesterday that were very Mata-esque. The downside right now is that to make those 2-3 passes he completely missed another 2-3 and another 2-3 he and the player to receive the ball were unlucky as the opposition was lucky to touch the ball at the final moment. But he's getting there and I see Mourinho's touch in the way he changed his performance yesterday.

little digs at Belgians, really, Weckerz? lol forever at how pressed you guys are around here these days. So every player and opinion I've criticized the last days which include Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Lampard, comparisons between Mata and Lampard were little digs at Belgians? I had tons of post in the last seven days and I guess 3 or 4 involved belgian players. Give me a break!!!! Today I've talked about two Belgians, and while I was defending Eden's nomination, repeating what I said a few times: that he deserved to win POY imo and it's okay to be there, there was a comparison being done by other people, I didn't start it, and I gave my opinion... As for de Bruyne, my notifications tell me a few people agree with me, because guess what, I didn't say anything beyond the obvious (not saying it's true, just saying it's obvious). Unnecessary is to say what you said, that's what is unnecessary. I don't care if you Belgians feel pressed here these days because every week there are people compalining about your how it's impossible to say a bad word about a Belgian player without having exactly this kind of reaction. It's reactions like this that make us think like we do. I'm sorry if you skipped all the other bad things (and all the good things) I've said about players only this week and decided to react when I said a minor thing about Hazard [if anything a Mata fanboy would be much more offended by my post, but this probably is about other posts, as you even said in your answer. Only in the last two days 3 people (Alex, Fernando and YouNameIt) complimented my style of posting, I'll stick with them, not only because they're the majority, but because they aren't pressed. If people want to think Mata deserved the nomination better than Hazard did, it's their right. Stop being dramatic, nobody killed your puppy. And whoever missed the point here was you. What I meant is exactly that, the posts weren't about being happy or not just because they're Chelsea players. Do you really think anyone is upset because Chelsea player was nominated? If I thought Hazard didn't deserve to be in the list and none other player by us, I would have said that. THAT'S THE POINT. We can be happy for Chelsea players, but we can look beyond our club preferences and fanboyism and say for example none of our players deserved (which isn't the case). Or at least we should. Now go back to your little world where I take digs on Belgians players. I won't bother to answer you - or anyone from the same little world again because many people already said the same, why keep repeating it like a broken record. Just think that posts like yours is exactly what make people think the obvious. Not me, I already have an opinion about it, your post didn't change it, I was just surprised that someone who's normally so levelheaded it's now behaving like so many others. Cheers, mate. Good lucky for you, Hazard, Kevin, Lukaku and Courtois. ps.: I'm wondering if you'll answer to everyone who's disagree with Hazard being ahead of Mata, or if the problem was only me. Never mind answering. It's crystal clear.

I think the list is there for us to discuss it. I approve of Eden's nomination, but if discussing it was pointless, why create a topic? We could have mentioned in his thread. People everywhere discuss those lists and show their opinion about players that should and shouldn't be there. Let's not be blind fans... I'm sure all are happy for Hazard, but if they think another Chelsea player should be there or that Hazard shouldn't, it's their right to say so, and honestly, the discussion has been very, very, very civil. So much for being opinion-less and blind by our team preferences...

Messi had his worst season in the last few years, I'm still not sure anyone stepped up to the point where they could have beat him.

I have exactly the opposite opinion. I think right now (or right then, as right now none of them are really at the top of their form) Mata was the best player and Hazard had a better season. I said a few times I would have given the player of year to Hazard and not Mata. Mata is the best footballer between the two of them, but Hazard has a higher ceiling and I have no doubts he'll become a better player than Mata in a couple of years. But I really don't understand how someone can consider Hazard currently better than Mata as a footballer. Right now, as in October, Mata is having a dig in form, something Hazard has also been through this season and it's only now overcoming [just finished the scout for the match against City and his display was really appalling when you look his movement - both on attack and defense; his sloppy ball control in the second half, and his anonymity in the match, definitely one of his poorest displays this season, and I'll have numbers to back it up in a few]. So right now they're two great footballers far from their best form, but Mata is undoubtedly imo the best player this calendar year as a footballer. He's on his peak. I believe Eden will be winning this award in 3-5 years from now or at least being a runner-up, but I don't think at this point of their careers that Hazard is a better player than Mata. He will be though as I don't see Mata even making the final three ever on his career. He's very good, but he's nowhere a top3 player in the world and I don't think his ceiling is much higher than other players who'll be competing with him, so that he'd close the gap in a few years. If anything I see the gap increasing.

if he's as good as most of you [or us] believe he is, his price tag is irrelevant. Mourinho doesn't play players based on how much they cost and what should be their benefits from it. As @The Mak just said before you, he needs to make an effort, to work hard, to fight his way back into the team. If he does that he'll gain more chances and will have more opportunities to bring good performances that will at least afford him a few selections and subs. He was the first AM to be given a chance in all honesty as Oscar and Hazard were already part of the team, he played really well and with a lot of work-rate in those 30 minutes against Hull. Then he faded a bit - like many others did. He was given more chances in August, but Schürrle made better use of the chances he also got at that time and he was rightfully imo preferred over Kevin in September. Then Mata recovered from injury and also had to be given a few chances, and when Kevin finally had a chance to show his value, he failed and for Mourinho he failed in more ways than one. Mourinho also said at the beginning of the month before the match against Steaua that Kevin's problem were beyond the lethargic match, but also in training sessions. The ball is on Kevin's court and no one should be blamed for the position he finds himself now, except himself. Don't give me the 'too deep' squad argument, because this week in two of our most important matches this first part of the season Schürrle and Willian displaced simply Juan Mata from the team. Nobody has a guaranteed spot except maybe 3-4 guys who earned that trust vote from Mourinho as they've been way too solid through the whole season so far [which imo are Terry, Iva and Oscar, with Ramires just edging the list too]. So if Schürrle can displace Mata from the team, why can't de Bruyne if he shows he's better than the other 5 or at least the other 3? He was given chances - even if few - the problem is he didn't capitalized them while others did. When you impress the boss (especially with your will and effort) in one match you're more than likely to start the following. That's what Schürrle did [among others] and that's why he was given consecutive chances starting or as a sub. Kevin has to do the same, so I repeat, the ball is on his court.

please... the simple insinuation of such a thing in a Mourinho team is ridiculous. Try again, with a stronger case?

Great article, Rapha

Oh I didn't mean it like that. In Mourinho I trust. If he only brings Luiz back to the team in a month, I'll be behind him - except if Cahill starts to make mistakes every match. But I doubt Mourinho has double standards, especially in this case. If Luiz went to the bench for mistakes, so would Cahill if he did them. I just meant the sooner Luiz is back in the team the better - but to be back he has to either earn it or Cahill to force his way out of the team. I hope when it happens, it's the first scenario. CBs mistakes normally mean goals, I don't need or want Cahill to allow them so Luiz can come back.

okay, Mou, how about we start giving him the stability he needs, like being back in the team and all? I'm sure he'll start taking things much more seriously (although I don't think he didn't take them serious before, he just lost concentration at moments) and will pay much more attention to his surroundings after kissing the bench in two very important matches such as Schalke and City

the same way City was the new Bayern and we'd lose and drop to 7th? (despite being spanked by the real Bayern, but still that was the tone before the match against City) I think the only player what took part of yesterday's match that could start tomorrow is Eto'o and maybe Cahill if Mourinho doesn't feel like Kalas should start (he's been injured for a long time). As for Arsenal I expect a mix of 4-5 team A players and the rest from their team B because they honestly don't have a squad as deep as ours and Arsene probably knows the league cup still is his best shot winning a title. He won't risk that

what if they are true aliens?