Barbara

and that's fair. We disagree about it. I think if Mata doesn't take responsibility in the work rate we expose our already weak pivot... you may disagree. Mourinho acted on what he believed was better for the team and seeing as how the teams in Manchester are struggling, I think our adaptation isn't even affecting our run for the title that much. As for the individual players, it happens, bush, let's not deny it happens because it does. Mata isn't the only one, Hazard, Torres, Mikel among others have had situations that it seemed like people were putting them above the club's interests and the manager's objectives (whether because they're supposedly too good or too bad). It happens and for some people it's normal, for others it's annoying... Also I never told Mata should be sold, I didn't take part in the comments suggesting he should. I did say months ago that if he was benched too much he would leave the club - but it doesn't need to be an Einstein to come to that conclusion. He's a top player, if he doesn't fit for whatever reason, after one season he will probably want to leave. But I'm against him leaving and I've said in the so nice thread about who should be our #10 that we desperately need him to perform in high level because Oscar on his best day isn't nearly creative as he is. But we also need him to take defensive responsibilities imo. So how about both of us be happy as Mata is playing better, showed incredible attitude to press and tackle today and still could be consistent in the attack? Also both Mans lost, so it only ices the cake I don't know why you say I keep flaming discussions if you're the only one that reacts, lol I discuss with other people here all the time and I don't feel disrespected by them and they never told me they felt disrespected by me. Once again I think my comments must hit close to home to you. Also if you can't distinguish what's moan about the team, the club, the board, the manager and assessing individual performances on matches I can't do anything. The only player I have been complaining about is Hazard. I don't expect you to agree on that. But I'm not the only one, so yeah, I guess other people also think he's been one of our worse players this season... About Mata, I post an worshiping post about him 30 minutes ago. Really, go read other threads and see if people are reacting to me the way you think they are. They aren't. My post on the pub was because I don't get why people moan so much in between the matches about everything related to the club, but I even asked Raphael if he feels that's a cultural thing as in Brazil we are much more carefree about our clubs and only react during matches. I think you should learn better what barraqueira is, as after all the word in portuguese describes your post much better than describes any of mine.

Well, I wasn't talking about you (or to you), I answered straight to bush twice, so let's leave it to that? You're entitled to think whatever you want about the Mata-Mourinho situation. We've seen people around here being about individuals, players more than they are about Chelsea and it feds us up. So I guess everyone will have a reason to be fed up, others will bitch about it, others won't, so let's move on. The guy I had the convo with didn't seem as half bothered as you are, unless you think it fits you...

fair enough, Bush. We can disagree. I think Mourinho challenged him. You think Mata has been amazing since the beginning and Mourinho refused to see it. Let's agree to disagree. As I said, you stand by your player, I stand by our manager. As for Oscar... I think he needs to play better than he did today, so we agree on that, I suppose.

I'm really happy with this performance but above all his attitude. He played his usual in the attack, improved in the pressing and tackling, although he still gave the ball away 2-3 times (but let's not get picky). Truth is he's going to give it like that in almost all matches (as will any other player) so that's not concerning at all. The vulnerability I think he offered to our weak pivot last season when he didn't have any obligations with the defense are already being worked on. Missing a ball here and there is part of the process and the match. I think we can see Mourinho's touch in his work-rate, on how he approached the match and his attitude in the pitch. Mata himself had said before the match he was more than willing and looking forward to improve, so I guess it's win-win for Chelsea. I suspect that if he recovers his form from last season (and there's little doubt in my mind he will) and Mourinho realizes he can rely on him to command our attack actions with his assists and key-passes he'll be harsher on Eden and will bench him more often until he's challenged enough to step up. With the team being in transition and so many young boys in the AM, Mata can be the guy Mourinho will trust until the boys evolve and mature. Oscar and André seem to already be on the route and they're working their tits off in the matches. André is still inconsistent with his finishing and Oscar isn't much better (he can only score difficult goals, hehehe). Willian is going through a transition period, but I expect him to be by Mata's side as the men that Mourinho can pressure and challenge because they're older and more experienced. Amazing match, amazing attitude, amazing character.

I think Oscar could have made so much better than he did... it wasn't a good day for him and his performance was way below than the usual this season. I guess that's supposed to happen once in a while. I think Mata coming back to the team will benefit him (as long as he doesn't play in the wing) because he won't be overwhelmed as he used to be until then the only player in the front playing well consistently for us. André had good and bad matches, Eden had only okay and bad matches (he was good against Bayern though), Kev didn't have enough chances, but he was only good in the first half against Hull. So now hopefully Mata will carry his form and Oscar will benefit from that. I just hope he doesn't interrupt his crescendo... he needs to keep stepping up and going for the plays. He has tried a few splitting passes there and I want to see them keep coming. I would have subbed him instead of Hazard, but I think Mourinho may be making a point with Hazard and it wasn't like Hazard was much better (if any) than Oscar was...

for some people around here it is. Especially when it touches their Player FC, I mean, their fave players.

no, he benched him while he wasn't performing well and challenged him to prove him otherwise. Something I don't expect some people to understand behind their tinted glasses - don't know if you do. Players can get comfortable with their status and that more often than not detract their improvement unless they're highly self-motivated. Mata wasn't and Hazard isn't. Mata has been completely forgettable (or even bad) in two matches and played well against Swindon. Mourinho was true to his words and brought him today during half time and already said he'll start against Steua. The thing is in your head he should have been played since the start at all matches - screw which form he was and what his contributions (good or bad) to the team and the match were. Not everyone think like that and our manager proved to be right again, not that some people will actually accept it. They won't.

except Mata had a match that was at most the same level (I think Torres was slightly better) and you have people worshiping him, calling it amazing or more. Except that if it was any other player people would be calling it more than amazing. Except that people are really ready to call off Torres simply because of the last 30 months. Newsflash, the last 30 months don't play in the pitch, the current player does and he was really good against Swindon and repeated (imo actually even improved) that performance against Tottenham today. What else could people possible want? And excuse me while I stand by other's comments: He was amazing today. Great link up, beautiful assist for Mata in the off-side goal, amazing dribbles with his body getting rid of 2 or 3 opponents in 2-3 occasions, amazing ball for Schürrle and was good in the goal shot Lloris saved. So yeah, I don't know why it doesn't amount to amazing, but whatever, it seems like people here hope for him to go back in a shitty streak (not meaning you, as you even said you hope he continues) so they can be proved right about how he will never be decent again. It never ceases to amaze me how I've been basically a Torres hater (hater is a strong word as I would never hate on a Chelsea player, but I was really unhappy with him and used to bitch a lot about him because well he was below criticism) for two years and in this forum I found myself defending him more than I thought I ever would... edit: I don't get why people are saying he should have been sent off for in 51'. He was touching Vertoghen's face and the guy was angry and threw Torres' arm away which is why the things seems more violent or whatever than it was. It wasn't a red card play at all!!!!!!!!!! Are people really that willing to dismiss him? wow I'm really impressed - and not positively. That shouldn't be a red card anywhere in the world and all pundits I've seen (dailymail, bbc, espn brazil, Sky) never said he should have been sent off because of that, but TC's gurus think he should have... this is appalling.

And then people criticized Mourinho on how he approached Luiz and Mata. Luiz's case was a bit more complicated as he's had good matches before the Basel match, but Mata was yet to have a really good match for us. Then Mou publicly challenges both to prove to him they should start and they do just that - as I said they would in the Mourinho's thread. I'm also happy Mourinho subbed Hazard today. Based on the game's design I would have subbed Oscar - who had a very forgettable match - but I'm happy he went with Eden and showed him that he either starts playing or he'll be the next to be benched indeterminately until he starts performing. He's been performing the same level Mata has been when Mourinho refused to play him - if not worse in some matches - but he's comfortably been untouchable so far. Last match he was subbed at the 85 mark, today at 69. I hope Eden sees the pattern. He does have a better working rate compared to Mata - which is understandable as he's bigger, faster and stronger - but offensively he's been really below par in all matches so far with the exception of the Bayern match and a flash or two in a couple of other matches (despite the laughable 14 chances created some crazy stat site made up). With the options we have for the wings, I think Mourinho should bench him against Norwich and give Kev another chance... that may wake Eden up and it may give Kev something to look forward to. Win-win situation imo. Mourinho worked really well with Mata's form issues, I do hope he keeps the standards and does the same with Hazard.

I'm not sure Torres will start... he should despite playing twice in a row, as Eto'o or Ba will have to be used against Norwich while Torres is suspended...

oh the double standards...

if it's the play I remember, it was Lampard...

you know Mourinho really is The Special One when all goals Mikel scored was under him and Torres is voted the MOTM twice in a row. One has gotta to be special to make those things happen. And I don't get why in the live thread match I said where could I sign for this Torres to never leave and some (rude) guy said it could be in his butt cheek... Torres is playing really well and I'm sure much better than said butt check Mata finally playing well. We desperately need him to play at his best level and Mourinho already said he's going to start against Steua. He continues to lose some balls - and a couple of them today were in dangerous zones (one of them near the corner - in our field), but some things about him won't change and if he can contribute in the attack we can hope that those kind of balls won't compromise. He's been trying hard though and that's more than many on his place would have done. He's classy and a fighter and changed the game for us. Torres my MOTM though. He was absolutely great and I wonder what his critics will say now, because in his thread earlier this week they were badmouthing him because it was against Swindon. Today he raped the best defense in the EPL. So what now?

are you fucking kidding me? It was Vertoghen who was unfair in the play? FFS

where do I sign for this Torres to never leave?

I was about to say it was a match for André... I would say for Oscar though

That's the football I've been waiting to see. Perfect Mata and Terry

Torres is playing very well. We're playing much, much, much better now

I would have taken Lamps instead, but whatever, at least we don't have 3 CMs.

which is why I quoted a stat with this record at home in this season for EPL. Can it get any more about the present than that?

Lampard being a reliability... what's new?

debuted my Oscar (3rd) kit against swindon and now I'm debuting my Hazard (1st) kit. Hope it brings a victory

Chelsea FCVerified account ‏@chelseafc Here's a graphic of the anticipated Chelsea line-up today. #CFC

I do because I think he's being extra cautious because the team is still far from its best form. The young boys seems absolutely insecure in their own game and with the exception of André (who although very participative and intense also lacks tons of accuracy) they've been showing that the big games are a bit too much for them to handle tactically. So I understand his caution, it still frustrates me, but he's thinking about securing results against the title contenders and allowing the boys to play against the rest. It's a very cautious approach and I believe playing against Swansea, Everton, Newcastle, etc... will help the boys to get confident both technically and tactically. It's a transitional period and the team obviously is far from the product end and from the way Mourinho expects them to react. I get it all, I support it all, but a part of me wants to see an exciting team and an exciting team doesn't include three CMs in the formation.

In Mou we trust... but I still hate three CM and only one winger especially when we have the quality we do in the wings. KTBFFH