Barbara

Oscar is on fire. What a beauty of a goal

I'd have willian for matic and let rlc have more time in the pivot

Great goal by Oscar there, amazing Ruben pass and beautiful fishing

Are you kidding me?

They're incredibly bad, which is okay to miss goals here. I hope we score a bag of them so we get confident

except for the many goals missed - they'll eventually get in - this is a very nice attacking display... against a weak team nonetheless, but I'll take it as a positive

Nice interchanges between Hazard, Oscar and Costa. This is better than I expected

just saw the lineup. Seriously, Oscar in the wing? Why not go with Kenedy? I don't know how I feel about RLC as #10. I like him to play B2B better, but well, at least he's playing

I think there are two completely different matters and it's possible to address both at the same time because one doesn't exclude the other. 1. He's by far our most talented player, the only one in our team that would attract the top three teams in the world. Along with Costa, Cortouis and Fabregas, he's the only player I'd consider world class, but all of them (maybe except Courtois) have had problems to keep their level up. 2. He's had a nightmare of a season, a huge blip that doesn't seem to ever end. God knows when he'll resurrect from this terrible form he's been for a while. Fans are entitled to state both and to think whatever they want based on this. But I think it's stupidity to even consider selling him, no matter the money because we don't have the appeal other clubs have where they let go of world class to bring another world class. I also think it's unfair to disregard everything he did in the three past years like many do. I know momentum is important, but give the guy some time. We have a gem, one of the few we somehow were able to catch. Unfortunately we don't get them very often. This is not giving him a free pass, it's giving him a new chance and he deserves a whole bunch of them for everything he did here and for the ridiculous amount of talent he has.

Fact remains, City went after Barcelona's ex-directors - some of which made them the club they were a few years ago. Bayern (!!!!) directors went to Barcelona to learn how they did their business establishing a philosophy and sticking with it through every new signing down to the way their academy works, spending months there to learn. RM had Zidane working for them for years, even if he was a moron (which I believe is far from the truth), his influence and respect in the world of football alone would open talks to players - for example, Hazard. We had Emenalo instead. As if you needed more evidence that we aren't on the same level as some other top dogs. and let's be honest, if you think this man alone got Mourinho fired, I think you're even more delusional than I initially assumed. He was the one who made the official announcement, he's one of the voices of the club to the media (one of the few or haven't you noticed we're very tight lipped on this side of London?), Mourinho getting fired was him making his own bed after dealing badly with some stuff and something that certainly came from higher people than Michael Emenalo. He's a non-factor and for as long as we keep this kind of people on our board we're in clear disadvantage. Call Mourinho all names you want, but don't ignore his brand. Our big signings during his time here mentioned HIS influence on their decision. Now we have almighty Emenalo to convince a player he should come here and not play European football instead of a figure like Zidane or Mourinho. Or the expertise of Barcelona's board. Let all the Pato's and promising American talents (!!!!) know us. I'm sure our board already have all their contacts.

Costa has many limitations, so we can easily have two types of strikers and keep them both happy a la Torres and Ba under Rafa (but hope fully A LOT better). We can have for example a Cavani who can hold up and a ball and be the focal point of attacks and start him in game when we need such skills while playing Costa in game when we need a lot of movement and runs behind. Or we can bin Costa, which as I said, I wouldn't at all mind. Two top strikers won't be happy taking turns. The two you mentioned aren't even slightly on the same level as Costa. Even with the eventual injury or suspension he's been capital for the title, much better return than all potentially available strikers in the market. Costa is underrated on his ability to score goals. He went through a bit of drought, any player is subjected to that. Even missing matches he takes us to a new level 7 goals/assists in five matches is one of the reasons we reacted in the league...

Has never been to start with

Brace yourselves because you're going to miss Torres.

but that's exactly what I mean... depending on what kind of day he's having, how his relationship with manager and team mates is, he'll react in a certain way. I have no doubts Hiddink has been good for him, but even more sure Mourinho's departure is the biggest difference. The two things can happen exclusively - although they happened at the same time. I was just refuting the idea that Mourinho turned Diego into that raging bull. He's always been like that and when his relationship with Mourinho changed, than one of the scenarios for him to lash out just presented itself. The other is his lack of form. He was frustrated with himself, with Mourinho, the fans against him and gosh knows who else. Now he's confident again and seemingly has a good relationship with Guus and has been benefiting from our new manager's profile of people management - which is thousand times better than Mourinho's has been recently.

I normally defend him and see a lot of good things, but he's become difficult to defend lately. Always get injured when Costa is out, there's only so much we can say it's bad luck. He had one of the most horrendous matches by one of our players this season and the stakes are pretty high for that. Maybe his heart just isn't here anymore... he did spent too much time in the bench when he should have had more chances.

don't remember Mourinho ever saying this to Costa... especially when he was still in Atletico and had done the same there. He's an emotional guy, he riles up opponents, but he's easily riled up too depending on how he's feeling on one particular game. Also just two games ago we were fearing he'd be sent off. He's the same old Diego he has always been, before, during and after Mourinho, the thing is I guess they had a fallout and Diego just couldn't play anymore, exactly because he's an emotional guy. He's happier now and the goals started coming, so he has his confidence back. But I don't think Hiddink and Mourinho said opposite things regarding how he reacts on the pitch. I think Hiddink is helping him regain his confidence, something Mourinho did help him lose this season. Seriously, you guys just assume things that really make me wonder if you don't work for Daily Mail...

one of the best posts I've read here. Nothing to add

vine:

Seriously... my biggest pleasure every season is playing Arsenal in the league. Please, people, post more gifs, memes and stats. I can't have enough of them

This is what we need! amazing return from Diego. At this pace he'll hit double digits goals really soon... btw, he's my Captain in Fantasy Football... the one right thing I've been doing on it, lol

He's an excellent finisher - always said that and always defended him... he went through bad patches and at some points his behavior got me worried, but he's on a perfect balance now. He's keeping the fight in him, instead of bringing it out. He fights and shows clutch like no other in the team. And he's a good striker. Has some technical limitations but excels with his finishing, movement and pivot work at the edge of the box. Diego is an emotional player and is very clear he and Mourinho had some trouble, so it's expected he's now flourishing again. More to come, legend!

Me and @Azpinator on whatsapp two nights ago. It's Arsenal, I just wish we could play them more times in the league.

My bb owned that frigging match. I know Cesc doesn't play well in big matches, but I love him small victories against the small teams like today!!!!!

He had a flawless season last year, so I think the least he deserves is the benefit of the doubt and another season to prove his worth. There's a long list of players in the current squad I'd sell before considering him. Agree about Ramires though