Barbara

I've read an expression quite often on both matches, please help the English dummy and explain to her what you guys mean by "to run the channels". A lot of people said Lukaku did that, but I have no idea what that means

I did mention them except Lamps. I meant play depth, not squad depth (in that bullet). I mean, we need to make up for the lack of very fast wings with the deep play from the first/second third to the last third. I'm not a Rooney fan, but even I can concede he's an improvement from our options now. Probably better than the three of them together as I really don't rate Lukaku, Ba and Torres at all. Lukaku has tons of potential, but there are so many things he needs to work on his game to be useful against tough opposition... he will be very important to us in the future, but in the present, I think he's far from being ready. That doesn't mean he won't score some important goals already. I think he's great to change the match throughout it, but he isn't yet regular starting XI material imo.

It's NYC as far as I can say

There are few positive things I've seen today that make me really happy and relieved for our new season. squad depth. We were good in the first half and you looked to our bench and there were great options. If you think Mata is the regular and Oscar is the sub, and then add Schurrle and Kevin to the mix and I'm a happy girlthe double pivot with Ramires and van Ginkel was an amazing (and welcoming) surprise. I think one of our problems resides there and they showed that we can have the work rate - they tackled everything and some more; intercepted many balls and Marco adds so much quality in our transition (passing, penetration, carrying the ball). I'm yet to see if Marco can add the long pass, but I'll cover the depth in a bitMata completely changed the match. It seems like the team relaxed and played their football once he got in. The team depends - and trusts - quite a lot on himWe must pray for the striker position. There's no other option left. Whether we pray for a new signing and for Saint Mou to be able to fix the guys we have, it doesn't matter. They have different deficiencies and stronger sides will make it even more noticeable. It's worth mentioning Lukaku had two guys on him all the time and it's unlikely to happen in EPL so it might help him. Ba tries hard, but he just can't. Torres seems to want to prove to Mourinho he can... the problem is everyone knows he can't.Moses was really great in the first half - but that's the problem. He sometimes plays amazing and then he simply disappears in a streak of matches. He needs to add consistency to his gameWe still lack depth - but it already improved from last season. One thing that was remarkable imo in CC was David Luiz's long passes - not only the amount but the accuracy. Tonight he had a chance to do it twice and one of his passes found Mata (or someone else) inside the box in a great position to assist or dribble and try to score. I think he could add to our depth even if he plays as a CB and I'm sure Mourinho will work on that.All in all the feelings are so much better than last season's.Do not forget Eden doesn't perform the same in friendlies. It's bigger than him, he needs the official competition to motivate himLukaku is promising, but there's a lot of work he needs to do to be able to compete in high level football such as UCL and EPLOscar still seems tired, but he showed the class is still thereEssien looked good.

that was a good display We had the best defensive midfield in the first half and the best attacking midfield in the second. A combination of both things is what I'm looking forward to seeing... it could be amazing!

that's the passing I want to see from Luiz. I'm a broken record about it, but he has the skill to make the long passes we so desperately need to add depth to our play, although he was in the last third now.

you can't showcase a performance he never repeated again. He can't pass, he can't cross, but he's a warrior in the work rate. But what you expect the most in the position isn't work rate. So he's better in the double pivot. He was amazing with van Ginkel there in the first half

but I think Eden could be trained to play in the position. He is no Messi - but then again nobody is - but he has some of the tools for the position... Nobody can fix Ramires' passing on the other hand

Ramires on the wing is one of the worst tactical choices to be done in this team.

it was half good by Torres. Is it progress?

those are the deep passes I want to see more from Luiz He improved it so much! Had a field day with them during CC Torres and Bertrand in, Hazard and Cole off. My commies were right when they said there's no subs limit

Mata made the match all that much more dynamic and objective

Mikel, Azpili in, Ivan, van Ginkel off

Essien assisting Mata... Things are getting better and better

van Ginkel! I don't want the kid to ever leave the team!!!!

lol Ba gets in and Torres not Luiz in for Cahill

Mata completely changed the match's pace and our style and there's fight, fight, fight and a red card

Inter's defender assisted Lukaku quite well in that shot. It was a powerful finish. Too bad it hit the post

nice play by Eden

moses oscar cech off mata essien schwarzer in

inter.it ‏@inter 6m Chelsea v #Inter: Oscar (13) and Hazard (29 pen) have given José Mourinho's side a 2-0 lead at the halfway stage here in Indianapolis Jose Mourinho's side. They certainly miss Mou

I think Lukaku had some issues tonight... Oscar was very good at moments, he was everywhere Cambiasso went in the first 15-20 minutes, but it seems to me he got tired (overall) quite quickly - which is more than expected. Eden had his moments, but he's still working to find his best shape. Moses was really good - then again from time to time he is good. What he misses the most is consistency to continuously play like this Overall good job from defense with a few mistakes here and there van Ginkel and Ramires is the highlight of this. They made me SO happy with the quality showed.

Lukaku is quite lost - and slow - in the pitch tonight

Hazard is tacking a lot So much work rate from him

so much class on penalties