Barbara

That's why I'm proposing we stick with one of them, and then work from there. Thing is Terry can do a job, but he's way too slow and when the pivot has problems, his slowness will be exposed. Cahill has always been an average player (couldn't get tired of saying that in the Luiz-Cahill debacle, although people thought the ones judging Cahill were just Luiz's fangirls) that had a system that protected him to the most and allowed him to be in the team. Ivanovic is like kamikaze. It hurts me to admit that - because I love him and how much he gives in each match - but while he sometimes offer something good in the attack, very often he exposes the back. And I think Mourinho knows that and that's why he insists on playing Willian there, so he can try to reduce the exposition Iva brings. I don't have any complaints about our LB. Luís is a great player that I still hope will get used to the league and Azpi - even offering very little in the attack - is a lion. I don't think we have any problems in our pivot at all - except a more suitable replacement for Cesc. Then we move to the AMs and it becomes frustrating. Oscar is way too inconsistent (although I expect as much from a player his age), Willian doesn't add ANYTHING to attack at all. With all his faults, Oscar at least tries to link up with Cesc and Eden and they have linked up very well on occasions this season, but then again, Oscar's inconsistency doesn't allow him to carry on. Hazard has to carry the entire AM on his shoulders more often than not. If we were more balanced in the defense and RB maybe we wouldn't need Willian - let alone Willian and Oscar to bring the outrageous balance. I mean, we need the damn balance because we have a slow defense, a right side completely exposed, because Cahill AND Iva play that side. We worn out our most important player tactically - Matic - and now we're paying for that. But if we had more quality players as many of you have been demanding for a while, we'd be in a better place. It took me a long while to admit that and see beyond my own prejudice of people playing FM in real life. I don't think we need someone out of this world in the defense, only a player that can do a job. If we were able to find another Azpilicueta for the RB (and that's ironic as he IS a RB) and a fast and decent CB to partner with Terry, we wouldn't need to allow Oscar and Willian in the team in the name of balance and we could have someone there. I think the RW needs to be addressed ASAP - not sure about Reus though, even though I love him - but we'd be deluding ourselves if we think that's the answer to our problems. It may be the answer to our attacking frustration, but what seems like such a great team, isn't all that great if the players I mentioned aren't overachieving or playing amazingly well. And that's why I - and probably others - were so excited about the prospects when the season started. Because some of those 'not-good-enough-for-elite-team' players I just mentioned were performing way above their level in one way or other. Now they're back to the average players they actually are and the team as a whole suffers and we have to sacrifice our attack with workhorses, otherwise results like Spurs' would happen more often than we'd like. Unfortunately it's a domino effect that reverberates the most in our attack... our defense isn't as good as it should (or as Mourinho believes it is), unless we sacrifice part of our pivot and AM's to cover for it. And from there is downhill.

Actually I believe one of them is necessary for the always-mentioned balance. The two of them together is redundancy and is detracting our attack with their low return. Mourinho has to pick one of them for certain matches, the other for others and stop with this BS of playing the two of them. It's unacceptable that out of our 3 AMs only one really offers something as an attacking midfield. Oscar + Willian may balance our pressing and our pivot, but they unbalance our attack. One of them is more than enough to offer support to the pivot. All players under Mourinho - including Hazard, the one that had least reason to do it - track back, press, offer something for the collective play. While some are much better at work rate than others, it doesn't mean the others are completely incapable of offering some support.

No, it's not. Henrique doesn't like him for whatever nonsense reason and made sure to stay away while he was killing it. Now he has a bad match because he's exhausted, he timely comes back with a nonsense comment on him. Just ignore it.

I can't even fault him... he's been absolutely spent... exhausted, overplayed. We all know stamina was never his forte, we should have tried to rotate him a bit more... even if that means playing Mikel... he's way too valuable (tactically our most important player) for us to overplay him like that. He needs a rest.

I'll answer here, because I refuse to go to Lampard's thread. I just meant that we should be praising Hazard for what he's been doing more than resenting Lampard for what he's been doing. The liar SOB part was because I lost all respect for him regarding this transfer (I've always defended him, and I still believe he's free to choose to play wherever he pleases, wherever he feels is better for him). The liar SOB part - and should have added coward - is that is now reported he has never signed with NYC in the first place, but with City and didn't even have the decency of doing it for everyone to see. Man up, and admit what you do, like a man, don't be a coward. Ashley left Arsenal and came here, many others did the same. The fans get pissed, but do it in the clear, for everyone to see, don't come with those shady deals to save face. Not to mention how the NYC fans are probably feeling cheated on. I still respect his legacy with us, I would still respect him as a MAN (has nothing to do as a player) if he had done the deal with City in the clear, but after acting like a coward, a man that runs away from the consequences of his actions, I've got no respect left for him. And I'm not willing to keep talking about him - so I don't think I'll answer you again on the matter, as I said, it's sad that instead of talking about Hazard - our present and future, most people are talking about Lampard.

Twice more people viewing Frank's thread than Hazard's according to the forum main page. Why do I feel saddened by it? Let the liar, SOB have the recognition and attention he deserves (zero), let's forget him and focus on what we do have. Eden deserves so many complimenting words after what he did today (actually the whole season).

the first thing he should do is getting rid of Cahill in the starting XI, something I honestly don't think he'll do. For lack of balls or for playing favorite, he'll stick with Cahill no matter how awful he's been. Matic is tired, we worn him down, if he doesn't get a proper rest we'll start conceding galore... our defense on the right side is laughable with IVa collecting mistakes too.

friendly reminder that he is a professional football player, not you and your friends choosing who's going to play to who in your street football match... ****************************************************************************************************************************************** Eden, who's a father of two, at age 24 and way more mature than the average here, said many times he's happy to stay and wants to stay at Chelsea. The guy is very humble and he's always saying great words about his teammates and always restating how he has to help the midfielders, the strikers and the defenders. There's no self-entitlement on him, he's an amazing player and seemingly an even better man. the plastic, bratty, glory hunters may think he wants or needs better places, better teammates and that he's above defending. But the commitment, humbleness, loyalty, camaraderie and team work spirit I see at this boy are impressive and not easy to find, especially someone his age (as shown by some of the comments in this very page). All that said - my perspective, not his - I think he deserves better players by his side... he's left alone to save the day every frigging time - although I thought Costa was good today and Cesc has been also very good for us. I know there are a lot of reasons for bitching about that awful performance... but even more reasons to praise how immense he's been for us this season. He's getting better and better each game, he's owning everyone on his way, his confidence, drive, motivation, fight, are skyrocketing. He's taking matters into his hands and just exploding. I feel like his first two seasons here, his best game will come around February and if he's already unstoppable now, I can only imagine then. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful he is and what he's capable of. Best player in the league by a lead.

Very quiet match today in all possible ways... I hope he gets his shit together and doesn't start another winter-long slump. Willian was no better and Ramires at least tried harder. We need Ramires to find fitness ASAP, as we don't have better AMs, Oscar - and especially Willian, who's rarely subbed off - may be getting too comfortable.

Maybe I'm naive to believe José wouldn't agree to those things, he has such a great character and is so strong willed... also he would make more profit winning the league, using the best players he judges as such than playing someone because of an agent. I'm not denying managers don't play agent players, but this case, this situation and Mourinho's work ethic throughout his whole career just say the opposite. If anything it'd be stupid and if there's one thing I'm absolutely sure is that Mourinho ain't stupid He's been making mistakes with his selection though, although most of our bench players are off pace and our main issue continue to be the defense. Our attack isn't exactly clinical, but our defense, when exposed, is a nightmare

You didn't understand... I'm not saying Remy shouldn't be played more, he probably should, what I'm saying is that it's completely nonsense from you to write, and I quote 'Mourinho doesn't want Remy to outshine his agent's (Jorge Mendes) striker, Diego Costa, or even compete with him' That's a ridiculous comment all day and night long. Compete? Outshine? Come on, Remy may deserve more chances, but there's no way in hell he's the level you're making him out to be and even worse, saying José won't play him so Mendes' player still has the spotlight. Even if there was the ill intent in Mourinho's heart - which I assure there isn't - what gain does Mendes have now? Chelsea WONT sell Costa, there's nothing there for Mendes and really, you should be ashamed of implying Mourinho would do such a thing. That's unethical, wrong, unprofessional, nearly a fraud. If that's what you think your manager is capable of I'd respect your comment much more if you asked him to be sacked. If you believe a manager is withholding a player so another player gets the spotlight because of who his manager is and what shared interest they have, you should ask for this manager to be sacked, simple as that. He has a favorite system, has always had, it has nothing to do with who the agent is. I'm not upset, it's secondhand embarrassment to have one of our fans to think as ill of our manager.

absolutely I called the Matic poor appearance somewhere in the middle of the first half, we were still winning 1x0 We have a poor defender on Cahill, that overachieved last season in a system that protected the heck out of him (his penalty today was ridiculous, the tackle horrible off timing), and Ivanovic has been terrible. I don't have complaints about Terry, but he IS slow. So if Matic - who's been really tired and needs to be rested asap - is having a day off, then it exposes our frail defense. José should have Zouma play though. He may make the same mistakes as Cahill, but I think he wouldn't make as many. José has been taking the first team thing farther than necessary because most of our substitutes are out of form, but Zouma ain't one of them.

please, with all due respect to you, that's BS. Sorry. Diego Costa has been one of our best players this season. I'm not saying Mourinho shouldn't use Remy more or something, but this Mendes convo is just BS and unnecessary conspiracy talking He has the players he trusts, likes, protects, favorites, or whatever. It has fucking nothing to do with their agent. He wouldn't have won so many things if he was influenced by it

the level of the posts I read here in five minutes tells me I should keep away until my birthday next month The Jorge Mendes comment being the worst....

what? sensitive much? what the fuck means nothing just awestruck by a nonsense comment. Can't deal with sarcasm, genius?

and just because a guy isn't known for something, they should ignore the instinct of closing down a player? Please, that's an excuse if there's one. Cesc gave up, Cahill and Terry just watched, they weren't even marking anyone because there wasn't anyone near them...

is it only me, or Matic has been really tired, far from his best the last two matches? I guess he's running out of gas. NEEDS to be rested on FAC

Hazard

what the fuck? He shouldn't be all alone marking the guy while our pivot and defense players were watching. genius

for us to get a penalty, there will be needed contact... handballs won't do it for us. They just want to fuck us anyway I'm pissed And Cahill, Cesc, Terry all just watched as Oscar tried to mark alone. bollocks

fuck it! and how nice is that our defense just watched it?

vine? https://vine.co/v/Ow9AVZMrBee

oh and remember that Diego can't link or hold up? Jokes disguised as opinions on this forum

clear PENALTY fuck you Dowd you CUNT

I love it was a Diego goal, but Hazard deserved it. Absolute killing counter