Closed Roma 1-2 Chelsea

[Ollie 4,400]

Eden Hazard is an absolute genius. Nobody is better in full flight, nobody. The way he turns and flies by defender after defender changing direction and being able to use both feet. Drooooooooooolll!

The 2nd half was excellent. Roma were physical and dirty as per usual but we withstood it and won the game. This will stand us in very good stead for this upcoming season. Great test to overcome. HAPPY!

[Jype 6,398]

Bertrand did great throughout the match, both defensively and in attack. Hazard coming on changed the game in our favor.

Demba Ba with two assists, not bad considering how much stick he got in the live chat. Nice little feature that btw, great job as usual @Jim.

[Yeboii 1,844]

Funny how Hazard did not really care about the goal since it looks like he doesnt care about pre-season. Everyone putting their hands up and he just runs back. Hazard performed really well among other players.

Blackman made no mistakes in this game, but he did not have that much to do.

[Jase 43,479]

Back to winning ways. The half time and subsequent changes made the difference after a poor first half. Deserved win in the end.

And how refreshing was it to see Mourinho or basically just a manager in general make changes to the formation and tinker with it after going through the extreme rigidity of Benitez last season?!

[iceboy 992]

Any Mourinho reaction?

[iceboy 992]

@BluesMaster please mate open Hull match thread. can't wait.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Marky mark nutmeg's himself hahahahha

[Magic Lamps 11,430]

DAFUQ @Schwarzer. Probably also due to the bad pitch but he surely is no great footballer. That was a classic Turnbull moment.

Lampard's goal was vintage and in general his attacking movement was typical. He is the king of reverse passes.

Hazard back to glory amazing how he created that second goal out of nothing. The ball seems to be a part of his body at times.

[Henrique 9,133]

We were brilliant in the second half, José made the difference and so did Hazard.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

didn't see the match but I saw the replays of Lamemla's goal. That's some sad-ass way to concede one tbh.

[didierforever 7,349]

first thing first - get rid of torres. he is a fucking cancer. a useless fucking good for nothing cunt.

schurlle = marin 2.0. enough said.

kdb and moses - simply looked lost with absolutely no link up play between any of our 4 forwards.

essien and mikel - useless. our squad strength seems to be good but in reality i seriously doubt that we can win a fulham/swansea/southampton away match with these 2 in the pivot and win the match.

bertrand - now this is a perfect squad player. will do his job as required. nothing flashy , just a good 7.5/10 performance.

JT- safe as houses.

luiz - tried to do too much and was probably out there to prove a point or something. too flashy.

azpi - seemed a little a shaky in the start but found his feet later on.

schwarzer and blackman - blackman was surprisingly good. and its not just because schwarzer made a blunder and blackman made an awesome save. even blackman's distribution was way way better than schwarzer's.

lamps - LEGEND.

hazard - now thats a hazardous performance. MOTM.

rambo - this guy has already played CM, RW, RB and the season has not even started.

oscar - few very poor passes but good link-up with hazard.

BA - wonderful hold up play and work rate.

lukaku - RELEASE THE KRAKEN.

but most importantly JOSE -

[Jase 43,479]

Any Mourinho reaction?

The match just finished. Give it time.

@BluesMaster please mate open Hull match thread. can't wait.

I will...later today. Be patient.

[Sheva. 5,373]

And how refreshing was it to see Mourinho or basically just a manager in general make changes to the formation and tinker with it after going through the extreme rigidity of Benitez last season?!

AVB and RDM did the same, when we were losing they'd bring on Torres and put him on the wings, wanted to break something.

[Moros 86]

Really happy with the second half in which we showed our qualities again, especially Hazard, Ramires en Lampard. Bertrand played rather well in both halves as well. Only minus in the second half seemed Ba who didn't do too much good.

KDB didn't play too well, it seems he still has to gell in with Shurrle and Moses. But he has been bright the other games and clearly links up better with Hazard, with whom he has played more. That's it for me in the first half our holding midfield was nowhere, due to having not enough pace and stamina. The AM looked tired and not yet used to playing with each other. But I do think all three of them can more than contribute this season, they only have to gell. And perhaps there wil be some partnership up front that will work better than others.

[Magic Lamps 11,430]

first thing first - get rid of torres. he is a fucking cancer. a useless fucking good for nothing cunt.

schurlle = marin 2.0. enough said.

kdb and moses - simply looked lost with absolutely no link up play between any of our 4 forwards.

essien and mikel - useless. our squad strength seems to be good but in reality i seriously doubt that we can win a fulham/swansea/southampton away match with these 2 in the pivot and win the match.

bertrand - now this is a perfect squad player. will do his job as required. nothing flashy , just a good 7.5/10 performance.

JT- safe as houses.

luiz - tried to do too much and was probably out there to prove a point or something. too flashy.

azpi - seemed a little a shaky in the start but found his feet later on.

schwarzer and blackman - blackman was surprisingly good. and its not just because schwarzer made a blunder and blackman made an awesome save. even blackman's distribution was way way better than schwarzer's.

lamps - LEGEND.

hazard - now thats a hazardous performance. MOTM.

rambo - this guy has already played CM, RW, RB and the season has not even started.

oscar - few very poor passes but good link-up with hazard.

BA - wonderful hold up play and work rate.

lukaku - RELEASE THE KRAKEN.

but most importantly JOSE -

harsh. It's only preseason FFS

[Barbara 15,149]

let's sign the right post to solve our strike issues

Some sick skill to dribble Schwarzer in that first goal

[sdrcfc 461]

Views on a permanent three at the back?

[Moros 86]

essien and mikel - useless. our squad strength seems to be good but in reality i seriously doubt that we can win a fulham/swansea/southampton away match with these 2 in the pivot and win the match.

Yes they are not to be a partnership in the pivot. However both can have their place their and do well for us, but only when playing alongside Ramires and possibly Van Ginkel. Though the latter is performing really well defensively, he does need to improve his passing game.