Closed Chelsea 3-1 Southampton

[HD3D 1,038]

It's between us and Arsenal now. Bring it.

[Rom2013 446]

I liked it. But I still don't like the way we do the pressure, and our AM and CM make too many bad choices.

But today we controled the game really well, we played a lot better, we are improving. It was one of the best games at home.

[aerlgenx 49]

if Torres scored a goal,he should be the MOTM but i give it to Ramires .Clap.clap.clap. Glad to see bot CB scored goals and Demba Ba too. well 3 points is all we need..mid week,3 points again =)

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I knew I saw Dani Osvaldo somewhere else before!

Lost some 200lbs during his journey over the Narrow Sea

Mou's subs esp Lamps and Ba were brilliant, really stabilized our game. Essien probably should not start such a big game no matter what

This plan b with 442 and pumping balls forward was amazing. This should also work against Arsenal.

[zolayes 14,489]

With Etoo injured it was reassuring seeing both Torres and Ba playing well

[Jype 6,398]

Great result from a hard match. Team responded magnificently in the second half and Mourinho bringing on Ba to play up front together with Torres worked wonders.

Sunderland, Stoke and Crystal Palace coming up next. If we win all three we'll most likely be on top by the time we face Arsenal because at least some of our rivals are guaranteed to lose points when they play each other. Arsenal have Hull, Everton and Manchester City as their next three league fixtures and Hull showed today against Liverpool that they won't just bend over and accept defeat when a big team comes to visit.

I knew I saw Dani Osvaldo somewhere else before!

My thoughts exactly.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Mata did well, was everywhere and got another assist. And a couple tackles which is important to some lol.

The 2 strikers worked wonderfully well, really good response to a ridiculous So'ton goal.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I have a hard time giving Mourinho credit simply for undoing the awful tactics he started with. Essien wasn't good enough to start for Chelsea two years ago and hasn't played at all this season. Considering we have a game against the weak Bucharest coming up, why not play him there? He looked confused and out of place. Oscar, Hazard, and Mata just don't work together. They run all over each others' space. I'd love to see Mata start next to a couple of actual wingers for a game or two and unlike last season, we actually have players who can play there!

Ramires was pretty bad to start the game but ended up fantastically and was my MOTM. The 4 defenders all had very good games.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I knew I saw Dani Osvaldo somewhere else before!

Exactly. I was thinking the same.

[couris 232]

Hazard decision making is horrible

[Hutcho 8,443]

Winner winner. Mourinho made the right changes. Ba was very good when he came on.

[Ankit 3,176]

Chelsea's John Terry: "The early goal gave Saints confidence & they were better than us 1st half. But we re-grouped and came out strongly"

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: "We gave Southampton a 2nd half they were not expecting, and they couldn't cope with it"

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Lovren "Chelsea snub was right"

I don't know if we even tried to sign him or if he made this up but yeah playing at a mid-table club with two good months is probably better than winning the Fa Cup, EL, CL, I guess.

[Champs2012 1]

Good win, great for Terry to get a goal on his 400th game

[Laylabelle 9,535]

Great tactics,and great performance 2nd half wise.Does fill you with confidence that can turn games around still rather then carry on playing like crap!Need to play a whole less then we did 1st half cause that was bloody dire!!

Still 2nd mental league so far

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Absolutely no sarcasm here but part of me thank Essien for his mistake because it fired up the whole team and what a great team spirit, from literally everyone!

Gave my motm to Ramires, what a bloody machine! I guess he can easily win the marathon in the Olympics.

Soton deserve to be where they are, very well organized and a respectable over-achiever. Lovren and Osvaldo are absolute cunts though.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I have a hard time giving Mourinho credit simply for undoing the awful tactics he started with. Essien wasn't good enough to start for Chelsea two years ago and hasn't played at all this season. Considering we have a game against the weak Bucharest coming up, why not play him there? He looked confused and out of place. Oscar, Hazard, and Mata just don't work together. They run all over each others' space. I'd love to see Mata start next to a couple of actual wingers for a game or two and unlike last season, we actually have players who can play there!

Ramires was pretty bad to start the game but ended up fantastically and was my MOTM. The 4 defenders all had very good games.

Essien's not on the CL squad. He was planning on resting Lamps for mid-week against Sunderland. Should've started Mikel in the first place, though

Mata with wingers might not work as he tend to play wide during certain spells in the game. He works best with players like Hazard who can shift to the centre of the park when he goes wide.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Haven't seen Mata for so long that I actually forgot how good he was. That was a timely reminder.

You really are a wizard, Juan

[Muzchap 8,966]

Finally we have a PLAN B that works

I remember moaning non-stop about this under RdM and FSW - but that was good.

@Toronto - think you're being a bit harsh, Jose couldn't predict that we would lose a goal that early on and Essien was a great player and he used him at RM plenty. Him bringing on Lamps (who needs a rest midweek) was a good choice and then he changed the way we played in 2nd half. I guess we will never know the original game plan - seeing as we hit the self destruct button

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Essien's not on the CL squad. He was planning on resting Lamps for mid-week against Sunderland. Should've started Mikel in the first place, though

Mata with wingers might not work as he tend to play wide during certain spells in the game. He works best with players like Hazard who can shift to the centre of the park when he goes wide.

Yes, forgot about the CL squad. Good call. As for wingers, I consider Hazard a winger and both Willian and Schurrle are also very capable of cutting in. I meant just not playing Mata with Oscar/Ramires attacking next to him for a couple of games.