Closed Stoke v Chelsea

[Barbara 15,149]

Somehow, you missed HMW the new dynamic trio ?

Mata & Willian helped a lot in the last game. Of course, you did not see it ?

I saw it and I said they had decent presentations and even mentioned one of their linkup together what I mean, if YOU didn't see in my post is that they weren't anything special to the point Schurrle can't replace either of them. Just look at the vid yuvala posted with all hazard touches in the match and you'll see that he linked up with Lampard 2-3 times, with Mata a couple of them, but most time he received the ball near the midfield line and found his way through the attacking field, receiving many of those passes from Azpili who was the closest behind him. If you replace Mata or Willian for Schurrle and Hazard keeps his level, the quality will still be there.

The same way people are generalizing our defense issues - we don't have a problem defending set-pieces, we had a problem defending set-pieces last match; they're generalizing the attacking midfield in my opinion. Mata and Willian weren't even part of the top three players in the match, Hazard and Lampard were the best duo by a mile, and Azpili is a third for me, but I feel like Ramires had a better match than Mata or Willian. But as Hazard killed it and we were indeed very creative, the credit goes to the whole attacking bunch when the most creative players were Hazard and Lampard, not Hazard and Mata or Willian. Also I'm only asking Schurrle to play, I don't see how that would detract anything...

[WilsonMay 12]

Mata helped a lot in the last game as he is creative and dynamic while attacking and passing, but one problem for him that cannot be denied was he tend to reacted to losing possession of the ball easily.

[bushman 2,043]

I saw it and I said they had decent presentations and even mentioned one of their linkup together what I mean, if YOU didn't see in my post is that they weren't anything special to the point Schurrle can't replace either of them. Just look at the vid yuvala posted with all hazard touches in the match and you'll see that he linked up with Lampard 2-3 times, with Mata a couple of them, but most time he received the ball near the midfield line and found his way through the attacking field, receiving many of those passes from Azpili who was the closest behind him. If you replace Mata or Willian for Schurrle and Hazard keeps his level, the quality will still be there.

The same way people are generalizing our defense issues - we don't have a problem defending set-pieces, we had a problem defending set-pieces last match; they're generalizing the attacking midfield in my opinion. Mata and Willian weren't even part of the top three players in the match, Hazard and Lampard were the best duo by a mile, and Azpili is a third for me, but I feel like Ramires had a better match than Mata or Willian. But as Hazard killed it and we were indeed very creative, the credit goes to the whole attacking bunch when the most creative players were Hazard and Lampard, not Hazard and Mata or Willian. Also I'm only asking Schurrle to play, I don't see how that would detract anything...

Once again, you posted so much, but....

Let me simplify it. Hazard had his best game for Chelsea, so far. Better than all the others. Mata & Willian played well, linking up, passing...contributed to the team admirably. If Willian is replaced by Schurrle, that´s fine with me. Certainly, Mata & Hazard ought to start, in my opinion. I hope, I have helped you here.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I wonder if Jose will use the same tactics he did against West Ham. On one side, this season has proved that using Frank twice in three days is just looking for trouble, and on the other, I think 4-3-3 would work well against Stoke..

On any account, Stoke are not the side they were a couple of seasons ago. They actually play football now, but they are still physical and tough to break down.

[mac.bo 48]

Now why should they do that ?

Sparkie has been at this club when you probably weren't even supporting it; and has helped us in one of the most brilliant come backs I've seen from a Chelsea side.

Mate that game was probly the best Chelsea game in my life,seriously 2-0 down at half-time and what a second half would have loved to been at it,was up at my bro's watching it went ape shit bust afew vases jumping up n down his dog thought i was attacking him while celebrating and tried to bite me lol . But agree super Mark Hughes think he is a Chelsea supporter ,1 time thought he was coming to da bridge to manage.Atb m8.

[bushman 2,043]

I wonder if Jose will use the same tactics he did against West Ham. On one side, this season has proved that using Frank twice in three days is just looking for trouble, and on the other, I think 4-3-3 would work well against Stoke..

On any account, Stoke are not the side they were a couple of seasons ago. They actually play football now, but they are still physical and tough to break down.

Stoke might not be as physical as two years ago, but still rough enough to play hard, I feel.

As for Frank, I thought when he came on, he played rather well, then.

Perhaps, not as a starter, but at 60th minute or so ?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Stoke might not be as physical as two years ago, but still rough enough to play hard, I feel.

As for Frank, I thought when he came on, he played rather well, then.

Perhaps, not as a starter, but at 60th minute or so ?

No doubt, Stoke are still pretty physical, especially if they have to defend deep in the half. As for Frank, he has a good scoring record against Stoke IIRC and I feel he will start, but I would personally rather have him come on in around the 60th minute as you suggested.

[bushman 2,043]

No doubt, Stoke are still pretty physical, especially if they have to defend deep in the half. As for Frank, he has a good scoring record against Stoke IIRC and I feel he will start, but I would personally rather have him come on in around the 60th minute as you suggested.

Right on 19. You & I see it clearly. The same radio station is on.

[yuvala 2,167]

I have the feeling that we would go with 4-3-3, Mata out, Oscar in (if he's fit), Schurrle in Willian out.

[Strike 7,489]

don't think we've lost to stoke since they came up although we've drawn few games and left few others very very late.

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea FC ‏@chelseafc 1m

Mourinho confirms that Luiz is out of tomorrow's game, Eto'o is back, and Oscar is better but he's not sure whether he will play.

[Barbara 15,149]

Mourinho confirms that Luiz is out of tomorrow's game, Eto'o is back, and Oscar is better but he's not sure whether he will play. #CFC

Mourinho on @stokecity : 'They have very good players, a very physical team'. #CFC

Mourinho: 'This week is a hard week, especially playing on a Sunday, and then finishing playing again on a Saturday.

Mourinho: 'The players will have Sunday off, as it's important for them to rest.' #CFC

Mourinho on the Sunderland game: 'It's a good feeling when you are in trouble and you survive.' #CFC

'Take a look at the teams that compete from Saturday to Sunday and the ones who compete from Sunday to Saturday. It must be a big coincidence that the same teams have this schedule'

'Cole is playing tomorrow or Wednesday for sure'

[Barbara 15,149]

why they keep asking Mourinho about Manchester?

This is Chelsea, if you don't have Chelsea questions shut the heck up!

I hate how the press makes it about ManUtd all the time.

Hazard kills the game for us, Suarez gives one of the best striker's presentation I've ever watched and still the buzz in the media is about Manchester United losing to Eveton.

Now we have a match tomorrow, those useless journalists come to a Chelsea press conference to ask Mourinho about ManUtd. Gimme a bloody break!

[Sheva. 5,373]

What the fuck type of injury does Luiz have keeping him out this long? We could do with some rotation.

[Kieran. 6,317]

What the fuck type of injury does Luiz have keeping him out this long? We could do with some rotation.

Knee injury, must be a ligament problem.

[Jase 43,479]

What the fuck type of injury does Luiz have keeping him out this long? We could do with some rotation.

Mourinho's indirect way of saying; Luiz has no future at Chelsea with me, he's gone in January.

[Pizy 18,916]

Mourinho's indirect way of saying; Luiz has no future at Chelsea with me, he's gone in January.

This is my suspicion as well.

[Barbara 15,149]

you guys serious? Jason added the emote, so I guess he's not, but are you, Pizy?

Mourinho knows he needs Luiz, Mourinho seems to like Luiz just fine (his style) and above all he knows Terry is no kid. I doubt they're forging an injury that doesn't exist, Luiz would have said something (maybe he did and I've missed it) if he was ready to play

[Liquidator 5,176]

What the fuck type of injury does Luiz have keeping him out this long? We could do with some rotation.

I heard it was a bruised kneecap for Basle and he'd be 2 weeks so I assume its that

[Pizy 18,916]

you guys serious? Jason added the emote, so I guess he's not, but are you, Pizy?

Mourinho knows he needs Luiz, Mourinho seems to like Luiz just fine (his style) and above all he knows Terry is no kid. I doubt they're forging an injury that doesn't exist, Luiz would have said something (maybe he did and I've missed it) if he was ready to play

I don't think the injury is fabricated, but I'm not completely convinced that's its so bad that he's missing so much time. Even when he was fully fit he wasn't exactly first choice.

It's just the paranoid conspiracy theorist in me I suppose. Maybe Jose told him to take it easy and wait it out until January so he doesn't hurt himself more. Sounds dumb, I know.

Would be an enormous mistake to sell him though. I love him.