Chelsea190512

If I'm honest I think with neutrals and to certain figures in the media we're seen as this club who have an unlimited supply of money and throw it around and buy titles. Costa's 'stamps' are not career threatening or violent conduct. To compare Ronaldo punched someone on the weekend, yes punched. Which in my book is as crystal clear an example of violent conduct you'll see but he has received a 2 game ban which is ridiculous to say the least but even more so when you realise their 3rd game is against Atletico. Corruption occurs in every league. I remember Toure slapping Mata which no-one made anything on and ofc Aguero which has been mentioned numerous times. The point is see I don't see how Costa's 'crimes' are as bad as centre backs letting the striker know they're there. Another thing is how have they proved intent as his natural stride would have led him to step there or thereabouts agreed he probably could have adjusted his footing but why should he? He's going for the ball. Why has the Markovic on Luis incident gone unmentioned? Henderson's red card? The penalty that wasn't given? (PS if refs are going to use a player's reputation against them then they shouldn(t be reffing the game) Howard strangling Costa? Howard handling the ball outside of his box? Costa did what most of us would do when a player who elbowed you a week ago and had a penalty call given in his favour when it was a foul is shown as being a victim. Costa must be absolutely raging I don't think Costa has done much wrong since he came to Chelsea he plays with tenacity which I'm all for. If he doesn't show the defender he's willing then said defender will just dominate him. He plays a psychological game defenders are always assuming they can rile him and in doing so allow themselves to be booked for petty fouls etc. But this doesn't happen so much as Costa is deemed a diver and is scrutinised for a reputation that isn't a true reflection. Maybe I have my blue tinted glasses on but that is my interpretation. P.s seeing Costa and Gerrard square up and Gerrard made to look like the boy in the playground who'd just got knocked out but wanted another round was great.

Best cure for this is to smash liverpool and then smash city.

Sorry but wow. Haven't saw the game justooked at bbc live scores last i saw 2-1 thought it'd be casual win. But conced 4 to bradford what??? Anyone care to explain where we've gone wrong?

I think he'd be a good option to have but I think keeping Schurrle would be a good idea too as D.Costa is cup tied and if worst case scenario one of the starting xi attacking mids was to get injured we'd be horribly short in that department.

Love Jose really do, but sometimes he should shut up. Saying if we could give 25% of what Liverpool fans give is plain stupid they're a rival team who would never give an ounce of respect to Chelsea. So why is Jose who represents the team brown nosing the scouse?

What a player 15 assists. His mentality is just great never gives up and shows passion in everything he does. One of the few matchwinners in the team.

He has defensive ability and great pace seems like the perfect Mourinho player. I think he'd be very good for the way we play on counter attacks as he is genuinely fast not just over the first few yards. But technically I don't think he is much of an improvement on the options we currently have in his position. His attacking output is better than Willian's as he does like to take players on and has the pace to beat most of the defenders he faces although Serie A is hardly the haven of great defenders anymore.

Of course we know that in recent times we have become accustomed to seeing backs to the wall performances in Europe against teams like Barca etc. But against a bang average Liverpool playing the way we did is slightly frustrating because Barca in 2012 we had 10 men it was understandable. The UCL final we had a makeshift XI so again all we could do was soak up pressure but if the aim was to defend yesterday why not rest Fabregas play Oscar who would be infinitely more willing to press higher up the pitch and win the ball in dangerous areas. Rather than sit back and wait till the second leg. Which is not long before a great opportunity against City to open up an 8 point lead again. In theory to kill the tie yesterday and play a relatively weakened line up next week would have made more sense. But this is why he's the greatest coach in the world and I'm not. Win or lose still back the team.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he’s “not happy” Liverpool player Steven Gerrard is leaving at the end of the season. “I’m not happy he leaves, I would love the Premier League to keep hold of the best players and I think he has more than those qualities to play in the Premier League.” When 5 live’s Julliette Ferrington suggested “having a word” with the Liverpool midfielder to get him to stay, Mourihno said “or to get him on loan?” Liverpool fought from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with Chelsea in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and will face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 27th January. Definite swipe at Lampard.

It was a good save but I don't think it was too challenging it was at a decent height but agreed still a great save.

Maybe if Mourinho had the legend Gerrard in the team we would have played better. After the pre match comments the absolute least Mourinho had to do was win the game. Bit disappointed but I guess Liverpool missed a bigger opportunity than we did. Costa lost the ball too many times. Willian seemed scared to carry the ball so many counter attack opportunities wasted because of his fear of running with the ball towards the Liverpool goal. Hazard I don't recall doing anything memorable other than controlling the ball for the penalty. Fabregas seemed positive every time he was in possession always looking to play forwards. Mikel and Matic were as anonymous as each other although I recall Matic making one tackle of note in the first half preventing the counter. Back 4 were pretty average. Courtois made some good saves but saves we would expect him to make. The defending for Sterling's goal was poor he ran through 3 or 4 players then Cahill gave him directions towards go and even showed him the corner he wants him to go for. All jokes aside I think his persistent backing off in those situations is something any half decent coach would pick up on and encourage players to target. Overall we were far too conservative we're the best team in the country so surely we can fight fire with fire at times rather than trying to play like a team on a damage limitation mission.

There are certain comments that Jose shouldn't make and this is one of them. The fans are entitled to sing whatever they want and plus it's not only Chelsea fans who sing it it's the whole league! Personally I think it's a subtle dig at Lamps.

One of the main criticisms of Willian is his decision making and we all seem to be in tandem in thinking Sanchez is superior to Willian in an attacking sense. But for those who watched the City game there were a few times Sanchez had options and chose the wrong one.

Very true, ridiculous game at times.

David Silva.

Ridiculous that Oscar's physicality is deemed as weaker than Juan mata's by FIFA!

Man city last season was awesome, we were like a machine all game. Also as pointed out by many Swansea just weren't up for it. This is in huge contrast to Man city who really were up for it making our dominant win even sweeter.

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned that Oscar's forward passing stats are skewed due to his willingness to track back and help defensively so of course he is further behind the play thus his forward passes are not neccessarily played in the final third as compared to some of the other no.10's who we use as a benchmark to compate him to. But this takes nothing away I think his instinct to help the team outweighs whatever he may lack in attacking from time to time. He's in amongst the goals at the minute so no reason to complain unless it really becomes an issue.

That usually means big things are in the pipeline.

Double against Real Madrid is no easy feat regardless of the quality of the rest of the league. His first goal was taken very well on his left foot too which was pretty surprising as I remember him regularly trying to Rabona cross just to avoid using his left foot.

Don't know if it's been said but he looks a lot like Nick Cotton from East Enders.

Haha living in dreamworld but don't worry I'm not expecting any of this to happen in reality

Wish him a speedy recovery and better luck because he does seem a good prospect.Can't be too shabby as he was getting close to the Netherlands team.

Van ginkel seemed half decent till he got injured and since then I don't know how he has got on. Last I heard he was at AC milan any updates?

Or David Silva cos he's reminiscent of a knife through butter - so smooth.