Kante Conte

A big Willian supporter but the one very frustrating thing about him is his tendancy to slow things down when he gets to the crucial positions. It doesn't help that he's partnered with Ivanovic on the right flank. The thing is, he CAN be direct. He just plays it safe too often.

He just isn't direct enough when you need him to be. There were doelld last season where he looked like he had started address that. Need Conte to get him to of fix that, to mix it up, go wide more, shoot more, get in the box more.

What did he learn about the English game? I'm sure he would have wanted to say: "I learned the ref can be completely garbage and get away with it."

Courtois. That tackle was epic. In a very bad way.

He definitely saved things from ending up worse with that block. ^ This was actually a good performance from the team bar the amount of chances missed. (Hazard had a very bad second half, though.) Hopefully, next time they'll realise missing chances is something they can't afford to do the way they did today. Always, always a chance as long as it is 1-0. Got to be ruthless.

Apart from everything else, he was surprisingly good in the air today. Very strong. Drogbaesque a few times taking those high balls down.

Could be seeing the horrible combination of Iva and Luiz very soon.

Why are officials immune to criticism?

He was good in the first half, awful in the second. (Re: Oscar, what Scott Harris says above.)

Missed the Cahill moment because of my stream, but Courtois ... So slow. Undeserved point for Swansea. Wasted 2 points. Hazard had a nightmare for most of the socond half. Esp the last 10 minutes.

That's what you get for nor taking your chances

As long as as it's one nil, you can't relax. Costa has been pretty good but he is absolutely awful at dribbling. Good energy and hunger. Likely to see the usual sub's as they won't be able to keep it up for too long.

(So... Havelchayes succombs.) ^Belgrade CFC is the only one to pick Iva.

Matic is doing alright. Please no Oscar please!

Expected: The usual lineup. Wanted: Courtois -------------- Alonso Terry Cahill Azpilicueta ------------- Matic Kante Fabregas -------------- Willian/Moses Hazard Costa Seeing as though some still want to go on about peopl being critical of Luiz, here's my subs bench: SUBS: Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz ;)

(Okay... 04/05 is the season I meant in the earlier post. "Machine" is probably the most apt description of that side. )

Jt & Gallas, for me. The 03/04 season saw the whole team play superbly as an organised defensive unit. It was a counter-attacking setupf and and the defence had a lot of protection. (I remember JT and Gallas as being very good together. My personal favourites. Not sure if that was 02/03 or after)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3781649/Antonio-Conte-backs-David-Luiz-one-best-defenders-world-following-shock-32m-deadline-day-return-Chelsea.html If you can pull it off Antonio, he will indeed become one of the very best.

With his attacking instincts I thought he would be perfect as wingback if Conte did go do 3 CBs. Didn't waste time in showing him the door. Must have been something in his attitude Conte didn't like? He was a little too weak and not good enough defensiveky yet, but he is still young and was adapting to the prem last season. I'm still hoping he has a future here. It was good to see a mobile fullback with a attacking intent for a change, even though he didn't exactly have a great first season.

Like the idea. Especially with Kante in the team, but both Luiz Zouma are sometimes can be found wanting positionally. I'd prefer a cooler head next to Zouma as he develops further. Personally, I've gone for Cahill Zouma as it is slightly more mobile than JT Zouma, even though I don't think I've really seen that pairing play particularly well.

The answer is in your post^, if you don't mind me saying. It's because we don't believe him playing CB does improve the team. Not trying to be critical of him as I said I won't engage in that unless it's warranted, but that's just honestly how we feel. At least, I do, anyway.

As the title implies...? (As tempting as the last option is...don't do it! :] )

A midfield of Kante, Matic and Luiz would be quite something if ever a midfield battle needed to be won.

Injured already? I was just going to say that an in form Benteke and a fit Remy would be a pretty good strike force for Palace...

^ haha... He's actually been okay so far, compared to last season.