Chippy

I really think the downside to this result is being highlighted a bit too much, at the end of the day we should have had the three points but a dodgy ref and trying to sit on the one goal lead cost us again, that said the silly sending off and the resulting free kick without Ivan and no chance to reorganise made the plan backfire as much as and more than any substitutions. We drew at old Trafford, we know the epl throws up tough games week in and week out as City found against West Ham, people still feel they will hammer UTD after that and I don't doubt we'll carry on as before after our much better result at a much more dangerous place.

I wasn't unhappy with Mikel coming on as Fabregas wasn't having enough influence and needed to move forward, Zouma for Willian for me was strange as I thought his speed was exactly what we needed with UTD throwing everything at us and fully expected us to get a second on the break. Jose too often sits on narrow leads and invites pressure, I think it was easier in his first spell but even then would have preferred to go for more goals, I'll take it though as it's about the only complaint I have about his tactics. Would have been nice to be 6 clear tonight but hopefully what we learn from a second 2 points dropped to a Manchester club could turn out more valuable than the points.

I'd be inclined to bring on Mikel around 65 minutes if we don't take more control of the game, Willian would have to make way and Fabregas move forward nearer to Drogba. UTD are looking better than they have for a couple of seasons so hopefully they won't keep it up for ninety minutes.

26 Oct 2014 - Man Utd v Chelsea - First Goal Scorecast Didier Drogba / Chelsea 3-1 @ 140/1 Stake : £2.00 Estimated Returns : £282.00 Come on Didi do your stuff... Any returns half gos to the forum.

Willian for work rate, Hazard for scaring the crap out of their defenders every time he got the ball, Ake for looking like a first team regular Matic for being a rock, Terry for his enthusiasm to get on the score sheet, Ivan for getting up and down the wing for the full game, Cech for being alert and looking happy even when being our number two, Oscar for keeping up his form level, Remy for looking sharp and the early goal, Drogba for looking 30% better than last time he had a decent amount of minutes and for winning me a few quid as next scorer when he came on, Luis for some nice inter passing, Fabregas for his vision and pass accuracy, Zouma for his effort on goal with his head and his all round solid play, Solanke for settling in and not looking overawed. Hard to pick a stand out when you win 6-0 in the champions league but on reflection the tireless running of Willian and the run and shot that hit the bar being so deserved of a goal mean he gets my vote tonight.

The only player I was certain would start was Azpi...shows why my last years winning of the BPL looks like a flash in the pan. Still looks a good team out there and good to see Zouma getting a start, I'm hoping Oscar keeps up is return to top form, he'll be key for me in this game.

I had Robbies lot in an accumulator including Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Celtic, Sothampton and Barcalona...£3 brought me in £96...Half time Barca was still 0-0 and I thought the team with the shortest odd were going to let me down. Glad Robbie's back in the game and wish him luck.

Oscar again,glad to get that tricky away game out the way.

I thought this was a good article from sabotage times, I agree with pretty much all the writer says about young Oscar. How Jose Turned Oscar Into Chelsea's Most Important Player - Sabotage TimesP 18 October 2014 U Joe Tweeds #456680832 / gettyimages.com How Jose Turned Oscar Into Chelsea’s Most Important Player Oscar has never really taken the easy path since joining Chelsea. He arrived at Stamford Bridge taking the departing Didier Drogba’s number 11 shirt. When the Ivorian legend returned, Oscar took Frank Lampard’s recently vacated number 8 shirt. In Chelsea’s recent history those two shirts have been synonymous with success and world class performers. Oscar never seemed phased by the shoes that he was filling. The Brazilian already boasts one of the greatest goals scored at Stamford Bridge. He announced himself to the world by turning Andrea Pirlo inside out before curling a ferocious effort into the top corner beyond Gigi Buffon. The goal was magical but the opponents he managed to outfox added credence to the quality of the skill and strike. In the short term he formed a potent attacking trio with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. They produced some of the most exciting and aesthetically glorious football that Chelsea had seen in years. Nonetheless, with each passing game there was a growing feeling amongst Chelsea fans that Oscar move eventually back into a deeper midfield role. He had the passing, vision, technique and – surprisingly – the tenacity to make the role work. When chasing games, Oscar was often dropped slightly deeper to great effect. With Mourinho’s return and Juan Mata falling out of favour, Oscar thrived early in the season in a traditional number ten role. People often skirt over his early season form that prompted Mourinho to feel comfortable enough with Mata’s sale. He was arguably Chelsea’s best player up until January: then things fell away somewhat. With Mata’s departure Oscar seemed to lack the same spark that he had played with previously. Reasons seemed to largely fall into two categories: (1) he was far too focused on the World Cup and his performances tailed off; or (2) without Mata he felt he no longer needed to go the extra mile during games. Mourinho noted this on more than one occasion and it was patently obvious that Oscar had fallen out of favour. The Brazilian had played a phenomenal volume of football by this point in his Chelsea career and it was likely that he was in fact burning out. His game demands so much physically that the accumulated fatigue would eventually catch up with him. Oscar sparkled very briefly in the World Cup, which seems to go against the theory that he was saving himself for Brazil. My genuine feeling is that he was simply shattered. Was Oscar another bright young starlet who would peak early and then fizzle out into becoming simply another okay player? When you have world class potential merely settling for being a decent player is never quite enough. Thankfully for Chelsea fans Oscar appears to be resurging in both form and energy. His performances of late have prompted plaudits and acclaim. Interestingly enough he is almost creating a unique position for himself as a false ten. What is so distinctive about how Oscar plays the number ten role is the responsibility he has in all facets of play. Traditionally a number ten is there to facilitate attacks and provide assists for his fellow forwards. Oscar has taken the role one step further. He orchestrates Chelsea’s pressing game, wins the ball frequently high up the pitch, makes key tactical fouls to slow play and diligently defends his penalty area when required. His block from Flamini on Sunday was utterly amazing – this Brazilian playmaker throwing himself in front of the ball like he was John Terry. In possession he dovetails magnificently with Cesc Fàbregas. The two interchange wonderfully with Oscar coming deeper and Fàbregas pushing forward. Teams are not coping well with this movement of late as they either press and get passed around or leave Fàbregas free high up the pitch. Oscar is also becoming extremely comfortable drifting out wide to allow Hazard or Willian/Schürrle to move inside to occupy his number ten slot. He is skilful enough to beat his full-back and intelligently uses the ball. His display against Arsenal was absolutely complete. Oscar is slowly becoming a player José Mourinho loves. There may not be a player in world football that can operate to such a high standard performing so many varied roles within a side. Being a defensive lynchpin, attacking fulcrum and tireless worker are not things your average number ten can do. There will always be people who bemoan his lack of goals or assists, but it appears that is not the role Mourinho is asking him to play. Considering just how well Chelsea are playing, perhaps Mourinho knows best? Chelsea has had Juan Mata operate as a classic number ten previously and despite unbelievably good performances from him Chelsea finished 6th and 3rd (for various reasons). That side was built around using a traditional playmaker to the detriment of the side. Oscar should be scoring more and he can do more to directly provide goals for teammates. Nevertheless, he is always involved in attacking moves and his influence leading up to shots on target is often prominent. The team are finding their feet at the moment. Over the last few games all of Chelsea’s key players have become accustomed to what is being asked of them and three clean sheets with six goals scored is fine reading. Oscar has been a huge part of this stabilising period and the way his teammates rushed to applaud him off the pitch against Arsenal spoke volumes as to his performance. He is the ultimate team player, sacrificing elements of his natural attacking game to complete the team. His flicks and tricks are measured now and he is far more effective because of this new found discipline. For Chelsea fans it may take time to move on from Mata’s wonderful goals/assists record. The expectation is still on a number ten to score or to create. Nevertheless, in this Mourinho system Oscar’s role goes beyond that of a playmaker. He is there to provide a passing option, to recycle the ball, create overload opportunities and make space for his teammates. More than this, he is a defensive animal who alleviates pressure by his desire to win back possession. He is a different beast all together this season. The reception he got leaving the pitch against Arsenal suggests Chelsea fans are starting to notice his importance. @JoeTweeds

I'd be interested to know if you really have any confidence that your prophecy will come to pass...you are welcome to your opinion and I commend you for having a lot of faith in the team you support after a home win against a so far this season disappointing looking Everton team, I just find it difficult to reread between the lines in your posts as to if you really believe what you type or you are just happy in the knowledge you can make these statements on a Chelsea forum and argue your flimsy case without the need to return should your words backfire in the way most people with any knowledge of the game would at this moment and after having watched both teams in action believe the most likely outcome.

Better club together and get the boy an extra leg and a spare set of lungs then, might be expecting a bit much of him otherwise .

Really difficult to pick a stand out performer today as four or five have realistic shouts, Ivan, Fabregas, Hazard just pipped for the massive work rate of Oscar for me, close one though.

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy...you'd be better off getting Sparky back

Can't see further than Matic although I thought Oscar had another very good game and had he taken that chance (which he should have hit with a bit more conviction) and seen the game out he would have got my vote.

Game should have been wrapped up in the first half but five or six chances created where you would have expected us to score is better to see than us struggling to break a team down. Credit to the opposition who really made it difficult for us to dictate the pace of the game and regardless how flimsy some of our shots were credit to their keeper for getting out quickly and making himself big, he looks a good keeper and very alert. On another day we'd have had a convincing scoreline but we got the points away from home and top the group, Costa seems to have done another ninety minutes and looked as fit and sharp as anyone at the end, good enough for me. I had twenty quid on 2-0 so would have been even happier to see Salahs late effort go in.

Oscar, Good to see him getting back to being one of the stand ot players game in game out (certainly the last couple of games) he has a big workload and handles it well.

Thanks for the advice all, I must admit I tried to open the browser and type that IP address and it came up with a screen asking for my passwords, I don't see the person who set up my modem i the first place anymore and have no idea what the passwords are so I didn't do any more. It has righted itself tha last day or two and I'm not sure if it was a problem with Virgin or if the lodger has been using his computer less, I 'll see how it gos for a few days.

Thanks coco, problem is I have no idea how to Go into the router control panel. Now I'm on my mobile as I can't get on at all...

Anyone know why since I took in a lodger my Internet is really slow and often keeps saying can't find server? I know he is a big user of the net and skypes his missus in Prague or somewhere but this happens even when he's at work. I can't really tell if he's left his computer downloading as he lives in a self contained bit above my garage, I'm on virgin and I think speed is 50mb, It is odd as I can be downloading and seeding and my missus could use her laptop as normal, now we are both struggling. Any help much appreciated.

Dave for me, could have gone for Terry or even Cahill but Dave just took my eye a bit more. Costa looked good on scraps and kept them occupied, he looks a good signing against any opposition.

It's to early to judge Eto'o but a couple of late sub appearances and a start in the CL is enough to tell us that after a couple of years playing at a lower level, Drogba is now finished? I prefer to look at it that in a long season we will need him to play his part and the more minutes he gets the more chance he has of re finding a bit of form, I know one thing for certain, I'd much rather see him get minutes than be looking on as Torres runs around avoiding the ball, we now have a top class striker and two back up strikers that will be used in games/ situations that Jose feels are most suited to their attributes...I think he'll be the best judge of when that is.

We defended very well which is a plus and against the best team we will play in the PL at their ground, ok we lacked a bit going forward but I'm fairly sure that was down to the game plan. We could have gone at them and lost the game 4-3...myself I'm happy to see us defend properly after the worrying goals we've let in. City couldn't score against us, it needed a Chelsea legend to stop us taking all three points, I'd have taken five ahead of City after five games and I'm still happy with it.

I never said they did, just looking at the number of posts asking why he came on instead of Remy.

Looked like we went there for a point and the gameplan was somehow working, we scored and I think Jose just thought we could see out the game the same way. People saying Frank couldn't hurt us and isn't at this level anymore are likely the same ones saying that about Drogba...it wasn't anything to do with Drogba that we didn't win.

I almost put money on that, great substitution and again it shows we are blessed with a real good squad.