Chippy

I wonder if they'll be calling their Manager Brenda when he inevitably moves on?

Funny how the England captaincy doesn't go hand in hand with media darling status in all cases though.

I thought Fulham played some great stuff this season...I think I'd better get someone to "Doctor my Eyes"

Stop Bashing Mourinho’s Tactics By Ben Bowers Chelsea may at times be overly cautious. But there is an unjustifiable amount of scrutiny over the way coach, Jose Mourinho, sets up his teams. The Blues do not have the best attack in the league – Daniel Sturridge, a former Chelsea employee, has scored more league goals this season than the Chelsea front three combined. Nevertheless, The Blues have still taken their title challenge into the last week of the campaign. This season they have conceded the fewest goals in the Premiership. Instead of deliberately playing defensive football, Mourinho is playing to Chelsea’s strengths. Their success is based upon a solid defence, hard work and determination. Against Liverpool they were heavily criticised for their defensive set-up and their park the bus policy. However many other teams have gone to Anfield, played more openly and got absolutely trashed. Arsenal were more expansive and conceded four goals in the opening twenty minutes against Liverpool. Football is a results business and that is what Mourinho is best at. Chelsea do not pay him to play beautiful football but to win trophies – something he has done everywhere he has gone despite his prestige being undermined by a mixed spell at Real Madrid. In 2012 Chelsea won the Champions League Final playing defensive football. However it is the trophy that lives in the memory of most football fans and especially Chelsea supporters. Stoke City played direct football under Tony Pulis for many years and this was questioned by many a ‘puritan’. However he managed to keep Stoke in The Premier League and develop them into a mid-table side whilst many other sides of the same stature as The Potters have been relegated whilst playing a more passing style of football, such as Wigan last season. Most fans would prefer success and trophies because it is the glory which remains in the memory. Whilst I do not always condone Mourinho’s conduct, the way he has set up his teams this season against the big teams has been phenomenally effective. Football is now more money-focused and good results guarantee more money. Therefore the style of football is less important. I even find the Guardiola ‘tiki-taka’ philosophy of football boring to watch at times. It is not Mourinho’s fault that Chelsea’s style of football does not please everyone, it is the way he gets the best out of the players that he has and delivers the results that he was appointed to achieve. http://soccersweep.com/stop-bashing-mourinhos-tactics/

Shurrle, looked bright early on although faded going forward second half, Hazard looked sharper than last time so maybe his little exaggerated spat with Jose helped him.

I'd like to see Benitez try and run let alone run up to Suarez and jab him in the hook him in the gabber whatever the f**k that means, I wonder if he could have done what Rodgers has done with a team brimming with about four quality players and finishing second in the league? somehow I doubt it.

I think we'll have a few of them Brit...right up till City claim the Title.

The strange thing about the leaving early or booing brigade is a bit of better refereeing in the Sunderland game and a win against one of the teams we came unstuck against and the boys would have been doing a lap of honour after the game...

What an eye opener this board is, fresh from a dissapointing home Draw I go out and mow the grass to get some of the frustration out and come back in to share some thoughts with like minded people thinking nothing anyone can say will cheer me up, even though I am well happy with the way the season went and would have taken it back in August happily. Then this glorious place and some of its members remind me of what could have been...not what could have been if we had beaten West Ham, not what could have been if we had beaten Sunderland or Villa...not what could have happened had we kept hold of Lukaku or Van Ginkle never got his injury, no what could have happened if Roman had had the strange idea, like so many that visit here, that somehow Rafa f**king Benitez was in any way the right man for the Job at this Club. I am now over the fact we find it hard to brake down sides who park the Bus, over the fact we have three strikers here that between them don't add up to one striker we let Pool have, almost as a gift that could end the natural course of justice in football by helping them become premiership champions and over the fact that I will have to wait until next season to see our team take shape in the vision Jose has for it, when he can start with the players he feels are going to do the job he wants them to and adds to his squad with other players he feels will fit. I am just rejoicing the fact that Abramovich in his wisdom after sacking three good managers in his time here that could with patience and backing have taken this club further than they were allowed the time to do, and after making the horrendous mistake almost as if he was punishing us fans of appointing the FSW actually got one sacking spot on. Life is sweet again.

I would hope Roman has done enough hiring and firing to know when he's got the right man for the Job. Jose will be here for the full course of his contract if he has learned anything.

Nice bit of perspective, Joses first season back and a few players not up to the task that he will surely have the measure of and get replaced...I'm looking forward to next season and this is anything but a bad season in my book.

At least the Manager is trying to win it.

Cahill saved us a few blushes then.

I think the game's crying out for Eto'o, he's our best at lurking around the box and putting something away.

Hazard was just avoiding getting hurt, I don't think he was looking for the penalty.

I don't think it matter if you're accepting it or not to be honest, if my opinion of the display is right it's down to the Manager to explain at half time that there's still apossibility no matter how small, it's likely a subconscious thing and not something they can easily shake off.

No Probs, I think Bentley's coming on

This looks like an end of seaon game where players and manager feel there's nothing to play for...strange as I think some of the boys are playing for next season at the club. Could have been a penalty at each end and Shurrle looking the only real spark out there. I think the CL place is all Jose expected of the season and the decent run in the CL got some hopes up that have left us a bit flat. Roll on next season.

Might be just you, go and jump on the scales and let us know .

I think the team was put out with percentages in mind, Jose knew Hazard wasn't full fit, Terry wasn't fully fit so he couldn't take risks with other players that were less thn 100% that ruled out Oscar as he has been strugling with a hip problem and I'm not sure Jose felt Shurrle was fully fit which is why he was a bit late to come on. Hazard did make mistakes defensively and I don't doubt that was made worse with his fitness levels not being as we'd have wanted in a match of this importance. I'm sure there's no big problem between Eden and Jose, they've both had a little spout and are both grown ups, Hazards tracking back is miles better than Matas was and I'm pretty sure Jose is usually happy enough with it...he'll be flying when we have a striker good enough to take defenders minds off him and make it hard for them to double and treble up. It was strange team selection but only really in the case of Dave, he done ok and the bigger worry in midfield on the day for me turned out to be both Luiz and Ramires. The manager likely (and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt here) chose his best eleven with the gameplan he had in mind and the available players...but for a freak goal and a very experienced player giving away a stupid penalty it might today be being touted as another masterclass. Next season maybe there will be less excuses if we get so easily turned over, this season we should be singing his praises for what has nearly been.

I really don't know what people expected from a team selected and put together from very limited available players, we have struggled in the league and looked far better since the arrival of Matic...that in itself is going to make any other midfield partnership worse than before he got here as game time together always helps and with Matic nailed on for any game he is eligible for other partnerships are going to be hit and miss, add to that our most experience players for that position are suspended (Lampard and Mikel) our most gifted creative player is struggling for fitness (Hazard) but has to play because we needed to score and our three strikers are all mediocre at best. Then look at the replacements in midfield (a RB, a CB and Ramires who has had a woeful season) Oscar is clearly suffering from a loss of form or tiredness so again was overlooked and the only player who for me should have got on earlier was Shurrle...again though he could have been less than 100% for all we know and with JT, and Hazard rushed in for the game it just wouldn't make any sense to risk anymore less than fully fit players in a team of eleven. We played a superb team and circumstances were against us, our best eleven, all fit would have been a far better match for them and we should be proud of the CL run as well as the tilt at the title. No idea who we will bring in next season as we need changes up front and in central midfield, for me Luiz and Ramires could go although I like them both but would prefer a reliable player alongside Matic, A striker is a must, maybe two but nothing impressed me about Costa over the two legs and I'm not sure who would fit here or who will be available. Oscar is a worry for me but I wouldn't think about letting him go as at his age and with what he has showed so far he is stil going to be some player. Roll on next season and the transfer window is going to be interesting, more so after the World Cup and some viewing of players maybe not thought about up to now.

I thought Ash was doing well until he had to make way (rightly so) but Azpi gets my vote over the ninety minutes.

We played the best team we've met this season and had a CB a RB and Ramires in the worst form of his Chelea career as the midfield...a half fit Hazard and a choice of three fairly poor strikers. I think we had Eto'o not have given away the penalty we might have even seen the game out and lost on away goals, as soon as we had to get back in it and had Eto, Torres and half fit Hazard in the same team we might as well have been playing with nine men. Proud of the CL run, proud of the fact we've taken the Title to the wire, proud to be a Chelsea fan.

Won't they all be on Beta max though...be hard for the boy to find a player.

I changed one letter in your post and still the answer is no.