Chippy

I wonder if Splishsplosh had any money on his prediction today...if he's with the same bookie as me they'll be sending him a bottle of champagne at Christmas like they did me a few years back

Zouma for me, Chelsea legend in the making, Wilian worked very hard defensively and Hazard looks sharper, only Cesc looked out of sorts to me and it seemed the boys stuck to the game plan well. Begovic showing what a great signing he was, really does deserve to be first choice somewhere, great to have him as our number two.

As Jose said "if he wanted to hurt me, it wouldn't be by throwing a bib", Diego deserved the bench as does Cesc, Jose showing he isn't afraid to drop anyone can only be a good thing for the squad.

I can't believe we're twelve points off fourth spot with seventy five to play for and some of our own fans are writing off our top four chances? It's going to be difficult but trying to achieve it will make for an interesting season and one in which I would rather get behind the team and hope the gradual improvement carries us through than moan about every decision the manager makes. Good performance today and I think the false nine gave them something to think about that rattled them, had Costa started and played how he has been, they would surely have been able to commit more going forward.

Happy enough with that, we've seen Tottenham looking realistic top four threats this season and able to beat anyone as City found out, away from home and with our main striker rested through lack of form. Still worried about Cesc and surprised he stayed on for the full game, odd that the two best players early last season are still the two letting us down. all in all the small improvements have carried on though and clean sheets breed confidence.

Doing ok but I think we could improve if Cesc pulled himself together, wouldn't mind seeing RLC come on around 65 minutes if it stays like this.

Pedro having a good game, looks a natural in that position, I don't think the defenders were expecting the movement we've got up front today.

You sound like a closet spurs fan

Referee giving some soft free kicks Tottenhams way

Strange you think Jose has bottled it fior not starting Traore in a game of this importance unyet he had the balls to drop Costa who is clearly our number one striker and scored in his last league game...I'd have though Costa starting could have been seen as Jose bottling it after the little spat they had in the last game.

I've been terrible this season with my bets so I'm going with you on this one Amp...any returns half go's to the forum as usual. Chelsea 3-0 @ 28/1 Stake : £5.00 Estimated Returns : £145.00

I worry about Diego's attitude, worry about his fitness and worry about his commitment but I'd love to see how he conducted himself if he had real competition for his place before I gave up on him. He looks to me like he feels he doesn't have to bust a gut, he's not appearing highly motivated by success but I have a hunch his ego would force an attitude change if there was actually another viable option, an option that came in and performed. Perhaps then we'd see a player determined to prove himself again instead of someone who acts as if he's done enough and can coast through games picking fights here and there. He's a bit slower for sure but it looks more a fitness thing than a player who's legs have gone and again that will be down to attitude in training and in his life in general.

3 decent set pieces, I like that far better than I like "what a waste of a set piece" decent performance again for me highlighting we need competition for Diego's place, he just has to be finding better movement. I'm happy to see us top the group and the only worry I'm taking away from tonight's game is how is JT's back. My dismal run at the bookies isn't looking any better, I was on three nil with Oscar anytime scorer...said to the missus we'd score again in extra time.

Sober up mate, the footballs coming on

Decent team, nice to see Baba getting another start, Jose is using the squad a bit more and Oscar gets another chance to push his way in to the attacking midfield, hoping he takes it as Pedro Willian and Hazard are looking quite strong. Hope we get an early lead and a chance to rest Costa for the next game, we need him sharp for that one.

Hazard easily for me, what I liked most about the game was although not everyone is playing to their full potential, nobody was dire, despite people digging Ivan out, he wasn't bad and hopefully will get better from here. I thought Fabregas looked more like his old self but again it's not when we are backs to the wall which is when he looks out of place.

I'm hoping that going into the game away from home as genuine (formwise) underdogs will bring the best out of the boys. We have been nervy in games we should be winning but even on usual premiership form a draw at WHL isn't a bad result so expectancy shouldn't be massively high with Spuds having their best looking squad for a long time. They are playing some genuinely good stuff and will be a huge test, if we pass it then I think we can really put a run together, the game may have come a little early in our stuttering season but nobody can expect us to just turn this form lapse around overnight and if the worst happens I hope people don't go overboard. My money will still be on us but I've certainly not had a fruitful season at William Hills to date so that means very little. Be a good test for us and they may well be the in form team in the league at present, Midfield will be a key battle and Jose has a lot of thinking to do to get this one right. Hopefully Diego will watch a few videos of the Norwich game and see the six yard box isn't an area to avoid, maybe the goal will have him push harder to get on the end of some of the dangerous balls we have started to get in there. Edit: I started writing this before Just made his last post but had a cup of tea and got weigh laid...funny we both mentioned going into this one as underdogs...surely that won't repeat itself too often.

The steady improvement over the last few games carried on today, what I like to see is no standout bad performances which will go a way to calming the nerves in the team as will the clean sheet. Only Norwich may be the feet on the ground verdict but it was only Palace, only Stoke etc, anyone can beat a team not at their best in the premiership nowadays and every three points are a good three points. Fourteen points behind the leaders with seventy five available, an in form Hazard, an in form Willian and a recovering Matic, Fabregas etc will make the world of difference, if Costa can start attacking the six yard box now the ball is starting to be put in there we'll be able to start wondering how high we can climb.

How good could he be if he was playing for the manager? quality and great to see his form dip behind him.

Peter's not home grown, a little kid swapped his cow for some beans and planted them and he just appeared in the night.

I think it's unfair to make a thread where somebody can be ruled out of answering the question because of their sexual orientation. I really wanted to give an opinion as well.

I'm personally leaning towards the argument you mention here and if that argument stands up then your last paragraph is really shown to be wrong. Are you arguing with yourself or saying you don't agree with the argument mentioned above?

If Emanalo is the one in charge of signings then the squad that won the league six months ago is the squad Jose knew needed two or three players, two or three players of his choosing and not just decent players shipped in to bolster the squad. I think Jose made the board aware of his ideal targets and didn't get them, obviously this is my opinion and I can't back it up with any proof but that's like most opinions on the ins and outs here, If Jose didn't get the players he wanted but Emanalo brought in players anyway then instead of Jose being slated for virtually the same squad looking completely f**ked now that won the league six months ago, perhaps he should instead be praised for getting them over the line and making them champions now we see how f**ked they really were. There are always two ways to look at these things and the truth likely lie somewhere in between but if I had to bet on the theory that is most likely nearest reality I'd stick with my own.

The thing is with Emanalo, if he is identifying players and going after them, it isn't a matter of saying he doesn't know a good player or even that he doesn't sometimes come up with a bargain, it's more that the manager here (more than at other clubs) should be identifying those targets. With Mourinho it isn't just a case of getting in a good player for a position we need to strengthen, it has to be a player that Jose feels is right for the squad and can play that position the way he wants him to. Obviously all managers at all teams would like to be in full control over ins and outs but here we have seen that being good isn't enough for Jose, you have to be able to play the way he wants and if you can't even if you are one of the better signings, you will be gone. I think to improve and really having a squad of players the manager can trust then he needs to be the one identifying the players he wants and the owner after all this time should be trusting him and financing it. I'm not even knocking Emanalo he's brought in some good players and some have been snips but he shouldn't be the one to make the decisions in a Mourinho team, I'd have no problem with him suggesting players and Jose having the final say which could be the case but my gut feeling says it isn't so for me he needs to either step back and do the managers bidding or leave.

Anything's possible, I saw a documentary once about huge tomatoes actually killing people...who'd have thunk it, attack of the killer tomatoes I think they called it. Scary stuff.