Ozztheboss

really disappointing that mourinho and the boys didn't come up with a plan that involved actual team play instead of hopeless punts from twenty five yards out. no width, no pace, no creativity, lackluster passing. just really disappointing that we've played so many matches and still are donkey sh*t versus teams that parks the bus. and our best passer for the past two years didn't even get a chance to reclaim his nr. 10-position.. oh my sides, wet spam are so f**king ugly as well...

On any other day, with Oscar more sharp and the keeper not making an almost beyond world class save (mind you, after he gifted Arsenal an easy win), he could have had one assist and one goal in the first half and people (the media) would have jumped over him. If he can run this fast, this hard with such precise movements he'll score adequately (I mean, people are bound to find him finally, especially if Mata is introduced to the team full time) and equally important, he'll stretch the opposing team and thus make space for our AM's. In my opinion one of Torres' better performances this season, let one his Chelsea career. His gut-busting runs both with and without the ball, offensively and defensively, and constant aerial presence were that of a Chelsea player worthy. I just hope he can stay fit and get a consistant period of matches.

Mourinho vs Pardew feat. Kinnear. Even worse.

The Rooney-saga will run for at least one more summer, I think, and unless United gives the boy another salary raise or wins everything with Moysey I can see Rooney force himself out. If he can stay lean (or, not fat) and motivated he would fit Mourinho's striker wish to a tea (dropping deep, linking up the play and basically just fight and work his ass off). Balotelli is just not that, and I doubt that Mourinho would risk the team atmosphere just to give Balo chances (like Bobby Manc did).

When Mourinho makes that much effort in praising a youngster as he did with Traore in pre-season you know the guy is special. Good for the club, good for Mourinho and good for the player that he signed (or got to sign).

First of all, and I know it's early in the season, but I can't believe how poorly Torres has looked from a physical point of view the last two years (also goes for Terry). I mean, that must be the effin' easiest thing in the world to make sure of. How can the club let a gobby turd like FSW come in and say that he's never seen Torres weaker physically? Bloody hell.. Secondly, as the article me and DB put out, maybe Torres needed to be asked not to play as "old Torres". Neither do we play as Dippersh*t (as Zola pointed out) nor hasn't Torres got that furious acceleration and pace anymore to play only on the shoulder of the defenders. Mourinho made it clear that Torres isn't a technically gifted player, so instead of trying to make him out to something he can't be, he went into the lab and created Fernando Torres v. 2 (much bulkier, a huge engine, more powerful and a very good acceleration over 5-10 meters). His new "role" is described here: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/28/chelsea-fernando-torres-jose-mourinho and here: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/28/premier-league-playback-headers-galore-torres-becomes-el-toro-avb-offends/ And lastly, as 54veteran pointed out, Nando doesn't seem to play with a massive chip on his shoulders anymore. He isn't extremely wasteful in possession (trying to run through five players just to prove himself) and he doesn't drift out to the flanks without purpose anymore. And it does seem like he's becoming a blue, at least he hates Tottenham :) I know it's early, but Torres has now battled benching, injuries and suspensions and still made the same impact before and after, some of his performances truly dominant. Credit must go to Mourinho for being Super-Mourinho (getting Torres to play for him), the medical department who understands basic human physiology and training and of course Torres himself. I know Mou has been very praising of Nando's attitude towards training, and the only ones he has really praised for that (as far as I know) is Lampard and Cronaldo. The signs are there, and whilst Fernando has had "false dawns", those have often come after poaching in a few goals, not completely running the show at the biggest stages over months. Long may it continue!

Ba is kind of clumsy, but I thought he did really well in holding the ball up when we needed a breather.

And to think he has been collecting money in Russia since January... Makes you wonder how much effin' fitter he can get. Voted Willian because he was left back and left winger at the same time, and has a wonderful passing foot and drive with the ball.

Hope this doesn't go to extra time with Torres and Hazard being called upon, they looked pretty battered after the City-game. We should have enough quality to score plenty anyways, so let's just hope that the defense will be properly organized without King JT.

Hehe, Wenger really doesn't want to lose.

I thought that this article (http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/28/chelsea-fernando-torres-jose-mourinho?) was a great piece of work. No cliché's about "is he back", more of an analysis of Torres' "new" role as an enforcer, a guard dog, a decoy and a creator for our "fragile little trio" behind the striker (a role that was arguably meant for Rooney). He's not the old Torres with an acceleration beyond belief on a white guy (but still quick *enough*), but his performances against Speds, (Swindon), partially Schalke and yesterday was as good and dominant as you'll get them from a lone striker up front in my opinion. Hopefully he can keep it up!

Can't have too many Chelsea-players, you know.

I never said he couldn't do the job, I said he couldn't do the job Oscar does (a job that's cruical to our structure and balance).

Mata is one of Torres' best friends and he is a True Blue, of course he was happy. Maybe the camera didn't do him justice, maybe he thought of something else, but I wouldn't go completely journalist over this. However I could see him leave. Due to unfortunate genetics he will never be able to do the job of Oscar (or even the other candidates for the trio behind the striker), and he has a World Cup to prepare for after all. I wish the boy all the best, and if he needs and wants to leave because of lack of chances, let him go, just not to a team in the Premiership.

Mourinho played totally different then than what he's trying to play now. Also, the Inter-side with Zlatan bombed out of CL (and the League titles wasn't anything super-special, even Mancini did that a couple of times in a row). Once they replaced him with more team players who doesn't want to be the system and cuddle with the ball they went all the way. I like Zlatan, but for me, he's not the right fit (not only because of his age).

It's a myth that Torres didn't miss chances at Lpool, he missed quite a lot in my opinion (at least compared to the true poachers). However, his strength, apart from being a one man attack with mind blowing pace, was that he never dwelled on missed opportunities, and that's the most positive thing (apart from the fact that he's been MOTM in his last three starts and unplayable at times) I can read out of his game today. I also liked that fact that Torres the last two games has stood up, fought for the shirt and lead the team. There was a moment where he went down to Cole on extra time giving the best left back the last 15 years instructions on how we should waste time more efficient, and he did the same thing versus Schalke. Likey likey. Now it's up to Mourinho to use him wisely, and Torres himself to prove that he can stay consistent.

I agree, Lane, thought it was a slip-up from Cech as well (maybe he thought it was offside?). Anyway he recovered quickly with that stunning left foot save on Silva's shot.

Thought Ramires was the best all over, but Torres ultimately won us the match. Toss up for me, voted Rambo because I thought more would vote Torres.

Joe Hart, Englands number One.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How did Cech let that goal in by the near post :O

Don't really see the point in comparing statistics. There's no denying that Torres has underperformed massively (although I don't think he's been that bad, just that mediocrity isn't what we need (and certainly not to a fantasy price)), but it's encouraging to see that his best performances towards the end of last season (Benfica when there was a trophy on the line) has been followed up and doubled by Jose. Some of his performances this season has actually been really good-good (he's still yet to do a poor start, imo), and whatever steroids Mourinho has him on must be taken. He doesn't have the electric pace that could see a 20 yard misspass by Gerrard be successfull anymore, but he looks a lot stronger, and some of his runs against Speds and Schalke were the same runs as he did in the red shirt. His heading ability seems to be on as well. If he can re-create these good performances at a 1/2 or maybe even a 2/3 rate, whilst maybe scoring a poachers goal in some of the more lackluster games he's (and everyone else) bound to have, then he's done more than good. He won't ever reach the days of his Boing 747 Ultra Jet engine, but I don't think that's what Mourinho wants of him either (hence Mou's penchant for Rooney). Mou wants a dog up front that will chase anything and everything, make runs, nick a couple in here and there, assist if needed etc, and FT's performances so far this season has been in that mould. No knee jerk from me, but it seems like he's enjoying football again, and vs Speds he actually played like he hated them and loved us. Never thought I'd see that day. Didn't Ferguson describe him as "a cunning player with that little bit of evil inside him"? Could be, could be... It's a start, at least, and if anyone is to make it last it's Harry Potter.

I think Lewandowski will struggle a bit more once he leaves the team machine that is Dortmund. Sahin and Kagawa, both BL-players of the year the season before they left, looks/looked very ordinary when they went to RM/Bindippers and MU, but Sahin is now starting to find his feet again under Klopp. Zlatan is probably the best nr. 9 in the world, but he plays Zlatanball with it's ups and downs. The ups are beautiful goals unmatched by anyone in a large quantity, the downs are poor work rate, a penchant for cuddling with the ball (way) longer than necessary and a pretty sizeable ego. (Un)fortunately both players are bound, there's no way that Lewa isn't going to Bayern and Ibra is Paris' hero. Reckon we'll get Rooney next summer anyway.

If Romeu doesn't get a shot against one of the worst teams in the EPL at home, when is he ever going to be tried out? I still think Mikel is better, but Romeu deserves a chance after his performance against Wolves.

A little bit strange to not see Desailly there. In my opinion the best center back we've had, but hey, it's Chopper's choice, and you don't argue with the Chopper.