Very encouraging performance. Superb display by our attacking players. I'm surprised that Hazard hasn't got more plaudits, thought he was excellent. Our midfield again was too slow and retained possession poorly but I think MVG will slowly step up along with Chalobah (the next season). The defence was very well organized again. I think we can be quite a force if we intelligently alternate between a possession based game and a counter attacking game.

 

Cech 9.5

 

Excellent. Best keeper in the world.

 

Ashley Cole 8

 

Very improved performance. Couldn't be expected to offer anything offensively but excellent as always defensively.

 

David Luiz 9

 

Showed us exactly what we miss in his absence. Broke up play very well, brought others into the game and defended superbly. Gave away a few poor fouls but only to be expected after a long absence. Our only central defender who presses and doesn't back off.

 

Gary Cahill 8.5

 

Excellent as always but such a game suits him very well. At his best with our backs to the wall.

 

Ivan 8

 

Good. Allowed Ribery too much space and time in general.

 

Lampard 6

 

Offensively, the game passed him by. Defended well but he really cannot continue starting for us. Too many first touch long balls which did not work out.

 

Ramires 4

 

Poor game even before he was sent off. Poor in possession and just a bad passer. I'm sure a lot of you love Ramires and think he is vital to the team but he is suited only to a counter attacking game. He cannot play possession based football. Too rushed in possession. Really poor tackle and deserved to be sent off.

 

Schurrle 8.5

 

Extremely good. Looks to be a great buy. Good passer and crosser.

 

Oscar 9.5

 

Amazing player. Calm in possession, tirelessly tackled and pressed through the game. Should have scored at least a goal though.

 

Hazard 10

 

What a player! Who could have thought that Hazard can defend so effectively. Needs to run at players a little more. Unstoppable when in full flow.

 

Torres 8

 

Improved performance. Hopefully will keep this up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed with everything apart from Ramires. Thought Ramires was a solid 6 before he got sent off. 

 

Hazard showing his big game mentality. Assisted the first and took on that responsibility for the second. 

Cech - 8.5 - Made some crucial saves towards the end, but was at fault for their first goal.

Cole - 7 - Was okay

Cahill - 9 - Very solid

Luiz - 8 - Generally good, but he always tries to get in front of the attacker and often gives away fouls or possession

Ivanovic - 9 - Did his best with little support against 2 attackers down the left

Ramires - 6 - Stupid challenge and deserved his red card, was always going to be very tough from then on

Lampard - 6.5 - Didn't really offer anything apart from the occasional good long pass

Shurrle - 7.5 - Some decent runs, a good assist, but still early days for him

Hazard - 8 - Great run for the first goal, and good second goal, though very quiet apart from those 2 moments

Torres - 7 - Excellent goal, but after that just his usual performance really - some decent link up play but more often than not giving possession away and doesn't really offer an out ball when we're backs against the wall

 

Subs:

Mikel - 6 - Didn't really do anything 

Lukaku - 5 - Not on for long enough to judge really, but didn't do a whole lot, and his pen was poor. He needs to work on those.

Terry - 5 - N/A

Telling that the holding midfield players already this season are raising questions.

Hopefully van Ginkel comes in and gives us something different. Still looking to be a slight "problem" position.

Cech 8.5 Great saves and kept us in it at times. But please stop kicking it long so much.

 

Ivan 8 Dependable and strong as always

 

Cahill 8 Very good game and made some great blocks

 

Luiz 7 Great to see him back and he was good but still too rash at times (Great penalty)

 

Ash 8 Defended well and look composed but he was done a few times and his throw in aren't improving.

 

 

Lamps - 6.5 Did okay but struggled at times. I'm starting to get worried that Jose is going to play him 90 minutes (+) every game. As good as he has been he just ain't up to that now and we have other options.

 

Ramires 5 Poor game for Rambo. I was waiting for him to be subbed but Jose left it too late.

 

Oscar 8 Thought he was excellent but just chose the wrong option a few times and should have done better with that gifted chance.

 

Hazard 8 Always called Bayern problems - just wish he had seen more of the ball. Should have kept him on as he was always dangerous.

 

Schurrle 7 Full of running and energy but he did fade a bit,

 

Torres 8 One of his best perfomances for us. Great goal and lively throughout.

 

 

Mikel 5 Can see why Jose brought him on after the sending off but it didn't work

 

JT 5 Same as Mikel - the sub just didn't work.

 

Lukaku 5 Struggled to make any kind of impression but his time will come.

 

 

Overall great team performance and a real battles of two styles. They battered us at times and we clearly tired with all the running we had to do without the ball but we attacked well and caused them plenty of problems too. The sending off made it almost impossible for us but we nearly pulled it off and for once I think Mourinho got the subs all wrong. None of the subs worked and as it also ended up going to penalties, Hazard, Schurrle and Even maybe Torres would have been handy to have. My main gripe is our insistence in Cech keep punting the ball long. Bayern were just getting the ball back time and again - you can't afford to keep giving quality opposition the ball like that. We have enough flair players in our team now to play it out from the back and keep the ball FFS.

Edited August 31, 201312 yr by Nibs

CECH........9/10

LUKAKU.....0/10