Its not about "who" is a better player, He is a very very good player but with regards to the system the manager wishes us to play and being able to carry out the jobs given to the players he is more then likely the least likely to do that in such a small time frame. We have a very young midfield and quite a few players who are being asked to take on a different way of playing. He needs to have strikers he can just say "I want you to do this" and they go and do it. Eto'o and Torries are players you can do that with, Eto'o has worked with Jose and knows what he expects and has a very good understanding of him and Torries is a very intellegent player. Talent is all well and good, We have seen talented players come and go but he needs to learn a few more things yet and we dont have time to teach him at the moment and thats more to do with the last 3 years of mismanagment then what is going on now

The manager dont stand in the dressing room and say "Striker I want you to score goals". There is more to the job Jose is trying to do at the moment. In a season or so Jose (or who ever is in the job) can say the things the manager is currently saying to Torries and Eto'o and will go out and do them without losing anything

I don't blame him.

Whilst I understand the press' interest in the Mata situation and Lukaku, now he has said he is starting Mata, they started on about KDB! JM explained he hasn't been impressed with him recently. He has a very large squad, we can't play or take everyone all the time, it's getting tiresome only asking who isn't playing, rather than who is. Has he got to explain on a weekly basis why he can't play 24 every game...

The media are unable to come up with intellengent questions so they know ask dumb questions I am waiting for them to start asking "Who do you think will win The Shite Factor this year" and "what are your views on Danny Dyer taking over The Queen Vic"

Feels like a must win today, espeically after the loss to Basel. Should be a strong team and we should beat them really.

Going 2 games in the group stage without a win would put us in a very tough place. Its not going to be easy, Although we not in a tough tough group its not a easy one either, IMO its one of those dodgy ones where you sort of expect to come though it okish but there are a couple of bumps along the way, Losing the first game was a big set back and something we need to put right tonight or we might be defending our UEFA cup

Guessing we'll see Mata Oscar Hazard starting together for the first time this season. Hope they do enough to show they should be first choice - they're the only band of players I actually have any faith in. Was starting to have faith in Cahill and Terry together, but I don't see them being first choice.......

Hazard is out injured, I think mata Oscar and schurrle will start, as well as Torres since he's missing the next game

Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Mata, Oscar, Schurrle; Torres

Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Mikel, Willian, Ba, Eto’o.

2-0. Comfortable so far.

Can't complain with 2 nil, looking comfortable

4-0. Job well done.

Good team performance with Mata back and playing well. Ramires and Lampard worked well in the centre which is odd. Schurrle and Eto'o looking good. Couldn't really ask for more

Hope Torres injury not serious.

I'm really pleased Schurrle showed what he could do.

Great team performance.

For me, Mata has earnt his place as the no 10 in the team and the team should be built around him, not Oscar. Oscar is still young and has plenty to learn but the signs are there he will be a world class player in a few years. I think relying on him to come up with the goods isnt the best for us as a team at the moment. Play Mata who is clearly at the top of his game and in his prime. Oscar can wait a season or two, before he takes over the no 10 role and he can quite easily play elsewhere for us for now as he is good enough.

Agreed. Hopefully Mourinho has now realised exactly how much better we look with Mata in the side and in his favoured position.

Other than Eto'o replacing Torres, hopefully we'll go with the same starting line-up against Norwich.

Dont know how SB even qualified for the CL, they were so poor, and still no forward scored.
Still, were in a EL place, so musnt grumble.

Schurrle and Mata were excellent. Lovely scene of Andre running over to JM and they hugged. Have to feel for Torres, just starts to show some zip again in his game, then gets a ban and then gets an injury. At least it will only be Norwich game, then we have the international break, hopefully he will back by then.

Lovely interview pre match with Juan Mata, he said he is very happy with his game and enjoying adapting it as well, Nando butted in and they were having a good laugh together. Sorry press. all is well in the camp.


So....interesting...re JM 'storming off'....

I watched Chelsea TV last night where they showed you what really happened.

They showed you just before the question was asked, Chelsea's PR people and JM had agreed that there was going to be one more question. Then the question was asked...which JM answered then left.....so no storming off at all.

Isn't it amazing, how no-one reported it was the last question. What the media will do to try and get a headline.

That would be very boring and not in line with the current agenda of "club in turmoil". The story of the week is "Jose under pressure" and " X player is not being picked and is unsettling the team and the fans", If fans are not going to stick to the current story line they run the risk of being banned from watch Sky's Production of Football 2013.

Torres is out for 3 weeks, which in effect means he'll lose only one week due to his injury.
A set back for him after looking so good, but he should look on the bright side and think his suspension could have been longer and his injury much worse, so maybe things are finally going to start going for him again.

Eto'o or Ba? Who should start against Norwich?

Shame that Torres is out for 3 weeks. It seems like one step forward and 2 steps back with him..

carefree_blue, I'd probably start Eto'o - I just wanna see him score already! Actually scrap that, I just want to see one of our strikers scoring in the PL

Toss a coin and hope for the best.
To be serious though, i'd go for Eto.
Though he's lost pace and obviously not the player he once was, you can still see with his movement and posistional play that he was once a quality player. He's very rusty at this level, but one goal might be enough to get him going again and help him do a decent job for us until next season.
Ba, i just don't rate at this level, but i do feel sorry for the way he's been treated. He's stuck there but obviously not rated, which can't be a nice feeling for any player.

Eto'o. Two assists against Bucharest, hopefully a goal or two this weekend.

Great goal from Oscar, assist for Ba.

Missed it, but glad to have us start well for once.