Chelsea only conceded four less than Arsenal, five less than United and six less than City last season. You're either over-rating Chelsea's defence, or under-rating the others.

United have lost their best player in ddg, that's a huge loss.

Games are won from the back.

Tip-top 2....If it was obvious over the summer that Costa's hamstring problems were going to reoccur, I agree with you. But I'm no expert on sports injuries. Is it something that can be fixed with an operation ? I've heard some say it can, others say its unlikely. But I'm sure we have access to the world's best medical advice.
As it stands, it's difficult to see who we could go in for as a replacement (if indeed we need a replacement). I agree, it will be a massive blow if Costa is even more fragile than last season, and we have to nurse him through the entire season. Remy is decent back-up, but he's not world class by a long way, and Falcao remains an unknown but I'm not optimistic about him returning to anywhere near his best.

Where will we finish ? Fortunately I can see weaknesses in all our three main rivals, so I'm certainly not writing-off this season. I think it's going to be a lot tougher, and we probably should have done more in the transfer market to consolidate our position. I think we'll go close and I'm less worried about our clashes with the big teams, Mourinho's tactics are usually spot-on against our rivals. It's getting the 3 points against lesser teams that worries me, we may get too many draws.

Its a good job nobody takes a blind bit of notice of what pundits say (even if they from a amazing font of knowledge that is the Daily Star).

As people have said time and time and time again having the money is well and good but if there is nobody available to spend the money on then its pointless having the money.

United have spent hundreds of millions in two seasons, and their team today looked very average.

1 shot on target, and the only goal was a terrible own goal.

There is no point in wasting money again like our rivals are

You cannot judge a team from one 90 minute display on the first day of the season.

We will learn nothing from any display today from any team.

We wont learn anything really of note until 3 or 4 games in

I've learnt that their defences have not got any better (bar Cech)

Smalling man of the match.

No Gea. Goalie making his debut.

Darmian looking decent and Luke Shaw can only get better.

A win's a win and let's face it you were grinding some results out last season towards the end yourself weren't you?

No you really haven't. Unless of course you didn't know much to start with

So please tell me which defences bar arsenal have got better?

Has sterling going to city improved their defence? Has ddg leaving United strengthened them? Has Liverpool signing several very average players strengthened their defence?

I look forward to your response.

Manchester Uniteds biggest issue was not playing a settled defence.

Their right back has gone from being a winger to being an Italian international full back.

De Gea hasn't actually left yet (yeah I know.....but technically....)

That's stronger as things stand.

Never said they had.

We have no data to base anything on unless of course you have invented time travel.

We are going to have no such information for at least another month

Stronger without ddg? You are clutching at straws there

He's not saying that we are stronger without De Gea in the sense of we have improved our goalkeeper. He's saying that as a unit, we have improved. Just to try and make it easier, which of the following is the better defence:

Courtois
Willian - Terry - Ake - Luis
Mikel/Fabregas as the shield

or

Begovic
Ivanovic - Terry - Cahill - Azpilicueta
Matic

Last season, our main right back was a winger, we went down as far as 8th choice centre-back at times and our only first choice midfielder with any defensive nous missed over half the season. So yeah, with Darmian in defence, Shaw fully fit and Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin as options in midfield, I think our defence has improved a lot even if De Gea leaves.

On dear tibby

Rubbish start to2nd half.

I guess the ref didn't see the defender who was about to cover.

Poor decision

I know I shouldn't but well average comes to mind

So he misses MC game?

It should have been a straight red just for the nature of the challenge, regardless of anything else.

Well that was a pretty poor start. Too many players were below par today.
Swansea played well and deserved their point.

I assume given Codeblue's earlier posts they will be writing Chelsea off completely based on todays events?

Truth is a bad result or two a couple of weeks before the transfer deadline isn't the worst thing in the world if there is money there to strengthen. Better than a few good results and the deficiencies showing up after the window shuts.

Yes, there were so many problems I wouldn't know where to start. Obviously the penalty/sending-off was a game changer, but we looked poor in many areas before that.
We can't judge on one game, but it's unusual too see us so lacklustre in our first game of the season at home. Not happy.

Same team as last season. Never a good idea. A new signing freshens things up and gives a wee injection no matter how good you were previously.

Where's Codeblue gone?