Someone like De Bruyne would be ideal...

At one time he had genuine game changers to call on in Schurrle and KdB, now he calls on Cuadrado and Torres mk2.

Yeah no reason to overreact on part of Chelsea. Strengths and weaknesses similar to last season and well known but of course that Terry officially has been added to the former by Mourinho, both with the sub and post-game comments (where even brings up Rafa and AVB view on Terry) is interesting. Maybe limitation is a better word than weakness but it's still moving away from untouchable leader and legend.

meh, they didn't make the grade at Chelsea (at the time, where they even given enough of a chance?). No one battered an eye lid when they left including Salah who they also could probably use at this point in time.

He also go rid of Mata as he doesn't park the bus enough.

For City I'm happy for Fernandinho who gets too much hate sometimes and really in many ways shine as far as Yaya will allow him and that's where credit is really due, I thought Toure maintained better defensive positions than in a long time and also thought I saw stronger more willing defensive sprints than in a long time.

That's one thing to watch and it would be huge for Manchester City if it continues. I'm sure there will still be holes against teams actually attacking with more men than Chelsea did here (I almost died laughing around 24-25 mins when Cesc during a Chelsea attack upper corner of the picture runs away from same attack and back into defensive position which he then can't defend anyway during next phase because he isn't that player and need to contribute defensively differently) but it would definitely help City's sometimes decisive balance weaknesses.

Mangala probably also helped here and had two good games now, but now will be gone.

Otamendi can be a centre-back game changer though.

sorry for any possible derail but think it is ace

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/...-march-9864864

the obligatory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc-n...ature=youtu.be

What have other clubs done off the back of winning the title? I seem to recall that united did precious little after their last one and we know how that ended up. What did City do two summers ago? I really can't remember.

Yeah it is crazy to think about the embarrassment of riches they had and got rid of needlessly. I didn't rate KdB a few years ago, so I was wrong about that one too, but I always rated Schurrle and Mata. They really gave away what was an elite bench and cover. They have nothing left now, especially if they see any injuries.

Chelsea will be fine, but it's clear they won't have the same swagger or feeling of invincibility they often had last year.

As mw said, Chelsea gave away their bench and players who can step up when their first XI isn't doing it.

I was very happy to see every Arsenal player but in a better performance. More energy, more drive and determination. Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla and others just did a ton more. Sanchez could have five goals this year already. It's him or Aguero for golden boot imo.

It's something Fergie continually hammered home about not standing still and he is 100% correct. Players get complacent, it's why it's so hard to defend. Just look at City when they first won the league, they bought rubbish in that summer and put up a pathetic defence then as you say we brought in Felliani. Nothing more to add there lol. City win the league and don't add much and again put up a pretty tame defence. Now it's Chelsea's turn.

I thought Chelsea would have been busy because they would be looking to put up a serious challenge in Europe. I just don't see it with this squad. If Cuadrado is your attacking option of the bench you're in a bit of trouble. Falcao could come good but after watching him last year I just can't see it.

Honestly I don't know what they are supposed to do when they are chasing or when they have any injury to an attacker. They have some defensive sub options but it's pretty much a couple of average strikers if they need a goal. They need another AM clearly.

They just slated cesc for that on the bbc lol

Saying he didn't offer the defence enough protection.

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@MW:- teams have always strengthen after a title win. Fergie left and we had a shambolic summer under Moyes.

City under Mancini the following year just didn't spend the money correctly.

Last summer they tried to improve by signing a £30m CB to help out kompany that didn't really work out either. So you can't really compare those summers to the summer that Chelsea have had of getting rid of a great keeper to a rival and signed a dud in Falcao.

hopefully Terry will stick around like a stevie p virus and continue to be a liability for the rest of the season. I'll wait for the official faneiro scouting report but to me it seems like he's lost another step this year.

Def need something, like you say when they go behind like today there isn't anyone on the bench that instantly jumps out at you which is very unlike a Mourinho/Chelsea team. Maybe go get someone like Draxler? Although not sure how well he is going at the min?

They've sold players for a ton of money but doesn't look like they have reinvested all that well.

If in a ~month when CL starts Hazard (or Costa even)gets injured for ~2 months, I think their season is probably over if the schedule isnt super soft.

I think the other title contenders can at least make due if Sanchez/Silva/Aguero got injured, but Chelsea just don't seem super deep atm. City aren't super deep either, but one injury won't sink them as much. If they lost say, Yaya and another MF and had to play Nasri or something in the middle that would be funny though.

Cuadrado and others never play, how do we expect them to look decent when they will eventually have too?

Rooney to his backup is probably the biggest drop off, but idk about calling United a contender just yet.

Ivanovic has gotten destroyed two weeks in a row. If I was a Chelsea fan he is the player I'd worry most about.

they do feel stale but part of that is we just always expect new signings, nothing wrong with cohesion.

They ran hot as **** last year health wise and played their squad into ground. Things can go badly ...... City seems to have way more room for error with their squad.

Chelsea now are in same position as City after Mancini's win. Standing still is going backwards.

We used to have an embarrassment of riches at AM.

Now we have Moses back.

Bertrand Traore.......RISE.

And that is why your defence parts like the red sea!

They didn't exactly stand still, they signed youth players with promise that just didn't work out + with hindsight didn't exactly spend it great either!

That was the year they went for Garcia, Nastasic, Rodwell and Sinclair.

Rooney to Hernandez isn't a drop off, it would be an improvement.

He was genuinely diabolical, like top 5 of his worst performances I've ever seen vs Villa. For most of the summer I've been OK with him as there genuinely isn't any world class strikers we could get but I'd happily take Kane or Lukaku at this point because both would be improvements. It's crazy to see some players get booted from the team for weeks after playing badly for 20mins in a game but Rooney seems immune even after WOAT games. He should be benched asap.

Depay looked much better on the left than in the 10 and Adnan was good too, both struggle with fatboy up top doing nothing.

Schneiderlin and Darmian have made great starts.

I do really enjoy how great of an option Welbeck would be for United right now, even with all of his limitations.

agree

God, that cheer for the second string medical staff was just amazing, and then the City doctor being called on to help bandage up Diego Impostor was like a cherry on top. Whoever said it couldnt have been scripted better was spot on.

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Ivanovic is looking like he turned 45 over the summer, and there just wasnt much attacking wise on the bench for the rent boys. They'll be alright when they score first, but it's tough to see where the goals are coming from when chasing the game and Hazard isnt totally on top of his game.

It's definitely too early for the Chelsea inquest. When you play away against a team that comes at you like that, it's always going to be difficult. They did quite well to stay in the game for such a long time and were killed off when they had to chase it. It happens.

With how the games have panned out, we haven't see too much of Hazard doing his thing. Only a matter of time before he starts to tick and all will be well for Chelsea.

Overall I'd echo this, but I think there is still need for a bit of worrying. Ivanovic didn't just fall off the cliff at the start of the season; he was dreadful defensively for almost the whole second half of the year. We were just so much better and ahead of everyone else that it didn't matter. Azpi is still doing great defensively, and even gets into great areas offensively with well timed runs, but his lack of being able to use a left foot is killing us going forward. Him on the right seems great now that we have a young talent. Ivanovic is no longer quick enough to handle the elite wing speeds of any of the top 3-5 squads (Memphis, Sanchez will run him just as ragged), but he would be a solid CB during Terry's transition to the bench. I'd also possibly be willing to reach on Stones to ensure an English talent who could be an anchor for the next decade.

Chelsea will still be fine because Mou coaches defense better than anyone, but he doesn't have the right pieces right now. Rahman is already a good start, but to ensure depth he'll need to rotate in the center and slowly have a solid alpha CB to replace Terry. Cahill is solid enough, but just not that guy.

I regretted so much that we got rid of De Bruyne and Schurrle, and they looked fine and useful to me the few chances they got. We have 0 mids who would make the runs Schurrle did or the attacking talent. That's a huge weakness now. De Bruyne and Schurrle both added elements to our attack that we desperated need. I think Oscar can do much of the De Bruyne job, but he isn't consistent and thats likely because of his slight frame. Getting rid of Mata was very painful after what he gave us, but its clear Mou was right to get rid of him on this squad. Poor guy is an ewok and completely unfrightening from a defensive standpoint.