The College Dropout

f***ing Pepe

The 4-4-2 is so much better than the 4-5-1 for this type of match. Gives you a real chance on the counter. A 4-5-1 would have the team chasing shadows all the time. Get a break in a 4-4-2 and there's options galore. Its more of a 433 than 442, just with the top three rotating a lot Not really. When they don't have the ball it's a 4-4-2, it's clear as day. Di Maria is quick to join attacks - but he's Di Maria, lungs the sizes of bagpipes and very quick over long or short distances. It's the same formation as the Barca cup final and that was also a 4-4-2. Isco's brilliant at picking a pass to set-up counters but he's struggling here. Drop the G bomb at some point, he'll be able to track Robben and run... if he's feeling okay.

The 4-4-2 is so much better than the 4-5-1 for this type of match. Gives you a real chance on the counter. A 4-5-1 would have the team chasing shadows all the time. Get a break in a 4-4-2 and there's options galore.

It's not poor but they push so far up. Alonso, Modric & Isco are brilliant for picking quick passes for the counter... Benzema, Di Maria & Cronaldo are unstoppable at times.

Think he's been brilliant. Doubling up on Robben. Knicking the ball and when he's had the ball he's picked the right pass. Previously, I thought his legs had gone but to me he's been great.

Struggled a bit with illness yesterday. On the bench. The Bale bomb....

This 4-4-2 they've employed again today is working brilliantly.

Damn that's a sitter..

Missed the opening 10 minutes. Where's G Bale?

You see why Pep likes a CM at CB. Boateng & Dante don't like getting so much of the ball at all.

Beautiful.

It is that simple tbh Of course it isn't. no, it is. Managers like Pardew and even Moyes don't go into games naturally planning to out score the opposition. Despite often having great defences, in the league Man Utd. always played to out score opponents. If they where to 'nick' a goal on the counter as a primary plan - they really wanted and planned to get that goal. Very rarely would they play for a draw from the outset. Many teams and managers start hoping for a point.

It is that simple tbh

Think people are being harsh on Torres performance last night. A number of times he held the ball up well. Won some good freekicks. Unfortunately when he did have support he wasted it.

It's over man.

Surely Shurrle is better? Saying that I'm certain Willian will now score a screamer.

Willian is so boring. Ramires used to score/assist the odd breathtaking counter, running 50 yards and that. He's turned into a total thug this year.

Was thinking the injuries/suspensions might make for a more attacking side. But ivanovic in for Terry. Luiz stay at CM alongside Ramires. Oscar, Hazard and Willian and someone up top. I guess that's as attacking a side Mourinho would ever put out.

Good work on missing the point and looking a total idiot Loki. Keep up the good work

For how much I deride him - a world class manager like Mourinho or Benitez would struggle with a crap defence

No. Chelsea will play like that at home.

Palace haven't been all that direct from what I've seen of them. Solid banks of four. Pace on the wings. Striker capable of holding it up.

Brilliant at defending deep. Can he push up and defend well though? He has the pace and reading of the game to defend where he likes tbh. Of course in such a negatively set out Chelsea side he was always going to be defending deep. he's played most of his Chelsea career with deep, negative managers so I couldn't say one way or the other.

Instruct your side to play like a classic Tony Pulis side and get called a tactical genius.