Gallowgate Toon

Hazard is brilliant, man. Totally dragged Chelsea through when they were struggling last year, it was him that really opened up space against us too.

He's got some interesting decisions to make. I'm assuming he'll want us to play the counter game and defend narrow again, so will probably play the same team. If they've got Toure, Fernandinho and Fernando as the midfield 3 then I think he'll need to reshuffle our midfield structure. Really fancy Mitrovic to get the better of Otamendi and Demichelis.

I thought some of his link on the deck was really good, tbh. Some neat intricate passing touches too.

Haidara played well against Man U and Arsenal, like.

Southampton was decent as well, tbf. Although, to be fair to McClaren, even good motivational managers need the right blend of characters. Don't think Mitrovic's effort can be underestimated, his desire made sure everyone else had to play the same way. It's not like we've exclusively played well with this core of players against big sides, either, plenty of times they've just not shown up (Liverpool, Man U and Spurs home games all come to mind as being utterly abject)

They really dovetailed nicely. Mitro showed some great link-up and Perez moved well around him. Gini, as much as I like him, just hasn't brought that sort of energy to the AM role and has been a bit too continental in his style when on the ball. Although, to be fair to him, he's had Cisse to play off and we never looked comfortable using him as our focal point.

I hope he plays with the same sort of intensity against 'lesser' sides, he seemed to drag those around him up. He was also talking to the centre backs all game. Bet he's a right cunt for every minute of the match. Feels good to have a proper bastard in the side.

His England and Boro teams, aside, which of his teams have played negative football, ElCid? He seems to have expanded how he likes teams to play since moving abroad.

Derby played attacking football, don't really see the need to deny that. So did his Twente team.

He was terrible in the last game like He was decent in the second half, I thought. Some driving runs and more direct.

CM is a really difficult position to come in to, especially when you've not had much time in a 2 man mid and are expected to be the more physical midfielder. Gini will get there, he's seemed to 'get' the league much more when on the ball in the last 2 games. I expect Perez to nail down the AM spot, Gini hasn't had his intensity or direction when he's started there.

Today was is sort of game. Not particularly physical opposition, deeper defending and lots of protection.

Seen a lot of people suggest we played 4-4-2 but it still looked a 4-2-3-1, to me. We just had way more punch going forward through the middle with Perez and Mitro being so direct.

Nah, Cisse can do one now. Mitrovic will be very handy in games we need to unlock teams, if he plays with the same intensity.

I would disagree with that tbh. We scored just before half time, and as soon as we came out for the second half we dropped back and looked like we were going to protect the lead first and hope to counter on the break. Even though it worked perfectly in that we doubled our lead, in the end we ended up giving them so much of the ball that it allowed them to apply pretty much non-stop pressure. Having watched Spurs last 3 games on telly, the contrast with Pochettino is pretty obvious. They seem to play the same way for 90 mins without getting knackered. I meant after an hour. We clearly didn't want to concede in the first few minutes of the half, because we've been bad for that this season, so tried to play in the counter for a bit. Chelsea sort of built up to the pressure and tired us out. Confidence will play a part too. The Ramires sub was brilliant, Mourinho could see we were too tired to cover there.

I thought there was a clear switch to playing more long balls and crosses into the centre forward today. Not that I'm complaining, we need results. We mixed it up much better. Passing on the deck was crisper too, it had more conviction.

Not his day, 2 daft fouls. His presence makes a difference, though.

The corner at the end was annoying but we were really struggling under pressure. I didn't like it but when we were desperate to take something from the game, I could understand it. Chelsea were always going to start the second with more gusto, they tired us out well, tbh.

I am pretty gutted but I think it'll provide a decent shot in the arm for us - the first half should be our standard in intensity. Team was really done for after an hour or so, Simpson was screaming for them to push out but the legs weren't there.

To be fair today was the first time in weeks they've actually tried. They're out of practice. Probably bang on I was surprised at Perez, he was really struggling on the defensive to cover the midfield. Hate to say it but I think we missed Colback's energy in the middle after he went off, Wijnaldum's still struggling a bit with the pace off the ball.

Fought from the front - always a massive help, as was his ability to link play and open up gaps. Shagged after an hour, as you'd expect.

Team was knackered so we sagged back. Makes you wonder what they're doing for fitness training, too many were gassed after an hour or so.

Plenty of pace behind Mitrovic, at least. Just hope we can hold out at the back and have some genuine counters.

It's all on you, big man.

Sissoko right, Gini left That's how NUFC twitter claim it'll be, but Ayoze will end up LM in a 4-5-1 with Mitrovic isolated as f***, probably frustrated and sent off They always get it wrong, the fucking plebs.