Bailey

Mirallas is frustrating me today, giving the ball away too regularly and too easily. He caused that little spell of pressure from Chelsea when we should have been attacking.

Committed challenge from McCarthy, love it!

Another really good move, nice link up play from Naismith.

Mirallas and McCarthy with really poor passes.

Jegielka sleeping again there... Spurs-esque.

What a move that was...

Twice now Coleman has turned down easy passes and ended up giving away possession..

Id rather the players learnt their lessons from the derby!

Very strong Chelsea 11 as well... Going to need to be at our best.

We played some really good stuff under Moyes but it was in small patches. Last season we started really well and then gradually faded, the 2 or 3 seasons before that we dreadfully, played some great stuff in the middle before petering out again at the finish. Other than the year we got to the FA Cup final I dont think we have ever really strung a run of really good performances together. Under Moyes when we played well, we still didnt make many chances but under Martinez even when we play to averagly (like the last couple of games) we have still created more than enough chances to comfortably finish teams off. When we play well under Martinez we are pretty much guarenteed to create plenty of opportunties and that is a big positive. We just need to start putting them away! I think Martinez does have a plan B because we have changed systems on quite a few times at the ends of games. He has made a fair few influencial substitutions as well but even then I can see why people say he doesnt especially in an attacking sense but when you hire a manager that believes in a certain system/philosophy so strongly you have to take the rough with the smooth. Going on last years points tally we would be sitting in the top 4 which shows that the league is stronger this year (backed up by the 2 CL games as well despite their losses). Realistically Arsenal, City and Liverpool can rip anyone apart this year and you couldnt say that about any of the teams last season. We might not be closer to the top 4 in the table this year but bearing in mind Martinez is only in his first season I think we are looking more like a top 4 club this season than we have done for the 4 or 5 years previously. God knows how we will line-up next season but whatever happens it will at least be an exciting summer!

Smacks of desperation to me... Just wait til he gets the hump & refuses to play and ends up leaving for a cut price fee.

Swansea not so good in this 2nd half. Not quite got the same tempo but they havent been in any trouble really either. Bony's all round game has really impressed me.

Swansea playing really well against Napoli. Front 4 looking really sharp, Britton linking the play nicely and the back 4 are solid. Much more like the Swansea of last season.

Didnt realise that... Thought he was 25/26 at the most! Class player though, would definitely be price dependent.

Chelsea 0 - 0 Everton None

Thinking of Pienaar's successor Pablo Hernandez would probably fit in really well. Ultimately he is probably best centrally but given Pienaar takes up a lot of central/inside left positions I think he could do pretty well. He is better than Pienaar technically, works just as hard and would fit into the system easily. Price would probably be a stumbling block but if the Swansea ship does start sinking I dont think cost us too much for what is going to be an essential position.

I didnt really notice him doing anything poorly before he dived in on Messi (which as Nikica points out was being played onside by Kompany). I havent seen an awful lot of Demicheles but whenever I have he has looked pretty decent. He is a liability in midfield though.

This will be a good game to guage where we are now. We certainly arent firing like we did just before Christmas but we should have most people back and in some form and fitness so there will be no excuses really (other than upfront). If we do well it can have a really positive influence on the rest of our season.

Sounds good!

Tbf he was doing well until he got sent off. Thought Man City actually played pretty well and they had Barca in trouble on a few occasions, even with 10 men.

Im not sure how much this loan would have cost because they have only just brought him in and obviously think he needs game time. If the club are looking for him to go on loan then the actual cost wont be too high. On the whole I dont think there are too many realistic options and Martinez or his scouts clearly thought that this lad was worth a shout despite his injury. Im only speculating of course but I dont see Monaco looking to sell so quickly after buying him!

I dont think so... I get the feeling it was just a short term measure to make sure we had another body in the squad and so that we can save our money for a striker (or 2) in the summer.

I'm not even going to bother writing a response, because quite frankly, it would be wasted on you both.

Its not like he is stuck wide though... He spends a lot of his time in that inside left channel which is why he finds space in good areas. I would also play him in the number 10 role as well though, I think it would suit him.

I'm not doubting Naismith's credentials, that's why its irrelevant. I don't doubt that Naismith's movement is good and that its better suited to packed defences (I have made the comment on here before), especially in comparison to Lukaku but the latter didnt score 8 in 8 games or whatever it was earlier in the season because he was stood still. Lukaku hasnt scored just shy of a goal every 2 games because he cant find space. I have watched Lukaku closely on a number of occasions and you wouldnt believe the number of times he has moved into space inside and outside the 18 yard box without being passed the ball. I'm not saying Naismith gets this service either btw, but claiming that Lukaku doesnt move the CB's around and make space for himself is a ridiculous comment. Naismith has done well and Im not knocking the guy but look at when he has scored. Against lower league opposition playing a high line (alongside Mirallas), against Villa when he was the 2nd striker (alongside Mirallas) having come on as a sub and then when he was given a back pass 18 yards out and left 1 v 1. Nice movement, good link up play and cool finishing. If he keeps up this scoring form starting games, playing on his own against full strength Premier League teams then I would have to change my opinion on his overall contribution but I really don't expect it, in the same way Chicharito looks half the player for Man Utd when he starts in the League compared to when he comes on off the bench.