ManchesterMatt

Great buy. Had almost forgot about the lack of goalkeeping cover post-Begovic! Like others have said - free transfer, experience of the premier and champions league and he's happy to be second to Tibo. Great signing!

Would be quite happy if Costa left - Although he has dragged us through quite a few games this season, I don't think he has the ball control needed to interact with Hazard and Pedro etc. Ideally, I would like (1) another CM to partner Kante (2) a new right back to replace Moses (3) potentially a left sided centre back who could replace Terry and cover Alonso if required (4) a replacement for Willian (I think he will leave) and (5) a replacement for Costa. I would like us to go after Rodriguez at Madrid - He doesn't get a lot of game time and therefore may be in a position to be bought. I'm struggling to think of somebody to replace Costa - I would like Lukaku back (good strength, can finish and has decent pace). I would love to see someone like Veratti in our midfield. Him being Italian, potentially that may be a possibility with Conte? Not entirely sure about the left footed centre back.

Thanks I have seen a UEFA Away Scheme form on the Chelsea website, not quite sure whether that is the form you mean. Good news if the tickets are 'easy' to get - here's hoping to a trio of a German, Spanish and Portuguese team in the groups!

Hi Thinking ahead to next season already! I go to quite a few matches throughout the season (as many tickets as I can get my hands on), but I am now thinking of possibly going to one of the away legs of the Champions League next season. Does anyone have any experience of going to European away games? Do you simply purchase the ticket in the normal way and then sort everything else out yourself? What are the chances of getting tickets with a membership with roughly 40 membership points? Any feedback welcome! P.s - Wasn't entirely sure where to post this on the site!

As has been said above, Branislav has contributed massively towards our recent successes and his passion for the club was clear to see. I hope he does well at Zenit!

Happy to hear of the move, from both John Obe's perspective and Chelsea's. Although a lot of fans have criticised his performances over the years; I always found him to be a rather steady rock in the centre of midfield and always loyal to the club. Hopefully he will thrive at his new club, particularly as he will likely be the star man (perhaps something similar to Nigeria where he has shown a different side to his game than that shown at Chelsea) and hopefully we received a decent fee for his signature.

I normally make all of the 'northern' games and then a few of games in the midlands too. I need to pluck up the determination to go to some of the more southern games! Struggling this season to get any tickets at all though as previously I've shared a season ticket with family who live 'dawrrn sarth', but they've gone travelling for a year or so and have therefore forfeited their season ticket. It means I'm at the bottom of the pile with applying for tickets (new membership) and therefore it's almost impossible to pick up tickets anymore! - I'm praying for a mid-week FA/League Cup game at a northern league 1/2 club as I think that's the only chance I'll get at any tickets! Oh, and it doesn't help when people buy tickets and then flog them to overseas buyers! Ruins the atmosphere in the away ends and annoys those who couldn't get tickets the legitimate way!

Very big game, particularly so with Man City away next up. I think we need to get 3 points here as I can see Man City away being very tough. After these two matches we have West Brom, Sunderland, Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke - a potential for another 5 wins. If we can pick 6 wins and a draw out of the remaining matches this year (very much possible!) then we should be in a great position going into the new year!

Another very good display. It was always going to be a nervous finish (with it being only 1-0), but the only opportunity of note was Negredo's shot. Comparing how we played under Mourinho, we have so many more options on the wings. The amount of time the ball was quickly switched out to Moses or Alonso (particularly Moses) just goes to show that teams at present aren't able to cope with our new system in that our tactic (keeping Moses for example out wide all the time) is unable to be countered or stopped. It's obvious how playing 3 at the back has helped our forward play too. They have enough options along the back to play it between themselves and when there's space to move forward (helped by the opposition's wingers having to mark Moses and Alonso out wide) they can bring the ball up themselves and then play a simple ball into Costa, Hazard or Pedro. This tactic also helps to spring quick attacks (think about how many times Hazard or Pedro (particularly Hazard)) received a ball to feet from one of the centre backs, turned and then ran directly at their back line. I certainly haven't seen us play this well for years and years and years! Just a final point and it's one I noticed from the game yesterday - there's the potential for us to be caught out when both Moses and Alonso are 'forward' but the ball is still at the back. I recall Gaston Ramirez having a chance in the second half when Middlesborough won the ball high up the pitch and towards our left back position. As Alonso and Moses were pushed higher up, as the ball got passed by Middlesborough across the edge of the 18 yard box it fell to the feet of Ramirez who had time to pick out a shot (albeit it went into the stands) - in a 'normal' 4-4-2 the right back would have likely been a lot closer to the centre backs and would therefore have picked up Ramirez. - Only a very minor concern though!

Very disappointing from Costa. When the ball has been played to his feet he has been very predictable. When we have played the ball across the box he is nowhere to be seen. Very hot and cold since the start of '15. Much needed improvement from him as he is the focal point of our attack! Sent from my SM-G901F using Tapatalk

I'm sorry but Jose has to go after this match. Such a poor performance. Champions League mid-week and we can't afford a loss in that competition too. I'm going to the Stoke match next weekend and I'd be surprised if he was still in charge at that match.

Transfer request in

We're gunna win the league.

I'm really really hoping for a Mouh masterclass in this one and, if so, I could see a scrappy 1 or 2-0 win. In reality, my head says that our players aren't on form (and haven't been for a while now) and that we'll lose 3-0 after attempting to play our normal 'big game' defensive strategy and will concede early on.

Having a great laugh watching the Arsenal match!

The main priorities are a LB (as we actually haven't got a natural LB), a CM as support for Fab and Matic and also a right winger. I appreciate that Moses has been good in pre-season, but he isn't going to get to the standard that we should have in our team in that position. I would ship out Mikel (his time has past) and would look to loan out Cuadrado. I think Ramires is a vital player for us, albeit not good enough to start, as he has proven worthy in 'bigger' matches and therefore he is useful to have on the bench.

Tibo Iva Cahill Terry Azpi Matic Fab ? Willian Hazard Falcao The RW position is really worrying - Moses the best we can put out? It just looks a bit too predictable this season and I suspect some teams (particularly at the Bridge) will take some points from us.

BREAKING NEWS: TOFFEES REJECT STONES BID Everton have turned down a £20m offer from Chelsea for defender John Stones, according to Sky sources.

Very happy with this signing. It will keep Courtois on his toes and will provide more than adequate cover for cup games/games where Courtois is injured. Welcome

Anyone got a link to the full match online? I was at the match yesterday and I just want to see how we came across on the tv. Cheers

Just to clear things up. I wasn't saying that Bale is comparable overall to Walcott, Lennon etc. I just said that his speed was. On another note. I would prefer to have Hazard's close dribbing ability over Bale's ability to hit a team on the break as 9/10 games we play in the premier league revolve around 'tika taka' football in the opponents final third. I agree that Bale is an amazing player, however I think that for a team such as ours we would benefit much more from having a player such as Hazard than a player such as Bale.

A small difference in speed doesn't make him better than Hazard - If speed was a major factor then Lennon, Walcott and Welbeck would be in front of Hazard. Shot power doesn't make a difference - I would prefer a player to score more goals as opposed to hitting 9/10 shots into the stands. The infrequency of scorable free kicks does not create a good enough argument to put Bale over Hazard. Bale is left footed. And? So is Ozil but I don't want him. No he's not.

Coutinho nominated for both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. He has 4 league goals and his team are in 5th... Complete joke. How he can be said to have out performed Tibo, Austin and a number of the Southampton squad? Edit - Coutinho over Cesc? I'm pretty sure whoever drew up this list was scared to put 3 players from the same club on there. Joke.

I haven't followed him too much during this loan spell, but his goals can't be ignored. He represents a possible ~large cheque at the end of the season which is always desirable, but if we can't convert our successful loanees then what is the point in sending them out on loan in the first place? (aside from possibly making a sell on profit). He would be a good replacement for Drogba at the end of the season and I imagine he would be happy to act as the '3rd choice striker'. Regardless of what happens, I would rather give him a chance with our first team than simply continue with the cashing out system of our youth system.

A result like this has been coming. Although I have applauded Jose's tactics in similar 'big games' whereby we somehow seem to get the first goal and then are able to hang onto the lead, his tactics of sitting off and letting the opposition have the ball were eventually going to come back to haunt us. Examples this season are: City away where we were ahead, 1-0 up and City had 10 men. Liverpool in the Carling Cup where we went 1-0 up and then sat off them which ended 1-1 but could have been worse. Man United where we were 1-0 and then sat back. Tottenham where we went in front and then sat back (fortunately we won). In certain matches I can understand sitting off the opposition and letting them attempt to play through us (e.g. first leg games away from home), however, I just can't see how Jose can justify playing the way he did against PSG last night, particularly when they went down to 10 men and we had the lead twice. It has to go down as one of the worst performances I've seen. Particularly considering we were the better team on paper, were in the lead twice, were at SB and were playing against 10 men for ~90 minutes.