The Chels

Anyone know what the plan is for the positioning of the away fans in the new stadium? Currently they are very close to the action, which makes them excessively audible. It's especially noticeable in the CL where you can often hear them jeering every touch of the ball by the Chelsea players in our own stadium. We should put them up in the Gods like most European teams do.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11864969/Chelsea-ban-player-banter-in-bid-to-save-their-season.html

Cc: Jose Mourinho

Collective pressing? No way, that creates risk and with it we wouldn't have been able to limit the opposition to only 12 goals in 5 matches...

He should not have his contract renewed. The board should act objectively and if that means overruling Jose (assuming he's still here) then so be it.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/clubs/club=52914/squad/index.html

Sure the board were not able to get us our main targets, Stones and Pogba, but why was there no proper contingency plan? If it's Mourinho who said 'I want those players or nobody' then he can't complain.

A non-exhaustive list: Everton (A) - (partly) responsible for 1-2 of goals concededCity (A) - switched off for Lampard equaliserMaribor (A) - when we went 3 at the back he switched off at the back post and gifted a sitterQPR (H) - Austin's goal (IIRC)Derby (A) - scuffed clearance that led to Derby goalTottenham (A) - his flank exploited (e.g. Chadli goal), woeful performanceCity (H) - regularly lost possession in dangerous positions in first halfLiverpool - both legs of COC (Moreno's chance especially comes to mind) but scored winner inevitablyEverton (H) - switched off for Lukaku sitterVilla (A) - Okore's goal from cornerPSG - his flank exploited, Luiz's header in return legSouthampton (H) - penalty concededHull (A) - his flank exploited, sloppy back-pass to CourtoisUnited (H) - his flank exploited, terrorised by ShawThere must be many more examples that I can't remember right now, especially ones where he was indirectly responsible for goals conceded (e.g. United (A) and Liverpool (H) where he gave away stupid free kicks).

Yeah it wouldn't be surprising if he gets barely any game time, especially if this is true:

Yep there is indeed an option to buy according to their official website: http://www.staderennais.com/index.php?rb=22&id=AT9637

I know John Cross reported a 'substantial sell-on' but I'm not sure where the 20% figure has come from. Probably BS.

I think this is a tactical problem that goes beyond Ivanovic's incompetence. Unlike other top teams when we lose the ball and are out of shape defensively, too often the players in the immediate vicinity don't readily press the opponent with the ball. Instead of trying to stop the attack at its source they just focus on trying to run back to position, even though this gives space and time to the opposition and leads to conceding dangerous counter attacks time after time.

Never seen him play but people on French football pages are completely dumbfounded by the move and they clearly think he is nothing more than average at best. Meh I have no expectations for this Papy guy and it's a very low price but we have obviously followed up the 'Rooney or bust' saga with 'Stones/Pogba or bust' this window.

He says we had a plane waiting to pick him up and take him to London but he preferred Valencia's offer. Link (in French): http://www.mosaiquefm.net/fr/index/a/ActuDetail/Element/56661-abdennour-l-avion-de-chelsea-m-attendait-a-l-aeroport-mais-j-ai-choisi-valence

You think we can keep a clean sheet? High expectations.

Did Jose say that?

Headline doesn't match the quotes. There's a shock.

Are there additional quotes to go with this or is just typical Sky hyperbole and a melodramatic interpretation of what Mourinho said earlier? He might drop Ivanovic (assuming it is him Jose was referring to) for 1 match but that doesn't mean he's out of the first team or leaving anytime soon, sadly.

Still hasn't won the CL, and I doubt we will do it with him in midfield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oSb32eTCt0