ParNolio7

He has a pretty good record against the top teams though. But obviously a manager is dependent from his players, just as the other way around. Manager's role should not be underestimated either.

So you think Hazard is (already) better than Zola then, honest opinion?

sorry but that's a ridiculous, based on nothing remark. if you really feel like analyzing my posts, go through them properly and you'll see that there's plenty of positive thoughts and excitement. btw, there's no shame in being second best to Zola. most players in world history are. Eden is still an absolute delight though, won't hear me say otherwise.

Looking at this magnificent video again (probably best football video in history), just makes you realize how far Eden still is from becoming our best ever player. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25MZuCzK1U

There shouldn't be a Hazard-Drogba partnership to begin with. Drogba is a Legend (capital L) but he can't compete at this level anymore. It's painfully obvious for anyone to see, we shouldn't have taken him back as a player. Only as a striker coach a few years from now.

Small prediction from my side 3-1

You cannot rest key players in the opening match of the Champions League, let alone against a team from the Bündesliga! We need to make a good start, show the world what we're all about this year. In many ways, City match in the weekend is a lot less important than this game tonight. We only have 6 matches to qualify for the next round.

Don't buy that for a minute. Of course he has to work on the training ground, just like everyone else, but the hardest worker doesn't necessarily make the greatest player. Quite the contrary often. He's developping in a good way, just have faith in him and his ability, he'll be just fine.

Definitely is. Fabregas has taken a lot of pressure from his shoulders & Costa has finally given him a striker he can rely on.

talking 6-10 linkup not 6-9 or 10-9

Courtois Dave - Iva - Cahill - Luis Matic - Cesc Oscar - Hazard - Schürrle Costa

yes best combo in the EPL, maybe even Europe!

Leaks in defence

haha, I would advise to just be happy with every match we win, every goal we score, where it leads to we'll see in the end. season is long and competitors strong. you can duplicate that last quote from me if you like! ;-)

Hold your horses just yet! City will be a big test for us. We've proven we can score goals, but we also concede. Not an easy task to score more goals than conceded against the likes of City. Will be a cracker of a game though, and I still think we'll win it.

It's quite the other way around. You'd be stuck with an unhappy, negative, moaning player who you pay a shit load of money every week and worst thing is you can't get rid of him because no club in the world is willing nor capable to pay that much money for him. Let alone the fact that his actual value decreases every minute he sits on the bench. Kinda like ... Torres

Duh

No reason to overestimate the EPL defences. Just look at our last match against Everton for example. Ronaldo also scored very easily in his last seasons for Man United. And I'm pretty sure Messi could easily score 30 odd goals a year in EPL as well. Still I think you're right Messi and Ronaldo's phenomenal goal scoring shouldn't be abused to downtalk Hazard. But EPL defending is not the correct argument imo, rather the fact that Hazard has other qualities.

I think he's attached to recognition & admiration more than anything. And he's getting that at Chelsea too now, so I guess he's happy.

Yes, because a highly dissatisfied 100K/week player with a 5-year contract would be a brilliant idea! ...

That's because even Lionel Messi doesn't have a clue what to do when Courtois gets in front of him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgRo_gXruEo

In the current EPL I think it's impossible to say that the league title is a must. We have a brilliant team that should be capable of doing it, but the same will be said at Manchester City or even Liverpool. Man City haven't made any impressive signings but they are stable as fuck and will be as likely a competitor as any of the past years, and Liverpool have made some excellent improvements to their squad (Balotelli and the S'hampton lot) in spite of already being VERY close to the title last year. So even if losing Suarez, I think they'll be even tougher this season. So if we'd make it champions this years, it would be a massive achievement, not a logical must. And I think luck and form of the day will be more decisive than anything else. Still, Blues for champions!

Simeone is the successor we need, no mistake about that.

He could replace Oscar. As said before here, he's a real n° 10 or 8, not a winger. He's a playmaker, and someone with a great shot, technique, workrate. Still to prove everything at a higher level though, so let's see what he can do at BMG in the Bündesliga ...

Quite funny actually that he replaced Eden by his brother Thorgan and Romelu (Lukaku) by his brother Jordan. I'm sure he did that just for the sake of it