quickpassnmove

If we're dumping Oscar for Pogba ITF, can't say I will be sad. I just want solid fullbacks, and CMs to be top priorities (along with a new centre back).

at this point, I feel Quique Sanchez-Flores might be an interesting prospect for manager.

well, I was waking up anyway... or was that just my underlying urge to see young Chelsea players on TV? WTF? Hurry the fuck up and score two goals. sub in someone. >>>>better not be another Chelsea snoozer<<<<

One terrible calendar year under Mourinho with an incomplete squad, a lack of rotation/change, a lack of goalscoring, more slow, inept attacks, etc.... This is NOT a good time to make judgments on this player IMO. One thing we've always known: he's not a great finisher even at his best. In my opinion, Hazard needs to play in a side wherein he is not expected to create so much from dribbling but is still given some liberty to do so. If Chelsea aren't the side to move the ball faster, then he should go elsewhere to realize greater potential. On the other hand, de Bruyne is a more impressive player for me, so... yeah, there's that big mistake (thanks Jose). I feel certain that I would rather spend big wages on Kevin than Eden, but some of this opinion is formed from my view that football should not revolve around single players who are expected to emulate superstars like Messi/Ronaldo. When football becomes a dribbling exhibition with an elevated superstar dribbler in every side, I am far less interested in the sport altogether. Same boring crap in baseball (pitcher) and in American throwball (quarterback).

I'm hoping this match is the most redeeming performance of the season with plenty of young players who haven't had a chance in the starting XI.

Both of these players could be very interesting. Would like to see them play.

This brings up a good topic for me. Cars made in and around Germany, with German parts are very suspect in America for some people because of the costly repairs and faulty electrical systems. I have an old Volvo and although I prefer the style, design, and comfort of European car (better than American and Japanese in most models), I feel that I am somewhat disinclined to buy another European car unless I can get enough feedback from other owners on a brand/model that doesn't have electrical problems and excessive repairs. Never(?) has any company made a German, French or Italian car in Japan and rarely has a company so successfully mixed the European design quality and comfort with Japanese reliability. The Acura TL around 2007 and newer models of Lexus sport sedans are the only cars that come to mind. Personally, this is what I would like in a car: European design, Japanese reliability and longevity with minimal repairs AND either electric or hybrid. or... for the cheap compromise: buy a Honda, rip the shitty driver's seat out and install a Recaro racing seat. example of Acura TL from yesteryears (the new ones look like total shit) and the new Lexus IS:

Lars Stindl CM/CF might be a good buy. Can anyone here tell us about Gaston Gil Romero? I've been using this player for the past two seasons in FIFA because he's a perfect, young all-rounder. need: CM, fullback, strong striker.

Four more fixtures in January. Does Guus have any say in what CFC do in January? Lots of things could happen this month: Ivanovic to Serie A, a new CM, new defender, returning loanees, a new CF... I can't get my head around buying another attacking midfield shrimp though.

any authentic news that Chelsea want a new CM or FB would be great. waiting.

I don't know who is to blame, but CFC haven't figured out how to build a strong squad yet. I thought good things were underway when we dumped Luiz and Torres, but since then (and years before), I've been waiting to see quality and depth in centre midfield and fullback. I like the suggestion that CFC need people who really know football on the board. Seems that what DYC says on page 1 of this thread is true: appointments have been "all over the place;" meaning Chelsea have not had a coherent vision to go with the constant change of managers and lack of youth integration. Other top clubs put a lot of effort into finding the right players for centre mid and fullback. This one has spent a lot of time (many seasons now) with a thin layer and lack of quality in those positions. Now centre back is looking weaker and we lack strikers, so... like Guardiola said.

BS rumour or Emenalo wants fired.

Mikel probably should have remained a non-DM in his career. He doesn't run a midfield like a top player from deep and never has consistently because the opposition often knows him too well and Mikel doesn't adapt to the pressures.

The good days for JOBI won't last. you can find reality tomorrow. but we can't sell Mikel

happy with the win, but I'm not celebrating anything yet. a) we'll see what the weeks ahead bring and b. I can't make an assessment of the opponent due to not viewing much PL this season and barely seeing CP play so far. We need more options at fullback. good match from Mikel, Fabregas and Oscar nonetheless. we'll see how our MF gets tested and whether CM and FB get rotated in the coming weeks.

A striker (maybe) and a capable starting box-to-box CM to rotate in with RLC and Matic. No more running on one leg in CM, please oh please. Ighalo sounds nice to me btw* Maybe we take their manager next season(?!?) A fullback would also be nice, but I'm not sure what player can be had. Seems to me that NOW would be a great time for the management to start testing the waters with Ola Aina to see what's necessary in the January window.

I like this idea. I'm afraid that Chelsea will not shake the poor pattern of play they've exhibited for a long while (as DYC mentioned), but having capable box-to-box CMs and fullbacks in the starting XI would help immensely. When I see those four positions occupied by Matic, player X, Ivanovic and wrongsideded Azpi, I want to turn the TV off immediately.

pass. Gundogan. Don't let another player go to ManCity who can orchestrate an entire lineup on the pitch. Pogba can't run a midfield and Chelsea need a player who can run the show from centre midfield. We need structure and an all-rounder, not a tall, skilled AM who's not able to give us everything we need in MF.

would be nice to buy one solid box-to-box CM in January, play some alternate strikers or buy another, see RLC playing and maybe see Ola Aina getting time along with definite match time for Rahman. I don't want to see more of Ivanovic starting this entire season and I don't want to see more of Chelsea running their midfield with one leg and destroying Nemanja Matic in the process. Poor decisions on transfers and Jose Mouinho have already done enough damage to Nemanja Matic. well... good luck, Chelsea. More rumours about a Pogba transfer... SMH. buy another superstar and fail to build a solid side first? Why would Pogba want to play with this pathetic side anyway?

Current manager doesn't have enough talent in his squad at Gladbach, but it's interesting how he uses Stindl as the CF/false 9.

I like this post on WAGNH about Lucien Favre --a manager whose Gladbach side were fun to watch. http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2015/12/28/10670434/barcelondon-lucien-favre

Hiddink isn't going to be ambitious yet. Here's a draw. Still, the counterattack was crap because the only player with any steel and incision among those front four is probably Pedro and that's just not enough. zero momentum going forward, too much dribbling.

this match is the perfect exhibit on why the current generation of top footballers are not nearly as good as the previous two.

thanks Wayne; we are awful.

astute change from Hiddink seeing that there are redundant dribblers on the pitch and adding more cover for the beleaguered Ivanovic. question is: is this all we have? hold on for a draw. Bertrand on as CF?