OhForAGreavsie

No Chelsea men's game this weekend but the women are hosting ManU in a big game at Kingsmeadow (near Kingston) on Sunday. A few standing tickets left. All seats have been sold. United have impressed me a lot so far. Their manager is the outstanding Casey Stoney and they've got some exciting players, including Reece's sister Lauren James. She's been getting rave reviews in her WSL debut season. Should be a heck of a game. If you haven't taken in a women's game yet, now's your chance. Preview: https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/11/15/fran-kirby-on-manchester-united-clash-and-her-fitness Tickets: https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets---membership/buy-tickets?team=women&competition=0&pageTab=GENERAL ADMISSION&fbclid=IwAR1DllegZhpOW0baPGdRnAYelRMLVFKtyh3RlZDO0K061LK_eS540VAAnpI

But for a missed pen in the away leg at Lyon, we may well have won it last season. We gave the five time European Champions absolutely everything they could handle. That's not me talking either, that's what Lyon fans were telling us in the bar after the second leg.

Double like, Had the same idea.

Hodgson's no fool. As I said at the time, he sold a fullback for a monster fee, then tried to buy a better one for less than half the price. He must have known deep down that he was never going to get Reece, but credit to him for trying.

Sam's first Chelsea interview: - https://www.instagram.com/chelseafcw/tv/B4zFoP6i0qL/caption/in-sam-kerrs-first-interview-as-a-blue-she-talks

Superstar striker Sam Kerr, joins Chelsea Women. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/11/13/sam-kerr-signs-for-chelsea-fc-women?fbclid=IwAR2dNyxwRtvETch3sjM1Bxa-qBjYOY5Phy2AUVlsDuLFxgMGl0JC_ZlDheU

Why do you hate him? He only ever did his best for Chelsea. What more could he do? If he was not a sufficiently good player in your book that's hardly his fault. After all, Gaz didn't pick the team. I was on my feet saluting him yesterday and I'm delighted that this was pretty unanimous around the stadium.

Matt Miazga, so good they sold him twice!

I'm always persuaded by this type of observation. It speaks loudly.

I recommend my attitude to international breaks. I don't buy tickets to internationals, I don't watch them on TV, I don't follow them in any way. If everyone did that for a season, we'd be rid of these blasted breaks, instead of just going along with them the way fifa expect us to. Ditch the breaks, use the time saved to shorten the club season so it starts later, and finishes earlier. That makes room in the calendar for an international season. The weather's good, the fan parks open, the flags come out and we can all enjoy getting behind England, or our various national sides. That's the way to do it.

Both still have plenty to prove I think.

Werner?

Suggesting that he signed a four year extension in summer 2018. I'd be stunned if a new deal is not being worked on right now. One of those nice seven year jobs would be just the ticket.

He put a bit more beef behind the second last night which is good to see. Not because I think there's anything wrong with his 'usual' style, but because extra variety keeps the keepers guessing.

That's an option for sure and of course Frank has tried a three as well so that's a route SFL must be looking at. Ah, a back three. Fond memories of the days when we didn't have to hide behind the sofa every time the Blues concede a corner, or free kick near their box.

I think Frank is more articulate and intuitive. He shares strength of character with JT but he is also more charming and seems to me to be more capable of influencing people around him. That includes Roman, the board, the press, everybody. I expect him, gradually, to be granted more influence at board level than any other manager in the Roman era. We'll see.

Do you agree that Azpi's most consistent performances for Chelsea came when he played at CB, albeit in a three?

Sure the club is working on it but Reece did sign a new deal last summer.

He (Azpi) is a good option as a squad player. Experience, knowledge of, and commitment to, the club, plus the ability to cover three positions.

I believe in Frank. Over the years whenever people have talked of JT as a future Chelsea boss, I have said no, absolutely not for me. I have always said that I wanted, one day, to see Frank in the job however. I have absolute confidence that SFL will handle this in the right way. As for succession planning, Cesc Fabregas is the man I'd pencil in as Frank's successor if the need arises. I hope he'd have the sense to choose us over Arsenal if he had the choice.

Where you been? We need your voice around here. Our numbers are small but, in my opinion, the general quality of posts on this forum is very high. If you are going to be regular again that seals the deal.

As I posted to say roughly a year and a half ago. (Around April/May time in 2018.) I don't think I was as reasonable about it as you though; I'm pretty sure I didn't say, "I think".

As a number of people here have been observing since his youth team days, Reece is the best crosser of a ball in the club. When I made this point back then I always added, "of any age", to emphasise that I didn't mean just among the youngsters,. I'm sure none of us think that clarification is necessary any longer. He's the best we have. As for the headache, I'm sure Jody has known for a long time that Reece is the best RB in the club. That's based on Jody's comments while they were working together in the U18s. Now, I think Reece has proved this even to people who don't watch Chelsea as closely as we all do. It's just a matter of Frank getting comfortable with the idea of shifting/benching Azpi, and I don't think it can take much longer now. I say this because SFL demonstrates all the time that he has a preference for quality, and that he understands its importance in building a great team. The majority of the quality in our side comes from Jorgi and Kova. They are great, but they are not enough. Reece adds more of the right level and Frank won't resist that opportunity for much longer.

OK, thank you. It's as I thought. He outright said it, not alluded to it.

Agreed, the state of the pitch was a big issue. By the way, did Antonio allude to it, or did just say it?