OhForAGreavsie

Such a brilliant post.

As long ago as October 2011 I predicted that Romelu Lukaku's attributes would make him able to contribute to a team, but that the manager of any top club who employed him would soon be on the look out for an upgrade because of Rom's technical limitations. The first time I saw Tammy play for the 18s he was used wide right to accomadate Dom Solanke, who was preferred at CF. Tammy did well with his long strides, pace & power but I placed him in a similar category to Rom. A good lad with desireable attributes but lacking the finesse to match the requirements of top clubs. Tammy could be a squad member for us, a replacement Giroud, but I suspect that role wouldn't satisfy him at this stage of his career. I'd also take Rom as a backup by the way, but he'd cost too much, and need to be paid way, way too much to give value for money in that role. For our starter I want a player with elite talents. Easily said, but not so easily achieved I agree.

Our dominent youth sides in recent years have featured some really good prospects at full back and centreback. Lads who were outstanding at that level, and who are now doing well themselves out on loan or on permanent transfer. Whenever the development managers decided to play Reece at fullback others had to make way because, as good as they are, Reece is better. That was unless the bosses chose to use Reece at centrback, because then it was the turn of the very good CB prospects to make way for a better player. Another comment from Latics Speyk:- "Thought Cook got the Olsen sub spot on, most managers would have taken a forward off right away but by biding his time and putting Superman [He's referring to Reece] back to centre back it allowed us to keep Gavin on and bingo!! He then brought Olsen on when we were under the cosh and moved Reece back [To CM] to shore up midfield. The lad will go in goal if Walton gets hurt. The fans should really chant "WHERE ON THE MARCH WITH REECE'S ARMY is there nothing this lad cant do, I cant tell you how much I will miss him" - ZAKKY

I share your optinion about Reece, don't fully agree about Tammy & Charly and think that it's more about system with Dave. From Latic Speyk after yesterday's game: - "Outstanding today. By far the best player I’ve ever seen in a latics shirt, including all those years in the Prem." - TH10 "A super star. This lad is nothing short of sublime." - dwdan "What I love about him most is his passion for the club. Not for one second has he acted too big for this level and his head has always been in the right place." - NYC_LATICS

Where abouts were you? There was a really excited young lad near me (West Upper -south) who kept saying, "We're going to be in the semi-final!". Wasn't your little man was it? Either way, glad he enjoyed it.

Not based on last night, no. All four goals followed nice pieces of play but, overall, we are a poor team at the moment. Even at this level. Left the ground pretty depressed. Our passing is horrible. We often fail to spot the right option, and far too often fail to execute it even when we do. Our flicks and tricks kill play way more frequently than they set it up. Virtually no one has the combination of competence and confidence to receive the ball in a negative situation then do what's required to get play moving in a positive direction for the team. We beat Slavia with four good goals but, across the whole game, I was more impressed by their movement and combinations, than I was by ours. Although it's no fluke that they got this far in the competition, there are many better teams than Slavia Prague. Mountains of work to do.

Oh sod off J. I was so happy, why do you have to put this in my head? It was a great game of football, the best result for Chelsea, another potential injury for Spurs; Southern Comfort and ice time. Then you chirp up and all of a sudden it's time to put the cap back on the bottle, the ice back in the frezer, and stick The Smiths in the DVD player.

I know that italian managers value experience more than most but, even so, that looks like a strangely backward looking list of targets. If you're overhauling surely you go younger than that.

Hope that has a positive influence for us but I can't really see it. If he's a true Blue like you and me, then maybe, but if he's less committed than us he'll be guided by the same considerations any player would be. If that's the case, it's going to be bad news for us. He looks a real good player and that means lots of interest, including from clubs higher up the food chain than we are. Even if we're ban free, one of those will take him. Will we be ban free though? Pepe looks to me like the player Chelsea hoped Bertrand Traore might be. Wouldn't it be ironic if we're unable to sign the real deal, in part, because of the way we signed the pretender?

Those quotes from Bruce are the giveaway that his comment was in answer to a question about marketing, but, yes, we're all on the same page when it comes to why we think Christian was signed. Reading between the lines, i'd say there is a widespread suspicion that there is more to this deal than is justified by Christian's ability alone. Afterall, the questioners have probably seen Christian play and so won't have failed to wonder if he's ready. As for being interested in bottom line, that has been Chelsea's aproach for a long time now. We can't really complain however given the huge investment our club benefitted from in Roman's early years. Just wish that investment had been used even better than it was. I'm happy for the team to limit it's transfer business to self-sustaining activity only, but I really hope Roman will put some investment into the stadium. A new stadium is vital. We must not ignore the lessons to be learned from the huge stadium mistakes made by Everton and Fulham. As a result of their shortsightedness, those two clubs who once reigned supreme in their resepctive cities, have been eclipsed by wealthier and more successful clubs. Poor old Fulham are no longer even the best team in their neighbourhood, never mind the whole city. Those who won't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. As thay say.

To be fair, I think the YouTube evidence was mixed at best: -

No he doesn't and that's obvious without even reading the linked article. Bruce is far too astute a bloke to say anything so stupid publicly. Reading the article makes clear exactly what we'd have guessed from the headline. Bruce was responding to a question about whether Christian would help the club build its US fan base. It's a statement of the obvious to say that a young American footballer who is popular in his home country can only help Chelsea's PR in the United States. Recognising that fact, as Bruce does, is a million miles short of saying that the player was 'only' signed for that reason. Now, I'm not saying I doubt marketability was a big factor in the decision to sign Christian. In fact I'm certain that it was, but Bruce is not reported to have said any such thing in that interview. Nor would he ever be stupid enough to say that. Think it? Probably. Say it? Never.

i really hope that the Evening Standard has booked flights, transfers, and accommodation in Prague for a reporter this midweek.

Great achievement Fik. All the more so given that Harry Wilson, on loan from Liverpool, has had a sensational season for Derby. For a defender to out poll an eye-catching attacker, who's littered his performances with goals and assists, says a lot.

Not a fan of your dreams, that's for sure. 🙂 You're right that we fans shouldn't need the remainder. I'm on a club coach heading up north right now, but we're not headed to Liverpool. We're on our way to Manchester for the FA Women's Cup semi-Final. Some PSG ultras did bring the ugly side of support to our recent Champions League game against their women, but, otherwise, that behaviour is completely unknown in women's football. We'll enjoy the match with City fans. We'll sit with them, chat with them and congratulate them if they beat us. Meanwhile we'll maintain our reputation for being the best fans in the league. We'll support our team with positive songs only. Nothing about hating the opposition, just pushing our team to perform at their maximum. Weird I know but I bet CFCW are more proud of, and more inspired by, their fans than CFCM are.

Never mind what it might set off. What about just respecting the silence because we're decent humans who empathise with other people's grief, and who know right from wrong?

Did you see the Trump speech given to a select group of Republicans? In it he lambasted asylum seekers and, to great aclaim from his audiance, pronounced that America is full and that there is no room for people fleeing persecution. That audiance, clearly with no sense of the irony, seemed to love what Trump was saying. Yep, the Jewish Republican Colalition, Jews to a man and woman, cheered a politian telling people desperately seeking sanctuary that he didn't care about their problems and that they are not welcome in the United States. What are the odds that at least one person in the audiance had an ancestor, or other relative, on the SS St. Louis when it, and its Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler, were turned away from the US in 1939? Pretty high I'd say. Trump also told that assemly of US citizens that Benjamin Netanyahu is 'their' prime minister. In their defence it was the moron in chief who said that not any of them but for some people it's like a joint nationality. They appear to see no difference between being American or Isreli

It's definitionally impossible to be racist about a faith. No faith, that I know of, is comprised entirely of adherents from a single ethnicity. If I criticise Christianity, and I never do anything but, I am criticisng the truth claims of the superstition, not the characteristics of its followers. The word you're looking for in relation to religion is not racism, it's sectarianism and of course the people who practice sectarianism are people of faith.

Bet Moh has never been so glad he left Chelsea as he is today. Idespair at these morons who self proclaim as Blues but whose brand of support is deeply selfish and ignorant. Do they imagine Eden reads about them and thinks, "Wow, with support like that there's just no way I'm leaving"? Do they think Moh is going into Sunday's game with fond thoughts about Chelsea and hoping they'll make the top four? Do they think they help the team in any way? I want to know who the parents of these idiots are. How do you raise such stupid people?

A good bit of football!! let's hope that's not out quota for the night.

Bringing Eden on is reaching for the painkiller instead of finding the problem and fixing it. All of the players out there are waiting for someone else to make somethinhg happen.

Can't agrgue with any of that but we can't really play any worse and they haven't punished us. I'm hopeful for better in the second half.

Out of the for sure. People were in Tshirts and shorts at Lords by luchtime though.

People were having to slap on the sunblock where I was in London today.

Oops - Ex Chelsea player and sometime Chelsea TV contributor, Nigel Spackman. He's definitely not anti-Blues but lets be honest, Willian's hit apart, there really isn't anything pro-Chelsea which comes to mind watching the boys struggle the way they are. Could really have used the shot in the arm from that Willian effort going in by the way.