OhForAGreavsie

Lol! Logged in now. Just in time to see Costa having a go at Traore.

Getting even more wound up now since I can't access the game.

Anybody else having trouble logging in to Chelsea TV online? Been trying since ten to seven.

Doing cricket = beer guzzler and I can prove it. Now I've got to find that raft because no sod's gonna be covering me.

We need to get the season started for you mate. All this cricket & tennis & golf is messing with your sense of reality. Now, where did I leave my life raft?

Clearly I don't or else I would not have commented as I did would I? I do now know how you see it however.

Agreed though I wouldn't mind seeing Kennedy at left back.

Kennedy is a great example. After watching him on youtube, I commented that his touch was too loose and that this would mean he was not the quality Chelsea required. Many people disagreed with that at the time and plenty still do but I continue to believe it is the reason he has been unable to hold down a place in the side. What could not be seen on youtube however, or at any rate what I could not see, is the lad's trememdous attitude and willingness to try. It is this which gives him his best chance at the club, the chance to make himself a wingback. As an attacking player Kennedy hasn't got what it takes and won't make it but as a wing-back there is at least a hope. A small one, but hope all the same. Does all of this mean it was worth taking the gamble? I'd say maybe so if the club knew about Kennedy's attitude, as they certainly should have done.. Despite the fact that we might sell the player at a profit, meaning the gamble would not have cost us much, if anything, financially, it still costs us the opportunity to 'gamble' with a different player. I think we must start by honestly being able to say to ourselves that the player in question has a chance. If we don't really think so, then gamble on someone who might.

Thank you for pointing out that my earlier post was patronising. It was not the intent and I have appologised to @Chelsea4. My contention is that it is not possible to divine the inferred criticism form the quote and I maintain that it is not. We know that there has been overt criticism of Jose's attitude toward young players in training. You will know which player it was that made the comments about being made to feel that the kids were there only to make up the numbers. I have forggoten who it was, if I ever knew. It is perfectly ligitimate of course for members of the development squad to be drafted in to make up the numbers but they should be made to feel good about that experience and that must start with managing their expectations. It seems clear that Jose failed in that. None of this is conatained in what ola had to say however. He was asked about Antonio's in-game aproach and spoke about that.

First of all, I have been told by another member that a response I made to an earlier post of yours was patronising. I appologise for that. Tthe most we can say for Antonio is that he thinks he knows how to get the best out of Cuadrado. A question to you, or anyone else who may know the answer, did Juan make himself Juve's first choice right wing-back or did he mainly play there when others were unavailable or rested?

From, "I heard him a lot! It was really good. I would much rather have a manager telling me ‘Ola here, Ola there', than not hearing anything at all and being left in the dark"? I don't see how. To start with Ola is clearly talking about in game and, if one were to conclude a comparison, how can one divine, from the quote, that the comparison is with Jose? It was an empty comparison, not a direct one. Ola was asked to comment on the fact that the head coach of his club shouts a lot from the touchline.. He said he liked it. What else is he going to say in that situation?

An opinion which is widely held and which is entirely valid in respect of those things which footballers can learn. Where the problem is a shortage of talent however no amount of time will cure it. I say again, I will be shocked if any leading club wants Barbosa.

I have seen Barbosa play. I have explained where and why I consider that to be valid. It has many many times caused me to reach the right conclusion about footballers. For example when I said that Douglas Costa looked a more talented player then the man we ended up buying that transfer window. I realise there is absolutely no reason at all why anyone should be familiar with my record of predictions made based on YouTube observations but I say again, without a hint of dishonesty or self delusion, that I have absolute confidence in the judgements I have made by watching YouTube.

As someone who used to sing the Wilkins song* in The Shed all those years ago, this saddens me but he's a growm man who was dealt a great hand in the game of life; talent, money, brains, everything. He knows as well as we all do that you can't put people's lives at risk by driving when you are drunk. Having been done for this twice previously he deservs a jail sentence and I'm affraid he's going to get one. In that regard, winding up the court by making up excuses for not attending, won't help. *Just the Ossie song with 'Wilkins, Wilkins' replacing 'Osgood, Osgood'.

Nonsnse. You, if it was you who originated that claim, have completely misunderstood what Ola is saying here. If English is not your first language then it is perfectly understandable if you have not realised the meaning of the expression, left in the dark. If that is the case then please forgive the implied criticism. Ola is not talking about being selected vs. not being selected. He is talking about being given on pitch instructions vs. not being given on pitch instructions. He isn't even comparing one manager with another. He was asked his opinion of Antonio's coaching style and, as players in that situation always do, just tried to say something nice. Ola played for Adi Viveash last season. When it comes to delivering instructions from the touchline, Adi is the King. Indeed he has recieved criticism for doing too much of it in the past, including from me. Following comments made on telly about him over coaching, Adi has tried to tone it down a bit.

How is it possible to extrapolate “Ola Aina has praised Conte but not not so much our previous manager” from what Ola said and which manager do they mean, Adi Viveash? Who ever wrote that statement is talking tosh and knows less about Chelsea than she/he might.

Wide is indeed the right word. We should give this guy a very wide swerve.

On the subs: - I like Aina. My criticism of him has always been that he is prone to too many mistakes. I used to say that you could rely on him for 2 or 3 errors per game, but he did better on that last season. Minus those errors, we have a potential player there. I also think Tomori must start to become a factor in first team squad planning. He had a brilliant season last term.

Yes, that's the widespread opinion but my experience is that this point of view is wrong, or at any rate it is only partly right. I'd agree that it is unwise to decide that a player is good eough based on youtube only but, I believe strongly that you can judge if he is not good enough. In this case, that's the judgememt I make of Barbosa. My approach is to start with highlight compilations. If I like what I see there I move on to all-touches vids. If I still like what I see I then take in 90 minute coverage. Then and only then might I conclude that a player is right for Chelsea. If a player fails the two easier tests however, he does not make it to the 90 minute level. Barbosa fell at the first hurdle; he looks ordinary even in his highlights.

I suspect that Conte has something like this in mind.

The standard double-talk method makes deciphering Conte's comments difficult. He might mean that he likes Cuadrado and wants him back at the club, or he might mean he wants to sell Cuadrado but knows what has to be said to maximise the price.

I'll be stunned if any of those clubs want this kid. He looks an ordinary player, even in his highlight videos. No interest whatsoever in Chelsea signing this bloke.

Suggesting a first loan for Charlie and a further one for Mario i think. (Assuming the pair are fit.)

Unless it means, "I want to join Chelsea but they are welcome to offer me a little more money to make sure of my affections if they like."

I wouldn't go back there if I were him. It'll hurt more when he loses his place in the side. Another in the long line of players who are not as good as their reputations suggest.