OhForAGreavsie

Yes he absolutely was a very important contributor to the title but it is nevertheless true that the first of his just can't do anything right outings was vs The Swans at The Bridge in that semi-final. He then suffered a dreadful run of form over the next couple of months including being even worse in the second leg of that tie. His displays around that time led me to come up with a wild theory about what was going on with Brana but I'm keeping it to myself because it's not the sort of thing you say without evidence, and I have none.

Not constantly, but since January 2013 actually. As @kmk108 says there have been many excellent games in there but the truly dreadful ones started against Swansea in the League Cup semi-final.

I agree that this is partly true and have always said that if people want to apportion blame to TSO then this is the area where it may be appropriate to do so. That said he was not responsible (read to blame) for all of the recruitment. It's guesswork as to which players were signed at his request but I think there are big clues available. He spoke about some signings effusively, describing how he had sold the club to them during the process and giving reasons why he wanted that player. Compare the additions of Matic, Fabregas or Costa for example, with the silence accompanying many of the arrivals. Other people will have other guesses of course. I disagree with you very strongly that at any stage Jose had a squad which gave him a viable alternative way to play but I'm done to death with that argument. People who see it my way will still be arguing with people who see it your way 20 years from now and not one of us will shift our opinions at all.

No, I'm sure not but if we backtracked it certainly would not help our case if we ever wanted to sign young MLS players in future.

Completely agree, of course that is the situation. It is why Jose played as he did after the fleeting early exuberance of last season had worn off. The genius of a manager is a pragmatist. This collection of footballers can't win playing the fantasy football many here insist on seeing so he set them up in a way which gave them a chance. It's what he does.

There was a statement last night that the unknown Premier League club Miazga will be joining had had to promise that he would play, and not be loaned out, before MLS would sanction the move. This apparently was at Klinnsman's insistence who is concerned for the development of young US national team prospects. MLS own Miazga's contract of course so the fact that they would want to extract such a promise in the first place might be a further clue that Chelsea is indeed the club involved.

Stop it now please Barbara, I'm depressed enough about this deal already. Let's just hope for a 3 month honeymoon period where things go his way, he looks good, and helps us win some games. Of course we'll probably then shove a five year deal at him but let's cross that bridge of sighs when we come to it.

I'm depressed. I wish someone at the club was listening to you.

I'll be shocked if Milan want him back. Ever. That said, I didn't think that we would want him and yet we clearly do. I can only hope my view of Pato as a somewhat talented but nevertheless overrated and ineffective player in the Robinho mould, is wrong.

I thought The FA had already said the exact opposite. I'm sure I heard an FA bod, being interviewed months ago, saying they would go along with this because, "We want to do everything we can to help". Naturally, I took that to mean, We're money grabbers, of course we'll accept a ground share. If the price is right. Edit: To be fair to them, the impression in this guardian article is that The FA are a bit more open about the fact that it is the money which sold them on the idea of a ground share. In the interview I listened to the line was simply to push the we are here to help the clubs cover story.

When did anyone say otherwise? I do of course make negative observations myself. Pretty often in fact but I do not pour bile. When someone chooses to do that they lose my good opinion. Few, if any, will care about that I'm sure but it's a fact all the same.

There are plenty of Chelsea people, past and present, for whom I have no respect. I never speak about any of them in the way some here talk about the club's greatest ever coach.

I've probably been to Stamford Bridge about 1,000 times and put tens of thousands of pounds into the club. This surely gives me the right to call myself a Chelsea fan. That's not to say that I deny anyone else's right to regard themselves as a Blue whether they've watched many more games than me, or none at all. It does mean however that anyone using the word we about the club is associating themselves me and hundreds of thousands of others. Believe me, there's nothing we about me and you in the manner of the support given to the club. I'm sure you are tempted to say amen to that. Well, maybe that's something we do have in common then.

Whose side is Matic on?

I'm not watching West Ham any more, it's depressing. Not only did we fail to get Dimi Payet, we will never get him. Every top club in the league, not to mention many on the continent, will have set their sights on him and we won't win that fight. Assuming we even got in the ring that is.

In reality we know that that is what happened but legally speaking he was not sacked. Legally he left by mutual consent and what Jose is, or is not, able to do now will have been agreed when he departed.

Pumped?

Man I hope you're right. With City currently losing things aren't looking too good at the top if we get beat. On the other hand a couple of quick goals for City tonight and a Blues win tomorrow puts everything it a much better light.

Goals Man Utd 1-5 Chelsea https://streamable.com/yqmy

I can't argue with that since I haven't seen enough of Teixeira to form a strong opinion about his chances. I just think he looks a better player, from a technique point of view, than Juan. Whether that might make him a good contributor for Chelsea I can't say but it must make it at least possible that he'd do better than our Columbian winger. Payet is the player I'd like to sign but I would not say no to buying him and Mahrez. Of course, baring the existence of buy-out clauses, no one at Chelsea is going to get the chance to say no to either of those deals because West Ham and Leicester will do it for them.

It isn't the be all and end all I know but, Teixeria is a far more technically able player than Cuadrao. Whatever he might turn into, I don't think it would be Juan #2.

Chelsea are continuing their pursuit of a sixth FA Youth Cup Final appearance in seven years and, hopefully, a fifth win in that period. Our under 18s are currently playing away to Manchester United in a fourth round tie. We lead 1-0 through a headed goal from Ike Ugbo. Ike nodded home after the keeper had just managed to keep out the original headed effort from Tammy Abraham. Brilliant run and cross from Jay Dasilva set the goal up. 7:52pm Now 0-2. Brilliant take turn and finish from Tammy Abraham. The lads deserve to be more than 2 up. They've been good. In fact I've never seen Kyle Scott play better and Charlie Wakefield is on top of his game too. Many other good performances which could also be mentioned. Half-time. 9:00pm 1-5 United briefly and undeservedly pulled it back to 1-2, but an immediate third from Mason Mount, a beautiful chipped fourth from the outstanding Jay Dasilva and a tap in from Mukhtar Ali have made the score a more accurate reflection of the game. We've been miles better than them. Full time. AFC Wimbledon away in the 5th round. If they play it at Kingstonian I'll be there.

He's been pretty ordinary when I've seen him. So much so that I stopped watching.

Not many of the top clubs want him I'd wager. We don't have long to wait to see if we do.

Everything you say is completely valid of course but according to a retweet on ChelseaTransfer the agent has just said that despite working on getting a deal, Corinthians have yet to receive an offer. Again, I accept that the lack of an offer does not mean there have been no discussions but it does give hope to those of us who don't want Pato. I'm looking forward to confirmation that no offer yet has become there will be no offer from Chelsea.