OhForAGreavsie

I know you didn't mean me.

What is belieber? It would not be reasonable for either of us to ask others to stop quoting our posts. When we post, we make an opinion available to the TC audience. Others may want that same audience to see a counter, or sometimes supporting, argument. Quotes are just as much a way of addressing the point(s) being made as they are a way of addressing the poster. I do not know if Jose would have reacted in the same way had we had better results in this or preceding games. I can only say that I hope not since, to repeat, it seems to me that he has behaved badly. What I hope most though is that whenever he sees a problem, he will attempt to address it and that is what he seems to be doing. As to whether his judgement is correct or not, it's his decision to make so if he says there's a problem, then there is a problem.

Grown ups do however attempt to isolate the input from the outcome in order to consider what helped you win and what didn't. I'm not saying anything you don't know when I observe that, win, loose, or draw, in commerce, sport, or whatever, it is necessary to assess individual contributions and judge whether that person/machine/system contributed positively or otherwise; whether or not future chances of success will be enhanced by similar performance levels. Read your own posts and you'll see that this is exactly how you judge Chelsea's displays and you are sensible to do so. Making such judgements is a continual process. If managers are as sensible as you, they won't allow winning or losing to distract them from it. If something needs fixing then you fix it. Indeed we've all heard Jose being strongly critical of his teams in victory, and we've also heard of him doing so during half time even when they are leading. It's not about hissy fits. Any person in a management role is not only entitled to critically assess the of members of her/his team, it's her/his responsibility to do so. Having said all of that however... I do not agree with Jose this time. It seems to me that he has behaved badly but I don't see that it is wise for me to attempt to substitute my judgement for his. Especially since my own ideas are almost certainly based on incomplete information. Trusting someone is being prepared to back their judgement even when it differs from yours. I trust Jose.

I think most of us who post here have a certain degree of confidence in our own judgement when it comes to top level football. Circumstance however means that few, if any, of us have ever had, or ever will have, the chance to put that judgement to the test. Jose of course has had the chance and it must be fair to say that he's done OK. I don't therefore think it's reasonable for any of us to characterise Jose as stubborn on those occasions when he chooses to back his own judgement. Whatever right any of us has to believe in our own opinions about football, Jose surely has that same right, multiplied a few times over.

You could be right of course Billy but I hope you're not. I've neither read nor heard anything Petr has said that upsets me in the slightest. It seems to me that people who are bothered by anything which has been said or done since Petr moved to Arsenal, are sensitive beyond all reason.

Your view point on this has its supporters as is clear from other comments, and the likes you sometimes receive. I must say however that it baffles me why you, or anyone, should think like this. If you chant anything of the kind toward Petr at The Bridge I confidently expect that that you'll be drowned out by people singing his name and mine will be one of those voices.

Which great young players has he failed to integrate?

Our manager made it clear even before last season ended that he was looking for players to add to what he had and he has confirmed that we began trying to secure those targets six months ago. We know too, or think we know, that the club is financially comfortable so that's the background against which we can each make our guesses about what's happened this summer. My own is that we have either been unable to attract the players we want or we are not willing to pay the stupid prices and or wages we have been asked for. In the case of being unable to attract a target, we are all familiar with that particular version of Catch-22. We are a good side, with good players. To improve us it will take great players but great players are in high demand. There are a number of clubs that such players are more likely to want to join in preference to us. It's entirely possible that players like Turan and Varane, with whom we were linked, would prefer to be rotational options for those clubs rather than start for us. This is not a new situation but it is a real one. In the case of not wanting to be mugged off, I fully support that stance. It's not that we can't afford stupid prices, look at the already ridiculous bids reported to have been made for Stones, it's just that there has to be a line and I, for one, would be delighted if the club is refusing to cross it. If it means we'll struggle to win, I'll live with it. If it means that any wins we do manage will be uglier than I'd like, I'll live with that too. Other guesses are available of course.

I think you are reading the runes wrongly here R-B. It seems to me that Jose wanted/wants to strengthen. Clearly something is getting in the way of us achieving that aim but, whatever it is, it is not the manager's stubbornness. As is the case with any manager, Jose has to say things designed to sound like he is satisfied with the situation. No manager can ever afford to say, my squad isn't good enough and we're in trouble. Consider all of his statements however, and it's hard to conclude anything other than that TSO knows we need reinforcements. If we can't get them then it's frustrating, but there must be good reasons for it.

Who do you have in mind VK? Off the top of my head I can't think of any LB in our development squad who has played the position all his life.

And let's not forget that we won the last FA Cup at the old Wembley.

Neil, There can't be a single Chelsea fan who, looking at your render, does not want to see it happen tomorrow. I can only imagine one problem with it. How on earth will the real thing ever live up to your work?

Not long back. Enjoyed the occasion and the win but saw the most bizarre thing. The Arsenal squad won the girls youth cup and did a lap of honour with it shortly before kick-off. What do you think happened? Chelsea fans applauded them all the way round. Some of us even cheered. Was really proud of the Blues fans and pleased for the young ladies. Some of them looked very young and it must have been a big moment for them. It would have been horrible if they'd been given stick. As for the game I thought we fully deserved it although County had their moments. Didn't agree with the official MOTM though. Eni had a brilliant 20 minutes but Gemma Davidson was outstanding all afternoon going forward and working back. Felt she should have got the nomination. Delighted for Ji with her goal. Truth be told it wasn't Ji's day so the goal was something good to take away from what otherwise would have been a forgettable outing.

It absolutely, 100%, was a reference to issues around the transfer. I watched the press conference and there is no room for doubt whatsoever. We all know by now that Jose expresses himself very awkwardly at times. This may have been one of those but his meaning was nevertheless clear.

Firstly, re your earlier comment that people were aiming Jibes at the player. In my case at least, and in Barbara's too actually, that's completely inaccurate. I hope you'll agree that my post contains many observations and some admiration but not a single jibe. Secondly, no one is assigning traits to the player. If I assert that Arsenal's home shirt is predominantly red that's another observation, not an assignation. Someone else might say that it's more accurate to call it scarlet, or flame, or whatever. If they doubt the quality of my assessment of the colour, that's fine but they'd be stretching it to claim I had not seen what was right in front of me. In any case, the implication of the post to which I am replying is that you agree with what Barbara has said about Kennedy. You don't say the observations are wrong, you just say that the player has time to change them, to develop. Well, that's an opinion that many will share but it does not mean that, right now, Barbara's views are incorrect. Thirdly, you say there is not yet sufficient data on which to base an assessment of Kennedy's traits, and that 19 is too young an age to judge. Well that also is an opinion with which many would agree, but not me. There are some things a player can improve and some things he cannot. If talent could be improved by coaching and hard work then why isn't every professional footballer as good as Lionel Messi? Why don't they all just practice a little harder till they are? Training and effort enable a player to make the most of what he has, but it doesn't alter what he has. His talent level is his talent level, and he's stuck with it. I ask you to reconsider my post on Kennedy. I think you'll agree that there are observations but no jibes. I hope you'll also agree that there is praise for the kid and a even a suggestion about how he might make a contribution here. The young man is not blessed with silky touch or tremendous close dribbling skills however, and he shouldn't be encouraged to believe that he is. If he tries to play like Hazard he'll flop; if he learns to play like Bale he could achieve something.

You know the answer to that question but I don't see the point you're making.

Entirely possible for players to score hatricks without it indicating that their finishing is crisp.

My view is that it is possible to tell very quickly. That said, your observation obviously makes sense so we should follow your lead and give the lad more time to demonstrate his level.

Anyway, leaving contrasting views on Kennedy's contractual situation aside, an encouraging performance from the lad vs Barca. As everyone is pointing out, great hustle, great power, good pace and that fabulous pass too. The question being asked before kick-off last night was why Kennedy had been selected ahead of others but I think we've seen the answer. Jose must absolutely love this bloke's attitude. (RLC please, please, please take note.) Kennedy's technique is not great in my opinion. His third touch may not always be a tackle, but it often is and far too frequently it is made at a stretch. In that sense he reminds me, as I've said before, of Lukaku. Romelu struggled thinking he was better than in fact he is, but Kennedy looks like he might be more ready to understand, and accept, that he isn't Lionel Messi. If Kennedy takes that fully on board, doesn't waste possession trying to dribble like Hazard, and concentrates instead on his strengths, he could make a contribution. If Kennedy is looking for a role model he could do worse than Gareth Bale. Similar attributes I think. Perhaps not at a similar level but of a similar type and with similar ways to make an impact.

Thanks Henrique. Yes I understand all of that very well and have previously written about it at some length. My earlier point was made in response to the assertion that Kennedy is not a Fluminense player. I maintain that, in terms of who he can play for, he is. If his transfer to Chelsea is ever to be completed, the owners of his economic rights will have to transfer that ownership to Chelsea but Fluminense will also have to confirm to FIFA that they have relinquished his registration. The owners of his economic rights do not, and cannot, own his registration. Registrations might be used by third parties to establish the value of a player's economic right's but such parties cannot actually own the registration. Only clubs affiliated with a FIFA recognised national body, such as The FA or CBF, can do that.

Not so. This misinterpretation is caused by the shorthand we all use when talking about player ownership. No one, and no organisation ever owns a player. What is owned is the players economic rights and, more importantly, his registration. The economic rights affect who the player may, or may not, sign a contract with but it's the registration which affects who he can, or cannot, play for. The Brazillian club own his registration so Kennedy is a Fluminense player. For now.

That'll do for me. Get him off, wrap him up.

I'm a lot more excited about seeing this game now. Something to discover.

Good finish too. It was a good chance to be fair but he collected the ball neatly, organised his feet quickly and drove home left footed from the edge of the box.

Not sure Sirigu could have saved it if he'd been standing on his right hand post.