Chelsea Buzz

Agreed. I am not sure it was injury. Based on the look on JT's face, he was pulled for quality of play or lack there of. JT will be an all-time great at Chelsea, but there will come a day he cannot continue at the top level. Are we closer than we think?

If Begovic is "on" his game and in the zone, we may be able to have a chance. I am more optimistic than most. I realize we are not the favorite, obviously, but give us a chance is all I ask. Pretty simple and predictable from Jose I am sure. I do not expect the full park the bus approach we saw at Man U a couple of seasons ago or some of the other big road matches, at least not the first half anyway. I think he will have the guys looking to score early, quick counters, etc., and then slowly begin shutdown mode as we work into the second half. I expect something like this (to no one's surprise): Begovic Ivanovic - Terry - Cahill - Dave Ramires - Matic Willian - Fabregas - Hazard Costa It's been awhile since we won a big match. This would be a nice place for it to all come back together again. A full week to prepare. I'll go with 1-2 good guys, Costa and Dave to score. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

We are due! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

I like your optimism.

He just doesn't quite look like he is 100% in my opinion. He had a couple of chances that early last year he would have gotten loose from the defender for a better effort. I feel he is about 80-85% of last year at this time. And I feel there is a huge difference in Diego at 100% and him at 80%. He is terrific with a boomer on a rebound, etc but he does not have he dribbling skills of other top flight players. I agree with you that he should have gotten a couple of calls, etc. But we all know that is par for the course for the PL officiating. My concern with Diego is health. My concern for Cesc is different. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

I have my concerns about Cesc and Diego at this point. Neither are tuned up and running smooth. I realize Diego is due to his hamstring. Cesc? No idea what has happened. He looks so confused out there at times. Are we better with Zouma in midfield hounding Toure as someone suggested previously? It may be a better decision than Cesc. It could be similar to strategy two years ago with Luiz at City. Unfortunately no real options to replace Ivanovic for this one. I expect Jose to play to score and attack first half, tied or ahead in second half and we park the double decker. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Well, where to start after this one? Thought we were play "okay" and good enough to win until the red. Weren't playing stellar, but well enough for the three points. How many times did we look completely out of sync on our passes in the box? Must have completely misfired 10-12 times. This team needs 2 or 3 more players and some fresh blood. Not enough quality depth. We'll start with the bad and the transition to the good. Where have you gone Cesc Fabregas? Since January 1st, he has been just lost. Poor decision making. Poor skills. Looked like vs West Brom late last season. Surprised others have not been crushing his performance today. Diego since the 2 goals vs Swansea last January has not been the same. He cannot reach long balls or get into space. The hamstring is not letting him stretch out or he is afraid to reach. With the hamstring issues, he is no better than Torres or Eto'o from 2013-14. Those two above were the key pieces that pushed us to a higher level August-December 2014. Without them at their top game, we slip a notch or two back down. Nothing to say about Ivanovic that has not been said. I like the guy. He's had some big games for the Blues, but he was targeted and beaten badly today. Defense in general was poor. Cahill was a bright spot on a couple of plays. I am optimistic we will get the ship righted. But we have got to sign a couple of contributors. No more Cuadrados please. Oscar and Begovic were bright spots. Thought Oscar looked the best on free kicks anyone has since Lampard. I know Schurrle was not Jose's type, but man I miss his offensive movement. Time to regroup. Go get at least one point at City I suppose, be down 4 points and start chipping away. Meanwhile, sign some players. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Courtois a late scratch? Just saw it live in Chelsea TV. He was get worked over by Eva.

Let's just get him on the score sheet, and nice lead, and take him out at 65 minutes. :D Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Not sure and I prefer Remy at this point, but Jose loves him some Falcao. Moot point today, we get Diego!! Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Match day! Up with the Chels!!

Yes, unless the Bridge was moved to Wales Got my numbers inverted somehow. Let's go with 3-1!! Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Hello mates! Another PL and UCL season is upon us. What a glorious time of year. Love it! The pre-season has been perhaps our poorest in a few years, no doubt, but it is after all, just that, pre-season. Time for the lights to come on play some serious football while defending the title. I think we all know our 13 man rotation was wearing thin late last season, but the 32 points out of a possible 36 in our first 12 sent us well on our way to the title. It's a long way to May and Jose knows it. I think this is why he has not shown a lot of emotion in the pre-season. UCL is a focus this year. Jose needs marathoners not sprinters. We need to jump out in front at the opening gate again this year. I am taking Chelsea to win Saturday, 1-3. I expect: Courtois Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpilicueta Fabregas - Matic Willian - Hazard - Moses Remy Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

I am ready to "get it on" Sunday at Wembley. I think the players are as prepared and fit as can be expected, except for Costa and Cahill at this point. I'll start the obligatory chain of questions: Any status update on Costa for Sunday? Cahill? Beating Gooners in any competition is wonderful Hate to be the downer on this, but have we seen the best of Costa in a Chelsea shirt? I only ask in the sense that is he permanently damaged from here on out with chronic hamstring issues? Keep in mind that he only played in 23 of the 38 PL matches last year. We basically won it down the stretch without him. Gotta find some depth if we want to make a run in the UCL. CB (Stones?) and a Midfielder a must in my opinion. I have seen enough of Moses to keep him and give him a shot off the bench. I have seen enough of Cuadrado to give him a shot in the starting XI......for an MLS squad. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Agreed. If Moses can play as he has in the pre-season, I take him over Cuadrado and Mikel.

Well, pre-season or not, it was worth the two hour investment to watch. Entertaining match. Good to see most of the lads rounding into shape and I saw some good pace and effort in the first half. FCB definitely owned the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, but thought we scrapped back into it the final 20 minutes. There were a couple of good looks that did not get in. Ramires???? For pre-season friendlies, thought matches against PSG and FCB helped push our preparedness for this coming Sunday. Much better than playing middling Asian all-star squads or third rate eastern European clubs. I echo the thoughts of many that we have little depth for a long grueling PL and UCL campaign, along with the other competitions. We need a bigger rotation. I am really concerned about depth on the back line. Need Stones. Would you keep Moses at this point over Mikel? I think yes. Though Fiorentina is a friendly wedged between Arsenal and Swansea, its game on from here forward. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Like what I saw in the first half. We seemed to attack from the word "go". Lots of movement. Near misses from both sides. Costa should have burried his. Hazard is just, well, Eden we know and love. I like this guy Kenedy Courtois has been on his game tonight. Look forward to the second half. Hope we keep the pace. Curious who and when we sub. I am feeling better about where we will be the next couple of weeks as a team. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

Enjoyed the match. First time being able to take whole family. A little harder to do in my trips to the Bridge (lol). Much better effort tonight. Still rusty and lots to work on as expected but effort good. Especially considering the team landed in Charlotte 3 hours prior to kickoff. Surprised they didn't stay Friday night in Charlotte instead of Montreal. I echo what others have posted. I liked what I saw from Remy and Falcao together. Willian was refreshing to see and needed. Cuadrado is fast but....... All and all, a good night in the Queen City of Charlotte. 61,000 in attendance. Come on you Chelsea!!

I think the Montreal nightlife and off season meals have taken a toll. Everyone looked 10-15 pounds heavier. And slower. Disappointing effort for sure. Just pre-season, but what a bad squad to lose 4-2 to. The back four and AB were the worst I have seen in a long time. Time to tighten it up. Missed Willian tonight certainly. I still don't understand unloading Schurrle. But that is just me. Oh, well, no need to lose sleep over it. Will be in Charlotte Saturday night. Hope to see a different effort and result. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

My first match at the Bridge was the dreaded loss to Sunderland in April 2014, Mourinho's only home defeat in the EPL. Ugh. Returned this past May vs Sunderland for the 3-1 win and got to see the trophy hoisted in person! Pure enjoyment! Will be in Charlotte this weekend. Come on you Chelsea!! :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

You mean he's not? Next thing you know, someone will say that Jordan Henderson is on it. :confused:

Oh, FFS, I hope not. Who would want one of those? I would want the real deal, not some street vendor looking knock-off. Surely, they will sell the right version globally.

This is awesome!! Hope plans are finalized by January 2016 so the project could begin by fall 2016, which would mean 2016-17 through 2018-19 elsewhere and 2019-20 at the new palace Any potential time lines been discussed?

Late to post. Had sa great day at the Bridge today. Rocking atmosphere and result. Simply - CHAMPIONS!! Come on you Chelsea!!

In South Kensington tonight and ready for the celebration at the Bridge tomorrow. Plan to walk to the match down Fulham Road so I hope the weather is good. Can't believe Hazard is out. He missed tge game I attended last year. I am hoping for a good mix of vets and youngsters tomorrow. Come on you Chelsea!! Champions of England!!