stroey

Jose Mourinho knew Chelsea had big problems in the summer, says former Blues winger Pat Nevin "To be fair to Jose, he knew they don't just have problems, but big problems - that is why he tried to sign six players in the summer," he told Goal. "There are structural issues that need addressing. For instance, John Stones and Paul Pogba were expensive targets, which hints at concerns with the strength of the starting XI." "The squad achieved beyond their wildest dreams last season, but that was never going to continue. "For whatever reason he was not able to get all the players he wanted in during the summer and the form of some of his big names from last season has let him down. "[Diego] Costa came back after the summer looking unfit, perhaps even overweight, and Eden Hazard is not the player he once was. Add to the mix the fact that John Terry is another season older and the problems mount up." "As we know, they [Chelsea] have been successful for 10 to 15 years by chopping and changing, but this time they should keep faith in him. His track record demands that - whether they are top four or bottom half, give him time to sort it out. "Chelsea are experiencing a small bump just now, but it could get much bigger if they panic and look to replace the most successful manager in their history." http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/jose-mourinho-knew-chelsea-had-big-problems-in-the-summer-says-former-blues-winger-pat-nevin-a3100496.html

TV Info: Capital One Cup Highlights (Channel 5, 11 p.m. Wednesday) / beIN Sports (U.S. only)Live Stream: No UK live stream / beIN Sports Connect (U.S. only) Hmm hope we can find some proper stream.

moved

If there is one manager in Chelsea's history that deserves a chance to turn this season around till the end of the season, it's Jose Mourinho. * Chelsea: 4 League titles won in the last 10 years, 3 won by Jose. (75%) * Jose: 5 full seasons at Chelsea, won 3 league titles (60% success rate) + 3 League Cups and 1 FA cup * The longest unbeaten home record in the EPL, 77 games. (ended by an undeserved penalty vs Sunderland) Fine if you say the majority of this is history and happened last decade, then only judge him on his second spell: * 2 full season, 1 EPL (50% success rate) + a League cup beating Liverpool + Spurs * never lost a big game in the league in 2013-14, beat Liverpool, United, City, Arsenal, Spurs etc. * lead from the start in the league in 2014-15 till the end, 274 days, a record * won the league by 16 (13) points when it mattered, ended with a difference of 8 points. * recorded the fewest losses in all competitions in 2014-15 * didn't lose at home in 2014-15 * won the COC final, after getting hammered 5-3 by Spurs earlier in the competition. Remember this moment? He loves us, he loves Chelsea, he is one of us. 5 full seasons and 3 league titles, if he doesn't deserve time till the end of the season to turn this around, who does?

Jose Mourinho told Chelsea board not to sell Kevin De Bruyne http://www.givemesport.com/651357-jose-mourinho-told-chelsea-board-not-to-sell-kevin-de-bruyne?autoplay=on

“I’ve been practising free-kicks for a long time, but until this season I haven’t had many opportunities to take them during the game,’ he says. ‘Now I have, and it comes from something I’ve been practising. “I’ve been hitting the ball with a lot of intensity and I’ve found a way of striking them from wide on the left with a lot of pace and velocity so that there is a chance for my teammates to get a touch on the ball, but if it happens that no one gets a touch, it passes straight into the goal.” http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/77091_willian_reveals_free-kick_secret.html

Let him go to Arsenal or City, not here.

Still better than the Mourinho or KDB thread, at least here we can all smile by dreaming about Messi in a Chelsea shirt.

Pre-Match Press Conference https://youtu.be/A59tL8J2G1Y

Costa: I am no cry baby http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10039348/diego-costa-of-chelsea-says-suspension-was-undeserved

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic claims Chelsea's Jose Mourinho is hated because of 'jealousy' http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/613974/West-Ham-boss-Slaven-Bilic-Chelsea-Jose-Mourinho-hated-jealousy-Premier-League-news

Hi TC, Please take care of this.

hmm I'd like to see this line up for Saturday's match:

11 games with Iva, 1 clean sheet 3 games without Iva, 3 clean sheets

We're improving, from conceding 2-3 goals per match to two clean sheets in a row. Players are also getting back in form, especially Rambo and Matic were rocks today, I love them. It was a solid display and we were unlucky with the chances, Hazard had 2 chances, Willian hit the bar and had two shots, Diego could've scored from the freekick delivery, Matic solo, Cesc should've had a penalty. Some bad decision making by players like Rambo destroyed more chances. We should go on like this, keeping it tight at the back, dominate the midfield with Matic-Rambo and then start scoring goals again.

Solid first half, unlucky with the chances and no penalty. Time to score some goals in the second half.

Try vipleague.me or ronaldo7.net

This team will trash them and possibly keep a clean sheet, that's my feeling. Come on Chelsea!

Played for 90 mins against Soton

Nah he always takes freekicks with his right, also giving passes with his right.

Yeah Matic back in the starting line up, deserved it after that great second half. And Eden is back with Azpi behind him so he has to show his quality tonight. Same goes for Cesc, with a super Ramires and Matic behind him he must focus on attack and giving passes to Diego. This is our best team now and I am very excited + confident for this game! Prediction: 4-1 win.

Chelsea FC ‏@ChelseaFC 9 min Chelsea subs tonight: Blackman, Baba, Mikel, Oscar, Traore, Kenedy, Falcao. #CFC

That's why I liked your post, I thought the same 11 players, but only Azpi and Zouma swapped. IMO this is the best team we could select for tonight, Come on Chelsea!

Willian has been our most consistent player since 2015, he always gives you at least a 7. Not only his defensive work rate, but he also contributed a lot in our attack the whole year. Cesc is in bad form like Hazard but does it mean he isn't capable of great things? He was vital for the double win last year and he was also on his way to tie/break the assists record in the EPL. Even in the second half when he was off form he delivered some important assists and goal(s) like that winner vs QPR, or the assist to Diego in the final of COC. He is. Schurrle said: “The other thing is that Eden is given more freedom so the other winger has to work even harder. You have to work for that freedom, and Eden deserves it as he creates everything up front. “He scores goals and makes assists so it’s right he should have that freedom.” http://www.squawka.com/news/schurrle-hazard-is-given-more-freedom-than-others-at-chelsea/474165 But he hasn't delivered this season so far, so we should go back to the basics first.