Essien19

trying to eradicate homophobia out of the game, nothing wrong with that and ten times better than stevie bar fighting gerrard. Furthermore why should a fancy hairstyle be a bad influence on kids? I don't get it... Gesendet von meinem SM-G930F mit Tapatalk

Another world class attacker on the right wing or a creative spark in the middle of the park or a guy just as talented as Sandro. Depth is a concern, but nonetheless club could also do with some leading new talents. Of course it's not deemed necessary, just pointing out that i wouldn't be against the idea of bringing in some new worldies. On a more serious note, the club will surely buy some guys. But it might not be the guys best on paper some of you might dreamed of.

How can you be so sure? As aformentioned 3 mayor signings have been done, 2 young guns have been integrated in the squad and new reinforcements are still a good possibility. If Conte were to leave, how many clubs would give him a better work environment? On paper there're only a handful of clubs who are able to outhustle Chelsea in the transfermarket and most of the clubs have already good coaches. Conte knows that it's difficult out there, therefore he signed the new contract and therefore he keeps on working here. He's the weakest link and should be grateful to have a big job in football. Of course it works both ways, but Chelsea kept the key players and added fresh blood. You can lose on penalties to Arsenal during pre season, it's not the end of the world, although some try to demand otherwise.

Thing is, so far Chelsea signed Morata, Bakayoko and Rudiger. Yes two of them are deemed necessary (Costa & Matic) but there aren't many clubs in the Prem who have bought more or more precise, better quality. About 100 mio. net spent in the market. I think the club will still sign 1-3 more guys and then the situation won't be that bad overall. What i'm having trouble grasping is that the club is apparently after Van Dijk, but there should already be enough defenders within the ranks. Maybe it's just something the newspapers like to talk about...nonsens afterall.

It was somehow understandable that you could make a case against Mourinho in his third year, but it's getting ridiculous now that you want Conte out. TheSkipper said back then that you enjoyed it too much and here we have a deja vu, lol. Have you seen Christensen? If you had you would know that -despite possessing talent the boy wasn't that good last season and in no way one could expect him to be a first teamer after a few weeks within the team. Moreover there's some serious underrating of the likes of Cahill, Moses and Alonso going on here. Yes, there're obviously football wise better players out there, but they've been vital cogs in a well oiled machine. What's not going well is breeding in more players to have better options. But all you do is having a good moan and loving Eden Hazard, lol. Gesendet von meinem SM-G930F mit Tapatalk

Costa: 'My relationship with the coach has been bad this season.' My take on this is that according to Costa they didn't get along since the first minute, not much to do with january. Personally i think this narrative that Costa had been so poor in the second half of the season seems a bit too stretched. The numbers in goals regressed, but overall he was the focal point and allowing others to do their thing. Reminds me of how Big Benz is about business. Matic had some great games too, i wouldn't call his overall impact as you've mentioned: 'proper shitty job'. If you look long enough, you can find a stick with whom you can beat anyone, meaning: not long ago Terry went to the media and started a public outcry of why he didn't get a new contract. I respect John Terry and what he's done for club and country, but when it fits his case, he'll do anything, similar to Costa. This time around it was best for him to keep his mouth shut -he's finished, so he happily played along. For Conte it could've been over for a long time, but if you part ways, it should be done in person. You can spin it how you want, text massage is highly unprofessionell and that's lacking courage and balls for me. I appreciate how Conte acts like a hard man on the sidelines, but you've gotta live up to it behind closed doors. What i agree with you on is that's a two way street. The inside knowledge is limited, most of us -me included don't know the full story yet. It's speculation, but because i think Costa speaks from heart and doesn't come across as someone who knows how to play his cards, someone like Fabregas, so far i'm valueing his words higher. Gesendet von meinem SM-G930F mit Tapatalk

'I’m going to be honest, the other day, Conte sent me a message saying he does not count on me for next season, so I’ll have to find a way out.' Could have told him that in person, sending a text messsage is nothing more than a bitch move, sorry, but it has to be said. It's a dangerous game the Don' s been playing. The likes of Lukaku or Morata are in no way better than Costa. There's a reason why the supporters keep chanting Diego, Diego, Diego. Finding a 20 goals a season striker will be difficult, mhh. Gesendet von meinem SM-G930F mit Tapatalk

Odds for a Chelsea win are currently trending about 1,13, that's Barcelona or Real Madrid level. Easy kill!

Boro have to get a win here, Chelsea plays probably the smartest counter attacks in the league. I don't think that they can overpower David Luiz in the air, not even Negredo. The Brazilian has been absolute rock solid, apart from that, i don't see how Boro will score.

Traoré is one headless chicken, nothing to see there, mate. Overall i trust Alonso, think he's been more than solid over the course of the season.

Not chance whatsover for Boro, haven't since august away, if i'm correct. 3:0 and Chelsea cruising towards the well deserved title!

Sure, but it works both ways, and as a said above, a bit of luck has to come with it.

They played the semis in the Champions-League before Guardiola came and worked his magic with the ~150 mil. he spent. Most of Guardiola's buys have been huge failures, just take a look at that poor excuse of a goalie. Guardiola is too arrogant to be a bit more pragmatic, he can't defend, even if his life would depend on it. Don't forget, this season they will be trophieless, last season Pellegrino won them a cup. Monaco took them out with ease and when taking City as a whole into account, it really shouldn't have happened. Of course he's not a bad coach, he's just the opposite extreme of Mourinho. No doubt that Guardiola will go big again in the transfer market and they will end up being more competitive. But i doubt that he'll win them the Premiership or even the Champions-League. Agree to disagree!

No important player has been injured this season. Of course Conte did very well, but you still need a lil' bit of luck. You can always invest more, but the buys of last season have been nothing but a success story so far. Going toe to toe with the likes of Bayern or Barcelona is going to be very difficult, especially when taking all of the games into consideration. A lot is based on the fitness level, not sure Chelsea's plan is just there yet. But confidence isn't a bad thing, club can look forward to be back in Europe's premier club competition. That's for sure!

De Bruyne is the best crosser in the league atm, his deliveries into the box annoy the fuck out of me, Aguero is so good with his timed runs and Jesus just looks like he continues where Aguero's regressed. Guardiola is the reason why City have fallen off a cliff...

You can lose against Arsenal, a loss here and there happens to the very best. Fielding a backline of 6 isn't pretty, but not again the thing that fucks people up. What's getting massively on their nerves is the fact that after going down against Arsenal, United showed zero interest in going foward. It just looked like they had been instructed to deliberately throw the game away. That's something new and unexpected for most Mancs. Most of them won't tolerate this for very long, he really put all eggs in the Europa League basket and like last season, it could go wrong. Furthermore they really need a striker with at least a 50% conversation rate, better 100%. The big games have been as negative as they've never been before. Football is a big showbiz, we all know that Mourinho talks a big game and his one liners keep on getting the attention. I for one find them amusing, but i can fully understand why some won't like them. The real problem is that Mourinho -at least this season, can't really back it up no more, so it's getting a bit more ridiculous. He's still a mean bastard, but he has to win and definitely lost his magic touch. I still like him,though.

More than a few months gone by and now with the mouth full of humble pie, i'll have to say this to you all: You were right and i was wrong, in order to move forwards for Chelsea Football Club, parting ways with Jose Mourinho was the right decision from a non emotional point of view. The Mancs have been completely uninspiring on the pitch, life's been completely coached out of free spirits such as Mkhitaryan, Mata, Martial (good fullback vs. Chelsea though) and Shaw. Nonsens players like Darmian, Fellaini and Lingard are getting the nod ahead of some of the just mentioned names. Players who haven't any idea how to move the ball forward, no attacking play from their fullbacks whatsover and when coming back from behind, absolutely clueless and results in very heavy on the eye... A lot of Mancs are still under the narative to this very day that they're being Moyesd', but the simple truth is that Mourinho hasn't done enough with the talent he's already having around. Mourinho's being outtacticed in a lot of games by now, so the tag 'special' has to be taken off him. I didn't think the outcome we all have seen would be become a reality, but it really did. In terms of the style of play, there's night and day between United and Chelsea. Chelsea are a machine -you just know what's going to happen...United on the other hand are a turgid, slow overused machine, not gonna expect too much of them. Will it continue? On the transfer market Mourinho did better than Guardiola, IMO, but that's not saying much. After today's display i don't think that someone like Griezmann would be much of a change. In the end he's human after all, Klopp should give up on the 'normal one' tag. So, because football does matter, congratulations on the league and making a good decision to the benefit of the future. I'm sorry!

Their problem is that the thing that used to work doesn't anymore: sitting deep, soaking up pressure is costing them a lot this season. Maybe it's because the game has developed, or maybe it's because there's no Walter Samuel. Anyway their backs are already up against the wall and Spurs are coming on next, expect more pain to be inflicted. Afterwards i can see things getting better... You can talk about performances all you want, but the emotional connection is sad to be lost, IMO. That's on the players and the management. As things stand, this season you seem to have predicted the right outcome, but it's silly to already generalise about the next years. Anything can happen...

Things like this happen, the question is how they'll come back afterwards. Have to say it, David Luiz has been incredible, i'm impressed!

City didn't look too convincing in their recent matches.. i thought Pochettino could snatch up a point against Chelsea after their game against Arsenal, wrong. Stones is going to make the bench yet again, isn't he?

Manager and players are all in the same boat. Finishing is part of the problem... still, they would be at least three points off top. After they acquired four targets in summer, people expected them to dominate the league. It's all fair and square that their style of play has improved compared to the two former predecessors (according to lots of Mancs), but it's just not been good enough. If Mourinho doesn't make top 4, he's surely a goner. Tbf, there're a lots of games yet to come, but they have to start somewhere. It's indeed impressive how Conte gets the job done with 2, 3 average players in the lineup. So far (only 13 games in) he's doing a much better job than Mourinho this season. Carrick, Mkhitaryan, Martial and Shaw. It's nothing but astonishing how these talented lads can't make the team week in and week out. But that's United's problem. Scouse and Arse are loving life so far, not sure if it continues.

I liked what Gomes offered against City. He can't compete with Iniesta (tbf, no one can), but he does a job for you, very intelligent player. Sure, with hindsight, Gundogan would tick all the boxes for Barca, but you can do a lot worse than buying Gomes. Yeah, they're different, but i get that someone like Gundogan would have been better. But i think Enrique's idea with players such as Rakitic and Gomes does make Barca stronger. In the end that's all what counts, a flop is a flop, so better avoid one and pay up, penny pinching does you no good. I can't say much to the comparision between Joao and Gomes, all i can say is that personally, i like Gomes, he's means business (on the pitch). Barca need workers to enable 'el tridente' to do their thing. Gomes fits right in, doesn't he? Barcelona have a problem and its name is Sergio Busquets these days. He's miles off form, fecked everything up against City. Barca could've made it 2:0, mistakes were costly. Without Iniesta they're in deep shit, no control. At least Gomes' shot should've went in, in the end that's football. Atletico peaked early, not sure whether they're able to contain it, happens all the time and Bayern don't have a great winger, which will be a big problem when taking on the big boys. Their game against Atletico showed that they didn't learn a thing so far. Another problem is their fullbacks; Lahm isn't as good as before and Alaba has really regressed, especially when taking a look at his way of defending. Of course, both teams can win it. This stuff depends on a lot of things, but an energetic Dortmund can go far and i'm sure Juve will be right up there. Hopefully this time around, there will be some huge clashes already in the round of sixteen. I still think City are overrated. The first game when Barca took them seriously, they got a real good spanking! Good hearing from you, mate.

Could have been 2:0 for Barca at half time, mistakes cost them big time, ter Stegen should have saved De Bruyne's freekick...but great game by him, tbf.

Don't think that they impressed much against West Ham. Maybe i'm still a bit butthurt because i put some money on West Ham not losing the game, we'll see. Everton's front 3 + Barkley are powerful players, but i don't think they have enough to expose Chelsea's 3-5-2. Chelsea are flying high at the moment and with the league's best striker it really should be a win. What a goal that was against Southampon.

People stated their opinion which is most times fair and square. The general consensus seems that Mourinho's done and dusted. I simply disagreed because of their current style of play. Conte's been doing a good job so far, but personally i wouldn't want to say who's got the better deal for long term, it's still early days. Redcafe shelters a lot of opinions, your saying is true for some people, but i read others who were wary of problems the former champion of England 'Chelsea FC' could cause them. I didn't count them, maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, who knows. Only fools put clubs such as Arsenal or Tottenham ahead of Chelsea. Less competition could lead to a point where most teams including Chelsea start downing tools. Personally, i want a strong league. More top teams means more unpredicability and results finally in more fun, IMO. Chelsea plays the competition because they want to win it. Essien19: I don't think that saying me the above puts me in the basket with the Mancs. I know what i said back in the day... i'm still feeling some sort of disconnection, but when i turn on the tv, the team isn't so doing well, there's still the c'mon, this can't be it, try harder ffs. There's a reason why i'm still around, but you won't see me disrespecting the great boss. A lot of (online) Chelsea fans do this these days, i know! They're still hurting a lot, only time will help, i guess.