Blue_Fox_

That's what I'm thinking.

Ivanovic will start every single match this season and the next. Fucking made my peace with it already.

Have no idea why would we be linked with him when at the club we have the likes of JCS, Tomori, Christensen and Zouma. Young, potentially world class defenders are not our problem. Please get one of Mustafi or Koulibaly. Have no idea if we could use him as FB, but even there, please do get someone already good enough to start. We've already seen what happened with Baba.

For once I agree with you. If this was us doing it there would such a massive wankfest and with the exception of one or maybe two, no one would care about the fee. Since he's going to a rival then it's a bad transfer. In reality he's an elite player and I've no doubt under the right management he can only get better. I do think the fee is exaggerated, that's a lot of money, but, well, congratulations to United if they do manage to get him.

I would rather have him physically ready to sit on the bench or in the stands for a whole season. Azpi+Kenedy is not up to the standard required at Chelsea; Ivanovic is not up to the standard required at Hull.

Barbara, I'm sorry but you completely misunderstood my post, as I never intended to say Conte's comment was ignorant (I don't know where that came out from actually?) Of course it's great for Zouma to have someone who knows how to handle the recovery. However, implying that someone without a past as a footballer (on the highest level) would not be the right man for the job, or would not be able to handle Zouma's recovery properly, it's nothing but provincial thought for me. And no, it's not only a defence of José, is more like to all those managers who have proved to be even superior coaches compared to those who played football at the highest level. Arrigo Sacchi for one.

Most of all I hope to see some sort of progress, even slight, in the team's behaviour.

...

Finally the circus around this one can end. Now go get those defenders.

He played at the Euro mate The description you posted is pretty much accurate, I wouldn't say he's as attacking minded as it is suggested though; He can do both phases quite well (against Germany he played in front of the defence.) He is a reliable guy, he always gives his all, albeit, unfortunately, his all is hardly of the quality required here, he's also 31, so no improvements from him. I like him overall, but it would be wise to steer clear of him. Get him only and only when all other possible targets fail.

Ignorant comment really, shows the extent of knowledge of the average football fan. Sad to read also. Arrigo Sacchi, arguably one of the best managers ever, never played football at the highest level. “I never realised that to be a jockey you had to be a horse first.”

"Today he started the aerobic work for the first time. When we have a very strong situation, no [he is not involved]. We wait because we must respect the right time for him." "Now we are preparing for him to go and train when there aren't very strong situations. He has also started to play our idea of football when we have the ball, and also without the ball." "We know he is recovering but I know he needs more time to recover. It's important we don't push him. I had the same injury and I know from experience when the player is ready to go." Conte at the press conference.

Breaking: Exclusive footage of Cahill's return to Chelsea's training camp in Austria.

He's no Nainggolan, but he can definitely grow as a b2b. Besides I don't think we can do better right now.

don't you dare play with my heart.

I like Fonte, solid CB overall, but already over 30 if I'm not mistaken, would much prefer Koulibaly/Mustafi. Two young players we should've been all over in the past two years are Renato and Dembele, we didn't grab any of them, we're going to regret it for the next 10 years and more. Shame. I've been watching highlights videos of Joao, (Up until before the Euro didn't know too much about him) and now I'm more and more convinced he could be a very solid midfielder for us, and seeing how our chase for Nainggolan failed I'd welcome him here with open arms.

Short answer is:Opponents figured us out. We were playing ok, nothing truly outstanding, bar a few games we were never really, really fluid. It worked for as long as it could, as soon as opponents figured us out, José did the only thing that could've been done to deliver the title. Play low and reduce any potential damage; give ball to in form, flair winger and score (Only way this team could've played at the time.) We went through this not so long ago.

Interesting idea, but we don't have the personnel at the back to play it.

Slap Willian to his side for now. Willian-Cesc-Kanté-Hazard. Or just use him as tactical sub.

Thinking we can go one more year with a back-line of Ivan-Cahill-JT-Azpi is nothing but delusion and an alarming lack of care towards the defensive side of the game. Cesc is going to be in front of them, Kanté, as good as he is, he's only one man, Willian can do so much against Ivan's ineptitude and Hazard is useless when defending. We need, and I can't stress it enough, we need a CB and LB if we want to get into top 4 without doing miracles.

So much this. Let's think about defence first, buy that one more CM and then if we still can wrap up a deal for this guy. He's going to be useless anyway with Ivan behind him and a shaky defence that leaks goals left and right.

Just wait till he signs for le Arse

One very good manager, arguably a top 3 in the world, already tried that; Hazard subbed himself off, he needed a siesta. Hopefully this time around the manager will be ruthless.

The same way you would expect a normal 4-4-2 to work during the defensive phase. Both strikes will help out also more likely than not.