DYC.

I don't like the Pirlo-Fabregas comparison. Pirlo sits in front of defence. Cesc is an offensive-minded centre midfielder. That alone creates a completely different tactical set-up and necessary support. Not to mention the different leagues. Pirlo is a player who has been decisive in big games and tournaments for club and country. A crucial component in the teams he's been involved in, title-winning teams. A legend in Milan colours in his younger years and a Juve legend as a veteran. Cesc was the star of an Arsenal team that always came up short. He moved to the big time when he joined Barca but failed to meet the expectations, becoming a 12th man. And he's always been somewhat of a super sub for Spain. Another 12th man role. At the highest level, he came up short. They're not the same level of player. Cesc is very good but he's not great.

Nahh, it's not the same. Oscar has been given more chances than he deserved. Four full seasons is an eternity and he's been crap since the first month of 2015. If he does succeed somewhere else immediately, Chelsea/English football isn't the right environment for him. I think he's better off in the Serie A. Or the Bundesliga. I hope Wolfsburg are hot for Chelsea property again.

It happens. It will happen again. Get over it. The club need to make sure it doesn't happen again so soon with the current crop of talented young players. Now that would be a major cockup. Great piece of scouting btw. He was quite low-profile on the global scale and wasn't coveted by all the major clubs. Turned out to be quite a gem. I've said this from day one. His skill set is unique and that's what makes him special in his own way. He's not incredibly refined and comfortable in tight spaces like a Silva or Ozil. Neither is he blessed with the immense speed and ball control of a Kaka. And he's not a football genius like a Riquelme or Totti. Instead he excels in a broad range of attributes. Two-footed, crossing, shooting, through passes, set-piece delivery, high volume of goals and assists. He also gets in the box (!) and he's got a wonderful engine to keep going and hurt teams on the break. The true definition of a modern midfielder. All-round rather than a specialist. But maybe the most important quality he possesses is his sense of timing. He knows exactly when to release a pass, send in a cross/cut-back and take a shot. It's simply amazing. In a counter-attacking team, I wouldn't want any other player in attacking midfield. But with Guardiola taking over, it will be interesting to see how he uses him. Guardiola never even uses a #10. He might use him like Muller currently, turning him into a forward. We'll see.

Good ol', Tomo. I'm gonna need your optimism.

Not really. Though the level of your fandom will be questioned. If you care about that. I just don't feel anything when Chelsea lose or draw when they shouldn't have. I'm embracing the midtableness. I'd take City battering on the chin right now. Doesn't even matter anymore.

Chelsea '95/96: 11th Chelsea '15/16: 10th Happy anniversary! Stunning tribute.

It's the new Chelsea. Throwback to the days of mediocrity. Don't you love it?

I'm not saying they can challenge for the CL but it's a good foundation for more. PL is different though. Top teams aren't that strong. But only if they make a couple of smart purchases. I watch Dortmund and they're simply outstanding. That pathetic B-team Spurs fielded could never compete with them so a spanking wasn't shocking. When in form, they can go head to head with the best of teams.

Damn, Levy. After years of producing nothing, that bald leprechaun seems to have found his pot of gold. I really like that team. You can do things with that spine.

Maybe a loss is what Hiddink and the team need. Could spark a winning streak... Even I can't say that with a straight face

If 75 mil can't buy Kane the transfer market has gone bananas. Not that he'd want to join. So yeah.

The further back, the better in his case imo. And as a CB, his skill level goes from decent to very good. Similar to what Van Gaal did with Blind.

Mikel at CB. I've wanted to see that for years.

That's what I was thinking. Shop window. I really don't like Pato getting the nod over Traore. This is the ideal time to gain real experience. First Remy, now Pato.

That's that midtable life. Chelsea suck donekeyballs. My immune system is adjusting.

Griezmann is not a #9 though, rather a supporting striker. Not the type to sit up top and lead the line. I have no idea. You'd hope he would be able to flourish a bit with the right players around him. If he doesn't, drop him and sell him I say. But that's easier said than done. At his age and with his wages, only a few clubs can afford him. And do they want him? ....

Imagine managers with full control in this environment. Conte players now, sell Conte players and add Simeone players later, sell Simeone players and add Guardiola players after that for example. If you can't stick to a manager, Chelsea need their own way of doing things. You'll only end up lacking any kind of identity if you don't, turning into a mess. Of course. Don't think there's any other way.

Boredom struck me and whenever that happens I sometimes start fantasising about a wonderful summer window. If a clear-out were to occur, I'd like to see this. Out: Djilobodji, Cahill, Baba Mikel, Matic, Van Ginkel, Oscar Cuadrado, Salah, Moses, Pedro, Remy Pato and Falcao kindly return to their respective clubs and let Amelia's contract run out. Chelsea are better off with better and/or cheaper options. Djilo, Van Ginkel, and Moses have no role to play at Chelsea. The other players are dispensable and should be replaced with better options. There's been talk of a £150 mil transfer kitty in the summer. Add the generated funds of the sales of the mentioned players (along with the Ramires fee) and Chelsea are in business this summer. Not to mention the significantly decreased wage bill. In: Return of Christensen, Ake, Baker & Boga Ben Foster Sokratis, Bertrand Lass Diarra, Matuidi, Tolisso Ousmane Dembele, Lacazette Squad: 25 / U-21: 6 / HG: 7 GK: Courtois, Begovic(HG), Foster(HG) CB: Sokratis, Christensen(U-21), Terry(HG), Zouma / (Ivanovic) RB: Azpilicueta, Ivanovic LB: Bertrand(HG), Kenedy(U-21) / (Azpilicueta, Ake) DM: Lass Diarra, Ake*(HG) CM: Fabregas(HG), Matuidi, Tolisso, Loftus-Cheek(U-21), Baker*(HG) AM/Winger: Hazard, Willian, Dembele(U-21), Boga(U-21) / (Kenedy, Traore) ST: Costa, Lacazette, Traore(U-21) Chelsea board out, DYC in. World domination begins. *

What's with all this 'he better get the players he wants talk and full control' talk btw. If he didn't agree with anything that comes with the job, he wouldn't have signed the contract. Whatever happens this summer (and in the future), he agreed with it. Giving a manager full control is silly btw. It's something you earn, not something that's handed to you. Giving full control to a Chelsea manager is even more ludicrous. They don't last long.

Agree with the first part. As for the sackings, you have a point. But if what you say is true, I blame those for appointing all those supposed wrong managers in the first place. How often are you allowed to pick a manager only to get rid of him within a season? That's terrible management from those in charge. The difference between Chelsea's current situation and Juve back then is the established elite. Italian sides can't seem to stay on top, creating a merry-go-round at the top. It's easier for an almighty leap to occur in those conditions. Same goes for Dortmund. The likes of Schalke, Gladbach and even Wolfsburg can finish in the top 4 one season and finish outside the top 4 the very next season. Chelsea have to deal with the Manc clubs, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. Leicester and WHU can easily drop so that's a good thing for us. But will those sides I mentioned allow Chelsea to finish above them just like that? Easier said than done imo. This is a fluke season but they have the opportunity to build and improve, especially Spurs.

Same here, Tomo. I think I used to be what was considered negative in the past (though I wouldn't completely agree with that, I think I've always been a realist and still am) but I don't think I was ever this bad. This is too much even for me. So much negativity, moaning and petty and idiotic fights. It's always been a strong feature on TC but the balance used to be a lot better a few years back. It's shifted too much in the other direction. That's what I feel anyway. And now I feel like I'm quite positive and calm and arguably overly optimistic. Anyway, back to Conte. How long he lasts depends on the job he does. He does an abysmal job and he's gone within half a season. He does a poor a job and he has 18 months max. Decent job, two seasons. Good job, two/three seasons. Great job, three+ seasons. Every time a new manager is appointed it's assumed he'll get 'time to learn and build'. I doubt that's the case. Either do well or go away. That's Chelsea. Manager appointments don't excite me (anymore). Think the last one was AVB. I so badly wanted him to be a great succes as I loved his style. Don't know what to expect really but as always I hope for the best. I like the fact that he's tactically flexible and that Juve players still praise him even after he left. That's a very good sign. I just hope he doesn't go shopping in the Serie A though. That would be a mistake in my eyes. Serie A and PL isn't a good marriage. A lot of failed, underwhelming or decent at best imports. Not saying every Serie A import is guaranteed to flop or underwhelm but it's important to be careful. La Liga and Ligue 1 signings adapt a lot quicker and usually do as well as they did before and a lot of players do an even better job. And then there's the Euro 2016 distraction. Wonder how that will work with incoming and outgoing transfers and pre-season. I don't know... I worry about that a bit. From the outside it looks like quite the conumdrum. If he does well, Chelsea does well so good luck to him. Decent football and a top 4 finish in his first season and I'm a happy camper.

Donnarumma still pukes breast milk on his kit. Way too soon to start dubbing him as a great GK.

He scored 5-6 FKs in quick succession. A dry spell was always going to happen. Question is if he can get back to converting free-kicks on the regular (though it will never be like before). Agree with Jason here, too early to call him a specialist. Drogba had that one season, converting FKs and regularly threatening. 09/10. But never again.