The Skipper

All fresh and ready to go for Liverpool. Expecting him to do a job on SG.

Muller or Reus would be an absolute dream on that right hand side (especially the latter). We must do everything in our power to try and get Reus this summer, hopefully Mourinho and the board are looking into it.

Haha, I remember when we first signed him and after a few months in I said that he really needs to work on his finishing and the '20 goals in Ligue 1 suggests different' talk came up. Glad people are starting to see that now it is something he has to explicitly work on. 3 main things Eden needs to continue to work on and he'll legitimately move up a level and be universally considered as one of the best players out there (or best in the BPL at least): Finishing Killer instinct Off the ball movementThe latter two are developing along nicely - no longer does Hazard sit around and wait for things to happen, he actually is finally using his ability to force results which is good to see. Off the ball movement has improved as well; even though he still has some work to do. His finishing however has actually seemed to regress. It's weird. He has the technique and everything, he knows how to dispatch a ball into the bottom corner, top corner, volleys etc. but it seems to be a confidence thing/mental block whenever he does seem to get in front of goal. If Eden works on those three points and gets them to a high level (as said before the latter two are definitely evidently improving)... Boy are we in for a treat.

Yeah it's improving. He still has a long way to go though. It's still one of the weakest parts in his game - saying that, before Costa and Fabregas came out link up play was generally too poor in the final third for Hazard to even concentrate on this. Now we've got both however he should definitely improve on it as it'll actually be utilised. We need runners off the ball.

There is a bit of Zouma's pace for anyone that doubted when I said that physically he's the perfect specimen.

Possibly. I'd say Schurrle - Hazard - Willian would be better though!

I laughed way too much at this.

I also love how Zouma is slowly being brought into the team. Excellent.

Great to see Cech and Drogba starting. Hopefully we're comfortable enough at HT to start taking the likes of Hazard, Cesc and Matic off.

Let me rephrase that. If Hazard signs a contract extension, do you really think a very financially stable team such as ourselves would sell Hazard for only £50m?

It has nothing to do with the British media, I like yourself see have seen Hazard play enough over the last few years to say that he's worth £60/70m in today's market where the likes of Cavani, Di Maria, Luiz and James are going for massive money. How much is Hazard worth in your opinion then?

I love Isco but Hazard can easily go for around £60/70m as we speak IMO, which means you rate Isco at around £45/55m which isn't correct at all. If Isco really wanted to leave I'm pretty sure he'd be available for less than that. Plus I wouldn't swap Isco with Hazard at all to begin with, don't even play in the same (natural) position. Replacing one of the best wingers on the planet with someone who isn't even that comfortable out wide would be stupid.

Easily Sterling's.

Massive reason why I generally attend away games more than home games is because the atmosphere during a regular home game at the Bridge is just so timid. The first steps that need to be taken are clear IMO. They need to restructure the seating allocations - something like putting the more vocal fans together in the Shed End and the MH stand (and allowing them to stand and sing their hearts out and stuff without stewards constantly harassing), putting the away fans somewhere in the West stand and just putting all the more family orientated and quieter and/or the OAP individuals in the East stand would be a very simple thing to do and a great way to start trying to restructure everything. It really isn't that hard to do.

For some reason I thought this was the Luis thread...

Didn't Neville call him a weak link before?

So you legitimately think that Arsenal & United, as of right now, have more pulling power from Germany than us? Especially Arsenal? Even if we win the title? That's incredible tbh. By your thinking, Hazard should've definitely gone to United, City or Arsenal as well then. You must be kidding if you don't think Chelsea don't have enough pulling power to get Reus over the likes of United or Arsenal.

How do United and Arsenal have a chance but we don't?

Even if this is the case, do you truly believe we have to play our utmost strongest team?

Arrogant maybe, but I'd want to save most of our starters for the Liverpool game. It would be nicer to give some of the more fringe players a run out and a platform to prove themselves.

Cech Azpi - Zouma - Cahill - Ake Mikel - Ramires Salah - Willian - Schurrle Drogba Rotation for me. This team should be able to dispatch Maribor. Hopefully some of the younger guns i.e. Baker, Solanke etc. get some minutes as well if we're comfortable.

Sturridge. I feel like JM would've loved to work with him.

How can it be a bidding war when the fee is set at £20m?

No contest really...

You do know Reus is available for £20m this summer right?