The Skipper

The Bridge now and then, but mostly on TV or online. Can't afford to go to every game.

If you've watched us in any sort if capacity you'd see that Torres is playing exactly the same way you describe how Benzema wants to play. Torres is very involved in the build up play. Whoever plays up front is expected to contribute to the creation of chances at CFC. Benzema would be a much better fit than Higuain for Chelsea if what you say about his preferences are true.

Can I please see this video where Falcao claims Real Madrid are his favourite club?

Great article. Agree with everything apart from the Makelele bit - Makelele was more of a holding player than a deep lying instigator.

Best Spurs signing so far this season? Will Chelsea finish above Spurs?

Exactly. An average Hazard is still very effective .

What makes you think he hasn't watched him for a while either?

If Defoe starts then I reckon we should focus on playing centrally (as in starting the trio of Oscar, Mata and Hazard) as they wouldn't have a target man to aim to from their wing play. Also, if Defoe starts I believe it's essential we start Luiz. Luiz will be vital against Defoe's pace and agility.

Why do people want FL as the number ten? Even when he was younger and in his prime he wasn't really good there. Playing him there will just turn the formation into an inverse 4-3-3. I'm not saying FL shouldn't start but come on, emotions aside guys, let's play to win first.

To be honest, we could just have Ramires on the right side of the pivot to help out Ivanovic negate Tottenham's left side. That way we can afford to have an extra outlet in attack on the right. If Hazard, who is quite decent at tracking back, remains quite stationary on the right, we could have the left side pegged down. It'd be Bale tracking back to help out his left back from the onslaught of Ivanovic, Ramires and Hazard rather than us trying to negate Bale. Ergo, we'd have: Cech Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole Ramires - Mikel Hazard - Oscar - Mata Torres The team we started against Arsenal. Different mechanisms involved though especially regarding the double pivot covering the wide areas, which would mean whoever is playing number 10, preferably Oscar, would drop deep as a further outlet and as an extra body to limit the spaces created by the double pivot covering out wide... Thoughts?

Ridiculous.

Man City will never sign Falcao unless they are planning to let Balotelli and/or Dzeko go, and if they are willing to bench either Aguero or Tevez which I can't see happening.

So because we made the mistake of signing strikers we didn't really need we should continue that way? Too many hypothesises. You really can't tell whether the CFC board plus coaching staff are willing to give Sturridge and Lukaku a chance ATM, so blindly assuming that to justify a Falcao purchase doesn't do it for me. (Not you per se). Listen, I really, really rate Falcao, but I can't see us getting him unless Torres is sold which is looking unlikely ATM. People shouldn't get their hopes up, that's all I'm trying to allude to really.

That's the power of the media in action mate. They kept on planting seeds on how "calamitous" Geezer was that it's actually stuck to the minds of people who can't think for themselves.

We're not going to sign another striker for £50m when Torres is performing decently. Stop deluding yourselves.

I sort of agree with you. It's going to be a headache for RDM deciding whether to stick to our guns and test the central foundation of Tottenham via starting Oscar, Mata and Hazard or choosing whether to negate Tottenham's wing play. The less risky option, which I expect him to take, is to play with one defensive winger to slow down Tottenham's attack on the wings which will force them to play through the middle more often or the more adventurous option, to really test Tottenham through the middle of the park with our three maestros. Evidently, you could say that Arsenal are a threat out wide too due to their speedy wingers and excellent counter attacking but we negated that pretty well due to Ashley and Bran not venturing forward too often. If we play a similar sort of game like we did against Arsenal tactically (where RDM brought on Moses to create more space against tiring defenders, could do the same with Marin) I think we might stand a better chance instead of playing with a defensive winger. We can go out there and play our own game through the middle instead of focusing too much on trying to stop them. It's a tough call for Robbie and Eddie and the rest of the coaching staff. I'm not entirely sure what we should go with since this current team as you rightly pointed out haven't really faced a team like Tottenham, but I have confidence that if we try and boss the middle of the park we might stand a better chance. I'll try and catch the Spurs game tomorrow to see if my thoughts actually match the real thing.

To me there's more of an indication that RDM has been slowly trying to work on it in training rather than Roman enforcing the issue. No credible press reported it was a big meeting, just your daily BS really. RDM has been carefully slow in introducing the triplet playmaker threat in Oscar, Mata and Hazard, and rightfully so. There was no need in throwing all of our new players into the deep end straight away.

Hmm, spend around £2m (estimate) to bring Lukaku, a decent striker, if we're in a striker crisis back, or splash £45m+ on Falcao and disregard the fact we still have Torres, Sturridge and Lukaku waiting in the wings, let me guess what the wisest choice is?

You, and anyone who thinks that because Roman visited the ground RDM has started to play Oscar Mata and Hazard more, are very naive. Roman visits training quite frequently, doesn't mean he actually has a major say in tactics and team selection. Don't be daft.

Hazard hasn't performed at his best yet at all. Do remember this is his first season in an elite league. We've still got the best to see from him. Right now we're seeing an average Hazard who's still very good, but there are a couple of games where he's out of this world. He's gonna treat us to them sort of games very soon. Just wait!

He's having a decent season so far, really don't see why people feel the need to hang on to the past and use that as a reason to chastise him. New season, new Torres.

Lets have em!

Why is Azpilicueta called Dave?

Marin and KDB are two entirely different players.

I think Cahill will replace him at half time.