LDN Blue

To be fair, we can't say "oh it's the media" when something goes against Chelsea and then defend it when something's said in a positive light. ..just saying

Which poses the question, is it really worth taking Mandzukic? Wouldn't it be simpler to take the maximum cash that Bayern will offer then evaluate options on our own.

If only Rio wasn't going to be part of the BBC World Cup commentary/pundit team..

Aren't these sanctions just for their champions league squad? As in the squad they submit? Wage & transfer cap..

He's going to wait until pre-season? Sorry that article seems inaccurate. Mourinho already said that he was to meet with the board last monday to present his dossier on the plans for the next season as well as the futures of the loanees and Terry, Lampard and Cole. Between now and pre-season there's an entire World Cup to be played. I'm sure he'll be watching the Belgians with a keen eye as well as the rest of the squad.

The problem with selling Luiz is, I'm not seeing much in terms of a replacement at the moment. I know it's early and the window hasn't even opened yet, but come on.. When have we known Chelsea to sell without at least having an idea about who's replacing him. This thread shows Madzukic, Song, Sanchez.. But no alternatives to Luiz. I refuse to believe Mourinho trusts in Cahill-Terry with Kalas & Zouma to go into next season. It's a shame our style isn't suited for Luiz.. He would be a great asset if we could have used him to his potential. But as 'the only place to be' rightly said.. He's 27. If we're not getting the best out of him now, we probably won't do at all.

Isn't that including reserves? So it doesn't necessarily mean he's going.

Lot of talk about Liverpool interest now, they'll be on the hunt for a new LB for sure.

Are we linked though? I mean I know it's hard to prove, but has there been anything remotely worth getting excited over..?

There was always going to be an issue here. Let's be frank here, a club can't have 2 top keepers who should both be #1 in any other side. It's just unsustainable. A goalkeeper is one of those guys who will play every game almost, there's no "rest" etc like you could do with a striker. Rotating a keeper is sin to consistency in defence as defenders have to get used to their goal keeper. We've seen it time and time again, most recently and prominently Hart v Given. Given was still a top, top, keeper but City couldn't risk letting Hart go... It's almost the same thing right here. Cech still has a lot of options, Italian sides are looking for keepers, PSG are rumoured to be in the market etc. Cech is also loyal, so there's no reason why he wouldn't stay here either.

Well it was a shit comment by Mourinho to be honest, tongue in cheek or not. So can't really blame Eto'o for having a similar dig. He goes down in folklore for being a big-game player this season, so much respect and adios for the cameo :tophat:

Agreed, there was a mentality switch in him to go from carrying the ball out to hoofing. But I honestly believe that switch was imposed on him by someone. We know Luiz is a ball playing defender, kind of a sweeper of the old tactical days, but he's not as mature and is shy of the technical ability needed to do it consistently & successfully. So his natural instinct will be to do just that, we've seen that from 2011-13, that's why I believe he's been told to do it by Mourinho. As I said before, we've seen Cahill and Terry demonstrate it this season also. I agree about judgement which he hasn't been able to mature yet. £25-30million is an extraordinary fee for a 27-year old defender who's been displaced in the squad, so it wouldn't be the worst case scenario in the world, but I share the view others posted in this thread.. We can't go into next season with Cahill, Terry, Kalas and Zouma as our CBs, we need someone with experience and someone with big game mentality (it wouldn't be fair to say Luiz doesn't have that maturity in him, his immaturity is only displayed in the less important games). Unless Mourinho has such a replacement lined up, I'd think we'd regret the sale of Luiz.

Surely that's too premature of a judgement on Thorgan?

Afaik, that was Torres' decision. I seem to remember even further that he was told about such ramifications and continued anyway

..hoof ball specialist?! Where everyone says he's a 'better midfield player' because of his footwork, you've labelled him a hoof specialist? Cahill has 'hoofed' the ball away many times this season.. In fact everyone has when we've been pushed against it in the final 10 minutes. He still has to work on controlling when exactly he chooses to carry the ball out of possession but his ability on the ball surely can't be going against him?

Being a man of numbers I want to ask about your opinion of FFP. Does it promote 'financial sustainability' in your eyes or are there simply too many loopholes for it to be hopeful of working?

but he's never been the best offensively.. Not in my opinion anyway. Defensively always sound and on the merits of a defender he was, but not as a modern full-back.

Brilliant, just brilliant FB For me the clubs that will always win on history, tradition and class are; Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, West Brom, Wolves and Stoke. The original founding members of the Football League. Clubs who have been in existence the longest in England and have never been so infatuated with themselves as much as Liverpool.

Give a couple of tattoos and he'll be the Serbian Raul Meireles:

Ridiculous mate. These prices aren't even limited to Chelsea, let's not even get into the cost of the England kit* *though it says something when even the PM questions that.

Well hopefully Costa is just the beginning of a an effective summer. As the long summer progresses perhaps such type of player will emerge in our dealings.

Hahaha United fans were so angry at it.. Loved it

Curious about exactly why he'd be an unhappy. He's given one of the most important positions on the pitch and he's been dubbed by Mourinho to be that world class at it. So if it's positional, that wouldn't make sense. If it's tactical then surely that would be a failure to adapt..?

I really have no idea what you're talking about

Are you drunk? What on earth are you going on about now