LDN Blue

Welbeck's movement is one of his best assets. His problem is when he's actually on the ball and makes the wrong decision most the time. Kalou similarities are strong.

Some extraordinary overreaching on those sums mate. If Ramires was to be sold we'd not get even £15m. Marin, Moses and Mikel will go for less than £10m per. You've got about £25-30? Ba's going for peanuts, probably £7m like we paid and Torres will probably go out on loan, because I don't see anyone giving us what we'll value him at (in an attempt to recoup some of what we paid)

why would he overrule the linesman, if he couldn't see it himself? he was way too far to judge who did what.

well yeah, but i'm just saying about the actual pen he did give, he didn't give it lol. he also didn't send off Ramires, so you know..

Everyone thinks our problems will be solved by buying about 5-6 players this summer. That's going to be incredibly hard this summer. Why? Because firstly it's World Cup year, if you want the best deal then clubs have to secure transfers before then and a club with said player would rather wait till after because a good WC for the individual means more demand. That means they can demand a higher price and start a bidding war from everyone. I don't see us buying 5-6, 2-3 most likely simply because of WC and FFP factors. Secondly let's have a think about who's buying in bulk this summer. City, United, Liverpool, PSG, Real, Barca (if their ban is lifted). City & Real are the money giants right now and giants who are about the lose the league.. We know when they lose the league they want to strengthen as quickly as possible even if their squad is already good enough! Bruce Buck has forever, and every year since, been adamant we won't enter a bidding war with anyone.

I do hope people realise, the linesman gave that pen.. Not Mike Dean.

Yeah definitely a success despite coming close to EPL & CL double. Liverpool have deserved it, we'd be stupid to deny them, because they have a strike force that's outscored everyone in the league. That's how you win the EPL, you outscore everyone else. Their defending is awful and it's going to let them down next season when they're balancing Europe, FA, Capital Cup and EPL. They might have a rich owner, but they don't yet have the pull. Season's not over and we can still add a third European cup in as many years, which truly will be remarkable and no-one can take it away from us. But even if we don't, a semi-final/final has shown the resolve of this overworked squad. I firmly believe Mourinho kept denying our title charge because he knew something like this would happen, but let's not kid ourselves.. He always wanted to win this and probably had firm belief we would until yesterday - hence the referee outburst. It's going to be a cruel summer & following season now because we're expected to challenge a step further. Yet it's going to be so hard to recruit this summer because it's WC year. Which means players, world class players', stock will go up so high pending individual performances at the World Cup.

Lool, what nonsense. PSG paid over £60m for him and people really think we'll get him in the region of £35-40million? Not a bloody chance.

I agree, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't dare underestimate how important Hazard has become to being the focal point of our attack. But today wasn't about Hazard's absence in trying to break down Sunderland's bus.. It was the general over all play from most the players that were there anyway.

Just occurred to me how we could finish 3rd if everyone wins their remaining games now because of City's game in hand

Yeah of course. I'm defending him now because I believe he is going through a rough patch, but if the patch turns into permanent form then every player's got his time up (although we know one player who has a continuous patch haha) The case of Mata again after he played Euro 2012 after playing those extraordinary amount of games for us. Oscar played Confederations Cup last summer too.. You really wonder when our Brazilian and Spanish contingency will get a good period off to recharge..

Of course, but not forsaking quality of the squad. We let Mata go for a good amount, because he was surplus to requirements. But Jose won't let a Jose-player be sold for money, unless that player wants to move. It's very premature to start doubting the guys Mourinho wants in his long-term plans and he's already said he wants to have Oscar as his number 10 and build around him

Well I'm of one opinion Matic is capable enough on his own as a lone-holding player.. But that's a tactical shift I don't think Mourinho will consider.

100% agree. Not as bad as is made out, he's not the best or great.. But he's not horrid. But I assure you, you won't win this argument

Haha, I guess that's a discussion for a different issue entirely then.. Because a CM is not our priority yet. In any case, I really do think we shouldn't be so dismissive of Oscar already. Because you ask if Real, Barca et al are coming for Oscar then they're seeing something you guys aren't. And then, if he sets the world on fire at those clubs we look like fools. I firmly believe under Mourinho Oscar can be a world class no10, just look at what he's done for Hazard.

Ah sorry, my mistake!

Completely different players! Oscar's a number 10, Pogba is a center mid.

Agreed, but when we did that we were flying through. This is a different scenario. This is a must-win towards the back end of a tiresome season.. I'm not trying to make excuses for the boy, but he's a talent that has world class potential. Mourinho's hand picked him, are we really going to dismiss that over one bad season? Considering how well his debut season went?

And buy who? When did we become a selling club..

Isn't Salah right footed though? He probably envisioned the pass to be a bit stronger so Eto'o could've taken it on the stride of his favoured foot. Who knows

Ah come on guys.. Selling him? Why's this become the default now . Just remember, Oscar isn't exactly an abundance of experience. As was just said, he's going through a rough patch.. Why are we abandoning him already?! Stamford Bridge still cheers on Torres to this day, still tries to get him going by chanting his name. We've given him 2-3 years! 6 months into Oscar's bad patch and he should be sold LMAO. We could have Messi & Ronaldo and as soon as they go through a rough spell people will ask for their sale xD

Would we? He played against Villa & Palace and we didn't win there.. This loss goes further than the absence of Hazard, who tends to disappear at times too.

Well do remember, they should have had a pen that day when Eto'o got cheeky with Suarez in the penalty box. But on the whole I do agree. Yeah we've got that benefit of slow-motion but think real time. That being said, Mike Dean didn't give it.. The assistant did. He should be trained and able enough to see that how it was. Sian Masey wouldn't have given it probably

You might not be able to trust them to get the results, which is understandable after our current form. But you can't deny that they can get the job done. Demonstrated by how we're in the CL semi-final with a very realistic chance to make the final. Once you make the final, anything can happen. We'll be underdogs and that when we deliver, just like Munich 2012. Even the days of 'Drogba and crew' couldn't be trusted towards the end of Carlo-DiMatteo period.. But deliver they did.

Sure it does now. Then he'll give some performances of his life, probably the CL, and then everyone will call for him to stay. Imo, he has a lot to offer. A lot more than most of our other CMs. I don't suggest that he should be a starter, but as a squad player he's a valuable asset.