LDN Blue

that was pretty good though.

What a performance from Luiz! That's the guy I want playing every week, not his alter-ego.

Lmao, I do love how ESPN's gone with "Chelsea stick with misfiring Torres" - Like we have any other choice

Both? Playing 4-4-2 would we?

Sad? I'm delighted. Finally his career will take off

Anyone miss Kalou? Too far..?

Lmao! Fifa won't let him leave either

Don't follow Llorente much, am I right in saying Huntelaar would be a better option though?

LMAO did anyone read was Rafa said today? Torres scored a lot of goals in training.. You know your manager's desperate to find any compliments when he says something like that

Oh he definitely looks like he's joining Liverpool LOL. There was no denial he'd go, only of rumoured demands. Wow.

Was just about to say.. That first press conference. Damn.

He still plays?!

Anyone know about coverage for this here? SkySports or what?

You ever think we could have the double pivot partnership Chalobah & de Bruyne?

xD I knew you would be picking up on that. I actually though Raúl wasn't as technically gifted in terms of skilful but you're right on the other aspects. For me, its his intelligence and hard work that paid off. Not taking anything away from the angel of Madrid though -- Yeah I know, I simply used it as an example of why Guardiola & others in the past like Capello have been so successful at Barcelona & Milan respectively. It's why those same characters would not succeed at Chelsea. Cobham isn't designed like that, English football isn't designed like that. How could I forget!

Laura90. Doesn't comment much, but when she does they're bloody brilliant. Goes under the radar.

Although if we're talking wishlist. Give me Vidal over Inler any day!

Why would Napoli sell him? Especially when they're challenging for the Scudetto lol

Well, goodbye FA Cup

Lmao Swansea will be loving that!

Yes I agree with the defensive work they do and to be frank that's the only thing I would adopt from that 'style'. But why should this pass-pass-pass system be the only "attractive" style? Because that style had no answer to Di Matteo's tactics back when we knocked them out in the semi-final. Bayern didn't have an answer when we continued to shut them out and when we got our goal back. There's simply nothing wrong with the way English football is designed. I'm not saying hoof it up to the strikers and make them do their things. But English football isn't about the simple pass to everyone just for the sake of it.. It's about the team moving from defence to attack in the most simple and quickest way possible. It's about variations of long-ball, counter attack and the occasional 'get your hands dirty'. Barca style football would make John Terry's defensive abilities frowned upon but in England John Terry's defending is exactly how you cope in England.

Lmao it's just stupid isn't it, the obsessions for English clubs trying to play like this. That's why I give Ferguson & even Mancini a lot of dues. They're not trying to replicate Barca, they don't even care about Barca, they're making their tactics to win in their league.

It pains me to think that he would actually do well at Liverpool because Brendan fucking Rogers would actually give the boy a chance. Boy I wish Steve Clarke was still here..

It's a shame Guus Hiddink's announced his retirement from Anzhi & subsequent coaching

Well said. One of the main reasons Guardiola was allowed to be so successful is down to the impressive talent of La Masia. He was a Barcelona man through & through and it was him understanding the philosophy of the club that allowed him to be an instant hero. It's also why Capello, for example, was so successful with Milan when they had the impressive Maldini, Baresi & Costacurta that came up from their academy. The importance of academy players coming through is underrated. Those players will play with much more heart, determination & character than the expensive buys will. Raul was never the most technically gifted or fastest of players but he worked hard to breakthrough from the Madrid academy and went on to break Di Stefano's record. I mean just imagine if the new core of our team became McEachran, Bertrand, Chalobah & Todd Kane. Guys who would've been at the club since they were kids and thus understand the importance of putting on the Chelsea shirt.