LDN Blue

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.

I just don't understand the obsession with modelling football the "Barcelona style". Like yeah, that's Spanish football, it's the identity of Spanish football (albeit slightly taken from the Dutch). But English football has its own identity of hard tackling football where you work hard and play for the passion of the fans.. I just don't see what's wrong with that. The English football style is what helped Liverpool & United dominate in their respective eras.

The passion of the game still exists.. It's kind of refreshing to see that.

Indeed. I'm all for the experience factor but it has to be with a player who will actually suit the system we're now playing and add something simply more than those mental attributes. For example (and only example purposes) De Rossi is a player who's got a vast tank of experience but he also adds some much needed strength & defensive play in the centre of our midfield that would have a better impact than Mikel & Lampard. I simply can't forget Lampard's inability to cope with last season's formations, even putting aside his behaviour with Villas-Boas, I see no evidence to back the call to bring Lampard in for any other benefit than those mere mental attributes. At least with Terry, he'll actually provide what we need in defence.

I just don't see how he's going to be any use in this system. I mean yeah he'll be there for experience and everything, but coming off injury he's not going be match-sharp, we've already seen him struggle in this so-called "pivot" formation we've got going. I he actually is going to play then I think it's got to be in a more attacking role. I'd even go far as to suggest he play in the hole with Mata, Hazard or Oscar flanking him. And even then I just don't see what he can add.. Our problems go a lot deeper than simply putting Lampard into the squad.

I was always just have a thought process of 'what if we signed Aguero?'. I mean back then he probably wouldn't have fitted into the Drogba system we had but right now I think that's the type of striker we need. I'm not so sure about Falcao coming here, because he's going to be plan A & plan B. Everyone's saying Falcao will relish the balls coming into him by Hazard, Oscar & Mata but they haven't even played much to Torres. Now that's not really a defence for Torres, but Rafa is (and rightly so) trying to get that trio of no10's to first organise their play into supplying the striker. I don't think we need the giant of Falcao, I think the quick, off the mark, Aguero, Defoe & Sturridge-type is what would work in this system.

I can't see Walcott agreeing though, both have the same issues with their clubs, a swap won't make such problems go away for either player.

st..rik..er? What's this 'striker' you speak of?

co-fucking-sign

LMAO. Certainly trumped McClaren's fake dutch accent

I know, I know. I'm not writing him off at all or anything, I just sort of hoped he'd be as explosive as we know he can be - Our own little Messi . But I know he'll come through sooner than later!

Yea I suppose. I'm just really skeptical about this 'big names', especially strikers.. We have a habit of 'eggs in one basket', I really hope we sign 2 strikers in January and keep Sturridge too. Have more options upfront can benefit the players, competition doesn't necessarily mean people lose out. It's a motivation. United have Rooney & Van Persie, but now Hernandez is firing making Fergie think. City have Aguero, Baloetelli, Tevez and Dzeko, and now the latter has given Mancini cause to play him more.

Wonderful poster! A sad loss. I think Sexton still has one of the best win percentages in our managerial history!

Get in Bastian

I'm really worried about Hazard. Like I know this is his first season and all, and I'm patient in waiting for that.. But I kind of just hoped for more, ya know?

I wouldn't call it being foolish. The Spaniard was in good form when we signed him, 3 goals in 2 games I think. Two of those were against us as well! We could be foolish for reacting the same should we sign either Falcao, Cavani or Lewandoski in January as well.. Adaptation, pressure and all that.

When we all knew RDM wasn't going to last? The moment he clenched his fists at Abramovich, said the words "I did it" and Roman just.. didn't react.

Yea the banner is nice, but I think they could've done a more iconic job of it.. Like (and I hate myself for saying this) the one Liverpool fans did for Torres & Dalglish was quality:

No I understand what you're saying.. But I'm asking you the solution to if Lampard called retirement this season and not a move away?

Yep, thought he was really one-dimensional and I hated his hair lmao. Hope he's a better coach than I thought of as a player though! Haha

You don't actually believe that do you? So what when Lampard decides to retire, we'd win nothing at all?

We've been down this road before, having the chance to potentially sell someone who will be in decline sooner than later and instead we got stuck with them. Case & point when Milan or someone came knocking for Essien and we dismissed it. I'm not saying we should be like Arsenal and let our best players go, but Ashley Cole's done a great service for this club, I consider him a legend even if he did come from Arsenal but if we're not caving into certain demands - then fair play to the club.

I have to admit slightly, I was never a fan of Zenden

Not having a dig at the kid, but he must realise that in order for him to get his chance to breakthrough and adapt to life at Chelsea he must go through a period of bench warming. Cech didn't walk into this squad when he was first came, he got his break with an injury to Cudicini which Cech gladly took the opportunities given to him. I like Courtois' passion to play, it's warming to see the kid wants to play for the love of the game and not the money. But patience plays its part. He also can get invaluable advice from Cech, because that man's experience is so key to the development of the young Belgian, it shouldn't be taken for granted. I'm sure if Fergie could've retained the services of Van Der Sar, De Gea would be a much better goal keeper right now.