LDN Blue

I'm looking forward to what's next lol. This is a genuine chance to see what the club does in times of such low points, they can rebuild correctly and choose players who truly have a hunger to see us return to where we should be. The manager, dare I say, is irrelevant. Recruitment is a bigger part of the picture then someone who'll serve as 'head coach' for 6-18 months. I'm looking forward to seeing which players will edge for a move. The likes of Hazard, Costa, Fabregas, Courtois haven't been around long enough to be considered 'Chelsea boys' so their motives and agents' behavior will be fun. More importantly, I'm far more relaxed now . With barely anything to fight for, no need to stress over 'vital wins' and such.. Maybe I'll get to enjoy seeing Traore shine!

While the sentiment there is nice, you could argue Willian's managed to do it by himself. Where would we have been without him? Perhaps not even facing PSG because we wouldn't be in the last 32. Not saying we should expect someone to carry the team - just saying that it's not been unheard of and those guys are far more recognised. Hazard has to shoulder some of the blame for not being consistent pre-injury and clearly not being in good shape coming into the season. At 25 it's going to be now or never in 2016-17

Yeah but I mean look at the turbulence within the club since he's been here lol. Messi and Ronaldo all had a stable few seasons in a stable club, be it under Guardiola or SAF. Hazard came here with Di Matteo in charge then to Rafa to José to now Hiddink. Yeah you can argue world class players show up regardless of coaching but point one who's had it more up and down than Hazard. Whether at Real he'll realise his potential or here or wherever.. He needs a period of calm. A poor backdrop going into the Euro's for him, but hopefully he'll set the world alight in France.

Just watch the first half, the situation that it leaves us at the end of that half will be the same anyway

Traore is probably the only one hungry enough after today's result. Make a name for yourself lad - if he plays lol

I can see why, especially based on this season, you feel that. But you can see the talent he possesses when he is trying to do things on the ball, alas moral is low and confidence is simply not there right now - Incredible shame. But I won't be in a rush to forget the 2014 Hazard that really did show his potential to light up the world. If him leaving is what it takes, that's an even bigger tragedy.

Well that wasn't ideal lol, brilliant first half with intensity and determination levels. But like they said on BT, that halftime whistle came at the wrong time, not that it should be an excuse by any means. It was always going to be a graft, they simply have better talented players to hit us. Costa going off was massive, with their defense caving under him. See you in late 2017 CL football.

When it rains it pours. Still think he's incredibly gifted and we'll be lucky to keep him. Probably not a prevailing opinion, but he's too good not to light up the footballing world.

I haven't been this anxious for a player to return from injury since Cech. Perhaps so more this time because of how important he is in the current development of this squad. It's pivotal he returns quickly but in the best shape possible so that he won't have any return injuries! I trust our medical department, Eva or no Eva. Especially after reading Sam Hutchinson's story of late, if we can help a lad come back from early retirement, this should be clockwork.

Okay, but then look at United u21 line up over the weekend and see how they tore Arsenal a new one. Doesn't matter that it was versus Arsenal, much like it doesn't matter City played us.. Can't use one extreme to justify another. I do agree with your overall point though Tomo, just adding some perspective.

Mate, you missed the point entirely

Frank Lampard said he'd never play for another English club after Chelsea.. See where I'm going with this?

Pretty much this ^ I don't mind that we change managers as we do, if only the problems were in the coaching department. But every time we change anything it's out of panic or it lack foresight and proper coordination. We do it in shrouds of controversy and chaos

I love this whole "he will only go to Real Madrid" Do you guys remember when we chased him? There was never "I will only got to Real Madrid then", in the cynic's point of view it was a case of "who's putting more 0's on the end of the cheque"? Certainly it's what Wenger and Ferguson complained about. The optimist might say he's looking for the best project. In the age he's in, in the culture of fickleness at its height, each move is decisive. So you guys might be confident in dismissing the advances of PSG, Barcelona, Bayern whoever. The fact is, he just won the League he'll tick that off. Next, he'll want the Champions League. If he's going to stay, the club's gotta sell their project to him again. He's within his right to leave, we're within our right to sell.

Doesn't it bore you though? To go through the same cycle every 2 years?

Not at all mate, I'm going to expand on what Madmax said; It's not about Mourinho, clearly the decision to sack has been justified. How can anyone argue otherwise, right? But our problems go so much deeper than the guy who's sitting in the managerial seat. And then ya'll come and tell us why it's different why it's all going to be okay, when we all know that the moment shit hits the fan the forum splits again. But we alway, always repeat the cycle. We think that a new manager is always the answer. In this case it might have been, but if we continue not to probe why, we'll never grow.

It's just hard to get excited about any potential manager these days. Anyone getting bored of this merry go round? Same justifications, same visions, same expectations... Same vilifications, same impatience, same fickleness. Meh, I don't care any more. Hire Benitez, Allerdyce and Rogers. Same shit, different day.

Then he's doomed isn't he? You just described one-country-tricks

Rest In Power Ossy! :cfc: -- NB: Good to see you around @Vincent - Hope all is well now regarding your circumstances!

Listen, if you wanna be staff again just ask them Are you one of them or one of us?

Yes they will. And then in 2017 they won't, perhaps 2018 will be catastrophic. Then we'll buy smart again in 2019 to only once again be found out in 2020. Etc, etc. It's the circle of life Chelsea FC.

The problem I have here is, and bare with me because I know it's a bit cliche, but he's only done it in Italy? I know what he did with Juventus in Italy and I take nothing away from that at all. Just like I don't take it away from Guardiola despite the usual 'team of world class winners' cliche. But this is Chelsea FC. The notion of time, patience and 'see the job out' don't exist in this club. Not going to go in-depth of whether it's a correct system or not, but if I understand correctly about Conte's approach (and even Allegri), its that you're not going to get results overnight (which contrary to what anyone says is exactly what most fans expect of us now). There's going to be a adjustment period and there's going to be times where the team will under perform for whatever reasons. And as per, we'll get an itchy trigger finger and that's another one who bites the dust. Here's the caveat; ask me to name an alternative and I'm clueless. There's such a narrow pool of managers There are few managers who would earn the trust of Roman & his loonies to be backed through struggle and strife.

I find the notion that we're going to keep a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge a very hard prospect to imagine. PSG ran us ragged today, we were quite lucky to be remaining in this tie. ..but remain we do. We've overcome stacked odds before in Europe, 3-1 Napoli rings fondly.

Lol boring.. Even if there's any remote desire to go PSG, they won't be taking him on current form anyway. He's got to prove it on the pitch, if he decides to do it tomorrow then I don't care what motivated him. You guys go nuts every time PSG and Hazard is mentioned in the same breath. Every player will talk in respect of PSG, Real, Barca, Bayern etc. Go on Eden, show 'em what they're missing out on or what they crave.

No mention of Aurier? With Azpi destined to life a left-back, Aurier would be a great fit for right-back. Young, dynamic, can defend.