LDN Blue

Completely agree. It just depends on how ball Liverpool are willing to be.. They know he'll be in the last year of his contract but he will spark a bidding war. We won't be the only ones hovering, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Arsenal, City and United show interest.. As well as whoever else abroad. £50m is clearly too much. But between £20-25m?

Hopefully he'll get a runout and have a good pre-season with us (although I'm sure he'll be at the Copa America, so that sucks)

Haven't really watched Chelsea youth over the last year or so.. Is RLC's position, the one he played today, his natural o[ne?

Really? But couldn't you also make the argument that he took that side, unified them and got them playing a style of football which, lets be honest here, was arguable one of the best around. He has gone to sides with these individuals but he's managed to create a real team out of them, both at Bayern and Barcelona. I know people joke that even they would be able to do that, but he seems like he's got the commitment and patience to perfect every detail of his game.. Only high calibre managers can do that?

it's a shame because I think Mourinho expected the same too..

A United midfield with Depay and de Bruyne can make things very interesting next season along with Blind, Mata and potentially Gundogan.

You wouldn't play Cesc for Oscar in that?

Sherwood has done a number on him, but he does tend to be a passenger when it's not his day & i'm not sure how much patience Mourinho would have with him..

Smh. This man has led us top of the table from August until now, how he's not won Manager of the Month in any month between then and now is shocking. I agree Pearson is doing well this season, but Mourinho just secured Chelsea's third PL title and that alone should warrant that award, surely? Meaningless & expected I guess.

Definitely, it was always going to be a ticking time-bomb for this club.

One of the best natural finishers in the league isn't good enough for us? I know he's become injury-prone but were it not for that, he'd have a lot more goals than Harry bloody Kane.

I don't see it like that Tomo, but I respect the view. I think the club felt they didn't have choice but to offer RDM a fulltime contract or face the wrath of the media and others alike in vilifying Chelsea. Backs against the wall and that.

Absolutely. So glad he does it on the biggest stages, when the world is watching!

Will you be voting/have you voted?

Last night explains why Messi is just on another planet. If it wasn't for him Ronaldo would be everyone's best player, but Messi is just that much different.

Lets face the facts here though.. He was only offered the fulltime job (a medial 2 year contract might I add) to make the club's PR not look as rubbish as it was back then. He won the Champions League with a Chelsea team that didn't have much to offer and all eyes were on our Board.. For how can a club dismiss a European Cup winner? The contract offer was a simple waiting game. If he continues to be successful then its a great gamble, but the moment he begins to look like he's costing the campaign he's gone. Gone cheap too.. He wouldn't be owed near the same sums of compensation that we paid to AVB, Ancelotti etc. That being said, I don't think you'll find a single Chelsea fan who doesn't appreciate and respect the job Roberto Di Matteo did.

Indeed. RLC and Aké are more likely to feature, since their positions keep them surrounded by senior and experienced players.

For his development, imo, I think he should stay with Atletico for another season. Though I'm sure he'd be a bit pissed if we bought him just to keep him there. This one really depends on the situation of what we do with Bamford and a third choice centre-forward if we choose to sign one.

I haven't actually watched him play properly for Southampton. How's he doing?

Tbh. I don't think we'll ever see Mikel play like this ever again.. The role he's played in the last few years means he's got a different type of mentality.. All previous managers have instructed him to sit deep and distribute the ball to anyone who seems to be near him. Even if Mourinho deployed him as a number 10 v Liverpool, he wouldn't see what we see in your YouTube videos.

As one of the best number 10s? I don't know, not yet for me. The biggest criticism I had of him was a lack of end product, but this season he seems to be stepping it up with everything else not going right around him lmao. Then again, it must be kept in mind.. He did just turn 22. He's been about for a while and should get better from here.. Not sure if he'll be one of the greats though.

I keep seeing Solanke's name appear on people's wish lists. I really don't think Mourinho will do it, CF is one of those positions where its a big responsibility for players especially when we play with the one up top. I think if Drogba/Remy aren't fit then Mourinho will go for a false number 9 instead of using Solanke.. He may play RLC, but that's because he's surrounded by players like Matic and Fabregas.

Bale needs space? Yeah I agree with that. But people seem to forget the Bale can make his own space.. He has played in the PL, its like people have forgotten that. He doesn't need a long stretch of green ahead of him, if he gets that quick burst of pace (like Willian does) then he can rip through defenders. I remember at Tottenham when he was deployed in the middle v Norwich and has a worldies against them. You've all seen what Mourinho has done with Hazard over the last two years, his influence has been outstanding. He can easily do the same with Bale, nurture him to be a more effective winger and then he can have Hazard, Willian and Bale rotating. I don't think anyone here has suggested we swap them, that would be entirely counteractive. But both of them? That would be a dream & a nightmare for defences.

Not surprising at all lmao. Must have the best game/clean sheet ratio? Maybe Van Der Saar might be in contention there.

We could go back for Ruddy lmao. Begovic is a vastly underrated keeper I feel though, he could probably find a CL club that would make him #1, but the lure of Chelsea might be even better for him.