Madmax

Of course. Just thought it's an interesting stat re stockpiling players.

We need to have a thread for past managers. Annoyed having to come into this thread to read about Carlo

Chelsea players scored 100 goals in 2013-14. Chelsea players out on loan scored 123.

Was it really beside the point? I compared their touches precisely because it's not that important an attribute in Chelsea's system - a system in which Ba has done reasonably well given the circumstances - and thus a system in which Lukaku should do well considering he's a better player than Ba in all attributes bar pure hold up play (including touch). Fuck's sake 19, do I have to spoon feed you?

It's a relevant point, I'll give you that. But at Chelsea he normally won't be operating in too much space in most games because teams know that's our biggest threat. In tight spaces his movement and intelligence matters much more and Lukaku sniffs goals, which is a much more important asset than touch. I've lost count of the number of times I've read someone exclaim how he had a poor game apart from scoring - well no shit, he kept his head in the most important minute of the 90; that's what we should be looking at. Decent touch is useful but not as useful as presence of mind. His link up play will need to improve, though.

Definitely had Mourinho's input. He also approved of the Schurrle signing. There are quotes if you want to find them.

People talk about his touch but it's better than Ba's, who can't run three steps without tripping himself. (Fully expecting someone to post .gif of the Liverpool goal in 3..2..1.. )

Sources saying we're going to be paying 19 mn for Luis. In what world is doing that better than 30 mn on Shaw while locking down your LB position for 12 or so years? I could understand if we'd been signing someone like Moreno for half of Shaw's price. Now we'll just be spending another 20 or so 3 years down the line on someone else (unless you believe the club will play Aina or Ake when Luis leaves ... in which case, more power to you).

I hear we're in for Jodon Mutch, Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland

Chelsea have some sort of option to buy Benfica's stake in him for something ridiculous like 7 million, iirc. The other half is third party ownership. You should take a look on Portugoal (or was it A bola) - one of the two, anyway - they did a piece on his situation recently. I'd link but I'm on Tapatalk.

Yeah man that La Ligue is shit compared to the Serie Premier League. They're both way off the BundesDivisie, though.

Seeing as you're actually NZ, do you like cricket? If you do, how embarrassed are you of your fellow Kiwi Danny Morrison?

He has the audacity to talk about 'style' when he has tanked spectacularly under each and every of his 5 managers here in each and every of his 3 and a half seasons here. CUNT. Also, if he is so 'marketable', why the fuck can't we find someone willing to pay us a tenner and take him off our hands?

I hope that the 3rd CM spot doesn't go to Tiago. MvG will just be this season's Lukaku in that case.

Guess Mourinho was right in his assessment of Casillas after all, huh?

? He's played <10 games. JFC people can be stupid.

I would take a one-legged Costa over a 300% fit Torres.

No I got your post; mine was directed at the notion that Luiz would be a liability in big games. He raises his game based on the opposition. A big game player is a mature one but you have to wonder why he rarely showed that level of application against the other teams.For 3 years we talked about his talent and 'potential' to be world class but now that he's 27 and not reached that level except for the odd run of games here and there, people are bringing up his conflict with the Chelsea system as an excuse. I don't disagree with that line of thinking, maybe he will indeed be better suited to PSG's style but fact remains we've sold an incompatible enigma of a player who's not fulfilled his promise for a world record fee which will hopefully be utilized to address the glaring need(s) identified by the manager.

It's amusing that you bring up the Atletico game because I can count on one hand the number of bad performances Luiz has had in a 'big' game. He nearly always stepped up to the occasion, as a defender AND a midfielder ; if anything he was often guilty of playing to the level of the opposition when we faced the lesser lights.

Favourite Luiz performances? Mine : 1. Munich 2. QPR away 11-12 Foygate 3. City away this season

Not gonna pretend I won't miss his 'personality' but this is incredible business by the club. World record transfer fee for a 27 y.o 3rd choice defender/3rd choice midfielder who doesn't fit the manager's plans (rightly or wrongly). Wish him well. Costa, Pogba/Koke and Shaw/Moreno/Rodriguez. No excuses now for 14-15. Exciting times.

Well said. At some point you just have to take that leap of faith that shows the youngster you actually believe in them. Unless this is just window dressing to counteract FFP, in which case, fair enough. Fucking depressing, but fair enough.I was delighted when Carlo gave those games to Josh in 10-11. It's all been downhill since. I mean I understand the reasons but I wish I wouldn't have to take a deep breath at the beginning of every season and murmur a 'maybe next year'.

Who is your favourite poster here that belongs to (a) a footballing country ( a traditionally non-footballing country? ----------------------------------- My thread got closed before I had a chance to thank all those who interacted so pardon me for doing so here. I enjoyed the process a lot and I hope I was able to answer your questions satisfactorily!

But you don't believe what's written in papers

As expected. Guess we'll be seeing the same with Zouma and if Luiz doesn't go then Omeruo too.