Madmax

8th July is when Mourinho said he'll start training. WC players might join a couple or so weeks later.

Didn't know Luiz had a kid. Lampard's daughters and Ramires' son are adorable.

Quite probable that he's following the common accounting principle of conservatism i.e assuming the biggest possible number in case of expenses and losses and the smallest possible number in case of incomes and gains. Hazard may well be on less than 175k or 185k or whatever but he's simply running with the highest number he's seen reported. In other words, a worst case scenario.

It is in doggie years.

Football : If the Brazil NT squad for the World Cup consisted only of Brazil based players, what would your first choice XI look like? Personal : What do you do for a living?

I don't think Atletico are a flash in the pan or that they're going to go away so easily. The year before last they won in Europe, last year they won the domestic cup and this year they're favourites to win the league with 2 round to go while also being in the UCL final. This shows they've been making consistent progress and their level is only improving year on year. Can they sustain it? Depends. We've seen what happened to Dortmund this year. Your argument applies to Liverpool imo, who've been in the title race this year without threatening to do so in the past years. Their only recent success was the useless League cup and a FA cup final against us 2 years back. While our squad has the more 'raw quality' or 'potential' on an individual basis (especially in midfield and attacking midfield) what makes Atletico's better man-for-man (and this is just my opinion) is the synergetic effect of Simeone's coaching and their togetherness, bred by a few years of stability and having a smallish squad. Their signings are also astute and buy into the way Simeone wants them to play. So while we may have spent 100x more, you know as well as I that the spending has been scattergun in approach and has left us with a hugely imbalanced squad being managed under a revolving door manager policy. Give Mourinho the signings he wants and let him coach this bunch for another year and we'll see the difference. He's always maintained that we should judge him on his second season and that's what we'll do. For what it's worth I think the current season while not a 'success' in the traditional terms is as far away from a 'failure' as possible.

Agree. Would be a great feature, make members feel more 'close' to each other.

Do the opinions on this thread after every match based on the result?

Atleti are better man-for-man than Chelsea, except maybe defence where it's more equal. What made the difference yesterday is that they're much better collectively and comfortable in their system and roles which is why when we opened up by bringing on Eto'o they were all over us. It helps that they're been together for more than a couple of years now.

:blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

I just started the same topic

@BrazilStats BREAKING - 'Lancenet!' reporter Bruno Andrade says that Paulinho has agreed to join Chelsea, and deal will be official after World Cup. @BrazilStatsReporter Bruno Andrade was also one of the first to confirm Paulinho's contract with Tottenham, last summer @BrazilStatsAgent Giuliano Bertolucci who also brought Luiz, Ramires and Oscar to Chelsea, is the one behind the Paulinho idea, according to B.Andrade

There is no wrong side to a Brazilian lady

Going on preseason means sweet fuck all. Traore is what, 18-19 and a reserves/youth player while Atsu has been at Porto. Don't know how anybody could consider Traore a better prospect. That's not taking anything away from Traore or his talent, of course.

Traore is a bigger prospect than Atsu? Says who? But you are right about consistency. Piazon was the best Eredivisie player in the first half of the season. In the second half he's been horrid.

The fuck .. is this that Tommy guy?

Wouldn't play Oscar from the start if Hazard's going to. He's had plenty of experience trying to unlock packed defences but hasn't come up with the goods so it's improbable that he'll suddenly turn it on against Atletico in what is our game of the season. Even if Mourinho wants a disciplined 'playmaker' behind the striker, Willian can do that job while Schurrle will provide the work rate on the flank. Additionally, both are better at breaking forward at pace. I would bring Oscar on if the game's stretched and we need a calming influence in the middle.

MIND GAMESTM

What is amusing is that the bindippers don't even play a possession based game this season. They're one of the most direct teams in the league, a huge difference from last season when they were truly a side looking to be patient and wear teams down by denying them the ball.

Shirley just 'gets' CFC.

No one said footballers are smart people.

Obviously you English will know better but whenever I watch their derby the commentators are at pains to point out they have a 'friendly' rivalry.

wtf hahahaha

Arsenal fan.

- you know who.