Styles

The time to get him was 2011 when he was leaving Porto. Unfortunately for us we wasted that money on Torres in January of that year.

He does try very rarely but he's just too small and weak for it to matter. Mourinho won't tolerate those deficiencies especially in the big games. I like Mata as much as the next guy but some games don't suit him, there's nothing wrong in admitting that. If we're under the cosh and need everybody to run and press he wouldn't make my 11. That doesn't mean he won't play the other 85% of the time when we dominate the ball and have other teams under pressure.

I'm only going by Wikipedia that has him at 6'1 and somewhere else I read 6'2. He does look taller than 5'11 in the youtube videos I've been scouting

Tancredi knows about as much as we do. He just retweets everything he reads online and acts as if he has sources. It's not hard to get a few things right when you 'report' so many rumors. Twitter + summer transfer window = avoid at all cost

Fucking LOL. Roman would get rid of Torres the first chance he gets.

Understandable considering the World Cup is coming up.

Calling a poor game a poor game is fine. Some of the other reactionary nonsense is uncalled for.

Hopefully that's the case. Lollichon is close with Cech and has been working with Courtois so our goalkeeping set-up is running smoothly already.

I wouldn't read too much into the friendly games. For me he confirmed what he is; a very good ball playing CB. That level of composure in a young player is unreal. He might not have looked as solid defensively as we would all like but he's 17 and was playing against a, surprisingly, extremely motivated Man City side. What was promising is he did very well with Cahill alongside him. If he can play with an experienced no-nonsense beside him it could help develop his game further.

I wonder how that will work with Lollichon who is very close with Cech. Could be a potential issue there.

Some ridiculous comments in here. Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves.

This is going to penalties. Both teams losing it once they enter the final third.

MVG is about 6'2. He looks like he can hold his own already and will get stronger as he progresses. Hell, even Loftus-Cheek at 17 was matching Toure for strength/power in the two friendlies.

These transfers are reportedly being masterminded by Guardiola. Klopp said Goetze told him that Guardiola personally wanted him and he couldn't let the opportunity to work with him pass. Guardiola knows exactly what he's doing and it's shameful.

And earn double his current salary.

I don't buy into the importance of the captain's armband but seeing him lead the team was awful.

Damn.

I see Uefa have shamelessly decided to steal the NextGen Series' thunder and set up an official u19 Champions League. What does that mean for the NextGen Series and Chelsea? Thought it was a good tournament with good teams and have no real complaints other than the crap pitch they used for the final (one of the worst I can remember). Would hate to see Uefa swallow them up when they've just got going.

Great news. Everybody has to start somewhere. Hopefully once they get promoted we can send him a few players. CFC family spreading all over Europe, gotta love that. I don't think I need any excuse for posting this

I'll join you! :tophat:

Insane amount of pressure on those players today when you take into account the financial rewards for their clubs. The 'richest game in football' with a guaranteed 120m minimum for the winner. Hope he just plays his game and not the occasion.

It's his level. If we didn't play Europa League he would have ended the season on about 11 or 12 goals.

I haven't seen him play but sounds like a very promising young player. Box to box midfielder? Great. That's exactly what the pivot needs. No more of this specialised defensive midfielder crap.

Yeah that's more or less what I'm talking about. Now what players from our squad would you say meet that criteria?

One of our 'better' players in a game we played some of the worst football I can remember. Benfica dominated possession, territorial advantage, chances, corners etc you name it. Not saying much when you look at it like that is it? Lampard is part of the problem. Our midfield stinks. It's absolutely terrible.