teignman

I loved the confidence and poise that Danny showed in his season debut. He is still a bit of a work in progress, but has the tools to realize his full potential.

Yesterday, we started showing glimpses of AVB's vision for our beloved club. We kept possession well, quick passing, and won the ball back quickly. We were by no means perfect, but I take a lot more positives than negatives away from that match. We are in a transitional phase with the team's personnel both on the touchline and on the pitch. One strategic suggestion though. If we are to play a high line, it is imperative that we employ at least one center half that is fleet afoot. Luiz fits this description and I look forward to his return to the starting XI.

RA was a proponent of financial fair play. He would not support anything that would be detrimental to the success of the club. Also, I think there are enough loopholes in financial fair play that it will not be a hindrance to our objectives.

First, WUM= wind up merchant, ie someone trying to provoke or agitate. Malouda like Killimanjaro has said has been poor for around eight months. He started to pick up a little at the end of last season only to see his form dip precipitously at over the first three matches of this campaign. I could understand if Malouda had just lost a step cause he is getting older, but it is his decision-making that has really been a problem. That should get better as a player gets older.

The Bertrand omission while puzzling, doesn't bother me too much. We can shift Bos to left back if need be, but I would like to see Bertrand get a game or two if he have the group sewn up. Now on to everyone's favorite punching-bag, Salomon Kalou. I pretty much agree with most of what has been said here about him. Get Lukaku the games, end of. I don't think my dislike of Kalou as a player is up there with some of the people on this board. He just really serves no purpose with our current personnel. His prolonged spells of dire form are shocking. Then, out of nowhere, he'll occasionally have a decent/good game. Which makes him all the more frustrating, and I think encourages managers to select/play him. Several years ago the argument could be made that Kalou was still developing and not the finished article. Now at 26 he IS the finished article, and it's not even close to good enough.

Original Poster

This is sure going to make me watch a lot more Bolton matches.

I was against the Meireles signing from the outset, but I've come around a little bit. When it was first being mentioned, I was against it because I thought our attentions and resources should have been focused on better players. Now he's here, and I can see that he does help the midfield as a squad player. He's also a tireless worker that will help with AVB's pressing system. Now for something completely different: Spurs. I don't even know where to start. Their smug sense of self-satisfaction over their jammy run in the CL last year, or maybe the fact they think they're a big club though they can only shop of the discount shelf because they get spurned by actual talent (ahem, Juan Mata, ahem). Watching that simpering cur 'Arry on Sky talking to the press like he was some sort of mogul because he was able to get Scott Parker. Twunt. Somehow they got Stoke to pay around £12m for Crouch. Hell, Kalou must be worth a good £15m by the Potters' thinking. There, now I've calmed down. Just needed to get that last paragraph out.

I was rather disappointed that we didn't get a younger, better player. Oh well, c'est la guerre. However, I'm warming to Raul. Provides some more steel in midfield. He's a nutter alright, but now he's our nutter. Boa sorte to our new midfielder.

What a disappointment this has turned out to be. Hopefully, the existing players and the couple new ones are able to take to AVB's system. We'll see what happens come the January window.

I wouldn't go that far. It has already been stated that Hazard isn't going anywhere in this window anyway.

In: De Bruyne and some great, out of nowhere signing Out: Benayoun and Kalou

Wow that's amazing. Ron Gourlay decided that just today he wanted to start a twitter account. People who impersonate others on twitter should be pilloried, literally.

Latest I've found. Doesn't sound likely, but like the man says, anything can happen. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7138161,00.html

Well, I've clamored for a plan B if we don't get Modric. Meireles is not it. We shouldn't waste our time with the delusional scousers.

I would venture to that say Davila is not going to make first team appearances soon. He's made only 21 appearances for his club team in Mexico over the past several years. He's most likely going on loan to Vitesse. Anyway, I'm all for the De Bruyne signing. A cheap player that is already quality and has the potential to become a great one. I've mixed emotions about his a loan back to Gent for the season. I think we should be blooding him into the squad sooner rather than later, and in more than League Cup matches. But something tells me the great price we're getting on him was contingent upon him be loaned back to Gent for the rest of the season.

Something to read if you're bored and prone to statistical over-analysis. http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2011/8/29/2390077/tactical-analysis-chelsea-fc-3-1-norwich-city-juan-mata

Only seen a little footage of him. He's an absolute beast for a left winger. Looks like he has more pace than his big brother. On this alone, I would say sign him up.

"You Ain't Got No History" has been the song of the vanquished in the PL for some time now. I've heard and seen many people opine that we have bought our success by plucking players from other squads around Europe. This assertion is, of course, fraught with hypocrisy. In the PL era, most every club in the has had a squad stocked with outside buys. We were a good club as far as level of competition prior to Roman. His infusion of cash and personal interest just took us to elite status.

It's talkshite, but still I found this to be plausible. I like this move provided we find someone to replace Alex. http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/1023/39/chelsea-eyeing-swap-deal-juventus-star

Out of the Porto lot, I would want (and think we could really use) Moutinho or Hulk. The former is still a remote possibility. The latter is a dream due to his absurd release clause. But back on topic. If we can get Perreira for very close to our first bid, I'll be ok with it. I think it is a bit much for a player that doesn't really fit our pressing needs. However, I trust there is a good reason that AVB deems him a must-have. I don't know what that good reason is, but I have a lot of faith in our ginger-bearded Portuguese.

My sentiments exactly!

To me, this doesn't make me worry about Citeh more. They can only put 11 on the pitch at one time. Congrats to them for adding to an already bloated squad.

I think yet another keeper, especially the 34 year old backup at Juve, is at the bottom of our priority list, if it's even a priority at all, as this window draws to a close. Hilario was quality last week at the Bridge. Let's roll with him until Petr gets back.