Tomo

Apologies I wasn't aware. I think we will do it purely because a six point lead against teams that struggle to string two wins together (even if we can't aswell) is a big advantage at this stage, even more so with all the rivals still to come to our gaff. But furthermore even if we don't (which I accept is possible) I don't think it will be Spurs that take advantage, it will be United or Wolves.

A lot of people seem to base their entire view on a game just by looking at the score, the Arsenal game demonstrated that.

Lol one game that they were gifted by them, you sound like one of those Torres apologists whenever he scored. If you're that confident about Spurs how about you put your money where your mouth is and declare a wager? I'll donate £50 to the forum if Spurs make top 4, you donate the same figure if we do? (If both or neither do bets void).

I disagree it's a major requirement in the modern day. I rewatched a Chelsea match from 2002 a few months ago and a defender passed back to Cudicini who was given all the time in the world to roll the ball forward to almost the half way line before booting it forward, would that ever happen (even at semi pro level) in today's game? Absolutely no chance. Press is a big killer in today's game, if as much as one player can't cope with it you risk being completely overwhelmed in a game, for example us against ten man PSG.

Im sorry but distribution with keepers is important these days no matter how much people don't like to hear it. Every single top team have ball playing keepers, we won't compete long term without one. Now I'm not defending Kepa's performances this season (because he's been a let down even on distribution) but in a team like ours a keeper will have to control the ball and pass under pressure 10 times minimum for every one time they have a shot to save, so if I was offered a 7/7 or a 3/9 (distribution:shot stopping ratio) I'd chose the former and I think 99% of managers would aswell.

What do you mean by that? If you mean attracting truly elite players then we were never that club in the first place.

7 points down on this stage last season and 2/3 on the same fixtures. Given the loss of Hazard, a filled out Loftus Cheek and the injury problems of Kante, Rudiger and Callum that really isn't a disaster.

Probably the easiest match to predict for some time. We will draw 1-1, dominate the middle create (and waste) a lot and United will score one of the few times they enter our third. The usual suspects will then moan about how "shit" the whole performance is (even though it really wasn't) and declare Spurs will batter us next weekend.

And who was his manager last season? We I think are about 7 points down on this time last season with harder fixtures (last season we had all the top 6 at home first half bar one, this season vice versa) and about 2 points down on the same set of fixtures last season. Add to that the loss of a bonafide match winner, our best defender out for half the season, our second best attacking player last season being out all season so far alongside our best midfielder drifting in and out of injury till about November, while there's very much room for improvement it's hardly the doomsday disaster you and others are making it out to be all things considered. Yes, his all-round play at times while will never be Firmino is a lot better than it was (or atleast how I remember it) at youth level and out on loan. Also despite a bit of a rut lately he's on course for atleast 20 goals in all comps, (and that is PL, CL and possibly latter stages of FA Cup, not stat padding in the Europa or early rounds of the cups Vs Championship opponent's) that's impressive for his first season in the Chelsea first team no matter what spin you put on it.

A little bit gutting but when you're behind a generational talent who's already one of the top RB's in the league this can happen. Hopefully we've activated a buy back clause in case we either revert to a back 3 or James is moved to a midfielder.

Whether they do or not isn't really the point, my stance on it is that I have high hopes with Mount, Gallagher and Ruben that I would only want to buy a player in their position if a bonafide worldie is a available. Bruno despite healthy stats doesn't fall into that category in my opinion.

Bruno would be the exact type of short terminism/fuck the project signing we're trying to shake off. We have three academy lads in that position, if we're serious about bringing through our own boys #10/LCM is the last position we should be looking to buy bar a complete worldie becoming available.

You claimed Jose would make top 4 because he always has in his first season at a club (which in itself is wrong). If you're so insistent on basing his past on what he will do this season, then the fact he's never achieved top four from a chasing position is very much relevant I'm afraid.

I don't agree we easily miss out on the top four if we get nothing, the only team capable of punishing us are handicapped with a Championship manager. Part of the reason we've fallen so far off the top is were so now focused between 12-17, I wouldn't mind a low risk signing like Mertens but do I look at signings made by United/Spurs and think we should have gone there? No, in my opinion.

So in other words, we can only use 'the past' logic when it works against Chelsea? Which he doesn't have as a get of jail card for another six placed finish this time. Also if you're so insistent on judging managers on the past, then a bit more research would have showed you that Jose has never since Porto (possibly not even then) achieved either top four or the title from a position where he's chasing (bar I think one week in 2010 when Inter got briefly overhauled by Roma), I'm guessing a change of the goalposts are on the way?

This is based on nothing more than gut instinct at this point but I think Frank bullshits a lot in press conferences anyway, seems to have learned not to follow his uncle Arry who would have given away his bank details if pushed hard enough.

He already has.

Found this on the Shed End and thought it was frightengly applicable here aswell.

Disagree re Giroud. I like him a lot but his legs are gone, and even before then he was never really suited to the way we play under Sarri/Lampard, apart from Europa he looked like a spare part under both managers. His timing in England has been poorly timed, basically he's only had six months (here under Conte) of playing in a style of play that fully suits him.

Could be because he's delievered in the CL and in big games (scored both legs against Liverpool), which for all of Tammy's excellent progress this season he's still yet to do on both counts.

Apart from when he finished with 6th with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line. Furthermore what he did in the past is irrelevant, he "guarenteed the title in his second season" until he went to United, infact if we're going to base things on past statistics then by your very logic we're guarenteed to win the CL because Kovacic has won it every time he's played in it.

No, Kane was who I meant in the first place and he's out for the rest of the season. To put this another way, we're 6 point behind Spurs who still have a healthy Kane, battered us at The Bridge a few weeks ago and still have us at home. We've just lost Kante for the season and our two signings are an unproven winger from Holland and a player Benfica were openly trying to get rid off. Would you give us a hope in hell of catching them? United are a bit of a worry I'll give you that (although I'm not convinced Bruno is as good as the stats suggest) but if Spurs get top 4 then I will potentially reaccess my view on Jose's present day level, that's how unlikely/good an achievement I think it would be.

Only you could say one of our rivals who have lost their best and only world class player for the rest of the season has strengthened.

For once Liverpool are in the right. You can't ask a club to respect a winter break and to not organise any games only to then go and do that to them anyway. Had we drew to Hull I would fully support Lampard had he followed suit (and will if any Chelsea manager does in the future) infact I'd be posting about how I want him too.

Everything goes smoothly and he'll be Jorginho's eventual successor.