Tomo

Remember that Arsenal vs Barca match were Barca took apart Arsenal on a big level for 20 mins but Almunia just kept saving? Probably the best 20 minute period of football ever (certainly in modern era) despite no goal. I genuinely believe that if we did that for 90 minutes (I know that will never happen just talking hypothetical) yet kept getting denied by keeper, people would come here and rant about our "shit" performance even tho it was the perfect performance and one of the best in history despite it ending 0-0. I can get the frustration at the result, but their has been a lot of encouraging signs under Antonio so far.

Troll alert

It was for me, in fact even in his prime his technical ability was average, it was his acceleration and athletic qualities that made him one of the best strikers in England. I remember Eto'o coming in and thinking how good it felt to finally have a forward who could at least do the bare basics right.

If the good Liverpool show up the we are in for a tough night, but even then if we can't get a couple past their defense (which is by far the worst I've ever seen for a top 7/8 club in England) then we don't deserve anything. Can see a 2-2 under that circumstance. If the poor Liverpool show up, then we can/probably will cruise this in second gear, 2-0.

Luiz may have his flaws, but his inclusion will help us play a more aggressive game like Italy did at the Euros. In that sense Zouma and Luiz partnership would be a good one, but the odd brain fart would be the cost. Question we got to ask ourselfs is would it be worth it to see us impose ourselves more on the opposition, because at times especially vs West Ham our pressing and aggresion was top class but Antonio was weary of going full pelt due to our defenders.

My main gripe with the club as a whole during my whole life as a Chelsea supporter is how shit we are winning points late on, not only winning the points but the application, we never seemed to pin teams back like United under Fergie did and to an extent Arsenal late 00s/early10s aswell. Obviously law of averages we did it a few times but I always had this dread when games hit 70-75 and we weren't in front, after the Watford and Swansea games when we levelled the score I was convinced we were going to win it, I know we didn't today but we had Swansea by the balls to the point they hooked off their best player for a defender. I know there's still a lot of work to do, but by the looks of it Conte has installed an almost Fergie time like belief in our squad that we can save games in the dying embers.

Torres good ball control?

Logic of this place. The young Belgium that stayed: every time he makes a mistake moan about how we shouldn't have sold Cech and sometimes even more laughably how we should drop him for Begovic. The two young Belgium we sold: moan every time they score about how we don't stick by young players then whinge some more when one of them is linked with a return.

Served me well last time. Maybe a 3-3 draw at home to a Merseyside club 8 days before again?

From last season? Yes it has, that's not exactly saying much, but still.

Is this the time coming that Arsenal finally net against us

Sorry what?

The most frustrating thing when it comes to Ivanovic, is in his prime he was the best RB in the league and kept getting shafted in the centre or the bench by Carlo/AVB in favour of fucking Bosingwa (I don't buy this he was a CB stuff, i hated him in that position even in his prime, imo it was just a lazy assumptiom becayse he is big and looks like a nutter). Last few years hes been past his prime and got selected at RB every week.

I agree purely because of the fact it will mean Ivanovic out of the team (well that's based on blind optimism that Alonso isnt even worse). However if I had it my way we would have signed a new RB this summer and kept Cesar were he is.

Now I'm all for dropping Ivanovic but what is all this about natural spot. From a defensive point of view at least, I much prefer him on the left.

Christensen and Musonda defiantly, Traore most probably. Ake, Kenedy, Tammy, Pasalic, Boga and Kasey potentially, all depends on how their loan progress goes. JCS and Corklett is too early to say, will help if they pulled some trees in Bristol and earned a higher level move. Baker is a long shot, can't see it. The rest no chance, they just aren't and never will be good enough for the level we aspire to be, not even as squad players, although having said that we have a few of those category players in our squad this season, Chalobah and Moses prime examples.

Solid enough squad option, but Ryan is the definition of absense making the heart grow fonder, i remember he got those run of games under Rafa and during them the forum came to an almost unanimous verdict that he was nothing special and not good enough to be Ash's long term left back successor. Luke Shaw is were we missed the boat left back wise, he would have been so perfect for us it hurts.

Bertrand is like Moses, get's better the more he doesn't put on a Chelsea shirt, by the looks of it Baba will be in that category sooner or later.

Part of me hopes City give them a pasting, that would certainly be my preferred option of a draw doesn't happen. Mourinho will not take an early home defeat to Pep very nicely atall.

Imagine the meltdown if we signed him as an unknown

Luiz takes number 30.

The second half that night was the only convincing performance we had all season, crazy we came 2nd.

It all started that night he bullied Rooney in that 2-1 when he scored, since then the media have been out to get him and United fans have become almost deranged in their obsession with him, whenever he makes an even slight mistake those lot are on it like vultures.

Forget JT and Cahill, Kante made Morgan and Huth look world beaters. I have deliberately kept a close eye on him in games since about April and Leicester's title win makes more and more sense every time i watch him.

His mistakes when they come are quite 'out there' hence the reputation he has got. But will said errors cost us more point's than Cahill backing off and getting sold cheap dummy's game by game?