Tomo

I remember back in 2010, when we won the first of many youth cups, the investment made by Roman into the academy was reaping it's first reward, and that mixed with the fact we were ditching experience and replacing them with young player's, led to multiple articles of "what would our team look like in 2016" ie now, guess which type of players featured in those fantasy future teams? Delac, Billy and Conor Clifford, Bruma, Van Aanholt, Deen Conteh, Mancienne, Stoch, McEachran, Kakuta, could you imagine if we went into this season with that band as our key players? Well the nicest way I can put it is two of Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich would be staying up this season instead of just the one. Honestly, and this is for @chelseafan26 and every one else who slates the club every time there's a rumour of an under 22 leaving, how many of those players that I mentioned above did you also believe deserved more chances in the first team? Also just something is also like to add, Terry wasn't the last youth player to break through, Bertrand was, just because he was sold in the end doesn't change that, he was a fill time member of the first team squad for three years playing about 70 games and won three major trophies, that's breaking through in my book. Also, Afferly already had numerous first team games for PSV before Barca got him, if you are going to praise Barca for him, you should praise us for Mikel and Zouma for the sake of consistency.

And why has the TV deals struck football? Because of the amount of fans it attracted in the first place. The people who pay Doctors and Nurses can't afford to pay them 200k a week, If however 40,000 fans started watching them in work weekly and started buying their merchandise, their wages would quickly shoot up to astramoinical levels aswell.

Yes it can work, and there have been many examples. Ronaldo at United (I'm not saying Cesc is on that level) had a complete free role in his late years there, do you know how Fergie countered that so there wouldn't be a chink for opposition to exploit? Two defensive minded midfielders, even at home vs wank sides, and it worked. Lampard in his prime, we had Essien, Maka and even Ballack doing the dirty work so he could get his twenty goals a season, although ageing was also a big factor Lampard constantly bombing forward became more of a hindrance than a help after those player's left (or in Essiens case completely fell off a cliff). The point is Cesc gives us qualities that no one (realistically attainable) in world football can give us, do you remember 13/14 when we were completely clueless in breaking down packed defenses? Cesc changed all that, it's not always the assists its his sharp thinking that catches defenses unorgonaized and gives us genuine opportunities, compared to 13/14 were Rami and Mikel would make a bad choice or slow the play down giving the team the chance to regroup.

Yeah, although how they escaped with a win that particular day beat me. It's defiantly something that exists, look at our own record against Arsenal between 95-05, not a single league win against them, United we beat regularly likewise Liverpool but Arsenal our players crumbled, even Hasselbaink who's record vs them for Leeds was as good as Drogbas when he came here couldn't reverse it, it took Jose and Didier himself to finally do it. Tottenham will win here sometime and it might be next week, but there phycological torture at The Bridge stretching back 26 years could defiantly work to our advantage.

Truth be told I wish Paq was still here, yeah he went over the top (a lot) but at least he went over the top defending our own players, I'd rather read that than the tedious our players are crap, other teams players are amazing and the sun shines out of the sold player's arses cliches that litters this place these days. Im not saying you are one of those people (the culprits know who they are) I just quoted you because you mentioned Paq.

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Spurs have one thing in common with Arsenal, they have a raging inferiority complex against us, especially at Stamford Bridge, they have had some glorious chances to beat us in recent years and blew it, ironically it was the one time it didn't look possible it happened.

I haven't checked out the Hazard thread since yesterday yet so can't comment, but all I see in the Cesc thread is what always been said, I don't think even a Chelsea fan version of Ty would think yesterday makes everything ok again.

Has anyone actually said that?

Same was said vs Arsenal.

I think its full but ill sort it at some point

Although I would rather recall Christensen, no defender in the world would look good playing under the likes of Martinez. Look at Lovren for example, he looks much better playing under a manager who knows how to/ wants to coach defending.

Out of interest, what lovely names have you got ready for Conte every time he does something you don't like? Arsehole Antonio? Conte the cretin? Or something worse?

Just to expand on what Manpe said (for the admins) I thought calling you're own players/managers names was banned on here?

I bet if Pellegrino gave three City youngsters Traore, Kenedy and Ruben , you would rave about him and use him as an example of how to integrate youth.

Sounds nice and romantic on pper but a couple of problem's. 1. They have a youth cup final to focus on. 2. They would get hammered and couod have a detrimental effect mentally.

Just seen MOTD2 from this weekend, and I wondered why the we should have kept Cech brigade have gone quiet, he was only beaten at his near post

If we cant recall Christensen this summer I'd try and make this happen. Stones, Zouma and Christensen if they all reach their potential could be close to JT, Carvalho and Gallas.

No need to apologise, I didn't mean to say twisted just had a long day. Maybe the cameos should have been done more but for me Guus has handled the other three well.

Well we have a three point advantage on 11th, i think we will do enough for top half although granted top 7 is our of reach now. And I'm sorry but you've twisted what I said about the youth, I never said we shouldn't play any, what I might have said is we shouldn't go overboard, which I stand by, and by overboard I mean more than 3-4 in one given lineup, part of the beauty of promoting young players is they that come in and play with "the men" so to speak, playing too many completely defeats the object and means they might aswell still be playing U21 football.

I really hope he stays, purely because if he doesn't I'll have to tell my goddaughter their is a new best player in the world.

Heres something to ponder. If we get any form of result vs Spurs, Leicester will need one win in three games and they will at absolute worse have it in their hands coming to The Bridge on the last day.

Although I dont for one second doubt their legacy, I do find it funny when I read that all those players would have never have let half the things that have happened this season happen. Some of the results fair enough, but the rebelling against manager's and downing tools in performance effort was a common theme after Jose left the first time, so it's ridiculous short memory to use them as a stick to beat our current lot with.

Liverpool are the most inconsistent side this league has seen for year's, not since our 01/02 team has their been such a bipolar side. Yes the side that thrashed City twice United in Europe and Dortmund in the second half might show up and if they do it will be a long night, but equally so might the side that lost against Watford, Newcastle, United in the league, Palace, Saints and West Ham, and if that happens I reckon we can win even if we don't show up ourselves, that's how bad they are in an off day and it happens alot.

If there's one game we are going to seriously miss Mourinho it will be against Spurs. He would have forced a result to derail their title bid no matter what, just like he did at Anfield. In our team we will play on the night i reckon Terry, RLC, Cesc and Diego hate Spurs enough to be desperate to derail them, hopefully they can do this, that pondlife cannot win this league, they just can't!!!!!!!