HRiver

Man City game is a bit earlier than I would have liked, otherwise the schedule looks pretty decent.

"On the wane", a forward who scored 28 goals in 40 appearances for Milan in his last season, who played in a Champions League final the season before that. Compare him at 29/30 years old to Falcao at 29 years old. Mourinho is a great tactician but he is no magician. If Falcao is past it he is past it, there is nothing Mourinho can do. I can't help but feel that this is just stubbornness on Mourinho's part (a Premier League flop signing for the Premier League champions, something is clearly wrong here). Besides, aren't you contradicting yourself here? Going by that logic if Sheva was good enough for Jose then it should have turned out well, same with Claudio Pizarro, Salomon Kalou etc. Were these players good enough for you? Also, some people here are expecting Falcao to score 15+ goals this season? Seriously. Are you all hoping Diego Costa will break both legs or what. A has-been and a massive Premier League flop scoring 15+ goals while being our 3rd choice striker. Mmmkay.

Who cares even if he's third choice, I fail to see how a massive has-been like Falcao would suit this team or how he would help this team. What are you expecting from him exactly?

Lol says the guy who fails to see the difference, which is huge. When we bought Sheva he was one of, if not the best striker in Europe. Falcao is a has-been for years now. Also, if you could give me one good reason why I should be supportive (or heavens forbid, enthusiastic) of this transfer, then I'd seriously like to hear it.

Lol I honestly don't know why any sane Chelsea fan would justify this transfer. I can't even believe it's happening.

Even Drogba at this age is better than this guy. Anyone is better than this guy.

Wait, wait, we're getting rid of Remy for this guy? What even is this logic

Don't care if he goes to Arsenal, will always be a legend.

Or Marchisio. Any Juve midfielder is better than Oscar really.

08/09 Aston Villa away

Yes, obviously. I can see what you mean, but I believe there is no point in hoping they'll lose to Juventus because of what happened in 2009, I thought us qualifying with ten men for most of the game and then seeing pics of them crying in their dressing room more than made up for it. Chelsea's CL triumph couldn't be sweeter even if we wanted to.

Bro, 2009 is already forgotten.

Lol Suarez scoring right in front of Evra's face.

Remy is one of our most underrated players by far, liked him from day one and he continues to impress. Deserves to play way more. who the f*ck even is Falcao?

So a year after and we're still going around in circles it seems. I honestly don't see what's the point of this debate. The very fact that we're arguing whether he's still a legend at this club or not, and if what he did has tarnished his legacy, obviously says it all. I said this only a few days ago in this here thread: Lampard wanted to win the title with City pretty badly, maybe even more than he wanted the Champions League with Chelsea. He wanted to have his last laugh by leaving on a high, by helping our biggest title rivals in winning the title. If this doesn't give the fans the right to question his status at the club then I don't know what does. This is Zanetti joining Milan or Totti joining Lazio betrayal level. Thankfully, he won zero titles at City, so it's pretty clear who the loser is here. His move to City was totally worthless and I'm sure it's a decision he regrets big time. If he went to City for the reasons he stated, that would be totally understandable, but those claims are just not true. I'm just disappointed and sad with the way he stabbed us fans in the back, more than anything. I'm also sad he forgot Munich and those league titles and all those memories so quickly.

So the manager shouldn't be criticizing a young player who underperformed, mmmkay.

Please no. He is poop.

Why didn't Lampard announce he was leaving before the final game of last season? Because he knew he was going to join New York City and then Man City - that's why. He didn't want to get a farewell and all that because he knew next season he would still be in the Premier League. He was pissed he didn't get another season, so he wanted to have his revenge by winning the title with City, but he failed. He is not having the last laugh that he thought he would have.

That was unexpected. Too early to take him off, should have waited for second half.

When the opposing teams have a go from distance I don't quite feel safe with Courtois, I think he is much better from close range. With Cech I feel it's the other way around, so they both have their flaws. Cech is overall the better goalkeeper at the moment though, no question.

Still remember the day very clearly. Went to watch the game on a huge screen and finding a seat wasn't easy, so I had to stay on my feet for 3+ hours. Was knackered but totally worth it.

Impressive away support. If only it was this loud at the Bridge.

We have a bunch of really immature players, unforgivable if something like this ever occurs in CL/cup final (and knowing Costa, it could well happen). I hope we never face Real Madrid.

Well said. Mourinho knows how to set up his team but also how to cancel the tactics of the opposing team, which is even more important. On the other hand doing the former is all Pep knows.

Well to some extent every manager is predictable, this season even Diego Simeone was predictable. But the difference between Mourinho and Pep is that Mourinho is way more flexible when it comes to the opponent's tactics - even if defensive football is his trademark it's hard to know what he has up his sleeve (I'd rather we played defensive football than get humiliated by 3 or 4 goals anyway). Pep is more stubborn and simply not as adaptable as a manager. Mourinho may have been eliminated before the quarter-finals by PSG but I fail to see how this makes a statement, unlike the Pep situation. Pep just got humiliated by two of the biggest clubs in Europe within two seasons. If he loses 5-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid and then gets knocked out by Barcelona the next year in similar fashion, how can you expect him and Bayern to recover? You cannot know for sure that we won't be able to beat Barcelona and Real Madrid and reach the final next year, whereas this Bayern side simply can't. Pep's high line defence last night was lolworthy, you will never see that from Mourinho.