dodojojo

Thank you for the detailed explanation of that rule. I was aware of it because how else would you lure Henry and Beckham to MLS? I wasn't aware of it in detail. Do you know if there is a max limit on how much the exception can make? Still, I can't see Anelka making more money than he does now. He's probably on 80-90K weekly at Chelsea and that's in pounds. I can't see any MLS team willing to give him USD 100-125K weekly. He is simply not that big of a name like Beckham nor was he ever as good as Henry. Also the MLS' season is shorter so even if the MLS team matched his weekly earnings at Chelsea, he would lose money overall. I'm not saying Anelka is staying at Chelsea purely for financial reasons but I'm positive that he wouldn't get as good a financial deal anywhere else. It's not pretty but Chelsea may have to lose some PR points and do what Man City did and that's to tell some to leave and if they don't, they can watch from the stands and play for the reserves. Opening in up salary spots for the 25 man squad is essential for a team badly in need of renewing over the next couple of years.

The cynic in me says the club should strongly encourage the unwanted players to leave with their dignity intact. Perhaps with some financial incentive. If that doesn't work, the club can make it clear to the unwanted players there isn't room for them on the first team and they will be expected to start for the reserves.

I'd be seriously surprised if this is true. MLS has a much lower pay structure than the leagues in Europe. I know there are exceptions, like Beckham, but Anelka isn't close to DB in terms of recognition and marketing.

Well, your topic is actually in the right forum, so you're in the right.

I guess the guys weren't too downhearted about last night's game. Straight-up in business class.The funniest thing was that I couldn't understand one single word from any of players in the first seconds of the video.

As punishment for today's game, AVB has turned Nando into a hobbit with a lollipop head. Wonder what will happen to Kalou, Lampard and others?

That drag move is his favorite. Remember him doing it to Cole a couple of times.

LOL. Didn't watch the match because of work but it didn't sound very good. Let's see what happens in Thailand.

Fair enough and if the mods want me to delete it I will. It's the first time I've used the term for any poster here. But if anything warranted it, it's for using "undoubtedly shit and hopeless" about a player. I have my opinions on players too. I don't use those terms to describe their deficiencies. Edit: I just noticed you're the Admin So I will delete if you insist.

I posted once in this to make a point. But it doesn't seem to have gotten through. And the argument that we give Torres time and support to show his worth this season and if he fails, then he'll deserve crap rather than slating him now during the preseason...doesn't seem to have gotten through either. I give up. I bow to this: "Don't argue with idiots. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

How many tickets sold versus complimentary tickets I wonder? Nice to know and good news if it's mostly the former.

Wow. Hate to see what you say of players who don't play for Chelsea. Anyhow, I take it you don't really watch many Spain games and know very little about how they play and how they used to play prior to 2008. I also will give you the benefit of doubt that you don't know that Torres had two knee surgeries prior to the WC. He was on the pitch in S. Africa less than 2 months after his 2nd surgery. It was for his meniscus. Kaka had similar surgery after the WC and he was out for 4 months. But yeah, Torres is so shit Vicente Del Bosque not only wanted him in the squad but as a starter despite fitness issues. VDB, if it wasn't for his trophies, he would be an idiot. Same goes for Luis Aragones, who kept playing Torres despite knowing that the switch to tika-taka after the 2006 World Cup was not suited to Torres' game. Other than winning Spain's first title in 44 years, Aragones is hopeless at football too.

Look at Yossi' legs compared to Nando's...hell to everyone else! Someone feed him.

Maybe a bit during the summer but it's likely due to him being deceptively more muscular than most people think. He almost always wears long sleeves so it's a bit of surprise for people to see he's actually quite a traditional "9" striker. Kinda belies the "ladyboy" moniker...no lady or boy I can see in those photos. He was really skinny at Atletico but Benetiz had him bulk up for the PL. I actually think he's gone too far and it may be why he's a bit sluggish compared to his first season. Think he would be better off losing some of the mass.

You a bad, bad man...

Is it possible to have Chelsea play in a hot and humid environment all year round? Just a question...

Nice of the hotel to video this, though it would help if the camera was better placed.

This is basically why some of them are unremittingly annoying. Holier than thou...I wish Downing the best of luck and hope Liverpool fans won't give him a hard time. You know how much they despise players who leave one club to join another in order to *gasp, horror* win things. Moving to Chelsea for CL football is completely out of order. Blacken that man's name (and his shirt). Moving to 6th place Liverpool is totally sensible.

This is hard work: 1) Torres didn't score, flop! 2) Torres scored, not a flop...for now...

Modric and Aguero in would be a dream. I won't hold my breath...If you're going to pair Torres up with someone, it has to be a second/creative striker or a very forward CM which was how Gerrard played with Fernando. Aguero makes more sense than Falcao. A lineup of Torres, Aguero, Yossi and Modric and everyone else will have to defend. Or Chelsea can forget about defending and It'll just be basketball scores. I don't see the point of pairing Torres up with another out and out striker. I agree AVB is being very diplomatic right now. I can't see him trying to square holes this season. He'll probably rotate the two.

Just a friendly and 23 players used so perhaps a great midfield may come out of the squad. But from this game, it reminds me from last season that this midfield needs to be upgraded. Lampard was anonymous.

Yossi's played some nice passes. Hope to see him and Nando play a bit together in Asia.

Correct. Ortega will be giving massages, walking the players through their exercises, making sure they are using correct form, etc. There's probably at least 3 or 4 others with the same job. He's not the head of anything nor will he be making executive or policy decisions. So Torres has someone to chat with in Spanish, big deal. Torres' hotel bill when he moved to Chelsea probably cost more than this guy's annual salary.

What has convinced you he's not the best trainer Chelsea could have gotten? And for us on the board, how are we going to answer your question anyway? Should we start with Mr. Ortega's educational and training background? Interview his past employers? It's not like he's AVB and has plenty of background information we can readily access. Do you ask the same question for every minor hire at Chelsea? Is he/she the best nutritionist Chelsea could have hired? Is he/she the best scout Chelsea could have hired? There have been other hires recently, have you asked questions about the hires? Honestly, I don't read all your posts. In the big scheme of things, hiring Ortega is a minor issue. What is the big deal? If he's incompetent, he'll quickly be found out. You think AVB would tolerate a physiotherapist who can't do his job? This is a mountain out of a molehill and I suspect it's not really about Mr. Ortega.

Of course Ortega's relationship with Torres helped with the appointment. To not believe so would mean personal relationships do not help with employment. That's not true in real life either. Having said that, it doesn't mean Ortega isn't a good physiotherapist. I don't think he held onto his job at Liverpool merely by being at Torres' personal beck and call. Sure, he's probably been brought in help Torres a bit but it doesn't mean he's not professional enough to do his job overall for Chelsea. And I don't know if it'll ever be possible to pin the blame of Torres' injuries on this guy. Torres was fit as a fiddle for Atletico. His injuries may have come down to Liverpool not allowing him to ever recover 100%. And I wouldn't have either if my backup option was David Ngog. Nothing against the guy, but it turns out he just really isn't good enough. Look what happened last season after the WC injury. I kept hearing how they were going to bring Torres slowly back to health etc. So what happens? He's subbing on the first league game of the season and starting thereafter. I know Torres wanted to play, but with that kind of player and investment, sometimes it's in everyone's best interest for the organization to say, "no, you're going rest and recover and be at your best." The Liverpool doc is then interviewed and he's saying Torres should be reaching his optimal health in October or November. What? Why is he starting games in late August then? Oh, right. David Ngog.