dodojojo

Yes, perhaps Neymar purely on talent has a higher ceiling than Aguero but Kun is probably a better "character" for the team. Young, but married with a kid and settled. Serious about football and though not a troublemaker, can be feisty on the pitch. His game is different from Torres, but in personality and temperament, they are similar.

Players should by default setting always fight and give their best. It's a minimum for a professional. Beyond fighting and being fit, Chelsea needs players who as they say in Spain, respect the ball. Getting in fit and fighting players is a given, what Chelsea needs beyond that are some skilled players. If it's all about endless energy and stamina, your ceiling is Everton and well...Tottenham. Abramovich hasn't invested hundreds of millions to be those teams, he wants to compete with Barcelona. To consistently compete at that level, you need big time talent. You don't think Iniesta gives 100% every game? Of course he does, that's expected. But on top of that is he's one of most talented and skilled footballers in the world. Chelsea won nothing this year because the team is aging and can't play at the high tempo and intensity at a consistent level that's needed to win against the elite teams. And because there aren't enough skilled players currently on the team, especially in the midfield, Chelsea couldn't get away with less intensity and fight than previous years. Old, slow and mundane on the ball, that's the problem. Bringing in more fighting spirit will help but ultimately it can't mask the lack of world class footballing skills and creativity.

Players liked Ancelotti too. And if he's such a great motivator, how come Spurs slid out of CL position by losing and drawing games they should have won over the last two months of the season? Rafa will play 4-5-1 and he WILL get the best out of Torres. I've said this already, Benetiz isn't first choice but he's better than Rednapp. Which tells me Rednapp isn't much of a choice at all.

If Ancelotti was accused of being tactically inept and failing to properly prepare his team for big games, Rednapp will be a lot of fun for Chelsea fans....

Another reason I wouldn't want Kun to go to RM. It's getting ridiculous at Barca and RM. Barca have Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa? RM will have Ronaldo, Ozil, Xabi Alonso and Kun? You may as well leave the CL trophy to the two of them for the next 3-5 years.

McGarry's tweet said also that RA believes Kun can play with Torres. I didn't watch them play, but from what I've read their one year partnership at AM didn't work. Caveat being that it was only a year and Kun was just 18 at the time. What I do like about him is that he's reportedly very serious about football and competing. Something along the lines of teammates like him but he would be more popular if he would lighten up. I like that, reminds me of Torres. I would lose just tiny, tiny bit of respect for Kun if he does join Real Madrid. I'm totally for player movement, but AM to RM would be a bit much. But it's been done before so anything is possible.

Not picking sides but if it's a combination of Off Topic and mom jokes, I highly recommend shifting the conversation to the personal conversation option that we all have.

Do we have moderators?

So will Benetiz and he has a CL and 2 La Ligas on his resume and he's proven he can bring out the best from Torres. I'm not saying Benetiz is the man, but just to show how Rednapp isn't even the best candidate based on the above reasoning. I don't understand this Rednapp love, yes, Tottenham finished with 2 wins and an EL position but do we not remember how many games they drew or lost while they slid out of the CL places?

I actually think Benetiz, for purely game and training management, would be a pretty good choice (no option is 100% failsafe). He knows his stuff. He's not quite so good at talent spotting. He's found some good to great ones of course, Alonso, Reina and Torres, but also picked up a lot of duds. That's not a huge problem, the issue is that he doesn't recognize this and chafes under working with a DOF tasked with spotting and signing talent. If he could work under a true continental system by just worrying about training and the games, I think he would be great with Chelsea. He won major trophies with Valencia and Liverpool, not with Real Madrid and Man U.

I've posted this before about Van Basten; he didn't win one single game outside of the first round in either the Euro or World Cup. He has only managed one season at the club level. That was with Ajax and not only did he not win the league with the most storied Dutch club, he couldn't even get them into the Champions League. I'm ambivalent about Carlo's departure but MVB doesn't inspire much hope. I agree that the positive is he will likely be happy to remold the club. I think this is absolutely necessary. The problem is that he hasn't actually shown he can win.

I wonder if Ancelotti knew before today's game? The players? I don't mean they knew from guessing/signs but that they were told the decision before the game? In any case, nothing will change unless a few of the players follow Carlo out. This generation of players are done and it's time to regenerate. Perhaps one of the factors in letting Carlo go was because of his insistence big changes weren't necessary. If the board and owner disagree with the manager on this fundamental point, I can't see how the manager can stay on.

That sub makes an already bad midfield even worse. Really need someone on who can control the midfield. The fact that Everton, a man, down is still dribbling and breaking well is really embarrassing.

Malouda passes to Torres, ball in the box. Okay, nothing came out of it but it was a chance. Not Torres' fault no one but Anelka was there.

Wow, my stream is so bad, I can't even figure out what's going on.

ESPN3 isn't working for me (it usually does, my IP is eligible). Damnit.

I noticed he's being doing that this season and it can be frustrating to watch but I think it's because he likes to receive it at the edge of the box, see this great goal against West Brom. Obviously he and Kuyt have a pretty good understanding. Maybe it's to do with him preferring to work in a lot of space. Perhaps someone needs to have a strong word and some training sessions on this. WBA Goal

Was the post-game activities shown on English TV? I closed the stream as soon as the game ended (couldn't end fast enough...). That was a pretty shit game...but then you see Arsenal and Liverpool...and things could be so much worse.

It's okay Norita, this shit is going to get better next season...and Daddy's car is still in the parking lot."

It's hard to remain pissed with Torres when you see a photo like that. He looks like a great dad. Just crossing fingers, toes, eyes, and everything else that he will return to form.

I had a terrible stream, was Josh playing DM? Would it have made more sense to have played Mikel or Essien in that role and had Josh more forward?

I'm the biggest Torres homer here...but that was indeed awful by him today. Hope he gets his body and head right for next season. Enjoy the beach this summer and perhaps an hour a day just on first touch practice?

Was looking forward to Benayoun playing but he has been very quiet. Don't know if it's him or because the right side isn't working out.

Ancelotti, I have a soft spot for him because he won two CLs with AC Milan, but I don't see how he can reconcile Chelsea not making meaningful changes with Torres shining next season. We can and have debated here on what exactly those changes are to be but I can't see how keeping essentially the same squad and system is going to work for Torres. He's had 3 months. How is a few weeks of summer training and a few friendlies before the next season going to significantly integrate him with the present team and system? Torres isn't going to work with Drogba. Please do not bring up Anelka as a relevant example. Torres isn't going to accept nor shine playing out wide or deep consistently. Neither will Drogba. And if the statement about spilling the beans on what went wrong is true...it sounds like someone who knows he's going to be turfed out. He'll talk then because his job will no longer on the line. I'm inclined to keep Ancelotti--if he's willing to rework the team and system for next season. Hopefully, he's just BSing the beat reporters to keep them off his back. Plus, the coaching pool will be better next year with Guardiola and Villas Boas likely available. But if he truly believes a slow, aging team who will only be slower and older next season doesn't need more than a tweak or two then I fear Top 4 will be struggle. Man U are champions and certainly won't get worse. Liverpool have already improved and will likely get even better this summer. And how about when Carroll starts to pair up regularly with Suarez? Man City are now in the CL and will buy again in the summer. And unless Fabergas leaves without a replacement, Arsenal will still be a Top 4 threat even if they win nothing.

It's becoming clearer (and along with Ray Wilkins) that Ancelotti really did want Torres and it wasn't just an Abramovich buy. So can we quit the 'he's the owner's new toy' talk?