Sheva.

I expect Fabregas to play as #10 this preseason. We have a lot of DM's in the squad and no first team AM.

Belgians return from WC holiday on Wednesday, hopefully something concrete is known by then instead of all these speculations.

We do have Fabregas to play as false 9

Griezmann and Mandzukic, good for them.

FFS. This is why I don't even care about Drogba coming back - I would rather go into the season with Costa, Lukaku and Torres. But with Drogba returning and Torres unsellable, the odd man out is Lukaku. Costa, Drogba, Torres is really shit. Unless Costa can be available for every single PL and CL game.

You? sounds like something someone said to him and not the other way around. Also, didn't Drogba and Lukaku already play together for a full season under -i think- AVB?

I'll be happy if he has the exact same role Demba Ba had last season, otherwise meh.

Logically he will be one of our most experienced players when that time comes to name a new capt.... and one of the few with experience of being one. But first we have to see/hope he plays well for Chelsea to be in that debate - and JT isn't going anywhere for at least the next 2 years anyway (so no hurry)

Solanke definitely. We'll use 3 strikers when Lukaku joins the team, so Bamford can still play in 1 game. As for Swift, he's been playing on the wings where we only have 2 players in Brown and Salah, so i think he'll still play.

I wonder if it's Mou's orders, or his injury making him play a more restricted role. I can't remember many times he's been near the opposition area this preseason.

I agree, but it's 'their' league, so they usually get most of the best players from their rivals. Draxler is a decent shout to replace Ribery - but Reus is considerably much better and ready for a team challenging Barca and Madrid's superstars.

Unless he wants to challenge himself elsewhere it makes sense to join Bayern imo. He'll stay in his home country, reunite with Lewy, Gotze, and win easy titles lol. Also doesn't he have a release clause?

He will eventually replace Ribery at Bayern.

Zouma is like Luiz-lite, physically he's awesome, but has some brain-farts that could lead to goals conceded or red card. He's still young though, so he clearly can improve. I'm not worried about Salah, he'll be fine as a sub. Also happy with how active MVG and Matic were.

Great play

With a front 4 of Brown-Baker/Boga-Salah;Bamford. No it's not.

I agree. They're also getting Aurier as RB, so they improve there also.

Will Di Maria return to the wings if he joins PSG? Their midfield is already good with Motta, Matuidi and Veratti, with Cabaye as backup. Front 3 of Cavani, Ibra and Di Maria looks lethal on paper, but obviously Cavani won't be happy on the wings.

A week before PL starts. I'm happy none of our new signings went far in WC, would have really affected their preparation for the new season.

He has the best chance of any Chelsea striker in 4 seasons to succeed (minus Torres for obvious reasons) Hazard, Fabregas and a bit more width from Luis and Azpi should be enough to help him get 20 goals minimum. It just comes down to if be can be as clinical as he was at Atleti.

In the friendly Spain played before the WC, both started and i can remember a couple passes he made to Costa over the top. As long as Costa is over his injury and fully fit, those two will linkup very well.

Spoke to the media today: http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/07/mourinho--big-ambitions.html

Shrek will be capt. More pressure on the poor guy

http://www.apimages.com/Search?query=chelsea+fc&ss=10&st=kw&entitysearch=&toItem=15&orderBy=Newest

Last season we were worse against teams who parked the bus because there was no Mata. In his time here, he always found a way to create at least 1 good chance - either from open play or from corners. In Fabregas we have a great replacement for him, someone arguably better and definitely more complete in his style of play and positions he can play. Now i just hope Hazard makes more runs in behind. Fabregas will surely find him, like Mata did.