Blue Armour

Exactly. It doesn't seem things are in sync. If the expectation from the board for Mourinho to look to his reserves to make up for squad deficiencies, it still doesn't look he wants to try some of them in coming matches... I really hope we bring in at least one player to reinforce any one of the key positions in midfield/defense.

Yeah, Hazard was...and even Ivanovic during the set-pieces. Too distracted by Cech, and tried too hard to make life tough for him during the freekicks without concentrating on his own job. I bet someone of stern stuff like Drogba, if put through on goal against Cech, would've smashed one in top corner without thinking twice about nostalgia. The fact that its Cech would have actually encouraged him

Speaking of movement, I've said this since Torres' time here, but we still seem pretty poor at releasing the ball to the striker into space, each time he makes the run. I've noticed that with both Falcao and Costa. Too often the pass comes to them late (or in some cases not even made), by which time the opposition defender has had time to react and re-adjust his position to either intercept or put the striker off the ball. Players like Falcao will rely a lot on that quick, well timed pass. The only time that happened in this game was with that long ball over the top from Fabregas.

Not much in reaction to the recent result, but I do hope we bring in someone before the end of the summer transfer window. I don't care who, but at least someone to reinforce any one of the key areas of the pitch. You cannot go into a new season with the same starting 11 from last season, and expect to have the same or even better results. Statistically impossible. You're basically asking all of the same set of players who did well last season, to match or even better their performances this season, and that's extremely unlikely in all probability. Which is why you need reinforcements. Someone to challenge for one of the key starting positions, to prevent the team play from becoming stale. After the end of last season, I remember Mourinho remarking that he would be looking to reinforce 3 areas: Striker, midfield and defender. Now it seems he's settling for using one of the reserves coming back from loan or from the youth academy. If that's the case, he needs to give more game time and confidence to see if they can really make a difference, instead of persisting with the same old tired, starting 11.and only giving them cameo appearances.

Nonsense, not when he's aspiring for football's greatest prize:

Tbh...it might have had a part to play, even if its not an excuse. Too many scuffed shots in front of goal., crappy clearances, and lot of under-hit passes by players (ala Hazard) who are typically more careful with the ball. Whatever the grass was, I don't think the players were too comfortable with it.

Please don't make a post-match topic for this one. Let's just close this thread and move onto the next friendly.

Yup.

If it aint a Chelsea fan, it will be one soon, I suppose.

Not really, at least not so far. IMO. Back then we gave away at least 3-4 key squad players while barely signing any backup for them. At least this time, so far, we have accounted for Cech with Begovic and Drogba with Falcao.

Man,..that disguised pass to Cole @ 1:35...Class (not to mention Ballack letting it run through to Cole with the fake). Miss a lot of players from that team...him, Essien, Anelka..

Unlike the Lampard move, I'm pretty sure this one will actually strengthen our rivals. No matter how shaky the Gooners defense is, I'm sure he will compensate for at least some of the mistakes they tend to make, and probably even help organize it better, especially during set-pieces. Nonetheless, I have no complaints. He was good enough to stay and strengthen our back-up goalkeeping options for the whole of last season. Ideally, for Chelsea, he would have made the move abroad, hell even at least out of London...There are a lot of other teams I would rather have him play for other than Arsenal within England itself. But at the same time, you have to remember how many Arsenal players that have come to us, that we have put to good use and plus..his personal needs will obviously come first. And finally remember, the most important reason for letting Cech go is because of this: Courtois. Young keepers like him don't come around often, and you have to do everything in your power to keep them at the club for as long as possible

Absolutely loved Joe Cole's game, and how he used to link up well with Lampard and Drogba. I'm not from London, but I always liked the idea of a boyhood Chelsea fan growing up to play for his favorite club and winning 3 titles with them. On top of that, he was an English player with flair unlike any of the others...It might not have all ended in sunshine, but I felt he achieved as much as he could ever possibly want with the club.

Understand your concerns, but Falcao won't be vying for a starting position like Torres will he? If he comes at all, I just hope he doesn't get automatic preference over Remy

Hmm...is Adidas now working for us to sabotage United's kit designs? Their huge deal with United must have been a cover-up!

Will have to see how it looks like on the players before making the final call, but I'm not sure what the obsession is with having the Dutch flag on the jerseys.

All due respect to Thailand, but is India that incapable of attracting Chelsea to come and play just once? People buy Chelsea merchandise in India too..

We really need to sign Benteke for Eden..now that Ba and Drogba have left, there's no one else to perform that role, no?

Didn't Carlo recently say that he will be going on a break for at least one season?

As long as he doesn't come here and get an automatic preference over Remy, I don't mind this signing. Nothing he has shown last season warrants a position among the top 2 strikers.

Hah, my camera was also able to capture the lightning bolts:

And surprise, surprise..the title of the article says Chelsea legend. And that's the way it will be. He might forever have a Man City tag attached, but he'll always be a Chelsea legend, simply because of the fact that for all the great many trophies he's won, he's won ZERO with City.

Even if he might have erred by not being open about his move to City, is he really beyond any form of forgiveness? I guess its ok to be angry with him for that, but I can't understand posts that tell Frank to buzz off just because he recollected his glory days with Chelsea. That's just silly and ridiculous. He has more rights to that Chelsea CL win than anyone on this forum.

Not sure, but I guess the media are probably trying to show him some respect and not immediately harass him with questions about his future. But I think we'll know soon.

Going to miss you playing for this club, Didier. Together with Chelsea, he's a magnet for trophies. I've said it before, but we are fortunate to have seen Drogba, Hazard and Mourinho work together for the Blues even if it was just one season. Stuff of dreams