TacticalBlues

He's still a world class striker. Cavani has been on a goal drought recently but I'd still take him in a heartbeat aswell. Lukaku has certainly given himself a platform to play next year but I feel Chelsea really need an established marquee signing in the squad. What better area to improve on than in our striking department? We need a balanced squad, and with Hazard and Oscar both spending a season at Chelsea and Mata 2, an established striker like Falcao, even in a debut season, it honestly looks a devastating combination. Lewandowski is 23 and is also a great option but if Bayern come knocking, apart from not wanting to upset Dortmund's fans, they can offer him more than us in most departments. Of course I don't want us spending millions on one player but sometimes you have to take risks. Look at Fergie with RVP (a somewhat risk). Bar one immense season he brought a striker that was injured for his whole Arsenal career and was verging on his 30s. It's little exaggeration when people say United effectively bought the league for 24mill. They've had some great performances from Carrick and co. just being generally consistent in their results, but RVP carried them early on. Fact is anything is and upgrade from Torres so why not go for a premium upgrade. I don't buy the notion that he's washing up. Later on in this season RVP went through a drought, Cavani's been through one and even the greatest player in the world has been on a quasi-drought . It's getting up and scoring after a drought that separates yourself from the rest. At the end of the day Mourinho's had the firsthand opportunity to watch Falcao in la liga and if he wants him in the squad, I'm just going to trust it. Some people might not want him here but I doubt anyone will be upset if he does indeed arrive. Hopefully the zealous will be justified this time.

La liga is practically a two horse race and though they've never vanished domestically, they were deeper in Barca's shadows in that arena before Mourinho came (but I do see the point). Mourinho went on to beat those records anyway but all Madrid fans would tell you that success in Europe and the le decima is the ultimate goal. Achieving 3 consecutive semi finals from going 5 years without passing the quarter finals stage and being unseeded, is a big jump. In this sense he really turned their fortunes around drastically from where they were prior to his arrival.

Much is being made over Mourinho’s comments last night. Some have been receptive and others have been, putting it mildly, less responsive. I’m just going to go ahead and give my two cents on the matter, and more specifically, address the criticisms aimed at his potential arrival. When Mourinho joined Madrid they were at a bad stage. Sure they had Ronaldo and Kaka in their ranks but as a team they remained in the shadows. Poor in Europe and nowhere near Barca, Mourinho changed things somewhat. At first people questioned his pragmatic way of playing but he got the results and took the La Liga & Copa Del Rey from Barca at their peak (a feat which Madrista's undoubtedly celebrated). Of course he’s had his low points but he kept Madrid at a high level and helped usher in the years of recent Spanish dominance. It’s worth noting however; his low points have largely come due to ridiculous criticisms from the press and huge egos within his squad. The latter being quite remarkable bearing in mind every squad he managed seem to adore him. More was expected of a Mourinho side (the most expensive side in Madrid's history, not solely down to his spending) but I feel this is less to do with Mourinho's failures and should be a testament to Barca's phenomenal success. Love them or hate them there is a reason why Barca are argued as the greatest club team in history. More importantly though, Mourinho somewhat centralised the massive disequilebrum in Barca’s favour. Of course the bar set in being Madrid manager is high, but bearing in mind their state before his arrival, the fans disappointment at their current state is arrogant entitlement. Yes all Madrid fans want la decima and it's very easy to point the finger at the manager rather than the players. But anyone who watched yesterday's game saw Madrid’s players were responsible for their own downfall. If there is one criticism that has substance it is certainly double edged for his credentials as Chelsea manager. Mourinho went into Spain amping up tensions between Madrid and Barca. The siege mentality he aimed for did surface in some games but ultimately divided the squad. The Spanish national teams success and friendships between the two teams was the underline cause, but the whole concept of an “us against the world” “shaking up the current order” which fits perfectly for underdogs like Porto, Chelsea and Inter this ‘inferiority complex’ seems inappropriate for Madrid. It backfired massively and alienated much of the Spanish media from the outset (I don’t want Madrid expected hiring such a controversial manager). Nonetheless, he did show his managerial astuteness next season and softened his approach achieving some great successes. At Chelsea however his natural approach has proven to work and looks a perfect solution to our problems. In our current state their is nobody better than Mourinho to bring us back to the forefront of English football. Nobody. The criticism levelled at Mourinho's style is also one to be questioned. Barca is a team primarily made up of their la masia products, whereas Madrid were a team that needed to be moulded. Their style may pale in comparison to Barca's tika taka, but for many others, Madrid's fast paced counter-attacking directness is a preferable style. It should be noted his Madrid side broke all the goal scoring records and points record in their la liga success.308 goals in 3 seasons? Not bad for supposedly bad football. The only possible problems I can forsee with Mourinho is youth policy and the fact the returning managers aren’t usually as successful as they were initially. In terms of youth policy we’ll have to trust him. We’ll probably phase out all of our players on the fringes ala Malouda, Benayoun, Marin and maybe Torres (he won’t be safe anymore). Some youngsters on loan may also be sold but if this is truly where Mourinho wants to stay from now on, I see him nurturing our talent more. This isn’t another short-term project and besides, we have to remember Mourinho is a masterful tactician who isn’t stupid enough to ship out the likes of De Bruyne and Lukaku (who he was after at Madrid) and unnecessarily turn to our established players. Mourinho has left every country he’s managed breaking all the records. All of his teams were European forces. Successes with Inter and Porto speak for themselves, along with three consecutive semi finals with Madrid. From being unseeded in the UCL and failing to progress past the quarter finals for 5 years in a row, many Madrid fans today seem to forget where they were before Mourinho came in. Bottom line, Mourinho brings a lot to the plate and is utliamtley stronger having gone through these experiences. Don't let some of the political media in Spain fool you. Even Mourinho's had enough of it. The easiest way to look at it: Imagine him at any of our English rivals club? Let's all be happy about this, remember he is the special one!

LUIZ!

I hope the suspension clashes with a Chelsea game. It would be somewhat redunant for us as a club if he serves his suspension and comes back to play us (If he stays at all that is).

Hearing it too. Just insane! With Pep there next season (not that Heynckes is doing a bad job by ANY means) Bayern are just looking incredibly strong.

haha

Australian newspaper saying it how it is:

https://twitter.com/LiverpoolUnion/status/326012812382048256 This is 100% real - shocking stuff

These dropped points are tough to take. Most things have been aforementioned. Absolutely incompetent management by Rafa' and also incompetent officiating. On the Suarez bite, for me personally, I really don't give a shit about a potential Suarez suspension. What matters is Chelsea, and I'd rather he was sent off than being suspended for the rest of the season all day long.

Michu should be ahead of Carrick for Player of the year. Welbeck shouldn't be anywhere the list, Nastasic should be ahead of him easy.

Cech's kit is great, reminds me of: And also the Shoilin Soccer tribute to him, ironically as an immense keeper :

What a way to mark your 100th cap:

Oh yes the thread is wholly unnecessary but my point is that was the referee's mistakes can't be taken away from. That Aguero tackle was HORRIFIC and the referee, regardless of what other's think or see, made a mistake. It's frustrating now because the result won't change even if punishments are handed out, so I couldn't really care less about that.

That doesn't negate from the mistake and its reprecussions. Especially when you consider this is the same guy who went back, conferred with the officials and spent time when sending Hazard off for kicking a ball boy, the decision adds salt to the wounds

Hazard on Torres:

Carroll & Gervinho scored today, there is light...

Hearing this crowd lol, Stamford Bridge is usually graveyard in comparison.

LOL Love this picture:

This is the last time I'll use this, I promise, maybe...

This is one of most our important games of the season, no doubt.