Joelasticot

seems that things got really hard for them when drogba started roaming around the remains of the back 4. Anyway I'm thrilled. This team is so unique, so much character. Top Top class performance.

Drogba MOTM for his impressive offensive and defensive contibutions when it really mattered. NO questions.

Come on... Spanish people are all about suporting the local team. I'm sure if you knew spanish people from catalunia (not sure how to write it in english) they would be Barca fans or at least they would support barca when their favourite team is not involved.

Josh=Great passer. Where the great pass is needed really depends on the formation and the tactics that are chosen and even to an extent it also depends on the opposition. That said I really think he should be played wherever that passing ability is needed. Sometimes you need a great pass to break through that narrow midfield line that this weak opposition has set up in order to defend more. Sometimes you need that great pass to be the last one in an open game and sometimes when you lack connection between the offensive players and the defensive ones you need that great pass to set up your forward midflilders in good positions. I think he is intelligent enough to play anywhere in midfield, Teams just need to figure out where he is most needed.

Hence the AVB over Ancelotti choice. Roman experienced the problems of short term thinking as much as we did. I'm sure he learned from it, he's not a stupid man. Do you think that if he hadn't changed his mind about the way to go we would still have only two low profile signings in this transfer window? Back in the days he would have splashed the cash. Right now he prefers to wait and see, and I'm sure this has to do with young players. There is not a single decent businessman in this world who would have extended the contract of emloyees he thinks they have no future in his company.

Alright guys, I see a lot of pessimism and negativity towards our youth policy wandering in the dusty corridors of this forum . I understand why a lot of people want the club to be pragmatic, especially after the poor run of results (by recent standards) we've had over the past year. In my opinion long term will always beat short term and I am adamant the results will come. We have to understand that not only establishing an efficient youth system is a long term process but also developing young talents into top class players isn't any faster. To put it in a nutshell : It's the story of the rabbit and the turtle. The club, AVB and Abramovich especially, are always looking for good examples in other clubs. And we have seen that Roman can sometimes be a "I see it, I like it, I want it, I get it". And it goes far beyond players themselves. I'm convinced the club regards barcelona as a model in many ways and that they are trying to copy and paste their youth system. We are building a factory here, and the first products are slowly coming out of the warehouse for everyone to see.Think of sturridge, he's what I'm talking about (I'm actually thinking of Eva right now, wait... she also comes from our youth system doesn't she?). Of course, you don't build a factory if you're willing to release only one copy of you product. Once the machina is up and running, we'll see more and more players coming through. I'm sure Roman knows a lot more than me about industrial ways. Don't get me wrong I know those young talented lads aren't guaranteed world class players in the making. I know some of them will probably never be good enough to play in the premiership. So let's say only one out of 5 will make it to the first team or get good enough to be sold to another club for an interesting amount of money. I say get 10. And it seems to be the club's policy right now. I don't know if you like it, but i think you should and i definitely do.

He's just talking about a french football talk show he was on (CFC not Chelsea fc) and asking if he looked fancy on tv. Nothing to get excited about, sorry guys.

Exactly. I understand he has amazing stats but just the fact that players wear numbers on their shirts doesn't make football a game of numbers. Real Madrid is an amazing team filled with great players, yet they play in a league where you have so many poor defences. Any decent striker would score like crazy in those games and with such a service. Don't get me wrong, I know Higuain is a good player. However he's absolutely not level with Benzema, the guy does what top class players do : he produces his best football in high profile games and when it matters. Higuain can't do that (yet...). Anyway, just sharing my opinion.

Agree. But hazard as he is cup tied wouldn't help us against napoli. That's why AVB is looking for not cup tied players. I'm not saying he's right.

It's not about winning the CL. Getting into later stages is rewarded with big money.

I do agree with you here. however, you can't expect each and every young talented players in the 18-21 age bracket to turn into great international players. the thing is most of players from the U21 and under national teams fail to make it to that level. I know that, for that matter, France has been regarded as an example by the FA. Just look at the attempt to "copy" the Clairefontaine training and developement facility. But then again, even in France many of those U21 internationals just vanish later on when they have to take that last yet huge step. I'm not sure about that B squad thing and to be honest It's out of humility (I don't know enough) that I won't take any stance. My point is just that the developement of young players is not an exact science. Some great players just came out of nowhere to reach world class levels in the later stages of their careers. Just think of Ribery or Drogba, I know there are many others. So to sum up my point, Of course any national football association should do everything to improve the developement of their young players but we can't expect miracles.

Getting Hazard shouldn't prevent them from getting other players. Besides, they seem to be keen on having some sort of a monopole in the EPL with young attackers.

what system do you reckon we would play if we get that guy? I understand he is a right winger. would he "steal" sturridge's spot?

I remember when people on this forum said we would lack goals in our midfield in the future with the likes of Ramires, Mikel, Josh etc.. That tatooed guy might just be what we need as a transition before we find a proper replacement for Lamps. By the way I'm really into his bad ass looks and stuff. Even though he wasn't the most creative midfielder available on the market this window, He seems to do the job in terms of being on the end of creative passes and carrying the action further up the pitch with yet simple but always great passes (on a technical point of view).

No way Danny is leaving. He's been in our plans for a long time now. Remember how last year he had to push to make his loan deal go through because the club wanted him to stay. And now he's proved he's quality and he is the only good option we have on the right side of the front line so we have even less reasons to let him go. Furthermore if you read that article : He says "I think myself and Juan mata, if we play together, will make sure of it and he'll certainly get a lot of opportunities with me playing in the team alongside him if the manager feels that's right." That shows how confident he is to get time this season and also it shows that he won't be bothered that much playing on the right side even though he is a natural striker. Anyway that's what I think. (PS : first post by the way. been reading the forum a lot for a year now got my account a while ago, I decided to finally contribute.)