The Rising Sun

I know we could have played better and showed more than we did, But we just beat Inter and AC Milan, and it is OK losing to Real Madrid considering we had our chances and penalty claims dismissed. We are not at the level of Real Madrid and have a team that is getting to know eachother and team gameplay, while RM already have an established team and style of play. It will take some time for us to take that next step to compete withthe Madrid Barca Munichs of this world in an attractive manner, and no doubt it will happen, but such changes in club philosophy playing styles take time to become club culture. There is no need for knee jerk reactions. Yes some of our players dont seem to be at the level we would want, but that too will be sorted in due time.

Bottom line is that he is a leader and a character. When we are down and he gets the ball, i know he will make that extra effort and produce that extra bit of quality, whether it be a great ball, and stunning shot, or a great dribble. If he feels other players are a little down, he makes sure to get the passion running again, himself and through the team. Its a quality that very few people have.

Well IF he wants to leave then it obviously makes sense to let him go. We are not that type of club to hold him ransom. Till the time he doesnt say he wants to go, he wants to stay.

Barcelona wants David Luiz because he offers so much. That itself is reason enough for us to keep him.

Because i care about what happens to him. And i hate barcelona now more than ever. And i genuinely feel that he can become on of the worlds top defenders at the rate he is progressing. He has too much to offer.

Its all about opinion isnt it.... I dont rate pique as a great footballer and Terry offers more in terms of leadership, not only in the team but in an overall sense for the club. Iniesta, well i didnt do my research and thought he is 32 or something. But we have a great talent pool already and i want them too become the next iniestas of this world. Fabregas IMO is definitely not as good as Mata. Sanchez is good but then again, we dont need him. Just like we dont need to sell David Luiz. I have emotional connections for players like Luiz who play their hearts out, and his sale will be damaging towards my emotional connect with Chelsea.

Selling Luiz would be Like city selling Kompany and united selling Vidic, it will be a huge blow for us.

We CAN NOT under any circumstances sell him. He is in the league of players that have an ability to become legends and leaders for the team they play in. He is all heart and has improved leaps and bounds and is consistently getting better and better. I just went over the Barca team and there is honestly no one from their team apart from Messi or Neymar that would add to our squad. Xavi and iniesta are getting old so they arent counted. I dont think we will sell, but if we do, it will be a sad sad day in the history of this Football club.

why not? Rooney is not the answer and is not the type of striker we need. In any case i want players from within to be given the chance, not a man utd player putting on a blue shirt and everything is OK.

If we get Rooney, all of a sudden its not going to be like teams will start playing us like they " play west brom" It will be the same way they approach us, whether it is rooney or Lukaku. Dont think that argument is a winner. Rooney has a good record no doubt, having a great season, then following it up with a below par season. This has happened over the past 5 seasons or so. Both players provide something different. However, at this moment in time, i dont think we need yet another player who likes coming into the midfield and getting involved in build up play. Rooney has become that sort of player of the last few seasons and is no more a true striker. Lukaku on the other hand has height strength pace, and is a true out and out striker. I think we need more of the characteristics that Lukaku provides rather than get another player whos game is not that of an out and out striker. We need out striker to be in the box in every attack, and not be roaming Linking up play and all that. Yes, linking up play is important but not from midfield and dropping back and all that. We have bought sooooo many players to do that. The reason Falcao Cavani etc were bang on our targets was because they were strikers, poachers and played in a very advanced position. If Rooney can do that,maybe! Its been a long time and his game has evolved, not the same striker that he was initially.

I was going over FPL and after Van persie , the next most used Striker is Lukaku at 23%. Not saying that FPL is any sort of directive, as there are alot of variables. but fans from all around england are tipping him to rip teams apart. Somehow its only on here that people think he wont score 20 PL goals after scoring some 17 for West brom not even being a consistent starter. I really hope we dont sign Rooney and this lad gets a shot at glory. He wont disappoint. Dont get me wrong if we get Rooney, i will be glad, but a small part of me will be very sad as well. If only we could play formations with 2 strikers up front, that would make this Rooney signing so damn good, Rooney and Lukaku leading the line. There is no point in playing Rooney in the hole as we have way better players in that position. There was similar talk of Sturridge not being the one to "win us the premier league", and while that had other factors such as his selfishness etc, look how well he is doing at a club that is giving him the chance to lead the line, while many Chelsea fans regret selling him. Lukaku is at a very similar situation, and we should IMHO give him that shot.

The problem with Mikel is that he marks spaces, not players. The sad fact is that his style of play also doesnt pay dividends for the team as opposition players are faster than him, so marking space rather than the player is counter productive for him. When he does get the ball, he doesnt utilise space or vision, but makes passes that are not truly transitionary. Even once he passes to any player around him, passing it back to him does not progress the play.....rather it starts that Loop again by which time our transition is slowed down. This is not a positive characteristic, and not that safe either. I dont trust him to even come on the pitch at 70 mins to close out a game. Stats are merely stats, and dont always truly reflect an overall picture of a players effect on a game. Torres got 22 goals last season and that as a stat is decent, but when you analyse it then it tells a different story. IMO its the same with Mikel. He is statistically alright, but effectiveness and progressiveness is what he lacks in. Im glad essien has shown that he can put a good shift in and looking at him it really shows where Mikel is lacking for us. MVG is another one who shows what characteristics can make a DM progressive in our plays. Not to forget Ramires.

Mikel - Van Ginkel will be tough to work, since mikel will pass the ball sideways or backwards, which will force van ginkel to come back to recieve the ball, then pass it to Mikel and make a run forward, Mikel will again pass the ball sideways or backwards. which will force van ginkel to come back and receive the ball, then pass it to Mikel and make a run forward, Mikel will again pass the ball sideways or backwards. which will force van ginkel to come back and receive the ball,then pass it to Mikel and make a run forward, Mikel will again pass the ball sideways or backwards. which will force van ginkel to come back and receive the ball,then pass it to Mikel and make a run forward, Mikel will again pass the ball sideways or backwards. which will force van ginkel to come back and receive the ball, It will be an endless LOOP. Sorry was getting bored, but i dont like Mikel, and this is truly how i think about his style of play.

Fernando Torres when he scores a goal or does a good assist : Reactions of Torres haters vs Torres fans

Bale off to Madrid..... suddenly have alot more money to spread around the team.... 3-4 million extra once you get a 8-9 million player instead of him. Its a total game changer - this transfer out.

Well Said! was thinking the same thing. People keep talking about how much money we spent over the last ten years etc but no one ever mentions the valuation and net worth of Chelsea in 2003 compared to what it is now. Long term Hyper successful models always have initial losses and great investments. Look at Google,Facebook etc.... lost money for years and years and you think of them now reaching a state of transitioning into profitability, and more than that, think of where google etc will be in 10 years. Short team view always tends to favour negative opinions, but long term is what shows real worth and is the real marker for what success is.

dont want to sound like an ass.... but you have spelled improved wrong on the main page!

looks like it. Cant directly open the forum, but i am able to access it via the talkchelsea webpage

Great writing! One of the things that he did as soon as he started pre season really made me amazed at his Management. He told Hazard that he needs him to try new things and attempt more moves. This not only told hazard, that you have potential to become even greater and skillful, but also made sure that hazard did not become comfortable with his current gameplay and abilities, thus stagnating at his current level. Second thing that makes me chuckle is Essien calling him Daddy or Papa or whatever it is.... While it is crazy over the top, Mourinho forms emotional connections with players. knowing they are away from their homeland pretty much forever and need loving and emotional connections, thus not making them feel like overpaid horses turning up for training, but rather a family of players with real relationships all the way through the club. He is personal not only with players but also with the media, and you never hear him bullshitting saying pre decided sentences, there is a sense that everyone around him knows where they stand and what they need to do to be better. He really is the special one. Forget all this rubbish of happy one etc.... thats just the media looking for their headlines. He is our Special one.

He has been their best player in pre season, and frankly , i think he will be their go to guy in every attack..... He looked good in playoffs and looks really good in their pre season.... IMO he is their best player( i know that sounds stupid, but apart from RVP Rooney, i really believe so)

haha yeah, but now he is in city.... so maybe he does better,.... anyways, if coutinho goes. then i have 9 mill to play with, so will have a wealth of options to choose from....

Well you have a very good spread of players across different teams... IMO I wouldnt go with a Southampton goalie.....even if he saves you a million or so.... i was looking at the stats for last season, and in rank.... hart 6.5 mill had 18 CS, then cech 6.5 with 14 then Reina 5.5 with 14.... so while the picks of Monnone and Boruc are well spread in terms of choices, it is a bit of a risk.... but nothing you cant change if it doesnt work later.... so might be worth it. Beware of Giroud!! thats all i can tell you... he had a fantastic pre season last year as well and then i picked him. Somehow even when the entire arsenal team scores, he still manages not to. And he misses a lot. However, season 2 might be the turning point for him. Had to include sturridge and then cant miss out on Coutinho.... He is like their Hazard and does well for them.... Could get walcott , and that would add alot to my midfield and remove having 2 players from the same time as midfielder striker.... but not sure yet, might even take a punt on navas instead of coutinho..... but he is a sexy player and will shine this year, just like oscar will for us.

Well you have a very good spread of players across different teams... IMO I wouldnt go with a Southampton goalie.....even if he saves you a million or so.... i was looking at the stats for last season, and in rank.... hart 6.5 mill had 18 CS, then cech 6.5 with 14 then Reina 5.5 with 14.... so while the picks of Monnone and Boruc are well spread in terms of choices, it is a bit of a risk for saving a million.... but nothing you cant change if it doesnt work later.... so might be worth it. Beware of Giroud!! thats all i can tell you... he had a fantastic pre season last year as well and then i picked him. Somehow even when the entire arsenal team scores, he still manages not to. And he misses a lot. However, season 2 might be the turning point for him. I think Ben Arfa for week one against Man City will be tough, and that too at the Etihad. That was my critique, but i havent done better than 14th in the last 2 seasons so im no one to tell!! I, for my FPL and Chelsea hopes, really hope rvp has an injury hit season like he did at arse nal.

Hello All! Since everyone seems to be very tight lipped about their squads till now, i thought id share my sqauad..... It keeps changing, but what do y'all think? Please critique!! I had van persie till yesterday but that meant my midfield had only 2 strong guys, i medium(bellamy) and two average/crap players.... but then i looked at their fixtures and realised if i remove van persie i can get my midfield to be strong and still get good strikers.... the only problem that leaves me with is that if i want to get RVP back in a few weeks thats going to be tough....and expensive.... Anyhow.... check it out and please post yours as well!! Its early days so we can discuss squads atleast till 1 week is left...

Great Backup player. We should keep him as cover.