Nic!

What the hell is going on with Torres. He's really fighting with the ball! Good finish by Kalou though. Deserved victory for CFC!

Chelsea is having a good game so far. Less ball posession but way more chances and shots on goal.

Those 3 goals against Bruges are fantastic.

I'll just echo what I said in another topic: I really get why so many fans are upset with Lukaku. But get some perspective, please. I know I'm biased. I'm Belgian, Anderlecht fan and Lukaku fan. But that doesn't mean I can't be objective about him. Lukaku IS better than what you've seen from him so far. I think his performance against Norwich was closest to how I rate him currently. His other performances weren't good, but in every game Lukaku played he was not worse than any other striker on the field. Agreed,his first touch is not good. It will improve, but it will remain his weakest point. The thing is, how he's played at the moment just highlights this lack of skill. Lukaku shouldn't be played with his back to the goal. He needs to be played in space, with through passes. Because his combination of pace and strength while running is something you almost never see. How raw in his skills he might be, if he's played right (4-3-3, with him in the point with two REAL wingers next to him) he will score goals. Lukaku is deadly on the counter-attack. Just watch some goals of him on YouTube. Or his goal against Russia with Belgium: http://www.youtube.c...bpsjLoEA#t=339s And by the way: you haven't paid 18 million pound for him yet. Chelsea paid 13 million, but it could get to 18 depending on how much goals/appearances he makes. It's a performance-based clause.

I really get why so many fans are upset with Lukaku. But get some perspective, please. I know I'm biased. I'm Belgian, Anderlecht fan and Lukaku fan. But that doesn't mean I can't be objective about him. Lukaku IS better than what you've seen from him so far. I think his performance against Norwich was closest to how I rate him currently. His other performances weren't good, but in every game Lukaku played he was not worse than any other striker on the field. Agreed,his first touch is not good. It will improve, but it will remain his weakest point. The thing is, how he's played at the moment just highlights this lack of skill. Lukaku shouldn't be played with his back to the goal. He needs to be played in space, with through passes. Because his combination of pace and strength while running is something you almost never see. How raw in his skills he might be, if he's played right (4-3-3, with him in the point with two REAL wingers next to him) he will score goals. Lukaku is deadly on the counter-attack. Just watch some goals of him on YouTube. Or his goal against Russia with Belgium: http://www.youtube.c...bpsjLoEA#t=339s And by the way: you haven't paid 18 million pound for him yet. Chelsea paid 13 million, but it could get to 18 depending on how much goals/appearances he makes. It's a performance-based clause.

Any chance Lukaku could come on to grab a few minutes?

Nice, Lukaku on the bench. Don't expect him to make an appearance though, with Malouda and especially Anelka on the bench.

Hope to see Lukaku get some minutes! It's know his chance to show himself with Torres being banned.

Starting XI is a little bit too much I reckon. Even a place on the bench will be difficult. But hey, maybe AVB has 'something' for Lukaku and really wants to develop him.

I hope Lukaku gets some minutes, but I know that's highly unlikely since he played 120 minutes against Fulham and both Drogba & Torres are fully fit. But you never know. It's against these opponents that players like Lukaku can actually prove themselves. Like he did against Norwich.

I don't think Lukaku played much worse than any other player on the field from the point when he came on. He had some pretty good first touches and in almost every attack Lukaku was involved, Chelsea kept the ball. I know he didn't make any runs or create any chances, but I think he just listened to the instructions from AVB to stay close to the sideline. Give the guy a break. You really expect it's easy as an 18 year old to come in at Old Trafford 3-1 behind? It's pretty naive to think that he would've turned the game upside down. I'm not saying he should be a starting XI. But I think he deserves a spot on the bench once per two games or so and then get a few minutes. Just like AVB is doing at the moment. If we write off young talent so quickly, we'll never produce/develop potential stars.

Offside.

Great that Lukaku got picked before Kalou. If only AVB decided that for his UCL squad as well...

I love how he invests his time in the development of the youngsters. (See http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/10773-18-romelu-lukaku/page__pid__275426__st__160#entry275426)

Lukaku had a four minute interview in Flemish with a Belgian journalist. He talked about Chelsea FC quite a lot. I'll translate some quotes for you guys. "I was super happy with my 20 minutes gametime. You play with the very best players, in the biggest stadiums and against the best teams." "I was overwhelmed when I ran onto the pitch. 40.000 people shouting my name and everytime I touched the ball 'aaah'. That motivates me." "I just need to confirm this debut and getting that place in the starting 11." Journalist asking about where he did his confidence when he came on against Norwich, getting straight into the game, asking the ball constantly, etc. "Well, the first week at Chelsea I had difficulties. It was really hard for me. But then the two weeks after that, it kept going better and better. The last week I adapted to the English football and the combinations with the other players at training succeeded very well. That's why my sub went so good. And I really the confidence of the manager. That's important." "The manager is constantly coaching me. When I tocuh the ball, he always looks what I'm doing. He's really investing his time in me. Also with the goal-finishing exercises. Now I do it daily. I took more shots on goal in the last week than the last six months combined. [smiles]". "I'm happy that Chelsea won't loan me out. I'd rather stay with Chelsea and not be loaned out. I'm now with the biggest players and so I think I can develop better at Chelsea than at any other club." "Did I thought to get minutes for Chelsea so quickly? I just put my mind on 'zero' and tried to grab my chance." Sorry for the 'broken' English. It's not my mothertongue!

Lukaku clearly said also he didn't want to go on loan, once he arrived at Chelsea. Said that in Belgian media before Chelsea deal was finished multiple times. Stoke football is not good for Lukaku either. He needs to be played in the foot or with through balls going deep, not with pumping balls in the air. He will be practicaly useless that way.

Between those two, Drogba then. But I think he's more Bent-like. Something between Bent & Drogba.

He's neither actually. He's from Brussels, that's a whole region upon itself.

Yes, for his physique, he's extremely fast.

Some Belgian media are reporting that Lukaku would be involved in a six-month loan to Stoke City. Since the fact that he only would get minutes for Chelsea in the Carling Cup. Hope this isn't true. Both the loan as the fact he wouldn't get ANY minutes.

Information from Lukaku's official Twitter/Facebook account.

Lukaku being officially presented to the press at 1pm.

Before Africa Cup, I doubt it. Drogba and Torres are before Lukaku in line.

No Lukaku.

Doesn't AVB have given the selection names yet? Not the formation, but just all the players including bench?