CHOULO19

Don't like the fact that his loan is taking so much time. I hope he does end up at Boro eventually.

I'm not dipping my balls into anything, thank you very much!

I think it's because in English (or Arabic or even Spanish) we're used to names ending with an 'a' being girls names. Different in Italian. But I agree with RoyalBlues, "Destro" more than makes up for it!

At Anfield, you always have a big chance to win if you defend well. We showed that last season. Of course it's tough, I just think that Goodison is tougher.

I love his calm celebration. It's like he's saying "No big deal, I do that all the time" and then yawns!

He has a very feminine name. Why Mattia not Matteo? Were his parents expecting a girl? That just ran through my mind as I was reading the topic title. I thought I'd share it with you all...

I think he was injured. Not talking about the injury he sustained in the first match of preseason. He got injured again after he recovered from that with the U21s. That may be why he hasn't been loaned yet. Plus, isn't the loan window inside England open for a week after the transfer deadline?.

Goodson is one of the toughest grounds to go. Even tougher than the Emirates and Anfield, IMO. Their home record is always in the top 3 in the league. This is no walk in the park.

And they completely outplayed us throughout that match but Frank somehow nicked 2 goals.

For the second year in a row, Chelsea were fortunate enough to get a favorable draw in the Champions League group stages; drawing all of Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor. The draw which was held in Monaco this afternoon seemed to stretch on for hours with the usual needless long introductions and Gianni Infantino 'jokes'. But Blues fans will have had a a big grin on their faces once the draw was made. Not only have we managed to avoid the toughest teams in each of the three spots in our group, but the draw also means that the squad won't be traveling long distance for away matches; something that can prove extremely helpful in the EPL, especially if you consider the fact that we matches such as Liverpool, Arsenal and City away after CL midweek games. On the other hand, our direct English rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City both got draws that they will be less than happy about in two of the toughest groups with long away trips to Russia and Turkey. The full draw for the 8 groups is: Click here to view article.

Couldn't have come up with a better draw if I tried. Easy group with not a lot of traveling miles. Tough groups for City and Arsenal and trips to Moscow and Turkey respectively

I read it's a season loan with an obligation to buy at the end of it.

Who is Torres' agent?

Right kind of signing. Young, already pretty good, but can only get better. He's the kind of signing that even if we end up re-selling in a few years, we likely won't lose any money on. Would be a great peace of business. But of course it all depends on the Torres to Milan deal, and I'm not getting my hopes up on that.

I actually agree But he has an incredible talent of getting replies out of me when others won't with his passive aggressive "holier than thou" posts. I do apologize for any who has to read all this crap.

What do you call people who make up shit like passports to serve an agenda of disrespecting a Chelsea player? Mikel conspiracy theorists?! Wow, you come across as a very lovely, intelligent and respectable bloke. Good luck with your life

This is pointless. At this stage your mostly just lying to yourself after I exposed your agenda. Translation: We fans who can go to the Bridge have mystical sources for information so you inferior international fans cannot argue with us! And might I ask from what "loop" you got this 'information' from? Did Steve Holland tell you or was Jose himself? Btw, I broke the Courtios "news" before Keys. I said I'm confident that Thibaut will start because it was pretty obvious that he will. So maybe you Stamford Bridge going fans should not argue with us international fans because we are obviously much more intelligent and better are deductions :D #PostLikeTOPTB

Very constructive post, thank you very much for the important points you bring up Yes, I do like Mikel. As a player I think he's underrated. I support all of our players and defend them when they are insulted and disrespected. I defended Kalou and Malouda when they were pictured as the sons of Satan himself by most Chelsea fans, still defend Victor Moses and Ramies and even defended Torres last season when he was being overly-criticized. I won't apologize for defending Chelsea players. And as if "Mikel Lover" is a bad thing or the same as "Mikel Hater". He's a Chelsea player if you had forgotten

Yes, no club in the EPL would want an experienced defensive midfielder who has made over 300 appearances and won everything there is to win for free It's not like Arsenal have major issues in central midfield or united have been looking for a central midfielder for a few seasons, now. So, yeah those two or any mid-table team would take him in a split second. Of course there was no interest, the club never gave any indications that he's for sale or loan! Running out of excuses? I bow to your superior exclusive information that we ignorant international fans have no access to, oh condescending one :worship: I know you and I know exactly what kind of patronizing 'real fans' bullshit you're spouting and I'm gonna call you up for it every time

I'm moving this to the Mikel thread.

Loan him out to a club in England to free up an international player spot and get someone else in his place if he really isn't valuable to the team. Yet, we've loaned out Romeu and are looking to loan Van Ginkel instead. It's almost as if Jose wants Mikel here, right? Funny.

It doesn't add up in the sense that Jose would allow to keep a player he doesn't want in the team just for that player to get a passport especially in a season we're having trouble with with international players quota. The passport may indeed be playing a part in why John wants to stay, but it certainly has nothing to do with why the club and Jose want him to stay. Oh, I get down on my knees in prayer every day, thanking the lord for the condescending English members like yourself with your "informed circles" to educate us ignorant foreign fans! Don't you have any records to play other than the Xenophobic 'true fans' patronizing bullshit, you self righteous bore?!

Maybe. But even forgetting the interest from Galatasaray, Besiktas and Inter (who were certain that they'd sign him), he's here because the manager wants him here like all the other players in our squad. It's as simple as that. The conspiracy theories about his passport are hilarious.

If Jose doesn't want him, he'd have been gone. His wages are relatively low. If Jose didn't think he can valuable to the team, he would have given him away for peanuts if it frees up an international player spot. John made it clear on many occasions that he feels like he owes the club a lot and hence will stay until the club or manager tells him he's not needed anymore. PS: Any one object about me moving this to the Mikel thread? We're going off topic here.

And I'm going to trust Jose Mourinho and the simple truth rather some wild conspiracy theory that doesn't add up. Allowed to stay at a football club just till he gets his passport And in a year we have serious issues the number of foreign players in our squad as well! But you keep spinning around in your "informed loop"