CHOULO19

I think we're bound to see that at some stage this season. It's a long season and people will inevitably pick up knocks.

Yeah, but he cost Athletico Madrid 3m and he's been excellent for them so far.

It's not by much, but he's currently our best striker but Jose seems to believe that if he gives Eto'o a run of games he'll become better. So, let's see how that pans out.

I don't think so. I think we'll have to wait till after the group stages to update the squads. Anyway, I thought Essien was very bad in the first half but he got a lot better in the second half. Need to see him in a few more games to really judge, but it looks like he will play a role in our season with MVG out.

lol Who were you referring to, then? I was the only one saying he isn't as good as people made him out to be Anyway, when he had a great season a couple of seasons ago, Song was, imo, the only world-class DM we had in the league and he was MILES ahead of everyone else.

I'm not so sure, we still have four players for 2 positions.

Who he plays for has f*** all to do with anything. I just don't rate Sandro as a player. Actually, I do rate him; like I said, I think he's very decent player, just no where near "the best player in the league for his position". He's just too aggressive for a DM, imo. He commits himself needlessly at times and leaves the back four exposed. His passing is also no where near the level of the likes of Carrick, Song and Mikel. But that's just my opinion.

More hope than Valencia have, unfortunately

So sad..

The market is completely random and is affected by factors that have nothing to do with ability at times. Just look at the fact that Torres cost 50m while Villa cost 3! I was actually talking about Capoue who, to me, looks like another hyped up youngster for nothing. Sandro is decent, but he doesn't have the technical ability, tactical awareness or passing of Mikel.

Maybe it differs from one person to another. I said he wouldn't be able to walk because I've had a cruciate ligament injury myself in the past. It wasn't even ruptured and I still couldn't walk on it! Anyway, wish him a speedy recovery.

He will. Lots more spaces than he's been getting lately and he's had a week's rest.

Hahaha that has to be a pen!

You obviously didn't see him in the EPL, though. Before he was injured he looked no where near PL quality. Terrible first touch, zero positional awareness and dodgy passing. I'd rather have Romeu over him, let alone Mikel.

I think a lot of people have major doubts that Mata can still be our best player in this current system no matter how many games he gets. Obviously he is lacking some form now and will improve but he can't, imo, go back to being the center of our game right now. Hazard is at a different level to our other wingers so you can always bet, even when he's off form, that he can make the difference. On the other hand, Mata is not the best for his position, atm, and therefor has to "earn his starts". And when did Oscar have three consecutive very poor games?! He's been undoubtedly our best player so far this season. He's miles ahead of Mata and won't be displaced from being first choice unless Mata comes up with some big performances. And I can't understand how you could say that he is not getting the chances to earn his place. We've played 7 matches so far this season and he's started 3 of them and came off the bench in another 2. Some players had not been on the pitch till yesterday! Mata's been given a fair amount of chances, he's just not taking them. And the changing teammates is not really a good excuse. He was playing against Swindon yesterday who were actually attacking us and leaving spaces behind them instead of parking the bus and he was still unable to perform up to the standards. I love Juan, not just as a footballer, but as a genuinely nice and smart guy, but his performances so far do not merit him starting in bigger games.

I'd classify all of them as needless free kicks.

The problem is that we're not exactly setting the world alight at the moment, so even against the likes of Fulham, Jose would still want to put out his best XI, especially in that number 10 role for it's importance to the team. But despite that, Juan has had 3 starts and a couple of sub appearances in our opening 7 matches, so I don't think we can say that he isn't being given a fair chance by Jose. It really isn't ridiculous, one player is playing so much better than the other and thus is starting. Mata has failed to perform from the start of the season and find himself in a position where he has to prove himself in order to regain his place, that's only natural. Sentimental reasons can't cloud our judgement. We really can't afford to give Mata a run of games because we need Oscar in that number ten role to get results.

I'm much more worried against teams that will park the bus than against the likes of Tottenham. Very confident we'll get the win. They'll have spaces behind them and we'll exploit them. And their midfield is no where near as good as people are making it out to be. Rami will be a miss, but even with Mikel-Lamps we'll still win. COYB! :cfc:

I'm much more worried against teams that will park the bus than against the likes of Tottenham. Very confident we'll get the win. They'll have spaces behind them and we'll exploit them. And their midfield is no where near as good as people are making it out to be. Rami will be a miss, but even with Mikel-Lamps we'll still win. COYB! :CFC:

Simple? Simple?! Answer me this, then, if it were so simple, then why do teams pay millions for manager and not just get some guy off the street to do it for minimum wage?

Absolutely. No need to work Cole to death when we have a more than capable back up in Bertrand. Maybe not against Spurs but certainly against Steaua he should start.

He's back! No, seriously, it was a decent performance but his finishing is still Should have had a hat-trick at least! His movement was pretty good on the bright side.

It was obviously a hyperbole, but I've seen more of Kevin, even yesterday, than I've seen from Willian.

NO way is it a ruptured cruciate ligament, he would not have been able to get back on his feet if it were. He even walked off the pitch. Best case scenario, imo, is that he just twisted his knee and will be back in 2-3 weeks, worst case scenario he did some nerve damage and will be out 2-3 months.

I'd rather loan Willian out!