CHOULO19

Would have loved him a couple of seasons back, or even last Jan instead of Cahill (not that I don't like Garry), but now the deal makes little sense, imo. He's still a top CB, and so is Dawson for that matter. How those two are not starters for England is beyond me..

So, apparently we've signed/about to sign an Ecuadorian RB/Winger from Barcelona's youth team. http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/barca-set-to-lose-another-youngster-as-chelsea-pounce/ http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/4063/exclusive/2013/04/20/3917498/chelsea-the-latest-to-benefit-from-barcelona-youth-star?source=breakingnews&ICID=HP_BN_1

@Rmpr, stop posting statuses, no one cares!

I hope so. Danny is the type of player that will most likely score in a match if he really wants to.

^^ Yeah, a Sturridge goal seems inevitable, doesn't it..

Manager's PC if anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjz1_FMcM_E

Lol, it was obviously rehearsed. Couldn't you tell?

If I were you (or any other English fan), I'd be more worried about how he's a starter in the national team..

One thing I'd like to add to the last part, it not just the 'runs' in particular. The movement, in general, of our forwards is just pathetic. It has improved under Rafa; you now constantly see overlapping runs by the full backs and proper runs on the counter. In fact, against Fulham, I though the whole movement of the team was pretty good. But we still need to work A LOT on this aspect. We need to see in every attack movement by the front four that would put them in enough space to receive the ball. We're very far from that, atm.

Not that we're complaining

So according a reporter in the Sun, Chelsea and City are each getting a whopping 5m for those too matches Well that explains why the board was so intent on playing those games..

Nop, not that I'm aware of.

Alex is the league admin, he'll accept your request when he logs in. Your team is already in a promotion zone in League One. The transfer market is open, atm, but I wouldn't buy anyone before the season ends. I would advise you read the rules before you do anything. Good luck

Lol, anyone notice City don't have a single player on there. Tbf, Nastasic should be in the young player award list, he even wins it for me. But if they give the PFA player to RVP after his goal drought, someone needs to bitch slap them back to sanity. Great to see 2 of our players on each list. Would love if Hazard won the young player award.

I'd stay away from Liverpool if I were you..

For me the main barrier for Luiz to become the captain is the language. I don't feel his English is good enough to be shouting orders and arguing with refs. Plus, I would actually prefer an English captain.

The PL is sooo tight this season, both at the top and the bottom. 3 teams on 18 points half way through the season. I have a feeling I'll end up in third again, though

You can chose that formation on FIFA if you want. It's called 4-3-shit

Or QPR, they do like their CL winners there!

Well, you haven't really addressed the points I raised, so let me put them more clearly: 1) Not sure how much of Pelligrini's teams you've watched, but his sides are always very organized with close lines, good defensive work-rate and very efficient attack. In my mind, he is a much better tactician than Moyes. 2) Pelligrini has managed at the top level. You can't judge his time at real from just that loss in the CL. The 96 points he accumulated in the league were a stellar achievement, but it happened to coincide with Barcelona having one of the best season in the history. He got sacked because of the political issues inside the club that every knew of. But I don't mean just Real. He managed both Villareal and Malaga in the CL and has taken them far in the competition. He's made the CL semifinal and the quarter finals twice. That is valuable European experience that Moyes does not have. 3) Moyes might have PL experience, but his tactics and 'philosophy' at Everton is unlikely to work out here. Even if you put aside the fact about Moyes liking to integrate youth players into his teams, which he obviously won't be able to do here. Everton, play some nice football, but they're still built as physical team that dominate opponents with strength. Everton rely on long balls and crosses into the box. That won't work here with the likes of Mata and Oscar and Hazad. We're looking to play fast paced football with short ground passes; the kind of football Pelligrini is known for. It's a completely different philosophy. That's why I don't think Moyes is suited for Chelsea. In fact, if we're going for managers who know the league, I'd rather Martinez over Moyes, tbh. 4) Finally, again, what makes you think Moyes would even want to come here. Why would Moyes leave all the great work he's done at Everton just to manage Chelsea for half a season? On the other hand, we know for a fact that Pelligrini is interested in coming here and he has stated that he would like to manage in the PL.

Obviously the two don't have a good resume, although Pelligrini has managed at the very top level, I mean he was just managing last week in the quarter finals of the CL, unlike Moyes. Pelligrini is better tactician, imo. His teams are always very organized with close lines and efficiency in attack. The main argument against Moyes for me, is the one you mentioned actually: His philosophy is built around cheap buys and integrating young players. How in the world is that going to work out here? I feel that Moyes is just not suited for us, he'd be way out of his depth here, imo. All that said, what makes you think Moyes would come here? He's done fantastically well at Everton that his name has become synonymous with the team. Why would he throw all that away just to manage Chelsea for half a season?

Not to mention Mata making the miss of his career. We should have too much quality for them. They like to press the CBs, we'll be fine as long as we don't start Iva at CB. Their midfield and defense is quite error prone. We'll have the game in the bag if we press high. That said, I'll happy with a point.

People are all emotional about the Jose rumors, it is only normal that any other manager will get criticized. Everyone wants Jose, me included, but till now, it's just a fairy tale. Pelligrini is the best out of the realistic options we have along with Hiddink.

I didn't say otherwise. But the question was: "Was he written off?". And the answer is a resounding yes.

It could also be distracting to the striker, which is I think the whole point behind it. Looks better in the video than the photo shoot, but I'd still take this season's kit over it in a heart beat.