OneMoSalah

Still can't believe this guy was regarded as a top DM who could do everything and basically regarded as the second coming of Yaya Toure 😂 I mean Matic had short comings but never seen a more hapless MF player for Chelsea in years. Lets hope his form doesnt go back to what it has been for the majority of the seaosn and Milan buy him off us.

Yeah was gonna say. As Vesper mentioned the Community Shield was a competitive game. We are unbeaten in the PL and European games.

Don't see why fans are looking and comparing owners net worth? Jesus this isn't like the transfer market where we are looking to sign a striker to replace one leaving 😂 I mean I have seen some ridiculous shit in my time on here but Roman is going nowhere and even if he was comparing owners net worth is just tedious because nobody is going to acquire the club unless they have a certain amount of money anyway....

Modric scores about 3 or 4 goals a season.... hardly a huge goalscorer but he's not that sort of midfielder. Kovacic isn't a goalscoring MF player either though but I wouldn't he surprised If he doesn't get a few before the seasons out. It would bring his level up yes but it hardly makes or breaks him as a player.

Ramos, Pique, Bonucci are all world class.... their teams have struggled but their individual qualities and successes are there to see. Ramos and Pique CB partners in greatest international team in the 2000s. Ramos a key part of a Madrid side who won 3 CLs. Pique part of arguably the greatest club side ever. Bonucci part of the best Juventus team theres been in years, who have won about 8 leagues in a row. These guys are some of the best about. Koulibaly is definitely a great CB too. Has no real weaknesses in all honesty and he can play too. John Terry had some moments when he played poor or when the team struggled but it didn't make him overrated either? Look at these guys consistencies over the last 10 years or so, the likes of Pique, Ramos, Bonucci have been brilliant. Can't dispute that. Glorified David Luiz's? Luiz isn't in the same ball park as any of those guys yes I agree but it would be an insult to call them guys glorified Luiz's....

I doubt they'd ever consider Sarri, he doesn't have that massive reputation that Perez would normally go for (not to disrespect him, he is a very well respected coach obviously but Madrid have had the likes of Mourinho, Ancelotti, Zidane etc, who were huge names) or a big amount of trophies which would be a paramount requirement at a club like Madrid. Don't know about Lopetegui either, a decent enough coach but he was 3rd or 4th choice apparently. I think they will continue to struggle while Perez is at the club, hes very much the guy who makes all the big decisions, transfers, managers, apparently he is insistent that Benzema is a regular etc because he was one of his signings or so people have felt.

Honestly I disagree, we don't have a like for like sub for Jorginho, Cesc is the only player in the squad who can play that role. Sure his legs arent what they were, hes never been the strongest or fastest anyway but technically he is still a good option in that role. Good experienced player to have in the squad and if hes willing to stay here and do that role again next season why not? Football is a squad game as much as anything these days. Also we have more pressing concerns in other places like upfront, central defence and out wide with Willian and Pedro's inconsistencies, they should be addressed first.

More ball watching today for the Palace goal, totally unaware of the runner behind him. Although he had good moments in the match all that is undone by one thing. Scary that somebody who is in his 30s can still get done by ballwatching so easily. It is a shame because it happens a lot and will cost us eventually.

I agree but the confidence he had to try and lob the keeper, surely can only be a good sign? He can do more but again its the mental side I think he struggles with but he is definitely on for 10-15 goals this season at least, I think he'll get a lot of chances this season, just with the change in playing style it will help him perhaps but still he should be aiming for 20-25 goals. So should Eden at least. Few other guys like Pedro and Willian should be after 10 at least too.

Watched highlights for Southampton-City match. How does Mark Hughes keep getting decent jobs? I cant believe a club like Southampton couldn't attract a better manager? Ruud on MOTD, as always a good insight but pity they've paired him up with Danny Murphy... jesus christ.

Perhaps but you could see today that nobody was completely sharp for the full 90 minutes in MF, we were sloppy. Ross has had 4 or 5 games on the bounce where hes been impressive, think we can let him off for misplacing a few passes, everybody had an off day in that regard.

Not going for Dzeko and Suarez instead of Torres was a huge mistake when Carlo was here. Suarez could have played as a wide forward instead of Kalou or Anelka in that team I think. Dzeko more suited to how we played also.

Kante won the ball back and intercepted it though especially in the second half which was vital to continually putting Palace under pressure and stop them getting out to counter with Zaha and Townsend in the wide positions. I agree his passing today wasn't great at times but still think theres a point in him playing in MF to recover the ball higher up (not all he does unfair to say hes only playing for that but a big skill which is useful in a pressing team), also his energy and mobility because Jorginho is quite slow. I think we'll truly know towards the tail end of the season, think we still need to give the team a good few months yet to see what Sarri truly wants the team to do. Still so much improvement to be made without the ball and defensively, as well as offensively. Still lots of positives and despite thinking we could improve we are 2nd and unbeaten...

It means the club's have to play them though or they will lose them. I think B teams still need to be introduced to bridge the gap between academy and PL standards. Loaning guys over 21 years for me is quite pointless unless it's an exceptional circumstance like say they've had a year out with injuries similar to Marco and Kurts loan deals in the past after they did their ACLs to get regular minutes and continuity. Guys aged 21 or more should be in the squad for me because youd think they'd be at a good level to compete and offer something. This is an issue all over the PL, guys like Andreas Pereira at United went to Valencia although was definitely at a good enough level to play at United when you consider they were using a lesser player like Scott McTominay regularly. Fair enough some footballers develop later than others but 9 times out of 10 , you'd expect somebody who comes through the academy at a club to be good enough to compete for first team football at 21 at one of these club's, wouldn't you? Or at least you'd hope. I look at Ajax, guys like Frenkie de Jong and Matthias de Ligt. When these guys are say 23 theyll be ready to play for elite clubs like Bayern, Barca, Real, Juventus week in week out and will go on and have hugely impressive careers. Here they'd be loaned out and still probably never end up making it here because the loan system for me is more a business than an actual pathway to the first team. Look at how many players we've loaned out and sold for profit. Losing the amount of guys we can loan out as a business tool as opposed to a pathway to bringing young guys through is probably more of an issue for Chelsea and that's the harsh reality.

Anyone got a video or gif of that Kepa 40 or 50 meter pass to Azpi when he came out his box? Was an absolute worldly not sure if he meant it or not but was brilliant 😂 Mixed performance today, Morata dug us out a hole with 2 goals and good to see Pedro get a goal but a bit of sloppiness in MF from everybody in phases. Defence wasn't great, Luiz did some good things and then some bad things. Same with Azpi and Alonso. Thought Azpi was pretty solid against Zaha when they had him drift out wide in all fairness but gave the ball away a lot.

The Kovacic and Hazard link up is exceptional though. They understand each other on and off the ball and often look to find each other. Kovacic is a better footballer than Ross and Ruben (fair to say he's similar to Morata in regards that hebplayed for a top top club but never really started) and has got similar footballing intelligence to Eden which is why they combine so well I think, even in the Arsenal game when he came on for his debut, within his first 5 minutes he and Eden combined and you could just tell. The Liverpool match as well for me was a big proving point that Eden and Kova are great together. I think Ruben could be a more rounded box to box player with a bit of work defensively and positionally. I think Ross and Kovacic are more forward thinking than him, although he can carry the ball well but his final pass isn't as good as theirs. Ross offers much more of a goal threat than both of them for me but he offers more, even at Everton he was a creative hub for them and now he has a bit of maturity to his play. Bit panicky today at times but it wasn't a brilliant performance from the team, sloppy with the ball, got some luck and also had some good David Luiz moments like that excellent block in the first half. Nobody in MF bar Jorginho passed well in the first half I thought. Even Jorgi gave some balls away but there is a much better decision making process when Ross gets the ball, which even when he makes bad passes or mistakes he still gets on the ball and still manages to find his team mates. Kante and Azpi were more concerning for me in regards to giving the ball away today, a lot of sloppy passes after 1-1.

Get them out asap. Also regarding the loans, it's the right thing to do, not only a problem for us but many teams but if people want PL teams to bring youngsters through its only logical step. Also means we will have to sell but makes us money.

Thought he was one of the best guys on the park. Two good finishes. Unfortunate with last one but confidence is high obviously or he wouldn't be trying to lob somebody one on one. Really dug us out of a hole today but again constant criticism.

If true sack the board 😂 Also wish Martin Keown would fuck off, Daft bastard.

Think comparing 9 games against 150 is daft but no doubt he's improved his game here this season. Even last season he looked lost when he played.

Did the keeper not save them? He's certainly looked better recently although for the money he cost you want more yes.

Both would be interesting players to sign. Lozano still has to prove himself at a tougher level but he's got good potential, looks very raw although he was good at world cup for Mexico and has scored goals regularly in Holland.

If he can't displace Brandt and Bellarabi then maybe we should re think our interest until the summer. He's got talent but we need somebody who can instantly add to the team and quite frankly if he can't get ahead of those two (although Brandt will be a top top player) does that mean he could struggle to get games ahead of Willian and Pedro too? Would consider Suso who is more mature and known to Sarri as the wiser move. Also his agent and management team stink and are making a lot of issues for him, could be a turn off for the club negotiating with them? Generally thought if we signed him in the summer he wouldn't be an instant starter and still have the same feeling, he showed a lot of good things last year but has also showed a lot of bad things for Leberkusen this season.

I think a 20 goal a season striker, a CB and RW will bring the team up (obviously need to be the right players) but I wouldn't panic yet regarding Kante he's impressing me in this new role, bringing different aspects of his game to the fore and getting involved more offensively. He improved under Conte and will do so under Sarri in this different role. I agree we lack goals from MF, some top teams have had this but had an appropriate amount of goals in attacking areas. So it remains to be seen what will happen, RW and CF is areas we could see improvements in.

He turns 18 this month. He'll get minutes this season but dont expect him to be a regular, too much expectation too soon. If anybody expected him to amass even a quarter of the minutes guys like Mbappe, de Ligt, Kluivert, Auoar, Sancho etc have or will amass this season then they are dreaming. When have Chelsea ever done this with youth players? I did hope he'd feature more in the Europa, Carabao Cup, FA Cup etc and he still might do to be honest the seasons still young. Jadon Sancho's rise at Dortmund has shown that it can be done by young Englishmen in foreign league but that has raised the expectations and now the likes or Foden, Hudson Odoi or every second, third or fourth PL youngster is being linked with moves to Germany etc. Think we shouldn't panic yet. Him and Ampadu still have plenty of matches to contribute to. I think he'll pen a new deal, Sarri was impressed with him the same way Conte was. Hopefully we shift Moses, Drinkwater and Cahill in January, that will free up more chances of Europa/Cup matches for the two of them to play in some capacity.