OneMoSalah

Three huge games where we needed to be solid defensively and disciplined to get a result. Maybe for open football hes not the best but we aren't going to be playing swashbuckling, open, attacking football like Liverpool, Everton, United or City this year. Hes hardly been found out. I'd prefer to keep him than lose him because squads win you titles, not 11 players. Like Cole he didn't play in every game after Azpi displaced him but when called upon he was very reliable.

Will he wear number 15 now Salah has changed to 17?

Since when has Torres or Ba ever played on the wing for Chelsea - other than two games which Torres did that I can really think of, one where he made a 15 minute cameo in the CL final and another playing against Everton last game of the season under Rafa. Marin was mostly injured in that year, he played like 3 games then was out for 4 months, Benayoun came back from a loan spell half way through the year as well (I think) or wasn't in the squad as Di Matteo didn't use him. 'Also with Moses coming back' ???? Moses won't be here at the start of the PL season, if Jose rated him do you think he would of loaned him to Liverpool last season? No.

The only thing messy was what could have happened in that tackle where he nearly took half of Stephane Mbia's leg off to be honest.

Lmao two clubs fighting for Torres? Or has Jigsaw captured them and they are fighting to not sign Torres but the loser has to sign Torres? Fuck me what a load of shite. Anyway just sell him, even if its for 50k, fucking hell.

What?!?! Since when have they played as wingers? They are CFs. What the fuck have you been smoking? Also 30 appearances might not be possible in your eyes but I think he will get about that, given he will probably start at least 10 games a season, maybe more due to injuries and suspensions. We compete in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup so he will get a lot of sub appearances too as hes probably better coming on for 20 or 25 minutes when defenders are tiring and spaces open up for him to run into. I'd imagine Jose will field a weaker team (well in theory it won't be that weak a team as players like Salah, Zouma, van Ginkel etc. are more than good enough to play regularly in the PL imo) in the FA cup and Capital One Cup, where he would likely start.

If he returned in a player-coach capacity yes because 1) his wages wouldn't go on FFP as they would be taken out of the coaching staff's wages 2) we lack players that are leaders now that Lamps and Cole have been released and Tiago resigned for Atletico 3) he can mentor our younger CFs like Lukaku, Bamford, Solanke, Brown, Feruz and whoever else and 4) if we have an injury crisis or need to rest players for big games I'd prefer Drogba coming in even at 36 and playing ahead of Torres. The only issues is, if he comes in just as a player and he doesn't play a lot will he get disruptive like it was reported under Boas? Lets be honest, hes not a quiet guy, hes a big personality and even now at 36 he probably isn't happy when hes not playing. Jose would be daft to resign him just as a player in my eyes, as a player coach though, there is more potential in it.

Pepe and Ramos won't cut it? They managed to cut it last year. Pepe and Ramos are two of the best CBs in Europe. If you don't think Real will win something then you're daft. -A few of the key players from Atletico have been sold (Costa, Luis, Courtois well recalled) while Real still have the same spine, although they are improving it with the signing of Toni Kroos in central midfield. If they lose Di Maria and replace him with James people will complain but if James hits the ground running like Bale did, they will soon forget, like they did with Ozil. -Barca have got a problem, how do they get Messi, Suarez and Neymar in the same team as well (all three prefer to operate in central areas) as Pedro who would start at most teams in Europe (brings width to their play). Also who do they replace Xavi with if he does go? Cesc's gone, Rakitic isn't a natural like for like replacement for Xavi. Sergi Roberto? Not the same quality. -Atletico still have key players like Tiago, Koke, Raul Garcia, Gabi, Godin and Miranda but have lost one of the best LBs in Europe, one of the best keepers in the Europe and one of the best strikers in Europe. Although they have replaced Costa with someone of similar quality, are the other players they've bought in as good as Luis or Courtois? No.

Nasri??? Navas??? Both really good players. Also Arsenal's attack could be better than ours now they have added Sanchez, sure Willian and Oscar are good, hardworking players but in terms of creativity I'd say Sanchez-Ozil-Cazorla will create more chances than Willian-Oscar-Hazard. I mean we can be biased and say we prefer our attack to Barcelona's or Madrid's or Arsenal's or City's but the strongest part of our team is probably the defense.

Meant Luis. Not Azpi.

FFS we should have retired the number 19 shirt after all Demba's heroics for the club.....

Hes a good young player but he still needs to play with the 21s for another year I think, hes still a young guy, only 17 so he has plenty of time. Shouldn't overhype him either, give him time and space to develop without the whole 'hes going to make it' pressure thing we did with Josh under AVB and Kakuta/Sturridge under Carlo.

Has he played at CB before? Oh well thats a relief because I know when Jose's chasing games that 3-5-2 is one of his main tactical switches to try get the team back in the game.

Find it odd a lot of people are saying Azpi over Branna even if we get Luis at left back. Branna is very important for set plays so I see him remaining as our starting right back due to the fact he is used strategically by Mourinho to get us higher up the park from goal kicks as opposed to the slow building from the back like under Andre. The fact hes also able to play center back means that when Mourinho wants to put on another striker like he done at Madrid frequently by withdrawing Marcelo/Coentrao and also here last season a few times replacing Cole with Torres or Ba, it makes it easier for him to play 3-5-2 as opposed to having to use Azpi as a right sided center back where he isn't familiar. 4-3-3 Courtois/Cech Branna - Cahill - JT - Luis Matic Ramires - Cesc/Oscar Willian - Costa - Hazard 3-5-2 Courtois/Cech Branna - Cahill - JT Matic Willian - Ramires - Cesc/Oscar - Hazard Costa - Torres/Lukaku

Meh who gives a shit.

Good player, not a great player but he was one of the many reasons Sunderland stayed up. Seen him play for Celtic as well and I'll tell you he has got great two feet, can pass it long/short very well, shoot powerfully and accurately on both feet as well as tackle but I don't think hes at a level where he should be a regular for a team like Chelsea. Honestly surprised he wasn't kept at Swansea last year though.

Don't get why Real are selling him, he was so key to their system under Ancelotti, playing more centrally but coming out wide to do the donkey work to free up Ronaldo. Also didn't he get 17 assists last year? Do Madrid really value players like Ozil and Di Maria, very creative playes who can win you games? Sure they can get James but hes not really needed. Kroos is different he can play various roles, as a 6, 8 or 10, which I can see why Ancelotti's approved a transfer especially given Alonso's in his 30s as well.

As much as I agree with the thing about a lack of end product, hes coming into his second season where he will get a full pre-season. He still did well, in terms of adapting and consistency, he needs more goals and assists though that will come. Maybe 30M was a bit much, remember Anzhi, although they sold their big money and name players, were financially safe at that point still, also they paid more than 30M for him too IIRC.

Who does Branna think he is sporting a beard like that, Meireles? But yeah when you thought he couldn't have gotten any scarier after shaving his head, he goes a grows a beard that makes him look even scarier.

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Don't know how anyone can say he is one of the best CBs in the world or could be one of them after a performance like that and fuck knows how many individual errors at Chelsea. One of the best CBs in the world is a guy who never gets caught out, never/rarely makes mistakes, is very difficult to play against and can ALWAYS be depended on by his team to never fuck up. Why do you think he featured in the big games as a central midfield player at Chelsea? Because he never learned from his mistakes at center back and can't be trusted there in big games. Top notch by Jose to get anything over 25M for him let alone 40M. Absolutely brilliant work. Lets be honest he might have an amazing long pass in him or a great free kick or step out of defence and go on a good dribble but for all of that theres a dummy against Cardiff when he hasn't seen an attacker 3 or 4 yards away where you concede a goal or a stupid needless foul on a QPR striker which leads to a penalty and goal as well as the multiple needless attempts to come and intercept a ball hes getting nowhere near, continuously giving away stupid free kicks or very very rash over the top blocks like the one on that kid when we played Swindon. Sure having talent is one thing but a CB isn't always a player who needs to score freekicks or play 60 yard passes, sure it helps but if they can't do the basics whats the point?

This. Totally agree. I am a Chelsea fan, club should always come first.

Really don't see the need for Pogba when we already have Ramires and just signed a creative central midfield player in Cesc... if Ramires goes then maybe but the chances of that happening? Very slim. The same with Khedira, hes a box to box midfielder, we already have Ramires and Marco van Ginkel who are both box to box midfielders.

He asked for a fucking permanent transfer. Jose said to the media to ask Romelu why he was loaned out after the kid opened his mouth to try and fire shots at Jose. I wish people would stop saying he asked for a loan, he wasn't sold because Jose didn't want to sell him, he was loaned partly to take points off title rivals and partly to keep him happy. Fucking hell.

Second goal had an unbelievable first touch and finish in it, hope he can get a start in the final.