BlueLion.

Well to be fair he'd been signed for roughly 19 hours so it was unlikey he or Luiz were going to be playing

Why the fuck has this been posted in? Locked.

Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea POST-MATCH DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FA Premier League Sunday 19 August 2012 1330 BST kick-off

Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT FA Premier League Sunday 19 August 2012 1330 BST kick-off

What's your problem? If that was Kalou you'd toss yourself into a coma.

Never knew that. Even so, it bears absolutely nothing on his managerial career, unless he bottle-feeds Messi and Iniesta with it.

Its not even rhetorical... but anyway, enough of this, I'll answer your question - I have never said I wanted Pep at Chelsea. In fact, I was quite against the notion when it was suggested he was coming. But I said "no" without demeaning his phenomenal achievements at Barca, like so many people have done.

Again, where did I say that?

Its all bullshit. I bet you all he doesn't come. I'm absolutely certain of it. It wasn't that long ago he said he was considering signing a new and improved deal in Naples. Just can't see Napoli wanting to sell.

Le Championnat is actually a very exciting league. The defensive quality isn't all that great - but teams play far more attractive and expansive football (in general) in Ligue Un than in England or even Germany. Teams like Montpellier, Lille and Nice have a history of playing good, attacking football and that is not something that is likely to change in 100 years. The bigger teams - Lyon, Marseilles, PSG - are a bit more functional in their style of play, especially with Ancelotti in charge of the latter. In fact, believe it or not, there was a commotion last season over Ancelotti making them boring to watch. I hope that isn't the case this season because of the players at their disposal!

^ agreed, one of last season's best moments. There has been an absolute shift in the transfer mentality of this club. The most obvious aspect is the fact that the majority of our targets are young. This is one way we can counter Financial Fair Play. It just seems a coincidence that the guys we've signed are all-out nice people.

No. I do not "mean to say" any of those points at all. Your entire argument here is based absolutely on the points I have emboldened. Your point is based on assumptions you have made from reading my posts - incorrect ones. Actually, I don't actually even know where you inferred those points from at all. That makes your entire post null and void because it is completely irrelevant because you're arguing the toss over things I didn't even mention. And in reference to your last point, your are not stating facts. You are stating an opinion. An incredibly biased and bitter one at that. You go on about stating your own opinion, then go so narrow-mindedly criticise other people for disagreeing with you. You make decent points - but the moment you call somebody an idiot is an indication you've lost the argument. I would continue but I find arguing with hypocrites is about as productive as repeatedly headbutting a brick wall. Good day to you.

How is Guardiola a cheater? Its bitterness like this that really makes it clear why Chelsea and Chelsea fans are hated. Why can't you just accept he's an incredible manager and won a ridiculous trophy haul with an amazing team?

I just stick topics up individually for each game. It takes a good half an hour afterwards to put everyone's scores up as I always triple-check them.

Very unfair. You have to motivate the players, impose your own style of play and adapt your tactics individually for each team you place. Guardiola did this and more - he dominated Spanish and European football, and he did it by playing magnificent football at the same time as getting the absolute best out of each and every player at his disposal. Meanwhile he sustained this progress by instilling great faith in youth academy products. You should not demean someone like Guardiola, because he is a fantastic manager and he has worked wonders with that club. He was a legend at Barcelona even before he wore the managerial suit. Now he will go down not just in their history, but in the history of European football as one of its great managers. Edit - I know that's an old post I've quoted but I just wanted to make my point. Sorry if I'm just echoing others here.

They are fairly long. As you can see: But then in the picture you posted, its Meireles. I'm sure he wears a size larger on everything, because he always looks a scruffy cunt.

Well I could do with someone giving me a hand with it, as its far more time consuming than most people appreciate!

Look at how we played against Brighton - on the counter-attack. That style of play suits Mata, Oscar and Hazard, and accommodates most of our squad players also. It requires attacking full-backs, which we have in Cole and Azpilicueta. Torres is a second striker, not a central forward, which is the sort of player you need to facilitate in this new style. Cavani is. Plus it means we have a Plan B - Napoli played the long-ball very effectively last season when they were chasing matches.

I agree Justin. Plus, I don't think he'll play often enough to be given the chance to develop. I think he and Ivanovic will share right-back responsibilities, in the same way Wayne Bridge and Cole alternated under Mourinho in 2006/07: 2006/07 Bridge - 32 (27+5 sub) appearances (22 (17+5 sub) in Premier League) Cole - 41 (38+3 sub) appearances (23 (21+2 sub) in Premier League) Both players were excellent that season, and a bit of competition will bring the best out of both. It was the same in 09/10 when Ancelotti threatened Ivanovic's place in the side by regularly starting Belletti.

City won't dominate with Mancini in charge. Plus the English league is too competitive. Chelsea are re-emerging and United are mental champions; they will always compete. Then you have the next level - the Arsenals, the Liverpools, the Tottenhams. There is no such competition in Spain, hence the Madrid-Barcelona duopoly. In England, there are three - potentially four, as I think Arsenal have a good shot this season if they retain van Persie - sides that can win the league. Hence there will never be domination of the English division.

Absolutely. I consider myself to be something of an authority when it comes to French football, because it is the only other league I pay attention to. For the last three seasons, the Ligue has been absolutely unpredictable. Lyon deservedly won it in 07/08, and whilst they did win it in 09/10, Marseilles should have done the same the previous year. But out of nowhere came Bordeaux. No-one expected that to happen. It was their first title in a decade. Lille, at the time, were playing the best football in the division but if you would have asked me in 2009 if they would go on and win the title a couple of years later, I'd have laughed at you. There has been an absolute revolution in the French football hierarchies. You only have to look at how distinctly average Marseille and Lyon have become. Montpellier winning the title was the biggest shock of all. But now PSG will dominate. There is no way they will not.

Mikel and Essien are away on African Nations Cup duty in the Winter. I don't particularly fancy seeing Romeu playing against any of the big boys during this period.

Totally agree. He almost refuses to close down the winger. It is more frustrating to see that than it was to see Bosingwa fail in a tackle - at least Boss tried to make a block on most occasions.

TBH I only watched the full 90 minutes of Wigan 5 to 6 times last season. Each time I saw him, he was predominantly on the right but he definitely played both central and out wide on other occasions. He was on the left when we played them and won 2-1 at home.

I absolutely adore his style of play. The way he demands the ball suggests he is the true sort of playmaker we are after.