Jype

@TheRealAC3: I am what I am!!! Winnerrr!!!! Hahahahahahah, 11 to me 0 for you!!! yfrog.com/h7i4jsoj This has potential to get ugly. I like it.

I thought it was Ramires' goal that took us to the final?

Is that a diamond with wingers or a narrower one with central midfielders? United are stacked in the winger department so no way they're going to play with the latter one and the first one would be torn to pieces by any decent opposition. At least the games would be entertaining to watch when both sides would score goals for fun. One possibility of course is that they're is planning to buy Van Persie to play on the wings but that wouldn't be very wise, now would it? I don't believe old red nose is going to make too drastic changes to their formation because it has worked brilliantly before and they were so close to winning the league even last season. If he decides to go after another striker instead of a top class central midfielder then he really has lost it and that is of course what I'm hoping for. And as for Mata. he didn't play CM under AVB, always left wing and a couple of times at CAM around the time AVB got sacked and was desperate enough to try something else rather than the 4-3-3. And even if he did play there once or twice, playing in central midfield in a 4-3-3 is very much different to playing in a two man midfield where defending is also crucial. I don't think I've come across a single person suggesting Mata to play in central midfield of Di Matteo's 4-2-3-1. But again, if United were to play their new star man Kagawa in a position he's not familiar with, I wouldn't complain. Can't believe I took the time to come up with these posts about United's possible formations because I really don't give a flying fuck about what happens to that club. Regarding Van Persie, Arsenal have left him out of their squad to the Asia tour. A deal close to being agreed?

Kagawa has never before played CM and I don't think he ever will. That would be like us playing Mata or Hazard at CM and would you honestly want that?

Their 4-4-1-1 is basically the same as 4-2-3-1, just a different way of describing the formation. One striker up front, one player behind him, two wingers who play mostly on the opposition half in an attacking role and then two midfielders. If they bought Van Persie to play as their front man and Rooney behind him, then their latest arrival Kagawa will be very unhappy. And if Shinji were to be a starting player they can only have one striker starting and that is undoubtedly going to be Rooney.

Ferguson officially confirming a bid must mean they're in advanced talks over the transfer, right? Surely the old red nose has finally lost the plot? Why would they need Van Rapist when they already have Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck and are most likely going to play a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to ours, with Rooney playing up front most of the time and Kagawa playing behind him? In my opinion the only club who should be looking to buy RvP is Juventus, who are in desperate need of a top class stiker and they can't afford to be too picky about his injury record and age because there really aren't that many options around for them. Clubs like Manchester United should avoid signing of this kind like the plague.

Great to see he has recovered from the meningitis faster than expected. Surely they wouldn't risk playing him if he wasn't 100% fit?

Perhaps a little off-topic discussing this in De Bruyne's thread, but here goes anyway. Kakuta was signed when he was 16 and he had massive potential at the time, definitely one of the hottest prospects in world football. Sadly for us not all of these signings work out the way we want them and Kakuta's development has stalled, reasons for which Chelsea are partly responsible and then some unexpected twists and turns. Our club has mistreated him with limiting his playing time to only reserve and youth games for too long and then we have sent him on pointless loans a bunch of times now. He has also suffered some injuries which have affected his development as a player. Obviously the potential is still there to be found and many people forget he's only 21 years old because he has been hyped to become a world beater since around 2006 and the expectations have always been huge, but something needs to happen and fast. It's decision-making time now regarding Kakuta. Either we place our trust in him and try to help his development any way we can by at least giving him a proper chance to prove his worth or we cut our losses now and sell him to some second-rate club where he could end up playing for the rest of his career or alternatively he could thrive with being given a chance to play every week and become the player he has always been expected to become. I just hope we'll make a choice we don't end up regretting later on...

I agree he's better in the middle but that doesn't mean he couldn't do a job out wide too and I don't see his pace as a problem. Primarily he should be used as a CM to get the best out of his passing abilities and vision as well as that mean shot of his. Granted his shooting was way off against Seattle but usually it's better and I think he was just under a lot of pressure to impress RDM with some wondergoal when he saw all the other new players and Lukaku scoring in the first half. Hopefully he gets more chances during pre-season and if Di Matteo thinks he's not ready to take a place in the squad then a loan it is, and I'm sure De Bruyne himself would have no problem with that as long as the club he would go to actually used him and not just sit on the bench which he could do at Chelsea too.

Much better kick-off time now, only 2:00am instead of 4:30. I have no problems staying up till 4 when the match ends but Seattle match was way too late even for me and I am still tired as hell from watching it. Doesn't matter though, at least we'll now understand better what the Asians and the Australians have to go through to watch our beloved Chelsea every week. Massive respect to them. :blue scalf: Who will be back from holiday for this one, or are all them lazy bastards who played in the Euros still sitting on a beach somewhere?

That looks hazardous.

Now off to sleep. Was great to see the new boys in action scoring goals.

De Bruyne should have scored at least one so far. Promising display from him nonetheless.

We're like Spain in disguise, playing without a striker.

Hopefully De Bruyne on for Benayoun right after half-time. KdB to go left wing and Marin to try his luck on the right. Hilario should be subbed too, give Jamal a chance.

Lukaku again! Great assist by Marin.

Lukaku has both impressed and unimpressed you, how does that work out exactly?

Good finish by Montero but Hilario really should have done better. Defending was shocking too...

Maybe he's being given a chance to impress his future employer?

Marin's movement is simply great. Fast as fuck and defends well too. Hazard with a nice finish!

Wow, Lukaku.

He's versatile and can play CB, RB as well as DM. From what I've seen he's not as good at right-back than he is at CB or DM.

Essien, Ramires, Lampard, De Bruyne, Cahill, Hutchinson, Kakuta, Piazon, Blackman, Kane, Saville Looks like 11 subs to me.

Was hoping for De Bruyne instead of Benayoun but other than that a very good lineup and surely we get to see De Bruyne in the second half then so no complaints. Very excited to see Hazard and Marin for the first time in a Chelsea shirt. :blue scalf: Just renewed my ChelseaTV subscription too, all the free streams I tried were laggy as hell and low quality.

Bullshit.