Joe Ay

Played ok in patches, but his shooting was pretty woeful. Agree that he could use a break to re-charge but don't think oscar is quite ready to take his place yet.

I'd say that Lampard is not without blame too. He's just too keen in getting forward at all times and doesnt seem interested in building up play from the middle. It'd be interesting to see whether a Mikel-Romeu combo would work.

Is it just me or did it seem that Lampard was not all that involved in the midfield build-up play in our first two games? Oft the case it would be Mata and Hazard dropping deep to build up play whilst Lampard just bombed forward at every opportunity. I thought RDM said that he would be adapting his role to play deeper and more disciplined this season. But it seems it's the same Lampard style of old. Also, whilst it does look good when our attacking players drop deep to dictate the tempo, I think it should be the role of our two players in the pivot to do it. Having to drop deep just takes away the effectiveness of their forward play. Don't think its fair for Mata and Hazard having to drop deep whilst Lampard just bombs forward when it's his responsibility to be the one who dictates play from deep. To me, it takes away the balance of the side, and makes him look like a passenger at times. On another note, I felt Mikel played ok and kept the ball going but always outnumbered in the middle with Frank always going off on his runs forward. I also felt that Ramires often looked lost or was not involved much in play, his passing is just not quick and accurate enough for the possession game. He looks better when we're counter attacking.

Jovetic>hulk>Ben arfa>moses

Couldn't find a thread on this guy so figured I start one. Imo, this guy will be the best defender in the world in 2/3 years time. He was solid against Portugal last night, and has been consistently good every time I've watched him for either Dortmund or Germany. After Thiago Silva and Kompany, I'd rank him as the 3rd best defender (based on form) in the world right now. This guy is just phenomenal. He's similar to our David Luiz in terms of technique and how comfortable he is in possession, but I'd rank him higher in terms of his decision-making and ability to make out a pass. I know that our central defence is looking pretty decent these days with Cahil being a decent back-up to Terry/Luiz but one can dream eh? Terry can go on at a top level for another 2/3 seasons, more than enough time for Hummels to mature and be more willing to test himself abroad.

Any over-hyped/over-priced English talent...Barkley, Walcot, Rodwell. Anyone over 30m quid who isn't Messi, Ronaldo, Ozil, Gotze or Neymar.

20 is Josh's

Next best number if Mata keeps 10 would be 7. Ramires then can move to 6, with Romeu taking 17 perhaps? That would free up 11 for Hulk. Call me old-fashioned, but I've always believed numbers 1-11 should be reserved for key first team players. I know it's just a number but still...

Squad number?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/04/chelsea-signings-eden-hazard-hulk

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1078413/pep-guardiola-open-to-job-offers-this-summer?cc=4716

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9277220/Champions-League-final-2012-Chelsea-take-a-step-closer-to-signing-highly-rated-Lille-forward-Eden-Hazard.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-citys-bid-for-eden-hazard-839944

Thanks for the insight. Just curious, how highly rated is he in Spain? There's an endless supply of talent coming out of Spain now...Martinez, Thiago, Muniesa...it's unbelievable really. Bielsa been doing a brilliant job with Bilbao by the way...the way they press reminds me a bit of how Barca press (no coincidence since Bielsa was influential in shaping Guardiola's philosophy). In terms of evolutionary play, Bielsa's done an amazing job in moving Bilbao away from the long ball style English team to a very direct, very skillfull counter-attacking side. I'd say that he's done what AVB is trying to do, with limited success, with Chelsea.

Watching the Madrid vs Bilbao game now and I must say, this guys looks pretty impressive. Reminds me a bit of a young Messi in the way he dribbles. Still a bit raw though, and as I type this, he's just given away possession which led to Madrid's 4th goal. But he's still young, only 18 I think, and has bags of potential. Not cup-tied as well for the Champions League. Will probably go for Hazard like fees in a few years, hopefully our scouts are taking a good look at him as another option.

For all the money Abramovich has put in Chelsea, we've never really had a fantasy player on par with a Zidane or Kaka. Only player that I can think of that came close was Robben (and now Mata, to a certain extent). If we can put in 50 million quid for Torres, I'm sure we can pay the 40 million or so for Hazard. He's still young, with bags of potential. A Hazard or Gotze (or both!) please. But Chelsea being Chelsea, they'll probably buya Rodwell for a grossly inflated price. Our track record has proven that...SWP...Duff...Torres (am a big fan, but he's clearly lost something in the last two years...).

Watched said game. Barca were unbelievable. Seeing Messi hunt down the ball when possession was lost was a sight to behold. And if you notice, Barca guys hardly ever kiss their badge in their goal celebrations. There's no need for that when you can clearly see what the club and the team mean to them. None of the empty gestures some guys are apt to do (then moan in the press on not understanding why they aren't in the first team, as if it were their divine right).

“We teach the boys the same principles ​that any wise parent would teach to their children,” says Folguera. These principles are respect, responsibility, commitment, work, discipline, self-demanding and, above all, humility. Read more: http://www.totalbarca.com/2011/youth/la-masia-the-value-of-having-values/#ixzz1gtnBp8We You just have the admire the way that Barca teaches its young. The utter lack of ego or self-importance is apparent for all to see...Xavi, Iniesta, Messi...none of that me-too selfishness we see sometimes amongst our team of big egos and player power. The last time we saw any of that in Barca...they were shipped out without much ado...Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Ibra...