Jase

FIFA 15 sees introduction of new 'Park the Bus' mode tactic...and Jose Mourinho won't be happy (or will he?)

If that is the bet, you would have to ask Jim or Thor. If we were playing Maribor first, then I would definitely agree with the change but since it's Schalke, I don't think it's best time to take calculated risks until we secure qualification.

Should even put a bet then.

Playing in two friendly games and competitive matches are two different things altogether. There is nothing to lose on one side while a lot on the other. And about Schalke being unspectacular, sure they aren't a great side but I'm sure most had thought the same about Basel last season and look what happened.

Mark Hughes is in the list? What a farce. I'm sure he only got in there because Stoke beat Man City last time out. Otherwise, they failed to beat Villa and Hull in the two games before that!

Of course Luis won't be getting the same treatment as Cole. It will be silly of Mourinho if that happens. Was just comparing the similarities, not sameness in the situation. Think we had this conversation before and we'll just have to agree to disagree. Am aware of that but not questioning his qualities at all. Just whether he's up to scratch fitness wise and would Mourinho want to disturb the harmony of the back line. Heck, could even suggest if he's settling in nicely to Mourinho's ideas (though I don't necessarily it's much different from Simeone's). While I agree that Azpi isn't entirely 100% comfortable at going forward from LB, him not going forward at all is surely because of Mourinho. With Ivanovic constantly bombing forward, he wants Azpi to stay back and maintain the solid back line. The license to charge forward is really with the former right now and if you remember last season, Azpi can be alright going forward when allowed to. Still remembered he had some assists and helped us to keep the attack going when he got forward in situations by timing his runs wisely.

If Mourinho goes to United, someone is gonna have a massive meltdown here...

How is it not an issue when he has practically hardly played at all this season? Even 2 games in 4 days isn't really going to get his match fitness to 100% or close to it. (and you should know better since you play FM. ) Yeah but I believe last season, most of us wanted to Azpi to play at RB instead of Ivanovic but that didn't happen. That was what I was alluding to in the previous post. And playing Azpi thrice in 9 days isn't going to change much when it happened most of the time last season. We had a specialist LB then but he couldn't get back in. Yes, Cole was a fading force but could still do a good job from time to time and yet Mourinho hardly used him at all. Not saying Luis definitely won't be starting against Schalke but just think that there is more of a chance of it happening against Bolton.

There is that with the harmony but then you also gotta ask, how fit is Luis right now given he has hardly played this season. And IIRC, last season Azpi only got his first start when we played Swindon in the League Cup. The situation is rather similar right now even if they do not exactly play in the same position.

Like I said, it's a matter of not disrupting the harmony of the back 4 in an important game, even though Luis is not crappy defender.

Maybe but I'm not sure if Mourinho would be willing to rotate the back 4 in an important UCL game. The last thing he (and we all) wants is us to lose another opening game in the competition and make life difficult for ourselves. Not saying Luis is crap of course but he just might want to keep the harmony going.

Eden Hazard claims he felt huge pressure before new Blues signings arrived

Well if we manage to strike this deal, then we might get some help from a certain Turkish referee in the Champions League.

Good to see him getting game time with Brazil. At least gets his fitness level up to speed a little bit. Kinda doubt he'll play in any of the upcoming three games. First game likely to be against Bolton.

If Hazard wants to go to Real Madrid, then I don't think we can do much about it but to get a good price for him then..

Mario Gotze 'tempted' by move abroad from Bayern Munich in the future

IIRC, some of the other papers have also reported the same thing. So it might be true and Martin Lipton knows a bit about Chelsea anyway.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-cahill-england-vice-captain-take-4191325 Can't believe no one has posted that. Cahill has been appointed England's vice-captain.

Probably BS anyway but whatever... http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/398748/EXCLUSIVE-Chelsea-eye-up-Jack-Grealish-as-Aston-Villa-contract-talks-stall +++ Exclusive: Jack Grealish offered a new four-year contract by Aston Villa

Manchester City £50m Financial Fair Play fine will fund other Champions League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool confirm UEFA

Unfortunately, the name 'Ace' has already been taken. You would have to come up with another name.

Oh yes, Atletico too! That's 8 games then. And I did state Basel there.

Can...in Football Manager or FIFA.

In training...

John Terry praises Chelsea team-mate Gary Cahill for match-saving block as England start Euro 2016 campaign with victory in Switzerland