Jase

*bump*

Not sure if I can agree with that after watching Ivanovic's passive defending so many times and making poor defensive mistakes. Luiz no doubt also still make mistakes at the back but they are getting lesser compare to when he joined us and it's usually being blown out of proportion when he makes one these days anyway...

I'm not saying Hull aren't a bad side. They are well probably one but all I'm saying regardless of that, we need to make sure we head out on Sunday with the right attitude. Otherwise, we might well come unstuck just like it has happened in the past when we supposedly come up against the bad sides.

Jose Mourinho reveals his beliefs on confrontation, respecting his players and the Premier League

You are basically just repeating my point when yours weren't exactly implying that earlier...

Mate, you're making it sound so easy to replace him right now. Which quality defender is available out there and their club is willing to sell at this point of the transfer window? Even if they are willing to sell, we are likely have to pay a fortune to get that quality centre back especially with clubs then knowing we are desperate to get a new defender. Moreover, I have been saying this a lot, selling Luiz is just a disastrous move. Our defence are already average particularly in the CB area as it is and it's absolutely nonsensical should we sell Luiz and weaken it even further. If anything, we should probably be strengthening by selling the average defenders in Cahill and even Ivanovic and getting better ones to improve that area!

Maybe Hull are a rubbish side but that doesn't really matter does it? I mean, it all comes down to who perform on the day itself. How many times have we said our opponents are poor, rubbish etc only to then come unstuck against them? QPR easily comes to mind after what happened last season. No doubt we should win given the quality we have in our ranks but the players' attitude and mindset need to be spot on here. Otherwise, we aren't going to have it easy on Sunday.

But not all B2B midfielders are one..

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1520921/chelsea-boss-jose-mourinho-believes-frank-lampard-won-ballon-dor?cc=4716&ghg

Merged with old thread...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8868101/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Perhaps so but I don't think it would hurt having DM specialist, if you like, as having a proper DM would give us the flexibility in midfield to play several roles. Can't play through every game with the kind of midfield setup you mentioned there and expect to escape unscathed especially in the big games where we have been found hopelessly wanting there. Martinez maybe used as a B2B midfielder but he was also a midfield enforcer/destroyer, which I believe was his primary role last season. Khedira is also more or less in the same case there with Martinez.

Having faith is one thing but it's another having faith for the sake of it when it's apparent that we need reinforcements in the defensive midfielder department, and someone like Gustavo arguably fits the bill of what we need.

Chelsea design special scouting app for Abramovich's iPad... Find out why Schurrle, not Falcao, made the cut

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdxcR4tISQA That includes post-match thoughts after the Roma game of Rui Faria, Hazard and 'Bieber boy'...

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/8/11/the-future-of-chelsea-look-to-inter-for-the-real-mourinho-legacy An article written on Mourinho and youth.

Don't think anyone is genuinely calling for that. It's just all jokes and sarcams about that moment, I hope.

AVB actually did change the formation when things aren't going well. He would normally go from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 in mid-match and it tends to work. The only problem after that is we usually get a goal after this change and he would then change it back to 4-3-3.

Done. Your login name remains the same.

Frank Lampard fit for Chelsea and England after ending tour with goal

Absolutely. Our poor record against the lesser sides was arguably the main reason we did not challenge for the title and had to wait for ages to seal a Top 4 finish last season. Continue with that attitude this time and we won't get anywhere again. And not to mention, with Spurs, Everton and United away to come in our first 6-7 PL matches, it's games like this that we need to ensure that we win with no place for complacency whatsoever. Also, some have got carried thinking we will just walk over Hull. A solid and decent 2-0 or 3-0 win will do for me given it's the first game of the season and all. Will give us a platform to build from and give confidence to the players.

Well, there is that but as I said regardless of that Spain v Ecuador, Azpi won't start in this match due to his low fitness level right now.

Doubt Del Bosque will even play Azpi for their game against Ecuador since he loves Arbeloa so much at RB... If anything though, Azpi won't start this game simply because he's not fully fit yet.

Doesn't look like it. Rui Faria gave the post-match thoughts instead. http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3344650/title/final-whistle-verdict-positive-trip

2013/14 Pre-Season Stats and Results: 17th July: Friendly - Singha All-Stars 0-1 Chelsea 21st July: Friendly - Malaysia XI 1-4 Chelsea 25th July: Friendly - Indonesia All-Stars 1-8 Chelsea 1st August: International Champions Cup - Chelsea 2-0 Inter Milan 4th August: International Champions Cup - AC Milan 0-2 Chelsea 7th August: International Champions Cup - Real Madrid 3-1 Chelsea 10th August: Friendly - Roma 1-2 Chelsea Played - 7 Won - 6 Drew - 0 Lost - 1 Scored - 20 Conceded - 6 Clean Sheet - 3 Goalscorers: Lukaku - 5 Ramires - 3 Traore - 2 De Bruyne - 2 Hazard - 2 Moses - 1 Ba - 1 Terry - 1 Lampard - 1 Oscar - 1 Schurrle - 1