Jase

Presumptions? Did I blatantly outright say that what he earns is true? Have been using the word 'reportedly' in the discussion, to suggest assuming 'IF' it's true. IF what the media are saying about his wages is true, then 77k p/w wages for a 23 year old whose experience so far has only come in Germany looks even more ridiculous. And even with the potential, it doesn't explain that reported wages right now. It's only potential. Doubt he has a higher ceiling than most of young players in the first team right now. As for the comparison with Mata, I didn't bring up the comparison because it was you that started comparing Schurrle's wages with others first. Only went down that road because you decided to draw it towards that direction to justify his wages.

Here comes the club's financial advisor again... This may have been a model of restraint and financial prudence, in your words, shown by the club in recent years but does that mean it's the right one? Not necessarily. Schurrle's wages that he's reportedly going to earn obviously looks good when you compare with Benayoun, Malouda, Essien etc but in isolation, that's rather a lot for a player who is perhaps still a bit unpredictable in some ways. Doesn't necesarily deserve that wages right now. And if you wanna compare the wages, his one looks ridiculous when you consider Mata is earning less than him when he joined.

OR it's yet another typical case of the club being silly to overpay someone in the wages.

Was reported so by Kicker apparently. http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2013/6/13/4426038/andre-schurrle-chelsea-fc-personal-terms-rumor

First we hear the nickname Mazacar and now we have... Schumacar Schumazard Mazaurrle Shumazani Mazabryune Eden DeSchumacar

Hardly a surprise coming from you. Always 'The Skeptical One'.

Didn't know this thread has suddenly turned into the puns thread... Anyway, welcome Shirley.

Didn't know this thread has suddenly turned into the puns thread... Anyway, welcome Shirley.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2340652/Jose-Mourinho-eats-doughnuts-Heathrow-Airport.html Daily Mail published a story of Jose eating doughnuts at the airport. They truly are Daily Fail.

I know many here don't rate Mikel at all but to use misleading stats like that is just nonsensical. It's just so convenient for people to pick up stats like that to highlight the supposed rubbishness of player and at the same time, dismiss other factors that led to that stats. I'm pretty sure the low win percentage etc with Mikel comes during the mid season when we have our annual winter slump with the entire team just played like rubbish from November till about February. But of course, nobody is gonna look into these factors. And to say Mikel not playing contributes to our good end of season form is just plain nonsense for this reason posted below. To almost blame everything that is wrong on Mikel is just pathetic. As if everything we failed to do right in a game is his fault.

Won't have to compete at Barca? Erm, Messi? He ain't going to play out wide but Barca already have Villa (at the moment), Pedro, Sanchez, Tello, Neymar in those position. Will probably rot on the bench there even more than here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2340597/Lucas-Piazon-Liverpool-Crystal-Palace-loan-target.html Linked with a loan move to Crystal Palace and...Liverpool...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2340580/Barcelona-want-Chelseas-Ruben-Loftus-Cheek-Fernando-Torres.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2340580/Barcelona-want-Chelseas-Ruben-Loftus-Cheek-Fernando-Torres.html

Hardly matters if the player can't perform effectively there. Hazard has played at RW before but we have seen he hardly has any impact there compared to him playing in his main position LW or even CAM. That's precisely why I don't want to see us playing players in positions that they aren't comfortable with. Enough with filling square pegs in round holes!

Playing Marin on the RW is basically just filling square pegs in round holes. It's not his best position and he won't have much impact on the RW like he can give on the LW.

So you think Marin can be a first team player for us? As much as I think he deserves another shot to prove himself, doubt he will ever be a first team player for us. And besides, his main position LW, is owned by Hazard.

It wasn't the sole reason yes but you seem to be indicating that not having Kalou was the reason we finished 3rd. We only finished 3 points behind City at the end and had we not criminally threw away those 2-0 leads against Southampton and Reading to begin with, we would have finished 1 point above City and this wouldn't even be an issue. And all these moans about the supposed uselessness of Marin is only based on hindsight. Many were pleased with the signing and doubt people expected him to get injured so much and had little impact for us.

He will replace Moyes when he gets fired by United.

Think that is an understatement. Too much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ thought in keeping him right now.

Moses is a slightly different player than Marin. The former is more of a direct winger than the latter. He offers something different to what we got now and not mention, a goal threat in the attacking third. As you said, Moses started off brilliant but then tailed off (after the AFCON) and that's the problem with people. They only focus on the bad things and forgetting the good ones. Moses has showed he's capable to be a decent squad player who can come in and do the job for us if and when needed. Always looked out of place when linking with Hazard and Mata? Think you're making it worse than it is. He might have some problems in understanding their game but remember it's only his first season here. Moses will get better when allowed to play more games with them. It seems many have become spoilt by watching Mata, Hazard, Oscar etc playing. For the players that is playing week in week out but for those that aren't, like 2nd/3rd/4th etc choice players, you can't expect to be having the same set of quality players sitting on the bench. As said above, Moses is capable to be a decent squad player for us even though he's not world class. And with time and age on his side, he can only get better with experience. Doubt he will complain playing 2nd fiddle either. How about better defending = 2nd place finish??

Wouldn't mind us swapping Torres for Villa...

Yeah but that's a complete different matter altogether. And it's not like they only got to play in midfield because of Mikel's absence.

@Phil Driver, this was said in Benitez's presser before the Villa game. He was asked about the fitness of some players. Him saying Mikel was training today, which is good news then basically meant he hadn't been training before that. Was injured and yet to be fully fit. And even in the pre-Spurs game presser, Benitez said he wasn't available for that one because he still has some pain (with the hip injury). Moreover, Guardian had Mikel as doubtful for that Villa game. And in the club's website on the squad that traveled to Amsterdam for the Europa League final...

Are you implying that we went on the great winning towards the end of last season, securing 3rd and winning the Europa League all because Mikel didn't play?! if you are, then that is just simply a load of nonsense. We achieved what we did last season because of other factors. Has nothing to do whatsoever with Mikel not playing. The players simply roll up their sleeves and got together to achieve what we need to then. We also relied on some luck, moment of individual brilliance and some heroic defending to get us through. And Rafe embarrassed Mikel? In what way? It's obvious that you don't rate Mikel, like many others here, but if you are say why you don't rate Mikel or why he's horrible, at least get the facts right and stop plucking things from thin air to suit your agenda. As CHOULO has already pointed out, the likes of Luiz, Lampard, Ramires and Ake all played instead of Mikel was simply because he was injured.