Jase

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2188095/Gael-Kakuta-wants-leave-Chelsea-Marseille-keen.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://frenchfootballweekly.com/2012/08/13/azpilicueta-plays-on-for-marseille/

http://www.football-italia.net/23392/mou-maybe-i%E2%80%99m-only-one Typical Jose.

I'm surprised by your honesty there cap.

Just realized something in that Martin Lipton article. Ivanovic did not miss the FA Cup Final. He was suspended for the Fulham, Tottenham and Arsenal games after that only. Was back in time to play against Liverpool in the final.

Martin Lipton makes a good point/observation about Ivanovic here... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/the-chelsea-column-on-the-community-shield-only-1258876 Ivanovic seriously needs to calm himself down especially this weekend against Wigan when the referee is the same as the one in last season's 2-1 home win over Wigan. Can't give Mike Jones any chance to redeem himself after what happened back then.

Too top heavy and unbalanced. It's basically only Mikel that is protecting the back 4. The others will help out defensively but they are not their greatest strengths. If we can't even control the midfield, then there is no point of having that attacking 4-5 players.

Being discipline in DM is just as important as in CB. As a DM, you need to be discipline, breaking up the play and protect the back 4 and with Luiz sometimes already leaving the defence exposed thanks to his erratic defending and over complication with the ball, we don't need him to play as a DM. We have already seen numerous times of that when Mikel plays there. I don't necessarily think there is anything majorly wrong with the double pivot of Mikel and Lampard. Problem is the approach. In certain games, both have often run and press too high up the pitch like headless chickens without regards to the amount of space they left behind. If one press, the other has to be stay back and protect the defence. Otherwise, the opposition will just have a clear run on our back 4.

That is just way too offensive and top heavy. Midfield will get overrun and leaving Mikel only to protect the back 4 is a disaster. Can already see what would happen when he is left alone there...

Patiently waiting to see him link up with Hazard and Marin (and Torres). The combination could be deadly.

It's incredibly frustrating to watch that we can't even do the basic things right in every game as you pointed out there. Those problems have been apparent for 2-3 years now and yet, there doesn't seem to be any improvement! And speaking of free kicks, has Hazard actually taken one for us so far?! I have seen Lampard, Mata and even Luiz taking it but not Hazard. What on earth is that all about?! That is just being plain ignorant. Crosses are a vital part of the game and we might not cross as much as before but regardless of whether we still have the aerial threat like before, they are still useful in setting up goals, be it from high crosses or low crosses.

Exactly! If Luiz can't even stay discipline and keep his concentration at CB, how can he even fit in at DM?! Last thing that we need now is someone like Luiz playing there. With his unpredictable rashness, it will only leave us exposed even more at DM.

And what makes you think that Hazard won't be able to handle it?!

Changing back to 4-3-3 may look like a solution...on paper. Problem if we play the 4-3-3 again now is that we would have an immobile midfield as compared to the one under Mourinho where Makelele, Essien and Lampard all still have legs, energy and still somewhere near their peak to move around. We only have Ramires who can possibly do that now with his tireless work rate and energy but he alone is not going to hold the midfield together. We need to freshen up the midfield with younger players. Furthermore, going back to 4-3-3 would mean Mata has to play wide where he is just not suited in that role IMO and don't think Torres is suited in the 4-3-3 setup. All his best work and performances seem to have come in a 4-2-3-1.

Saw this stat in the Four Four Two magazine.

Although Mikel doesn't go around making challenges like Lampard did, he still sometimes try to press high up to do so and in turn leaves space behind. What I would say, whenever our approach is to attack and take the game to the opposition, the double pivot just doesn't work. Both Mikel and Lampard look lost and are not working in tandem. Both press high up without any organization and then leaves space behind. IF one press, the other need to be discipline and sit in front of the back 4 to protect the defence and unfortunately, they're not seeing that at the moment.

Think he has been his usual modest self. It's only the media that are portraying him like a prick and an arrogant bastard...

One noticeable thing he did all game was running around, making challenges and looking to match City's midfield...

Mike Jones will be officiating this game. Same ref who officiated the controversial home win against Wigan last season... http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/match-officials-appointments-august-18-22.html

Same old news. Give something new FFS!

http://www1.skysport.../11668/7987391/ Read the second last sentence there. Not slamming Sturridge for his desire to play as a CF but maybe he could learn a thing or two from Hazard... EDIT: BAH! Late by 3 minutes!

In the next few days?! Can we like we make it in the next 24 or 48 hours?!!

Great news to have Ivanovic available but he definitely needs to start picking up his form again. Has been average since pre-season. That said, we still need a new RB ASAP!

Hazard backing good ol' Torres to succeed... http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/eden-hazard-backs-fernando-torres-to-shine-for-chelsea/