Jase

Like that is going to happen. (1) Why would he leave Bayern now and join us in the current situation we are in? (2) He's Bayern's most expensive signing in history. No way they will just let him go and let him go on a cheap. (3) Signing new contract means nothing but he just signed a one month or two ago, no chance of him leaving (in January).

My hero.

Sometimes I do wonder how much I would believe stories like that. We had a pretty good weekend last week - after all that crisis - and now we suddenly have the journalists coming out with stories like that - not that it hasn't happened before - to try and destabilize us.

I think not. I think we might see a similar counter-attacking approach at some point this season again. We were too defensive at times under Mourinho yes but one thing that compounded it was our inability to do the basic things - e.g keep the ball, make accurate passes, make the right decision when we have the ball. Basically, we didn't know how to launch a counter attack! As a result of that, we often found ourselves in defensive situations and had to repel wave after wave of attacks. I imagine Hiddink would adopt a similar approach but tweak certain things - e.g. do not sit too deep so that when we have a chance to counter, we have players high up the pitch to do damage - and work on those little basic things to ensure we can create proper counters.

Meanwhile, over on the Daily Telegraph... Eden Hazard will ignore Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid interest until Chelsea confirm permanent manager I don't wish ill on anybody but part of me wants to see Perez go nuts again and sack Zidane. You know, just for the laugh especially with most media outlets writing/talking as if 'Hazard to Real Madrid' is a done deal already.

That's a big IF really especially when you consider we're unlikely to play in the Champions League next season.

Dude, was that really necessary...?

Wonder whose fault is that when our playing style in recent years has been more pragmatic than anything else...?

That thread title is just cruel. Think Zamparini at Palermo has a 'better' record in sacking managers than Real Madrid. Then again, nothing beats this... Turkish club Genclerbirligi sack fifth manager of the season

Eva Carneiro, Chelsea to face tribunal over constructive dismissal case

That is why I don't think we should sell Hazard this summer, not after one bad season. He's too good to just suddenly tail off so badly in 6 months. There must be a good reason or two as to why has that happened (same applies for the rest of the team) rather than he doesn't want to play for us anymore. And if we're talking about selling players, there are others who need to be sold first.

Finally managed to solve that annoying browser notification thing. Was quite easy actually. #noob

Not sure if we have the luxury of sitting on the cash for a season considering the current squad is in need of a major surgery.

In those 1-v-1 situation INSIDE the penalty box, it can always be tricky to defend against players like Mahrez. Maybe the question should be why no one else came to help him - Terry, Pedro? And how does one mistake like that mean Azpi isn't good?

If Hazard wants to join Real Madrid only because of Zidane, then he better think twice because knowing Perez, he could easily sack Zidane at any time - even when he's lost only 3 times in 25+ games! If that happens, then what? On another note, given that we're unlikely to play in the Champions League next season, not sure if we're in a position to discuss any swap deal with Madrid (unless we're talking about getting an average player in return). Might fetch a good fee in return though if we just sell him since he signed that new contract not too long ago. Re-investing the money in new players might be difficult as which top player would want to join a club without Champions League football?

Need them to fuck Arsenal and United next week first though.

Well that didn't happen although Liverpool did pick up a few hamstring injuries.

Hazard can certainly do more to fulfill his potential but don't think I would classify him as lazy. If he was as lazy as you said, we wouldn't have seen the many of the great performances he put in over the last 2 seasons or so. I seriously don't get why you're using 'wages' to judge the level of expectations (didn't you say it's about fighting for the club and the badge?). When you're playing for Chelsea, you expect the same things from everyone. It's not all about the wages! It is rubbish that Hazard hasn't scored like in nearly 30 games ( ) but comparing an attacking midfielder with two strikers - players who are meant to be scoring goals - seems a tad harsh. Stats do say he's rubbish but in reality, he hasn't reached the Torres-level of point-of-no-return.

That's kinda weak. Regardless of their wages, they should be showing the same level of commitment, desire and performance in every week. It doesn't matter if one earns more than the rest. And we shouldn't forget that these players are humans too, they aren't robots. Should at least be showing some form of understanding and finding out what's the reason(s) when players aren't performing as they should be.

So, you're basically saying that if we have a bunch of shit players, it's OK for them to look disinterested? Why should there be a difference in standards or expectations when they are all players playing for a big club like Chelsea? Going with what you said previously, they should be giving their all and fight for the badge week in week out, talisman or not. And if they suddenly suffer a drop in form, I would try to see/analyze what's the reason rather than just immediately write them off and use reasons like wages etc.

You are not entirely wrong but if you're going with that, then we practically need to throw the entire squad out because most have looked disinterested and they couldn't be bothered this season. Mind you, many wanted Drogba out pre-2010 but we stuck with him and look what happened after that.

Benitez has lasted only about 6 months in 3 of his last 4 jobs (granted, one was an interim job but still). Only managed to survive longer than that at a 2nd-tier club Napoli. Dodgy record for a supposedly top manager.

Don't think I have said anywhere that Hazard has looked interested this season. I acknowledged as much that he has been poor in the campaign so far. Just because he looks disinterested, it doesn't mean he's actually disinterested. There could well be a reason (or more) as to why he has been performing the way he has, just like there's reasons why the entire team has tailed off so badly in 6 months (how come the other players don't get questioned as much as Hazard?). Knowing the kind of player Hazard is, can be and what he has done for us, I'm not going to write him off just yet, not after one bad campaign. But if you want to do that, then be my guest.

Got this from @cosmicway...