Strike

Will the Benfica fans invade the forum again? Too bad there's no Raul Meireles this time. He really shut them up last year

Avoid defeat in the next 2 games and top 4 is in our hands

Fernando Torres - Best Striker in the Europa League

This summer will be crazier than last summer. Imagine that.

Mourinho is the best in a limited number of available candidates. You're surely not pegging for Moyes over Mourinho?

A mention for Demba Ba. He has made a good impression in the big games - vs Man City, United. Playing the long ball to him is an added option when the team is struggling. vs Man City (in the league), he got the penalty after being played in over the top. vs Man United, he scored that beauty first-time volley and vs Man City in the semis, another long ball, another conversion. Great backup option for next season, someone who can add a big presence up-front .

referring to BleedsBlue's comment about how we will waste young talent by loaning them to meaningless clubs. He'll make more appearances for Vitesse than Chelsea with the competition for the attackers places

Pros: DLP. Stop gap before we consider KDB, Oscar and McEachran for the role. Experienced. Great passer Cons: His massive wages has not been brought up enough imo. I know Lampard leaving will create a vacancy but 100k p/w is 5.2 mil per annum and with other marquee players are bringing in, I'd like someone who's yet to peak but I wouldn't mind (at all) if Xabi Alonso comes to the club also, The "ex-Liverpool player" argument should have no bearing in this imo. It's not like Chelsea fans hated him when he was at Liverpool edit: Styles brought it up

It is no coincidence that the club's best league performances have come under stable club environment

Nemanja Matic 2.0

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/xabi-alonso-can-be-part-of-cheap-jose-mourinho-deal-8599978.html The Independent is reporting that Xabi Alonso maybe the player that Jose will smuggle out of Real Madrid. At 31, he's not exactly in his prime but he's a classic Deep-Lying Playmaker who keeps ticking the play over to the attackers. He has vast experience in the Premier League and could be available at a bargain price. Would you like to see him here? Or would you prefer younger, perhaps, Beñat or Moutinho?

why, what does it mean over there?

Good read. Agree with most points

Chalobah over Essien.

Klopp is a man of his word. He stayed with Mainz for 7 years, even though Mainz got relegated once in b/w. He would've built a better identity/philosophy here without necessarily winning trophies. In 1-2 years time, he could be a world beater but Dortmund's players are leaving and I think he'll fall from 'fame' if Dortmund struggle next season, which is a shame because Chelsea consider 'fame' (recent success) as a big factor in a manager

don't think it's fair to assume that Jose will not look at the youth this time. Ofcourse, if history is any indication, then he won't use de bruyne, chalobah etc and i will not argue saying he's used Varane in Real because Varane is a diamond in the rough. But with the work put in by the club to upgrade youth system and sign young promising players, i think he's going to give the youngsters a fair chance. the club obviously are working towards the goal of putting together a vibrant young team, which, in time, will take over from the spine i.e the old guard and the current crop of youngsters are a plane above the ones when Jose was here first time.

But I am not really convinced that Jose's managerial abilities are suddenly on the decline. One bad stint at Real can't make him a bad manager altogether. At Chelsea, Inter he had close relations with the players. Lampard, Terry and a few others still call him 'boss' years after he's left. You have to look at the Real Madrid dressing room and say, there's something seriously wrong there. He has been out-thought at times but overall, i'll put Madrid down as a mixed bag. Last season's 100 point haul and La Liga win seems to be forgotten over this season's problems and also, Champions League is an intense competition in the later stages and in the past 3 years, I feel Jose has been quite unlucky not to have reached atleast one final. I think he's the best manager for the job. A lack of real options may be the main reason for it but I'm hoping he can return to the club and go about business like it's 2005. A rough target over 2 years - Bring Chelsea upto PL Title Race level, few good cup runs (1-2 trophies) and integrate the youngsters. The last one - integrating youth - is something he failed to do last time around but he has the talent now compared to Sinclair, Sahar and Hutchinson back then and i am hoping that he gives them a fair chance i.e Chalobah over Essien, Lukaku over Ba etc.

Jose Mourinho's first Press Conference on his return : "Frank has agreed a new contract" Emotionally speaking, that would be incredible

Falcao - di Maria - Moutinho - Pepe Maybe - Yes - Yes - No

He was pinging fantastic through balls to Srna during the games vs chelsea. Plus, I don't remember him losing out in a challenge in the games

Genius from Jose. Hardly anyone talking about Real's exit . . .

BUMP.Looking forward to some of the reasons. I went for Modric - obvious and Diego Lopez - Looks like a good backup keeper who'll do well when asked to step up

Luka Modric - DLP Diego Lopez - To replace Hilario and Trollbull

I prefer Lampard's technique though. Blast it. For instance, if Hazard get's it wrong like vs Nordsjaelland, then it's an easy save for the keeper but in Lampard's case, the power of the penalty alone is enough sometimes even if he get's his direction wrong Lampard vs Neuer - Neuer positioned himself well but it was past him before he could react

Agree with Bale. Can't point to 'inconsistency' this season. He's been unreal. As for Rio, The big club factor helped Ferdinand. Performance for a big club > similar performance for a small club. Ashley Williams and Jagielka had good seasons but Rio is under the spot-light at United.