BlueLyon

Bad news is Destro move probably wont happen... The good news is that Torres is staying

That game was pretty much what he did vs Burnley apart from goals. Everything went through Hazard last season, including vs Sunderland, but this year he wont have main role. He will have to work with Cesc and others, thats why his performance vs Burnley was equaly good. Vs Burnley, he actualy knew what to do all the time, he didnt realy slow down and stop and wait till all defenders got on him, but he actualy did things faster, thinking how to get ball forward and did the job well. Anyway, I have feeling you aint that happy with his show vs Burnley or what? To me he was impressive and if he can repeat that on regular basis, with goals here and there, thats best from Eden that you can get atm.

At this point our backup striker should indeed be poacher with decent skill set. But more poacher than creator, because we have plenty of creators in attack, but very few quality finishers. Apart from Costa and maybe Schurrle, no other is natural finisher (Drogba also but he is quite old). Therefore Destro, Chicha, Bony or Remy whoever can score goals will suit us great. We need poacher more than a striker who might be realy good dribbler, but needs 8 shots to score a goal. A backup who will add those 10/15 goals from bench would be great.

Expecting win by at least 2 goals, since we are playing at home.

Well we still look bit unsettled in defence though.

Nah he looks alright...for PL striker its better to be stockier anyway...and he is 1.86m or sth too.

I think people (including myself) were talking about positions (#10, #8, etc) not what numbers they wear on their back.

If they did, the thread wouldnt be full of he is bad, he should be sold,he did nothing etc comments... Only few realised that.

He will probably start well then become unhappy and want to leave...like he did at City and Milan. Likely to end up in Juve in few years.

Nah, he was realy good vs Burnley, if he scored or even assisted, it would be perfect performance. He completed 8 dribbles, 97% pass rate and considering he is not player to be main guy anymore (ala messi or ronaldo), that was quite amazing on itself. He will never be regular scorer like Ronaldo, I think people should realize he isnt natural finisher, but he is going to amaze with dribbles and then key passes, exactly what he did vs burnley. Scoring goals will come every here and there for Hazard IMO. If he can repeat burnley performance against top sides regulary, thats what I call best of Hazard, no doubt.

I would actualy sell Mikel and get Khedira tbh, but it would be luxury signing.

I think people look on Oscar from wrong angle. He might look like #10 and be positioned there on tactical board before games, but once the game actualy starts, everything he does is what #8 would do. Tracks around the whole midfield, make quick passes, create space and drag players on himself, so that others have more options in attack. Even does fair share of tackles and interceptions aswell. But people cant get over that tactical board before game and still think Oscar is #10. And obviously, because that is not his role atm anymore, he wont score or assist, make dribbles in attack etc, and people will be dissapointed. From tactical angle, Oscar had nearly perfect game vs Burnley, he was amazing #8. But if you judge him as #10, he had awfull game. But thing is, that wasnt his role in quite a few games recently, however people cant get over that. In conclusion, Oscar has potential and talent to do alot more at #10, but that is not his role atm. I would prefer a bit more powerful and faster #8, ala Essien (if he existed), but Oscar as #8 wasnt bad either considering he switched positions alot with Cesc, he worked for others, to make play as fluid as possible. I dont think Oscar will ever be that real #10 tbh, but the main question is if he can raise the form and then keep it wherever he plays for us in this season.

Its still quite impossible this to happen. Its up to Torres who has to accept to go to Roma (might not want to go there) and secondly, Chelsea is probably not prepared to put so much money in that deal. 20m for Destro, plus "losing" Torres on loan for nothing, while still having to pay around 10m for his wages while he wont even be here. And around 4-5m for Destro wages. Thats about 35m£ for those two players only, however we might get some back if Roma decides to buy Torres at end of season (but I dont see that happening and we are stuck with torres again). Unless Torres goes permamently to Roma plus 15m for Destro, I dont see it happening. And question if Roma is even prepared to give so much money for Torres wages... But I hope it happens anyway. Destro looks to be Mou choice and that means he will put lot of effort to make Destro play well here and motivate him.

Add Di Maria type of player to that as luxury that might not be needed, but puts us on very top. However I dont think we need wc CB right away, Iva is certainly class CB who can jump in if Cahill or Terry loses form. But next year, definately.

I would realy appreciate opinion of someone who actualy watched him lot last year? I only saw few games, he was decent as I remember, but totti played in most of them. I think he would be better than Torres (duh), but its not all black and white... Also for that money 20m plus Torres, he should be quite allround top striker, while I dont see him much more than poacher.

Suddenly almost everyone would bench Azpi in favour of Iva who had great game though, but was average for big part last season in attack. On other hand, Azpi was one of most consistent players, yet nobody remembers that smh... I think Azpi, Luis should be fullbacks while Iva CB. Probably next to Terry.

25m plus Torres for Destro is alot of money though. And we would also have to pay his wages while at roma... Destro is decent, but nothing that special unless Mou sees something in him, then he could turn to be our joker from the bench.

It would be terrible if we lost Samsung for some betting sponsor or sth. I hope they offer better deal, they are one of biggest companies in world in tv/phone industry and no other club has samsung so it would make sense for them to extend.

Cech, Terry, Carvalho and Cole arguably best PL defence in history too. That team we had back then was one of best I ever saw. But its time for new heroes now.

Yeah for some reason, I just dont find Cahill-Terry enough composed soon as we play bit more open. As individuals they are great CBs, nearly best in PL, but something is missing there if they dont get more support from other teammates.

We need fullbacks to cross and chip the ball too eventualy. Cant see Cesc saving us every game with such nice passes. Once danger will come from all sides; we will be unstopable.

He is serb. Serbians are either greatest friends to have or biggest nutcases.But he doesnt hang out with them, they hang out with him

Nominates Benitez what a fucking legend haahah

I realy like Mourinho when he wear suits, he looks fucking class when he wears those. Much better than training clothing.

So we have three fullbacks and only two spots (duh), who will Mou pick as regulars this season? It was quite obvious that Filipe and Azpi were going to be first choices, but suddenly Iva is in good form and Mou migh fancy Iva because they worked before. Among three main signings, Cesc and Costa realy impressed, while Luis somehow wasnt too impressive, but that is just based on preseason and he will probably get much better. After all, he came as one of finest LBs in world, but it seems he has yet to convince Mou. Atm Azpi and Iva looked good and possibly Mou doesnt want to rotate defence too much after he already changed GK. Could it turn in the end that Mou is going to bench Azpi (after praising him last season so much hard to believe though) in favour of Iva and Luis? In general I think at least in the start that our defence isnt as firm as it was last year (partly due to fact that we now play bit more attacking and with Cesc instead of Ramires, but it looks like they are not yet completely connected with each other. Also we seriously need fullback (Luis) to work better with Hazard, make overlaping runs etc. It would give our game another dimension. What do you think?