BlueLyon

With run of games, Emerson would definately improve alot. He was better than Alonso in italy by quitr a bit when both played week in week out. The ONLY reason why Alonso is playing in first 11 is his goal scoring ability which cant be underestimated. Kind of a character too, so I like him. But he is slow as feck and thats the big issue because there is highway behind him and he never manages to run at same pace as Eden or Willian when we attack which clearly shows how one dimensional our attacks are sometimes. Alonso can score indeed, but when it comes to actual offensive play, both Alonso and Azpi are average at best.

I like the lad alot so far. Quality wise, Tibo was good, but there was always something in air not right about him, you could never imagine him being a legend here tbh. Early days for Kepa, but he definately has a potential to become our legend in the future. He has proper character and I love that about the players.

Hazard to Sturridge after match: "It was not a bad goal, not bad...but do it next week, not now"

I dont see the hype about him anyway. If there is a CB from serie a that we should buy if we are looking, its Skriniar.

The numbers regarding Drinkwater are probably some of the absolute worst dealings that our board has done in the last 20 years. 40m fee and 100k per month, for someone everyone knew wasnt good enough to play here are beyond any explanation, english or not. You have bunch of players who could fit that spot, for third of what we forked on Drinks. Bakayoko was hyped up talent and it made sense to pay 40m then. But Drinkwater, thats the deal our board should be paying from their own pockets for such a fuck up. I know football is unpredictable and you never know how things will turn out. Not a single board is perfect in their dealings, but our board had so many fuck ups in the past few years that this isnt coincidence or ''who could predict?'' anymore. KDB, Lukaku, Salah sales, bunch of wasted buys, all the failed negotiations and there is big big chance RLC and Christensen will leave soon who will both end up very very decent players at least. Get a damn person who actualy knows football business. Thanks to Conte and Sarri we are actualy managing fine considering everything.

Batshuayi is the first player in 21st century to score a goal in PL, Ligue 1, Bundesliga and La Liga. Next year, a loan to Serie A

Marotta left Juventus in a shock surprise. We could certainly use someone of his expertise in board and the club should put alot of effort right now to get him as director. Its certainly worth a try, such people arent available every year.

They switched 3/4 of the team that brought them to PL, what else did they expect

Not the best defender by any meaning but amazing character and shows passion for the club in every big game. I dont get how some can hate him and want him out. Pointing at bench due to brainfarts in game yeah, but actualy hating on like him; such "fans" can fuck off.

Yep but City lacks core part of any team which is connection to the football club. They are plastic as it gets. Bunch of players thrown together and only reason they are doing well is Guardiola connecting them. But it might as well be City, Wolverhampton, Burnley, Nottingham Forrest they would be playing for. They wouldnt give a shit what club it is. It just so happens its Manchester City but they dont have any connection to that city/club/history whatever... Pool has that. They have Milner, Henderson, TAA who might not be the best, but they love the club. They also have Mane, Firmino and Salah who came to the club as alright players and Klopp/Pool turned them into world beaters for which they are grateful for. Pep has unlimited resources and whoever comes there is just another player to play in their chess game. Just like Mahrez. They already have shitload of players but they had to buy him too. Apart from Kompany there is not a single player that would be killing himself to win a game for them. Silva and Aguero come close, but they are not youngest anymore and not realy warrior type of characters (Aguero was, but not anymore) Their quality is big, but for europe and vs best teams in world, you need passion. City has no passion, much like Psg. Those two wont win CL for a long time with the way they play. Chelsea after Roman was kind off in the same situation, but we got blessed by Mou, Kenyon who realy created the passion and spirit at the club and bunch of players who managed to translate that on the pitch. You will never experience Terry, Ballack, Drogba or Lamps level of passionate emotions from City players. That will stop them from being great. Quality is one thing and it would work if Footballers were robots. But they are humans. And its surprising how much more you can give if you realy love something and fight for it, despite not having as much talent as someone else.

Shame we conceded so late, but it was coming to us, just hoofing the ball in final minutes. Whole team played well, except for Morata. The fucker just walks around. We totaly get it his confidence is low, but at least work your ass off for the team like everyone else does. He is lazy and lacks proper motivation.

He was like fuck this shit and single handedly sent Pool to the cleaners. Let this Hazard show up at the weekend aswell.

Nope. Even if he doesnt bring his A game, he is still that player who just never gives up and fights for the team till end. Much like Gabi for Atletico. They could upgrade that midfield, but you just dont replace such player until he is too old. Besides, striker spot, RW spot, LB spot, midfield spot (if Kova leaves) and even CB are more important to improve. But I do agree he isnt on same level as he was last year. But he has qualities beyond this, so he is kinda undropable atm.

Best award is mix of players, managers and fans votes. Fifpro is voted by fellow footballers only (if I remember correctly). Also for Salah goal, there are rumours that a huge part of egyptian fans voted for him, since its fans voted aswell. Plus Salah had big year and they just had to give him an award hehe. Personaly I think the whole awarding is crap anyway. Football is team sport and these awards just hype individuals desire to show off alone and not as a team. If anything there should be team of the year which is picked by fellow footballers (fifpro) and nothing else. That way they can pick best player for each position because Best is flawed. Its almost impossible a GK will win award ahead of attacker since its popularity voted. But yes Alves had absolutely no place there and Bale/Cr goals were better than Salah.

Hopefuly that lyon reference isnt due to my nickname...I only have it since bluelion was already taken, otherwise Im Chelsea fan first and foremost, but on side note Lyon is one of few special clubs I like to follow too since I have some good memories from my childhood (either we went on family trip there or saw games on tv etc). Im just saying we should play some youth. Not 5 kids every season, but at least one since Terry debut in 1998 would be fucking nice. I dont support Chelsea only for trophies but for the club to develop some players aswell. I mean Barca can do it, Pool can do it, Real can do it, United can do it, Bayern too,...we just leave them out again and again. If they were shit, ok, but they are not. Cahill isnt better than Christensen in any way and the only reason is because sarri like everyone else lacks some balls to actualy play these up and coming players. Lets see when Christensen fucks off to Barca or somewhere and turns into world class CB. Jokes on you board.

With Pedro out, Odoi should be at least on bench. And Christensen should come for Rudiger. Smells Sarri isnt one of those bold managers either, always goes for safe option to not risk the result. We need to look for our future damn it. Cahill is past it, Christensen needs playtime. Its also funny Sarri wanted ball playing CB and he doesnt even play Christensen. If we bought fucking Rugani for 40m while youth product Christensen rot on bench, Id be fumming. Just sell Christensen, Odoi, RLC so they play elsewhwere where they would actualy be valued and appreciated. And get chance to show how fucking clueless our board and managers are when handling these kids.

This is why you need world class striker. Hazard had off game and Willian put his usual "I dont know what to do with the ball" performance. Having striker with good linkup is nice, but we realy need quality finisher to score that one chance in game and save our ass. If it was someone reliable instead of Morata in that chance 1v1, we would of won the game.

Probably behind Icardi, Dybala, Martial (I dont like his attitude, but he has talent to make it still). Simeone, Werner would be around same level on my list. Others are far too young and inconsistent to succeed here due to pressure. Immobile and Belotti are not worth the hassle IMO and Selke, Dolberg, Alcacer havent done anything to deserve place at Chelsea either. I do have soft spot for Mina who impressed me two seasons ago when he was only good Valencia player in that shit season. But he probably wont be chelsea starter quality. I do look forward to see what Dembele shows in Lyon, they have done some miracles with young players recently, so it should be interesting. To wrap it, right now I would only test my luck with Dybala, Icardi and Martial, Gomez, Werner wild cards. Realisticaly, Icardi is probably our best option if we fork shitload of cash. But neither actualy screams to me "Get him now". Striker options are so poor these days.

You know he is quite fast? Has very stocky build, but that doesnt cause him any issues, he plays 90min every week and has good pace. Doesnt stop him from scoring for fun either.

I wont praise or blame this guy anymore. This season its make it or break it, lets give him the support till end of season, no matter what. But if he doesnt get his shit by the end of it, I expect the club to sell him and get a proper striker, be it someone well known like Icardi or someone completely under the radar like Maxi Gomez, young Celta striker who could well be Diego Costa regen.

Please dont even underestimate Kante like this again. There is not a single player in the world available that could do the job that Kante and Hazard do for us. More so, there isnt a single player in the world that does Kante job better than Kante. A decade since a proper DM was praised this much like Kante is now. Havertz, Brandt and especially Bailey are quality players indeed, I said many times Bailey is must buy for or RW whenever we go in the market for new winger. But damn, not at the expense of Kante The wee baldy man is anomaly that happens once in a decade. We have all these fancy attackers in the spotlight all the time, then comes this hard working lad who goes toe to toe with best players in the world. Football is a team sport and getting good attacking player isnt hard. But getting a proper hard working DM who always puts team mates ahead of his personal glory and is still called in same breath as best players in the world, thats a rare thing that doesnt happen many times. I was in belief that all fans, nevermind Chelsea fans finaly saw how great and important player Kante is. In a world when all we hear is who scores more goals, who makes more assists, more dribbles, when its all about attackers, with defenders and DMs underappreciated as fuck, Kante literaly shone the light to football world that you can be equaljy appreciated even if you are DM with no fancy stats and no fancy football style. That you can be in same league, equally important as those best attackers in the world. That you dont have to live extravagant style and show off, but being humble and respectful to others and still get ton of fans around the world. A DM that won the best player of the year award ahead the likes of Hazard, Aguero, KDB, Coutinho,... You do understand how fucking great you have to be in the game itself to be so appreciated when you have no fancy stats and tricks to back you up? When you have world beaters who score screamers every week, dribble past half the field, decide the matches on its own as competition and you still get fans and other players to vote for you? BUT then you come and throw Kante for fucking Kai Havertz? I may not agree but I would understand if you said Messi or Ronaldo, Drogba in his prime or something like that, but Kai Havertz? Realy? Please never again.

Just a shame Sarri isnt playing any youth. Odoi, Ampadu not even on bench. Rlc not playing either. Very sad.

Very likely they will progress anyway. But now with defeat in first game, they wont have any easy/laid back matches left. Harder for them to keep up in PL and CL.

Amazing team yes. Ndombele and Aouar are top top talents. Cornet and Tousart are not that great IMO, but Cornet had superb game, probably best game in ages. Its a real shame though Lyon lost Geubbels and Maolida so soon. Maolida is superb prospect and would probably get alot of play time with Mariano gone. Gouiri is still here though, but picked up serious injury and who knows how will that turn out. Hopefuly Dembele puts in good performance through the season, Lyon needs someone to fill those 20some goals Mariano scored last season. Denayer is also bit of suspect, but better than Morel.

Absolute monster performance vs City.