Chelsea Legend 11

Not my favourite. Was hoping for that other one... This one has been done to death, please don't take my 'Chelsea away' Chants are getting so unoriginal these days.

How many playmakers do we need in the side for everyone to be calm and relax? In a game where we play 4-3-3 I want Willian on the right. In a game we play 4-2-3-1 I want Oscar in the 10... We have Hazard and Cesc to do the creating, I think Oscar has more finish in him and for that reason I want him in the side.

In a nutshell Fabregas is the player we (or at least me) hoped Josh McEachran would've become. Tempo guy who can pick a pass and has a beautiful picture in his head to pick out passes. Its a shame Josh has regressed so much, really thought Carlo had him looking good early in his career

No easy games in the Prem... None. I think the difference in this game will come down to the manager, Jose doesn't like to lose and will have the boys RIGHT UP for this one. I'm not 100% who will start, if I'm looking to Real Sociedad for clues I'd say I'd be difficult. Real didn't really press us at all and allowed us to play our football, Burnley at home I would imagine will be very different. What I'd like to see is this: Courtois Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Luis Fab - Matic Schurrle - Oscar - Hazard Costa What I think we'll see is this is: Courtois Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpi Fab - Matic Salah - Willian - Hazard Costa Jose will need someone to come off the bench to change it if things slow down and we're not winning, I can only think of Schurrle and Oscar as the bench players capable of changing a game. We will hope that they want to come out and play football in front of their fans and in turn expose them with our speed and passing ability.

Well all I have to say about Costa is he could be the key to firing us to the title this year. Cesc is huge, Matic integral but the thing we've lacked all these years is a goalscorer of the highest order. Its only preseason but if what I'm seeing is indeed a precursor to what he can do in the Prem, we probably have the most complete striker in the league. Everything he does borders on exceptional, hold up, movement, finishing left, finishing right, toughness, technique, footballing IQ, passing, speed, power... I can't think of another striker in the Prem that possesses these qualities, and then you think of the supply line and things start to get scary. I'm not one for predictions or getting over excited about a season but Costa fills me with assurance and confidence. We have the most balanced squad in the Prem and its mainly because he is our striker and can play any sort of game. Drogba was unplayable due to his strength, with Costa is something totally different. Not saying he's unplayable but he allows us to play a more fluid game. We can play any game we'd like to play with him. Its refreshing and really exciting! For the first time in a long time I don't care if we win or lose I'm just gonna enjoy watching this team play, there is nothing I don't like about it.

I like it... is it catching on?

Okay that's all the warning I need. We need to sign another striker, preferably one who can play the wing... Remy makes the most sense.

The Hand and Flower on Kings Road. If you go after the game you better know all the Chelsea songs! Lots of proper supporters go there

Courtois Azpi - terry - Cahill - Luis Matic - Ramires Schurrle - willian - hazard Torres

If he's forced into making that many tackles he could be mistake prone. You usually tackle as a CB as a last resort.

Lol... Two-time Chelsea player of the year says hi. Until Jose works with an individual closely they won't have his trust. He's just been good enough to be purchased, now he has to work to beat out Azpi or Brana.

Why is that wrong? You think the shirt is gonna be handed to him when Azpi didn't play a foot wrong last year? You think Jose trusts Luis the same way he trusts Azpi? I certainly don't, he needs to earn it and right now there isn't any clear indication that he deserves to start over Azpi. I'm looking at what I've seen on the pitch, not age, price or what you guys think this team needs. I don't carry any bias for any Chelsea player, if he performs well I have no trouble acknowledging him until he shows that sort of quality for us he will be on the bench. What Azpi did for us last season carries more weight than what Luis did for Atletico. It's about fitness for people who have locked in a job in the starting xi. For the others it's competition. Hazard, Terry, Costa, Fab and maybe Cahill have locked in their jobs based on being exceptional( Cahill mainly as the partnership) Oscar, willian, schurrle, Azpi, brana Luis, courtois, Cech, Ramires are fighting for a berth in the side. Nothing is given, it's earned when you speak of a mourinho team. Luis is bought to provide adequate competition at the lb spot. He isn't going to be given the shirt because he's 29 and we paid 16m for him.

Until he does it for us he will be off the bench guaranteed. Azpi had earned Jose's trust, Luis hasn't. You will see, Burnley away Azpi and Brana will start. Until Luis shows the quality that made him 'the best left back' he will be off the bench. Jose is loyal to his warriors, it's a big reason why he is so loved. Azpi didn't play a foot wrong last season he needs to be challenged and it will come from Luis. He hasn't yet taken the jersey from Cesar and will come off the bench.

Good to see Ramires returning to form. I agree he doesn't need to start a lot of games but he is a very good squad guy, those who don't like him are the ones who want all the shiny new toys every year. Ramires is a quality bench option to have in my opinion.

16m isn't a lot of money these days. You pay for quality and he has that he just hasn't proven to be better than we already have... He may well do it in time but on current form he hasn't done enough to best one of brana or Azpi. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a veteran to cover for a player of the year. You guys make it sound like 16m is a fortune. How much did we pay for Zhirkov when we had the best left back in the world, Ashley Cole?

I think people are underestimating how solid a back four we were last year. It will take some doing to win a shirt from one of these guys! And yes the operative phrase here is WIN! Nothing will be given to you, Jose doesn't care how old he is or that he paid 16m for him. If he doesn't outperform Azpi or ivanovic he will be our high quality cover guy. Simple.

He's been fantastic next to matic. Not as influential in the 10 which is good news for Oscar and/or willian. He will be an important player for us this season but I still think Matic will be the most important player we have. Matic allows us to have 5 attackers something we really couldn't do before. He will also pick spots to get forward and can pass it extremely well. Cesc will be very important judging by how well he's performing in the deep lying position but its matic who allows him the freedom to roam.

I think you're putting too little stock in preseason. You have to win the shirt in that time or you sit on the bench until otherwise proven. I'm willing to bet good money Azpi and ivanovic start at left and right back at burnley away and it's not because he's new, it's because he hasn't shown he is better. Cesc and costa will easily start.

Of course it's early but like I've been saying he hasn't done enough at this stage to supplant one of ivanovic or Azpi. He's been adequate at best and def not exceptional, if he does eventually supplant one of them it's because he will put in better performances than them. At current I don't think you can say he has.

He isn't going to be handed the shirt. You think ivanovic and Azpi who made up half of the best back 4 in England aren't going to fight for the spot? He will have to out perform one of them and to be honest with you I haven't seen any evidence to suggest he's better than either of them at this point. If he's the best in his position his quality should come to the fore and I don't know what you guys are seeing but in my opinion he hasn't looked much of an upgrade. I don't carry favourites, I call it like I see it. If you we're to ask me at the time of the signing if I thought Luis would start I'd say yes, having seen him in preseason my opinion has changed. He hasn't been bad, he just hasn't been better than what we already have.

He'll have to outperform him to win the shirt, it won't be given to him.

Why? Because Jose likes experience on his bench that's why! You guys make it sound like 16m and 29 is a lot and old... It's good for competition but as of right now Luis ain't any better than Azpi and ivanovic.

Played well the past two appearances too.

My sentiments exactly. He hasn't really been influential enough to disrupt what was the best back four in the league. looks more like a cover guy if you ask me.

-Schurrle is gonna be a beast this year. -Hazard continues to dangle weaker players. Made them look silly, needs to be more direct. -Fab is a fucking nasty little player from deep, I really like the space he's being operating in. -Costa is a complete CF our team is going to be able to play through defenses with him at the top this year. -Oscar really needs to get his head up inside the final 3rd. Too many errand passes. -Moses was a welcome addition at the RWB position great technique and good crossing. Might be useful there if we're chasing the game... Better than Cesar. -Ramires was awesome I doubt anyone has the balls to admit it... -Salah is looking much better now, could really push for a berth in the XI. -Matic will be our most important player this season he's indispensable at the moment. I really liked 3-5-2 hope to see it employed a bit more this season, it gives us a chance to showcase our strengths