robsblubot

Just to raise a point that these young players need to show they deserve minutes in training first. It's easy for us and their agents to say they did not get opportunities when they look average in training - why would the manager select them if there are better options? With smaller clubs we can add clauses specifying playing time, but bigger clubs won't have any of that.

Better technique than Cahill and pacier than terry - get him already. He's obviously green now, but you don't get these players after they turn into world class - that's what Chelsea is trying with a couple of players.

Revenge of the moderators ... Older players often have a slow start as it takes longer for them to get fit. Nothing new here.

Can't really imagine playing a top club away from home and starting Diego, Hazard, Pedro and Fabregas. Defense line suffers when defense (system!) up front is lacking. Doubt anyone ever thought Terry and Ivanovic were ever pacey players - and they certainly did not lose what was left of their pace during vacation. Aside from a slow start from a number of players - fabregas had another shocker for me - we are going to concede a lot with so many players who are defensively inapt. hint: all players defend and all attack. It's the same every season when the defense isn't protected the back line shows it.

Out of context - should not post from phone...

You know that that the numerous coaches Chelsea club employs do watch the almost daily practices, fitness training sessions, tests, run physicals on players so they know how well their lungs work, etc and thousand other things we have no clue about. With all that information at their disposal, they make decisions concerning current ability and potential ability/development. Potential, Lukaku's case, is far more difficult to assess because it involves a number of different variables that these professionals not have access to. On the other hand, current potential is far easier to assess: Remy doesn't play because he does not impress in training. Perhaps he does well in training as he does well most of the time he plays. Costa is a lot better than Remy and Falcao if regaining any sort of fitness, is twice the player, so I really don't understand what people want from Remy... win the CL with him up front? Honestly, that's delusional. Concerning Lukaku, which is what this thread is about anyway, I don't blame the club considering how far off he is/was from becoming the player we needed. The question was really about whether he was willing to wait or not (going on loan once again) and he chose to play. It was probably right for him as he needs the time and the minutes to become a better player. I'd still be surprised if he ever becomes a world class striker, as I think his ceiling is much lower than that due to his limited technique.

Dp

Well then he was clearly unhappy about his wages and that has been fixed, so they were accurate...

He is the supposed to provide the service, not receive it.You are an optimist.

John terry should be thanking mourinho for sparing him from the trashing in the second half. Jose said we played better in the second, but then how bad it's going to be when we play bad? 5 or 6?!

You are the one doing the blaming - I was merely agreeing with you that Hazard was at "decent level" which is enough for you, but not for me. Perhaps the team would have played better if their best played had had a better showing? With the money comes the expectations - you cannot say he's great and then tell me to blame other players who make 1/4th of the money hazard makes and/or play in much less key positions.

Another poor match - easily tackled because he always shows too much of the football. He just lacks technique. We will never recoup the money and he is not good enough to improve our side either coming off the bench or starting, so why keep him?

They all do.

I'm not a fan of Cesc to be honest. Think he is too lightweight for the position he's most comfortable with cm and lacks pace and directness for more advanced positions. Yes, you can accommodate him and make the team play for him but I just think he's not that decisive esp in big games. Regardless we do need another cm so Cesc can be used more adequately depending on situation.

Either he is a top player, which pits him against the messis and suarez and cia or he isn't, in which case what he did today was enough. Any other way would be unfair to hazard and the other players. He wasn't bad, but we expect more from him and he just doesn't seem to deliver at the Etihad.

SA players who can do these sharp turns in tight spaces are a nightmare for him. Doesn't even take an aguero - remember guerrero from Corinthian in the wcc ? It's not like Gary is a bad player, just not good enough if we want to compete against teams who have players like Aguero up front.

It all goes both ways. If he keeps on playing well, but keeps on being sacrificed by the manager for whatever reason, he may indeed become disillusioned and want to move. He will then find another top team - that's where he belongs - and develop there. We will get good money for him because he is a top player. That's a lot of ifs and buts though. What we see this season is that as usual he's performing at a very high level in the beginning of the season. He's been so long playing poorly that some people have forgotten that he actually has very good technique in tight spaces, and most importantly, can actually score from long shots. Now, I am VERY worried about Fabregas who was just as poor end last season and was our worst player yesterday.

invisible - no impact whatsoever. Only reason he remained on the pitch was prob because of the loan deal. It was a tough game for them against a much improved Liverpool (IMO), so we need to see him play against teams they can actually face as equals.

Players like Montero will always beat their markers one-on-one enough times to create problems. The only way to cope is using cover and Chelsea did not provide cover for Ivanovic. In the beginning of the game it was even worse as he was being taken by 2 players. I don't even think our defense was that bad today considering their midfield was better for the majority of the match. Games are won and lost in midfield.

Anyone read gullit'a piece on JT ? It's on BBC Couldn't agree more.

True but my point is do we choose to comply to them because we believe they are going be enforced - evidence says otherwise - or because it just happens to be the way we roll anyway so Jose moans about all other clubs who ignore the rules.

It can't be itReckon we are using FFP rules as an excuse, but they are not the cause of our lack of movement in the window.

With this current crop of players Oscar needs to play for (at least) one reason: he's the one midfielder we've got who actually shoots! His free kicks are good too. As much as I like William in possession, he just doesn't create anything.

regardless of what I think of him - he's a good player but not a great player - I don't think Jose rates him very highly. Last season 36+ Drogba started most games when Costa was unavailable and this season he's subbed at halftime after a poor/decent showing. Reckon Falcao will be starting most if not all matches while Costa recovers.

You can only be physical if you find the player in possession, because if the ball is already gone little else can be done. Imo, Their style of play is perfect to avoid contact. It's sort of anti BPL and toure. Explains for example the dismal performances by city.