robsblubot

The day a club like Juventus approach us to sign Mikel is the day I eat my shoe....

That's just too low for an international... sounds like Juventus (or someone working for them) is testing the waters by spreading these rumors and finish for info. If we believe he's not good enough get a replacement AND keep Oscar for when the replacement is tired/unfit/injured. We will keep on struggling if employing these small squads who rely 100% on the form of certain key players. Not only that is risky because they may pick up injuries and lose form, but also it gives them too much power.

yup there are two ways to go about it: you either develop the talent or you buy the talent. We've been doing neither, but we "think" as a club that we developing the talent as we break records on number of players loaned out. At the very least we'd be able to find out who is ready and who needs to go. The "developing" part may require a different type of manager though.

Nothing. It's just not possible. We can stabilize the team... have a good go for top4 and miss it by little, but we have no business in CL and I don't really care about form. Our roster is not strong enough to challenge in Europe. As unprepared and mismanaged we might have been for this season, the only explanation for this form is down to a poor roster. If a player is not performing at an acceptable level and you got little no no option, then you got problems.

This guy is top5 of any go list esp considering his age. The big q is about his match fitness.

Listening to a sports talk show from southern Brazil and one of the commentators is a personal friend of Dunga's. Dunga confided that Oscar is indeed not fit and it's not even physical (entirely), but he hasn't regained match fitness since his injury. He seems to be a player who can only deliver when at 100% and that is a problem. He goes from hot to cold very easily and then takes his time regaining match fitness. I still think that when on form, he's a very interesting player and has room to grow, but these long bad patches need to be taken into consideration when assessing him as a player and whether we need more and/or better.

Sure but that's luxury! Pogba... even Witsel would provide vast improvement over over what we got - imo. When I discuss Ramires (or specially Mikel) I usually point out that there are several - completely affordable and much superior - players out there. Kondogbia (now at Inter), Sneiderling (before moving to United), Victor Wannyama (still at soton)... These are from the top of my head and I am not even including youngsters. The players I've just listed are players who will consistently maintain you a certain performance level. BTW, RLC is so young and unfinished that we don't even know what his best position is. However! he does possess better technique than Ramires and Mikel.

Unless you are Guardiola who uses a completely different system where attacking play is also defending.

If we are talking about Hernanez (terrible) and Higuain (decent), well Everton has a pretty interesting striker which might be available.... Seriously, I am no Lukaku fan, but I'd take him over the above two. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/mikel-is-part-of-chelseas-problem-says-club-legend/ Aside from stating the obvious about Mikel, he goes on a talks about Diego Costa.

I hear you but at this moment I'd settle for a midfielder who can pass the ball (forward!) and make forward runs which may cause opponent some trouble and open up spaces for our struggling AMs.

It correlates to everything including scoring... It doesn't determine but def correlates. The first touch can be the first dribble, to avoid the tackle and get you open to score. Romario was all about his first touch which was also often his final touch when he applied the finish. First touch at the very least gives you more time to think and act. Esp today when you have so little time on the ball especially up front. See? Forarders have even less time on the ball - tight spaces - which makes the first touch even more important. @DYC, just watched ronaldo first touch from that long ball in the beginning of the game (on bein sports) and don't get me wrong it was good, but he needed a second one to adjust for the shot. Had the first touch been enough and he might have taken the shot at the time of the second touch - which might've made the difference.

Agree to disagree on both counts ... I said consistently. All players from time to time mishandle the football, just some less than others. Hazard score few goals for a guy whose first touch is as good as you claim it is. His numbers just don't add up with it is said of him around here. I get to watch Ronaldo in Derby or finals and not impressed by his technique - first touch included. He's quite effective because of his atlethicism and his good (not great ) technique combined.

That is my impression as well. It will limit him as a player.However, this season was a team/club issue and not hazard only. I just hope the club knows what went wrong and are addressing it even if the real reasons never come out.

I think people brought Neymar in during the top5 vs top10 whatever discussions... then it stuck. Agree on Hazard - fantastic player and should be given special attention: development and form. Christian Vieri said it best: most chelsea players looked unfit at the start of the season, Hazard included. We need to find out why and correct the problem so it will never happen again. @Oscar, fair enough but I cannot possibly following this thread... I have full time job.

Hazard can be a fantastic player when fit, but Neymar is better in almost every aspect of the game, imo. Aside from scoring, neymar technique is superior esp first touch as he often controls the football from a long ball in pace without missing a beat. This is very rare and only seen the likes of Romario and fat Ronaldo do it consistently (aside from messi). Even slim Ronaldo doesn't do that very often. Hazard on the other hand takes a little longer to control and turn - many a times he comes to a complete stop. Some will say it's style but I'd disagree. Speed of execution is key especially in Moderns game.

reckon the club owns him a proper transfer window since he did not get one this time around.

nah Rihanna is fine - she doesn't have to run for 90min every other day. Benzema's inconsistency on the pitch could very well be explained by what he does (or doesn't do) off of it. We go back to the requirements of each profession: models can't eat very much, so if they want to eat they have to switch occupations; nobody is forcing them not to eat - it's a choice they make (or not). You look at players like Benzema, Rooney, Ronaldinho and you have to wonder what they might have accomplished had they hada bit more drive... a bit more dedication. Isn't what separates Ronaldo from them? When I watch Ronaldo I don't see a naturally gifted top player (that'd be Messi), but an top athlete who honed himself into one of the best. The three players I mentioned are/were very good and excellent players, but not athletes and (IMO) not the very best - yes Ronaldinho included. You can't say benzema is a top striker otherwise what would you call Lewandowski and Suarez?

Overrated inconsistent player. Bad attitude... shady private life... belongs in Arsenal.

Btw 0x0 or winning the game Ramires is a decent player but completely wrong for chasing. Frustrating to watch him 'create'.

We actually played well. Magic and hazard particularly better. Yet poor finishing and a defensive mistake costed us points.

we hardly have enough of the possession and none of our players picked up a yellow card... gotta pay attention to these little things. some players are sticking their legs.

Excellent starting XI - prob our best team atm considering Hazard's current form. Hopefully Matic play at a good level and regain some form. Jose may not be liking what he sees in training from certain players - just stating the obvious once again.

Any one watched locker room? There were two interesting points made IMO: one) Ray said what I've wondered a few times: whether Courtois would've made a difference. While everyone acked we are well served at the moment, Courtois is prob top 5 in the world. two) Christian Vieri said very clearly what I've noticed since day one: the players look unfit! there was some elaborations, about the poor form of the key players, esp Matic and Hazard, but I thought Vieri's point was spot on.

Looking at hazards play this season I'd have to say Jose was spot on.

Did you not know mourinhos style before he was hired?! Did it change!? Mourning never played a balanced team in his career.Prob of Mikel and Ramires isn't their brains at least not on the pitch they just make a very poor midfield - every other top club has better. Their technique isn't good enough for this level and That's on Jose as he values strength and discipline over technique.