robsblubot

Have to disagree with that because I'm sure Jose dint pay 32m for Gareth fucking Barry. Gareth who is a good player and rarely misplaces a pass. I just have to think fabregas ought to be/do better than that.

Just can't imagine going into this without oscar and his interceptions. That's the time his defensive skills payoff regardless of all else he does on the pitch. Our defense will be tested without a doubt - first real challenge.

Oscar motm second half Courtois is unreal

talking about out of his league... https://www.google.com/search?q=schweinsteiger+girl&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS503US503&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=tfhisZmbrCjj-M%253A%253BY3HZTRKpaN_BSM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ftwovibes.wordpress.com%25252Ftag%25252Fgermany%25252F&source=iu&usg=__qzLIiJZz0oGFdS3CqwAIVA6NeBg%3D&sa=X&ei=n7P3U7WBFZXNsQT4ioG4CQ&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAg&biw=1382&bih=714#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=J31VScGtpM0WVM%253A%3BLFIwtf1XHZv9KM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.tumblr.com%252Ftumblr_lbh6mgSiM71qd3znl.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fjegelskerdannyagger.tumblr.com%252Fpost%252F1498098218%252Ftop-10-wags-1-sarah-brandner%3B470%3B490 I shan't be too surprised though; I'm not a famous footballer making millions and my wife is also way out of my league - unanimous too btw.

wonder why we bothered with friendlies...

Don't think that's the point of the discussion. We are merely thinking ahead. We are considering, before it happens, whether our once successful CB pairing will remain as successful as Jose changes the system; whatever helped them last season (deep line, protection) may not be the same this time around. By the end of last season our defense line wasn't as sharp (results and goals conceded against nobodies attest to that) and I reckon it was because the protection wasn't as sharp either - they were more exposed. Cahill's weak technically... His long balls are pretty poor, and he usually just doesn't every try them. He's got an OK first touch, adequate for a no-nonsense CB, but he's got to give the ball to a teammate ASAP esp when under pressure. These are limitations that can be exploited - it's never binary like some here say: solid non-solid/liability, mistakes vs no mistakes. He's a good player, but hardly a top CB for me. Godin is twice the player IMO. I'd have gone for Godin instead of Luis, because for me Atletico's spine was formed by Courtois, Godin, and Costa. Their midfield was good too, but more about hardworking players than quality.

The difference in characteristics between the players is the striking part. Sounds like a desperate buy to me. They've replaced a hard-working player, Luis Suarez, who gets in trouble for going overboard, being too involved, too aggressive, with a player who vanishes from games, who is known for "not giving a damn" a times, and one who gets in trouble off the pitch a lot. Yes, one can make a case that they are both nuts, but on the pitch I know for sure what kind of nuts I'd want and would not want to play against.

Messi is very relaxed with the ball at his feet... wonder why.... He's never going to be a technical player, as that boat has sailed. However, he's got his own virtues as a defender. This is going to be a huge season for him, because he's not going to enjoy as much protection from the other areas as he did last season, and he will be more exposed as a result. Reckon our defense line will have to move up a bit too. Huge huge season for him - the season of his career.

Don't think it was AVB at all: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2203372/Florent-Malouda-snub-backed-Chelsea-players-says-Roberto-Di-Matteo.html BTW, I did. Clubs like any employer have the leverage to choose who they want to employ. Malouda was getting paid as usual. If he was unhappy with the way the club was using him, he was welcome to leave, but he chose to stay playing with the U21 and collecting his fat paycheck every other week.

He'd be a huge improvement over De Gea atm.

Don't think I need to say which team he supports... Isn't it a bit early for Champions League...

agreed. There is no way we will defend as well as last season simply because we are going to have fewer players committed to defending in our team. The defenders will be far more exposed. Huge season for our defense players and huge test on JT's fitness.

Great game! striking to me was the constant movement and how our players (esp mid) moved in blocks, which allows for short passing as opposed to those, overused (last season) long balls. Long balls are a valid tool, but their much lower completion rate can destroy a team's possession esp away from home. Matic, Fabregas, and Oscar were fantastic in midfield. There was a bit of a gap between defence and middle and I reckon this happened because our defense line is used to play very deep and with this new midfield they have to move up a bit. I hope their lack of pace won't cause too much trouble, but we shall see. early days and our opponent was pretty weak, even at home, so I will be cautiously optimistic for now. No surprise on Diego for me as I've known he can actually play football... unlike some other strikers...

Man United looked pretty much the same from last season - Ashley Young just like the terible footballer he is. City... did NOT like what I saw: pundits were trying to make it a contest, but it wasn't. It could've been that Newcastle were poor, but regardless, gotta give something to City esp away from home.

ah yeah, you are right. There is no registration for either, and reckon the only requirements are: work permit and not cup-tied.

In the unlikely event both Cech and Courtois stay Schwarzer won't play in either.

agreed. It's actually worse than that though, as strikers actually do get "minutes" whereas GK can only get full matches - not to mention each game has its own peculiarities. Plus tons of other variables we've been through, such as gelling with the defenders, confidence, etc. Competition does not work for goalkeepers. How do you replace the goalie after 2 clean sheets? Just because? As much as I like Cech, I'll be sick if we manage to lose Courtois. Courtois is an experienced world class youngster - it does not get any better than that.

Ki is a good player, but so is Shelvey who is still fucking 22! I've been saying Shelvey can become a pretty good player if he can find some consistency and iron out the silly decisions. He's got aggressiveness, long and short passing, and can shoot too. Certainly a CM to keep in any short list.

He was poor, but not his fault Everton handed him the #10... That's the real travesty as a player so technically limited is wearing that number. He's a poacher who can on occasion beat defenders on pace and power - good #9 for some sides and can improve being so young. Now if he himself believes to be more than that, then he will be in trouble - 2 back heel attempts in his first match looked a bit pretentious.

There are better options, more enegetic and pacier, than Mikel in that purely defensive role. Players with a bit more urgency in their game, who can actually pull a counter attack with a well-placed long ball - something I reckon Mikel can/could never do. I, and reckon TPtB, don't think Mikel can possible replace Matic unless in very specific conditions, such as the one you listed above: defending very deep. Matic moves seamlessly into a CM position and can offer something in attack, something (again) Mikel just cannot do or at least hasn't been able to. Jose may not be as much a fan of Mikel as you imply. Mikel is currently available and on a long term deal, which was signed before Jose was in charge. Such deal, with so high wages, for a squad player, is what made people suggest this had something to do with Emenalo being his countryman as well. Mikel may not be willing to leave because of his upcoming British passport and when players don't want to leave they don't.

yeah he's had just as many good matches as Frank did, hence the same number; 8 (good matches) sounds about right too. seriously though... Oscar needs to resume his development. Also, regardless whether he is developing or not, his passing completion in the final third has been innaceptible and we as a team suffer because of it. That, his passing, needs to be sorted out ASAP.

Agreed. Salah is a skillful little dude... Moses has no skill whatsoever; he runs and crosses/shoots and he needs lots of space to operate in. Don't people see his quick feet and tight control of the football at all times? No the end product isn't there just yet, and he will certainly struggle when tightly marked once the league starts, but those are the hurdles he's got to overcome to develop.

You got a point there, but consider that Oscar's work rate wasn't what it is now when he joined Chelsea. Perhaps he's been listening to Jose a bit too much? Concerning Moses, he just inst good enough for a club like Chelsea. Decent player, but keeping him or not is going to be a technicality that may or may not be about the HG quota.

fair enough... finishing and long shooting are skills Salah has to improve upon. However, my point is that speed is not only important for counter attacking. Speed of execution, being a cross, dribble, pass, or a shot, is important especially in today's game with so little space between the lines. Chelsea already had players who can shoot from afar - Willian and Andre for example. We did not have a pacey player like Salah.

It's far more difficult to do things in pace; even controlling the football can be a challenge when running at full sprint. Time on the ball is a luxury that is increasingly scarce in tight matches. Salah is an interesting player precisely because he does what he does in blazing pace.