Leif

Agreed. There's no point in playing Musonda if he's not playing with similar minded players, is there? It'd be like putting Messi in the West Brom team and still expecting his magic.

Pointing around the pitch like he owns it. If he doesn't make it here he'll be a captain or VC for some team eventually.

In a dream world, I'd partner Ampadu with Kante for the rest of the season. He's already balanced enough, so we wouldn't have a 'defensive' midfield despite that being his nature. His passing and vision can only improve with more games. Real gem. Twice the player compared to the likes of RLC/Chalobah/that absolutely average bunch.

Clearly we signed Roma's best centre back.

http://www.vipleague.mobi/football/518641/1/chelsea-vs-everton-live-stream-online.html

Sure, only 2 minutes in, but Drinkwater looks like a Cahill clone. Passing too close to the opposition, thinking slow, executing the pass even AFTER it's clear it's a bad idea. No excuse for not having a sharp mind.

Kenedy/Willian/Bats is simply cancer. You put young players on the pitch who you want to grow from this game, then nullify the chances by throwing our worst players into attacking positions.

Which is only good - this is exactly the environment we want our youngsters in.

Nice of us to give our captain a rest.

If you want to know the stars of tomorrow, study the Sampdoria squad.

Edit: Forget him (Rakitic): I completely oversaw that we're too top-heavy in the 'not thinking fast enough' department. Maybe if we had another playmaker integrated.

Up until his mum died I genuinely believed if you were to drop Willian off in the Barcelona team, he'd be amongst their top 4 players. Ronaldinho-like. It's amazing to consider that we see every game that he makes the same moves, with the same failures, and relatively same successes. Maybe Barcelona and the likes of Messi would've taught him an entirely different side to his game. He was certainly incredible before he joined us, he really was. This is a player who had twice the potential he now has. Not a tragedy, but he could've been really fun to watch, as you'd expect from a Brazilian with his strengths.

One of the weakest managers to ever touch the league, turning what could've been a wolf gaining strength, into a puppy that pisses itself whenever it sees another dog. Good riddance.

The concept of 'super sub' seems to sugarcoat the fact a player can't start games & see them out. Which should be the basic, absolute minimum for any pro player. There's no glory or use in super subs. Every player should be good enough for a starting position.

I think he'll be a damn Leicester City level player.

Do you think the board were into Bakayoko before Monaco's last season? I doubt it. I think they just threw money at a flavour of the month.

Heh, thank you. It's kinda like knowing your little brother's going to be in a fight & you're already resigned to him losing, so there shouldn't be any unexpected stress. You're worried, but stable. But, when you actually see your little brother get hit in the face, the heart goes crazy, and the brain goes out the window. This is what love is. Absolutely scary & dangerous

For perspective on the damage this club does to its supporters - I had heart surgery a few days ago, I think the day before the Roma game. I went into the surgery fine, came out of it fine. Slept fine. Woke up the next day, fine. Chelsea game that evening? Great way to spend the final night in hospital. Game comes on. My stupid self gets stressed at the scoreline. I overthink and get riled up, too excited about football and all the possibilities for our immediate future. They come in to check my blood pressure for the 20th time (but only the 1st time since the game ended) - and for the first time of my stay, it's a worryingly high blood pressure. The surgeon comes to my room 2 hours later just to see how I am, after hearing I'm not as stable. He finds that my left chest had filled with blood, and had a slight clot, due to emotional distress overworking the heart in a delicate time. I get whooshed back into surgery, have the blood sucked out, told I could've died, and it was all because of god damn Chelsea. (To an extent).

put beautifully. almost Shakespearean.

Roman's the Wenger of owners, straight up. Stop blaming everyone except the damn boss! Every season the man who should always be ultimately responsible goes untouched! Just like having a rich dad who has no concept of bonding, only of neglect

Romaaaan, wherever you may be, you are no longerrr CFC

How can he be praised when every Atletico game he was 9/10, and every game here anywhere between 6 & 9? I don't study goalkeepers, I don't know who is better these days , but if Courtois is the best or even top 3 then a head stone needs placed wherever the first official game was played. The lack of consistency in his commitment emphasizes that as a squad and board, professional mentalities are now rare at Chelsea. We might have 4 adults in our squad.

Yes. This club is genuinely pathetic compared to its peers, but we'd be pathetic if we left, so, lovely, we're fucked. Imagine being the only top club without a renowned technical director who consistently signs players who fit what's already there. They all have it. Both Madrid teams, both Manchester teams, both Arsenal and Tottenham, both even Roma now and Sevilla still (Monchi effect.) Other clubs lose managers but, when they do, they at least still have the very best football men still around throughout it all. Thinking about how much passion is on the boards of Juventus and Barcelona are sobering.

Rename topic as the CantHe thread