Stats

About time we beat them away from home. Ever since they became an elite force with the money (bar Robinho debut) they beat us every season at the Etihad and it is doing my head in, especially as they always seem to win by the odd goal. Time to change that. I hope that Kompany fails his fitness test as that is a huge boost to our chances of winning there. If he and Barry pass their fitness test, both teams have pretty much, there strongest teams available. Should be an entertaining game with a lot of stake on it.

No, that is rubbish and rightly so. Imagine the conspiracy theories that would be claimed if that was allowed? Teams would be accused of purposely trying to fall out from the UCL to qualify for the Europa League the following season. Especially if their league form is vulnerable.

Hurt my eyes watching that first half, atrocious game and crap atmosphere. Liverpool one is a much enjoyable game, shames me to say.

Boga!!!!!!!!!

LOL, go do an Andy Carroll on him.

Just hanging on, this reminds me of that epic semi final with the first team last year. This is same thing but with the youth. Alex Davey is excellent, no wonder he plays for the U21 on a regular basis.

LOL

So irrelevant. What makes you say that and that is quite offensive. This idea of buying players and loaning them out may not work out. He will only join IMO if he knows he is guaranteed to be a part of the first team. Our record of loaning players then keeping them in the first team is not very good, we usually move them on. Even when they come back and perform they leave eg Sturridge. Personally, I think it is best he stays at Hamburg and develops in a continuously improving league where he starts week in week out. No need for him to move here at this stage of his career.

Undeserved lead I would say as they should be in front but it is the goal that matters. Brilliant from Boga, IMO best talent that will come through here in a few years. Has done amazingly for the youth and U21 and still only a schoolboy.

I see, I see. I thought he would start as well, I think it maybe was to do with a slight niggle somewhere. Also I presume Ake is with the first team squad. Shame he misses out on sunny Barcelona. At least he gets to train with the first team though.

He is on the bench

Edit, 4 my bad.

Nope, 5th mate

He is I think because we were desperate to beat off competition to sign him so we offered him a huge salary. A dream to earn that much at his age, good that there is no reports of unrest in the club over the players wages. Also, the loan players as well, Lukaku is on around £40k plus I believe. While Chalobah is on around £15k.

Markovic is better and Kiwomya is couple younger and no way near ready for first team football yet. But yes, Kiwomya is one to watch out for the future.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1533715-why-chelsea-need-romelu-lukaku-back-from-west-bromwich-albion

I can see where you are coming from, in the way it sounds but I am sure he did not mean any racial offence, he just stating that due to a lot of black players physical presence.

Probably, Cole has lost his sense of brilliant attacking runs what he used to have over the years.

Yes.

Mata goes missing in the big games? Rubbish, sorry. Against Arsenal away from home he scores and creates one, at home he scores 1 and played an integral part for the second goal and after Ramires was the best play on the pitch. Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea, was our best player on the pitch, scored 2 that game and created 1. Also, when we lost 3-2 to United this season, his excellent free kick got us back in the game, he went missing when we got players sent off but certainly started to influence the game before the sending off. Also he is not obviously the strongest but he makes up for that with intelligence, skill and brilliant awareness. Mourinho loves players like Mata, Ozil, Di Maria. He is also not the fastest but he is certainly not a slouch. Also in our Champions League win last season he was along with Drogba and Ramires, one of our most important players throughout the tournament and certainly stepped up in the big games. How you have drawn out those conclusions completely baffle me.

Apparently was excellent for Benfica in their win over Leverkusen last night. Has become an integral member of their squad and is a huge fan favourite and scored the odd brilliant goal as well. Sad because when he was here I always thought he had potential, but we were not patient and looked to get the cash and looking at things now, we could do with someone like him now. Tall, strong, good vision, technique, young and improving. His value is going to shoot up and I am sure big clubs will come in for him some time soon.

This. He has been very prolific in the youth and U21 games but most of the players he are up against are not prem quality and are similar to League 1 level. Needs more experience first Not ready for the first team at all yet. The annoying thing about the U21 is most players are not of an elite level to see how much our players really are progressing.

Lukaku pretty much has everything: pace, acceleration, strength, heading ability, technique, decent right foot, movement and most importantly goals. We are very lucky to have him here, surely to be one of the best strikers in the world has he grows older. Frightening thing is he is still a teenager, yes a teenager. So exciting watching him play. I remember last season him getting criticised for his price tag and not contributing much but now I am glad he is proving himself and showing what qualities he brings.

What a goal!!!!!!!!

I partly agree. Put it this way, I would not spend over £40m for him. We have seen it with too much strikers here now, Falcao may be different but there is no guarantee to say he will be the clinical striker we are looking for. Falcao is like that in a lot of games though. He doesnt really do much in the match but he always pops up at the right moment, that is all I require from a striker tbh. I would like us to have Ba and Lukaku here as the focal strikers. If we are going to just dish out money on new strikers, not really a vote of confidence our strikers need.