royg

Wonderful transfer window for chelsea! Thanks didier!

Good as long as we dont have Judas like ManUre have!

Is this the modric thread!? Any updates on him?

Hazard can definitely play on the right! Looks like we could employ Torres Mata. Oscar. Hazard

Bertrand played RB for team GB, he could be an option too.

Hazard might be an outstanding player but it will only be wasted if he is not properly utilized and to be honest, I dont see any system at all. Did anyone here (judging on the first half) did see any system we are trying to employ? Or is it just too early to see.

This might be a glorified pre-season game but still a trophy to win and it is sad for me not to win it. We could had won it if not for that Red card. Nevertheless it was still a good showing for 10 vs 12 game and definitely there are some positives we could generate from the game. 1. Torres looks hungrier! His pace, positioning and activity looks promising and he could build on this great performance. 2. We got a gem in Bertrand, quick and decisive on his movements 3. If we play the ball quickly the chances of success is much higher There are also things to be adressed: 1. I'm not sure if Mikel is not match fit or he is just poor most of the time. Definitely he is on his best when we park the bus and when he knows that defenders are closely behind him and will easily closed down opponents that will pass him. Just my opinion that the big difference between Mikel and Romeu is that Romeu see's the play faster and he is quick to react rather than Mikel who needs to dribble a little first before visualizing the play. 2. Also contributes to Mikel's poor showing are players not being available to pass to. Maybe Lampard, Hazard, Ramires or Mata but I dont see players linking him up or asking for the ball. Everyone was passive and just go with the flow. Maybe attributed to culture or none existence of system. 3. Mata-Hazard link-up definitely needs to gel more but this will improve in time (Imagining 2 of them with Oscar surely be devastating) 4. Hazard should also have a better understanding with Ashley Cole if he will play dominantly on the left. There are some glimpse of good link-up and eventually this will also improve. 5. I am not sold on Ramires as RW, he might be better as a CM in 4-3-3 but he is a little bit lost in 4-2-3-1. I'm sure some will insist that we need him with his pace, stamina and defensive skills but his contribution on attack build-up is minimal. I always feel his passing ability is underrated but definitely he will not be as creative as proper RW or an AM. If we could solve and be stable in the double Pivot department maybe we wont need his defensive covering. 6. I agree with one poster here that Cech should make the play from the back and not go for the long balls, we dont have Drogba anymore. 7. Luiz needs to calm down and mature some more on his tackles, he definitely needs to improve on his decision making. I had the impression that he improved greatly on this aspect (specially on the later part of the season) but he surely is coming back to his old self. 8. Lampard and Terry should assert their leadership and control the game, its like watching CFC vs QPR again with all those aggressive tackles. 9. We need a Rightback ASAP! Overall it was good and respectable game. KTBFFH!

Chelsea-Cavani: Meireles offered a spot on his arm for Napoli http://www.iamnotreliablesoruce.com Chelsea-Cavani: Napoli offered Hamsek's hair http://www.Idontgiveadamn.com Hope this Cavani deal gets done.

I agree! I totally agree! :blue scalf:

Getting him 25 or more apps at championship will do him very well, its not like Championship team are severe downgrade in terms of football. Just look at Swansea and Norwich last season, it only shows how competitive Championship is.

What really caused Brazil was Rafael's error. Exactly the reason why one of the CB got so frustrated about him is doing the fancy passes and not making it simple, they almost conceded another goal after that fancy pass error. Rafael's mental toughness was surely tested on this game. That being said, its what separates Oscar from the bunch. Under pressure, still composed and doing the right and simple things, heck he was sometimes doing the RB role after Rafael got substituted and still linking up with the offense. I'm sure he got disappointed missing that header but he will surely shrug it off and continue playing his wonderful football. I really am excited to see Oscar wearing the blue shirt.

I kinda feel the same way, Oscar is exactly the same as Josh just more refined. Aside from being better in defense i believe Oscar is better in terms of positioning and being more available to passes. Josh just needs more playing time to develop and gain more experience.

He definitely needs a good loan season for his development. I fear for his future with CFC having Oscar around, hopefully after 1 or 2 good loan season he will be automatic first team selection.

Hope this will cause bad feelings from other players towards AVB.

Can he play as the first Striker or he's no. 2? http://www.chelseafc...2877749,00.html

He looks gay on the picture, just saying.

Sorry to burst your bubble mate but As good as Ramires can be, he is not suitable for an attacking style of play. If we play counter attack with all the spaces in front him then he will surely be on my first 11.

Would love to see this line-up: Cech Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole Mikel Lampard Marin Hazard Mata Torres Hazard on the middle because he wasnt really playing good on the left (Brighton game) but all 3 attacking midfielders could always roam around and interchange position. Lampard and Mikel staying deep and just distribute the ball and protect the back 4.

Correct me if I'm wrong but what i know is Mata is earning around 50-60K/week. So I'm not really impressed with our board if we are about to pay him as high as 80K/week.

I totally agree, less supply means less goals for the "strikers". I think we need to buy Messi if we continued playing like the way we played against Brighton.

80K/week?? little high for a back-up. As long as he could provide a above decent performance i wont mind.

Hopefully with Marin, Hazard, Oscar and Mata our problem with movement and creativity will be solved. Watching last nights game I see a lot of players strolling around and after they pass no movements at all.

Mikel-Lampard will do good as a pivot if Lampard stops his late runs and stay deep and just distribute the ball like what he did during the CL campaign. With all the pre-season games he keeps on making those late runs and leaving lots spaces for the opponents to capitalize on.

IMHO, 4-3-3 is very useful whenever you play pressing game but the problem is after winning the ball everyone is clueless what to do with it. The players are not quick enoguh to pass it and create something from it. What we all witnessed is our players (the brighton game) are not built for this kind of style. It is mostly succesful if we have 3 front players capable of attacking but unfortunately we only have Torres on that department and it is getting predictable. Hazard: Showed he doesnt want to play as a wide player and always drift inside, always out of position. I'm not sure if language barrier is a problem but he's not in sync with other players. Hope he plays the ball and challenge the defenders and not just delaying the ball and let Ashley to run from behind. Take it to the defenders FFS! Lampard: He might be the leading scorer for the pre-season but i would love him to play and stay deep and just distribute the ball. No more (or minmize) late runs please, it will only leads open spaces for opponents to play with. And please pass the ball quickly like what you do during the CL campaign. Meireles: I dont know what to say but he was respectable during our CL campaign and thats it. Probably a last option player for me if we have all our players back to the squad. Torres: Might be the most aggressive player during the game but maybe still lacking the movement to free him up from the defenders. Its either he is shit or the Midfielders are not giving him the service. But honestly he was the best player when he was on field. Luiz: He was rated highly with his discipline on the later part of the season. I'm not sure why he keeps on attacking, maybe because he see lack of movements from the midfield but please! stop (or minmize) those runs and concentrate on defending! Ramires: I agree to most everyone here suggests that he is not built as RW, horrible crosses and just cross it for the sake of crossing, no play intention at all. He could only play as RW if we plan on parking the Bus and take our opponents on counters. Other than that I dont know where we could position him. Overall, We lack the quickness, we are clueless with the ball, most players our out of position and we play without desire. I'm sorry for the travelling fans for getting uninspired game to watch.

Great article Peace! I agree most of your views and I fully agree with Tomo-91 that we should prefer 4-3-3 formation. Basing on my observation during our US pre-season we were more lively and effective whenever we do pressing, and IMO 4-3-3 will surely accomodate our pacey players (Marin, Hazard, Mata, Ramires) to do the pressing and transition from defense to offense. If we dont get another world Class striker then it will surely be a make or break season for Torres, with all the creative players behind him and no more Drogba's shadow then there wont be anymore excuse for him not to suceed. Roman will be closely watching him and preparing the money for January if Nando wont progress. 12-15 goals (1 goal each against top 4 teams or 5 match changing goals) and a bunch of assist would be enough justification til January.