Muzchap

Yup - that's why I'm glad we're going for 'depth' this year - I know everybody is saying we have too many players, but injuries/tiredness etc can derail a side - we need plenty of depth and that will allow Mata to make a pivotal impact in the big games. Too many times last year ALL of the pressure was on him to perform game in / game out - even in some FA Cup / Carling Cup matches (where we should do what Arsenal do and bleed the youngsters). I think he performed really well - but might need a bit of 'cotton wool' treatment this season - as he's had the Euro's and not as much rest. I'm sure RDM and the physio guys know how to keep him at his peak - although, if I was a CFC player - I would definitely be 'injured' a lot with Eva around :D - i mean 50 groin strains in a season is possible, hell even checking her out gives me a groin strain

LOL - yeah perhaps a ha;f marathon He does work hard though - and that's often hard to see 'Off-Camera' - but no denying the boy puts in a 'shift' - but to be fair, all of our players do (except Malouda IMHO) - that's what, as a Fan, I enjoy most - if you give 100% and still get beaten, I'm cool with it (I'm not happy to lose, but I respect people for trying their hardest)....

LOL - I know you think Kezman was rubbish for us - I do too! BUT he scored shed loads of goals before joining us and did well after leaving... My point was that SIMPLY TAKING STATISTICS about a Goalscorer is MEANINGLESS (unless it's FM or FIFA) It's all about 'HOW' the Striker plays and 'HOW' he fits into the Team's playing style

Definitely a Bromance after the assist for Mata's goal in the Euro Finals Awesome work by Torres and Mata for making the run - can't wait to see those boys carry on that partnership this year in the Prem!

Not so sure... Berbatov = quality striker, struggled at Man U Carrol = played well for Newcastle, struggled @ Liverpool Sheva = Great player, struggled for us Crespo = Great striker, struggled for us Kezman = Great striker, struggled for us Forlan = Great striker, struggled for Man U... There's literally an 'endless' supply of strikers who haven't made it in a 'team' for whatever reason - is it the team or the player? It's both... They need to learn to play to each other's strengths. I think the term is 'adaptability' - some people have it, some don't. I'm looking forward to this season though. I'm NOT against Cavani - if we get him great, as long as that doesn't stop the more pressing RW + RB positions... We can be Man City 2 for all I care - with 2 great squads of players...

I still think it's too big a risk - Nando is improving and looked good in the Euro's - do we want to risk bringing somebody else in that could also end up on a 'stinker'.... Nothing is guaranteed in life (except Death+Taxes) - but sometimes it's better the Devil you know... Yes Nando played poorly - but he 'tried hard' - maybe that's my 'Englishness' coming out - we love underskilled 'tryers' - Tim Henman anybody 35 million is a lot of money, along with 150k week... I think that could be better spent RW an RB... A team needs good balance... Think back to the days of Duff + Robben - we always looked great going forward... Hope we can unearth a new 'Chappie' (Albert Ferrer) at RB - he was an absolute LEGEND!

Marin was converted to a CAM - and people suggested he played better as a 'winger' not a CAM... I have no 'proof' as never saw him play in either position? Yes it is a luxury signing - but we have 38 Games in Premiership, 3 Cups and not to mention the World Club Cup and Super Cup - so it's going to be a long hard season. Last year, we lacked depth in our squad - that isn't going to happen this season

Good! FWIW: I'm not saying Torres is blameless, I'm just stating that if we played to his strengths we would have had a much better 'Goal scorer' on our hands, not somebody who ended up assisting, rather than finishing. You can point me towards all the stats you like - but seeing the player with your own eyes (rather than looking @ stats) would tell you everything you need to know. In Munich - he looked a real threat when he came on, but ended up playing almost as a RW - this is something he was doing for long periods of the season @ Chelsea. Drogba / Torres = 2 totally different strikers... We knew (after 1 season) how to get the best out of Drog. With the current 'creative' signings - it looks like we need a 'new' approach to get the best out of current Striker... Cavani - who knows with the current crop of new players, could we get the best out of him? Maybe/Maybe Not - but if you are advocating spending another 60million quid on a striker - then fair enough. I would personally use the money for a RW and RB - and ensure both flanks provide great service to the Striker...

Jesus - stats boys! Next you will be telling me possession wins games :) If you don't get the service you stop making runs and then drop deeper trying to get the ball - you can have all the stats in the world, but last season Torres got frustrated and then lost his confidence. Night and day difference to the guy in the Spain squad, who got into the box and wanted the ball... Stats are what keep commentators employed - don't believe them! Hasn't Moneyball taught you anything -lol :)

Hmmm still convinced a Striker is only as good as the midfield behind him... The problem is we had no idea how to play to Sheva or Torres strengths. Granted with the new signings this will improve, but you cannot simply just add a striker and expects goals - especially if Chelsea! Newcastle and Cisse managed it, not the norm Even Droggy took a bit of time to settle in

Is it really that big a risk? He's shown what he can do in the Euros, if he gets the service... Even if he doesn't score, as long as he assists other players. However, I expect Mata to be busting a gut to play Torres in this year, especially after Torres put it on a plate for him in the Euro Final... Torres 20 goals and 10 assists next year is my prediction and that'll do nicely

Reading forums when I should be asleep!!! Ouch on the above post! Not good - 220 squid down Not a bad record tho - once in 19 yrs is pretty cool

Hmm - I still say a decent pre-season, bit of confidence and he might get back to 90% of his former self... A 90% Essien is a still a great player in many teams eyes I really hope he can do it - love watching the guy, gets upended in a BIG tackle - camera zooms in - he's smiling about it - the dude is constantly smiling - really love that attitude and I'm sure he makes the dressing room a more harmonious place, so even if he's not playing all of the time, just having him around would definitely make SB a brighter place to be! Just my opinion though, no facts/evidence to go on - just know that everytime I have watched him play - he's been smiling! Which made me smile

I'm not sure I agree of him as a 'Tactical Genius' - in fact, I'm pretty much of the opinion that is where he lacks understanding (in the Premiership anyway)... Yes, he deserves credit for bringing in some players, but then every preceeding manager also deserves credit, right back to Glenn Hoddle and Ruud Gullit - as it was Glenn that started the ball rolling and kudos to him, if it wasn't for his 'Ron Atkinson' moment on disabled people - who knows where he could of ended up in Mgmt... So I think AVB will do an OK job at Spurs - but I think those that are expecting more than Harry - might be in for a shock - he'll do amazingly well to get them to 4th this coming season...

Even if he loses - It will be appealed almost instantly. To those saying Terry's lawyer isn't smart! You need to understand the game being played - it's very smart! CHOULO19 sums it up perfectly... The whole case is based on 'admissable' evidence, the only current evidence against Terry is via 'lip reading'. Anton Ferdinand has also admitted, he didn't know it was racial abuse until pointed out on a 'video' - so the video is the key point. If 'lip-reading' is deemed as it should be IMHO an 'unreliable science' - then both Anton Ferdinands accusation and Ashley Coles Testimony are invalid - leaving 'no case to answer'... As with all UK trials, you have to be convicted 'beyond reasonable doubt' - that video clearly shows that there is 'reasonable doubt' as some parts are blocked from view, so it's only speculation what happened there and impossible to prove, that alone should have been the basis for a non-trial, but the media hype has forced the CPS to make a 'show' of it. In all honesty, if this gets thrown out - Kier Stamma (sp) needs to be removed from office - he's apparently the head of the CPS and is a complete and utter idiot. This country wastes countless money on stupid trivial court proceedings, where the money would be better spent getting rid of people like Abu Hamsa, and deporting people (against EU Law) who don't deserve to be in the UK. I'm not against immigration, far from it - I'm an migrant worker in Salzburg, Austria - I get healthcare provided I work, I won't get any unemployment benefit if I lose my job and I'm not entitled to social housing. If Austria can do this, why can't the UK? Anyway, back on topic.... I really can't see this turning into a prosecution - although I should imagine EVERYBODY in the CPS is piling pressure on the Judge - to avoid the humiliation of losing. Take 2 normal people - non-celeb and this would have been dismissed. That's the only 'lottery' element - the perceived 'celeb' status... So taking it on 'Law' alone - Terry should be found innocent (even if he is guilty) as the only 'proof of offense' is based upon 'unreliable lip reading science'....

Slovenia is a cool country and fans from what I have seen are ok - always a small minority ruin it for the majority - and it's not Eastern Europe - it's right next to Austria - I'm going back there soon, cheap beer and lovely woman, sorry I mean weather If Cole's testimony stands up under cross examination - case over - innocent!

There is a loophole in the UK Judicial system... The written Press (official) cannot report on the case during the trial - only at the close of each day, and the Judge can direct what they can/can not report. However, 'twitter' and 'social' feeds are not covered by this jurisdiction and as such, people in the gallery can 'tweet' away at their leisure. Here is a pretty good tweet feed (kudos to someone else who posted it earlier in the thread); https://twitter.com/tariqpanja

Anybody, even a fukin Martian can tell that he is in a sarcastic pose there - that's exactly the type of pose you pull if someone's talking shite... I had some doubts, but after seeing that video - I'm now 100% convinced this is a hatchet job by those poor, sad loosers, The Ferdinands. Rio might have been a great player, but Anton, all hype and no substance... I had a similar thing, was dating a black girl @ work and some Asian dude got out of his face on coke @ Xmas party, spat in my face as I was chatting to a girl he fancied (he knew I had GF, I was just chatting!) - so I slammed him on the floor and stood on his throat (other people came and pulled me off - bearing in mind this was black tie do @ Stockbrokers). Luckily, lots of people saw the incident, but he tried to use the 'race' card against me - it backfired and he was fired - but it was touch + go for a long while and mentally it caused problems with the then missus and my other black/non-white origin workers. If Terry is found innocent, then Rio+Anton should both be sued for libel. And definitely more Rio - with his pathetic Liar/Liar tweets etc. If the sole case rests on that video, then this has been a massive waste of taxpayers money! I'm sick of the courts wasting money on cases like this, where child-abuse, rape, murder, mugging trials go unsolved - or you watch kids steal a load of cars and get let-off... This country needs a good hard long look at itself. This isn't Great Britain, far from it...

I love this player - coming from midfield deep, great linkup play we've found our new lampard!!! No to fish/rat face - he ain't as good as this boy, and with super frankie to help him settle in, he will be the buy of the decade! All this 'unproven' stuff drives me mad, look at some of the best players in the premiership, everybody took a gamble, least not our legend Zola! We gotta get this boy and watch the Manc clubs cry with envy and moan about us buying everybody! True force to be reckoned with and the even bigger upside - every other world class player is gonna wanna play in our team! Feels like a Barca moment....

Ok it's a gamble, but the kid is promising and will be at the Olympics. We are building a squad for the future with young players a good 7 yr plan. I like this, shows the world Roman is committed and also shows he was serious about rebuilding. You need a BIG squad nowadays, look at City they have almost 3 teams to field. A few key injuries and our team looked light, now we are going for depth and breadth with some amazingly talented and more importantly versatile youngsters. Exciting times ahead (if this story is true of course ;p)

It's about blending youth + experience Youth for flair, experience to calm nerves and build a platform for the youth. Also, never underestimate that experience in helping to bring on our younger potential - you can buy many things in life, but EXPERIENCE can only be earned... If we get Maicon it's a massive PLUS IMHO... Also Drog wanted to carry on his excellent charity work and needed some big money to do that. I still think he will come back to coach at CFC - much like Vierra at City...

We need to give the lad a try, Josh + KDB are also still unproven and potentially looks like Josh might not make it - sad but true, Swansea didn't play him Every CFC player deserves a chance though - but Oscar is a great prospect and is a great addition to our squad. Unlikely we will get Hulk now, but if he does come pretty big Brazil contingent for him I hope Piazon gets some games too - really like him

The day I believe TalkSport... Last year he only wanted to play for Chelsea... Seem's he wants to play for anybody other than the Spuds - and who can blame him!

Er... in the Champs League final he came on, won the corner we scored from! I think you have to see Torres 'live' - I never appreciated how hard he works 'off-camera' as well - you just don't see that on TV, but it was a noticeable effort, when I was at the Allianz-Arena... He'll come good this year, injuries, lack of form, change of management and lack of creative players ALL haven't helped his cause! Look at Sheva, he's still a class player and showed that in the Euro's... We just need to play to our attackers 'strengths' not expect him to change his whole game to suit us - some change is needed, but the way we played, didn't give him the best opportunities - it was too slow and predictable and meant they could double up on him - or he had to come and get the ball instead of being played in behind a'la Spain + Liverpool... - go back and watch some highlights on YouTube - he's one of the best 'on the shoulder' attackers full stop...

Let's not make this personal - everybody entitled to an opinion - no 'racist' comments needed. Chelsea need money from home + abroad - everybody is a CFC fan here - so chill out! AND Milwall are a good team, my old man is a Millwall boy and I've been to a few matches with him and even had hospitality for his 60th Birthday - don't knock the Saaath Laandahn Lions... They have passionate fans and have a bit of history, but they are a good bunch Anyway, hopefully we'll loan some players to them this year - that would cheer my old man up