The Mak

I agree, I'd say it was a mistranslation or making something out of nothing, but if the "not having time" thing is true, it's bullshit. Sorry, but it is. I love KDB, but if he doesn't have 30 seconds in a day, 2 days of the week, to check how his parent club is, then there are no words. He could've even said one sentence: "I know things are difficult there right now, so hopefully they can end the season well, but for now I'm just concentrating on Werder, that's all I can say". That's it, that's all he'd have to say. In an information age such as this, "not having the time" to check something that takes less than a minute is not an excuse. I'll bet anything that I'm busier than any footballer, with being a student, having a job and being a father; I'd say most on here live very busy lives themselves, but if we care enough to follow our team, I'm sure he can take a few minutes out of his week to at least check where we are in the god damn table. Fair enough, we're not know for nurturing youth so we're probably a bit shit at keeping contact with them, but he must have a bit of cop on to know our management is fucked at the moment and not to have a bee in his bonnet about it. So I really hope it was a mistranslation, otherwise he's sounding like a brat to be honest.

"...a friend who is not here, miss him lots" To be honest, it sounds like he's talking about the 'old Torres'...I would say we miss him too, but we never had him! No wonder Ramos sounds like he's talking about someone who passed away, because the 'old Torres' is dead!

My sentiments exactly. His long balls are absolute killers and you just can't get that from his game when he's deployed as an AM (as good as he looks there too).

We should banish the word 'striker' from Chelsea and just call them all false 9's, even though they're not, but it might help!

I'll admit I was first against Lukaku coming back next season when I heard about it, but I've been convinced otherwise by many on here. I would've liked us to get Cavani, send Lukaku back on loan for at least one more season etc. For me though, when seeing players like Falcao, Cavani, Witsel etc. I've always thought "Why the hell couldn't Chelsea take a chance on these guys before they were snapped up by the likes of Porto and Benfica?". I mean, they obviously had all the tools, perhaps they were even on our radar (I'd hope for our scouting system they were) beforehand, but we didn't take a chance on them because we're a big bunch of pussies who are scared of Roman. Try telling Roman that the new striker you signed needs a year or two to adapt...I'm sure he'd respond with a nice pinkslip. That's whats always annoyed me about our club. I know it's because we're big, demand success every year etc. but fuck me, imagine we were the ones who snapped up Cavani/Falcao for little or nothing, took a chance on them and they turned out to be the absolute beasts they are today, I'm pretty sure it'd be worth the wait. This is where I'm coming from with Lukaku, don't you believe he'd be worth the wait? And I don't believe the likes of Falcao/Cavani would be under nearly as much pressure here if they were snapped up from relatively small teams, look at Hernandez for example. It's always been about the price tag and reputation that create's the pressure, which not a factor when you get them early (just like Wenger! ). If anything, the club is praised for taking a chance on an unknown (Hernandez). Now is great timing for us to put faith in Lukaku as well because more faces will be going out in the near future (Lamps & maybe JT), and more coming in, so our whole squad will have to get used to each other over the next two or three seasons or so. So I don't see why we can't hand regular game time to develop a talent like Lukaku during this time. He also seems very strong mentally. He said in his recent Belgian interview he needed to be for last year...I also liked the sly dig at Torres, along the lines of "If you stop caring, you should quit". Also, when I talk about Sheva and Torres, I'm not doubting Falcao abilities, not for a second. I believe the man would bang in goals no matter where he is. I'm just saying in terms of our priorities, other areas of the pitch are desperately in need of investment, particularly a world class DLP and DM. Look at the Torres situation. We signed him because the cracks were starting to show in the squad; there was a massive job that needed to be done in the near future and we were lazy and just thought we could put a big, fat, spanish, ladyboy bandage over it, and it'll be fine for another few years, which backfired spectacularly. Fact is, if we can afford him or not, it still takes away investment from the rest of the squad, which I just don't see as an option anymore. We need to learn at some point that buying a big name striker does not guarantee success.

Look, if we were going to buy Falcao, he should've been bought when he was leaving Porto. End of story. Buying him now makes no sense because: 1. As good as he is, I don't believe he's going to get any better, because... 2. He's fucking 27. Best case scenario, you'd a get a good 3 or so years out of him and then it's downhill. Which brings me nicely to: 3. Have we seriously not learned anything from Sheva and Torres? Do we really want to go down this route when such money is need in just about every other position on the god damn pitch? Well the board have already proven to be incompetent... 4. FFP. 5. I'm also sick of the likes of Porto and Atletico jacking up the prices of players to super-over-inflated levels. I know they need the money, but come on. The Hulk transfer in particular made me sick. Never wanted him, never rated him and is probably the most predictable player in world football, but they were determined to get £40m. Benfica too with Witsel, one season he had, one season and bang, £33 million. His initial price they paid (£6m), quintupled! Pure and utter greed. Though maybe I'm complaining more about Zenit with those examples.. And most importantly: 5 .We already have Lukaku and Ba. Lukaku in particular, is willing to bleed for the club, is young, hungry and not a mercenary, which is nearly impossible for a club like us to come by, let's be honest. He cared about us long before we smacked a big fat contract in front of him.

Bring back the Yellow and Blue away kit from the 60s/70s! I mean, we make up quite a bit of the Brazil team and want to play like them, so why not make it official?

MAKÉLÉLÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63WojjZy7QE There used to be a brilliant video of the Mak on youtube absolutely bossing the midfield, and it only showed a handful of games, but it was a fantastic video; against Barca, Liverpool and others.

I agree about 4-3-3. It just makes more sense for the players we have at the moment. It's funny, when AVB was here, he was hell bent on playing 4-3-3, even though we didn't have the players for it. And now we're hell bent on playing 4-2-3-1 and, once again, don't have the players for it, especially in the pivot. It'd just make more sense for next season to go with 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1: CDM: Mikel/Romeu/New CDM/DLP + Chalobah/Josh/Aké CM: Ramires/Oscar/KDB/Lamps (maybe) + Josh CAM: Oscar/Mata/Hazard/KDB/Lamps Wingers: Mata/Hazard/Moses/New Winger + Piazon (I say + because those players will most likely go out on loan)

There are two sets of players I'd like for DM, DLP and CB; one that I would love, but but would never happen and one that is more realistic. Dream set up: CB: Varane DM: Witsel DLP: Moutinho Realistic set up: CB: Jores Okore DM: Capoué DLP: Beñat

Problem with atmosphere? What problem? The place is absolutely jumping when Torres wins a throw or corner!!!

Haven't got a clue why he took that penalty. Why? For confidence? Who actually cares about his confidence anymore? Seriously, because I, for one, am sick to death about Torres and his stupid 'confidence'. The harsh reality is that it's an excuse for being shit. He's so god damn emotional about every little thing that doesn't go his way, it really is like having a ladyboy up front. Man the fuck up, if a decision doesn't go your way, you get up and get on with it. Also, I'm sick of fans cheering for him when he wins a fucking throw in or a corner. We must be the only fans in the history of the world to cheer someone for such little contribution. Sad really. I'd rather the penalty was given to Hazard or Oscar. Helping and improving these players should be our only priority, since it looks like Torres will be on his way out in the summer. Especially when you consider Clarke came out today and said Lukaku will be coming back to Chelsea next season.

Cheers for the unnecessary pressure Luiz...

Fat boy really wants a trophy...

Personally, I'd much rather Beñat and Capoué, than just Modric or Moutinho.

Well, considering Courtois has been a major part of Atletico securing CL football for next season, it's quite harsh to expect him to go to a mid-table PL club next season to say the least. How would you feel if you were in his shoes? I'm pretty sure refusing him CL football and sticking him in a mediocre club is more damaging to his relationship with the club than letting him stay in Madrid for another year. Besides, who would take him on loan? I know he is better than most keepers in the league, but who will honestly take him and play him as a starter to, let's face it, help us, rather than helping their own goalkeepers/team? West Brom? Nope, Foster just came out of international retirement. Stoke if Begovic goes? Nope, they bought Butland. Villa? Lambert wouldn't start him over Guzan. Wigan? I don't think Martinez would either. And I don't believe any of the London teams would help us and take him as a starter. Maybe we can hope for Watford to get promoted, Zola would be more than happy to take him. Anyway, my point is that it's not as easy as it sounds. Loaning an outfield player is one thing, but loaning a goalkeeper is quite different. If he goes do a PL club, does brilliantly, we're just going to take him away from them and leave a hole in their squad in the end, so many will say 'what's the point?'. You have to acknowledge that, though they are getting the best from the deal, we got lucky with Atletico because United bought De Gea and they were already interested in Courtois. He said he sees himself ready for Chelsea in another 2-3 years, so, as long as we insert a majour buyout clause, I see no problem with him staying at Atlectico for another year, then moving him to a PL club, who actually play him, for a year or two. Though who will help us, I'm not so sure.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8560986/Chelsea-s-Thibaut-Courtois-happy-to-stay-on-loan-at-Atletico-Madrid Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois happy to stay on loan at Atletico Madrid I say, extend his contract during the summer until 2018/19 and stick in a £30-40m buyout, only then would I be comfortable with him going on a loan to Madrid for a third time. Otherwise, I'd be afraid of him getting too comfortable there or Barca/Madrid coming in for him. I know he said recently he's glad to wait for his spot at Chelsea, but minds can change; especially if we're still in transition and Atletico are in comfortable CL spot, with Real and Barca having strong chances every year to win it. It's also kinda starting to feel like we just paid for Thibaut as a gift for Atletico...

With Mikel coming on today, it allowed him to push up in to a more natural CM position, marauding both up and down the field. As a DM or AM, he is no where near as effective; it shackles his ability to roam, break at pace and bring play forwards. Sadly though, he was only given free reign because we were 2-0 down after 10mins. I don't expect many more performances like this from him in a 4-2-3-1, though I love him to bits. Our energizer bunny is shackled by our formation.

Some here are really getting too excited. Honestly, he had an absolutely fantastic second half, changed the game and allowed Ramires to take up a more natural CM position so he could roam up and down the pitch. However, once in a blue moon performances are not going to convince me. Not by a long shot. For me, saying "I told you so" about Mikel is quite similar to saying "I told you so" about Torres if he scored a brace or something. Obviously Mikel is not as bad as Torres in his respective position, but my point is consistency. I can't remember a game where Mikel performed as well as he did today, and that says a lot. Mikel just looks laboured a lot of the time in his passing, reactions and movement, key attributes of a DM. Look at what Peace posted about Busquets a while ago. Busquets has reactions and a brilliant, quick, passing range; while Makélélé had quick movement with fantastic positional sense and decision making. Take nothing away from him, he had a fantastic game today and is our best DM at the moment, but I think some people should really wait until he shows such performances consistently before spouting "I told you so".

Yeah, he was absolutely brilliant playing as a CM once Mikel came on. Note: CM. Not DM.

This seems like the quietest pre-United match thread ever...says it all really, doesn't it?!

Fowler is the highest, Owen is 2nd or 3rd.

Imagine how sorry your gonna feel when he plays for us!

Oh don't worry, we can see that now...

Dat chimp...