The only place to be

Last year of contract so makes sense. Expect we'll still loan him and he might actually be worth something in 12 months time. I personally still think that Chalobah is an exceptional talent and thought he should've been ahead of Mikel (remember him?) last season. I'd be entirely comfortable with him being in the rotation going into next season. His best option is probably being part of the squad. Although I suppose we could do what Everton did with Barkley after his disappointing loan spell and loan him out again....except they didn't do that did they?

He is entering the last year of a 4 year contract that he signed in 2011. He's still young so it makes sense to tie him down for a few years and hope to sell him in the future. At the moment we couldn't flog him for what we paid for him in all likelihood...or maybe Jose wants him in the squad. Doubtful.

Why don't the members who used to defend him frequent this thread anymore? Have they deserted poor John Obi?

Forest was absolutely the wrong loan for him, and Billy Davies was the wrong manager. At Boro he was back to his Watford form and he needs to be given a chance this season otherwise he'll stagnate. Romeu is probably done here. He might get a few more chances in pre-season but I've not seen anything to suggest he should be ahead of Nat. Fact is Chalobah is a talented young English player who did enough to deserve a chance last year but the club fucked him over and set his progression back by a year.

Needs to relax a bit. Was very skittish last night and his movement was a little brainless at times, closing off spaces and coming far too deep for the ball. Obviously he was probably a bit nervous/excited but he's just got to relax into his role a bit. Hoping to see some more of him because the simple fact is that he's shown absolutely nothing exceptional in a Chelsea shirt as of this moment.

Have no idea why some people are slating Chalobah. Had a solid if unspectacular game in a position he hasn't played much for a while. Didn't help that Van Ginkel dropped deep and picked up every ball off him whilst doing an impression of a headless chicken for most of the first half (he needs to relax). He and Christensen simply weren't troubled so it's hard to know what people expected. Fact is the biggest defensive error came from Ake when he tried to be a bit to clever in his own corner and gave up possession, but that gets completely ignored because he got forward so well.

Jay DaSilva and Nathan Ake are the reason we didn't spunk £30 million on Shaw. Boga can be something very special. Bamford will score goals wherever he goes.

Fantastic finish by Brown but lovely skill in the build-up from Boga and Salah. Boga has been incredibly impressive in the second-half.

JT!!!! Off a corner by Boga who nearly scored with a fantastic bit of skill just before. Looking very lively.

Great run by DaSilva, great control and great ball across. Beautiful ball over the top by Matic as well and a lovely finish by Brown. But DaSilva....who needs Shaw??

Bamford is such a lovely, smart lad. Really want to see him succeed. Dasilva next to JT - he's half his age.

He's looked tidy and played one beautiful through ball for Swift which he couldn't make the most of. He's just signed a new contract. Lord knows what you're basing that on.

Bamford with a brilliant, instinctive finish. Looping cross from the left by Ake and Bamford just sidefoots it on the full volley out of the reach of the keeper. Classy.

Salah IS on the bench apparently.

Could just be an injury. Would expect him to be involved but if he's got a niggle then there's no reason to push him this early in pre-season.

And here's a piece of trivia for you nerds. Jordan Houghton becomes the first player to wear the No.8 shirt after Lampard. Great to see so many youngsters involved tonight. Lukaku's not involved by the way.

Adams Park is a funny old ground. Middle of nowhere and every time I've been there (to watch Wasps) it's been pissing with rain. Don't think I've ever seen it this sunny. Bizarre that Salah isn't in the squad tonight. Hope it's just a little niggle. Jody Morris still rocking the beard.

He's not a nothing player, but fuck know's what role he plays for any top European club....and that was pretty much my view for the last few years when others would say that simply by virtue of being picked by a few managers (who were all sacked) he was one of the best holding midfielders in Europe. I think I've said it before but I'll say it again. He was groomed to be Makelele's replacement and he almost achieved that, but the game moved on and passed him by. He's become a weirdly one-dimensional player who offers stability over expansive, progressive play and there aren't many top teams who will want a player like that. £5 million is a surprisingly low fee which becomes less surprising when you actually look at what he offers.

Just added Chelsea TV for the pre-season stuff....still no HD??? At least proper football is back. Looks like Kane and Ake full-backs, Christensen and Chalobah centre back and then Bamford up front with the midfielders either going 433 or 4231. Not going to read much into this as I reckon a couple of those players could be off (Romeu and maybe Kane) whilst a few others will probably get loan moves. Nice day for Matt Bloomfield who is a very good guy by all accounts. Worth it just to see someone wearing the No.9 shirt who isn't Torres.

Good deal for all parties. He'll definitely play more and score more in Turkey, Beskitas get a good player and a good guy and we seem to have actually made a profit on the transfer fee at least. Great to see Jose continuing to mould the squad he wants and not just remove the dead wood but actually get very good money for it which we're investing sensibly.

None of our strikers last season actually stretched defences. They didn't push them back, they didn't play on the last man, they rarely had decent movement (Eto'o at times was criminal in just standing around) and they didn't bully defenders. Our strikers last season were woeful. Plus he's far stronger in the air than those three which is another thing you want when teams play deep.

Glad it's official although I've assumed he's been our player for about two months now. Be excited to see him finally take the pitch because I think he'll surprise a few people with his size and movement. If he continues to do what he did for Atletico then he gives the players behind him far more space to operate in as well as a target who constantly makes runs beyond the last man, as well as an obvious target for crosses. Personality-wise he doesn't seem the type to let his head drop and I can't think many defenders will want to face him. Still has everything to prove though and needs to keep on the right side of aggressive and not drift into dirty, but another nice bit of business by the club.

Interesting that people are talking about Lukaku in a thread about a striker who scored 16 goals for a mid-table Premier League team but wasn't good enough for us.

Always pissed me off that he'd do his little prayer thing before celebrating with his teammates. Hey Demba, you earn 70 grand a week because your teammates set you up to score goals. Say thanks to them first before your 'friend'. Beyond that he seems like a good guy and he never complained whilst also scoring some important goals for us on the odd occasion. Wish him nothing but the best going forward, but from our perspective he's dead wood and we save some money. Would give his spot in the squad to Bamford every day of the week.

I'm the same. It still doesn't seem real to me that we've signed him and until I see him in a Chelsea shirt on the pitch it's still going to feel odd. Think I'm going to be surprised at his importance to our team going forward.