The only place to be

Without wanting to sound harsh, what does Marco Van Ginkel do above average? What attribute to his game is above that of say, a Championship-level player?

Think it was more a pop at MK Dons and the way the FA treated the relocation. Did make me double take though.

Harsh to slate Zouma when he's getting no protection.

Zouma caught under the ball, gives away the penalty and Wimbledon 2-0 up. Matic looking poor, Salah terrible, Swift not a winger....Ake and Aina looking good, Boga a real bright spark.

1-0 Wimbledon. Came from a corner, Christensen simply outjumped....not the first time he's looked iffy at set-pieces.

Zouma vs Akinfenwa.

Piazon left out completely is odd. Glad Aina is getting a run out at right-back because he's a real prospect, but it's a shame Swift looks like he's on the wing again. Boga from the start will please a lot of people. Really hope Chalobah gets a go in midfield rather than defence but not sure the numbers work out.

He's earned a chance to fight for a spot here. That's it. In fact he had that chance last season and received chances but then asked to leave. Lukaku has not proven anything at this club yet. All he's shown is that he can score 15 goals at a mid-table club. Great. So did Demba Ba. So did Grant Holt. So did Clint Dempsey. So did DJ Campbell. So did Peter Odemwingie. So did Darren Bent. So did Gabriel Agbonlahor. So did Kevin Davies. So did Benjani. So did Mark Viduka. So did Marlon Harewood. So did Juan Pablo Angel. So did Yakubu. Your firm point makes no sense because I'm not disputing Mourinho let him leave. Mourinho would probably let any player who requested a transfer in the bitch fashion Lukaku did leave. Do you know why? Because quitting like that is a bitch move. Can you name one other player who Mourinho has kept around after he requested a transfer because there was too much competition for his spot?

Um, why? What has Lukaku actually done in a Chelsea shirt? He should definitely get a chance to fight for a spot, and HE GOT THAT LAST YEAR BUT ASKED TO LEAVE. One more time for the people asleep at the back of the class. HE RECEIVED A CHANCE AT THIS CLUB AND ASKED TO LEAVE. Now someone convince me that Jose will respect that attitude. That's Jose Mourinho. This guy

How many matches did Aguero and Jovetic miss through injury? Jovetic had an injury in pre-season and hamstring and calf problems throughout. Aguero had a calf injury in December and the calf and hamstring problems right up to the World Cup. Hard to moan about not playing when you're in the physio room.

When you see his interview, you get another clue as to why Mourinho wanted him. Jose places a huge emphasis on character and Luis seems to have that in abundance. Not gonna get to hung up on his number. As Skipper says it may well just be the club leaving Ashley's old number free for a year, as they may well do with Lamps. It's a lot of pressure taking that number, but it's not like 5 is that weird of a number for a left-back to have. I'd also be surprised if Zouma took 3. Pleased with his full interview (transcript here http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/07/first-words--filipe-luis.html?WT.mc_id=social_20140719_28125906) and how he talks about defending first and the importance of not conceding (typical Jose player) but I can't fail to be impressed with the way he views himself. Might sound like a broken record but compare what he says with what Lukaku says and you'll see the difference between a Jose player and a non-Jose player. I try to be the most complete player as possible Last season was brilliant but I’ve come here to do exactly the same. Not 'I am the complete left-back' but an acknowledgement that even at the age of 28 coming off a league win and a Champions League Final that he still has room to improve. That's mightily impressive and exactly what Jose wants from a player. Everyone else at the club or joining in the near future, take note!

Drogba as a target man is still actually a decent player. If we're chasing a game and Costa isn't working then bringing on Lukaku, who is a very similar player who is surprisingly poor in the air, isn't going to change the way we attack the game especially. It's why I liked the idea of us getting Mandzukic because tactically, he actually alters what we do. If we're playing that match against West Ham at home last season who do you want to bring on? Lukaku or Drogba? Who do you want to pump crosses into because there's no space behind their defences to run into (Lukaku's main strength)? Who do you want a ball to fall to be it on the right, left or even a headed chance? As for the mentoring of Lukaku/right-click-TUTOR idea, we have about 60 players at this club, as well as world-class coaches, PR men etc. Why does it have to be Drogba who tells Lukaku to keep his mouth shut, don't ask for transfers away from massive clubs and focus on playing football?

Quick, everyone bash the board because....kneejerk!!!! Fact is the board have done superb business this window, and in the last window....and in the window before that. This wouldn't happen without Jose's say so. We don't need the money particularly, although it's always nice to take a swim in the giant Scrooge Mcduck money vault I'm almost certain we have at Cobham. This is simply Jose not rating a player and deciding to cash in. Why is anyone at all surprised at this? Jose places so much emphasis on a player's attitude...understand that and it all becomes so much clearer.

The guy not only worked his bollocks off to get to the first team, he then continued to try to forge a career in football after having it robbed from him and now works through chronic pain just to train and YOU want to have a pop at him for that?? What type of arse does that? Seriously? What is your problem? I think more young players will come through now we have a stable presence at the top.

The guy who had to retire because of a devastating knee injury and now battles through agony just to train as much as he can? What the fuck is wrong with you?

Reaction was mixed but the more measured responses acknowledged that he was simply the wrong player for them. They all knew exactly what he could do because they saw it at Watford, but they never really put him in a position to replicate that.

No offence but I'd hate for someone to read this thread and think Nathaniel Chalobah has a bad attitude and is lazy. Just to correct you, he was simply the wrong player for that manager....a manager who has now been sacked. Nat Chalobah has always earned praise for his attitude and professionalism and conducted himself well at Forest, but on the pitch things simply didn't work out. He's not a lazy player.

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.