Blue Colored Sky

The last time I was so buzzing for the game it was at Etihad 2 seasons ago. So buzzing I can't literally contain this. I have generally lots of things to do pre game but now I think I will watch some of the highlights from last few seasons, the good moments, Hazard shows etc. Unless it's Champions League final it's hard to beat that excitement. There's so many things before the game to make this interesting, I wish it was every time like this. I hope we will see at least few changes for tomorrow than the usual squad that everyone can recite without thinking. I was confident week ago, now I'm nervous and Jose didn't bring that positive energy either. Where are 1:0 turgid Jose specials when you need them most ?

He didn't fill me with confidence for tomorrow. When he said the performances were positive isn't that a sign he will try the same things over and over again ? It would be major shock if Ivanovic and/or Fabregas were dropped !

Charly Musonda would an excellent replacement for Oscar tbh.

Stamford Bridge will be taken down in 2 years. There will be new arena and I don't have a problem with it having its own name. The biggest proof that it will be brand new stadium and not Stamford Bridge with bigger capacity is that we're even discussing selling naming rights ! I mean, club tried to sell the name in previous years but sponsors are generally interested in new grounds so if we have opportunity to sell name for top dollars it's because sponsors consider it brand new stadium which is exactly what it will be.

To be fair club is actively looking for the other striker - Dybala, Icardi and Lacazette were main targets. They will continue to keep looking I guess. I think Diego Costa hold up play was decent against Palace, which coincides with the fact that he has to have 5 uniterrupted games to his link up play be decent enough. I think he will be good now though it only needs few missing games to break the momentum and become absolute dogshit in playing with the ball.

Wasn't included in U19 Uefa Youth League squad, meaning all he has left to play now is U21 games and International Cup, 7 + 3 = 10 games in total until January. That means he will either play for first team or be wasted like Baker. They are doing this on purpose btw ? There has to be mutual decision to not include him in the Uefa squad. Unless club is taking a piss now.

Nah, too similar to the old stadium. It's a new stadium and IMO it should have new name even omitting financial reasoning here. I think something like Gazprom Arena may be it.

Find it quite funny with this whole criticism like Hazard is not the only player in this club (maybe Thibaut) that you put on sale and ALL the biggest clubs are after him. Let the other clubs deal with his "unproductivity", right ? How would you criticize Hazard if you can't drop him anyway ? He's the sole creative outlet in any sort of the big game, one man attacking force. There's lots of players that are can be discussed and be potentially dropped not Hazard. He was dropped from the game ONCE and it was against Schalke after he forgot his passport at Lille and wasn't at training in time. About his wages, it has little to no sense adding that for normal human being he has no right to complain. Well, Jamal Blackman has no right to complain for a normal person I'm sure even not full-age kids have no right to complain but as curiosity to discuss, if you include his world-class abilities, value to the team, undroppable status, outstanding injury record, enjoyable style of play, awards he's collecting, him being the sole attacking force and creative hope in bigger games and being by far the most potential marketable player in the squad with still young age and potential upside, Hazard with Mino Raila as an agent should get 350k a week and be the best paid player in the league.

Very good compilation. That ball from 8:13 is a bit special. Extremely gifted kid, happy to be linked with creative midfielder when I thought we gave up chasing such in general after 2011 Modric fiasco.

I like him very much. Powerful shot, "cultured" left foot ( ) (another left footed player who's passing, shooting and dribbling looks a lot more classier), fast, willing to track back and is full of enthusiasm. I think it's another little gem. I think he will get plenty of chances here, he says that he speaks with Mourinho every time. He got himself guaranteed 1000 minutes with that tackle on Suarez

Acceleration, balance, agility, close control, low sense of gravity in stocky body and all included in one package is as exclusive as it gets. That's so rare mainly because you have players with trickery and close control but they lack that physically Boga has. He's well equipped for the senior game. That's why I think comparisons with Kakuta are typical "black, French, attacking midfielder" thing. Kakuta was weak physically, look at this Everton goal where Boga endured all sorts of assault during his run but he kept going. He scored so many of that type of goals when he was attacked from the back or tripped all led to nothing. All he needs is someone with good link up play in tight spaces to allow to play 1-2 at full pace. So many times Solanke or Feruz or Brown ruined very good runs because they couldn't deliver decent ball back. Also forget to mention it but Boga's mentality and style of play are exceptionally simple but great. I don't remember when he did trick just for the sake of it, he is solely focusing on beating of opponents but not for fun but getting closer to goal, creating space to run. I don't know if there's anyone like that who is as technically brilliant but don't try tricks at all. Even look at his assist at his first game against Fulham at the age of 15 when he's done couple of stepovers only to allow him to pass the ball over the top. He's so modest and natural in what he does. The lad has top mentality The thing with Boga is that he looked first team ready at 16. He has to play at that age while he didn't even get his debut in full competitive game yet. Lille or something like that would get him few appearances at 16 then start playing him full time when he's 17. They did that with Hazard and I don't think Hazard is better talent wise than Boga. When you look how Hazard played in Euro U17 in 2007 as 16 yo he was similar, elite dribbling, acceleration, agility, control but still inconsistent. He played though and played a lot of football at senior level. But so many teams were after Boga so it means all scouts see how good he is. I hope at Rennes he has enough opportunities though they loaned in Quintero and also have for example Grosicki, who is full Poland international and is playing pretty good. It won't be easy. Rayo was sure bet that he gets plenty of time there. Musonda is the kind of player that allows other to play and he makes team function as he is technically and tactically brilliant. Boga is decisive player though who brings spark to the team and can change the game on his own. Also is better physically equiped and Musonda has to bring a muscle a bit. Boga's role and appreciation is more obvious but of course Musonda is exceptional talent as well but more functional than decisive (sort of Oscar).

I find it baffling when in the last 2 years I'm reading more about Solanke, Brown, Baker, Chalobah, Ake etc. than Boga. Jeremie is simply the most naturally gifted and the best talent I've seen and it just shows who actually watches youth. I made a bet with myself that if Boga won't make it here or at the top then I stop watching youth simply because you can't find better talent so it doesn't make sense to have interest in it. BTW at least for me it's bit encouraging that they apparently rejected plethora of clubs like Marseille because they didn't agree to assure playing time - something I hope Rennes did as logic suggests.

Would Dortmund willingly sell to Bayern ? I think only under some sort of Gotze swap (which reportedly was on the card but not sure what happened). Let's see how Gundogan fares this season. Signs are encouraging to say the least. Yesterday he was ok, looked very fresh and was willing to run at the defenders. If I had a choice between Pogba and old Gundogan I'd choose Gundogan. If Barca take Pogba then we have a great option still.

Guy comes to the new league and is voted in top 5 PFA Player of the Year in each of the 3 seasons he played, oh come on stop this bullshit here, there are far more players that need to improve themself. Hazard will be fine and I completely don't understand how they say that he is playing some of the worst football, yet somehow I see those moments, against Swansea when we went to 10 he turned to beast and was sole creative source in the last 30 minutes, against West Brom he mastered time wasting and keeping possession to Didier's level, against Barcelona he scored brilliant individual goal that only few are capable of. Give me a break that he plays crap, yes it's not his best level but it's not the worst, still I feel he's one of the best players in the team. Now I watch this highlight from PSG game, I'm fuming that we can't provide anyone close to his level, in my opinion Hazard has infinite amount of excuses when he doesn't score/assist in bigger games while playing so positively and being sole source of any creativity and spark. We throwing fucking Ramires, Cuadrado and Salah at him, now that isn't funny at all, that's such a waste I can't contain myself. Bad memories, whenever we play big game and our shape in attack is called "Hazard" I'm hopeless, don't remind me this shit. I think I never dismantle this idea that when we provide someone on Hazard talent-level in terms of technique, creativity, close control, dribbling and speed next to him he will score 30-40 goals in season. You know, he scored 20 goals in the league at the age of 20, the goals are in him.

Pasalic, Boga, Solanke, in that order. Other than that I don't see a) talent and/or b ) need for others. Would like to think that Christensen has a chance but how hilarious it was as soon as he signed new 5 year contract and went on loan, Chelsea made a bid for Stones !

By the way, I like when midfielder uses both feet when passing and Ruben does that. With more confidence there will be more shots, more surging runs. But passing is definitely the most important thing and he's improving.

Didn't he make some elastico, Rabona or something ? Because it would be very good game by him. Nah but seriously I watched him 50+ in 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons when I had Serie A on my terrestrial TV. I know everything about this particular player. He's the kind of guy that really can be wasted if one good coach doesn't take care of him. I really don't know how he can play for Barcelona in year time. BARCELONA ! The press over there will eat him. He's massively behind the player that is hyped to be. I'm talking only about current abilities. If Pogba can be portrayed to such good player I wonder how outside world will react when Boga & Musonda start playing week and week out football in seniors.

WOW. He really has improved his passing. I mean, his passing was average at best, he was the most dangerous when he was running with the ball through middle. Now look, LOOK, how quickly he releases the ball. As soon as he receives, he instantly thinks about making a pass. It's colossal difference. He doesn't carry the ball anymore and slows things down. It's as clear as day that was particular feature he was working on in the last months. Yes, there are still some off touches and some wrongly timed pass but I tell this again, it's colossal difference. Also very positive is that he not only thinks about releasing the ball as quickly as possible but also thinks about playing it further forward. He shows signs of vision and creativity. As a box-to-box midfielder he doesn't have to be playmaker but his passing have to be silky and positive. Very encouraging stuff.

Is he back ? Still a question mark but I haven't seen poor performance from him this season. The most important thing is that physically he looks as sharp as ever. He has his drive from the middle back. The agility, pace and dribbling is there again. Not to say his brilliant passing. Yesterday he changed the game when he came on. I was really impressed by him, he was running at our defence like a hot knife through butter. Such a good player, he's able to handle that role in the midfield 2. Contract until 2017. Since Dortmund don't play in CL maybe he can be moved in January.

How he flopped in England ? As far as I remember he started 2 league games, played in 3 and was here only 6 months to be sold for then club-record fee to Wolfsburg. I think you have to do way more bad things than that to be flop.

Lots of trash, there's no way that Chelsea opened discussions with Juventus in August, ffs it's impossible for such complicated operation involving so much money that talks start in August. There's too much issues to resolve, for example that dodgy image rights. Chelsea were in discussions with Juve for months.

Miranda and Allan, both for 15m€ each ? I think of that kind of players. Also you can see at Juventus, they were very clear that they want the number 10 and tried with Oscar, Isco, Goetze then Draxler eventually setting for Hernanes but they got their man because they really wanted a number 10. Oh, look at Baba signing, there were many LB changing club this summer, Alex Sandro, Kurzawa, Coentrao etc. but Chelsea wasn't linked with any of them, they were only focusing on Baba Rahman, just like they didn't want a LB, they wanted Baba Rahman. I think it's fair to say that we look for top quality young players and therefore we're limiting ourself to just a few names. We don't want a midfielder, we want Koke/Pogba. Very specific targets. And since they finally hasn't settled for cheaper alternative I think they're fairly confident of getting them eventually.

Looking forward to see him play on fairly regular basis. He's the only option to fresh up that midfield. Would love to see midfield trio of Matic-RLC-Oscar at least few times. Sweet dreams though. If we lose this season we will do it with Ramires/Mikel/Zouma in the middle.

It was bad. Credit for the intentions, Koke, Pogba and Varane, Marquinhos, Laporte, Stones plus Griezmann, you have to think that they are fairly confident of signing some of them in the next opportunities since we didn't settle for cheaper alternatives. But we had 3 holes in the squad to fill and we only filled one (RW). And even then it only happened because it was fairly easy to sign Pedro since he wanted to move and Barca was open to selling at fixed price. Not signing CM and CB was bad. There was Allan and Miranda, both available for modest 15m€ each which would improve the side and wouldn't block potential star players coming next summer. Can't get my head around how we allowed to go with the season and rely on either Ramires, Mikel or Zouma as a midfield options in big games. It's depressing and filling that "3rd midfielder" spot was of high necessity. Though if we will see more of RLC in competitive, important games I won't say no to that but most probably it means more of the 3 amigos mentioned earlier. Huge mistake with whole Stones situation. Why the club didn't bid earlier ? I checked and offer was submitted on 17th July according to Sky Sources. It was too late. Everton was already on summer tour and already preparing the squad for upcoming season. When so many people 'moan' about lack of activity in June as you can see it's not necessarily because of impatience but because transfers like Stones have higher chance of happening. If the club would submit their offer in June, Everton would have more time to find a replacement and importantly they would start the season preparations knowing that they may loose Stones. I don't have a clue why Chelsea were so late in their moves in this window. It was a mistake.

I agree and hope that club don't think about such stupid things like sacking Jose after what they did in the transfer window. But you say that we have chance in the CL and do you really think that when we go into latter stages we will rely on younger players instead of bringing in Ivanovic, Ramires, Azpilicueta as a winger etc. ? I think that's exactly what would happen.