Blue Colored Sky

+ 1,5m€ for a win and 0,5m€ for a draw in the group stage. Uefa has announced new prize money sheet in their European competitions. Increase is significant in %, however is not so much in actual money. Lions share from Champions League money is from TV though and rise in that department, especially for English clubs, is very significant. If someone doesn't know already, there's big diffrence when market pool money is divided between club that finished 1st in their domestic league to the one that finished 4th. So let's finish 1st to be a) champions b ) spread-sheet kings I calculated that IF UEFA would grow market pool for English clubs as actuall contract has growed (125%), using this new sheet and assuming that Chelsea would play as a domestic champion in next year edition (instead of 3rd) and repeat last year performance, when they reached a semi-final then total money Chelsea has received from UEFA would grow from that 43,4m€ in 2013/14 season to very big 94,3m€ in 2015/16 season (I used last season performance because there isn't data base from current season yet) I highly doubt that UEFA would be generous enough to grow market pool for England by 125% just like contract with BT has growed, however taking everything conservately and keeping performance to conservative last 16 level, I can safely predict that overall money from UEFA will grow by 20-25m£. That's another huge help to stay compliant with FFP. What I want to say, and that's not a joke, Yokohama deal can entirely cover FFP cost of Bale while new prize money from UEFA can cover cost of Pogba ...

I am sure folks here have talked about Mourinho to overcome his ego and recrut attacking coach Good pick, this. (click in the image)

Very good argument pulled from that Alexander Meier example Eden is consistenly brilliant. His "downside" performance now results in him playing only "good", that's how high standars he set. Anyone but Eden would be a joke. However I fully believe that he wins POTY award since last year he came second and beat media darling Sturridge. His rivals are recognising his class and votes for him. If he lost last year only to Suarez and was ahead of Sturridge, Yaya Toure and Aguero then this year he's going to win.

Really wanted to see Belgium game last night but couldn't find a stream I'm happy for Charly, again fantastic display and again probably MoTM performance from him. He's an amazing talent. It's a pity that currently he only starts from the bench and physicall players like Brown and Abraham are preffered here. I'd really like to see how he and Boga would work together but youth coach doesn't allow to have both of them on a pitch. They gave him contract until 2019 so they believe in his talent. Let's hope that they wisely choose his next destination. He is counted as a homegrown now so he can move abroad. Just don't think about sending him to Championship. He reminds me of Iniesta with his technique, build, movements and vision.

France U23 : Pogba, Varane, Laporte, Zouma, Umtiti, Kurzawa, Digne, Imbula, Kongdobia, Morgan Sanson, Lacazette, Fekir, Coman, Griezmann, Rabiot, Martial, Thauvin, our own Jeremie Boga, and there're probably lots of St Ettiene and Montpellier kids I'm forgetting right now. If any, I would call it EVEN.

Blimey ! Leverkusen can spend 10m€ on Son and call it a "big transfer". They have worse chance of winning anything because of their financial limits not style of play ... I read here that we're a team on a budget While a player like Hazard only came here because we offered him and his agent the most money. Same with Diego Costa, agent got a hefty cheque to bring him here. We spend the most money in the Premier League on agents in the last couple of seasons ... But ok. We have enough quality and variety to play better and be more on the front foot. But Jose simply isn't creative enough. The only creative thing that he's done so far is converting Azpilicueta to LB. Oh, yeah, there's also switch Zouma and David Luiz to play DM-destroyer position. Of course it's only defensive changes. Going forward, he rather dispose someone who isn't perfect enough than fit him and change his position. One example is Juan Mata. He changed his position last season to play RW resulting in that Mata had fewer goals in the league than John Obi Mikel ... Didn't record single assisst, despite having 35 of those season before. That's him basically. He uses ready models and try to improve them, if they're talented enough and fits the mould enough then they can become a real, real special under his guidance. He has to get there in the market and buy his disciples who are of high quality as well. That's why I hope he find his 'Maicon' who falls into his type of full-back category so is tall, fast, powerful and fantastic in both ends of the pitch, because experiment of turning Ivanovic into Maicon is failing.

I think Jose has done brilliant short-term work now - 2 trophies in 2 years is very good, regardless of quality of todays league. He deserves time to done the job on the long term and get final grades for that in the future seasons. Anyone of you have read Carlo Ancelotti's biography ? He talks there about his first meeting with Abramovich in Paris (when he moved like a spy not to be spotted by anyone because he still had a contract with Milan - funny story). During his first meeting with the boss, Roman said to him "My team lacks identity. I see other teams like Barcelona with recognisable style and I don't see anything like that in my team. I want to have team with clear identity ... Can you deliver that to me ?" That's what Roman emphasised the most as Carlo said. I just reminded myself about this and I think our boss isn't overly happy with current team. If he knows football as is said he knows and still has freak about clear identity then Jose hasn't delivered yet what Roman wants. I believe that Jose knows what our owner is expecting and after 2 years of short-term solutions he has to build long-term plan starting from next season. For example, the youths from the Academy have to start playing and not be numbers you can mess about, playing style without overly protection but with real pressing game. We nullified Spurs by sacrifing Zouma to exclude Ericksen from the game, we put Azpilcueta on exterminate mission against Filipe in last year Champions League semi-final. We're not talking about nullifing Messi, Neymar or Robben/Ribery FFS but about teams against which we should be on top. We haven't yet imposed ourself against big side from the beginning and we're the big team. We played some very good stuff against respectable team for example against Liverpool last year in December at home when we conceded early. We were on top for majority of the game, playing very good. The same happened again this season in the away fixture, until we conceded we were in our shell, after we conceded we imposed ourself, creating lots of chances. Against Spurs in autumn 2013 in an away game, we played carefully and shit in the first half eventually conceded a goal, then in the second we were absolutely brilliant, playing dominant football for majority of the game when our players had mind adjusted 'to score' not to 'not concede'. Against PSG last year in the away game, we conceded early but then for that 20-25 minutes spell we played some brilliant stuff because we really WANTED to score. And I don't think that's a coincidence. After we scored against PSG and LFC (both away games) and had positive result then we retreated again and had a hard time once more. These examples just give me reasons to think that even with this side more could be done, for real. When we're not afraid to lose we can impose and be on top despite having Willians, Oscars etc. But we rarely have that mindset 'to score' against big teams, only looking to neutralize them. But if Jose is saying that no, we can't impose ourself and Roman wants to have an identity in his side, then there is conflict of interests. Roman will help Jose with financial fundings and let's hope vice-versa will be done too.

£75m ? More like €75m. Of course British journalists blindly converted euro to pound. £75m is more than Real paid to Tottenham and I don't think that his value has growed. Maybe I'm wrong ... (Pound to euro ratio is bigger now and international transfers are accounted in euros so the sum will be bigger realistically than in 2013) I'd take him for reasonable price.

Didn't that happen once already ? After Sunderland game in League Cup in December 2013, Jose said that scrapping wins and winning by one goal in the easiest thing in football. Since then we've reverted to his shell and as you said 'comford zone' by playing very conserative with Ivanovic-Cahill-Terry-Azpilicueta back line almost every time with maximum protection. I think we played better and more expansive at the beginnig of this season but even then when big game arrived or away game then we reverted to usual self. So even when we indeed are going to sign more of his players, players that suits his demands and style of play (which is not only neutralizing opponents, right ?), a trusted lieutenants but with more quality, then I'm not sure that he doesn't pull Sunderland speech all over again and revert to his unstrained land ... I fully believe that he deserves time to form his team with majority of players that he pickes to be the ones AND THEN BE JUDGED but I simply can't get over that the more could be done now. He said about long term plans many times but currently it's short term solutions by him all over again.

I think he's the best CB in the world when he's in form. He had some rough spell but whenever he's his usual self then it's hardly a competition for him. He is hybrid between Terry and Kompany, has Terry's reading of the game, leadership while possessing Kompany's atheticism, that pace and power. I was very impressed by his play against Chelsea, I hope that he's back to his best. Brilliant defender. But football is more attacking now and defenders are expected to be more attacking minded, to be proactive and aggressive. I'm sorry but players like Ramos, Thiago Silva, Pepe, Kompany (not now but not so long ago) are wonderful defenders, when they're at top of their potential then they're dominant beasts, just what modern football and all that money craves for. They lack that consistency but it's due to their style of play, which demands to be at best physical and mental form, but it's modern football, maybe it's transitional period and for some time now we all will have Ramoses as defenders and Neuers as goalkeepers. When you talk that we could turn for someone older, then it's exactly that, there aren't options. Benatia was the one and it's still pity that we didn't sign him last year (a big pity ) but I go through defenders and I don't see any. If not Varane (though I expect him to come here, I'm conviced about that) then there is Manolas or Sokratis I can think of.

We will get him, mark my word.

I agree with you, he played like a boss yesterday, absolutely sensational to watch (lol at anyone who says that he isn't the best dribbler in the game alongside Messi) but I wish that he was more times unleashed like he was yesterday. It was obvious that he played without leash on his neck and was free to do anything and while Jose has a big part in his evolution especially by adding purpouse to Eden's dribbling I'd like if Eden had more freedom and more support here. We basically are Eden team in attack and thanks to him being awesome we win more times than not but with quality support and freedom for him, with this guy we could become a really unique side.

I like the look of him. Has good technique and is big. Crucially, he's strong on his feet, can keep the ball under pressure and is natural left-footed right winger, not some inverted left winger or number 10. Then you'd think that he probably doesn't score a lot Cuadrado, Willian, Douglas Costa style even though he plays in rather poor league, but he actually has already 15 goals and 19 assists in 29 games - FANTASTIC return tbh. Of course he's not world-class but he's really good player with dribbling and efficiency. Also has good work-rate and seems to have strong character. If Chelsea wants to add another right winger and don't have money for Bale/Reus/others then he'd be my pick.

Yes, but ... When I see Isco, Iniesta and David Silva in one team then Koke looks like a robot. For real, those 3 are artists with so much flair, Koke looks far less talented. Of course Koke is wonderful player but he's "trained" player and he's here because of training more than anything. This is glaring and more fragrant when he is on the same pitch with exciting players around him. And I somehow have my doubts how Koke is 60m player - you really would like to have some magnificent and flair player for that figure, who would take you of your sit with every touch like Iniesta. (That's just a digression, still would snap hand for Koke here) (Juanfran is another one who looks bad on the eye comparing with others. Like a fucking mechanical toy which is cranked to work.).

Very recently, no. But I can't remember if someone big in Germany moved abroad. Ter Stegen ? He's doing fine I guess. I don't think that's an issue if you want to point out that some players only perform in Germany not somewhere else. We don't have many examples to judge. There's Kagawa but there's Vidal also.

I read that he was fantastic in the last games for Belgium in U21. No surprise there. Do you think that his dad had influenced the decision to move abroad rather than stay with Anderlecht ? He would play first team football and would probably hope for big money already. I'll save my judgment but I hope he didn't make big mistake coming here. You think that loan to Anderlecht is an option ? He couldn't join them last summer because he had still one year to become homegrown here. So now the path is clear. I believe he will play first team football soon to quicken his progress, where is a question. In Chelsea, they gave him long term contract so they believe that he has significant potential to reach. I hope that when he stops growing he really hit a gym. He still grows, he's taller than he was a couple of years ago so it's understable that he doesn't build muscles. However, let's hope that he becomes stronger and broader eventually because it's holding him back. He laughs off saying that Eden Hazard is not beast either but Eden has very well build thighs and he can stand on his feet when pressed. Charly has to really think about it. Even at this level he is shoved off the ball too cheaply. He has absoulutely stunning technique, I'd say that probably on level with the best first-teamers but he's too lightweight still.

Why ? They say in papers that KdB would be replacement for Ribery not for Guardiola

What ? You mean from last great Dortmund team ? They sold 4 important players from that team : Sahin, Kagawa, Goetze and Lewandowski. Goetze and Lewandowski are doing fine. No slump in form but usual self most of the time. Sahin was injured when Real bought him. He was injured and he's done his ligament if I remember correctly. Then he played here and there but picked up injury now and then. It was also difficult for him because there was no position for him in Real, under Mourinho Khedira had cemented place and as you know Mourinho doesn't rotate. So basically that leaves us with Kagawa. That's a mystery for me but he was a flop, yeah. I don't count players like Barrios, Perisic, Schieber and all because they weren't stars of Dortmund rather squad players. So your statement is incorrect.

Everything is puzzling together. Koke can easily go this summer. Atletico can cash in big money, which will be 100% theirs (because they own Koke's card in 100% unlike many other players), so they don't have to divide this sum by insurance companies, banks and other 3rd party ownerships. And yes, they still need money, they can't reject big sum like that when they have creditors around theirs neck. Will Koke be eager to move ? I don't know why he wouldn't. Last summer, Diego Costa, Tiago, Filipe, all wanted to come here despite their success last season. Money talks but also this is bigger club with huge financial stability, established on European arena with big chances for success in every season. He doesn't have this in Atletico. Tiago delayed signing contract with Atleti because he wanted very much to come here and had hopes till the end that issue will be resolved, despite being Simeone's trusted lieutenant. Filipe, Diego all jumped out of the ship even though Simeone promoted them at the big stage. "But Koke is different, he's Academy product" So was Fernando Torres. Well he was even bigger Atletico fan than Koke. In every corner you read and listened how much Atleti meant to Fernando but he left when big club arrived. Atleti fight for trophies now but as I said, they simply can't established themselves at the top because they lags behind financially. And for every Atleti player when big club arrives, it will be an opportunity.

I hope they click sooner or later and play some outrageous stuff. Well, it's pretty funny that Eden has to put talks to bed, that they can't play together since he's the one who underperforms. So maybe Eden is the one who team has to be build around ? (like it is attached to Kevin). Food for thoughts. (Actually, they have to click, because they're that good at football that they have to start playing good football together)

I know People call KDB lazy and I am like "What ? WHAT ?" I see a player who works his socks off, run probably the most in the whole team (I think now it's less since Wolfsburg has allowed him to focus more on attack) but then you read that he's prima donna who you somehow have to fit into the system. But okay, let it be. KDB has good physical traits, he's good athlete (pace & stamina), that's why comparison with Mata are weird who is everything but athletic. Kevin would fit into many systems. I actually think that he would fit like a glove in Mourinho's, because he's deadly with counter-attack, no nonsense passing, but quick forward accurate passes plus stamina and pace to keep with action until the end. VERY prolific player to counter-attack unlike many here who destroy almost every chance with backward passes or with too much thinking. That's my conclusion, yeah, Jose would love to have him again. Someone screw things up with 30m Willian in the last day of the transfer window.

Matches like this can up the hype. So hopefully he scores another and bump the price if we want to sell, because it's unlikely that he does that in the Chelsea shirt this season. (I'm not saying that we should but IF we want) BTW. Oscar 51 matches, 12 goals Eden Hazard 53 matches 6 goals

Really that was the case ? There were some talks from Anderlecht coaches you heard of ? Because if that's true Charly was really dump to come here. He'd be like Youri Tielemans now, there'd be talks about his price in that 8 figure region. And now he still plays youth, sometimes even on the bench because physicall players like Brown or Abraham are prefered (which is bullshit) without even perspective of first team. And he's such a special talent ... But at least money was good I guess.

No, I'm talking about him He has very good technique. But because his style of play turned to predator, he's seen as a poacher with freak physique. It's not true.

He's lightening fast and has fantastic dribbling but what I particulary like is that he isn't shoved off the ball as easily as Cuadrado or Salah. He can stay on his feet, which is very important. However, Chelsea already bought Cuadrado.