Blue Colored Sky

I think that was a brilliant press conference. The way he dissed Jamie Carragher and especially Souness while he talked that in Benfica he heard lots of things about him, that was superb. He seems so full of energy. I think he's ready to shake this side. And I am laughing my ass off when someone suggest that he's bored and tired of football and needs rest. Also the way he talks about the future, today and also after the match against PSG. He is clearly pissed off of some players without character. For me its obvious that he will change this team in the summer. Let's go for this league though.

Can we sign this guy ? He would be so perfect. Physicality, stamina, driving forward, eye for a goal, oozes of character, can pass short and long. Simply world-class. I normally say that we should sign someone younger because we've got in 27-28 age group our whole midfield but for this guy I would do exception. Sell Ramires and get this guy. How much we would spend net on that operation ? I think no more than 20m of pounds and that's the money well spent.

Strenghts : - 21 with plenty of experience, World Cup, Champions League final, El Classicos, - tall (1,91 m) - VERY fast either over a short period and a long. He's probably the fastest defender at this level when you combine both acceleration and a top speed over the longer distance, - strong in the air, good jumping and good headers, - ridiculously good on the ball. Has fantastic technique for a defender. He's good with either feet. Can play a quick, accurate pass even under pressure. Rarely ever hoofing the ball. Simply brilliant. - confidence, calmness and reads the game very well Weaknessess : - may have a problem with very physical forward, - is not a leader yet, - sometimes is too nice. He hasn't got "a sin" in his game Overall, he's extremely talented defender. Since I started watching football I've never saw someone so talented who combine physical traits, mentality and such calmness with ridiculous technique. He can be modern legend of a game, the talent is outstanding. For me he's way more talented that Zouma but I think they both would combine very well because Zouma would make up for gentelman's game of Varane. No. 1 target for me. He ticks every boxes we need for our new defender, proactivity, calmness and ball-playing. Have a feeling we will get him, everything puzzles very well.

Let's keep in mind that in September 2013 we had 6 AMs for 3 positions. I thought at the time that will be a good number to operate. Now we have only 4 AMs for those 3 positions and Cuadrado has a rarely look in ! Talking about rotation ... Mourinho is allergic to rotation. He has phobia about that. So please don't throw false epithets towards Kevin. It's evident that 6 AMs is about 2 guys too much for our manager so I'm sorry but at that time for 2 guys fate was fatal. Even if we had 6 world-beaters 2 of them would be left at bay. What hurts me the most is an open verdict that Kevin didn't train much, that he was messing around. That's not Kevin ! He is always one of the most hard-working guys on the pitch, usually covers the most grounds. He's brilliant team player. People making him some kind of a prima donna, I don't know where thinking that he has to be main man came from. LOL. There's ZERO evidence that's the case. I think if Arda Turan was at Wolfsburg people also would call that, because yes. I saw enough of Kevin to know that he will fit in so many teams like a glove, Atletico for example with his work rate. BTW that comparison with Mata is funny. Mata never ever had physical traits to run up and down the pitch and he never worked on that really. While Kevin works his socks off in every match and has physicality, nice pace and stamina, to do that. Oh, I would forgot. "BUT HE WAS SHIT AT SWINDON !!" I tell you what, Mourinho is brilliant man to man manager for some players but he's also a master of berefting a confidence of players who he doesn't play. Salah, Schurrle, KdB, Mata they never ever in their careers looked so low on confidence, without desire for football. Look at Salah for example, forget about goals and assists, what he's done in only one month is that he's taking players on again. He has 35 take ons already and he ALWAYS avoided a dribbling here. He was always choosing pass instead of dribbling and now he has a confidence back and he dribbles towards players like he's done against Chelsea many times. Coincidence ? And for your information, Mourinho is like he is. He doesn't change. He has many things that are wrong like setting his side not to lose, retreat when leading etc. also treating some players and ripping their confidence off but he's also brilliant in so many things. That's why I don't want to say that Mourinho was wrong about Kevin. But I'm also expecting that people stop saying that KdB was at fault. He's got 395 minutes here, he was 22 at the time in the new league. He didn't get a taste for a Premier League for 4 months here. We signed 30m player for his position at the last day of the window. Surely enough to spare Kevin ? Lastly, Mourinho clearly said that KdB is extremely talented player. He was always saying that talent there is huge. Even in November and December when the memory about Kev was disappearing he kept saying that. The only promise he didn't keep was giving him a chance in the Christmas period. In early December he said that every one will be used and said that players he didn't use are ready for that. Kevin played one game vs Sunderland in the League Cup and that was that. Anyway, there's a reason why he designated Kevin for an opening match. Kevin showed in the pre-season and in that first game that he clearly can operate within a team with brilliant link-up play. What Mou said about Kevin in July : "So we believe it is not an important injury and hopefully it isn't because the kid is a fantastic player and is showing to you match after match and showing to me in training that he is going to be a key man on the pitch." Then we bought 30m man for his position. I was hoping at his sell that we include first refusal at least, but Wolfsburg is too big to agree to that. Can we resign him ? Well, Mourinho clearly accused Kevin of something while Kev said that's a plain wrong. Personally would love that.

A quality post and I agree 100%. I already picked you up that you're talking the most sense here and don't just jump on results band because the results could have been easily the other way around if we were bit unluckier. I also thought that we will be find out finally, it's a pity that was at the biggest stage. But if Real, Barca and Bayern would be in full flow while we face them it would be bad for us, so blessing in disguise I guess. So you ask why I think there are so many non-Mourinho players but the reverse question is why we think that they're Mourinho players ? Just because he plays them doesn't necessary tell the whole story. He was playing Ramires and Lampard last season for majority of first part, then he bought Matic who replaced Lampard. Then we bought Cesc who replaced Ramires. Also Mourinho clearly showed that he hasn't got as much faith in Oscar as would suggest selling Mata & KdB. You heard that there were offers for Sneijder ? It means that Mou was searching for another option. He also wanted to sign Tiago very much, one of Portuguese journalist who I follow on Twitter said that Mou really pushed for this transfer but his co-ownership was an issue. Also you might think that Cahill is indispensable ? I'm sure that we sign proactive CB in the summer. Maybe even Ivanovic may be casualty. We didn't have opportunities to clear all the issues in this squad yet. We tried to buy crucial players to beat flat-track bullies, and they helped us so far. However there's more to be done. Chelsea have a mania about FFP, I think they were scared that they could be really punished. There was 2 ballast that we carried, one was about 50m deficit Chelsea made in 2012/13 season (which doesn't count from next season, because there'll be new monitoring period) and the other one was Torres (which is also dealt with). Now, without 2 ballast to think of I assume we can really spend big of the other necessities we need. I read things here and there and I'm really expecting big summer.

I think that first 30 minutes were actually good from what I've expected. We pressed pretty well, have a couple of half-chances, which could result in big chances if they weren't completely ruined by back ward passes. It went along the plane. But red card changed the game. We were expected to be on the front foot, to have more of the ball. We weren't ready for that. We are shit in this, you know. We hadn't scored yet against decent opposition from positional attack. Jose really should have brought offensive substitution, Filipe Luis or Cuadrado. And he didn't so we hit the wall with our heads with this set-up. And Jose waited and waited for an offensive change. And waited ... Jeez, yes he brought Willian but because Oscar was on a yellow already. And I think that should tell you the story - he was ultra careful with his approach. And that back-fired. We again were lucky, scored a goal out of nothing, yet again after rebound-set piece combo. But it was inevitable that PSG will have a chance and they took it. If not David Luiz another chance would come. That's the conclusion from many matches we played. We were toothless in counter-attack, toothless in possession. The way we set-up demands our players to be super efficient when the chance arrives. It means that you have to have world-class individuals. It's not surprise that no matter of what, Hazard always looks brilliant. But how many Hazards can we have in our team ? It would be fantastic if we had 2. Many players disappointed but I am disappointed that Mourinho didn't have a reaction. Fabregas was strolling, why not bringing Cuadrado into play ? Why not Filipe to run on them with pressing ? It is not surprise that we had chances in the first half of extra time when we went 2 up top. Mourinho 2 years ago vs United at Old Trafford when Nani was sent off, reacted immediately and brought Modric on which paid dividends within minutes. Why so careful this time ? Unlucky to us, we would have the reaction if we were behind. There's many questions to be answered but they are not from yesterday. Liverpool could have done us at the Bridge in the League Cup but we have that luck with their chances. We had that luck yesterday, scoring two goals out of nothing without deserving any, but we were short on luck at the opposite end. We can't rely that we'll be so lucky every time. The truth is Man City away, West Ham, Spurs, both legs vs Liverpool, PSG away there were games with exactly the same pattern, that we could easily lost if not lucky coincidence, own goals, fantastic saves, Cahill back flicks, rebounds, set pieces etc. AN ISOLATED SITUATION, taken completely out of context of the match. It still weird that referee was on our side yesterday and we still are going out. That's why I'm very relaxed by this one. Never ever was, because ref often screw us up, not this time. We weren't ready for Europe, I'm sure of that. About PSG, their fans were brilliant. Completely out-sung ours at the Bridge. Good for them that they had the courage to trust a youngster from an Academy to help them qualify when they were in the dire need of the goal. Mourinho would never done that. But I don't think they're that good. I wish them luck and would want Ibra to finally lift this Champions League. I don't even have other team who I would wish good now. But their chances to win this are slim. They're not great side, Bayern would do them. In fact, Bayern, Barca and Real in full pomp would do us badly. To wrap up, let this group finish this season with title and answer those questions in the summer. There are many. But Mourinho will do that if he will have enough support from the board. He already done similar in 2009 with Inter after he went out of Europe in the last 16 against United. He sat down with the boss, analysed the situation where they need to strength and he bought 5 crucial players who helped him win the treble. Let him emulate that. We look bad at this time, whenever we win, draw or lose, against any decent side. But I know Mourinho has abilities to change this side and set this machine to have intensity, effective pressing and be deadly on counter attack with swift ball movements. Let's trust him to do that. But now I'm slightly nervous. We haven't got other competition to play for. Every game is a final like they say. Can this squad handle it ? How many times we are lucky to grind out result ? I hope that Mourinho set his side very offensive against Southampton to give a positive signal. Not to glide through the match but to really face them and beat them with courage.

@Tbf everything happens so quickly that players rely on instincts. And JT reacted because he saw a body moving like a forward. Man-marking rules BTW.

He was strolling like if he had a big party with Messi the last couple of days. He has certain world-class skillset but he isn't world-class individual who can handle himself very well and deal with any pressing he faces. That's only Hazard territory. And our style of play or should I say this chaotic thing we try to play against good teams demands players to be great individuals. But what can we do ? Mourinho already tried to sign Tiago in the summer for this pivot so he saw the problem in advance. We will sign another great player for the midfield, I can guarantee you that. We certainly will get to the point, when Mourinho moulds his whole squad, that we can drop Fabregas easily in the big match.

Big summer ahead of us, I already call that. Jose don't let this happen again. We have a money and a manager who can buy 5 crucial players in one summer to help him win the treble. He will do that again.

Nailed on. It all starts from defenders. I'd rant here long but I see a couple quality posts. While it shit that we didn't take advantage of the situation and hugely favourable referee, we simply were set up not to lose. Players don't know what to do when they have a result and are at upper hand. Counter-attack, positional attack it's non-existing. Chaotic press, players don't know who to pick to press. And I don't see contrasts with this display to many, many others this season and season before. I wrote after final vs Spurs, that we're stepping on a very thin line between the defeat and glory. We relies hugely on luck, rebound, set piece. And you know what ? We had that luck yesterday, we scored 2 goals out of thin air, didn't deserve them a one bit but we weren't as lucky at the other end of the pitch like we often are. Let's be honest, we would lose against Man City (away), West Ham, both legs vs Liverpool especially at home, Spurs if we didn't have that luck. But we did. Of course people want to play blind game and somehow they don't see things when we win, they tell to shut up when you have something to say. For me it wouldn't change a one bit if we progress or not, the performance is the same and I think we would need 2012 coincidence to even dream of reaching the final. I was very relaxed yesterday, even after Thiago Silva goal, first time in my life I don't have that regression after going out of this competition. We aren't ready for Europe, far from it. I'd tell bad words towards Mourinho but I repeat my words after Spurs game (which we won, but it was very similar to this game, which we lose) - it still isn't Mourinho team. Over half of this squad wasn't bought by him in his second spell. He can play beautiful with proper counter-attacking football, with efficient pressing, with intensity. Everything we're lacking I saw that his teams can have .Let him pick his players in the summer. Let him do "Inter 2009" all over again. Remember that ? He went out of the Champions League in the last 16 to Man Utd, he then sat down with Moriatti and had a deep conversation what this team lacks at the moment, then he bought in the summer Lucio, Thiago Motta, Sneijder, Milito and Eto'o. 5 players who were crucial to winning the treble. Let him do that again. Wrap up this title in this season, finish this campaign on a high and give him resources in the summer. After all, don't know if you remember, he wanted to sign Tiago and Sneijder last summer so it's surely indicates that he isn't blind but see that we're lacking things, starting in defence. I am sure he will do the right things, who if not him ?

I also think so. I'm happy that he scored, really happy. I don't think that he will be here beyond summer. We're in dire need of proactive ball-playing defender. So I accepted the fact that he'll play here for a bit yet, so I hope we wrap up that Premier League title and Cahill despite his huge limits, will have a whole set of trophies at club level.

Why we didn't sign this guy ? Jeez, he is so perfect for that pivot. Through Fabregas walking yesterday I have a thoughts what a fantastic paring Tiago would do with Matic in the centre. That pressing ! Shame.

He was so shit yesterday. But I think people already picked that up. He is always below par here when he faces quality defender who can match him physically and at pace. Then you can't even say that he creates space for others. He does nothing. That lost ball before PSG corner and then equalizer, it all went through his lack of technique, you can't defend that. However I think part of his shitness is made of our style of play. We play at slow pace, counter attacking is only on paper. Our "style of play" (what's that even ?) demands a world-class individuals and the only one we have now is Hazard. We need another quality forward with sublime technique who would be treated here on par with Diego. Oh, and Diego scored 10 goals in his last 32 appearances but of course he will continue while one Belgian international had 395 minutes in his whole career here and supposedly didn't train hard enough.

He wasn't at fault at all. Jesus, what are you writing. You have "an emotional reaction" like Mourinho would say. Watched Thiago Silva goal so, so, so many times already and I tell you this : yes he initially went for a ball BUT until the ball reached Thiago Silva's head, Thibaut is already at the same position when he started. So he was positioned perfectly. Just because he wanted the ball initially doesn't mean that he was caught out of position. It isn't always black and white. The shot was perfect, Thibaut to save that should have been few steps closer to goal on his right side but that would expose half a goal on his left hand side. And he wouldn't have guessed where Thiago Silva will shoot.

Him or anyone quality with technical abilities. But it's obvious for a long time.

I can't believe that we didn't utilize this guy yesterday. He's monster at intelligent pressing, he position himself very well, has very good technique, pass, can keep the ball under pressure and make overlapping runs. FFS he was solution to many problems, pressing, counter-attacking, positional attack with overlapping, keeping the ball under pressure ... After Ibra was sent off, what we needed to do is to attack them and finish them off. Remember when Mourinho brought on Modric at Old Trafford 2 years ago minute after Nani saw red ? That was fantastic move and paid dividends immediately. For our unlucky, we didn't need to score so we remain "compact and safe" and didn't react to situation. Poor, poor us ... And after Oscar went off we needed another presser. If Mourinho really went for a win like he said on Tuesday, he would take off Ivanovic and put Azpilicueta on the right and Luis on the left. We would be so good at pressing with two proper, athletic full-backs who can press relentlessly. However, Ivanovic has something on Mourinho, don't know what it is, so bringing Ivanovic off wasn't an option. And in my eyes neither was pressing juggernaut in Azpilicueta. So we remained still ... For Luis though, he can keep his head up, because he didn't take part in this shambles. But what's next for him ? He plays very, very good since January, doesn't put a foot wrong and is simply a brilliant ATHLETIC full-back, who can PRESS. Unfortunately, Ivanovic is welded to his position regardless of anything so he only can interchange with Azpilicueta ... And i really don't want to lose Azpilicueta, those pressing ability and character. I don't know really. He would only slot here when Ivanovic gets old. That's sick reality. But they're about the same age so he will be after his peak.

PSG brought on Rabiot in 81 minute, when they needed a goal. At the end he helped them to go through after he let himself foul so many times in the last minutes. Because they know, what is obvious, that Rabiot is already a player, already has a certain skillset, has his technique, has his physique, has his advantages and weaknesses. He is already a player. That's fantastic that despite fighting for qualification and having so much money they trusted their youngster to qualify. Imagine now that Mourinho would have done, imagine for a moment ... You can't ? Neither do I. For Mourinho Rabiot wouldn't be a player. He would call him a kid and said that he isn't "stable in his emotions" (lol) like he often does. In his eyes Rabiot wouldn't have his strengths and weaknesses, because he's a kid ... It's sad. But well done PSG.

I don't do that every time but I know before our last 4 defeats vs. Bradford, Newcastle, Atletico and Sunderland I didn't do that. Forewarned is forearmed

Yep, just rehearsed our game on Fifa. We won 3:2 !!

Hope so too. But the way Fabregas and Mourinho talked about the game suggest that we're here to win. But you can conclude that how you want mind ; we supposedly were playing at Old Trafford to win only to play without striker and parking the bus for 90 minutes.

I disagree with you. When Jeremie was in full flow up until November he was amazing. Dribbling as usual but also adding goals and assist, shoting more with fantastic link-up play. He made stamp on every match we played. They are still talking about him in Barcelona when he served them a bit of magic in 2013. Though he wasn't good in his last games but yesterday he had a very good second half, again started to doing "Boga" what we all love. The problem was that he can't play with anyone. Abraham, Solanke and Brown is so bereft of any kind of creativity. Why didn't Musonda play ? In the second half, when Jeremie started to ripp their defence off on his own he couldn't find that last pass. I'm sorry but Solanke and Abraham are mainly to blame. Two times Boga played beautiful ball into the box and they didn't react with any movement. At the same time I agree with you that Jeremie's progress isn't particularly quick. He's basically the same player when he was at his debut in autumn 2012. I think that he devoloped more killer instinct over last 2 years though but how to quicken his progress ? Firstly, I'm sorry but how the player of his potential and natural ability haven't got the debut yet. How is that possible ? He's the talent that doesn't happen just like that. I told to myself that if Boga didn't become a top player here then I give up watching youth and Academy because there's a very slim chance that I would see someone so talented again. He's different to Kakuta in my opinion. He's much stronger and stay stronger on his feet. Less tricky, more purpose in dribbling. I think that in the next years he will develop muscles in his thighs just like Hazard's done at the same age because he naturally seem stocky so I assume that muscles will be eager to grow on him (unlike on Josh for example). The one notice to his play I have is that he seems very one-footed. If they're not working on that in the Academy, they didn't pick up his weakness yet ? However, Sterling also looks like that and he surprises me with his left foot. Back to topic, how to quicken his progress. What's to do next ? Young players thrives when they are surrounded by top players. Anyone think that Zouma would be on that develop route if he was loaned to Sunderland ? The same can be said about Pogba. It's not like you have to send player on loan and he have to prove himself 3 times before being considered. Where Boga stands ? I'm sorry to say that but I doubt you can incorporate more than 2 youngsters into your team, especially top team. But 2 you can. So I would forget about others youngster, I'm sorry Baker, Brown, Solanke, Christiansen, Ake, Chalobah, Swift etc. it's just have to be like that. Focus on 2 youngster you choose and nurture them even if others youngsters also deserve a chance. You simply have to make a decision. And for me you have to choose the best. So I'd choose the best. And the best are Jeremie Boga and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With others, loans, sells, insert buy-back clause. Or maybe simply loan him to some French team for 2 years and you have a problem cleared for 2 years. That's also a plan. Either way, Boga has to progress into senior football next year. If he stayed in that Marseille team, Olympique would took him long time age and currently they would wank over him in France like they do with Fekir.

I remember his last game against PSG back in St Ettiene when he was playing at right back. He was ripped badly by Cavani in that day. Don't know if that has any meaning now but for this game only I'd forgive Jose if he'd put Zouma out and play Cahill. I just can't clear the picture of that Zouma's struggles when he faced Paris the last time.

When I saw than Sane kid I was like "what ? I know this guy". I recognised him with that afro that he was playing vs our U19 setup back in September. Apparently he played good, I didn't remember anything particular from him. I remember that Boga and RLC were making fun in the middle. They completely outplayed their counterparts that day. And Schalke is currently regarded as the best youth developers in Germany so basically one of the best in Europe. And that's right and our Bogas, Musondas, RLCs and Solankes were playing some joyful stuff against them. Our youngsters are as good as you can find. Imagine player like Boga, who looks like a boss whenever he's fully fit against any opposition, not playing any minute in the team yet. Imagine that. They would be already wanking over his talent if he was still in France. The same would be about Musonda if he'd stayed in Anderlecht. Here ... I remember those Van Ginkel words. Remember that Van Ginkel was orginally brought because there wasn't any youngster to take that spot, right ? @TheWSNetwork/status/475295800483127297 The mere suggestion that youth player can't play against proper senior team irritates me. Jeez, they're already developed technically as well as physically. Most of them won't improve themself much in either aspect, only tactical things. Yet Mourinho made it very clear that RLC is potentially destroyer of our titles hope. It's sad. To be fair I wouldn't give a flying fu** if Mourinho made it from the very beginning that he doesn't count on youths, but he's saying that they "take a great care of our youths" and "constantly think about that matter" [exempt from interview with Gary Neville back in October]. So, it creates expectations. I originally thought and I'm still doing that, at the last season of Mourinho's current contract in 2016-2017 I want to see a full-time first team member treated the same like Oscar is for example, playing in majority of our games. I'm still doing that and giving our boss a time but I thought that it will be an introduction process, giving him minutes here and there. For Mourinho to play youth though, the game has to be as dead as possible like 6:0 against Maribor. Add to that that Jose no longer is aggressive coach with his substitutions who can take someone off in 30 minutes, because he pisses him off, even in that dead rubber matches he only bring youngster to play 10-20 minutes. I'm not giving up hopes for Mourinho to finally bring some youngster directly from the Academy, but I don't know how he'll do that. I really don't. He's allergic to rotation, he wants to rotate his side as less as possible, so where he can squeeze some youngster to give him meaningful minutes ? Against Bradford we were 2:1 up and Mikel got an injury in 71 minute. There was natural replacement on the bench in Ake, instead Mourinho, of course, chose "a safe" option with Fabregas only to have midfield wide open and be ripped 2:4 in the space of 20 minutes. Because youth is not the proper player you know. The fact is that you have to risk with youth at least a little bit. Why it is so difficult to give ONLY A ONE YOUTH PLAYER, WHO WILL BE SURROUNDED BY FULL INTERNATIONALS 800-900 minutes when you play over 5000 in a season. I don't get it. Surely you minimize risk to bare minimum right ? Or it's still too risky ? I still give Jose time because he deserves that and I stick to my idea of having full-time first team member in his last season. But I thought that it will be diffrent process. Currently it's very difficult to imagine how he does it. And if he doesn't he'll certainly pull Kurt Zouma's card just like he's pulling Varane's and Mikel's to say "I promote youth". And just one little caveat is that the only Academy which will be happy about having Zouma in important role in Chelsea's first team squad will be that in St Etienne ...

Why jumping on this kid ? Because he doesn't perform in the United team, well for me that doesn't tell much. Rubbish teams can make their players look rubbish. Then it only need one or two cogs to click to have a whole machine running. It's always like that. Now Di Maria is on rubbish site also. And players like Varane, Benzema or Isco are made pretty shit. They're not. Schalke was looking like a laughing stock when we beat them last time. What're today thoughts about them ? Filipe is great and especially after he put his slightly shaky defence behind him, since January he does absolutely brilliant job whenever has a chance. But if we're talking about next LB then better search for someone 6'1". Mourinho likes to have big full-backs. Luke is pretty big in that Jose mould. I'd still take him in a heartbeat.

I'm not stripping Matuidi from very good player class, because I watched him often enough to know that. But Fernandinho looked like a world beater in 2012 when we played against Shakhtar. Remember that ? Our midfield can be so passive that it made good players look like a world-class.