Rubber bullets

So what is a worthwhile observation? Something that you agree with? Is it then that it qualifies as a worthwhile observation or otherwise we can just scrap it as useless prattle ? Excuse me for not being overwhelmed by Jose's return to the club. I have a lot of doubts and fears but using your criteria I shouldn't express it because its not "worthwhile observations", how dare someone go against the grain

They have the benefit that they are taller and more physically stronger then Mata, which if you actually took the time to read my posts properly is why I fear that Mata will not be viewed as favorably.

See last post. Note; Robben was a winger for us, never used in a number 10 role.

Joe Cole was groomed to play in the number 10 role (or at least in a central position) at West Ham. It wasn't until he came to Chelsea that he was pushed in an out wide position. The problem will be is what if Jose does not want to use the 4-2-3-1 system, or any system that uses a number 10 role. What if he wants to favour the likes of Lampard because he still scores every once in a wile. That will be the big question and why I make the Mata and Cole comparisons. Also, even if he does use a formation that has a number 10 role. He will still want them to contribute a lot defensively. Unfortunately one of his (very, very few) weaknesses is that he is not particularly strong. And I can see Jose not favoring over this, either changing the formation for others or using more physical players in his lace. Again this is due to my fear that he will try and make Chelsea too physical like in his last season and not favour flair and creativity - trying to use the likes of Lampard and Essien to help relive that image. Even at Real Madrid he had to let some players have a free role despite obviously wanting to make the team a counter-attacking one relying on the strength with the likes of Khedira, Ronaldo, Ramos etc.

There is the problem of their defensive contribution. I don't think Jose every really cared about Joe Cole because of it. I think Jose once even bashed Joe Cole on this issue on national television. I can see him doing the same with Mata even though he is such a vital part of the team and try to push him down the pecking order.. And what I say is known as the concept called an opinion. And I'm sorry if a lot of my opinions go against the grain of other Chelsea fans on the club, but I should be allowed to express them on a free forum without people wanting to try and shut me up.

No I will not, just because my opinion differs from you does not mean I have to keep it shut . Must hurt you so much that you can't ban me for posting since it follows the forum rules.

It will probably be a case where he views him like Joe Cole. Will play him but will never really favour him and will probably (for next season at least) push him aside to accommodate Lampard more, which will be a shame.

What do you think will happen to him next season? I really hope that Jose will give him a look in since he is such a classy player. Although with issues like the Barca connection he will probably either sell him or push him aside for the likes of Essien in the pecking order.

Of course there is also the issue in the article that says Jose would want to keep him. Would this be the first conflict between the board and the new manager? Believing of course that these rumours have any substance.

Of course if that happened then it would be a case of abuse of power. Since I (in my mind) have not broken any rules (except maybe derailing the thead, but then you and others are as guilty as well)

What on how shit Essien was? I can't remember it and if I did not respond it was becuase it was probably us posting the same things over and over again that were going no where. Just like now where you're bringing up someting that happened yesterday but wanted to keep it going. Probably because you're the attention seeker with nothing beter to do but to try and create a flame war. Such pity I have for you.

Odd, I don't seem to remember you ripping my arguments to shreds on what was essentially a subjective debate. You must be another with deep insecurities to try and claim absolute truth on what is subjective debates.

I'm not rating Mikel - but I'm pointing out that he has had far worse things said to him then Essien ever has had, no one has gives a shit despite Mikel being much less injury prone and contributed more to our succes then Essien. Lets tak a look at Essiens contribution season by season. 05/06- Hit and miss, often wsas replced by Eidur 06/07 - Had a good season but we were basing our play too much on strength and power and lost the title because of it. 07/08 - Good but was part of a team that went without a trophy. 08/09 - Injured for most of it. 09/10 - Injured for most of it. Won the title without him though. 10/11 - Apart from the first month, he was god awful. 11/12 - Injured for most of it and was liability when he played. Could not say he played a big rle in our CL success. Again, two season where he was good, but is probaby one of most overrated players to wear a Chelsea shirt.

Ronaldo definetly. I think becuase of his injuries it has sort of distorted his image as a player. But when he was in is prime I had never seen such a clinical striker, not then, not now. Other mentions go to Zidane, Batistuta, Nedved, Henry and as a Chelsea fan - Zola.

He had 2 good seasons with us (in his first he was very much hit or miss) before losing is kneecaps.and become liability to us. We complain that the likes of Torres and Mikel are sucking us financialy while playing shit, surely that should apply to Essien, who even after 5 years of unable to perform, still somehow gets payed good wages and used by top clubs. Its grating to see him get back in the team despite giving us nothin what so ever. His value by some is being overblown so much its not even funny anymore. 2 decent seasons, thats all he gave us. Yet becuase his play was based on power peope seem to think it was a god send.

Lol trying to bring up an internet argument that happened yesterday. Must live a sad life that your desperate for some enjoyment in your pathetic existence to try and rehash this again. And aren't you one of those who also likes posting controversial stuff? Stupid hypocrite.

Could have been interpreted as addressing both

Well I did give a reason, and I looked at the forum rules, nothing specific about 'insulting' a player, so no.

But was he actually helping us control the game? Of course not That's the key problem in discussing what Lampard's role in the squad should be. Scoring goals is good, but as a midfielder you have to do more, not being able to help in the midfield when pressure is on is problem if you want to use them in big games.

How was Lampard brilliant against Benfica? Apart from the two shots what else did he do of substance? Hell Torres was one of the few players shrugging of the Benfica players.

I don't think its against the rules to 'insult' a football player, otherwise there would be no members on this forum.

As is the look of despair towards the delightful BlueArmy is all clear.

Do I give a crap about what your idea of genuine Chelsea fan is?

Or a case that one person knows that what he is saying is subjective. And the other insecure and tries to to think that what he says is the universal truth to all things subjective. I'll let you find out who is who.

We struggled against Benfica, apart from two shots that were brilliantly saved and smacked at the crossbar, Lampard (apart from some last ditched defending) really could not get a foothold in the game (grant it Luiz could not too, but that proves the idea that we lack midfielders who can control the tempo of the game, and in my opinion a 4-2-3-1 requires at least two players who can do that).