Barbara

he's been saying that for one year... it's not something new he just added to his speech. I think he was honest last year and continues to be. We were in transition, he was getting to know the squad and see what they're made of (mentally speaking). Targeting titles would have been premature or wishful thinking, but even then he was speaking about how this current season we would step up. Now he knows those players and he's added the key ones he believes he needed. Chelsea is a top team in England, what else is he supposed to say and do now? He could still fail - after all we aren't the only top team in the country - but his speech last season concerning that season and this one has been coherent and reasonable imo. I see nothing that surprises me.

So let me see if I get it straight. Liverpool is near winning anything in many years and they lose their best player. It happens to anyone, go ask Spurs. But then they have tons of money to spend and strengthen their team. Instead of going for top players in the positions they need the most, they settle for dismantling a team that while decent ended 8th, 30 points behind the champion. What's the logic of that? I agree Lovren is decent and actually will help them (replaced him on my fantasy team yesterday for Terry (made the funds to pay the difference), but none of their signings is what I call clinical. Suarez was irreplaceable, but he also covered a lot of their issues last season. They weren't a balanced team and they continue not to be. They had a lot of money to fix where they needed and I feel like they're wasting money around making a better version of Southampton from last season. A better version of Southampton (combined with the players the scousers already had) doesn't mean an improved Liverpool necessarily. Without Suarez's goals AND ASSISTS (let's not forget he had 31 goals, but also 12 assists) they won't be able to keep outscoring what their defense concedes. Their midfielders are all attacked-minded (the good ones) and they keep pilling them up (as well as strikers it seems). I don't know, I wouldn't say they're pulling a Spurs (after all they didn't sign Paulinho), but I don't feel like they're coming stronger this season or even keeping the level. It seems they're off to fighting for a UCL spot again... maybe I'm wrong, but they seem to sign only decent players. No real talent that will make a huge difference in the squad.

the fact that every time he isn't playing or training he has a baseball cap on tells you how much he hated the haircut. I wonder why he got it in the first place. I don't think it was exactly his idea.

pretty much, especially because Fàbregas will probably see him making the runs, something no one in our team seemed to do last season.

I'm holding onto hope based on two things. 1) Cesc is indeed playing in the pivot (I hope today wasn't only a test, but the real idea Mourinho wants to play with). 2) When mentioning key players for the team that are still missing, Mourinho didn't mention Ramires (official site): Of course, he could have mentioned only the AMs because they're more important than a pivot player. But I'm very hopeful that isn't the case and with Cesc's arrival and even van Ginkel rise, Ramires is regarded with a secondary role in the squad. btw, that's my fave lineup too. I don't think they'll start against Burnley as the Brazilians and Schurrle will arrive a week prior to our debut, but for the season, that's our best imo

From the Official Site. well, I don't think based solely in the games that Izzy Brown should be promoted to the first team - especially in a position we're stocked, but as usual, I'll trust Mourinho's assessment. I miss Baker in either list (training with the first team or being loaned). He was better than everyone else except Boga imo and he isn't mentioned at all. I feel for the kid. Good luck for the boys being promoted.

First of all, Cesc is a brave dude. I wouldn't jump on Costa and hope to survive the fall (or the punch). Second, I think his facial expression matches his feels about people jumping to hug him. He's probably a lot like you when it comes to hugging. Except you look like a cute Koala not a drug cartel chief.

well, I'll try it then, see if I can go there again this week. Thanks for the suggestion and nice words

Thanks! I'll try it I found out I like wheat beer slightly better than I hate the rest of them. I'm with @We Hate Scouse in the cider and I'm a girl, so I think I'm fine with that

btw I went to a pub yesterday they had over THIRTY different Belgian beers. Didn't know which to try

Chelsea B x Chelsea FC Chance to see some of our players... oh wait, we haven't loaned all of them yet.

Yeah, I made jokes about him smiling (don't open the spoiler tag if you don't want to be disappointed), but he was sublime with his finishing and I think he made a few good runs as well. He did really well and I think he'll fit just fine, but we should give him time to settle. Just because he's a G (thanks @Polo7, the other meaning I ofc knew but as Iseah said, it wouldn't make much sense, unless... well, let's not stray) nearly an H it doesn't mean he doesn't need time to fit in properly. He has a good finishing, I think that was never in question even for people that aren't overly excited about him such as me. I hope the runs continue, and we find him in good positions. He isn't the most technical guy (my main 'complain' about him, but it's not a complain per say), but he can score goals. He's always at the right place, at the right time and with his drug cartel leader face, he'll just make space for himself and fight against the defense (literally, lol). Hopefully we won't have a striker issue this season.

I have no idea what you guys are talking about

This guy is a tank... except he can leap like a flea. How is that physically possible lol? Anyway, I think he showed much more composure today. Maybe last match was just a stinker, everyone has those, especially when you're new in a team and even more so during pre-season. I think we're done with the CB now. With him and Iva we have enough coverage for Cahill's and Terry's eventual absences. Actually I think his partnership with Terry today in the second was second to nothing to the Cahill/Terry partnership in general. It's good to have this feeling, that if an injury comes or a suspension for cumulative yellows, we not only have Iva (who I don't like much as a CB, unpopular opinion, but for me is a FB). Actually with Aké, Iva and Zouma we've got the defense depth covered imo. We don't need any better than this. Also with some of those guys age (Aké, Zouma and even Azplici), if development continues as expected and injuries don't cause a serious problem, we're done with defenders for a few years, even when Terry retires and Cahill and Luís start the descending years of their careers. Terry could play one or two more years, the other two, who knows, maybe three or even four. We're settled for a few years and that's without counting Kalas who I also see some good potential on.

Another solid display by him. He was very good tackling - as usual, only looked a bit flustered once as far as I remember, and took some nice set-pieces. I really hope he continues to shine in the pre-season. We need him to erase Ramires from Mourinho's mind. He doesn't have the same pace and stamina, but he's fast nonetheless and he's resilient enough, he can endure the matches. A pivot with him and Matic is great, and he can also play in the 4-3-3 midfield alongside Cesc and Matic - with Cesc as the most advanced midfielder. I want to see this boy getting some matches. We need to continue his development, he has a lot of potential and I can't for the life of me see why we'd need to sign another MD (CM, DM, B2B, DLP) at all. We're balanced as it is. Oriol was also very solid today so we have them, and Ramires and Mikel (we could easily offload Mikel tbh, sorry Chou Chou). So if Oscar goes off again this season we have better options than simply throwing Ramires in the wing and moving Willian to the middle. Cesc can play Oscar's position and Marco can play Cesc's. Actually I think both Oscar and especially Willian will have to step up big time to keep their places in the team or even be relevant, as Schurrle ended the season (with us and the WC) in a high and Hazard is Hazard. He's young and he has the kind of personality José simply loves (which is one of the reason why I believe DD is back). He's fearless, he's always highly motivated and I think he might even have that thirsty to win within him. Luís said we'd never see him walking in the pitch, but always running and I believe it to also be true about this lad. I'm very happy with him and I'm looking forward to him staying here a long, long time.

Post match interviews Zouma Cahill

talking about DD

smiling after scoring is overrated x smiling is overrated, period

Well, he already proved my choice to make him my fave Chelsea player before he even touched a ball for us to be damn accurate He's playing exactly where I wanted him to and he's doing amazing already without any rhythm, form and chemistry with his team mates. Can you imagine this guy a couple of months from now? #comingundone I think Matic provided the defensive solidness that afford us to keep Cesc in the pivot. Cesc himself pressed well, even won a side tackle, anticipated a ball or two. Seriously, he has to continue to play like this and improve even more so erase Mourinho's memories of Ramires completely. It doesn't compare at all to have Cesc by Matic side vs Ramires. It's a world apart in terms of quality. I hope to see him as #10 in a few times - just to Marco van Ginkel can have some match time and continue his development. Also the team played MUCH better when we moved to a 4-3-3. I hope Mourinho felt it too. This squad is begging for that formation. Take Torres off for Schürrle or Willian in the right and Hazard for Salah in the left, and Oscar for Marco in the midfield and it's orgasmic stuff. We could also go with Matic - Marco - Cesc (Cesc as the most advanced) and it's still upper class.

x x The king is here also have a feeling we'll be watching this scene a lot coming the next season. Seriously, we owed everyone else in this window transfer

I think we have nearly a perfect squad in all honesty. Boga and Romeu showed that we should keep them around. We don't need another MD - be it a DM, a CM or a B2B. Romeu was great and Marco has been amazing in the last two matches. I was going to vote for him in the subs MOTM, but Iva was just great as usual. Good cross, good goal disallowed, good runs and tackles. I can't get over people criticizing him playing as a RB. Yeah, he doesn't always have a cross on him, but I like him better there than as a CB... I think it's down to personal preference. Cesc was my MOTM in general. He was just as amazing as I expected him to be and he's playing where I expect to see him playing as well: in the pivot. He was superb already in the long balls, got his first assist to the Costa goal and dictated the tempo of our game from the deep. It's going to be glorious to have him and Matic there. Too bad it means Marco will get a lot of bench time, but we could play Cesc in the #10 a few times and bring MvG to the pivot. He's been excellent imo. Costa showed what a finish is. And Torres showed how to Torres it. They were both great in their specialties. Romeu as I said had a great match and so did Boga. Boga has such a great ball control, first touch and he just goes for it, he doesn't feel shy at all. I think Ake should also stay with us, he's been very nice in the LB position. Zouma should have had that goal from the first half, it was a great finish and his header (in the Ivanovic disallowed goal) was also a killer that made the keeper do a miracle there. Another positive from Cesc and Marco in the team: we have set pieces. Cesc was the assister in the Zouma goal disallowed (to Matic) and Marco to Iva's. Both put perfect balls on Matic's and Zouma's heads. So now not only we have players to receive the crosses (Costa and Drogba in the attack and the usual from our defenders in set-pieces) but we also have players that can assist from a set-piece. That's what we've missed the most with Mata departure imo. Yep, it feels good to talk about this team. This season is going to be mind blowing.

LOL Costa leaves the pitch (after the match ends), bumps on his mate Luís, but no smile, just a BAMF face, like he's ready for murder Gotta love the man

there suckers, a perfect Iva cross. Take that

hauuhauhauhahuahuahuauha I'm laughing my arse off at that Torres play. He Torres'ed hard

for all effects it is 3x1 Ivanovic's ball crossed the line. It doesn't matter what the moron of the referee called. First he called the goal, then he jerked himself. Idiot