Barbara

the tree-player limit from a team never sucked so hard. I wanted to have at least Luís, Terry, Fàbregas and Costa in my team. Had to go with only Luís, Azpili and Cesc. I can't afford Costa now, but soon I will in exchange of one of the defense guys for him (although Chelsea defense is synonymy of easily earned points every match day). Eventually I'll have Hazard too, but he's a slow starter (or used to be), I don't think he'll shine in the first few match days. I'll replace Cesc for him, as much as it hurts.

yep, that's one of the best things about it (in addition to him being a beast defending). That's what I addressed in the live match and post-match threads about having someone to do smart movements around him. The kids - and God bless them - tried, but they haven't developed that instinctual, smart movement yet (they'll hopefully get there though). so you could see Luís presenting himself to receive the ball in good positions, but the link up didn't happen because the wingers didn't do the most natural and expected movement. With chemistry and those smart runs and movement (only thinking about Schürrle doing them and Luís catching him makes me come undone) from Hazard and André (if he has a chance to interchange in the left a few times) we'll be very dangerous in the left side - without exposing his back as he's as fierce as they get.

that MvG tackle at 1:15 mark is just I'm in process of being in love with the boy. Luís was downright solid. I think is going to be great to have him here.

I don't mind them even if they're not common in Brazil - as far as I can say. Here we do club songs, my team (even if I don't watch Brazil football anymore) has a beautiful song made by the fans - my very fave football chant. I've been at the stadium once and when they (us) sang it, it gave me goosebumps and I cried a little, lol, but that's because I live far from my team and don't have a chance to do it week in week out. If that was the case I would have grown used to it. But I think singing during matches is one of the best things about going to the stadiums, regardless if the songs are towards the club or the players.

if Hey, Jude wasn't a tradition our rivals, we could make a short parody with Hey Judas for Fab - of course, making it clear he's a Judas for Arse fans, not us But yeah, don't want the tune to be around Stamford Bridge... we do fill our stadium for every match something (and everything else) our rivals pale in comparison to us - True Blues but a kind of Willian song - except making fun of Les Arses for him choosing us over them is definitely in the cards. It'd be perfect. Make it happen Londoners!!!!

I had fun playing it for the first time last season, but not as much fun as it could have been if we discussed and bantered about it. I hope this thread becomes more active this year. It's fun to pick the players and all, but it's even more fun to banter around about it

And I'm sorry if I offended you. You called his actions on his beliefs moronic (maybe even the beliefs themselves as your statement was too succinct and up to interpretation)... I feel that's disrespect and I may have disrespected you back. So for that I'm sorry and I apologize. I could have worded it differently, but at the spur of the moment I didn't. I'll edit it. As for the second part, my idea wasn't to patronize anyone. There are beliefs around that think sacrificing your first child is not only acceptable, but a privilege. I could never understand that, I would oppose to that politically if it happened here in Brazil, I'm all for human rights, the same way I don't understand wars made in the name of religions. It isn't something I understand because it isn't part of my culture. I know Europe grew more secular in the last two centuries. I have a major (even if incomplete) in Theology where I've learned that, it's no offense or assumption, is a fact. I just pointed out that as the culture changed, it may be hard for people to understand such things. Of course not as hard to understand and accept human sacrifices and wars (I think few would understand it), but in much lesser extent for a lot of people an athlete starving himself before/during matches and during training sessions would make little sense whatsoever and it could be hard for them to understand why he does it. I wasn't judging, I was trying to understand where you could have been coming from (I don't even know - or want to know - if you have any beliefs yourself, how could I patronize you about it?), but at the same time we have to respect his decision. Calling him (or his actions) moronic because of that is harsh when it's one of his universal rights. Again, I apologize, TOPTB if my post was offensive or disrespectful. I'll edit the first part and I hope you were able to understand what I meant with the second. As for the kind of conversation you'd like to engage with me, if you judge that wouldn't be a topic to discuss over because of whatever you may have noticed about me, it's your prerogative and right - even to judge what type of person you think I am. I hate discussing beliefs either way, so chances are you wouldn't have a chance anyway. My beliefs are mine and everyone else's are theirs, they're not up to discussion unless it's relevant and the only time it's relevant it's when someone is curious and wants to learn more about mine and come to me (privately, I don't discuss them in detail publicly - only superficially as I did in my hotseat when asked about it). I don't expect that to happen in a football forum - despite it already having happened twice through PMs here on TC. Per my experience with you, I don't think that would be the case, so I guess we'd never have that convo and I don't think we're missing out anything.

Data until September 2013 can't be counted as a whole season. It means until two seasons ago Cech was better... currently is anyone's guess as Thibaut had his best season so far and probably improved those stats... then again so could have Petr

I stand corrected then Either way, it's his right to choose to do it, and I don't think in a moment like the first couple of weeks of pre-season it's a huge factor or detractor. He'll be fine physically the rest of the season.

It's uncool calling his beliefs/actions on them moronic... What's the problem fasting in two weeks of pre-season? Players did it during the World Cup, why doing it during a few worthless game should be held against him? I get it that people in Europe don't feel that spiritual these days and it's hard for them to understand people making sacrifices in the name of their beliefs, but respect towards one's beliefs is universal, regardless of how secular, agnostic and non-believer one can be. I don't think two weeks of fasting will affect his pre-season in such a way his whole season is compromised. That said I don't believe some of the issues he showed had anything to do with fasting. If he could run like he did, but didn't know what to do with the ball or had bad finishing it has more to do with lack of rhythm and/or confidence than something physical caused by his lack of energy/food.

I find it interesting that a JoséXXXX where XXXX were some numbers, from Germany, was banned a few weeks ago for name calling and racism would have worded it just like you did now. Learn how to respect others.

that's his biggest chance right now and he seems to be wasting it. Maybe he's overwhelmed? Feeling the pressure? Either way, I'm not panicking yet, but he's wasting a golden chance. I really like Baker and Aké from our youth and I think they should be in the senior team as we'll need to register a few youth players to fill the homegrown quotas in EPL and UCL. I'm not so sure about Boga only because maybe a loan would be more beneficial to him. we'll see. Brown could stay as well, but we need to see the positions we actually need replacement, if we're keeping the boys. I think we're stacked in his position. My biggest joy in this match was watching a confident, daring, bold, giving-his-all Marco van Ginkel. I know he wants to impress to keep his position and may have been a tad too eager, but the way he's played the first half has more than assured his permanence with us imo. Either way, it seems like his confidence is unshaken after a very serious injury at age 20. That shows a lot of character - the kind I like. I really liked Luís too and I can't wait for players other than the ones we had today to receive his passes and link up. The kids are still very much green - most of them - they don't have movement awareness yet - which is fine - and they don't do the instinctive run and movement. They were a bit lost at times, moving to the opposite side, not offering the better position to receive the ball, but that's all part of the learning curve. It's complicated to say Zouma had a good first half and was bad in the second when the opposition only tried something more solid in the second. It may seem harsh, but when he was proved, he failed imo. I'm not writing him off, I'm not bashing the guy, I'm talking exclusively about this match. When he was pushed he messed up.

oh Chelsea TV guys... you didn't just compare Boga to Romário, lol There's nothing in common between them imo

that's a world class finishing if there's one

Zouma is so big and scary. It's really intimidating

I want Marco to be careful, but damn it, when he made those tackles I wasn't flinching, I was getting goosebumps. That's the kind of physicality I love in the game. It's beautiful to watch. So yeah, let's pray and hope he doesn't get injured, but I love seeing those tackles. It shows he has balls and clutch - two things I love. It shows passion too.

van Ginkel was the best player in that first half. Salah is a bit out of it. He makes the runs, but he turned around himself a few times to get in the right side of to receive the ball, it was weird. Seemed out of place. His final pass or finishing was as much as off too. Baker did very well as did Luís.

Eden's (in the one in the pic)

how many times has he said 'important'? That's how he starts and basically finishes every and all of his answers, lol

enter the Matrix. Where do we take the red pill? Or was it the blue? That's so 90's of you, Adidas. But I don't hate it as much as I thought I would.

Who the hell is this Eric everyone talks about? lol

He seemed constrained, nearly embarrassed talking about the #3 in his interview, like it was a legacy Cole left here... but then it was supposed to go to a 19-yo center-back? it makes no sense whatsoever, but it makes more sense now

why are people considering di María an AM (and comparing him to Hazard nonetheless) when Carlo proved last season that his best position in the midfield (centered or at any side) in a 4-3-3?

I'll look forward to seeing the pics. Well, all my boyfriends except one have been younger than me. My first was 16 to my 19. It's always been like that Also I'm 34, I'm not that old (well maybe from your perspective 34 is already old, lol) doesn't it make me too young to really be a cougar? Also they sound like dirty old ladies wanting a shag. Someone that thinks they're still in their teens. I've lived my teens when I was actually that age, I'd rather be in a committed serious relationship, I just don't date men older than me. It's my golden rule. About the age - getting my two cents about something that isn't really my business - who cares? So you were a father at 20, moved in together with your partner about the same age... it doesn't matter. You love being a father and that's what matters in the end. If the life you have makes you happy, go for it. If it doesn't, make it do (make you happy), look things in a different way and you'll be happy (although you sound quite like the happy lad). You certainly is blessed with a family - which I think is great regardless of the age you achieve that. As you said you don't have time - what do you do? Work, study, both?

and what are the feelings of having added to that the fact that you've made history in the forums of all world announcing José months before the club did? Didn't know you were married with a kid. What's your age and his? Have you posted pics of him here? I'm a sucker for babies!!!! Do you plan to having more kids? Your best memory as a Chelsea supporter? What you're looking forward the most to this season? What do you like to do in your leisure time? Your best memory as a scouse hater - involving the scouses of course. I've never had laughed so hard in this forum. All answers here are priceless. Someone create a new award and grant this man the best post of all history in TC. (let me tell ya a secret, the younger the better in my book, my current bf is 7 years younger than me, I guess I qualify to what they call cougar - without the dirty part that is)