Barbara

now it's 5-6 months? LOL forever. I'm not sure if you watched Chelsea this year, mate, but whatever floats your boat. His last good match for us was on New Year's... against Soton. Then he got injured, had a dip of form, and let his emotions get the best of him. Even if you don't discount the time he didn't even play at all because he was injured, it doesn't make 5 months, let alone six. I'm sick of fans like you and that has nothing to do with Oscar, but with you. Always taking digs at the players, seemingly watching another blue team and coming with opinions that differ from facts. No one denies he's been shocking for us, but saying it's been for 5-6 months is ridiculous.

If you're going to mention me, do it properly. Where have I ever said the opponents are poor? Is Italy, Uruguay and Spain poor? What your brain fails to remind you or to register about my many posts is that pitches are bigger in Brazil (and in other countries in Europe), the game is less physical and the speed is different too. I have many posts in this very thread saying such. I've never said we play against poor opponents, you must confused or crazy. For me it comes to no surprise that he plays well for Brazil. It's more natural to him. I've always refuted (and still do) those who question his commitment. He's always been committed imo, he just couldn't handle the anxiety and he did have a drop of form and injuries. Let\s get rid of the boy because he couldn't have the nerves of steel of a veteran, but got carried away with his emotions a few months from the biggest thing in his career however long it ends up being. Did you and everyone else here know that the media in Brazil was asking him to be dropped from the team for Willian? He was HEAVILY criticized for the last two friendlies last week, and many mentioned his terrible form for Chelsea (and even Mourinho's comments) and he confessed in more than one interview that the media wanted to take him off of the team, but that his manager trusted him and his work, so he wasn't concerned about it. So Chelsea fans want him to be dropped (or sold), Brazilian media and many fans want him to be dropped from the starting XI. The boy doesn't catch a bloody break. He's 22, he just became a father, he was about to play a WC in his country and that affected his emotional side, in addition to injuries and a dip of form. Still he was nearly treated as Torres. Shame on all of you who did it (imo). The boy - as well as others such as Hazard, Schurrle, Salah - need time to mature. Just because they make in a year what most of us won't make in a lifetime and play for a big club as Chelsea, doesn't mean they aren't 22, 23... I agree with everyone in this thread that says we need Oscar to play as well as in today's match as in many other for us at the start of the season way more consistently. Unlike many of you though I think it's a question of time. I was for 5 minutes in doubt of his ability to play in a league like EPL 2-3 months ago. But it lasted 5 minutes. Maybe reading so much bullshit does affect one's brain... I'm positive he'll play matches like this for us - he already did many times (there were matches this season when he had better stats), he just needs time to make it consistently. Without a daughter in the way and a WC in his country, I'm sure he'll be more relaxed emotionally and hopefully he won't have physical issues and will handle better his eventual drops of form. I'm willing to wait a couple of years for this consistency to be here. I think EPL style is too different and he's still coping. He will adapt completely and he will overcome his 'winter is coming' thing. It's a matter of time about that too imo. He has to mature more to be more consistent and he has to cope better with the physicality and learn how to play creatively in smaller pitches as he does in bigger ones (he is no creativity master, but he does better in bigger spaces imo)

people's memory seems to be so short. tactically he plays a different role for Brazil and therefore the outcome is different from us, but he had matches like this for us early in the season, but some people here has the audacity to say he's never played like this for us... or they lack memory. either way, just because they say this stuff it doesn't make it true.

All it took was for me to read is FB message, to see his Twitter header. The moment a player wears this shirt, something changes. I really hate(d) Cesc and now I'm beaming... I was already okay with the transfer for a few days because football wise it was good business, but I couldn't still feel comfortable or okay about him, I couldn't swallow it. But now, saw him in the shirt and it seems like a new person is born. welcome Francesc!!!!!!!! Hope we share a lot of glory in your time here, starting with an EPL title

First of all, it suits our players better. We strengthen our midfield, give more freedom to the attackers, we add quality to our transition, we occupy the field better - having better coverage. In a system where Mourinho seems to value defending with almost everyone off the ball and attacking with as many as possible on the ball, a more robust - and populated midfield - is less demanding for the team as a whole as those three players distribute better the ball when we have it and cover more ground imo when we don't. In a 4-3-3 it seems like we'll depend less of Hazard marking his man like in Atleti's first goal because there are three players ahead of him (as we don't have the ball) giving the first 'combat', and his defensive work is limited. The attackers (whether strikers, wingers or CAMs) have more room to move and link-up with a support of two, sometimes three players just behind them, it's like a wave. Of course many of those things are also possible in a 4-2-3-1, but for example, I see linkup plays in a 4-2-3-1 happening more between FB and wingers, while I see it between midfielders and attackers in the 4-3-3 more than with the FB. The same three guys behind the attackers are attacking when we have the ball, but the moment we miss it, they're still in their 'zone' to tackle it right away. It may seem contradictory at first, but a 4-2-3-1 with Mourinho's mentality - at least last season (he had a different one in Spain, but then again, Spanish football is very light, opposite to England's heavy-physical style) - makes the team more defensive than a 4-3-3 when in theory, it should be the opposite as one has four players attacking while the other has three. But in the end we ask more from the CAMs and wingers in terms of defense and they wear out quicker and some of them may even get overwhelmed. In a 4-3-3 I feel the attackers have a bit more freedom, if the FB decides to support the attack there's a firm and steady line of three players just behind them or by their side. When we have talented players making this three line - such as Modrid, di Maria, Oscar, Fabregas, etc... not only we offer coverage, tackles, functional and effective pressing, but we also add quality coming from behind. Also I think 4-3-3 is more suited for teams that don't play with possession (seemingly our case) and the break counts with players such as those I've just mentioned passing to the attackers, instead of two defensive pivot players. We add quality to set-up the attack and we give more freedom to the attackers imo. Take Oscar, for example, who I think is perfect for a 4-3-3 now. He's sharing his primary defensive duties with two other players and he's equally responsible for attacking and defending, whereas as a CAM or a winger, his main duty is to attack, but he also has to press and tackle as soon as possible after the possession is given away. It's overloading because his first priority is to attack, but his mind has to be in the defensive aspect all the time. He's normally higher in the pitch in a 4-2-3-1, whereas in a 4-3-3 he's a bit deeper and he can distribute better and actually make a transition, instead of a pivot with Ramires, for example. In the 4-2-3-1, Oscar receives the ball and then carries it or passes to someone ahead of him or linkup. In a 4-3-3 he can be a deep lying playmaker, that will give the ball to someone that will carry it and linkup with another attacker. Then coming from behind, Oscar presents himself as an option is if counter is slowed down and we actually have to create a chance from possession, as well as the guy who can take a shot. His responsibilities change. That's why I don't like the idea of him playing in the pivot in a 4-2-3-1. Sharing his primary defensive responsibilities - which would be his first priority - with only one player will exhaust him, expose his slim body and I'm positive both things would contribute for him to wear down faster, easier, in addition to demand him to overachieve in something that isn't his best attribute (tackling). He does great tackling as a CAM or a third man in a 4-3-3 midfield because he shares the burden with more people. Relying on him alone to cover a side of the pitch or to give proper-serious first combat is asking more than he physically and technically offers. The same would happen to a player like Fabregas, for example. Now the combination of the two of them, with Matic behind them, or by their side, relieve their burden and responsibility and allow them to be more 'whole' and fresh throughout the match, especially to make the transition with more talent and quality. They have better vision (and view) coming from behind than they have once they're already high in the pitch. It's like exploring their best attributes. That's my view at least... edit: I forgot to mention something I think it's important. When I said 4-3-3 suits better our players, I forgot to say why it doesn't for a 4-2-3-1. For the latter to work at its best we need two things from the pivot players. They're basically mandatory in terms of EPL as it's very physical: they need to be strong, physical and relentless. We only have Matic that fits that bill and maybe Mikel. They also need to have the ability to pick a deep pass (as Alonso and Schweinsteiger do so well) as well as make the transition smooth. Currently, we have Matic to do it not as often and that's about it. Mikel and Ramires can't offer it.

Hopefully he learned from Carlo how he's misused Luka while he was there and will learn from his mistakes and will play Cesc as Carlo plays Luka. He killed Modric while he was the manager, one of his mistakes imo.

then remove the pictures... what are the pics and the thread anyway? I'm curious to know what's so important about then...

that makes sense. If there's a preferential clause, then after Chelsea officially bid for the player, Barcelona should give Arsenal some time to see if they're using their right to sign first or not... I also think a week is a reasonable time. So I guess that's it, guys, we just have to wait those 7 days to expire, whenever did they start to count.

I don't think his decline coincided with Jose's return... I mean not entirely. I still believe the previous season was the odd season, not the norm. He somehow produced beyond his capabilities. Sometimes it happens with athletes in many sports. But his first part of the season (2013) was actually a good one - a realistic one. I think that is the best Ramires can offer to us. He was consistent back then even if some of his chronic issues were still there (bad passing - but it wasn't at its worst; yellow card machine; lack of football brain). That's the Ramires we could realistically hope to see imo. The Ramires of 2012 is a once in a lifetime thing imo. I think we should keep him. I think a player like him as a squad member adds value to the team, after all, sometimes we may need stamina and athleticism. There are some matches that ask for that and as I said in my previous post in this thread, he does give his best every minute. the triangle would be inverted imo - or at least it should. No more Ramires near the wing and adventuring himself in the attack. I'd be completely crazy/ecstatic if Mourinho dropped his beloved 4-2-3-1 (something I don't think he will) and moved to the 4-3-3 instead. Then I think this should be the midfield against 80% of our opponents - which are bottom and mid-table teams and small/medium force Europe teams Matic Oscar - Fabregas But when we play stronger teams, or when we need to defend a result (in an away leg for example, after winning the home leg) we could invert the triangle and replace Oscar (or Fabregas, it'll depend on their form) for Ramires. Matic - Ramires Fabregas (Oscar) I won't be an hypocrite and deny that Ramires helped us win those big matches we won, but his presence shouldn't come with the price of limiting our attack beyond it's already dreadful limitation. We weren't much creative and Ramires had a big part in that in the matches he played in the wing. I'd rather Matic to go forwarder than Ramires. He's a natural DM but even him has better vision and pass than Rami does.

what are you talking about? We always - or most time - do deals very fast. Since when a week is too slow? I can't with that anxiety, lol

Also the comparison makes no sense because what ruined Ganso's potential were his many injuries - serious injuries - not simply form or not delivering it... one case has absolutely NOTHING to do with the other even if Oscar proves to be a flop - which I think it's too early to say. I don't know where those guys get the ideas that they can already tell if a promising youngster will reach their full potential when they're still 22 based on an UP and DOWN season, as Oscar didn't have an entire bad season, only half of it. Also nobody seems to remember that Hazard had an anonymous start of season and then after his injury he never reached the highs he did from December-February. Also nobody mentions he's like that every single season.So is Hazard now the kind of player we can only count for 3-4 months a season? Because that's how he's operated since he's at Chelsea and not many label him like that. As they shouldn't because those are players still in their development years. Hazard is another level compared to Oscar, but both still had ups and downs during the season, but because Hazard's were in the beginning and then he faded after some outstanding months, people don't talk because their memory is short and in some cases, selective too. I could do a refresh and tell that the last goal Eden scored that wasn't from a penalty was in the first week of February... don't remember when it was his last assist, but certainly not much recently. Give the lads time to improve and they probably will.

People might have understanding issues... that's the only explanation left. Mourinho HIMSELF in VIDEO said in his last press conference before the Norwich match that he was going to send in a report the following Monday with his opinions about the players we had both in the club, as well as the youth and the ones loaned out to the board, with his observations of what he thinks about those players - heavily implied about keeping them or not. He also said there would be some clinical signings to be done and it's obvious he will make some suggestions. That's how things work in every other club. Nobody makes decisions alone, if that wasn't obvious. I don't buy this BS that Roman signs this and that player. When have we ever had Roman even speaking to the media? Every blue moon he makes a comment - normally in the match program. So based on what media writes - as they please, citing whatever sources they want - they came up with this story 'The Roman signing'. Roman isn't a football specialist, isn't a manager, isn't the same guy new in the business he was 10 years ago. why would he sign players for us? He may have the final saying when a big fee comes around, it's his money after all, but I think that's why he has a trusting board of directors. He's made the changes he saw fit in the board and kept most of those people for a few years now. He probably trusts them. Now between the board and José, isn't it obvious that they talk? José makes some suggestions, they board sees the viability of them. The board or José are offered a player, they talk between each other and see if the player suits the CLUB'S plans (not the board's or José, but the club's). José doesn't make any decision alone and I really doubt the board has the freedom to sign a player José doesn't want. José may not love the player, but he has to approve him as well as the board has to agree with his suggestions. I think it's only in some people's head that they shove things down Mourinho's throat. I think it's undeniable Mourinho had nearly a free reign at Inter and there isn't much Perez isn't willing to sign to Madrid and he's more limited here because we have a better structure and hopefully learned from our past mistakes, but it's a stretch to think that just because he hasn't got all the power that the board (let alone Roman himself!) completely ignores him. He's the one who makes the calls about the players playing. It's foolish to sign a player he doesn't approve because at the end of the day he's the one who will make that player get in matches or not. And Mourinho would never accept someone other than him to pick the players for our matches. The statement towards the Liverpool match wasn't about this or that player, but clearly giving up on the Premier League for UCL. Even then, he brought a competitive team (we do have a good squad, that can be definitely improved, but good nonetheless) and won the match. It's not like Chelsea don't have a good bench. It's just that in times of FM and fantasy football for some you have to have a bench as strong as your starting XI in every single position. I really feel for being the bearer of such heartbreaking news to a few of you, but in the real world that's not how it works, it simply doesn't exist.

yeah... seeing how much Mou used Cole is a testament to that... Lamps was more used, but that was only because imo the alternative was bad. I think Mou respects and really likes a lot both of them, but he seems to be fairly aware that they're past their best years and that we need players in their best and who will approach their best in a couple of seasons, not the opposite.

thanks for filling me up in the gossip world, Chou. Now that's unexpected - who she is, not you gossiping

I doubt he's for sale and I don't see why big clubs would want to sign him in all honesty. So I don't buy this Metro BS, even if it was reported by Marca too. Marca is as far as reliable as DM...

what's their yearly profit anyway? Arsene just doesn't spend money at all...

You guys caught the pattern? It's all written in the stars... with initials. Diego Costa Cesc Fabregas Filipe Luis. Luke Shaw. I'd be done if it happens, although I think it's unlikely for us to sign Shaw and I think us signing two key players from Atletico might also not happen. It's the same with all speculations of PSG buying so many players from us. But it may be written somewhere

I dream about us switching back to 4-3-3 regardless of Fabregas... I think it suits out players much better and I think with the right attackers it can be as offensive as the 4-2-3-1. 4-3-3 gives us more stability in my opinion and with players such as Hazard and Schürrle, Willian and Salah better adapted and a good striker coming, I really see no reason to play 4-2-3-1. I'm not a big fan of 4-2-3-1 in the first place, except for a few systems and with some kind of players, which I don't think it's ours and we don't have the right people for it. Only thinking that for a moment, if things work out in the pitch that Oscar and Fabregas could be resemble Lamps and Ballack, it already makes me undone.

I'm a Brazilian... I want my players to do more than simply run all day and defend well. They don't need to necessarily have flair, but they need to have quality. I'm willing to bet one of my limbs Ramires will never even come close to have those stats in his Chelsea career in the future. And I do hope he becomes a bench warmer... although I doubt it'll happen. Mourinho does like him.

and what is non-sexy? There are Chelsea fans on my Twitter that have known me before he was signed and who I've had long convos about my dislike for him. I expect a DM to defend well, a CM to do both defensive work and transition and build up play well. He's a good tackler, but he's a terrible passer... and he isn't very smart when he has the ball and he has the odd day where he elbows the opponent and gets himself a 6-match ban. There's no scapegoat situation because nobody is blaming him for anything we didn't attain this season, we're just calling for an upgrade. Anyone who doesn't want an upgrade from Ramires has questionable taste/view imo, although it's their entitled right to like him... It doesn't even take much to improve from him... I don't need us to sell him, just for him to have the same role in the team Mikel had this season...

No, I've always thought he was poor with the good season being the exception. Sorry, mate, never been a fan and I don't think I'll ever be... Just look this: http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix#la_liga/2013/2014/francesc_f%C3%A1bregas/69/69/306/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/ramires/64/64/443/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/david_luiz/64/64/448/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/frank_lampard/64/64/431/0/p|premier_league/2013/2014/john_obi_mikel/64/64/434/0/p#successful_passes/avg_pass_length/chances_created/clearances#90 Which I found in that Squawka article someone posted. How can we have a player whose average of successful passes is below 40. That's unacceptable imo even for a player in the pivot. He's a B2B, he can't pass so little. A DM yes, but a B2B no.

I think saying 'deserve' to wear Chelsea's shirt is a bit of a stretch, but he isn't up the level a team of our caliber needs. He's a great athlete, but a poor footballer. He can't pick passes, his football IQ is really low, sometimes he loses his mind out of nowhere although he does give his best every match. Sorry if I think a team like us - and with our ambitions - deserve a better footballer than Ramires. We deserve better and we should have better. I would word it like that instead of him not deserving to wear our shirt, but yeah, I tend to agree we're better than Ramires.

His daughter was rumored to have been born today, I heard people saying on street today (just saw the official news and damn him... if I had a daughter the first name in my mind would be Júlia, which is the name he chose, as if I needed more reason to love the boy. Congrats to him and Ludmila, his wife)

also cemented is different from finishing 2nd once. Cemented is when it's done a few times, at least imo. Liverpool finished second with the best striker(s) in the league when they had to play no Europe. I'm positive they'll alternate between UCL footie and only domestic footie the next couple of years. The current UCL will prevent them from reaching the next one.

I think there's a good chance things will happen... but guys, we shouldn't take Torres and Azpili words as an indication of it. They're both spanish, as well as Cesc, they play for Chelsea, so with all the rumors going on, it's obvious that when the media have a chance to speak to them, they'll ask about the Cesc deal and of course they'll have to answer with something and the obvious answer is to compliment Cesc. The same goes to Mourinho, of course he's going to be asked about targets or names we've been heavily linked to, I have no doubts, but he didn't need to answer like that. If he wanted, he could say what he said earlier the season: 'We won't look to any players before the WC' instead he said he's analyzing it. And his quote about the 'after the WC' I'd take with a grain of salt. One of two things: Either Chelsea will close the deals now, and announce them after then, only because or Mourinho is lying. I don't believe the general things he says during the transfer windows. 'We'll only sign after the WC' 'we only have 2-3 targets' 'I don't believe it'll be a very busy transfer window for Chelsea this summer' etc... all quotes he said before the season ended... actually I believe the opposite, price tags can inflate a lot after it, but for proved players, in their peak, it rarely deflate their fee considerably. WC can only affect a player positively when it comes to price. Some players just don't deliver in their NTs, but do wonderfully well in clubs. So if a player goes to the WC and doesn't play as good as he did in the club, his market value won't be much affected. If it's the opposite, it'll inflate his price, so the best time to do is prior to the WC. Also, a player like Cesc - who isn't a youngster and who still is on his best years - won't become unproved because of a WC... or because of an injury unless it's a very, very serious injury. Players normally come back from most injuries a few months later and this is a 5 year deal, a few months is nothing in the big picture. We aren't signing him like we did with Eto'o or like we renewed with Lamps last year and Terry this year - for only one year and see what happens when the year is done. We're signing him for a few seasons... so unless he breaks his leg, I think an injury wouldn't mean much and in that case Barça would probably hold off the deal to the winter window... it's always best to do deals with proved players prior to the WC imo.