Barbara

Just so it doesn't go without me complaining about it. I hate Ramires in the RW more than I hate most things in football. There said, now moving on. It's a good team and I think our chances are good, despite the nonsense in the RW.

but the question is, is he ready to accept only that? Every time I read his interview he comes off as really arrogant (maybe it's just my feeling and I'm wrong), as if he's one of the very best strikers in the world - when he isn't one of the best even in the league if you ask me. He feels he's entitled to play Champions League after everything he's done. Pray and tell what is he talking about? what has he ever done that makes him feel that he's earned it? A lot of players play the UCL for their clubs in other countries and they're really bad. I don't think one has to do anything to earn to play UCL, you just have to be at the right place, at the right time; but FFS the boy has done nothing but have a very good season scoring for WBA. I don't know how many goals he has this season for Everton in the EPL, but I'm not impressed (haven't seen many Everton matches, so I'm talking only statistically) but based in all the shit he was saying earlier the season that he'd outscore all Chelsea's strikers, that he's this and he's that, that he's earned UCL, I'd expect a lot more result and for god's sake, a lot less words. He just needs to shut it. I've never been convinced by him as a footballer, especially one that fits us under Mourinho, but I've always been willing to know him better and then be fair, but I have to say, more often than not I just want to say, 'shut the fuck up, already'. He's making me dislike him in a certain way because of the never-ending amount of shit he spouts. It's the gift that keeps coming with him. I hope when he's here that he develops into a great player, but I also hope Chelsea never allow a microphone near him either.

I think Mario is the one who may have done the first contact now. He's older, he's more mature, and wiser, and he must know he won't flourish under anyone else as he will under José, if he can flourish at all under someone else. He's a special kid and he needs some special attention because I feel he's a bit fragile emotionally. Yes, mentally he isn't too strong, just like Luiz isn't, but I think they have completely different issues. Mario needs guidance and a father figure to help him and reach him out. Luiz needs some slaps in the back of his head Also, Thomas, why do you think Benzema is out of reach? I'm not completely sold that RM won't sell him. Perez is crazy. neither has he said he doesn't It's always a mind game with Mourinho when it comes to transfer rumors.

UEFA is missing an important point about financial fairness here... or even sustainability. There should be a ceiling of how much a player can cost and about their wages too. This thing is getting out of control and the world isn't on its best economical moment of history. As long as deals like Bale's are allowed to be done, things will escalate until we have a crack in the football market with many clubs going into bankruptcy or just being in deep debts. It makes NO sense for one single player to cost as much and to have 300k/week wages. It doesn't need to be an Einstein or whatever Economics guru to see that this won't end well if UEFA doesn't put a limit on this. It's not only how much a club can spend a spend, but even more how much one single player can cost.

That's the point. If there's a release clause, it isn't a case of 'a chance you don't always get', as the clause is there and won't be removed unless he's offered a new contract. I don't know if there is and how much that is, but José knows exactly what's the case, as he signed him. Shaw already has a very high price, we desperately need a striker - or even more than one (I'm not sure Mourinho is that willing to keep Lukaku). We need to start adding English players or homegrown talents to fill the EPL quota of such. I think it's unlikely for us to spend so much money at once. We'll be spending a lot between Shaw - who I honestly see coming - and a striker. Not to say the smaller signings that we do about 10-15m (Zouma, Salah, even someone as expensive as André - who I think was 18m, but as @didierforever, corrected me, I'm not the person to quote on how much we spend, lol)

I'm a huge Varane fan from the moment we signed him in RM. Mourinho literally went on and on about this boy and a few months later he was playing for us at the time. He's AMAZING I want him as much - or more - than all of you. Don't forget that the money we did we already spent on Zouma, Salah and Matic (part of the money). We don't have 40 as you're implying we do. I'd love for him to come here, but as he has a release clause and we don't desperately need a new CB - as we do in some other positions, I agree with @didierforever that we may be signing him, but not this window. Surely, RM can offer him a new contract and take away the release clause, but it's unlikely. Carlo isn't even using him that much... so I think we'll go for him either in the winter window or in the summer of 2015. edit: btw you were right in the Zizou thing. He hinted Mou about it, but Mourinho was absolutely enchanted by the boy. He's a real fan of his since RM signed him in 2011. And time flies, I swore that happened in 2012, but it was 2011. Gosh, I'm old.

if there's a buyout clause, there's nothing Zidane can do. I just think that after spending 18m on Zouma, we aren't going to Varane. If we were we wouldn't have spent as much on Zouma imo because I don't see Mourinho having so many defenders younger than 21 in his team even if he's building something for the future. He's said a few times we'll be spending differently from the past because of FFP (and I also believe Roman wants to start making money out of a few players that aren't useful to us, but that we increased their value while they were here). If we only had a CB to buy next season, I'd think we'd afford buying him by offloading Luiz, but he's one of the many supposedly targets we have. We won't get them all because Mourinho hinted enough times we won't splash money as in the past. So how can we buy Shaw, Varane, world class striker and an occasional good deal that comes around. A lot of money will be involved in those, and selling only Luiz and adding the money we made from selling Kev and Mata doesn't seem to cover all those things. I don't feel like Chelsea is going to do something like that, but you never know. Between Shaw and Varane, who do you think the team is going to prioritize and be willing to spend a lot? The English player - ofc. Don't think this is the real history. This was a Mourinho signing, not a Zidane signing. I'm not even sure Zidane was involved in getting players signed for Madrid 2 seasons ago when Mourinho signed him at age 18. I followed Madrid very closely that season. Mourinho was going on and on about Raphaël before and after he's signed him. Zidane only agreed and said nice things about Rapha a few months after the signing.

You started the post well, but then you missed the point again that others involved in the discussion keep trying to show you. Not even Hazard replaces Hazard. Yes, he's been our best player this season, but he's had a lot of quiet matches too, including some of which recently, and that Hazard doesn't come close to the best version we had in many matches. There's no other Hazard in the team and chances are there won't be any time soon. It's like expecting to have two Messis or two Ronaldos in a squad. It's unlikely, even if Hazard is not there yet in terms of fulfilling his potential. Still he's a rare talent, one a club is lucky to have, not the kind of player any club can afford to collect in their squad. Hazard can't be replaced by Oscar, William or by 99% of players right now. He's one of the very best, evolving into becoming a Ballon d'Or material. Expecting others to develop as farther as him is not only unfair to them - as they're not naturally talented as he is - but also delusional, as his talent can't be easily found. In a team with Hazards, Messis, Ronaldos, Zidanes, Ronaldinhos, etc... expect the 'burden' to be shared even remotely equally between the players is not realistic imo. It doesn't mean Oscar and Willian as well as the rest of the AMs shouldn't raise their level, especially the Brazilians. They should and they will (they're all very young with the exception of Willian), but the reference isn't Hazard. The reference is their own capability at this point of their careers and their adaptation to English football.

I think if Mourinho signed Zouma is because he isn't going after Varane... it makes no sense otherwise as they're about the same age, a couple of years apart. Mourinho can have two youngsters among his defenders, two is too much he loves his experienced guys.

for some reason he reminds me of Azpilicueta. They seem to have a lot in common working wise and also their personalities. Mourinho said just the other day that a team with 11 Azpilicuetas can win the UCL. I think those kind of guys have a lot of chances with Mourinho, especially if they're willing to do whatever he asks them. I think he's here to stay, regardless of how far he'll go in his career - technically wise.

Well, Barça can't replace Messi and Real can't replace Ronaldo properly, although because both teams are mature and they have key players playing there for years now, they can cope with their absences like they did recently (Barça playing worse now than years ago has more to do with some guys aging than only Messi being sub-par to his own standards) That's not something we should worry. Our team as a whole in the attack is maturing together. Oscar, Willian, Schurrle, later Salah, and even Azpilicueta are in the up of their careers and they'll improving day by day imo. So while Hazard could be missed I don't have a concern about it. We don't play for Hazard, Hazard simply goes there and takes the bull by its horns and makes things happen (even then he continues to alternate matches in a row of being quiet with simply being unplayable). So not even Hazard replaces Hazard in some matches, it's no concern. If he doesn't play against Spurs I'm positive we'll struggle more than we would if he played, but this is us playing at our own turf. We're strong as a bull in our house and I'm positive if Hazard doesn't play, others will step out, just like they did in matches Hazard was quiet. There's no denial he's our best player, that we play much better with him and win much more easily if he's on fire, but he didn't develop to the point where we're dependable on him yet. Nor do I think we ever will with the quality we have in our AM. The thing is all those boys are very young and have a lot to grow, but that's normal too.

It's as much defensive duties has as much as it is him not receiving enough balls sometimes. I feel we under-use him in some matches simply because we don't give him enough balls.

Still he was one of our best players imo in the Confeds Cup. I know that this is a mickey mouse tournament to fill FIFA's pockets even more, but he was the key for our attackers to have a balanced midfield behind them, providing them space and freedom to attack. He's a key player for us, regardless of the opponent, and he's showed that against the teams we played, including Spain, although the final was his worst match imo.

Diego Costa who? I wonder if he's even going to the WC with Spain. One thing is for sure, he isn't ever getting any close to Brazil NT. He's snubbed the NT once, and they're a bunch of very proud bitches at CBF

Cheers mate, he's the most expensive extremely poor player since Torres then, that must be what you meant, which is why he's playing right now for Brazil, had many clubs - including Chelsea - trying to get him out of Shakhtar and properly kicked our ass last season in the UCL.

It's no wonder and it should come to no surprise Brazilians play better for Brazil than for their European clubs because of the physicality of NT football (most teams aren't that much physical, except a few cases in Europe) and the clubs are much more physical, especially in England. It's no rock science as everyone knows Brazilian players are light in general and the play here is lighter too. It's the same reason why they also play better in Europe than in the EPL. The physicality against clubs from certain countries is much less compared to England and more similar to what they've been used to their whole lives in Brazil. For Oscar I'm positive it makes a whole difference, not so sure about Luiz. We'd need to see him in a league such as the Spanish or the Italian to know if he'd do as well there as he does for Brazil.

one of the key for his success in Brazil in my opinion is that we play 4-3-3 instead of 4-2-3-1. He fits both systems just fine, but I think he fits better 4-3-3 and as the third man in the midfield. That's why I think he always plays well for us. As for him being tired, you have a point, but then again, I haven't seen the match to say if he's made the stupid mistakes he's been making for us simply because of lack of accuracy, and lack of accuracy to simple passes and tackles, lead many to believe he's tired, like his legs not obeying his brain commands. But as I said, haven't watched to say it precisely.

Gustavo is one of Scolari's trusted men in the squad. He said he's testing both Fernandinho and Rafinha (RB) and they'd play 90 minutes so he could assess if they can be part of the group or not. Scolari needs Fernandinho to a #6 and he's not convinced he's defensive enough to give him that because in City they basically play with two #8's (his view, not mine) in Fernandinho and Toure. What a finish by Oscar! I haven't watched the match - had no idea when it was supposed to be. Did he have a good first half? I see he was subbed by Willian in the second.

the implication that Mourinho dropped Mata only to show he could and no one is untouchable is RIDICULOUS. I would drop the article back then, but I'll have to write a version of it, with Mourinho's quote for Chelsea Brasil, otherwise, I'd stop reading. This idea that people have that Mourinho does things because he wants to impose his power, his image and whatever other bloody stupid things they think is baffling. The man does everything he needs to win, not for José Mourinho, but for his team win. When his team wins, José Mourinho automatically wins. Why is it so hard for media to convey? The best way to prove he's the ALMIGHTY José Mourinho is winning titles! Dropping a player, proving no one is untouchable, playing the media like a violin, enraging and attacking other managers, playing mind games or what else they say it's what he does isn't a plan to prove he's the best manager in the world. He does what he has to do to make his team play the best football, to make sure the pressure is on him, not on his players, because he can handle it, and finally, he does what's best for his team, not for José Mourinho.

http://www.squawka.com/news/2014/03/04/joses-special-one-how-the-stats-prove-chelsea-are-dependent-on-32m-star/2014030477892 another great article by the guys at Squawka. I like this especially

A spot-on and fair analysis by Squawka of his dipping of form (although I don't get why they mention Mata in title and in some points of the text, if they also mention that the turnover point was his injury in December, and also mention the weather, that is difficult for him to deal with, go figure) http://www.squawka.com/news/2014/03/04/has-the-emergence-of-chelseas-30m-superstar-hindered-oscars-sublime-form/2014030477913

now read that post again but thanks, I really had just woke up

ahuhuahuahuahuahuahuahuahuahua I just woke up! but here you go: http://www.whoscored.com/Players/38128 he has an average of 10,2 defensive actions per match between clearances, tackles, interceptions and shots blocked. Still a legend defending and making profit from it. And those numbers include two matches as a sub, not full matches like all those defenders normally have, otherwise he'd have more. I'll back in a few minutes with the average of only matches he's played 90 minutes, to make it fair. It's still more JT actions in a match - which is insane, because I'd expect a defender to have more defensive actions, especially because there are matches they have 12390432094 clearances in the box. edit: Just did the calculations, here's the breakdown of them tackles - total: 17; average 3,4 clearances - total: 23; average 4,6 interceptions - total: 20; average 4. blocks: I couldn't find His total average is 12 actions (without counting blocks, as the others have) when he plays 90 minutes like those guys. So he recovers possessions for us a lot, more than all those defenders except Vidic , and he does something useful from it instead of wasting it or killing our counter-attacks.

https://twitter.com/BabiLira_/status/441206740797763584 and after he does all that, he can pick a pass, he can start a counter, he can make a smooth transition and he can have a screamer out of the box. Because what's the point of recovering possession if we give it away with a pass, if we kill a counter or if we do nothing from that? Seriously, this guys is invaluable for us. One of our best signings in the last five years. edit: FIXED

no other medical team has Eva, so here they have additional motivation Now into serious matters... You could see early in the season that Marco would be receiving chances. He's injured himself in a match he started! He was an used sub in two EPL games, he started against Swindon and Basel in the UCL in 5 weeks. That's nearly more chances than Kevin had in 5 months, so I think Mourinho had plans for him all along. Kalas never had any resemblance of chance like that. Hell, not even Bertrand had. Maybe it has something to do with our underwhelming pivot then and now with Matic his chances would drop considerably, but it doesn't make much sense in my head because Matic is a #6 and as far as I can say Marco is better as a #8. I do hope Mourinho continues to give him chances come next season (I don't expect him coming from a 6-month recovery to have chances during a critical time of the season. We do have options. But comes next season, and I hope Mou will continue with him from where he's stopped. He was nervous in some of those matches - I remember his first 10-15 minutes against Basel were terrible, but the kid was 20 then, and he was playing in our first UCL match of the season. I understand the pressure and why he was nervous. But he recovered after it, but you could still clearly see he wasn't 100% himself yet. If he lives up the expectation and for José to trust him so quickly is because there are good chances he will; then I think we could have one hell of a pivot. I'm about to post a stat in Matic's thread. A #8 by his side - like Lamps was in 2005 - would make our pivot even better than City's imo. I'm not even dreaming of saying Marco has potential to be what Lamps were on his best days, but if he can even resemble him, then we done with our pivot for a few years. If he's not this guy, pls José, sign this guy because you can't simply teach technique to Ramires. A player either has class or not, has vision or not, is technical or not. Those things are hard to be learned, especially as old as he is.