Barbara

Actually I feel like Eden needs the extra push to reach new heights in his career, I just think it has to be a gentle push, not Mourinho's rough ones he got from time to time. Eden doesn't look like the guy who responds well to 'tough love', but I do believe he needs to be pushed

First, Shakez, it's so nice to see you posting. I've been away for a long time (no time to even breathe let alone read, post or even watch Chelsea). Not that I don't welcome new members - if they are nice I surely do, but still seeing some guys from the days I posted more often brings a smile to my face, and you my dear, are certainly one of them Now about the double training sessions - I'm sure it's only until the team reaches their best physical condition and an attempt to start the season as strong physically as we could. Last year we as a club - whether it was a Mourinho's option, a club option or both - made a test by giving players longer vacation time and starting very light on training during preseason. Mourinho addressed it a few times at the beginning of the season and back then I thought it was a valid attempt, but one I would assess when the results of such decision appeared. I did assess it and before the whole Mourinho implosion got out of control, I was starting to second guess the decision of letting the players rest more and start preseason with light sessions. I pointed that out as one of the reasons why things weren't working out in the first two months. We were a couple of step behind the other teams in terms of competitiveness and physicality. Fact is a lot of things - most directly linked to Mourinho's presence - brought us the the deep hole we dug, but I think we were physically subpar. It was a mistake to give players more time to rest. Unfortunately this is not affordable in modern football, not only because of the bloated calendar, but because the intensity of the game increased a lot. The most physical players from 20 years ago wouldn't last much in nowadays football before running out of steam. So I fully support the decision of taking heavier, more intense sessions, even if twice a day (I'm going to assume one of those two sessions might be a bit lighter than the other). I'd say when the team is running on full throttle physically we can go back to one session a day - or keep it on alternate days, as we'll rarely have midweek football this season. Players needs to get ready physically, but also mentally for real competition and the aspect of a demanding manager, that is breathing on their neck, pushing them the farthest they can go prepare players not only physically to endure the challenges of an unbelievable busy calendar, but also have them mentally ready earlier as well. I hope we never ago take the longer vacation time,lighter preseason route again. I don't exactly know what is the floor you're giving me, but I hope is from a stage because I'm on vacation and I won't sweep anything (bad joke I know, but I'm the queen of bad jokes) I think it's going to be paramount for our success this season - and consequently Conte's too - the fact that we won't have any European football to play at all. I mean, of course I would have preferred if we were playing Europe, even Europa League, but as we are not, let's make the most of it and I think that gives Conte the best scenario to work. After the season we had, there's obviously less pressure than usual. We were 10th, so it's not like people are going to demand us to win the title. Most fans would be happy with being Arsenal for a season and just aiming the 4th place and assuring UCL next season. So when bad results come - and they certainly will - media and fans won't be on Conte like they would if we had a standard Chelsea season last year. Unfortunately the stakes aren't as high as they normally are, but that's working to Conte's advantage if you ask me. Not playing during the week not only helps the players being fresher, but also allows Conte to make more tests with formations, tactical approaches, etc. When you have two or three days before your next match, you can't work on those things as much as you want because you need to get ready for the next game. With the next game being 6, 7 or even 8, 9 days later, Conte has time not only to train drills, but also to make tests. Even though the lack of European football sucks, I think it's going to be the one fact that will help Conte the most. And let's not joke ourselves, even during my most avid Mourinho defending days, I complained about how he seemed to have dropped some of the drilling aspect of training. It seemed like he became sloppy in training certain kind of moves with players, how to position on free kicks - both defending and attacking. How many times have we read or heard him saying that he told Hazard he could go there and do his thing and it feels like except demanding a whole much of work rate from all players, Mourinho seemed to have settled for letting them to their thing most time and having only a few organized, trained (or as we say in Portuguese, rehearsed) plays, moves, composition, etc. We relied a lot on Fabregas killer eye for an assist, Willian's energy and pace, Hazard's talent and Costa giving-it-all attitude. A team as big as us certainly needs its manager to go beyond that. The manager we need can't let players do their thing and only demand work rate from them. They need to be trained in the most strict meaning of the word, drilled, pushed, guided and if that's the case, even taken by the hand. I want to see Conte stopping the training motion simply to correct our defense and midfield positioning. I want him to be livid on players when they aren't paying enough attention or keeping to the plan as they're supposed to, I want him to push, push, push as much as he works, works, works. Those players aren't as bad as they looked last season, the thing is they weren't pushed enough and most of them became the worst version of themselves because let's not fool ourselves, the intensity and demands of modern football I mentioned above are insane and if there isn't someone breathing on their necks to give more and go further - they, like any other human being on their place - will just fall into their comfort zone. Most of them probably do it without noticing and without being able to leave that place by themselves. Modern sports - not only football actually - keep demanding more, and it's a while since the demands went above the 'natural' disposition. Yes, they're paid much more than they should just to play in this level, but money doesn't reset how your brain works and the exception is the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo - players that are constantly pushing their limits by themselves, but that's a very particular and personal trait, we can't expect - let alone demand - every player, no matter how much money the club gives them to have their brain reset to just make their body go beyond its natural limits. And now I said too much, but that's entirely Chelsea Buzz fault. He gave me a whole floor, what was I supposed to do with it as I refuse to do any more sweeping on my vacay time? Complaints direct to him please Kidding of course, I may not be the queen of the longest posts anymore, but I just had a lot to say... as usual for women and even more so for me. Good thing most of you can cope with me already The ones who can't yet for they're new here, chop chop and learn (bad joke again)

I'll come up with something to say in a little bit, after I read today's news related to Conte and the team. It's just I can't be culprit of having Mourinho's thread once again as the last active thread from Matthew Harding in the HP. A relevant post will come later, for now I'm just working on making it look right

Clicked on this thread out of curiosity because I couldn't understand why Mourinho's Thread was the one with the latest post in the Matthew Harding Stand section of the forum. I haven't seen this thread for months, so I clicked straight to last post, but then I had to keep clicking on previous to get to the bottom of today's discussion. The discussion is nonsensical, I won't even bother with it, but you know what really really bothered me? That there has been more posts on this thread today (55 in 6 hours) than on Conte's (20 in 20 hours). That's just sad. Conte has been saying and doing so nice things about our club on this day. Mourinho did nothing out of ordinary (sorry, skipping a Chelsea shirt among many Utd fans waiting for his pen is completely irrelevant and let's not pretend the 55 posts were about that only, I guess not even 20% mentioned it, although I didn't even read any post in the last one and a half page). I'm not saying Mourinho shouldn't have 55 posts about him in 6 hours - whatever, I couldn't care less. It's just that Conte deserves better, not only because of his intriguing and why not say exciting start of things with us, but simply because he is our current manager. I mentioned it in another post, Mourinho moved on from Chelsea when he signed for United (he's a professional, it's how life works for them, they move on all the time), but when will Chelsea fans - haters and lovers (going through extremes) will do the same? His fans and people who can't stand him anymore definitely are passionate (their right to be), it's just that it feels unfair to our current manager. Next time I won't let my curiosity win, those were 10 wasted minutes of my time on the forum today. Totally not worth it.

Oh Emenalo... come on, one would think we're talking about a legend to want him since April. I hope Conte isn't interested or that at least Everton deny us. They seem good at that, only this time I won't mind it at all.

fixed Why are we after this guy? Seriously, don't ruin my perfect mood,Chelsea.

I don't want to be overly excited about it... but it's hard not to. I wish I knew the context of those Aina comments. If he singled the guy on his own accord or if he was specifically asked about the kid

which is why I mentioned it. The likeness of it happening is quite small, unfortunately for Chelsea and fortunately for me. I'm almost 40 now, I really really really passed the age of doing silly dances

I thought me moved past this Back on topic though. I'm getting excited about this guy. If he does play for merit, regardless of age, fee, agent or people on the board, we really are in for a landmark. He has all the right ingredients it seems to take us to the kind of football Roman has said he wants us to play (based on what Mourinho and Emenalo said the last few years). The key will be picking (or allowed to pick, I have no idea how TPTB work inside Chelsea) players based on what they show above everything else. For the first time ever, I'm actually looking forward to have some youth players integrated for real. I really hope it happens.

ask @Choulo about it, lmao

where would I find one? lol The bunny dance certainly doesn't include a pom pom tail or bunny ears, just me being silly. I'm not that desperate to get rid of Iva... Oh wait

Would CTV show the post match interview too? I already closed the link...

If I could I would quote myself over the last few preseason matches or this thread around in preseason. Costa is the kind of player that thrives on competitiveness, he never looks sharp, interest or intense in preseason. It's the odd game when he does. So I see nothing unexpected or that detracts from his quality - deficiencies and all. This is just who Costa is, he usually doesn't turn on killer mode even towards the end of preseason, it's been like that since the beginning. Nothing new

if that happens, I swear another bunny dance is coming from me and I always keep my promises

and I miss you, come here, let me give you a hug

cheeky goal

and that just sums up Victor Moses... at least to me

we have so much deadwood that really, keeping Cuadrado as a squad member is the least of my problems and I don't like his football at all. There's a long list of players that should leave Chelsea either because they aren't even squad member material or because being squad members they actually take away opportunity from younger players I'd rather have. Iva, Mikel, Oscar, Pedro, Remy (love the guy, but he has to go). Also Marin (LOL FOREVER) and Salah are on my list ahead of Cuadrado among the players we should get rid of. Why do we keep those guys and loaning them over and over is beyond me. Just sell them already and get done with it. It felt so depressing to see Marin in the first training session with Conte. We really need to move from some players we have on loan.

it makes me curious. I'm dying to know what his new ideas for our football will be Damn being a girl comes with a lot of territory. I get anxious and curious instead of crazy about it, lol I think your comment is the ignorant one, not Styles' and Conte's. I mean, Mourinho is (was, whatever) undoubtedly one of the best managers in the last years and he's never played in high level. Good for him, nothing wrong with that. It doesn't take away that having a manager that has been a high level player is also great. At the end of the day, it's the whole package that matters, not yesterdays' experience whether in the pitch or in the dugout. His comment was from someone who had the same injury and I see why Styles commented on that. It must a great thing for Happy to have someone who's been there around him right now, not only guiding him, but certainly encouraging too. This is great. Of course, if Conte was only about that, it would suck, but this is a nice surplus to his many positives. This last part is not directed on you per say, but why do I feel like management is still a touchy subject in this forum? Is it only me? Not every comment is a dig on Mourinho. He's past, I for one have a huge respect and gratitude for him, he's still the Special One for me because of his history with the club, but he's not here anymore and even more relevant, he's the enemy now. I love the man, but if we have to destroy him playing against United, I'm all for it. In the pitch, respect gives space to competitiveness and Mourinho is now opponent, so in that context, his history here while respectable, isn't the focus anymore. I'll be happy to make him a victim. I look to the past and I respect him - not all his moments, but most of them, I don't hold onto that. Ofc that's a personal matter and everyone is entitled to react how they please, but I feel some veiled Mourinho defensiveness around. It's time to let it go imo. He certainly did. It's about time we exorcise the Mourinho ghost.

Are we linked to any defense player? We need a LB, a CB (or a couple if you must - seeing how we don't know how Happy is going to come back and Terry could be out due to injury too). There are way too many threads, some of players I've never heard (it's been very difficult to find time to watch football for the past year or so in addition to Chelsea) and as last time I asked you guys were pretty accurate, I might as well try that again

wasn't a consensus just a few months ago that we lacked any really good team in the league, reason why English teams have been a non-factor in UCL recently and England was on verge of losing its fourth spot and which allowed some team like Leicester to actually be champions? The new TV deal makes not much difference, top English teams spend a lot either way...

actually they're quite accurate if you consider the first two 'friendlies' were against a non-professional team and a 60-minute match (wtf is that anyway). So I suppose everyone considers the Sporting match as the first friendly. And that's a loss followed by two 1-0 wins that for all we know could have been uninspired against a couple of Mexican teams... And Juve seems to like to play their own youth, lol, that's so funny

question coming from someone completely out of the loop - had been working like crazy and was taking much needed time off with the family. But now I'm back home and still have 20 days until work, so it's time to get updated about my Chels. who exactly are the names we're linked to? I don't mean DM rumours, but names we're strongly linked. Please tell there are any.

Mourinho can sod off I think Conte is exactly the guy that would take the most from Cesc when he's useful and completely let him go when he's useless. Which is a perfect scenario, use him to his potential, and sideline him when he exposes us (talking about kind of opponents)

Good to see him in our gear. He wasn't even my top5 name for the job, but he has my full support and I think it might actually work. We're starting a clean sheet and it should be in more ways than one, I think the future is very unpredictable, but I have a good feeling about this. It's not like it could be any worse than this season has been all around. The table position was just a fair reflection of how bad we've been in many aspects. We need fresh air in many positions (not talking about only the team), I hope he has the endurance to deal with everything will come his way. Despite the adoration Emenalo has on this forum (which I don't get btw), I think we could use someone new in the position as well. We need new ideas, new people, a clean slate. Our problem goes beyond Mourinho and the current set of players. We had a certain profile/model that worked well for 10 years. Last season was just a consequence of such model needing to be replaced. A new philosophy needs to be put in place. Conte wasn't my guy for that, but maybe he can do the job - especially if we change the people that run our football department.