Barbara

right, dude next time use Cris or Messi and you'll make even more sense. My point is Oscar has been proving in a very competitive NT that he has quality. He played some out of this world matches for us there in the last two years - not much during CC because he was very tired, but still was a key player. saying he had a meh season for us last year is really downgrading a guy to show how good another is, you don't need to make Oscar (or anyone else) to look bad to actually convince us Kev is good. I at least have been convinced by that for months. I stand by my words... Oscar is better. Just won CC not beating Croatia and Serbia, but against Italy and Spain. He was immense for us in the CL matches last year, took a while to adapt to the physicality and the style of EPL, but has been showing to be much better adapted this season. I don't know why 1) I come to Belgian players threads 2) I bother to answer posts here. We have great Belgian fans here - regardless if they're Chelsea fans too or not - who bring great POVs, information and insight about the players, but the tinted glasses most of you wear about those kids are annoying. Belgian players can never be criticized around here. You say a thing about a belgian and suddenly there are 2, 3, 4 people defending the guy with their lives. the manager favors another player over a belgian, and he's shit and clueless and the belgian player should be loaned or sold because you guys are terrified one of your kids will lose form for not playing... then the best thing to do is keep them all in the belgian league where they're surely to start every single match. we get it, you have a talent generation of young players. the world has seen it a thousand times before...

José confirmed in the PC today that there are slim chances for Eden to be fit for Sunday http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3476550/title/mourinho-steaua-wont-surprise

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3476550/title/mourinho-steaua-wont-surprise

key words.

I said it in this thread too many times... I don't even do anymore, but I had to show you some support. I know he had too few chances with us in official matches before the loan, but not once you saw him doing an assist like he did today or defenses were so sloppy against us when he was on. People fail to understand that in PS he was really good against bad defenses and weak sides in Asia. When the level raised he disappeared, the same when he took part on official matches. I do agree that he hasn't had enough chances, but he did show some difficulty to play against deep defenses and against good defenders... but let's ignore the context. I'm very happy for the kid, he deserves it. I do hope he's more challenged at Everton than he was at WBA because he needs to be challenged otherwise we'll see a repeat next season for us. He didn't play very well in the 3 Belgium NT matches I've watched this season (including the one he started) again stopping on decent (it wasn't even that good) defenses. But you know... perspective isn't taken into account.

it's not only media. in the match thread people were questioning why Mou singled out Kev when actually he only answered the question. He answers he's in the wrong, he doesn't answer he's in the wrong, he jokes about it his words may be twisted. I understand why he was annoyed, I still don't think he should have left, but welll at the end of the day it isn't even important...

no, I meant they won't. Deserving or not was never in question. They won't give him a break because he's José Mourinho. End of story. He should be used to it. I wasn't even defending him, dude, quite the opposite. You're just so obsessed about hissing on him that you don't even try to understand what people are saying anymore.

someone seems to be in a bad mood... I know it must be irritating for him to feel like he's questioned about his team selection when the likes of Moyes isn't, when Chelsea loses two matches is a crisis, but ManUtd is 12th and City loses to Aston Villa without their two main players and the press is mum Still I expected him to have a thicker skin about it... it's too early for him to already be this irritated. Press won't give him a break.

did he storm out? I read he called it off, ending it earlier, no mentioning of him storming out. Now why the media is making a circus out of de Bruyne, I don't get... unless it's Belgian press - which makes sense they insistently ask, but other than them, I don't see why general press would be making a big deal of Bruyne not being selected. one out of him, willian and andré wouldn't...

actually I didn't mean the moaning... but things escalating into arguments as have been common here. When two, three people start exchanging too many posts between them, sometimes it escalates into a fight. That's what I meant. I don't even think there was moaning involved this time

used the wrong verb. It should have been "I hope he takes part" instead of "I expect" the #10 in Brazil's NT is worse (or isn't better) than an AM in Belgium's NT (as according to you the club performance is unfair given the time Oscar had and Kev didn't, so let's compare NTs)... Okay then, mate.

no. big, huge, fat no. Belgium has a soft spot in my heart and if Felipão wasn't Brazil NT coach I would support Belgium and Germany next year, but you can't compare the level of the opposition you guys are facing with most teams in EPL. The last slightly better opposition you faced recently - a very shaky France - and you couldn't handle it. And that must be the weakest French side in 20 years... in addition to the internal problems they still have not completely solved and moved on from. Croatia, Scotland (sorry, Ry), Serbia and the rest of the competition you're facing might be giving you a slightly distorted perception of where you guys really stand in the whole thing. International football is completely different from club football. Why do you think there hasn't been any surprise in WC basically since it exists? Why do you think Holland hasn't won a title yet? Spain is the closest to a newbie we have, but they had tradition in the competition even if they had never won it until 2010, and they had won a Euro and had had a few very talented and inspiring generations before. I can't exactly pinpoint what the reason is, but tradition weights a lot in WC business. When was the last time we even had a team that isn't among the traditional ones to reach a final? Looking back I can't say, I probably wasn't even born. I understand your enthusiasm though. You have very talented players in all zones (something I suppose never happened before or at least not to this extent?), but that doesn't automatically transform you in a big name in international football and that definitely doesn't make you compete easily against the sides of the most competitive league in the world. It's literally a different league... But if a 'newbie' is to ever surprise the world and win the WC without ever being competitive on it before, then I hope with all my heart, it's Belgium next year Now on Kevin I read a few things here and they don't make sense to me. Honestly... Everyone complaining that Willian took his chance away... as far as I remember Willian played two matches for us - one of which Kevin also played. So while in theory your argument is good, in reality that's not what's happening. Kevin isn't playing because of Willian. Kevin isn't playing because of Kevin and to a certain extent, André, Mata and Hazard. He just didn't show enough to displace any players in the starting eleven - not even Eden Hazard who has been anything but impressive so far. He was very good against Hull, but that was it. His less than remarkable match against United shouldn't be excused by the tactics or the rest of the team's performances. He - like Hazard, Oscar and André - could (and should) have shown better football and he simply didn't. Actually among the four he was the one with less contribution to the match. So if the whole team was below-par he was among the ones that did the least to change that. Then he had his chance against Swindow and he completely wasted it. Then the excuse given here is that it was his first match in a month. Well Mata had been playing very little by then and he took the chance and did the best out of it. What de Bruyne needs is realize that he's going to have to fight for his position here - something he didn't have to do in Genk, Bremen and in the NT. Maybe he isn't used to not being the manager's sweetheart or he is disheartened by not being selected for a match that right now is very important for us and to which we should use our best players and have in our bench players that have experience in UCL. I'm not saying he has an attitude problem, I'm saying he's facing something he hasn't yet in his senior career. The fact that he isn't used to being benched is an opportunity for him to grow and learn how to deal with it. I hope he accepts it and fights for his position rather than lose motivation and sink. Also we've played what - 9 official matches this season? Did he or didn't he take part of one third of that? Every single match will have one of our AM not selected to be even in the bench. So we should stop reacting every time one of them isn't. There's only 18 players that can be selected, 6 of which in the bench. We have 3 AMs spots in the starting eleven and 6 guys for the position. It's simple math and common sense to say we won't use 50% of the spots in our bench to cover only one of the FIVE positions we have (goalie, defense, pivot, midfield and forwarders). He will continue to have chances - but the amount may be directly proportional to what he's been showing not only in matches he does have a chance to play, but also in the training sessions. IMO reason he's with the U-21 team now is so that Mourinho and his team can concentrate in the tactics and preparations for tomorrow's match. It's better for his physical condition to train with the u-21 rather than not training at all. We lost a home match in UCL and no matter how weak our group is we now have to focus in the away matches to make up for that loss and prepare to them much better - especially against the supposedly weakest side in the group. Mourinho is closing up the group that will take part tomorrow. In Brazil we call it Concentração (concentration) and that's pretty intense and focused (sometimes the players even travel somewhere and are full time with the managers, not even going to their houses after the training, but remaining together in a hotel) and it's a common thing to be done ahead of really important matches or when a team is going through a bad patch. While I don't think we'll be isolating players from their routine - it'd be an overreaction - I do believe Mourinho wants to work with the 18 players he's going to use or at most with the ones he isn't sure will be or not part of the 18. Clearly he already knows Kevin isn't part of those 18. And I actually agree he shouldn't be selected for tomorrow - but I expect him to take part of the Norwich match, maybe even starting it.

is there much a purpose for this thread to still be open? It's derailing and producing (imo) unnecessary arguments. The article that incited the thread is old news, as well as Mata status in the bench. Both players are clearly in the starting XI in Mou's head, they'll trade positions between the wing and the #10 during matches. Any discussion about Mata and Oscar roles in the team can be taken in their respective threads without putting one against the other as seen here I can see things escalating unnecessarily from a discussion that right now doesn't seem relevant as one isn't taking the position away from the other. Just a perception though...

too late for that... and the sad part (for me as a Madridista) is that Mourinho was the only manager in the world that could have saved RM from the politics, the media circus, the player power... but not even him was resilient enough to endure that environment and make his work. Watch RM go down in the next few years. The club needs deep changes. Some players have to learn they're not bigger than the team, Florentino Perez is a disgrace to the club, there's too much politics involved and the relationship with the media is very harmful. It makes me deeply sad, but we'll have to hit rock bottom for things to change there. Perez will realize that spending so much money (that the club doesn't have btw because the debts are too high, but whatever, they have cash flow by not paying their debts) won't bring titles. No one can manage that hot mess. A part of me is even happy that this is happening because it'll lead to a reformulation we desperately need.

you know what I just realized. That cunt Mike Dean says he didn't see Torres scratching Jan... then why did he give Torres a yellow for the event in the first place? if he had only seen both players slapping each other, he should either have ignored it or should have give a yellow to both. So what does he claim to have seen in the fight that warranted a yellow only for Torres if he supposedly didn't see the scratch? He can suck my arse - pardon my language - but the one thing he should report that he hasn't seen is that Vertoghen acted being hit in the face when he wasn't. The more I read and think about this whole situation the more pissed I am and if Torres is banned I'll be even more enraged. This is fucking ridiculous!!!!!! then I say the rules are stupid.

Vertoghen conned against us in that play and strip an Aston Villa's player trying (and failing) to prevent him from scoring. If anything he's showed much less fair play than Torres did, as what Fernando did is more about lack of fair play/respect than violence. The pictures make it much worse than the video does. Fernando touched him for a second - something stupid - but much less unfair and dishonest than taking a player's clothes off and pretending to have been hit in the face. I can accept if Fernando get a ban (although I disagree) but the FA will have to have some cojones to not do anything about Vertoghen as well.

he's better than Jelavic and Naismith (even if he's a winger) imo, should start, but in my fantasy I don't take much risks. Except signing Suarez (giving Dani's form) on his first match back from his ban and making him my captain edit: it seems like your gamble did pay off!!!!! happy for the kid (not much for you, hahahahahaha)

watching this vid just after watching Mata's vid from the same match not only Fernando got involved twice more than Mata, but he was definitely more incisive and dangerous for us. Definitely the MOTM for me (I voted on him just after the match but this vid especially seen after Mata's makes it crystal clear). I hope he carries on form.

Having seeing this vid in the Steua thread (1:30 mark) is that the play you guys were talking? He was brilliant then (the play I remembered actually happened in the middle, and I guess that was Lampard). Something we haven't seen Mata doing much in the two years here, right?

dude I told you that wouldn't happen... you guys definitely have a lot more faith on lukaku than I do though... not sure he will even start (though he should)

actually 2 goals are enough if he plays 60 minutes, they don't concede and he gets the highest bonus (likely with 2 goals): 5 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 16 But don't worry, that won't happen.

Always up with me, baby

I'm coming for you, boys

signed and captained Suarez. 26 points. nuff said

Well, I want us to rape them in the League Cup just like you guys, but I also agree with Mourinho who said yesterday we should prioritize the league. They have very complicated matches before and after the League Cup - maybe even more so than us - so who knows which team they'll play? Is Arsene that desperate to finally have Arsenal raise a silverware again that he'll risk UCL and EPL because of a League Cup against us? Also our bench (I don't buy the u-21) is better than theirs, so it's actually Arsene who has to make a decision: will he tire his main players up in a League Cup match when he has difficult UCL and EPL matches the week before and after? Let's see. Mourinho is cool - as he should - as we have amazing squad depth... the one who may be worried about to do here is Arsene imo. Either way, let's rape them!!!!