Barbara

let's sign the right post to solve our strike issues Some sick skill to dribble Schwarzer in that first goal

I prefer a chat. It was stable through all the match and I feel like posts on during match adding to total post account is awful So I'm team chat room

word of wisdom to you mate (not that you asked): give up. Don't even bother... some subjects about some players in this forum really have a pattern, no matter what happens, there is a pattern... so the best thing is to let go.

I literally reading a couple of posts here but they're totally expected! It happens every.single.time. no exception. Still funny to read hysterical even

which is one of the indications I think he's still quite nervous... which is understandable

I think he was very nervous... I've seen him doing better with the chances he had... I wonder if he doesn't feel pressured up to show Mourinho he can count on him? You guys know him better than I do... what do you think?

this vid gives me nightmares... But Torres >>>>>>>> Lukaku in that match easily. Lukaku actually had more chances to do something for us but he was very poor.... The van Ginkel pass that he's totally rooted waiting, instead of keep his feet moving to receive - lack of technique The perfect pass by Ramires (?) that he finishes the ball in the Caribbean - it puts Torres to shame The great pass he receives in the right... he crosses the ball in an awful fashion (more like he gets rid of it) when he had only one defender against him... The good thing is that I know he can do better than that because that was awful in so many levels... Torres linked up some plays - some poorly, some nicely, but he hadn't had one chance like those three I mentioned Lukaku had. I wonder if he would have done as bad or better (sort of hard making worse, unless of course, he trips on the ball. The way they performed separately makes me wonder if he had Lukaku by his side if both of them wouldn't have benefited from it. Lukaku could benefit from the link up... But yeah, Lukaku totally Torres'ed.

Well Mourinho seems concerned about fatigue although the season is yet to start... and I understand why he is (though I must admit I haven't thought of it until now). The players traveled a lot to make this pre-season work and I wonder if that's the best way to do it, but that's another discussion. Many guys picking small injuries (Lamps, Kevin, André, Mata, Luiz) and I understand where the concern comes from because within a week our official competition starts. So while I was really looking forward to see the best team (or mostly) against Roma so we can have an idea before playing Hull, preventing injuries is much more important than doing adjustments on the main team out of one match. One match won't make much difference now. as I said earlier I would have preferred the last three matches featuring most of the main team or the whole main team. But there's this issue Mou mentions - which is different from recovering best physical form coming back from vacation and testing formations... Ramires may look like the man of steel, but it would be nice to spare him physically at this point. The same maybe it's true about Terry (although he started physical training a week earlier than the the rest of the team) and Coleand I guess Oscar could use a break as well. It's more about being cautious about players who played too many minutes now - added to the constant traveling - rather than making additional tests on formation. I was really happy when the fixtures came out, but I'm even happier now knowing our first matches will be against Hull and then Villa. I do hate International football next week and some of those players could be exposed to injuries unnecessarily. *starts prayer circle*

I'll do that one

I think there are two aspects about academy. 1) talented players are born that way. So the next big shots on football won't be formed in any academy. I mean of course the academy will help, but no academy in the world can turn a guy without the natural gift into the likes of Messi and Cristiano. They are gifted and of course, work very hard. 2) great players - not world class status - can be formed in good academies. Talent continues to be a variable, but in a lesser degree. But a good academy can help create the next really guys, that need guidance, training, decent competition, etc... When a league strengthens the juvenile's and youngsters' competitions it means more clubs, more players, more matches, more sharpening.. That was the aspect I was trying to make. The next Messi, Zidane, Ronaldo, Cristiano, Ronaldinho or whoever you want to name it, could have been born in any country in the world... England included. The only merit the academy will have is finding those next guys. I think it's very important for English football to continue to make high level players because one way or the other the lack of local players inevitably weakens the league even if it's a well established, traditional and football oriented country as England. So the moment you improve the competition, and clubs start to invest in those competitions, more boys will come, they'll face more teams, they'll play more often, they'll be more challenged, so it's only natural the quality improves. I'm not saying Chelsea will help England become the next Spain, or will make it become Brazil - the only reason we keep making so many players is because there are too many academies, most of which with poor condition, so in a country as big as Brazil where the sport is so popular is really a mathematical thing. I'm saying though that it seems like Chelsea (board and Roman) and Mourinho are looking at the academy more carefully and will help to make us a club that makes stars, instead of only importing them and I believe more examples of John Terry will come in the next decade because of what's starting now. I'm sure the age of our future signings will continue to drop. Someone mentioned 21-24, I think it's already lower than that. Except the punctual deal, we've been signing 18-21 for the past two seasons. Not only (relatively) big names like Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle but the likes of Cuevas, Wallace, Aké, Piazon, etc... The whole point I was trying to make is that we've changed our signing policy, but we still keep being a no-selling club. In a few years though if we continue to bring in so many young talents we may even export a few of them. That's important for Chelsea and that's important for England. When a local guy from a sub-17 team faces talents from other countries or has them as team mates, it's only natural everyone's game improves. I believe that movement could bring more kids to the academies, and also reduce the early exists as many boys give up along the way. It's beneficial for Chelsea, for England, for other academies. I don't know where modern football is headed though. It seems to me more and more fans are becoming more invested in the clubs they support rather than their country's NT (especially in big leagues). Who knows if international football won't completely become irrelevant in let's say 30 years from now? FIFA is focusing on making money and they may be overlooking (or belittling) this. So maybe international football (NT's) could sort of disappear. Or maybe it won't happen, and international football will survive, but I have no doubts the excessive amount of foreigns weakens NT's and the main reason for that is because the best leagues in the world are importing more and more players from all over the world. Few countries like Germany, Spain, and even Brazil continue to produce more than enough. Other countries have waves and others a good generation in a lifetime and neither is enough to help the situation. I really don't know if NT will survive the excess of foreigns in the biggest leagues. But that's another discussion

I think the team has been changing its policy about players and foreigns as well. You can't create a good Academy for local players from night to day, but there are new players - English players - coming from the Academy and I think that number will increase. It's the cheaper way of all to make stars and I like what Mourinho said about the Academy strengthening and England's better schedule for sub18 and 21 teams. It doesn't mean they'll succeed, but Barcelona started it about a decade go (a bit more). Of course their 'Cantera' has always been there, but the focus on them started this century. I disagree about Mourinho not being good to work with youngsters. The most recent example is how he signed and handled Raphäel Varane (18). I don't mean he's the best manager around to do it, but I suppose he works fine. Also I think there isn't better player developer - regardless of their age - than Mourinho imo, so I think Roman may be aiming to do the same Barça did.

oh it wasn't you I meant, sweetie, but 'Chelsea?'

, , CHOULO19 (or else), I've added an article about the club's no-selling policy. Please whoever approves it, make sure to read-proof. Thanks in advance, lovelies. ps.: and feel free to change the title, as I don't particularly like it

Manager Jose Mourinho has spent as much time stating Chelsea’s one and only target this summer is Wayne Rooney as he spent emphasizing the club won’t be selling any key players. The Portuguese have been forced to clarified rumours about Juan Mata and David Luiz leaving in much of his media dealings while on pre-season tour in the United States. Yesterday, the Spanish media confirmed that apparently Barcelona had officially made a £34.5million bid for Luiz but Mourinho wasted no time in making it clear to the Spanish champions that they should pursue other targets. “The bid? It’s lost time for them. My advice to them is to go to the second player on their list because they are wasting their time. We don’t want to lose our best players. No chance.” said Mourinho in his media meeting yesterday as he looks to end the rumours of Luiz’s depature while also ensuring none of the best players at Stamford Bridge will be sold. The point highlighted by Mourinho “We don’t want to lose our best players. No chance.” easily summed up Chelsea’s transfer policy in the last few years. The only ‘best players’ that have left Chelsea while still holding the status were Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba. The former, in particular, left on his own accord after the club and player couldn’t meet an agreement on his contract extension and was sold to Real Madrid in 2007. The club’s philosophy has changed ever since Roma Abramovich became the owner in 2003 and just like PSG, Monaco, Manchester City and Real Madrid have been doing, the Russian billionaire was ready to sign as many top players in the world as possible to make a competitive and winning team when he arrived. And that has been the case in the subsequent seasons which culminated with splashing out £50million for Fernando Torres in the 2011 January transfer window. However, the club has become less inclined to spend huge amount on transfers since then especially for players already in their peak. Looking at the transfer dealings in the last two years, Chelsea may continue to spend as much as possible to reinforce the squad - with compliance to the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules - but the targets have changed somewhat drastically. Over the past 1-2 years, the Blues have bought the likes of Oscar (20*), Eden Hazard (21), Marco van Ginkel (20), Andre Schurrle (22) and Cesar Azpilicueta (23) to West London and this indicate clearly that Chelsea are pursuing young and upcoming talents. Additional purchase of Brazilian right back Wallace (18), signed back in January this year, and Nathan Ake (16) signed in 2011 are further example of this shift in transfer approach. The club now is obviously trying to identify potential Under-21 star players as their main target while also adding experienced players to the squad wherever necessary as demonstrated by free signing of Mark Schwarzer this summer. And with a squad depth filled with many young talents at Stamford Bridge now, the need to buy ‘big name’ players would hardly be a necessity any more in the future. The latest target and ‘big name’ player is striker Wayne Rooney as Chelsea have been facing major difficulties with their striking force ever since Didier Drogba’s left in 2012 and are in need of adequate quality upfront. Fernando Torres has proved incapable of repeating the top performances he once had at Liverpool and although the Spaniard has scored some important goals for the Blues, it simply has not been enough. Jose Mourinho has made it clear that the club is not settling for anyone else and if the deal with the Manchester United player cannot be done, chances are that no one else will be brought in and the manager will have to try and get the best out of Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba. When the Portuguese returned to Chelsea for a second spell in June, he stated it clearly that he aims to work with the Blues for long term and confirming those are the wishes of Abramovich as well. Looking at how Michael Emenalo - Technical Director - is approach the market, how both the manager and owner are looking to the futyre, it is clear that Chelsea may want to be the next Barcelona - academy wise. The Spanish team have been focusing on their academy for many years, whether by developing players themselves or bringing then from other clubs at an early age - like with Lionel Messi. Not only do they produced home grown players that are mostly in the current squad right now, but some of those players have also joined at other club such Cesc Fabregas. Having looked at the U-21 and even U-18 teams as well as youngsters on loan at other clubs around Europe, Mourinho has mentioned there is a need for clubs in England to have busy schedule to their academy teams and how he will try to follow them. This shows that the club is not only focusing on maintaining its status as one of the big forces in Europe but also establish Chelsea as a young talent power house. John Terry is the biggest testament of the club’s academy having spent his entire career at Stamford Bridge and the plan now seem to be building upon this situation of not only bringing in foreign young talents at early age but also helping to discover and develop England’s next generation of stars. Having a strong and competitive academy would not only contribute to the team’s own strength but also to the English boys joining a competitive and strong environment. Many fans today say ‘Chelsea aren’t a selling club’ and while that is true, it seems like another status will follow in the next few years, should the club continue with their current transfer approach, where Chelsea fans can proudly claim the club produces its star players and keeping them. * the ages used correspond to when the players joined the team, not currently (except this summer's transfers). Click here to view article

I thought I was the only one to notice such nonsense. I'm yet to understand what he did in those matches that was better than the rest. I agree there's a crazy hype here. But then again he's not the only one hyped, but he's already quality - not only potential. So while I laugh really hard on him having motm for very sub par presentations (especially when I could point at least 3 players on each match that were way better than him), but I also laugh on saying he's average on everything... The truth is probably somewhere between the shocking momt votes and the nonsensical underrating. If the site is confirming Bertrand will play 75 minutes, I guess it's safe to say Mourinho won't use what he thinks is our A team... so we'll have to wait for Hull City and hope that against such a weak side we won't have trouble playing the first team for the first time under Mourinho...

as long as it's true and the only message you send, I wouldn't mind but I'm a spoiler addicted, I'd check the score if I couldn't watch for any reason

You've been missed! While you were away in addition to tattoos in the squad I was cured of my relationship allergy thanks to my mom and I'm dating a guy I literally held in my arms when he was born I told him someone in TC always tells me that age is a number and prison is a place, he burst out laughing. And remember the set up thing we were discussing? Well, you know it's okay when your friends try to set you up. But you know the situation is bad when your own mother sets it up and then plans a honeymoon (she desperately wants a grandchild, poor thing. Too bad I don't want any kids and so doesn't my brother). now you tell me about about being set up

so did Mourinho

I don't think it's fair to say Eden is hyped out of potential instead of quality after everything he did for us last season. Oscar is more debatable, but Hazard has been amazing for us. The thing is motivation is built up by many aspects - some on a conscious level, some on a subconscious level. I'm sure Eden is trying very hard to impress Mourinho. Everyone in the world of football knows that Mou is a coach that will demand a lot from his players and that only the best will play in his team - especially when it's a new project and he doesn't have yet identified the guys he won't touch in the team. So I have no doubts Eden is trying to do show his best, but he can't help himself. He needs the thrill of official competition to run his engine. I don't think he'll ever be impressive during friendlies and pre-season matches. Neither do I think we need him to be. They're much worse than Milan and about the same level as Inter - although Inter seems so poor these days that maybe Roma is slightly better. Did you watch those matches? edit: If Mourinho is starting his best team and Mata and Luiz can start the match (they were training with everyone else today), there are two formations I would prefer. One for 4-3-3 and other for 4-2-3-1. Those would be my starting XI against Hull. I don't favor one formation over other, it's just if we decide to start Kevin, I think 4-2-3-1 suits him better and if we decide to play 4-3-3, it suits Oscar better. Cech Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole Ramires ----- Marco Oscar Mata --------------- Hazard Torres Cech Ivan --- Luiz --- Terry --- Cole Ramires ----- Marco Mata ----- Kevin ---- Hazard Torres if Mata is out, I'd have KDB on his place in the 4-3-3 and Schürrle in the 4-2-3-1, and if Luiz if out, I'd bring Ivan to the CB and would have Azpili in the RB I still think Moses is more a super-sub than a starting XI guy. In addition to him I would also bring Lamps for the second half and Lukaku. Only those three subs.

Land of no pubes. Price.less. *dying laughing*

imo he would never be a Mata in terms of creativity, but he's way more creative than let's say Ramires. Oscar is yet to play 100% comfortably in Chelsea. He will never dribble as Eden. He's a midfielder, yes, but an attacking one because he has a good pass, good finish and he can do great 2-1 plays. He's very smart and he has a great vision of the game. He can give his mates plenty of assists if he's played in the right position. I don't like to compare him to Lampard because I don't like to compare anyone to Lamps. He's Super Frank, he's been unique for us, but Oscar has much more potential creatively than Ramires. I wonder if people who argued here last season weren't right about the English football not being that much suited for him. We'll have to wait and see. I understand now what Dion said the other day about him not reaching expectations. I was looking in a different way (seeing the difficulties expected from a player that comes from Brazil to EPL), but maybe the problem is the physical style in England. He's a very light player and it EPL doesn't suit light players like him. I'm sure if Mourinho understands that he won't be able to live up his potential in the team because of the style, he'll talk to him and to the board and we'll probably offload him in a couple of years, but at least one more year is necessary to fairly assess that... Maybe he'll need as much time as Ramires needed, although Ramires is more suited to EPL than Oscar imo.

It seems like David Luiz and Mata trained along with the rest of the team instead of doing separate work out. They were deeply missed yesterday, so it's good news they're being able to train (and based in some of Luiz's pictures, he didn't spare himself) and will hopefully be able to play Saturday, at least so we can have one match before EPL begins with the first team. Surely, if they're not 100% it's better to let them rest, but it'd be nice to have a last preparation match with what Mourinho thinks is our A team. and what sort of magic is this Mata is doing. This pic is so funny, it seems like he literally glued the ball on his foot It seems the boys make a toy out of anything they find around they were playing footie basket

thanks to whoever proof-read my match report. It was great. I suppose it wasn't Lex because I haven't seen him around - although he told me he would be for the next 15h - and that was 5 hours ago when I wrote the report Either way, thanks guys

Well, I was in charge of writing the match report I was much milder there though http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/16569-a-beneficial-loss-as-a-strong-real-madrid-intended-to-win-against-former-manager/?view=getnewpost edit: and just saw this on twitter for those who might want to take part and try to win an autographed shirt Int Champions Cup ‏@IntChampionsCup Want to win an autographed Chelsea jersey? Enter to be the Ultimate Guinness #ICC2013 fan here: http://bit.ly/14Ak10H

I really like those new pictures from behind the players we got in the American tour, we see how close they seems to each other. There's always some hugging and supporting. It's awesome. Some of them have 'front' versions, but as they normally are with their back turned to the photographers most are like this. Is Eden about to slap Ramires butt though? @bushman I'm not hot, but my cheek is twice its size, I'm supposed to be quiet and pampered by my mother (although bf is helping) and feeding off ice cream and smoothies for 4 days so I'm bored and posting like crazy... but now I'm checking pics to the match so I won't continue the endless posts although based in the likes I received I saw in my notifications about posts I made in his thread it seems a few people agree with some of the things I said, so I might have spared them to say it edit: Adidas is saving on their creative department? You remove the badges and those training shirts are basically the same with different colors