petre.ispirescu

Here is my two cents on Griezmann - While I think he's a wonderful player with a real knack for scoring goals, my feeling says he's taylor made for one tactic in particular and a certain manager. And that's Diego Simeone and his modern 4-4-2. He's a number 9.5 as managers like to refer to this type of player - not a number 10, but not a number 9 either. Can't be a playmaker and can't play as a lone center forward. He's a shadow striker, a false 10. Bergkamp had the same role under Wenger's 4-4-2 if you remember. Henry the center forward, Bergkamp 9.5 (false 10), Pires - Ljunberg wide midfielders and the pivot Vieira & Gilberto Roberto Baggio had the same role as well while playing under Arrigo Sacchi's trade mark 4-4-2 in WC 1994 - Donadoni and Berti wide midfielders, Massaro/Casiraghi the lone forward and Baggio number 9.5. I think Griezmann is similar to those players and would not be that effective on the wing, or as an attacking midfielder, or a lone center forward. He's made to play in a tactic with two strikers and under a manager that fully believes in his ability and knows how to get the best of him. Not an easy player to work with though. There's not a lot of managers that can get the best out of him.

That's probably the most common stereotype in Spanish press when it comes to deals involing Spanish players and English clubs. Mostly when those players want new contracts Or the news is complete bollocks Messi has had English lessons prior to his "move" to Chelsea. Ramos has had English lessons prior to his "move" to United. Neymar has had English classes etc. etc. You know what I mean. They love to throw you this bait. It's mostly used by the low life outlets (Marca, Sport, Mundo Deportivo), but you never know. Maybe this time El Confidencial actually mean business by saying it.

Barbara is right, Cadena SER and ABC.es are the BBC and Sky Sports of Spain. The likes of El Confidencial, COPE, Onda Cero, laSexta come right next. El Confidencial is similar to The Times. Very solid. The thing is they are very reliable when it comes to Real Madrid and Atletico and somehow know what's happening behind closed doors at those clubs. El Confidencial was the first to announce Diego Costa and Filipe Luis to Chelsea, months before, maybe half an year before things started to heat up. Also they were first to announce that Courtois will be recalled from Atletico and given Cech's place, plus a new contract. Read that article myself and it's interesting. Not that much information, probably because they've just found out about this news and negociations are in the early stages. But I think it's the first time that a reputable outlet goes that far to saying Simeone is really interested in the job.

Martial could prove to be a heavy challenge for Shaw at left back then.

Yoohoooooo fuck off scumpool

Bollocks Turkish website quoting Metro. Ok. Similar to when Daily Star, The Sun and The Mail were quoted on Romanian national television and they announced Chirices to Chelsea.

Be back stronger Zoom

If he's so obsessed with Guardiola, why doesn't he try to appoint a manager similar to him? Simeone, Conte, Allegri, they are all top managers, but not even close to what Pep's playing. For me the closest thing to Guardiola in world football is Rayo's Paco Jemez. And anyone that watches Rayo on a regular basis can confirm that. He's basically Guardiola with no money and utter trash players. Basically Rayo is the poorest club in La Liga with a budget of around 10-12m Euros per year. And this amount includes the transfer budget money, players, staff, medical department, physios' salaries etc. Every summer they sign youngsters on loan, free agents or rejects like Kakuta or Bebe. Even Steaua Bucharest here in Romania has a bigger budget. Still Rayo can cope with La Liga and are 2nd in the possession rankings, after Barcelona. Paco Jemez is obsessed with adventurous football, a high line, intensity, pressing, possession based football. And then there's a lot of other managers that get close to Guardiola, although not in all aspects, such as Sampaoli, Pellegrini, Favre, Pochettino etc. Maybe they are not that obsessed with keeping possession 80% of the time, but they play attractive football with high intensity.

No reason to buy such talent if you can't pair him with quality, fast, creative midfielders. He'd look like a poor mans Lee Cattermole next to donkeys Matic and Mikel. Even Iniesta would look like a Sunday League player in our current setup. For me the best version of a midfield is the one Barcelona and Paris use - a technically gifted defensive midfielder (Busquets, Thiago Motta), a modern box-to-box midfielder that connects the lines, moves the ball quickly, runs back and forth (Rakitic, Matuidi) and a regista (Iniesta, Verratti).

We got MLS live on Eurosport here and one of the commentators was at Chelsea vs United today. He said that Miazga must improve his tackling skills otherwise he'll pick up yellow cards for fun. Pretty fast and mobile for his height, but reckless and rushes into tackles. He said that defensively MLS is a shambles and Miazga needs to improve tactically before breaking into the team.

We've only won 4 out of 13 matches at home this season - 3 under Mourinho, no win under Hiddink and the funny thing is that our best win at home & the most entertaining one was under Steve Holland. Maybe we should have kept him in charge. Season was already a train wreck, there was nothing left to lose anymore.

I've come to the conclusion that the board does not give a fuck about us, the fans. You pay a fortune to go watch this shower of shite, a Mikel-Matic pivot against one of the worst United sides ever, consisting of Darmian, Blind, Bortwick Jackson, Fellaini, Lingard. It is an insult to everyone related to Chelsea FC to watch Bortwick Jackson bomb forward at the Bride, almost playing left wing, while Azpilicueta never crosses the midfield line. The way this team is set to sit deep it's cringeworthy. It's like watching Norwich away at the Etihad. Four defenders that can't play a high line for their lives, two defensive midfielders, wingers that almost play as full backs. What the fuck is this shite? City was adventurous against Leicester the other day, but I'd rather Chelsea drop points that way than defend like absolute cowards only to wake up when it's already 0-1. The board probably instructed Hiddink to prioritize Champions League and FA Cup. But what about a EPL derby against United. What about us, the fans that live for these matches? Why was Hazard protected for? Paris SG? Who gives a fuck about Champions League this season? Hazard or no Hazard, we'll get thumped by Paris. And this is a fact. We have absolutely no chance against that team. Not a chance. Not a single one. Right now I'm interested in these EPL derbies. Instead what do I get? Fucking Norwich FC in disguise playing at the Bridge. Massive overhaul is needed this summer. If we start the next season with the same crop of players then I give up on this board and accept that we'll go into mediocrity for a long time.

This is a new low. Can't even string three passes together against this United side.

50 mins till kick off hope he'll change his mind for Christ's sake. Get Hazard on the fucking pitch

It's because I read in the Chilean media a week or so ago that Chelsea does not rate him high enough to be the leading candidate, hence he is at the bottom of their wish list. Will only appoint Sampaoli should all the other managers (Simeone, Conte, Allegri etc.) refuse to come here. News on him are rather quiet these days, but he is linked with the Marseille job.

Vain hope I'm afraid

Got to hand it to Pochettino, it's been a long time since I've last watched a team play with this sort of hunger and intensity. Hate to say it, but Spurs are an absolute joy to watch at the moment.

Truly unbelievable. Hope they go all the way.

Listen, this is going to be the end for Mourinho. Mark my words here. We all know why he is taking this job. He is not coming back to prove us that he's still got it, he is coming back to go to war against Chelsea and Guardiola and this thirst of his for revenge is going to be the last nail in his coffin. We have a phrase here in Romania that sounds like this - "Revenge is a stupid man's weapon". He is sick and won't change. Maybe at first he will behave, but when paranoia hits him and Guardiola gets inside his head, he is finished. Guardiola is going to rip him into pieces. Tony Pulis with money, the self proclaimed "special one" is back to spoil Guardiola's 1st season in EPL, but boy he is going to look like an absolute clown. Can't wait for it.

Read that the board does not feel he is up for the challenge, hence he is only at the bottom of their wishlist. Will get considered only if all the other managers (Simeone, Pellegrini, Pochettino, the two Italians etc.) refuse to come here.

Agree with Tomo, last night was frustrating, but the thing is Chelsea is now like an addict coming out of rehab - needs baby steps before getting back on track. Undefeated in 10 and at least we don't leak goals for fun anymore. Had anyone told me two months ago we are going to keep clean sheets away at Arsenal, United, Watford and Palace, I'd have told him to get his head checked.

Not the best day for Guus. There was no need for two defensive midfielders and Hazard should have been on at HT. Watford played for a draw and Sanches Flores set them so deep that even Baba Rahman should have been on at some point. Watford was poor in the 2nd half, still Azpilicueta contributed nothing offensively. Frustrating. You can't unlock tight defences with one centre forward and three other midfielders. Feels like a defeat TBH.

City didn't live up to their reputation in Europe, but no way this is an embarrassment either, as some of you suggest. They are always in pot 2 so this means they are bound to be drawn against a top team in their group. Also the fact that they had to face Barcelona in the knockout stages two years in a row didn't help either. And they played decent football in those legs. Unlike Mourinho's Chelsea that has gone out against a 10 men Paris SG and Atletico Madrid. And I don't even want to remember the away games in Paris and Madrid in which we barely touched the ball. And this plan B thing is overrated - Carlo didn't have a plan B either, still most of us Chelsea fans love him and would have him here in a blink. Mourinho? What was his plan B? Three at the back, Ivanovic the centre forward and Kennedy as a wing back?