Still Champions of Europe [2013-14]

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Yeah the last thing we want is him missing the first two months, everyone else establishes themselves, there's no room for him and it's too late for another loan. Still, he's got a month to recover.

 

[Filipower]

Also apparently it's not that serious, from what I heard right after the match. Is it?

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Well Mourinho has said it is not as bad as it looks, but he has been sent home from the tour, which is bad because this would have been his first opportunity to play matches with the first team he is hoping to join.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

I felt there was not enough activity in this thread compared to other team threads.

 

[Mandieta6]

I think that with Mourinho back, not enough of the football-literate dislike us to stir enough debates to really spruce activity like you get with the devilish sides like Barca, ManU and Pool.

The club is looking to loan Chalobah to a Prem side, which is awesome. Other than loans like that abd maybe getting some youngsters, I kind of hope we don't get anyone else. Rooney is too expensive and reminds me of the Torres case (ex-worldclass player moving for unmovable wages and huge fee) and Mou said we won't get anyone else. I suppose van Ginkel is the improvement in the MC position we wanted, and Mou is prepared to sacrifice this season for the sake of building a side that will rule the league. If Kalas, De Bruyne, van Ginkel and Lukaku get lots of minutes, I think we could get there quite quickly.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Yeah I guess it has been a quieter transfer window than most expected. It appears to me to be the opposite of normal - usually new managers demand big money and chairmen are reluctant, but I feel here Jose doesnt want to spend big but Roman would like him too. I would not be surprised if there is a shock transfer at some point, and it could well be Rooney.

 

[Arnau]

Chelsea not buying a forward probably means that Mou has seen something special in Lukaku

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Haha dont bank on us not buying a forward!

 

[Arnau]

Mourinho said Rooney or nothing, didnt him?

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Yeah he did, but I can so see Abramovic getting shaky the day or two before deadline day and making a ridiculous 50m bid for someone like Lewandowski.

 

[Arnau]

Already signed by Bayern

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Well some other fucker then

 

[Mus]

I reckon mou is saving for January in case things don't work out

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Press say we're lining up a 40m pounds bid for Rooney, http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-report-chelsea-bid-40m-rooney-212600517.html, seems too much given the circumstances.

 

[Arnau]

It seems Ivanovic is going to be the RB and Terry-Cahill the CB pair. Mourinho likes to play with a FB "semi CB" and dislikes to play with 2 short fullbacks because with them the team can't defend crosses to the far post.

 

[Mandieta6]

Yeah, Mou has stated that he prefers to use Ivanovic mainly at RB, partly because "it is easier for an RB to play CB than a CB to play RB". I heard Ivanovic was excellent against Milan, too.

David Luiz is the starter, though. Terry will be 1st choice when fit, Cahill and Kalas (and Ivanovic (and Omerou, but I'm 100% we'll loan him)) will rotate, which is a lot of minutes given Terry's time on the pitch lately).

Yet to catch a single pre-season match, might try to catch the Madrid match. Hearing excellent things about some players' development, though, like Hazard and the Essien-van Ginkel partnership.

 

[Arnau]

To be honest, i didn't see anything special on Van Ginkel yet, he's a hard worker though. Chelsea is very well organized already, which is impressing at #5 August with a new coach and way to play. Looks like Oscar will have a leader role. I'm not that sure on the rotation thing, Mou doesn't believe in rotations but yeah, JT need some rest.

 

[Mandieta6]

Mou's CBs last year played 26, 12(3), 26(2), 14(4), 9 matches. I can see a similar divide at Chelsea.

 

[Arnau]

He believes in meritocracy, starters have to earn their spot on training seasons and games. We saw last season how he has no problem to bench a club legend like Casillas or Pepe for a kid.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

It seems Ivanovic is going to be the RB and Terry-Cahill the CB pair. Mourinho likes to play with a FB "semi CB" and dislikes to play with 2 short fullbacks because with them the team can't defend crosses to the far post.

What about Azpilicueta? I really, really liked him at RB