CodyBound

We need to find a balance between showing under-performing players that their spot is not guaranteed, and not messing with the dynamic of the team by making too many changes. The players that I think need to learn this the most are Ivanovic, Cahill and Costa, and with that in mind: ----------Courtois---------- Dave---Zouma---Terry---Baba ---------Fabregas---Matic-------- Moses-----Willian-----Hazard ---------Falcao / Remy--------------- I don't really care who starts up front from these two; Remy was bright last season and is obviously hungry to play, as is Falcao who I would be interested to watch from the start this time. Costa's passion is undeniable, but with all of his fight-picking, going down too easily, losing the ball and lack of goals you can't justify an automatic starting position with the other two waiting in the wings. If players like Fabregas don't up their game in the coming weeks, then I'd like to see a start for RLC or Mikel in his place. And if Ramires starts on the wing again when we have Moses, Traore and Cuadrado available.... well, then there is pretty much nothing I can do about it. But I will not be amused. Time for the squad to be force-fed some competition.

For a little perspective.

I haven`t posted in a very long time, typically I just enjoy reading. However thought I just might add what Brad Friedel had to say on the matter. I`m currently living in Canada and Friedel is one of the pundits they have over here on Sports Net (probably the best one), and when you might expect him to argue on behalf of goalkeepers everywhere in this situation, he firmly said that it was a penalty. I had actually been a little on the fence until I heard what he had to say. Speaking as a Premier League goalkeeper, he said that when a goal keeper comes rushing out at 100mph as the final line of the defense between goal and striker, he has to make a committed decision. If he throws his arm out he has consciously put himself in a vulnerable position, and when this decision backfires and he makes contact with the opposition player and none with the ball, there can be no doubt that it is a penalty. He would know there is an element at risk to taking this initiative and given the huge pace that the game is played at - two players running towards each other at top speed - anything that is mistimed, no matter how marginally, is going to obstruct the striker and give him the right to a penalty. Long story short: he made contact with Costa, and the fact that he our striker may have been playing for the penalty makes no difference. He played it well. I think some people have said more or less the same thing, but I thought it meant a lot more coming from this man.

Pfffffttt I think it's quite clear he was about to rip his shirt off and reveal the Chelsea emblem tattooed on his chest. f**kin ITV.......

ITV's greatest footballing gaffes: http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/itvs-greatest-football-gaffes/

Poor Eden looks so silly with his shorts pulled up to his chest, ha! Congrats to Luiz who looks unbelievably cool though.

You'd be surprised, 8th in PL for 2013: Imagine what he was when we first bought him.

I don't really comment on here much, just enjoy reading the forum as it's usually quite level-headed and it's interesting to listen to the different perspectives of our fans. But to that first line: I take great offence. Does it matter if any of us are 'kids' in our early twenties grandpa? It happens at all clubs, when a small minority of older fans look down on the younger generation. Not by many of course, but it's disrespectful from those who do. As for this thread, I don't find it to be as 'level-headed' as the rest of the forum, but it is still interesting nonetheless. 69 pages seems appropriate for a player that splits opinions as much as him. The reason there are more posts here than say for a Mata or Hazard thread is because everyone generally agrees that they are quite good at football, so not much need for discussion. Since I'm posting, I may as well contribute to the actual topic. I like Mikel, he does a job. The problem is that he doesn't always choose to do it, and so I can understand why people like having a go at him. What I would say is that sometimes people try as hard as they can to blame him for a mistake or goal that is a team fault, or sometimes when he has barely anything to do with it. I'm happy with him in the starting line-up, but wouldn't be distraught if we tried to invest in a replacement.

*stares at laptop screen...slowly raises gun to head*

W.B.A (H) 2-2 Fulham (A) 2-0 win West Ham (H) 4-0 win Southampton (A) 2-1 loss Sunderland (H) 3-2 win Tottenham (H) 2-1 win Liverpool (A) 3-1 loss Swansea (H) 1-0 win Manchester united (A) 2-2 Aston Villa (A) 5-0 win Everton (H) 2-1 win

Anyone know if the big man is going to be back from ACON to be available for selection in Europe and at the weekend?

I'll shall join now!

Farce. Gerrard flashes up as MOM and crowd goes wild. Then all of a sudden announcer stops, and Lampard is named MOM. Crowd boos.

Got some way to go yet.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1324524-top-50-young-players-in-world-football-right-now-21-and-under/page/2 I was reading this bleacher list on the top 50 under-21 players in the world at this moment, and it occurred to me that Chelsea may just have the most promising set up of youthful players in the world. More so than Barca, Arsenal, or any other club that are famous in this department. According to this, and I think I agree, Chelsea own 6 of the most promising young talents in existence including the number 1. spot (I think you can all guess who got that), 8 if you include the honourable mentions at the end! We may or may not be strong enough to win the premier league this year but surely it won't be long until we are once again one of Europe's most dominating teams? A lot of you have probably already come to this conclusion but it only really sunk in for me after reading this report.