theblueone

Oscar was phenomenal. Well deserved MOTM. His crossing was nigh on lethal. Just a shame Luiz denying Neymar his hat trick. Reminds me why we sold him on in the first place. I want Modric in place of Ramires next season. He was incredible. As for old man Eto'o, I hope he is a complete and utter flop, Cameroon make an early exit from the tournament, causing him to lose his legendary status within the team and sweat over his future, winding up having to resort to finishing his career at a small team.

I absolutely loved that. Was brilliant to see him get into the spirit of it. Thing that pisses me off is all the bitter scousers and usual suspects using it as an opportunity to attack Mourinho saying crap like "he has to make it all about him". Sad tossers each and every one of them. I thought it added to the atmosphere of the day. Was a good match.

To those doubting this, Mourinho has admitted he's keen on him, there are quotes. Plus Barca have accepted the bid and I would imagine they would want to push this through as quickly as we do because they will be investing around about 18 million of the fee into buying Ivan Rakitic.

As much as I hate to admit it (speaking of Lamps here), I would say it is an upgrade. As much as I love Lampard and he will always be a legend in this club, his performances did begin to wane. Even his free kicks weren't as lethal as they once were. Cesc is younger and has a lot more creativity. I can see him being instrumental in finding cracks in defences for Costa to plough through. Despite his horror show penalty last night, he is on good form. Ramires? Definite upgrade getting Tiago back. He still has a lot of fuel in the tank and I see him being more consistent than Ramires ever was... Plus he doesn't stomp on peoples legs or throw elbows and spend large chunks of the season suspended.

Definitely. Especially after his solid performance for England today. Only player who was switched on besides Gary Cahill, who put in some nice blocks.

Exactly. I too was hoping to see him have a go at it next season after a good season at Everton. I had hoped that it would settle him down and matured him somewhat, but again, he opens his mouth and makes it obvious that he has no interest in playing for the team and fighting for his spot. If he doesn't buck his ideas up, man up and put his big boy trousers on, he can just f**k off basically. Another valid point. How can Jose determine how well he plays with the team if he's not here? I don't blame Jose for wanting to get some proven forwards in this summer. He can't be expected to gamble on an immature little boy like Lukaku when he can't afford another season without silverware (let's face it, we all know what Roman is like). Also takes time to fully assess the team and how he would fit. He's delusional if he thought he would come back and automatically be placed as first choice. He'll wind up at Valencia next season I reckon.

I don't either to be honest! Players should just keep their mouth shut, get their head down and get on with what they're paid to do just like in any other profession. You wouldn't get away with running your mouth to your manager if you were working a 9 - 5 job. As long as he goes to a foreign club and we get paid well for him, I couldn't give a toss anymore. He's a young man behaving like a petulant little boy.

Yep, but that requires effort and patience. Something Lukaku clearly doesn't possess. There are far too many sources discussing this now for it not to be true.

So what you're saying is that you want the club to pander to him and demonstrate that if a player throws the toys out the pram and demands a transfer because they are being asked to work for their position, they'll get their way? My word, just no. No player gets special treatment and that's how it should be. He is only wanting a transfer because he sees what's coming through the door and he doesn't want to work for his spot. He just wants to walk into it. Do we want that lazy defeatist attitude? No thank you.

He'll wind up as one of these flash in the pan players that winds up playing for a mid table side somewhere with the way he's going. No big club will want a prima donna dampening the atmos in the dressing room. What he doesn't realise is that competition for a position is common place and its competition that spurs on most players to work harder and in turn, this creates better players. If he was the number one striker somewhere at his age, he'll think he's made it and he'll have no desire or reason to improve. Its just pure laziness. He expects to jump the queue and become a superstar without any of the hard work that comes along with the title. He's got one hell of a reality check heading his way in the near future that's all I'm saying and if he does get picked up by a bigger club, he's going to find himself in exactly the same position as he is now.

People clearly seem to forget Villa Park and the Sunderland game, which he's still serving a suspension from on opening day of the season. He is a liability and lacks the maturity to control his temper. I say cash in whilst the money offered is good. We could easily put that cash to better use than having Ramires around next season...

Exactly, Dave is an admirable player. He has well and truly earned his place in the team and he did so out of position for a majority of the season. I can only imagine how much he will improve next season when he's played in his natural position. Lukaku should definitely learn a thing or two from him. Dave is not only a great player, but he possesses a great hunger and an exceptional attitude. All I've seen from Lukaku is a bunch of whining to the press and threats to leave. When the going gets tough, Lukaku starts walking. That's pretty much the story of his career so far. Very talented player, but a sh*t attitude and that's going to hold him back big time. This is what happens when players are hyped at a young age. Their ego and ambition eats away at their potential.

timetowaste.... couldn't have said it better myself. It is a self entitled attitude and yet again he's showing it after another good season at a smaller club. That kind of attitude is like poison in a dressing room. It rubs off on other players and I would imagine it to piss off team mates aswell. You want a good work ethic and culture in the dressing room, not a player who thinks he's bigger than the team. Everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction not for themself. He has an awful lot of growing up to do before he can ever be considered world class. The best he is going to accomplish at this rate is being a big fish in a small pond, because no big club will want that attitude, or not for long at least.

Jack_Super_Class: You don't become one of the best strikers in the world without making an effort. Seriously, every big name striker in history had to prove themselves in their career and work their nuts off for that first team slot where they earned that superstar status. That's one of the things training is for. To show your manager what you're capable of. Nobody walks into a starting 11 without a fight or at the very least, a struggle. Yes, he's proved himself at other clubs, but he's not proved himself at Chelsea yet. I actually read somewhere that Mourinho did plan to keep him and give him a shot, but I would imagine that to not be the case now. As someone already posted, the fact that he decided not to fight when seeing an out of form Torres, Ba and an aging Eto'o in the dressing room, speaks volumes of his character (or lack thereof). I'm sorry guy, but I don't want a player who cannot be bothered to EARN his place in the starting 11.

Ridiculous basing the opinion signing on personality as opposed to skill. I'm sorry, but absolutely everybody on this planet has been a twat on multiple occasions in their life. Its part of the human condition. Everyone has that twat switch that goes off on occasion, I know I do and I openly admit it. Cesc would bolster a position which was lacking last season as Costa will bolster another area we definitely fell short on last season. Trust Mourinho. What's the point of having him if everybody is going to second guess him every time he makes a decision. I trust Mourinho completely to boost the team in the correct areas. With the signing of Luis aswell, this further strengthens our defence. All we need now once this batch of Atletico signings and Cesc goes through, is a couple more strikers to give us a terrible trio to strike fear into the hearts of defences next season. I know for a fact people will disagree with me here, but I firmly believe Mario Mandzukic would be good for us. No idea on a third choice.... but that's what Mourinho is for...

If Lukaku is really looking for a transfer, this goes to show what a weak man he is. Half the glory of becoming a fan favourite is proving yourself by outshining the competition. Does he really think he's going to just walk into the Chelsea starting 11 that easily? This has changed my opinion on him now. He will never reach legendary status with that attitude. If that's his attitude then let's cash in. I don't want to see weak willed team members who expect everything to be handed to them without earning their place. Send him abroad. I read Valencia want him for 25 mil. Send him there. Such a shame really, the boy is good but like so many young players who hit form early, the ego has inflated to mighty proportions and he seems to think he's bigger than the team. Can definitely do without that. He can go be a big fish in a small pond somewhere and not progress if that's what he wants. We need team players who are willing to fight for their starting position by proving themselves.

I want to see us open them up like a can of Heinz next season after this (metaphorically speaking on the pitch of course)

What you have to realise is that about 75 percent of mank sh*tty supporters are plastic and follow the glory. Guarantee many of them were wearing red a few seasons ago. They'll come unstuck eventually when the FFP cuts their ludicrous spending. They have nobody to blame but themselves for their transfer limitations. Thankfully for us, Jose is being more mindful of the FFP sanctions. I was only glad for City to win the title because it meant Liverpool didn't. They don't remember the fact that we played a huge part in killing Liverpools title dreams. Seems its gone to their heads already like a lightweight in a drinking contest. Look forward to seeing a more aggressive Chelsea doing another league double on them and the scousers en route to another title victory.

Also wouldn't it be hilarious if he did celebrate a goal with a walking stick and got immediately sent off for bringing a foreign object onto the pitch lol.

Personally I hope Cameroon get stomped out of the group stages and go home early. Eto'o deserves no glory.

All for it. Godin, Koke, Tiago, Luis, Costa, recall Courtois, keep Lukaku and bring in a backup striker like Bony and I think we'll be the football equivalent of a tank next season. Think about it. All those Atletico players know each other well and play well together, so there is half the job done in terms of team cohesion already.

No way. I don't want to see him back next season. Not after this. We need mature players who are pulling in the same direction, focused, part of the team, respectful of their team mates and respectful of their coach. We don't need a vindictive, disrespectful little pratt who throws his toys out of the pram at the slightest little thing. He's behaving like a teenager. Not an adult. Furthermore, he's not even good enough for our number 3 spot next season. We have somebody better than him in our ranks already that I am hoping we have the intelligence to keep. Romelu Lukaku. . .

I agree. We should be taking steps to make games more accessible for disabled supporters and we should definitely be taking steps to making a more welcoming and most importantly, safer environment for them. Seating them with their own fan group shouldn't be an issue to be pondered. It should be a given. Though as you say, they shouldn't be a target to begin with. In fact, no fan should be a target for anything beyond a friendly bit of banter. It is but a game after all.

Nah, I think the red balls are fine. Represents the pensioners. Got to have a little tradition in there still. I too noticed the new training kit range and wondering what on earth they're playing at with the Citeh blue panelling. I certainly will not be buying any training tops next season. Its just weird.

Speaking as a man with disabled friends and family, I was absolutely stunned and apalled by this. As somebody else suggested, sitting opposition fans above/below reach other irrespective of whether they are disabled or not is a recipe for trouble anyways. But to sit vulnerable adults and possibly children in a potentially hostile part of the ground is just outright irresponsible. As for the behaviour of the fans, it beggars belief. Completely disgusting. For one, spitting on somebody is assault in itself. But to throw bottles at them and jeer at them regardless of whether it was due to the club they support or their personal difficulties, no excuse for it. The club should be weeding out those responsible and issuing lifetime bans for those involved to show that they do take the safety and well being of travelling fans as seriously as they do their own. I think UEFA should give them a complete home end stadium ban for at least one match in the CL on top of a whopper of a fine. Sadly the fine won't hurt them so much due to how they're set up financially but a complete home end stadium closure will. And if they repeat offend double the length. And then start issuing season bans from European competition if they still fail to respect travelling fans.