BlueMark

Exactly. Both games offer built in extra motivation. If we see the same issues in either or both matches, we'll know that a change in staff and/or players are going to be needed.

It was widely assumed City would sack Pellegrini after their poor second half last season. And City have started this season looking unbeatable. We've all wanted Roman to show some stability. We all wanted Jose back. I'd still rather be Chelsea than Spurs, United, Liverpool, or Everton.

Some good points here. I think it's several factors that came together. The pre-season was totally botched. Started late, and the travel fro Montreal up & down the USA east coast was not ideal. Players still look tired. Some players still don't look fit. Hazard in particular still looks a little chunky. He doesn't have the same slippery quickness in the box to weave through players as he did last year. It seems he's not being fouled nearly as much as he has been, which suggests he's been easier to defend. We miss Oscar. We seem more fluid when he's in there. It seems we are short of ideas when he's out. And our set plays are much more dangerous when he's on them. We miss big personalities like Drogba and Cech. Especially now in the midst of this crisis. JT's confidence has taken a hit after being subbed off snd he's become tentative in his play- no tackles vs EFC? He may feel as if he is part of the problem and not in position to question others. But it is worrying that we have not played a good game since per season began. And there are still no resolutions. We have some of the best players and the best manager in the league, and we can't stop the bleeding.

I was thinking more like Luis & Azpi outside. While Papy seems pacy and quite good in the tackle, some comments I have read have suggested that he gets caught upfield a bit. I'm sure Jose will have a very specific defined role for him.

I wish there had been a bit more patience by both Chelsea and Filipe Luis.

How many players that were "Chelsea standard" we're actually available to buy during this window? Who did we lose out to that went to other teams? If a team refuses to sell a player you want (i. e. Stones), what can you do?

I think there's disappointment about what could have been done. Jose said he gave a list to the board in April/May. Nothing happened. Granted the Stones thing didn't work out, but do we think Baba or Papy were on that list? Even though we know most rumours are crap, we can't help but get a little excited over the possibilities. But yeah, at least we didn't have the window ManU or Arsensal had.