Van Butsen

Most traditions and culture are born from the rest of the world mate, very few (if any) cultures have existed in the same way for thousands of years. USA have an unbelievable sporting culture both from supporters and the fact they are competitive in just about every sport there is. Which stadiums do you think are uninspiring? I can think of so many fantastic NFL and baseball stadiums Edit: Not to mention college stadiums

Really? Can think of quite a few distinctive and iconic stadiums off the top of my head.

Big T-Bo looks to be back in. Begovic has done well but Courtois is a superstar. Loved the way Bournemouth were playing at the beginning of the season but I think they lack the final piece of quality and the ability to keep up the attacking pace all game. Our quality should undo them here.

There's no way we'd sign less. It's the business model, buy them young, sell them for a profit, buy seasoned players so we can compete for trophies. It used to annoy me but I'm slowly coming around to the fact, because as much as I want the youth to come through, I don't want to be 15th every season.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/12029231/Chelsea-under-pressure-as-highly-rated-youngster-Charly-Musonda-weighs-up-his-future.html Heard talk of he/his family not believing there were enough chances for him moving into the first team... Now there's an article. Stinks of the same conversation we've been having about RLC but I must admit, if I was good enough to play first team football for another club I'd consider it, ahead of playing under 21's for another two years. I also think that this is just a ploy to get more first team chances, which simply won't happen. It's tough to bring through youth and compete for trophies.. probably impossible.

I can see the new baby celebrations already!

Still not huge on the design, but this is extremely intimidating! The graveyard at stamford bridge, where teams rarely never leave alive...

Westminster Abbey was built in 1090, if its borrowing styles from that then sure, you could adapt that in a modern way.. but I don't think that is done here. I'm not just comparing it to other stadiums (which I could and still call it dated), but compared to general trends in architecture that I've noticed as purely a pedestrian, i think it looks dated an a little clunky. Not trying to sh!t stir here as I am genuinely excited, would love to see the competing designs that got left behind.

I personally think it looks dated, not a huge fan of the shape either. Just my thoughts

But why didn't we bring him on? Poor behavior sure, but hes the striker, its 0-0.. I think Mourinho was trying to prove a point about his own leadership and his own status, which is petty if you ask me and constitutes putting himself and the ego ahead of the team.. which is the same thing we've been saying Costa is doing.

Cahill is a passenger. Zouma already much better than he and the addition of a ready made central defender in the summer is essential. Cahill certainly a great second option and we should keep him for that sake.

I enjoyed nothing more than beating Naples and and PSG whilst behind from the first leg... All I could see was Cavani's face. If we continue to play 4-2-3-1 I don't think many strikers would come if they weren't guaranteed that number 1 striking position. Particularly Cavani who has been documented as not enjoying playing out of position for Zlatan's sake. Personally i think that mindset is bullsh!t. Part of me thinks that the media drum up these "He's unhappy playing on the left when he prefers the right" stories, but if there is an element of truth to it then it's not a trait I like to see and wouldn't want him at the club. Is it so hard to just enjoy playing in whatever position your playing in? If Cavani ever knew what it was like to play in a CL final he'd realise how very little it means what effing position you play in, getting the W is all that matters (Drogba offering to play right back in Munich). It might be good to have a couple of other formation options though, we are so predictable and has definitely contributed to us sitting 15th at the moment.

100%... and on another note, I really hate the stats that go along the lines of "Sheffield Wednesday haven't beaten Chelsea in 27 years".. when in that 27 years they may have only played 3 times. I don't think having a bust up with your Manager means your hearts no longer in it, I think if anything it means the opposite. If he was done, I think he would have just taken Mourinho's words and ignored them. Yes, the second half of the Macabi game probably suggests he did just that, but perhaps he is not the hard man we so often expect 100% of the time and he was just a little rattled. I think his celebration against Norwich was one of "I know I've been poor and I know I must do more.. no exaggerated celebration here, lets get back to work". I'm backing him to get back to his best, but I have no problem with giving others a go and think we need another striker anyway.

I don't think he's done anything different this season than any other. I'm a big fan and always have been.. he's looked better this year because everyone's been poor and he's actually been allowed to take the deadball (previously Cesc ((who's corners are one of the worst in the league)), Oscar, Lampard have taken them). He's been a wonderfully consistent player since his arrival in my mind.

I agree but I'd also hate to die wondering i haven't given up on costa yet

Kane started from the bottom now he's feared

Head is all over the place on this one. Was starting to think we would play the same formation as the Cup Final in March.. with Zouma in front of the back four to suffocate this mob. Now it looks like JT is out, which requires a Cahill/Zouma pairing and I don't think we have anyone who could play that role. However I think Spurs would have been watching/planning for a way around that formation, which we now won't use, thus giving us an advantage. But then Spurs will be bouyed by the fact JT is out. However they will then become overconfident and lose. But it comes with a free frogurt! However the frogurt is also cursed. But it comes with your choice of topping! The topping contains potassium benzoate.

Thank fu£K we've unleashed the free kick machine Willian... he hates Tottenham

Can also see both arguments. I like Zouma in that role, he is proactive at shutting down attacks and a serious presence. However, i think for the Spurs game we will try and nullify their speed by sitting further back and absorbing the pressure, which in that case will defeat the purpose of having another DM, as we won't need him there to break up fast moving play. Everyone will be asked to defend a little more than usual in the game, and when we have the ball, we will need as many creative/attacking players as possible to shift quickly and hit them on the counter.

Anyone watch the presser?

There was a thread on here talking about how Jose Boswingwa ruined the CL celebrations, as he was the one front and centre in all the photos when it perhaps should have been JT/Frank etc.. but it has been archived. Anyway, in Drogba's book he talks about how Boswingwa lead the defense in the second leg against Barca when we needed a reshuffle at the back. "The manager was telling Branislav Ivanovic to play centre back but Jose Bosingwa said, 'No, no, I will play centre back', and carried on to say where he thought others should play. Just for a laugh.. perhaps the team really felt this and thought, get Boswingwa front an centre.. it was leadership that got us through! Edit: That quote was pulled from Drogba's book if anyone was wondering the relevance

I'm now going to the game and we have a 100% record at games I've attended. So it's a win guys/girls... it's a win

If Jose was to be sacked I think it would have happened by now so i don't see this game as being pivotal for that point. It is however a big game for the players, I think they will all be excited to get back out there following the break, just as I am eager to watch. I don't think we need luck, I just hope the bad luck we've been having in front of goals has departed! No prediction from me, I'm never right

Like it or not, the Academy does well to beef up the bank account. Acquire young players, give them world class coaching and facilities and sell them for a cool couple mill. It's the business model, and while I want to see our own youth develop into first team players, I do also like competing for trophies. Also having read a few comments below this one, I have to say I think Mourinho made the right decision with Mata. i was a huge fan, he was easily our best player, but Jose saw that he weakened the team in other areas. Mourinho knew how he would bring the premiership back to Chelsea but couldn't factor Mata in to the team, thus making a hard decision but in the end the right one. I can't blame the selling of Mata for a poor season we are having 2 years later.

Not minding this Ireland vs Bosnia game and after originally 'going' for Ireland.. I've now changed my mind because none of these Irish players do anything for me.. And up Begovic too