nutmegsw6

On the other hand:

Hope so, the thought of Emenalo on the phone to Loic Remy is shuddering.

Tonight I have been listening to an episode of Talkport, Kick Off, with Mark Saggers, Danny Murphy & Steve Sidwell. The main discussion was about Man United and why Jose is going through a managerial crisis. It touched on so many aspects of Chelsea football club that if you haven't listened to it I would say it is well worth listening to when it is available on podcast. Some of the highlights included: - how Sidwells family was invited to Jose's house when he was about to sign for the club, the book that Jose gave him and the discussion they had. - Sidwells views on Jose the manager, how the whole dressing room cried and responded (Drogba was on the floor) when Jose left first time around, how it was different the second time around - the modern day player, the relationship they have with a manager, the importance of a good number two and the importance of having former players around the club. - the core players in Jose's first spell and the effect they had on the dressing room. - promotion of youth players and the fact that Jose doesn't have a record of promoting them Now I know a lot of this is about Jose's time at Chelsea as that was under discussion, but the programme gave a wonderful insight from a player that was at the club and in the dressing room at this time; and hearing it firsthand rather than reading it was more insightful and enlightening than I expected it would be. Thought it might be an idea to start a thread centred around former employees of the club and what their take is on what goes on behind closed doors, Sidwells views were well worth hearing.

Liverpool braced for Jurgen Klopp battle as Bayern Munich consider ditching Carlo Ancelotti after poor start Pressure is piling up on the former Chelsea and Real Madrid chief as Leipzig lead the Bundesliga and Rostov downed the Bavarians midweek in Europe

“If we analyse the game, we were better,” said the Argentine. “We competed very well and we were a bit unlucky to concede. “I think he’s [Pochettino] doing fantastic work for Tottenham,” said Conte after the match. “During the game we spoke in at one moment and he explained to me that he was in a disagreement with one of my assistants.”

See Antonio just doesn't understand what Mopo is on about - gees up the crowd to fever pitch

Oscar playing a very vital part here

These losing managers do like to tell Antonio how to play this game

Shoosh there are reps from Barca here

Ivanovic to steady the ship

Alonso has Ramires boots on

2-1

Am I in the minority in thinking we were bossing the last ten minutes

What with fielding a weakened side in the CL game, I reckon MoPo has been working out a strategy for sometime, I think Chelsea inspires him.

With both teams thinking they can win this s cond half we should be in for a high intensity game - super goals only today.

Looking at the improvement of so many of our players all over the park, it makes you wonder what Conte can put together as a coach, IMO we have the best coach we have ever had (I am not saying manager, I am saying coach). When you look at the players that haven't made it here, it seriously makes you question how many would have had Conte been around. Now we know at this level it is a results based business, which nowadays means a coach/manager isn't afforded time, especially at our club. But I have to say as much as he was my first choice as the next manager, I have been massively impresssed by his coaching skills, how many of these players would have been undervalued by another incoming manager, indeed how many of them were written off by a lot of us. The improvement of so many individuals in so short a time proves Conte is something special, the likes of which I haven't encountered before at this club. I seriously think we can look forward to acquiring some outstanding, not necessarily today's star name(s), talent, and a bright future for the academy after all these years.

Not at all, for me it was Luiz or Costa. On this occasion I plumped for Luiz.

“When you receive the armband, it’s a moment when you take on that responsibility. Not everyone wants responsibility. It is important that the captain must always put the team first, ahead of personal interests, even if he has to pay a heavy price for that" Antonio Conte (former captain of Juve) ‘I have that side of my personality, to be a leader and to organise. A leader needs to be available to give something for others. I’ve had that in my character since I was young. ‘But of course I understand that now there is a responsibility, as somebody who has been here before and played many games, to use the experiences I’ve picked up in my career to help the youngsters.’ David Luiz recently. Easy to see how Conte gets the best out of Luiz

In with a chance of a first EPL, shame about the draw this weekend - you must be gutted

We did in the EFL Cup, didn't go too well - would prefer to play a winning team and only change weak links, one (two if pushed) new player at a time if anyone is unable to play. Agree on making sure we have suitable replacements/competition though.

“Before the game I said to my players you can't lose him for one second and they lost him” Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka on Chelsea's star striker Diego Costa

The run goes on.

The clean sheets mirror what Conte did at Juve

Stroll

Oscar for Hazard