ZippyNW

Good point and it was poor. However, he often starts runs to get in behind the defence, or is holding off the run into space, shouting for the pass. The long pass in is not great all the time but occasionally I am shouting for the ball to be played over the top to him - last night he was looking really pissed off on at least one occasion.   

I wish there was a game, just one, where Chelsea took even half their chances. Good performance but tie should be done and dusted.

I love it when a player shuts me up. I was one of those who was against signing Chilwell because i thought he was English hype. It didnt help that there were rumors he would cost 80 million but honestly i just thought he was a hyped up Englishman like Drinkwater. He has shown class and proved to be a massive upgrade on Alonso

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Tell me I wasn't the only one yelling "Pass the ball you ******" just before Barkley scored.

Oh well. Hopefully, we get Leipzig after we beat Bayern.

Oh well. Hopefully, we get Leipzig after we beat Bayern.

Oh well. Hopefully, we get Leipzig after we beat Bayern.

Oh well. Hopefully, we get Leipzig after we beat Bayern.

They all look the same to you right wing Chelsea hooligans!

When they are all playing Loz. I find it hard to tell them apart. I think the one in the middle is slightly taller.

YUP

I remember going to Luton for the first time, losing my mates and ending up in the Luton fans end wearing my Chelsea shirt.  Height of hooligan era, so lucky i didn't get my head kicked in.                                                 Btw. What a sh*thole that place was. Just some flimsy cowsheds around the pitch.

IMV City not as good as last season and we have improved in key positions - cf being one of them (last year Higuain) - so I think we have good chance of getting a result through counter-attacking as we did couple season ago. 
I would go with RJ and Azpi as full backs - Reece a good matchup to Sterling and Azpi on the left to take bernado silva who is very very good but all left foot - so right footed left back a good option.
Midfield has to be Kova, Georgino and Kante - key against city is to intercept their passing game and all 3 do that well - also one of em can pick up De Bruyne who plays off the cf but switches position all game.............
Willian, Tammy and Pulisic up front as we can spring counter attacks with those 3 and Tammy maybe draw some fouls from fernadinho 
Mason and Callum as impact players if we need em.
3-1 to chels is what I think we can achieve
Big one this................................ 

I can just see the career defining interview.

My only pessimism about appointing him is how the fans react if we aren't in the top 4 next season. I am very worried that if (when) we don't make top 4, there will be pressure for him to move on. Cries of "tactically indept" and "not experienced enough" will come out. We will lose BIG against a top 6 rival. We will have an embarrassing home defeat against a team we would expect to beat. We will limp out of the CL at some stage - hopefully the QF but probably the L16 or potentially even the group stage. There is absolutely no reason for me to think none of those will happen. That isn't me being pessimistic, that's realistic. 
I don't know how our current fan base reacts to any of the above happening. 
I personally think SFL for 3 seasons could bring us success. I just don't know if we will give him that. 

You would have thought the best two candidates are Jardim and Allegri. Jardim hardly gets mentioned but he's without a doubt a top manager and has done well wherever he's been. Done amazing things at Monaco, and although he was sacked following a poor run of form, he was reinstated after Henry got sacked and steered them to safety. His achievements at Monaco are similar to Klopp's at Dortmund, because he beat PSG to the title, and got very far in the CL, with a very young exciting team. Klopp's last season at Dortmund almost saw them relegated so Jardim's poor run of form earlier this season shouldn't count against him either. Monaco were very quick to pull the trigger, considering they had sold half the team he had built.
 
Allegri? Top drawer. His CV stands comparison with Conte. Unlike Conte he has also proven he can stay at a club for a long time. Do we want another Italian though, that might pine for Italy after a season or two? Unlike Conte he's unlikely to fall out with the board, but maybe his methods or his playing style won't be to everyone's liking. My instinct is to say no, because we've trodden this path so many times before, and while we've been successful, there is something definitely missing at Chelsea, and that thing is called "soul".
 
You go to games nobody gives a toss anymore. The atmosphere is awful. There is no connection between players and fans. There is no buzz, it has gradually been eroded. People are sick and tired of managers just passing through, with no real connection to Chelsea, only to their wallet and their CV. The board are completely out of touch with the fans. The obvious choice is Lampard. He'd bring through the youth, he'd have a deep connection with the fans, he knows the club, he loves the club. The fans would be able to get behind him, wholeheartedly. It's an absolute no-brainer. 
 
He'd have Jody by his side, a bonafide Chelsea boy.
 
Sometimes it's all about timing. I'm not saying Frank is the best candidate he's not. He has one season under his belt where he led his team to 6th in the Championship with a 43% win rate. It's not great. Having said that the Derby fans love him. He has potential. We have no idea if he'll make the grade, it will be a punt, but an informed punt, given we know him so well, given we know his personality and his character, given we know he's quite a unique individual.
 
Normally I'd say it's way too early, it's too much of a punt, but circumstances dictate that the time is ripe, particularly if we get a ban, the time is ripe to bring in somebody we all love and somebody we know loves us. It's about connection, as well as ability. Frank is no mug, he'll want to get to the very top, he's pretty single-minded. He's smart he commands respect he's assertive and he's a leader. I'd say he's got a chance.
 
Anyone voting for Mourinho needs their head testing. I'd honestly rather have Rafa Benitez, or anyone else for that matter. Don't even argue with me because I don't argue with idiots. Rude this may be but it's honestly how I feel. Anyone wanting him is seriously deluded. There is nothing special about him anymore. If not Lampard the person I'd be most inclined to hire is Ten Hag.
 
Edit: Lampard all day long for me. It would be a brave call but maybe it's time to show a bit of courage and a bit of faith. Something is badly lacking at Chelsea. He's the guy to bring it back.

That would require a very huge FA Cup rule change

^^ Sarri: "They trying to get me to use this vape gadget !"
^^ Interpreter: "It's the microphone Maurizio"
 

I noticed City's ground was quieter over and just after Xmas. A lot of fans have to make choice where to spend their money. My Mrs is City season ticket holder and cannot afford to pay extra for the various cup games. I suppose there are many CFC fans in the same boat but it is a smaller stadium - or maybe just more loyal supporters :-)