goose

Not Mikels biggest fan, but a bit of credit, he's not as bad as some make out. Almost 200 appearances for Chelsea must say something. Looking at the compilations of his performances against Spain and for Chelsea the standout is that Nigeria play him A little more advanced and when he gives the ball he then charges forward looking for the return. For Chelsea he gives the ball and then immediately slows up giving the rest of the team a more defensive option. I take it that this is the role he has been asked to play but personally I'd like to see him add more going forward and maybe JM will encourage that.

What Competition Do You Consider The Main Priority? Premier League Premier League (Final Position?) Winners Champions League (What Stage?) Semi FA Cup (What Stage? Is It A Priority?) Final. Depending on the opposition I'd expect some of our younger. Players against weaker sides. If we get to the Quarter finals I'd expect JM to go all out to win it. Would A Season Without Silverware Be A Failure? With my current expectations on JMs return I'd say that a season without silverware would be very disappointing. However if we play good football, improve on last year and are in the running for most competitions, I'd take it. The Most Important Thing About The 2013/14 Season Is? Improvement, attractive football, club/fan harmony and a happy Shed End.

JM keeps the pot stirring. Edit. Re read the article and he does not really say very much only that we made the bid, there has been nothing else, and we are happy with what's we have. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3825579.ece José Mourinho expressed confidence last night that Chelsea will sign Wayne Rooney before the transfer window closes after watching his players complete a successful tour to Asia with an 8-1 thrashing of Indonesia All-Stars. Manchester United rejected a £23 million bid for the England striker last week, but Chelsea are planning to return with a higher offer. Rooney is training on his own in Manchester after leaving United’s own pre-season tour because of a hamstring injury a fortnight ago, but has been told by the club that they expect him to play in a friendly against AIK in Stockholm in 11 days’ time. Chelsea’s next bid is unlikely to meet United’s valuation, but Mourinho is prepared to wait in the belief that the Barclays Premier League champions will be more likely to listen to offers after they have added to their own squad. “We are calm,†the Chelsea manager said. “At this moment we have made [the bid] that you know. The bid was public and official and after that nothing else. But we are calm as we told you because we are happy with what we have.†Mourinho welcomed the Premier League’s decision to bring forward Chelsea’s home match against Aston Villa to Wednesday, August 21 because of their involvement in the European Super Cup against Bayern Munich nine days later. Chelsea will therefore begin the season with home league matches against Hull City and Villa, before travelling to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on August 26. Both of Mourinho’s previous titles at Chelsea, in 2005 and 2006, were won by leading from the front and he is targeting another strong start to the season on his return to the club. The one downside of the rearrangement for Chelsea is that United will have four more days to prepare for the first heavyweight clash of the season, which will also be David Moyes’s first home game as United manager. “It will be a difficult week with three matches in a row which is never easy, particularly at the start of the season, but I think it is fair,†Mourinho said. “Because of us with the Super Cup and Villa with their calendar it would not have been fair to play this game one or two months later. It is logical to play it at the start of the season even though it is difficult for us and Villa. It is better like this than to have it moved back. “We have to play every game against everybody — home and away. I am never that bothered about when we play against our rivals. We will try to win against Hull, then against Villa and after that take things match by match.†Mourinho praised John Terry’s performances and fitness levels during an energy-sapping tour in which he started three matches in the space of eight days for the first time in a year. The Chelsea captain won a penalty that was converted by Eden Hazard and scored with a header yesterday. Braces from Romelu Lukaku and Ramires, and goals from Demba Ba and Bernard Traoré, a 17-year-old trialist, completed the rout. Mourinho began the tour with a warning to Terry that his place in the side is not safe and is pleased by the response. “John played well, trained very well and did not miss one minute of any training session,†Mourinho said. “That is very important because he is a very important player for us.â€

Has Lukaku stopped his somersault goal celebration? I think he may have done it in the first pre-season but not sure If he has done it after the three goals since. Can't seem to find clips that would confirm this. I've got a feeling that JM may be against such tumbling celebrations because of unnecessary risk of injury.

It's now all beginning to make sense as the plot thickens. Utd decide last season that they need Bale but first they must lower their current wage bill and raise some lolly. Oblivious choice is Rooney and Rednose sets about unsettling our Wayne by dropping him against RM and then Falsely accusing him of asking for a transfer. Moyles then adds his little bit of mischief by suggesting our Wayne is playing backup to RVP. My advice Wayne is hold tight as the tramps are trying to force you out. Hold your ground, call their bluff and don't hand in a TR, as they will soon be forced to sell.

Heard this being discussed on Talksport yesterday and someone reckoned because of current tax thresholds we would have to pay Zlatan somewhere in the region on 500,000/week to match his wages. Don't imagine that he is going to forfeit 300,000/week to come and play for Chelsea.

Very good player, young, talented, scores goals, premiership proven, so it should be yes, but I don't think we need him as we have enough quality in mid field.

Not for me. He may still be a talent but on what utd would be looking in transfer fee and his wages I would not touch. A lot of Man U supporters I speak to are of the same opinion as Mufcstuart and would be only too glad for Rooney to come to us. That says it all really. Would take Suarez before Rooney.

It's a bad day that you don't learn something new and this thread has been informative to an old git like me. gifs: don't know how to find them or how to implant them in a post, don't really want to know as I couldn't be arsed. However I can't say that others using them really bothers me very much.

Would be surprised offering a four year deal to someone who is 30 in a couple of weeks.

Worst again is that we get Rooney and Suarez goes to utd.

'last match of the season, fighting to win the Prem title, we're 1-0 down at Old Trafford with Man U only 2 points behind us' It has been a few years since we've been in this position and I'd welcome it. Maybe Suarez is the reason we'd be in this position, maybe Suarez is the reason we have the League sewn up with three games to play. All maybes. Like him or not he is an excellent player who I feel would suit our play and should JM bring him I'll support him in blue.

Really detest the little rat, but my main reason for this is because of how brilliant he has been this season and because this has been with Liverscum. If he were to sign for Chelsea and put in the same brilliant displays in blue then I think I will learn to forgive his previous history. Don't think this is going to happen though and he will go abroad.

Good signing. Will probably get some cup games but I'd also feel fairly confident withSchwarzer covering should Cech he be out for any length of time.

Last chance corner

One point is probably all we deserve from this match. Hope we get it.

Was just going to predict that.

Pedestrian at the moment.

Gale is an absolute dick. How was that not a pen on hazard.

Sounds a bit like Sturridge.

Oscar made a huge difference when he came on, so he is my choice.

Really believe that this result will make us stronger. Teams are going to suffer for this injustice. Can't wait for our return match at OT.

When you spend far too much of your day trawling over 'The Shed End' vowing that you will never again enter Torres Groundhog, Neymar or Hulk threads only to find yourself repeating the process again and again. You then decide to 'ignore' posters who particularly annoy only to then press the 'read it anyway' button in the hope that they will have something interesting to say.

Thanks all for the quick replies. Thought he bullsh*tting a bit. Think we would struggle at the moment to recoup the £16M but I am warming to him and think he is warranted a new deal.

Heard a Manure fan saying the other day that we had to pay them £16M for Mikel. I know there was a whole mess of a transfer at the time but I didn't think that that we paid them as much as that. He also, like many here, does not rate him an says that Mikels transfer more or less paid for Carrick. I think he is sh*te talking but I'm afraid did i not have the ammo to come back with. Can anyone enlighten me.