Hazard STAY

Easy group for us. Not hard at all. Lovely travel for the fans too.
 
 
 
I just pissed $100 on a stupid bet before the draw. Feck it. 

Kovacic reminds me a bit of Iniesta. He doesnt score and assist much but was integral to the way Barcelona and Spain played. Kovacic will never be as good as Iniesta of course, but he is a player of similar silk.  

3 games in and 20 years old.  He’ll be just fine.  Nobody was over the moon with Hazard right away either.  Even the best needed time to adjust when they were young and first moved to the PL.

Kovacic did not make a difference today, but I think he's an important player for us - and I understand the decision to buy him given the transfer ban, and needing a bunch of senior plays. Admittedly he could have done better today, but at the same time I can't hate on the guy for today's performance. Willian however was a net negative coming off from the bench and just stifled the remaining attacks that we were building up...
I would actually like to see us go with a 4-3-3: with Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic as the three staples, with Mount and Barkley coming into the picture and replacing them sometimes. Pulisic tried hard but didn't have a great game - still adjusting to the league I guess and is a young lad himself. Awaiting Cho's return to see what he brings. Pedro will be an important player for us this season, and hoping he can put more performances like he did against Liverpool.
In any case, we are realistically 2 games into the season. The first scoreline not being reflective of our performance, and this one being a fair result all in all. We all know this season will be tough so let's not expect to steamroll through everyone and give Lampard a chance to continue working with the players, reviewing them and working on his systems.

Bottom line is that we largely played well but got humped harder than I did in a dubious dream I had the details of which I really shouldn't go into!

I cant be arsed dissecting the entire game but a few points are...

Zouma had a mare and confirmed that he is comfortably third choice once Rudiger is back. Arguably 4th choice if you consider that we also have the option of Azpilicueta in the centre.

Mount clearly looks like a player who will have no problem stepping up to be a regular in the Premier league.

Pedro still loves to run around a lot but that eyes wide shut disease when he passes the call is as attractive as my arse in a thong.

And, surely as we already knew, we are as toothless as Trump's claims that men called Juan, Luis and Miguel will build a border wall.

I'm okay with it. He had to go in all probability, for the sake of morale, in order for Frank to maintain authority. Luiz is very close to Willian and Kenedy so that's another one to keep an eye on. They both appear to be moody players, so if they're not playing, they'll be sharing stories with Luiz. Frank will have to be on his toes. He needs total commitment.
 
We've got two powerful rugged defenders in Zouma and Rudiger, and two more refined defenders in Christensen and Tomori, so my guess is that we'll have one of each as our CB pair, and we'll see a bit of rotation, particularly in the cup games. This is a very big chance for our young CBs to cement a spot. They'll be pleased to see the back of Luiz.
 
With Luiz there I always felt it would be hard for Frank to drop him as it would cause problems, and therefore it was hard to see how any of the younger defenders could cement that first team spot. I think this is a smart move by Frank.
 
Interestingly, we resisted selling Zouma to Everton, for big money, and we've also kept Tomori, so Frank may have had a hunch all along about Luiz. I'm very excited about this season, particularly with so many academy graduates. I don't hold out high hopes for silverware or a great PL campaign, but it's the start of a very exciting journey hopefully. So many youngsters in the squad who can build a bond with the club and the fans. Reece James, Tomori, Christensen, Mount, RLC, CHO and Abraham. That's 7 academy graduates who could all get significant game-time. It also sends a great message to our current academy crop, as they can finally see a pathway to the first team. I don't think there's any reason to be upset about this. Luiz was a character but he was high maintenance. I think it's the best thing we could have done.
 
Do I think less of Luiz? Yes I do. He could have stayed, he could have supported the manager, he could have tried to impress, he could have fought for his place, he could have mentored the younger players, he could have been a good example, but it was all about him. Going to one of our rivals in these circumstances tells us a lot. I liked Luiz, I thought the positives outweighed the negatives, he's a big personality he's talented and he's a winner. Furthermore, I'm unconvinced by Christensen and the jury is very much out on Zouma and Tomori, but we'll never know if they don't get games, and at least now they're going to play, and that has me very excited.
 
Frank will build a special atmosphere. With Luiz around that was impossible, so all in all this was the right decsion. He's well past his peak, he's never been a great defender and he's joining a group with a weaker mentality. We really needn't be too worried. It's not like we've sold them peak John Terry.

Positive news, very happy about this one, defence will be much better without him, new players new direction, we do not need older players who dont want to be here causing a stink, was only ever going to be 4th choice this season anyway.

I reckon we'll be all out of temperamental Brazilians in the next two windows ... if Luiz goes that just leaves Willian and Kenedy, both of whom are surely on borrowed time.
 

I have a long sleeve Morata Chelsea jersey.  I know it is authentic because I take it out of the drawer and put it on the bed to wear.  I turn around to close the drawer, and when I turn back the jersey has slid to floor with the sleeves outstretched.

I never thought I would get this emotional!!!!! Welcome home legend WE love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 
 
PLEASE CAN A MOD CHANGE MY NAME TO "LOVE YOU FRANK"??????

I never thought I would get this emotional!!!!! Welcome home legend WE love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 
 
PLEASE CAN A MOD CHANGE MY NAME TO "LOVE YOU FRANK"??????

Hello from Brighton beach. Had my morning piss already, so off you go. 

Getting Mourinho means we will sell RLC and CHO. Mourinho would rather die by the sword the put faith in youth

I'm so very sad about this ?

Excellent idea, but perhaps as part of the Exes thread 

Maybe there needs to be a sub forum for players who have moved to “greener” pastures so I don’t get depressed every time I open this one. 

I think we would be best to cash-in on Timmy B, why he still has a reasonable rep.

Goodbye sweet prince. I wish you the best and I will be watching your every game just like I did for Lampard and Drogba. 

Goodbye sweet prince. I wish you the best and I will be watching your every game just like I did for Lampard and Drogba. 

I would understand your worry about a players speed after this type of injury, but CHO is far too young to have that effect him currently. Absolutely no chance in that to effect him because he is still growing

I dont know how someone can call a tactically master defense and organized attack as pragmatic and boring. What I find boring is keeping the ball and passing it back to your CB DOING NOTHING with the ball. Shipping in goals to me makes the game annoying. Id rather score one or two goals and have none against us. That to me is what an amazing team does. 

Feck off mate just feck right off. 

Feck Real Madrid, but ill be watching them for Eden.