TomW

We will actually lack depth in the 3 attacking players if we allow Mata to go. We'd only have 4 (excluding Ramires) players that can play there which isn't nearly enough for the amount of games we hope to be playing in the second half of the season.

Erm...

The other semi final between Burkina Faso & Ghana was a cracker. Probably the worst pitch I've ever seen, it was even worse than the bridge a few years back. I think they had just put cut grass on top of some sand and sprayed some green paint on it. Poor quality of football but an exciting match. Ghana were the better team in 90 minutes but Burkina Faso dominated extra time and should have won it during the 30 minutes. Bance should have score a hat trick in extra time. The first penalty in the shootout is one of the worst penalties I've ever seen. I fancy Nigeria to win the final. They've looked the better team in the last couple of games and Burkina Faso have had 2 games go to extra time

I think the sacking of Carlo was arguably worse than any of them.

I thought he had delivered in the past but just looked at some of his topics and according to him we was going to sign Matt Jarvis, Alvaro Pereira & Dembele. So I'm not sure.

It a hybrid.

Who finishes 17th?

He should be saving our asses plenty of times. And I don't have a problem with that but I do have a problem with him failing to make saves that Courtois would make and that Petr would have made a couple of years ago.

Petr was very average last season too. His performance in the CL was very good but that shouldn't gloss over his poor performances.

I always thought he had the potential to be a great player but far too often when he played for us he would be greedy and lazy.

So because his age isn't old for a keeper that automatically means he isn't on the decline? Different players peak at different times. While he may not be making major mistakes he isn't playing at the standards he has set over the last 9 seasons.

In my opinion Cech is on the decline and has been for quite a while. He sometimes shows glimpses of what he used to be (Andy Carroll save, Munich performance) but he's not as good as he was. Saturdays performance was once again very poor. Didn't look like he even tried to save the first. He should have pushed the second goal wide instead of back into play. The third goal wasn't even in the corner. Had that been Ross Turnbull everyone on here would be crucifying his performance. In a perfect world I would like to see Courtois spend a season on loan at a Premier League club. But his performances for Atletico would suggest he is ready to come straight to Chelsea. And I can't see him being happy going from a team that is winning trophies to playing for a mid-table Premier League team.

Wouldn't be surprised if it was one of these games. Liverpool v Debrecen Chelsea v Zilina Man Utd v Otelul Galati

I don't see the similarities between us and Barca. They have one holding midfielder we have none. They have more of a 3 man midfield whereas we have a 2 man midfield. Their full backs overlap the forwards the create some width. They work as a team to put pressure on opponents and quickly win the ball back.

I don't see the similarities between us and Barca. They have one holding midfielder we have none. They have more of a 3 man midfield whereas we have a 2 man midfield. Their full backs overlap the forwards the create some width. They work as a team to put pressure on opponents and quickly win the ball back.