bjd

Same as last year. Hazard. Assuming as it now looks like we won't be making a major signing it all pretty much depends on the form and fitness of 5 players - Hazard, JT, Matic, Fabregas and Costa. Hazard clearly being the main man but if we lose one of those for an extended period I think it's hurts us badly.

Have we had 'he's not Chelsea quality' yet ? One of my faves that one.

I'd be well up for Austin. Ignoring the he's a local lad Chelsea fan stuff, he looks a decent busy striker and I think he'd be a step up on Falcao. Agree it would be the end of Remy though.

Bertrand is twice the player Rose is. Would be a ludicrous signing.

A new low

You know how some people here seem obsessed with going on other forums and laughing at other fans? Well...

Yes I think it's absurd. Never known a friendly game 3 days before kick off. Having said that our players clearly need some element of sharpness. Said this before somewhere else but I think our whole pre season has been a balls up personally. As for Falaco there's a thread in the general section, but I think he's already getting the Torres excuse treatment.

Already i can see where its going with Falcao. People are going to be making excuses for him left right and centre. Hes making runs, he isnt getting service etc When he doesnt something decent it will get overplayed and will result in sympathy MOM match votes. We've been here before and I can see the signs. This thread reeks of them, already. Bamford at Palace is going to get more goals than Falcao, and very possibly Remy too. By God i hope im wrong though.

Yeah I've been banging the same drum too. I think it's been a bit of a f**k up. Late start and pretty much straight to the U.S. for 3 high profile games. They look knackered if you ask me. And then we have this absurd Fiorentina match 3 days before our first match. Im sure it's all been planned like this for a reason but it makes no sense to me. We are clearly not ready. We will prob make it past Swansea but it's a hell of a match after that so it's got to all come together soon.

We really do suddenly have an expert insider in our midst don't we? Exciting times.

He won't leave Everton. They are the people's club they act with tradition and dignity and he is a sensible, grounded northern lad.

Yeah Arsenal properly hate us these days, a lot of it down to Mourinho. Though it's also Roman, net spend, class oh and the fact Stamford Bridge doesn't serve olive tapenade and hummus to away fans. They really are a strange fanbase, and very, very easy to antagonise.

I've watched enough and been to enough of these matches to know its a glorified friendly. Anyone who reads anything into it is being a little naive. The fact it's Arsenal makes it more interesting of course but it's a friendly and the club will be treating it as such. Means very little, though the Gooners will of course crown themselves champions if they win it.

Hope you're right but let's see. Either way it's just a friendly despite what the Gooners will tell you. It's a week on Sat that counts.

I know what you mean. It's always nice to hope and dream about the youth players. Unfortunately for me, when it comes to youngsters CFC have long since turned these dreams into cynicism!

Didn't see it but the reports I'm reading this morning are positive. Reminds me of Traore in 2013, difference being of course Traore was signed but we knew he wasn't going to get a permit. I maintain though, we won't be seeing him again anytime soon. Not being negative, just an educated prediction based on some pretty overwhelming previous evidence.

Think they are going to turn us over to be honest, and that's fine. It's only a friendly - it's just those f**king awful fans bleating about it that will annoy me. Can't help but feel we have made a bit of a pigs ear of the pre season. We seem a little behind everyone else after starting later than everyone else and are seemingly cramming games in. Some players, particulary the younger ones don't seem to have had a run out at all. I certainly can't remember a game at SB 3 days before the season kicks off before either.

Great work, yet again.

Kenedy might well get a work permit but I'd suggest it'll be a long time before we see him in a Chelsea first XI again.

It's the lack of quality cover for the central midfield pairing that worries me most. Think we will get buy everywhere else, and I do think someone else will come in before the end of the window. We got lucky with injuries last season, particulary in the centre of the park - we can't rely on that happening again.

Lol, my wife ain't the biggest fan of football. A game or two a season but that's it. If youre other half is into that stuff the she'll love it in Brogans for sure, especially post match. It's actually more mental when Chelsea aren't at home in a big game. That's when I'd be more wary of taking a lady! And yes, be prepared to wait at the bar. I hate that sh*t, it's worse than in the ground itself.

Good luck, the decent pubs are dying out one by one. It's gastro heaven these days. Now I normally go either The Chelsea Ram or The Lots Rd Inn or sometimes The Pembroke and The Finborough in Brompton.None of these are particularly riotus though, all with decent food and expensive beer, all get busy but not overloaded and are quite nice, decent places to go when I'm there with the wife. The closest you'll get to the full Chelsea old matchday experience is Brogans, which is fun, but I wouldn't dream of taking the missus in there!

True but he'd probably score and assists goals , something Willian doesn't currently do. Either way it's just another top player to pick from meaning we don't rely on the same XI so it would work either way. Doesn't look like its a goer anymore though.

Sorry to be so blunt, but this is utter nonsense.

Azpis quality penalty! Who knew?