axman2526

Tough game, first one our list that seemed a top test. Hopefully we fair better than last season but if Cisse hits them like he did that day we may have our work cut out for us.

Have to say was a cracking game to watch for the most part. Lots of goals, mistakes from many involved; the European Champions taking the lead, losing the plot as the new guys on the scene bloodies our nose, then we somehow manage to fightback with a large helping of luck, ending with a mad run from the Reading keeper trying in vein to stop Hazard lol. There were a few negatives to take from the game sadly, some performances from players we know can do better were not at the level. Rather than focus on that (and we have plenty of time to do so in the lead up to facing the Toon) would rather praise the performance of Eden Hazard who has had an excellent start to his career with us. Not since Robben has a new player offered as much excitement. Hopefully he proves more strong and the refs ensure he is not kicked out of the English game.

Be happy to eat some humble pie but if we are to turn this around I think Robbie will have to get the 11 that started to up their games 10 fold as our bench offers little in the way of changing things. It is asking a lot of Oscar to expect him to do what Mata, Lampard and Torres et al cannot at this time. Far as Danny goes, well normally from the bench he snatches at everything and ends up annoying his team mates when he will not pass.

Up to the pen we are in control, have most of the ball and do little with it. Often the wrong choice or poor execution right at the end of a move. The Reading keeper has had to make one save from Ramires, that is not good enough at home. Our goal comes from a Reading gift in the end. Games like this is where we needed Didier, or a player like him. Torres baring that one spark has been poor, giving the ball away and finishing poorly. Mata offering little, Ramires showing no quality. Compare to Reading and their wide men are tearing us a new one, the lad on the right does not need to beat Ash because his crossing has been superb, on the other side McAnuff is just blasting through Brana and Cahill. Poor defending on our part, poor play from Cech on their second goal. Reading deserve the lead though once they came in to the game they really forced us back, the center forward has dominated JT and Cahill and Robbie now has to do something to turn this around. We have no plan B though, no Drogba. Without him to give us that out ball do not see this ending too well for us unless Reading start making some big mistakes. Their work rate has been superb, and their quality in the final third has been most impressive.

Heh we have all the ball, screw it up at the end almost every time. Reading go up twice and score both times. Not a good start to the home campaign...

Strong side indeed, hopefully one that delivers the 3 points.

Nothing on the main stream channels yet so will wait for something more solid. More likely an attempt by Levy to drive the price up.

He would be an improvement on our deeper midfield options, as well as an option for the central role in the 3 in front of them. A few similar qualities to one Gustavo Poyet imo. We were liked with Fellaini earlier in the summer but that died down. Seems rather unlikely to happen for me though.

I do not doubt Hulk's talent, he would makle a very good addition to our squad. However I do not see Porto and Roman finding an agreement, too much bad blood between the clubs now.

Would I take Modric if we had the option? Certainly. Do I think it is likely to happen? No, not really. From what I can gather from the various media stories about Modric Spurs were willing to drop their value a little for a deal that included Ricky moving to WHL and Sahin being loaned there, possibly with Spurs having the option to buy next season. Ricky may not be keen on going to Spurs and Sahin wants CL football, leaving Levy with the situation where Real want to pay no more than a quoted 23mill and him turning down deals this time last year from us of 30mill plus Alex or a straight 35mill. Rather a big loss for a player with a long contract on him. So seems likely to me Levy would try and get us to make an offer north of 30mill hoping Real up their offer leaving both Levy and Real happy. I doubt Real will buckle to this and the wild card will be if Roman decides to make that offer. Would Spurs accept it? Would Modric still want to join us? I expect we will finish the window tying up late deals for Moses and a right back, likely the lad from Marseilles,as now we are at the stage of who flinches first with both clubs, or so I read. Though like I said if Roman plays the wild card maybe Modric as well. Very unlikely though imo.

As things stand I'd go with: Cech. Paulo, Cahill, JT, Bertrand. Essien, Lampard. Ramires, Oscar, Hazard. Sturridge. That can change depending on news closer to the date, if Marin is ready I'd want to see him get some game time.

Well certainly not a great opening day performance by any means but am sure Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool would rather such a performance and 3 points than what they got yesterday. I’ll look at the bad first so can end with the good. Our inability to keep the ball stands out once again; at times we made Wigan look more like Madrid. Better sides, like Newcastle, will punish us if we do that against them, and on another day Wigan would have punished us. We made some sloppy mistakes at the back, lucky those were not turned in to goals. Lampard and Mata struggled in this one, had little influence at all other than the pen for the former. Overall though Wigan, for the most part, offer us tricky games so to come away with 3 points without playing well is defiantly a plus. Hazard and Bertrand played very well for me, the latter has a very good work ethic too him. Oscar looked bright when he came on. Torres showed both good and bad, at times lacked service and others look like he expected no service and reacted a bit slow. Overall I would give the MoTM to JT, he was solid today and did not put a foot wrong, Hazard and Bertrand very close to it though.

Still the Torres luck from last season, or lack there of, remains.... Hazard off is an odd one....

Good scoreline, not a good performance so far. Giving the ball away too cheaply too often. Would like to see Oscar on for Mata and Sturridge for Torres at some point.

Our passing these past 10 mins or so has been shocking...

Only got to see the highlights just so do not have a full game to base an opinion around. Firstly what we saw is close to, if not our, strongest line up. You can argue between Luiz and Cahill, whether Oscar will start ahead of Lamps etc. But other than that very strong. City rested their main keeper and some defenders but in midfield and up front they had class on show. We coped well with 11 vs 11 it seems, Torres goal was class and if we can provide him with that service we can take a decent amount of sides apart. We do lack a second option though, maybe I am too used to having the Drogs height as an option but I believe having a powerful aerial CF as an option would prove useful to us. I do not blame the ref for the red card, I blame Brana. Sure sometimes you are lucky to get a ref that will check the other player is ok, have a stern word and give you a yellow. But by the letter of the law Brana had to go. Was rash, 2 footed with one foot high up to knee level. Was dumb and summed up our defensive performance. Mikel and Lamps not offering enough support to the back line, who in turn were not throwing themselves in the way of things like they should be doing (aka the CL final). All 3 city goals were avoidable with proper defending, we are just too slack at the mo but that will come in time like normal. Pleased for Ryan getting a goal. Maybe we need to rest Mata for a few weeks he has had a very long past season. Maybe for Wigan we can line up as: Cech, Paulo (assuming Brana is now banned for 3 games), Cahill, JT, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Ramires, Hazard, Bertrand and Torres.

Do not think we have been linked with Honda but would be a decent signing imo. But if we start the season with Hazard, Mata and Marin off Torres then I do not see the need to panic. With Oscar behind them and Mikel holding we should hopefully be able to create a decent amount of chances.

End of the day Roman will decided what, or rather who, is worth what. Given the quality we have brought in with Hazard, Oscar and Marin so far if Roman decides Hulk costs too much no problem for me. From what I have read Robbie is pushing for Moses instead and am happy to give him a chance if Robbie wants him. Hopefully the rumours about Richards being our possible right back are true as well. Adding him and Moses to what we have would have been a rather good summer's work for me.

I doubt we have impressed the fans on the US tour. Seeing the European champions lose twice and narrowly squeeze out a draw is hardly going to make a good impact.

Not surprised, Flo will likely do what many others have done in the past. 1 year left of big salary to sit in the stands and get the odd run out. Then at 33 he can go to brazil on a lower wage and play football again. We are stuck with him this next season most likely.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/7883771/Viola-make-Chamakh-approach They are after another option up front, maybe to replace Jovetic?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18773700 Quite disappointed to see him on the verge of joining them. He had the potential, imo, to become like Pippo Inzaghi and could be a big player for them. He had a good season at Roma. Think we missed a trick with him.

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/904027-maicon-close-to-sealing-6million-chelsea-switch#ixzz1zZjyox74 Seems more legs to this rumour. Also about young Shaw too.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/120703/napoli-push-move-chelsea-star-175737 I'd want at least 8.5mill for the deal to happen but we have been known to sell on the cheap on many occasions.

Didier, Through it all you were yourself, the good and the bad. Over these 8 years many have had their say about you; but in the end you are the one that finishes with the last word. The greatest center forward in Chelsea Football Club history, a player and man we will never forget. Thank you.