CodyBound

We need to find a balance between showing under-performing players that their spot is not guaranteed, and not messing with the dynamic of the team by making too many changes. The players that I think need to learn this the most are Ivanovic, Cahill and Costa, and with that in mind: ----------Courtois---------- Dave---Zouma---Terry---Baba ---------Fabregas---Matic-------- Moses-----Willian-----Hazard ---------Falcao / Remy--------------- I don't really care who starts up front from these two; Remy was bright last season and is obviously hungry to play, as is Falcao who I would be interested to watch from the start this time. Costa's passion is undeniable, but with all of his fight-picking, going down too easily, losing the ball and lack of goals you can't justify an automatic starting position with the other two waiting in the wings. If players like Fabregas don't up their game in the coming weeks, then I'd like to see a start for RLC or Mikel in his place. And if Ramires starts on the wing again when we have Moses, Traore and Cuadrado available.... well, then there is pretty much nothing I can do about it. But I will not be amused. Time for the squad to be force-fed some competition.

For a little perspective.

I haven`t posted in a very long time, typically I just enjoy reading. However thought I just might add what Brad Friedel had to say on the matter. I`m currently living in Canada and Friedel is one of the pundits they have over here on Sports Net (probably the best one), and when you might expect him to argue on behalf of goalkeepers everywhere in this situation, he firmly said that it was a penalty. I had actually been a little on the fence until I heard what he had to say. Speaking as a Premier League goalkeeper, he said that when a goal keeper comes rushing out at 100mph as the final line of the defense between goal and striker, he has to make a committed decision. If he throws his arm out he has consciously put himself in a vulnerable position, and when this decision backfires and he makes contact with the opposition player and none with the ball, there can be no doubt that it is a penalty. He would know there is an element at risk to taking this initiative and given the huge pace that the game is played at - two players running towards each other at top speed - anything that is mistimed, no matter how marginally, is going to obstruct the striker and give him the right to a penalty. Long story short: he made contact with Costa, and the fact that he our striker may have been playing for the penalty makes no difference. He played it well. I think some people have said more or less the same thing, but I thought it meant a lot more coming from this man.

Pfffffttt I think it's quite clear he was about to rip his shirt off and reveal the Chelsea emblem tattooed on his chest. f**kin ITV.......

ITV's greatest footballing gaffes: http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/itvs-greatest-football-gaffes/

Poor Eden looks so silly with his shorts pulled up to his chest, ha! Congrats to Luiz who looks unbelievably cool though.

You'd be surprised, 8th in PL for 2013: Imagine what he was when we first bought him.

I don't really comment on here much, just enjoy reading the forum as it's usually quite level-headed and it's interesting to listen to the different perspectives of our fans. But to that first line: I take great offence. Does it matter if any of us are 'kids' in our early twenties grandpa? It happens at all clubs, when a small minority of older fans look down on the younger generation. Not by many of course, but it's disrespectful from those who do. As for this thread, I don't find it to be as 'level-headed' as the rest of the forum, but it is still interesting nonetheless. 69 pages seems appropriate for a player that splits opinions as much as him. The reason there are more posts here than say for a Mata or Hazard thread is because everyone generally agrees that they are quite good at football, so not much need for discussion. Since I'm posting, I may as well contribute to the actual topic. I like Mikel, he does a job. The problem is that he doesn't always choose to do it, and so I can understand why people like having a go at him. What I would say is that sometimes people try as hard as they can to blame him for a mistake or goal that is a team fault, or sometimes when he has barely anything to do with it. I'm happy with him in the starting line-up, but wouldn't be distraught if we tried to invest in a replacement.

*stares at laptop screen...slowly raises gun to head*

W.B.A (H) 2-2 Fulham (A) 2-0 win West Ham (H) 4-0 win Southampton (A) 2-1 loss Sunderland (H) 3-2 win Tottenham (H) 2-1 win Liverpool (A) 3-1 loss Swansea (H) 1-0 win Manchester united (A) 2-2 Aston Villa (A) 5-0 win Everton (H) 2-1 win

Anyone know if the big man is going to be back from ACON to be available for selection in Europe and at the weekend?

I'll shall join now!

Farce. Gerrard flashes up as MOM and crowd goes wild. Then all of a sudden announcer stops, and Lampard is named MOM. Crowd boos.

Got some way to go yet.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1324524-top-50-young-players-in-world-football-right-now-21-and-under/page/2 I was reading this bleacher list on the top 50 under-21 players in the world at this moment, and it occurred to me that Chelsea may just have the most promising set up of youthful players in the world. More so than Barca, Arsenal, or any other club that are famous in this department. According to this, and I think I agree, Chelsea own 6 of the most promising young talents in existence including the number 1. spot (I think you can all guess who got that), 8 if you include the honourable mentions at the end! We may or may not be strong enough to win the premier league this year but surely it won't be long until we are once again one of Europe's most dominating teams? A lot of you have probably already come to this conclusion but it only really sunk in for me after reading this report.

Bump. Who here is Jim Bean managing Fatty Foulkes Fumbs? I am currently second to you...

Some of the ratings from every team I have seen just makes me sick.

It hasn't been erased for me. I still see red when I think about Barca 09. To say that was the worst refereeing display I have ever seen is to do Ovrebo a great kindness.

Ouriel Daskal â€@Soccerissue Zenit will pay €50m for Hulk and €40m for Witsel. Gazprom, Zenit's owners, are Uefa sponsors. This means FFP is dead in the water

I agree that it is looking likely. I'm 70% sure but lets wait and see if this gathers pace... By January we will know a lot more about our team, including our situation regarding Torres. It should be clear by then whether or not he can be relied upon. No matter how well he might play though I cannot see him ever being regarded as a better option up front than Falcao. If this were to come to fruition and Torres didn't end up gong the other way or anywhere else, it would be an awful shame to have him sitting on the bench (which is exactly what would happen). I also agree that the centre of the park needs addressing more urgently though. Once again lets wait till January and see what the situation is.

This is starting to look like a genuine possibility.

There is an obvious and definite public bias when it comes to Barcelona in most scenarios. It's NOT an intentional conspiracy of any kind by journalists or UEFA. It's this subconscious (and often conscious) idea that they are what all teams should strive to play like. They also draw a positive agenda towards them since they are usually seen as "the good guys" in the Madrid - Barca rivalry, thanks to many disliked figures in Madrid's team and other aspects off the pitch. This favour that they have with the fans, officials, institutions of football and media often clouds people's judgement when it comes to any issue surrounding Barca, and I think this award is perhaps a good example. Why Iniesta won (IMO): Reason 1: For me Ronaldo was better than Messi and certainly iniesta this season. We're talking about really small margins here, but I believe he was the one who had the bigger impact. I also think a majority of the journalists who voted will have known the same deep down but God forbid they give the prize to Ronaldo, one of those disliked characters I mentioned earlier, and to team Real Madrid. Barcelona are an unbelievable collection of players, and they are often models on the pitch on what great football looks like, and a model off the pitch on how to run a club. They frequently bring through youth players, they promote senior figures within the club, the way they work is impressive. But the media and public need to be careful to keep their bias under wraps and not blindly back them in every circumstance. Reason 2: Whilst Iniesta is an unbelievable player, Messi is the one who has stood out at Barcelona over the past four or five seasons, Ronaldo too when you open up to the wider context. It is amazing that a player of Iniesta's quality can be overshadowed like this, and a lot of people feel sorry for him in this regard. "He deserves recognition" they say to themselves. They feel that he deserves an individual award and by giving him this justice will be done. This award though is for the "BEST PLAYER", not "the player who would be the best player if it wasn't for these other two guys". He is not the best player, therefore he does not deserve to win this, therefore this is nothing more than patronising for him. He absolutely deserves recognition, but lets please not compromise the integrity of this award by pretending he is the one who should win it. Giggs won the PFA player of the year and sports personality of the year for the same reason. This notion that he deserves recognition for his contribution over his whole life. This is the way I see it.

Azpicjaskjldjfs ------- Cahill-------Terry -------Cole Mikel --------Meireles Sturridge ----------- Mata ----------------Hazard Torres Think Sturridge deserves a start, and I want to see if he can make an impact. I agree with Ozztheboss that Ivan needs a kick in the arse and so should be dropped. This is what I'd like to see, but there are other things I would object to as well (Ramires played in the centre, Oscar given a start, etc) I actually think the International break, as much as I hate them, has come at a good moment. It gives us time to reflect on what went wrong against Athletico Madrid, and also for players to get it out of their system so that a loss in morale doesn't (hopefully) effect us.

http://www.dailymail...o=feeds-newsxml I've seen this now from a few different sources.

Transfer Central TNC â€@TransferNewsCen Fenerbahçe has made a pre-agreement with Raul Meireles for the future. Talks ongoing past month. (Vatan and Mulliyet) -W. Looks like we will be saying farewell to Meireles at the end of the season. Frustrating at times but I will always appreciate his contribution. I will never forget his commitment against Barca, sacrificing his place in the CL final with a challenge that may well have saved us in the final minutes at the game. Here's hoping he has a smashing final season.