Club Captain Gary Cahill hasn't even traveled with the squad despite having no reported injury. 

Speaks volumes about the lack of leadership in the squad at the moment. 

15 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Club Captain Gary Cahill hasn't even traveled with the squad despite having no reported injury. 

Speaks volumes about the lack of leadership in the squad at the moment. 

According to Matt Law he’s been frozen out by the manager. Word going around that it’s the cause of some of the unrest in the squad at the moment. Among other things.

Match day.....Come on you Blues,please !

 

2 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Club Captain Gary Cahill hasn't even traveled with the squad despite having no reported injury. 

Speaks volumes about the lack of leadership in the squad at the moment. 

He’s just disappeared totally, I know his form dropped off quite badly, but surely not that badly? 

The club have treated him a bit sh*t really seeing as what he gave us for so long.

28 minutes ago, Mod Stark said:

He’s just disappeared totally,

So has the rest of our defence mate.

21 minutes ago, Mod Stark said:

He’s just disappeared totally, I know his form dropped off quite badly, but surely not that badly? 

The club have treated him a bit sh*t really seeing as what he gave us for so long.

There was a rumoured move to Fulham last month apparently it was going to be a 6 month loan which would have taken him up to the end of his Chelsea contract which would have been a bit of a strange way for him to leave anyway. 

But like you say he's just dropped off the face of the earth. Never appears in any club photos anymore, never gets spoken about by Sarri... Just nothing. 

Considering he's by far and away the most decorated player at the club, not forgetting that he's club captain as well it's pretty sh*t for a player that's been such a huge part of the club for a long time now. 

The likes of Jose and Conte got a lot of stick for the way they would treat some players but I've seen almost nothing mentioned about Sarri freezing out a club legend. Cahill deserves better than this. 

I read today that Manchester City are set to give Vincent Kompany a new one year contract and are planning a testimonial for him. Think of all the legends that have come and gone during the Roman era... we've never once celebrated a player's individual contribution to the club in that way.

 

23 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

I'm not arguing with that, it's like everything, consistency is key.  We can't have the entire forum going up  in flames about the inconsistency of various scapegoats of the day on one hand and then saying that our chosen "great new hope" of the day can be inconsistent because we like him.

I agree he should be ahead of Barkley, maybe even Kovacic, or at least sharing time with him, but how long before we all turn on him if he phones in three or four consecutive performances like Sunday's.

Like I said earlier, sometimes  you'd think he was the future of our Champions League winning side, dominating Europe and the Premier league for a decade,  and sometimes he looks like he's never met his team mates or a football before, and can't be arsed to learn.

I really do hope it's the first.

I am in total agreement re RLC YB. It's what a lot of us have always said about him - he looks to have it ALL in abundance and yet plays like he has a cigar on. No urgency, too laid back - he needs a JT figure to shake him up a bit or football is gonna pass him by. That said, bit harsh to mention Sunday as he came on at 65 minutes with the score 5-0 - who is honestly going to want to come on in a game in those circumstances!!

Very frustrating though that when he does perhaps get an opportunity to replace Barkley / Kovacic that he's got a bad back again. Doesn't bode well.

 

3 hours ago, Sindre said:

According to Matt Law he’s been frozen out by the manager. Word going around that it’s the cause of some of the unrest in the squad at the moment. Among other things.

He refused a move away though, including to some top clubs supposedly. If he was frozen out why would he stay?

11 minutes ago, Nibs said:

That said, bit harsh to mention Sunday as he came on at 65 minutes with the score 5-0 -

and strolled around,  missing passes, losing the ball and generally just replicating what most of the team had been doing for the first hour. 

I would have expected just a little bit of "look at me,  boss, I'm better than these w**kers you have been picking for most of the season" but we didn't get that.  Boy really gotta take whatever chances he gets.

Like I said, sometimes he's almost unplayable when he can be arsed, a lot of the time doesn't look like he deserves to be in the squad.  I mean, honestly @Nibs, you or I would put more effort in.

18 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

He refused a move away though, including to some top clubs supposedly. If he was frozen out why would he stay?

Loyalty to the club for which he is the captain? 

27 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Loyalty to the club for which he is the captain? 

Nah... the places he was rumored to go...

Juventus - Out of the country away from his family, 6 month deal, trading one bench for another
Monaco - Out of the country away from his family, 6 month deal, and they're a dumpster fire
Fulham - possibly a permanent deal, but could be relegated. 

6 months on loan at Fulham would have made sense for him to help them in a relegation scrap, but he'd likely be looking for another club again in June anyway.

I think he decided his January options weren't great, and it's better to take his time and find the right 3 year fit in the summer.

Anyone else reckon we are going to get an absolute pasting from Malmo tonight?

2 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

There was a rumoured move to Fulham last month apparently it was going to be a 6 month loan which would have taken him up to the end of his Chelsea contract which would have been a bit of a strange way for him to leave anyway. 

But like you say he's just dropped off the face of the earth. Never appears in any club photos anymore, never gets spoken about by Sarri... Just nothing. 

Considering he's by far and away the most decorated player at the club, not forgetting that he's club captain as well it's pretty sh*t for a player that's been such a huge part of the club for a long time now. 

The likes of Jose and Conte got a lot of stick for the way they would treat some players but I've seen almost nothing mentioned about Sarri freezing out a club legend. Cahill deserves better than this. 

I read today that Manchester City are set to give Vincent Kompany a new one year contract and are planning a testimonial for him. Think of all the legends that have come and gone during the Roman era... we've never once celebrated a player's individual contribution to the club in that way.

 

For some reason, probably my age and the fact i watched top players play for an average mans wage. I can't feel sympathy for any modern day footballer. I save my sorrow for people who really could do with it. Gary has had an excellent career with us, the fans will never forget him, we dont need testimonial matches to show it, and he certainly doesn't need the money (although charities get most of testimonial money nowadays). He was a good professional player for us, and he will live well from his earnings for decades to come.

Gary wants to lift one last European trophy with us...... Watch out Rudiger/Luiz/Christensen and don't answer the door after dark if we make it to the finals.... Gary's getting in that team come hook or crook....

51 minutes ago, coco said:

For some reason, probably my age and the fact i watched top players play for an average mans wage. I can't feel sympathy for any modern day footballer. I save my sorrow for people who really could do with it. Gary has had an excellent career with us, the fans will never forget him, we dont need testimonial matches to show it, and he certainly doesn't need the money (although charities get most of testimonial money nowadays). He was a good professional player for us, and he will live well from his earnings for decades to come.

Nothing to do with money, just about the club showing (and allowing fans to) gratitude and respect to long serving members of the team.

That Lampard, Cech and Cole all left with barely a whimper from the club is just a bit gutting.

Does anybody know the starting lineup for today's match?

So we know that Sarri will make 1 change. Let's hope that he sees the issues that seem to be so obvious. Hoping to see CHO today start, not sub on at 82 minutes (that's pointless). Wouldn't mind seeing Kovacic play in Jorginho's role along Kante and not Barkley but with RLC out I imagine our midfield three will Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante. Back 4 I'd like to see either Christensen and Luiz at CB or Rudiger and Christensen. Azpi maybe could use a rest, but I don't really consider Zappacosta a worthy replacement so I'll stick with Azpi and Emerson as the rest of the back 4. Up front: HHH obviously is what I'd like to see

16 minutes ago, Upb78 said:

Does anybody know the starting lineup for today's match?

Should be out in the next 5-10 minutes

Really Sarri

Wow

No wonder CHO wants out, embarrassing way to utilise talented players 

 

this lineup 

Why the f*ck do some think we will get destroyed tonight?

Get a grip, it’s Malmo, not bloody PSG or Juventus.

I predict a comfortable win.

So Jorginho has to start again

Apart from Hudson-Odoi, I don't see the issue. Maybe, just maybe Zappacosta over Azpilicueta, but this is our best chance to make top four so too much tinkering isn't necessary. We have a game vs Utd on Monday, so we had to rotate some of our big players. 

Just now, ducavis said:

So Jorginho has to start again

Well yes because Ruben is injured and the board didn't bring in a replacement for Fabregas. There is nobody else to take that position right now, barring Kovacic, who is playing tonight.