The Liquidator

I must remember to dumb down when seeing ANYTHING Happy posts

If Cicero is right and Emerson Palmeri is on his way before the window, you will get your wish with Alonso being tested by a more mobile wing back.

Comfortable win after a fairly shaky start. Newcastle came to play and allowed us opportunities to break away and score. As we all know, we struggle to break down 10 at the back. Happy for Mitchy and hope the manager keeps giving him chances to start. He needs encouragement to keep leading the line as our recent history tells us we are unlikely to find another forward in this window no matter how much bullshit the media link us too. Yeah I have to agree Drinkwater was well below the standard we expect from out players. It didnt help each time he shot at goal the corner flags insurance went up. Early days for him, but I am sure he now has a firm idea of the difference of playing for Leicester compared to us. Hudson Oddoi made us all smile. Looks the part and has had a growth spurt since I last saw him. Fingers crossed. Lastly, Christensen far more consistent of late. Helps he seems to be the managers fav and gets to play in the same position all the time, unlike Rudiger who without doubt has settled the best of the summer signings, but gets moved from game to game.

Well balanced n well written Luke. As ever you make some good points on whats going on at our club.

It never fails to amaze me to how some people read football and more importantly my clubs performances on the pitch. Should be a evaluation of non Chelsea supporting members before they are allowed to comment in our Chelsea thread.

The board got him who he wanted to replace Costa. It's the one thing we can be certain of. I can not sit hear and defend the board on other players missed & brought in, however, the manager signed up to this & cant start bleeting when those players do not settle quickly enough to help him. I understand the call to return to a back four, but for me this isnt where the manager or team are failing. The experiment of Hazard in the middle has gone on for far too long and his unwillingness to test Mitchy from the start in the bigger games has not only set us back, but also the youngster himself. His decision to start Fabregas in far too many games where his legs become a player for us to carry and only of late using Willian and Pedro far more often, are also poor team decisions. We will see what happens, but for me I am sick n tired of his excuses and attitude when facing the media.

Your words do have some substance, however, from what we are lead to believe this manager knew what kind of transfer policy he was signing under. Cant start blaming that policy when it was agreed and I dont think its the board who lost us our CF. The loss of Costa, no matter I agreed at the time, is the biggest reason why we have lost more games this season and that is down to this manager not being able to handle him. And lets not forget, he got his chosen replacement in Morata. Someone he has turned on of late.

Yes Really. Sorry, you are not someone i would want to waste my time on explaining what I know & feel about my club.

There is no evidence in our Roman history that says we go backwards when ridding ourselves of a coach. There is evidence we get better and win things. I am tired of the excuses for this manager who continues to pick the wrong players in the wrong positions. And this bullshit about not getting the players needed or wanted. Tough, get on with this Premier League winning squad and stop bringing the mood of the club down with his terrible attitude everytime a microphone is put to him. If he continues, there is NO REASON for the two Belgium's to re-sign with us.

A new low for the season. Time to change manager

No Luke Shaw then?

Found this rather an eyeopener and would like to ask can anyone else remember a Chelsea player being so open & opinionated on Chelsea transfer business? Eden Hazard quoted on ESPN website yesterday. "Football is simple -- keep the ball on the ground and try [to play] like we did," Hazard said. "I think we have two very good strikers in Alvaro and Michy. If they are not ready to play I can play striker, so I don't think we need [another one]. "Because we are missing chances people are saying we need another striker, but if we are scoring goals we are the best attack in the league and no one can say we need a striker. It depends on the form of the team and I think we're happy with the team we have." Plenty of logic in his words, however he makes plain the problem, "Because we are missing chances" I have been highlighting how poor we have been infront of goal, Hazard being as guilty as anyone, for sometime now. I understand why the club are looking towards a bigger target man, Just not sure that player will have the goals in them themselves & guess it will be more of what falls off that target man for others to improve their goal completion.

Don't want to say to much about the weekend game other than Brighton are pretty much a Championship standard team which we closed down within the first 10 mins. Hazard and more so Willian on a different level to all others on the pitch. The latter is back to his season best performances before the loss of his mother during last season. The manager seems to trust him too. Team far more mobile without Fabregas. Would have liked to have seen Barkley, the new Lampard, make his debut. Not sure what to make of the two Roma players said to be on their way. I remember hearing Cahill and Terry pretty much saying the CF is no problem when he was at City. We will see if it comes to fruition.

I am sure glad I didnt say I would do that if Salah improves Liverpool!

I would pretty much agree with Luke’s assessment of Hazard this season. I happen to think his stay in the middle of the park has over-run its good and a time back out wide would be beneficial to all. For me Hazards weak-point is his finishing. It could be classed as diabolical in certain games and I have lost count of the number of times he beats the keeper only to hit a defender on the line or the woodwork. Of late he has taken to keeping hold of the ball for too long around the box looking to force his shot away instead of the easy lay off. I guess in his defence the rest of them have lost there way infront of goal too. I would still grade him as the best player in the EFL, mainly because he does things others cant. Those who feel he will leave this summer maybe disappointed as I feel he will sign a new long term contract before the end of this season. Obviously that don’t mean he will 100% will stay. Oh, it’s not his fault he does not complete 90 mins, that’s down to our tactical genius manager. It’s the loss of form of Morata which is hitting us hardest of late, plus the refusal of the manager to start anyone else up front other than our one footed young CF. I deify anyone to offer a difference between Morata last 8 starts and any of MB’s? Anyway, best to point out our best player in the last month or so has been Willian by a country mile. Yes, he has his faults, but I wouldn’t want to see him in any other PL team shirt. As far as new formations tactics ect, well I am of the opinion nothing will help if the manager continues to talk through his ass playing the victim of a manager who has no control on who comes and goes. Today a new low when he bit on a question asked about Hazard being happy about being replaced all the time. Like I said a few days ago, he is being far more open with the media, baiting the board. I just wonder if we are ready for a change now?

We want Jose to stay where he is TY..... He is doing a wonderful job up North.

I am not fussed over Conte staying or leaving at the end of the season. The club have proved for almost two decades now, dont matter who steers the ship, Chelsea win. I am of the mind Conte will need to be pushed rather than leave under his own steam as signing a contract for more money without added years means the guy wants the money. Also, he is starting to be far more open with the media, almost baiting the club. There was no reason to state we was in for the Southampton CH without adding why we didnt sign him. We would never have paid more than 40M for a player who would take his turn on our bench more than start. He should have said once the price got to where it ended there was no value to us for a squad player. While I was pissed enough with Costa to be happy to see the back of him AND happy Conte showed strength, it's obvious the board looked upon the event as a manager unable to handle a difficult player, one who we have moved on which has hurts us. I believe the club would have sided with the player had there not been a title brought home. Lastly, I would say Conte has suffered from the unbelievably poor decisions of the previous manager. Jose allowed so many players to leave, young players the club had brought to the club to nurture. To see all that hard work from the football operations dept come to fruition elsewhere in the PL is said to be one of the reasons Emenalo decided to move on. As ever, Jose was all about himself and a lesser club 3 years on would be in a terrible position given the amount of talent he allowed to leave. It's my opinion the club want all transfer decisions to be taken away from the manager. We could hardly blame them.

I am afraid last nights performance from both the players and the manager leaves me without much doubt that our problems are becoming larger as we go through the season. Morata: I am certain he isnt a center forward. Far too slight n rarely out battles the CH's up against him. I would go so far to say we sold Tarzan in Costa and signed Jane in Morata. I am not sure if any of you took note of him running up the left hand side touchline in the end half, refusing to use his left foot till his right put the ball out of play. I just can see what he is going to do to lose the ball each time. I think he could play off a big man and would have formed a great partnership with Costa had he still been around. We need at least two more forwards. Anyone else think Hazard is carrying an Injury? If he isnt, this playing him the middle needs to stop. I could write so much more but its just fuel for others.

Each of his contracts with Chelsea he has been easy to deal with. I guess he got one hell of an upgrade this time. Deserved? Yeah on the whole he does deserve it. Who else will sign a new contract this month? We will see

I was at the game last night unlike half of our first team squad. I think the decision to leave most of the "Names" in our squad at home while the plebs, at least thats probably how they felt about themselves took on a very average Championship side. Outside of William, who in my own opinion was trying, maybe add Pedro too, I felt the players were not giving 100%. I honestly feel our manager made a huge mistake and will have probably lost more minds (Although, I truly get the feeling he does not rate well over half of our squad) with one decision than he has at any other time during his time in charge. We were garbage on the pitch, pretty much going through the motions leading to another fixture. Antonio, why bother?

Haha, why not Ronaldo and Messi... That will make your point have strength

Salah is having a career season, an absolute revelation to the player we knew at Chelsea and does make you wonder which club he will be at next season.

Again, how many minutes against that 212.... I would suggest around 150 full 90 mins

Well the previous manager had him running backwards for most of the games he played under him. This manager does not play him anywhere near as often. Not my fault if you cant accept that truth.

Happy New Year my fellow Blue's! One hopes you and your families had wonderful festive times together! -------------------------------------------------------------- Well I had been flagging up Morata's well below average finishing since I got a good look at him and last night was the biggest hit we have taken. As much as I agreed with losing Costa because of his antics, him returning and scoring last night kinda put the Cherry on a awful night for our Blues. Not sure about you guys, but I felt like we had lost last night to that equalizer. Thx Morata -------------------------------------------------------- The Willian stat, "This is Willian's 6th season for us. 148 PL games and only 21 goals. " This is what I would call a BULLSHIT SKY SPORTS stat. Whenever you see this kind of stat you must determine minutes on the pitch. As I am sure all are aware, Willian is a player who rarely completes a 90 min game and is often a introduced Substitute. I have no idea of his actual mins, but would suggest he score in 1 in 5, 90 mins. When you compare he is normally stuck out wide and not his preferred position of in the middle, I would say its a fair return. While he cant be looked upon as a superstar, to suggest he isnt good enough for our club is laughable and fingers should be pointed towards those who have the team selection n tactics for not getting more out of him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bloody Alonso produced another goal to bring his total to 7 for the season, judging by his finger count held up in his New Highbury celebration. While I am in full agreement that his defending isnt good enough, I cant help warming to the guy who continues to bounce back with goals n assists in his Chelsea shirt. News we are in for Juventus wing back again, now almost 30M less than it was said we prepared to pay in the summer, I guess is expected although not sure why the price reduction and this alone would have me questioning why. I have to say if I was in charge I would be in Chelsea fan Luke Shaw's ear to make sure he knows where his new home should be after running down his United contract. For the record, I do not believe Alonso would be a tidy CM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zappacosta: He gets a full season of bit parts before he gets any stick from me. Very difficult to make a claim on anything when you are introduced from the bench in most of your appearances. It's not like our darling new CF who gets plenty of airtime & supply of chances to run around allowing us to determine what he is at this stage of his career. Interesting the manager took Moses off yet again when he seemed to refuse to take on the Arsenal left back. I am sure I dont have to remind anyone who did just that when he was introduced and set up Alonso. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfer window: By the end of this window we will be able to determine if our manager will still be with us next season. From what I have been told and read, the clever money is on him being elsewhere next season, which inturn would lead us to believe the window will not be as fruitful as we may hope. I have already stated I would like us to get Luke Shaw and I would like us to get at least 2 more forwards, preferably forwards with 2 feet.