carefreeluke

Yep, would be a big surprise if we did and I genuinely mean that.

Everyone's been below standard but I'd have given it to Eden. FA Cup final still has the potential to sway the vote though.

Willian players' player. As for our best player this season... I would have given it to Hazard. With Kante and Rudiger in for a shout.

Those were some strange comments after the game, strange. There have been times when Conte's level of English hasn't helped since he's been here. For example perhaps some things he's said in the past have come across stronger because of his lack of ability to express himself well enough in English or his lack of full understanding of some of the questions that have been asked, sometimes I think he interprets some of the questions wrong as well. Also, there are times when he completely answers a different question to the one he was asked and this is not done purposely (like a politician for example), just simply he misunderstands the English. Not to knock his English level, his English is good and to learn a language isn't easy (and I know that very well), credit to him for learning English quickly and having the confidence to speak it in front of many people. I think sometimes we have to be more aware of this when taking into account what he is saying. However, this wasn't one of those times and again I don't know what his comments achieve in this case. Directed towards the attacking players and therefore you'd automatically assume a player we bought for big money last summer, Morata who seems like he needs to be wrapped in cotton wall at all times and who has fragile confidence issues. Conte's comments all season haven't helped the team, I don't care what he was promised by the club and what relationship he has with those within it, he is perhaps the biggest reason why we've come up short this season. The media and the outside will try to bring negativity in, even after one game (this is true at all clubs) but more so at ours because of the managerial merry go round we've had over the years but Conte's done more than added fuel to the fire, he's helped keep those clouds of negativity there and elevated the bad weather conditions. Ironically he's been more positive in the media in recent weeks and the results have improved. This isn't even talking about his tactics which were a problem even in the away win at Swansea on the weekend. He's not solely the problem, there's others (the board and players) but he still takes a big proportion of that blame.

Could perhaps tolerate Alonso as a number two, an amazing free kicker but there's nothing else to his game for me. I've always preferred Moses.

He's not in good form but he's an asset to the squad if used correctly.

Would drive him there myself.

Cesc is class in my eyes, great squad player in my opinion. Wouldn't want to get rid.

Problem is we've spent money on depth, instead of spending on quality. I've said it a few times on here but the amount we spent on Drinkwater was baffling. There was no way he was bought in to be a starter and Conte and the club created a gap in terms of squad cover that didn't need to be there. That money should have been spent on better quality and that price doesn't necessarily need to be over 50M (or excessive) there's plenty of midfielders I can think of in La Liga at the moment, that one would add quality and two would also be at a decent price. I miss Luiz.

Wow! I was born in Carshalton.

@The Palace Fan Where you from out of interest mate?

He's been mismanaged this season and has always had 'a handle with care' label on him. He was very good towards the end of last season, managed even to push Matic out the team and become a regular starter. I also remember a lot of interviews with him last season where he came across as very motivated and the added competition with Kante coming in seemed to get the best out of him in the end. As you know very well mate he needs to be managed well and if that's the case he's a great asset to have in the squad. The story of his Chelsea career is that he was fucking amazing in the first half of the season in which he joined us, then his performances declined massively in the second half of that season. Was poor the following season (so was everyone). Last season, he wasn't a guaranteed starter and was struggling for game time in the first half but fair play to him, he knuckled down and played very well in the second half of last season and won himself a place in the team. Consistency was his problem at Barca as well and the fans there never really fully took to him either for a variety of reasons. This season he's been mostly poor, with some good bits here and there.

Yeah, I wouldn't say Rudiger has been spectacular but he's been steady enough especially considering it's his first season here.

Some people putting two and two together with regards to Rudiger and Conte. Rudiger wasn't even in the squad to face Southampton this weekend which comes after Rudiger's comments post-match against West Ham. Conte said before the game that there were no new fitness concerns going into the match this weekend and Conte said after the game that it was a tactical decision to leave Rudiger out. Maybe more to it? Who knows. One thing's for sure is that Rudiger has been one of our better players this season.

Let's shit the bed and suffer without the ball!

Ouch. Get well soon mate. How you doing now? And why so long to see a consultant?

Just one tablet a day, was advised by the doctor to take them for ten days. Cheers mate. Yeah I've googled it before, and yeah it says it may make you sleepy if you mix with alcohol and the general advice is not to it. Although, becoming 'sleepy' can be a side effect or symptom of antihistamines and alcohol anyway. Sort of just wondered if anyone on here has hay fever and had any experiences etc. I had to see said doctor as when I was coming to the end of my trip in Valencia last week, the area around my eyes and nose and that part of the face became red. Thought it was just the sun and put it down to sunburn (although the truth is it felt a little different to that). Wasn't until I got back and was out playing football that I thought that it could have been something else, so went to see a doctor and she said it was allergies. Told me to take the tablets for the next ten days and of course we've just had the change in season and the climate is a lot different here in Seville compared to back home. I clocked shortly after seeing the doctor that I had been in and around the park in Valencia a lot. For those who don't know, there's a river that use to run through Valencia which has been turned into a big park and like the river it goes right through the city. I then quickly realised what may have caused the reaction. All these symptoms were new to me so I didn't know what it was.

Haha yeah so I've read online, alcohol isn't good for hay fever either. I've only really sort of realised I have hay fever in last few years but it's never really been that bad, very few problems with it (at least what I've been aware of). I'm having a severe case of it in Seville at the moment.

Hayfever tablets and alcohol OK? What do you reckon?

Remember all for dinner all we ate was Captain Crunch, now we blow big blunts on the way to brunch...♪

I was going to make that point in the post above mate but it was late and I was tired. I also felt like I had banged on enough as well. We don't necessarily have to take up that shape for long periods either, we can be in that shape for a very small period during the game but it's Conte's insistence for the players to play out of that counter press from the opposition which can bring us problems and as you said we no longer have a big outlet at front which has worsened and limited our exit routes. A good chunk of games this season we've played Hazard up front as well, need I say more. I think this is also one of the reasons why Cahill has lost his place as Rudiger is more agile on the ball and Rudiger has better all-round composure as well.