[Kevmeister]

Spoiler:

Show

Nice welcome.

[Tommyjw]

(Original post by Wawasan)
Yes

On a side note, dare I say it...does this signing give us potentially a place in the world's best three attacking forces?.

What two would you put alongside it?

[Wawasan]

(Original post by Tommyjw)
What two would you put alongside it?

Barcelona and one of Real Madrid/Man City/Man U

[419]

(Original post by NDGAARONDI)
Depends. But what if Torres doesn't become his former self? We loan out Lukaku then what? Play Piazon as a false 9? Plus, I imagine selling an English player would have implications for the homegrown quota. I'd play Romeu ahead of Essien because we may as well get the most out of him otherwise he'll go back to Barcelona or elsewhere for more playing time. It's the only reason why he joined us, to get game time. Mikel will be away with the ACoN I think and Lampard would be professional enough to be used less frequently but not tossed away like a piece of garbage. Essien isn't the player he is and I've heard he's one knee injury away from retirement. While I don't wish to force him out, he should look at the wider picture unless he is happy playing less of a role than Romeu. Well, I think Romeu should play more often because he's 'energetic'. We also have Miereles on our books too. Gives away possession a bit too much but he's a good squad player. We've had one young prospect (Borini) who left us because he felt he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip, and I don't want another repeat. Sooner or later we will regret it.

Recent history suggests otherwise.

[Tommyjw]

(Original post by Wawasan)
Barcelona and one of Real Madrid/Man City/Man U

Well for a start both Uniteds and Citys are currently better.

Hazard and Oscar are great signings, but it is a bit presumptuous to think they are going to come in and beat the leagues best playmakers and wingers straight away. As well as the fact Torres wasnt close to the best striker last season so you are expecting a massive boost from him to make that statement

[Wawasan]

(Original post by Tommyjw)
Well for a start both Uniteds and Citys are currently better.

Hazard and Oscar are great signings, but it is a bit presumptuous to think they are going to come in and beat the leagues best playmakers and wingers straight away. As well as the fact Torres wasnt close to one of the best strikers last season so you are expecting a massive boost from him.

Oh of course. The key to us succeeding next season will be where we'll rely heavily on Torres. If all systems go, the players behind him would provide the service that he can score goals from. That would also make Mata/Marin/Hazard/Oscar be deemed a success. So generally speaking, if they live up to their value, it could either be dissappointing or it could work wonders. Oh and nice goal Terry

[mhsc]

Essien's starting to look decent again. Result. If he can get back to his beasty self then the world would be a better place. Lukaku awful in this game as usual. None of the players looked all that bothered by the match, the team didn't look balanced once during the entire game... But it is preseason. This can't be a sign of things to come. Maybe.

[I Kant Spall]

The ending of the game was just so typical David Luiz. When I heard that the MLS won in stoppage time after a deflection, I just knew it came off David Luiz.

[Banishingboredom]

(Original post by I Kant Spall)
The ending of the game was just so typical David Luiz. When I heard that the MLS won in stoppage time after a deflection, I just knew it came off David Luiz.

Bit harsh

[I Kant Spall]

(Original post by Banishingboredom)
Bit harsh

It just makes the situation funnier. Big deflections are hilarious.

[iRush]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...-for-De-Bruyne

Seems like De Bruyne is off to Bremen on loan. Seems like their covering for Marin's departure, hopefully he get a lot of game time there.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...aiting-on-news

Always good to confirm that we are in fact going for Azpillicueta. Wouldn't mind him and a RW/ST coming and we can be done.

[Catilina]

(Original post by iRush)
http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...-for-De-Bruyne

Seems like De Bruyne is off to Bremen on loan. Seems like their covering for Marin's departure, hopefully he get a lot of game time there.

He´ll get plenty of game time, probably even starting XI most of the time.

Bremen have sold all their good players over the last few years, they have to rely on him, just think about who they lost: Wiese,Naldo, Mertesacker, Diego, Özil, Marin and Pizarro.

[NDGAARONDI]

(Original post by 419)
Recent history suggests otherwise.

AVB treated him with disrespect if that's what you mean? There's player power and there's treating players who have played for your club years on end as a piece of meat. If supporters expect 'loyalty' from players by staying when there are potentially better opportunities elsewhere, then it is only right that clubs should do the same with players. It is a two way street. That said, if Lampard thinks he has a divine right to expect x amount then perhaps he'd do the honourable thing and seek a move elsewhere. Gudjohnsen held a talk with Mourinho to see how much playing time he'd viably get whilst he was still at Chelsea but saw he'd role in the side was being diminished too much so when Barca came calling he thought he'd try his luck there and did okay from what I've heard. Many players would kick and scream to be let go if Barca are interested. Some Chelsea fans see Lampard as deadwood anyway (not me but I'd probably play him much less than you'd think). He could leave on good terms and cite the fact that he didn't want to hinder younger players' progress in the squad by remaining.

[Cannotbelieveit]

Wasn't a great performance last night, but then again Pre-Season friendlies are never great performances.

[James A]

Chelsea have effectively bought theselves the title with all these big signings ( again )

[JClive]

I would not (I never do) read too much in to pre-season friendly games, they do not reflect the upcoming season and the strongest teams are never played.

Shame we lost but oh well, W1 D1 L1 is decent so far.

How did Hazard do last night?

[TheBallWinner]

I fear Marin won't start Premier League games

[chelseafan]

We will have a lot of games. Squad rotation will be crucial.

[Isometrix]

(Original post by TheBallWinner)
I fear Marin won't start Premier League games

He wasn't bought as a starter though, so it's expected. He's the Kalou replacement - comes on as an impact sub and provides cover for injuries. As for squad rotation:

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry A.Cole

Mikel Lampard

Ramires Mata Hazard

Torres

This is what I suspect RDM will be inclined to play for most games. He likes Ramires out wide, and his work ethic also means he will track back and help out defensively. Or he'll play Oscar in the middle, shift Hazard and Mata out wide, and use Ramires in a deep role. Sturridge, Marin, Meireles and Romeu will all get game time from rotation. Malouda, Benayoun and possibly Essien need to be sold as I don't feel they can offer anything more to the team, and it means McEachran and Piazon may get a better shot at breaking through.

If we can land Azpilicueta and Moses, I think we're good to go .

[chelseafan]

(Original post by Isometrix)
He wasn't bought as a starter though, so it's expected. He's the Kalou replacement - comes on as an impact sub and provides cover for injuries. As for squad rotation:

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry A.Cole

Mikel Lampard

Ramires Mata Hazard

Torres

This is what I suspect RDM will be inclined to play for most games. He likes Ramires out wide, and his work ethic also means he will track back and help out defensively. Or he'll play Oscar in the middle, shift Hazard and Mata out wide, and use Ramires in a deep role. Sturridge, Marin, Meireles and Romeu will all get game time from rotation. Malouda, Benayoun and possibly Essien need to be sold as I don't feel they can offer anything more to the team, and it means McEachran and Piazon may get a better shot at breaking through.

If we can land Azpilicueta and Moses, I think we're good to go .

Ramires can also play in the double pivot leaving a gap for a more creative player.