Hulk is an incredible player, but I don't think we will spend the money to buy him. Sturridge is offering some Hulk's capabilities, AVB said that too.
We need a RB/CB and a left wing. Mata can play as playmarker role in the middle with a new left wing running down the left side.

Agree with your first part, but I wouldn't say Torres doesn't fit in AVB formation.
Clearly,Drogba is a better player than Torres at the moment.
I would love to see Drogba to start more games. If we're given a choice, I would like to see us keeping Drogba at least for this season.
Drogba is a player who can offer, it's not just about scoring for him, it's about the contribution for the team.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Torres is a player that can't offer, but his contribution is clearly lesser than Drogba. They are different player.

Drogba can't start every games, he's old now. But, when we got our team settled, then we can start Torres. I can see we're delivering some through ball for torres to run against Newcastle. This is what Torres need. In next few games, or in february when we're done with our shopping, Torres should be back. Believe in AVB, believe in Chelsea.

---

Added on December 5, 2011, 11:44 amOh,no one here mentioned about Lampard? Honestly, I wasn't happy to see Lampard fuming on the bench. You had a bad second half, you're subbed off, you must respect the manager.
What are your thoughts guys?

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 5 2011, 11:44 AM

From now on, I want AVB to start Drogba, then we maybe around 70minutes on,especially when opponent is looking for a goal, they're going to leave a big space behind the defense. That's the time to unleash Torres. We have seen this against Newcastle. This enable Torres to score easier and might be the KEY to build his confidence again. But of course, if the opponent still keep their defense tight, no point subbing Torres in for Drogba.

Say it in a simpler way, we need to look for the RIGHT TIME to play Torres.

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 5 2011, 08:33 PM

Yes, that's one of the reason. But what I meant just now is, we should start finding the right time to play Torres so that we can build his confidence and his sharpness again.
With Torres current form, I don't think he can break any fresh defense, so subbing him in might be a better option.
Drogba is a good player if he can play 90 minutes ,but too bad, he can't. Subbing Torres in for Drogba every match is not a good thing, it became a definite sub, and the 3 subs eventually became 2 subs.

Superb first half 2-0 win against a well organized team.
I love how Danny, Ramires and mata combined during counter attack, very effective. Drogba is doing what he was doing for years in Chelsea. Very good.
Luiz is using his speed to make interceptions and headers, with Terry alongside, they looked comfortable.

If not only looking at Mcy match in this weekend, I wouldn't take out anyone. Everyone is having a good match.

Oh, just brilliant performance. Brilliant. Attack well, then defend enthusiastically.

I love the team spirit, the managers and the staffs. With a look at the bench, don't you think the spirit is fantastic? Youthful, cheerful and ambitious staffs. They look like a team,just like what AVB said, The Group One, instead The Special One. As some of you guys mentioned, with an addition of hot girl too

Oh well, back to football. SO, WE WON THE GROUP E! TOP SPOT. Great confidence boost for the team to face City in the weekend.
Drogba is fantastic, 2 goals scored, assisted 1.You can't ask more than that. The stadium's fan are doing their job well, giving great atmosphere and I love the feeling when Drogba was subbed off. I hope this man can stay.

I was streaming and Gary Nevile was the commentator. I was surprised that he loves David Luiz! Yes, our pastor Luiz! There were some wise words from United ex-captain. Luiz was doing his job well today, going forward at the right time, making right decisions, good defensive skills. Our defense looks solid today.

Three consecutive 3-0 win is just fantastic. Well done Chelsea!

Spot on. January windows is always a risky time to overhaul a team. I will only allow Anelka and Alex to leave our team. Kalou, Malouda, Drogba, Bosingwa should be useful for the season. At least as reliable backup.

And AC Milan too, they're pretty strong.

Oh, interesting, did AVB say that? We played wonderful counter attack football against Valencia, one of the best for years.
Both Manchester went to Europa to bully small teams.
AVB>Mancini and Ferguson? Oh well

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 8 2011, 09:43 AM

I really like if we can bring a midfielder or a left wing. Preferable left wing so that Mata can play behind the striker. We got one of the best midfield in this world, I expect Mata to take Silva-like role in our team soon.
Kevin De Bryune should be a good buy under 15m, he on the left, Mata behind the striker. Sounds good.
I never watch Moutinho play before, but should fit AVB system pretty well.
I hope we can buy either Kevin De Bryune or Moutinho. Or modric?
David Luiz,Lampard will not leave for sure. Drogba should stay until the end of the season.
I really got no idea on centrebacks and right back, but we really need to buy at least one defender now. Right back should be better. Bruma should play first team football in very soon.

I hope this is true.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11...elebration-rule

This is just amazing. I love AVB.(no homo )

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 10 2011, 08:41 PM

Wow, this is interesting. I can imagine the players run to the sideline and do the squat pose together with AVB. Oh my god 1 manager in black suit, 5+ managers in Chelsea jersey. Great scene!

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 11 2011, 02:26 PM

'The buy-back option states that Barcelona can only buy back if Chelsea are willing to sell,' clarified Villas-Boas

Then why is it still called 'buy back option' ?
Excellent great news!

I heard rumors about Martin Kelly, I watched him couples of games, he's a great player,a young RB(21 only!) that has lot of potential,I would even pay up to 12m for him. I love to see him joining our squad but Liverpool fans will be pissed again

Of course, it's a bit lame that a manager say it in this way, 'when you score, come celebrate with me and the staffs'. It sounds awkward and weird.
Some motivation must come together so that it sounds better and so it can make senses. Something when the team is cheering up, building some confidence, and spirit, then the manager will speak out the suggestion and the players who have high spirit will agree with him.

Thanks HumbleCMY for clearing up the confusion, that means Barca must be the top of the list if we decided to sell Romeu which isn't likely to. I am so- so relieved to hear this news, because, we all know, we got this gem, we can't let this go so easily. I always worry Romeu is performing so good and Barca will buy him back, but now, every worries cleared I love how AVB handle his press conference, he's tough with media, firm with his opinion, and has great language ability too, his english standard is one of the best in England, even a lot better than english too.

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 12 2011, 12:53 AM

I don't really expect much from this game. We never really had luck against Man City. But hopefully some magic from Ramires and Luiz like last season will come to us again. Too bad, we will not see Luiz in this game and that's a huge question to our defense. Alex is so called 'banned' and Bosingwa back to right back? Anyway, we need to have faith on our player right?

Mata Drogba Sturridge
Meireles Romeu Ramires
Cole Terry Iva Bosingwa
Cech

Tactics that I would like AVB to use:
1. Defend deep
2. Counter attack
3. Exploit their wing backs with our fantastic wingers
4. Tackles all around in the centre of the pitch
5. Midfielders track Yaya and Silva run

I would say these five are the most important one.
I prefer Meireles over Lampard because he can press and he can track the MCY dangerous midfield run.
Romeu will be the man to do job number 4. Look at Lucas at Liverpool, made countless of tackles and Liverpool managed to stop City. I believed these are the only ways we can stop City.

Anyway, brace yourself tonight guys, 3.30 am and the blue flags will be flying high!

The reason why I chose to defend deep isn't actually for the sake of defense. With City strike force ability, they can score against any teams, high or deep defensive line.
But with deep defensive line, we have much more space in the midfield and some quick thinking from midfield(Meireles,Romeu) will surely provide some counter attack threat. We got numbers of great counter attackers, Sturridge, Mata, Ramires will be the trio to counter attack. Remember last season, where Carlo said, 'Counter the counter?' We didn't have fast wingers that time, we couldn't do our counter attack job well. But now, we have seen a lot this season, Sturridge+Mata+Ramires counter attack has been pretty effective.

I just hope that we can hold our defense and hit them when counter attack, because City wing backs are always ridiculously high up the pitch.

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 12 2011, 11:04 PM

Watched the replay again, Bosingwa fault again? Oh fine.
Nervy game as expected. Thanks Meireles for getting us back.

The City two pivot behind the attackers are too dangerous for us. Yaya and Barry are controlling the midfield TOO easily. Meireles and Oriol need to get behind and block the two pivots. In liverpool match, we switched to 4231 to block Maxi and Lucas who were penetrating through the middle.
Same situation, we are currently 1v2 and we need to change something to make it 2v2.
With 2 pivots blocking City 2 pivots, our wingers should be more comfortable to cut inside. Look at Mata, he was struggling this match because yaya and barry are too strong for him.

Never give up,and this is the reward. Thanks Chelsea.

AVB is a genius, look at the change at the half time.
433 when attacking, 4231 when defending, impressed with how he utilize these tactics.
As I said at the half time, I am glad that AVB did what I wanted too Two pivots, Oriol + Ramires/Meireles(inter-switching) , holding Yaya Toure and Barry. This locked City movements and gave much more space for Sturridge and Mata to cut inside. Direct result, Sturridge caused a lot of problems and with Ramires run, Clichy red.
AVB, got this ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

Speaking about the improvement of our midfield, Romeu really. Oh gosh, I can't believe we got him FROM BARCA, FOR 5 MILLIONS.
FIVE. FIVE. Is this a highway robbery?

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 13 2011, 06:02 AM

Chelsea are not like Arsenal, Chelsea have no urgent need of money so we don't usually sell players back. Unless, 100m offer came in.
There's a buy back clause, but, only if Chelsea want to sell Romeu. That means if Chelsea want to keep Romeu, barca can't buy him back too.

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 13 2011, 06:19 AM

Actually Kompany and Yaya Toure both had possibility to be sent off.
Yaya involved in mata incident and Kompany made lot of silly fouls that might get him the second yellow.

The reason I think AVB always sub Mata is he's still adapting English game, and I believe he has slightly lower stamina than most of the players in England. But I believe he can improve it.
Apart from stamina, I realized AVB always sub him out when we're leading, subbing in Malouda or a defensive midfielder, because Mata has small size, he might lose the ball too easily or beaten up by players and lose possession. Players like Malouda provide more physical strength so that we can hold our lead.

I was really impressed by AVB tactics. He give Ramires a new role, that suits him perfectly. That's a new role for Ramires for sure, we never seen him playing like this last season. Kudos to Ramires too, he never stop improving. Compare his first game for us and now, it's more than 200% improvement.

Speaking about Essien, I am quite sure that he's in AVB plan if he's FULLY fit. Looking at AVB tactics, the 3 midfield need one defensive midfield(Romeu), a running box to box machine(Ramires), and a player who can press, attack, defend. Almost like an all around player. And this role often switch position with the defensive midfield. We have seen Meireles switching position with Romeu a lot. AVB said this in press conference before too, he said the defensive midfielder(Romeu) might give opponent some surprise and create some confusion when he goes to attack.
Currently, Meireles is doing well with his role. I believe Lampard out from AVB starting XI recently is because he don't offer much for defense, he don't run as much as Meireles too. I believe Essien suits this role perfectly. Would like to see who AVB prefer, Essien or Meireles.

This post has been edited by ericling: Dec 14 2011, 05:44 PM