What's wrong with it?
I think it looks really cool and different.

oh for goodness sake!

Clicked on that link and saw this breakdown of all of our players out on loan:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/foo...-Mohamed-Salah

Crazy how many are on our books!

Some of that is offering too high a wage to players - you cannot get them off your books for a fee.

But most of this is a business. Sign good young talent at no money - most of those players cost less than 2 million. You only need to make 1 start in that group to make your money back. But we make our money by selling them for average fees, like £5m.

Id rather have 20 young prospects out on loan, than other clubs who have players like Balotelli out on loan

If you don't fancy lolly sticks, how about Lego?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-stadiums.html

Harry lad, we're trying to keep this forum serious, d'ye mind!

Sat' 12th Sept' 12.45

On current form, it's not looking good, and it has been a bizarre start to the season.

When will it turn? There have been collapses in the past let's face facts, and I'll never forget the one when we looked good for the PL and Wilkins was sacked inexplicably as assistant. The form nosedived for over a month and the season was wrecked.

There's no sign yet that things will turn around imo, and that's just honesty. I hope I'm wrong, but things behind the scenes look very bad.

On current form, a draw would be a good result, and it could easily be another loss.

To be honest, I'm not looking foward to the Everton game at all. I know it's still early days, but it just seems vital that we get something out of the game. If the unthinkable happens and we lose to both Everton (a) and Arsenal (h), we will be looking at only 4 points from 6 games.
Let's hope tomorrow is the beginning of a turnaround. Something has not been quite right this season so far, and that goes beyond the loss of form. I have heard it suggested that it could be down to Jose's father suffering a stoke.

It does all feel rather flat, and I'm much the same in not being optimistic it's going to get a lot better anytime soon either. As Tip Top says it is a bit reminiscent of the time Wilkins got the boot and they were dire for quite a lengthy spell after. As well as JM's father, you do wonder exactly how much of an impact the incident with the medical staff has had on the team. Eva especially seemed a popular figure with the players. The club is its own worst enemy at times.

Courtois out for 2 months??

Only see it on the DM site so far.....better not be true.

Knee injury, reported in the media this morning

2 months!

With the way the media is today it will be 6 months by kickoff at the weekend

I don't think it really makes much difference whether it's Courtois or Begovic between the sticks. The problem remains the form of those playing in front of whoever's in goal.

Begovic is a very good keeper. More then capable of doing the job.

I'd go for:

Begovic (TB injured)

Azpi (rb)
Cahill / Terry
Zouma
Rahman

Matic
Ramires

Fabregas

Pedro
Hazard

Costa

Subs: Willian, Djilobodgi, Loftus Cheek, Kennedy, Traore (if Oscar still injured) Falcao, Blackman.

A blend of experience and new, fresh players. The opposition can't plan for a player they're not used to playing against, and that plus outweighs the relative lack of experience imo.

For me a question mark over JT. Yes, he has been a fantastic servant of the club, but he needs to be 100%, and if he isn't, especially considering his lack of pace, he will be targeted like Ivanovic, and will become a weak link. It's not disrespect, it's reality.

If Djilobodgi settles in, then I would possibly move Zouma into deep midfield, at the expense of an out of form Matic, or play the two together to shore up the midfield.

Courtois injury confirmed. I like Begovic, but this is still very bad news.

Could have been worse, we have positions where our cover is less then ideal.

Begovic is a top class keeper and is more then capable.

Would be worried if it was a long term injury to other players

Indeed. I don't see Begovic as being that much of a step down from Courtois, if at all. It's the one position where we do have good cover.

We have been extremely lucky with our goalkeepers for many years now going back to Carlo, Courtois is irreplaceable of course but that's not just at Chelsea but anywhere there are only a small select numbers of players in front of him. Begovic would be decent choice for just about most clubs, he is not Courtois but it would be impossible for us to someone at his level to come in. Begovic is the best we could hope to have to come in

Begovic is a great 'keeper, and I still can't really believe that he effectively agreed to be your number 2.

Courtois is excellent, but because of Begovic, I can't see it being a huge loss. It's only a few years since you guys were relying on Hilario, FFS!

Even he did a decent job for the most part

Yeah, but there's a big gap between 'decent' and 'excellent'.

Would you want to be seeing Hilario in the side every week, for months? With Begovic, you have no such worries.

Finding a excellent replacement for a goalkeeper is mission impossible and most of the time "decent" is the best you can hope for, I would not be as happy as I am now with Begovic in goal but normally Hilario level would be the best we could have hoped for as a number two. We are extremely lucky having Begovic. Am sure he is picking up some very nice wages and he fully deserves them for coming as a "number 2"

Team:

Begovic

Ivanovic !!! ???
Terry
Zouma
Azpi

Matic
Mikel !!! ???

Fabgregas ///

Pedro ///
Hazard

Costa

Willian rightly dropped, but no Rahman in at lb. Doesn't even make the bench, and Ivan is STILL playing. Why? And Mikel?!

We are not the manager, and can only guess.

Jose has always placed a great deal on training, Rahman would have done a very little amount of training with the whole squad.