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Terry found NOT GUILTY

Looks like he won't miss many games if any

Next 24 hours should be exciting. Oscar signing expected to be confirmed and first preseason game against Seattle

I didn't think it would happen, but it looks like Hazard's brother might actually sign. Expect him to play in reserves/NextGen matches and be loaned to Vitesse when he's no longer eligible for the youth games

Looks like Oscar will be given Drogba's 11

Godly, Chelsea wasn't playing this off season. Man U and City have been to quiet

**** preseason tour. This was probably the worst summer to buy all your new key players with Euros and Olympics. At least Hazard and Marin looked good and Hazard in particular looks like he'll be among the most fouled players in Europe. Just can't wait to see Mata and Oscar with the team

Spain's out, so Mata should be available for Community Shield

Marin,Oscar,Hazard,Mata

I see a lot of similar profiles here.

Who is going to hold and who is going to defend? Not enough shirts to go around here imo.

Marin likely comes off the bench as an impact sub while other 3 start IMO. That leaves two more defensive midfield spots for Lamps, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Meireles and Romeu. Team could be playing a lot of matches this season, so having depth should be good. Once Oscar settles in, our best XI should look something like:

Torres
Mata-Oscar-Hazard (constant switching)
Lamps-Mikel
Cole-JT-Cahill-Ivanovic
Cech

Ramires should really start but I think that lineup's more balanced.

Is Cashley not getting a new contract? I think he got his head turned by the money Drogba and Anelka are making in China.

5DOM wrote:Marin likely comes off the bench as an impact sub while other 3 start IMO. That leaves two more defensive midfield spots for Lamps, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Meireles and Romeu. Team could be playing a lot of matches this season, so having depth should be good. Once Oscar settles in, our best XI should look something like:

Torres
Mata-Oscar-Hazard (constant switching)
Lamps-Mikel
Cole-JT-Cahill-Ivanovic
Cech

Ramires should really start but I think that lineup's more balanced.

I think that's a pretty good assumption; though maybe Luiz will get the nod over Cahill if we're up against particularly quick strikers. I agree it's hard to leave out Ramires - would not be surprised if he plays instead of Frank for a lot of league games with Frank being reserved for the big games. Regardless, there will probably always be some injuries to deal with meaning we'll rarely have an issue getting our 6 best midfielders enough games.

5DOM wrote:Looks like Oscar will be given Drogba's 11

That shirt needs to be retired

5DOM wrote:**** preseason tour. This was probably the worst summer to buy all your new key players with Euros and Olympics. At least Hazard and Marin looked good and Hazard in particular looks like he'll be among the most fouled players in Europe. Just can't wait to see Mata and Oscar with the team

I don't think so, I think by putting in bad performances we can see the holes on the team and how we can adjust to them. We can see the work that needs to put in to prepare ourselves for the season. Hopefully RDM can make these adjustments and be prepared when the Community Shield starts

Also, did I mention that I <3 David Luiz

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJPwBftrxZs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llgJyvv1GUU[/youtube]

5DOM wrote:Marin likely comes off the bench as an impact sub while other 3 start IMO. That leaves two more defensive midfield spots for Lamps, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Meireles and Romeu. Team could be playing a lot of matches this season, so having depth should be good. Once Oscar settles in, our best XI should look something like:

Torres
Mata-Oscar-Hazard (constant switching)
Lamps-Mikel
Cole-JT-Cahill-Ivanovic
Cech

Ramires should really start but I think that lineup's more balanced.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8vmXrLf1U[/youtube]

I agree Ramires needs a place in that team, just difficult to place him somewhere. Maybe he replaces Lampard down the line

its about that time again.

very underwhelming preseason. i am trying not to rush to judgements so far, but based on preseason, we look so much like that team last year that struggled under AVB. hopefully once mata, oscar and sturridge get back we will see the attack start to gel.

i ran across a good recap of the brighton game, which i agree with. that game was painful to watch.

http://thebluemark.wordpress.com/2012/0 ... -brighton/

we still need to find a right winger and a right back and perhaps another striker (if lukaku goes on loan). i am not enjoying ramires as a right winger, but then again, i dont know where else to play him in the 4-2-3-1. he's not really a double pivot midfielder either. i assume he will start to look better out on the right once mata gets back and there is some more creativity in that band of 3.

oh yeah, mereiles still sucks.

double oy yeah, oscar, hazard and marin look fantastic.

Lukaku joins WBA on loan. Not sure if it's a good move considering they have Long, Odemwingie and now Rosenberg

5DOM wrote:Lukaku joins WBA on loan. Not sure if it's a good move considering they have Long, Odemwingie and now Rosenberg

WBA tend to play Odemwingie down the wing if they play 4-3-3, Shane Long has one year left on his contract and is apparently being shopped around (heard Nottingham Forest and Reading) and Rosenberg is not exactly fully fit. I like Lukaku's chances of starting from day 1

BTW, just joined twitter (@Robert_OngJr). Any recommendations?

Chelsea-related:
@chelseayouth
@chelseafc
@CarloFan
@BluesChronicle
and Mata, Luiz and Cole


Others:
@Cynegeticus (Brazilian football)
@Pitacodogringo (Brazilian football)
@honigstein (German football)
@ManUnitedYouth (United)
@tomwfootball (French football)
@PhilippeAuclair (French football)
@MirrorFootball (Jokes)
@domfifield (Guardian journo)
@philmcnulty (BBC journo)
@Zonal_Marking (Zonal Marking)

Oscar, Hazard and Mata are phenomenal talents, but I still think that in the big games it'll be
Hazard/Oscar-Mata-Ramires
Lamps-Mikel
in midfield, with Ramires dropping into Lampard's place for a lot of league matches where they need to keep Lamps fresh.

Oscar is a player that really puts effort on pressing the offensive lines and composing the defensive midfield, I think he'll be coach's favorite between Mata, Hazard, Marin and himself.