ponsaelius

He's such a good dribbler that the advantage of keeping going outweighs taking the fall.

If we get top four it will be with a points tally worth of the position. Won't stop people using the 'weak league' argument to put the achievement down though.

A load of arse. Compare the points tallies for the top clubs last season to this. It's a total myth that we're only doing well because others are underperforming.

Defo buying that like.

Stoke have got quite a big squad but it's much of a muchness.

Absolutely. Gary Medel has looked handy when I've seen him too, wouldn't be an upgrade on Tiote by any stretch though. Does Isla play predominantly right-back now? Can play anywhere really can't he? Yeah he's very versatile but plays mostly as a RB and RWB for Udinese. Most of Chile's squad are and they've largely got Bielsa to thank for that. He's great but probably shouldn't be mentioned in this thread, he'll cost a fortune. Sooner we set up a scouting network in South America the better, plenty of players out there to sign even with work permit limitations.

I've had this argument a few times. LeazesTerrace on Twitter was saying it was 4-3-3 first half when it defo wasn't. I watched the game back and it was 4-4-2 all game, only in the second half Jonas went CM for Perch and Fergie went wide left. I really hope we go back to 4-3-3 against Stoke. The 4-4-2 just always results in us struggling to play through midfield and lumping it to the two strikers. If there's one team you don't want to play direct to the front men against it is Stoke. Huth and Shawcross will stroll it.

Kalou chips in with a fair amount of goals which is a good attribute to have but his general play for a wide-forward is poor. Not a great dribbler and poor/erratic decision making.

The one Chilean player I'd love to see us sign would be Mauricio Isla but Udinese will absolutely claw the eyes out of prospective buyers when they do sell him.

Fernandez would never make it over here like. Cracking player to watch but too weak and would never hold down a position in this league. I know that's an overused cliché but it's true with him.

Be a bit scared if Krul is out like. Wonder if Elliot can deal with the aerial bombardment?

I reckon he'd want fairly hefty wages to make the 'drop down' to us as well.

Not a fan of Kalou at all.

Hate Sporting Lisbon me like.

gerrin ftm

He basically runs with his head down ALL the time. I couldn't believe my eyes when he picked a through ball before.

Capel is fluking this performance. He's shite.

Schalke are indefinitely retiring their number 7 jersey and arranging a testimonial for Raúl's TWO seasons in Gelsenkirchen.

Youve got to wonder about La Liga with those stats, and Messi's 41 goals. I mean, i think they are the best team in Europe, and absolute quality to watch, but 104 goals in 30 games, and only 16 against? eh? That's all comps BTW.

Aye. The weird bit for me, or at least one of them, is that of all the players we're linked with bringing in this summer i fully expect them to be a success. Whether it's left back A or left back B, the guy coming in will actually want to be here. He won't be coming here because we offered more than his first choice club. Dead simple approach to signing players, i'm just amazed it didn't happen years ago. Must be cos us delusional geordies demand big names? It's actually quite ridiculous how much we've fucked up player recruitment in the past, tbf. There's players in this country and abroad that would queue up to play for us. That's not being arrogant either, it's a fact.

Neither Xavi or Iniesta were brilliant, either tbf. It was all rather tight and scrappy once every one got in front of Chelsea's penalty area, Barca didn't really show the quality to break down Chelsea's midfield three and defenders through the center. Point still stands. He's miles away from those two. I've never been a fan of Iniesta on the wing either. Seems such a waste to put him there just because of his fantastic dribbling and close control.

Fabregas was terrible today by the way. I remember some people saying he was as good as if not better than Xavi/Iniesta - he's miles away from those two. Miles.

One of the chances goes in and everybody's laughing at Chelsea's attempt to play 10 men behind the ball all game. Thems the breaks I guess, but it was nowt like say... Inter's performances home and away 2 years ago. THAT was a defensive performance and they limited Barca to scraps even with 10 men. Tonight Chelsea gave the opposition at least 5 clear opportunities on goal on their own narrow pitch.