ChelseaBoy

Haven't the Geordies suffered enough??

Fair shout, but wouldn't call Next to Gap a relegation - maybe standing still for a mo. £ for £ I think Chelsea have still outspent West ham with £60m Pulisic coming in, plus 4 of the loan players back in the 1st team squad being valued at over £100m, Batshuayi, Van Ginkel, Bakayoko, and Zuma, plus the signing of Kovacic from Real. West Ham won't trouble the top 6 IMHO.

Happy with Next!!

Oi Oi

Love the analogy. In that vein who would Chelsea be? I'm having Tottenham as CurrysPCWorld - Quality white goods, but always fuck up the delivery and West Ham as Poundland.

I agree, I look at this side and it matches up well against the other lot across town. It's just the reliance on Defoe that worries me. I would bring in another forward to lead the line with Defoe as back up.

I think Dick Emery at Arsenal will prove to be a dud also.... so will be a 3 way battle!

That's a big call placing West Ham above Chelsea or Man Utd - what is driving your optimism?

I'd be happy with that!!!

Yes will be different without Hazard, but then again there were many games where he just didnt turn up. When up for it he was in the top bracket in Europe, but sadly that happened less and less. Christian Pullisic is not like for like but at £60m Chelsea are paying for his potential and with Kante in his proper position - that will save us a fair few points that we squandered last year as teams waltzed past Jorginho!! I think we will still be on a par with Arsenal and Utd and it will again be those 3 fighting for 4th place, though unless Spurs sign some players they will be in the mix also.

It's not for me, but it will be pushed heavily by the BBC as it's one of the only sports still on the channel, plus it ticks many of their diversity output targets.

I thought the Olympic Stadium was far from the action but that last night took the piss.

Should have stuck with it !!!

We'll see, Think Giroud, Hazaed and Willian will be doing some gunning at the other end !!!

Not all great players are suited to the top job and Super Ally may be one, just look at Zola, Shearer and Roy Keane and many others over the years inc Geoff Hurst and Danny Blanchflower both at Chelsea!! I think Ole Gunner Solskaer will shortly join this group.

It is a crazy decision and It makes you wonder how much oil money has changed hands!!

Definite positive steps this year and with the right players coming in I cannot see why we can't get more improvement next season. If not in Sarri's immediate plans next year, I'd love Gerrard to get Abraham on loan if Villa don't go up, also maybe Mason Mount if Derby miss out. I have said that I'd give Kent another season as I believe there is more to come, but that garnered some mixed responses !! Hope some funds are made available to just improve each area just a bit in order to push those stats higher next year.

I know, it's just one more sign of the current malaise in the organisation of the club.

Congrats Steve Clarke, a good solid pro at Chelsea with over 400 appearances and has coached a number of clubs gaining important experience along the way with the high points his assistant role at Chelsea under Jose, getting WBA to finish 8th in PL and latterly with Kilmarnock. All in all, I think he deserves the chance.

Interested in how you think this game will pan out? Must say I'm worried as Arsenal have a Champions League place at stake as well as two forwards bang in form, whereas Chelsea could have 4 players out and two forwards who have been a bit goal shy. A lot will depend on whatever 2 Sarri chooses from Hazard, Willian and Pedro in attacking midfield roles and whether they can get on top of a weak Arsenal defence as Sarri's love child Jorginho is a definite starter and either Barclay or Kovasic will join him. Would love to know your views on the game and who you think will win.

I think there is more to come from Ryan Kent. He's only 22 and not really had a settled career to date after numerous loan spells. I would see if we could get on a permanent if we can negotiate a good price.

Yaaaa, that's it now I think.

A few years back when at Spurs or Portsmouth he would have started his run a few yards back, but he now needs to be much closer to have any chance of reaching the ball before the defender, though he is trying a bit too hard today and getting caught. Still at 37 and playing top class football cant be bad!!

Gerrard has definitely made Gers more durable this year and much more comfortable on the ball, only small changes I know given there hasn't been wholesale squad changes, but this making a world of difference and improving confidence.

So far so good....hope I haven't jinxed it !!