Match Day Thread Pre-season discussion

Lets do the preseason observations and discussions here.
We are couple of days away from our first Pre-season game under Tony.


Chelsea's 2016 summer fixtures:

• Saturday 16 July vs Rapid Vienna (Allianz Stadion, Vienna) - 5pm kick-off.
• Wednesday 20 July vsWAC RZ Pellets (Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt) - 7pm kick-off.

International Champions Cup

• Thursday 28 July vs Liverpool (Rose Bowl, Pasadena), 4.35am kick-off
• Saturday 30 July vs Real Madrid (Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor), 8.05pm kick-off.
• Thursday 4 August vs AC Milan (US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis) 2.30am kick-off.

Decent pre-season, not too strenuous. Up the blues!!

One more game added against Werder Bremen. Travelleing to Bremen on 8/7 Sunday , 4pm kick off.

 

****. ****. **** and ****. I used to live half a mile from Michigan stadium. Why I came back here I'll never know but hey ho you never know. Great venue has a capacity of 117,000 (largest college ground in US) if you count the band and the stewards. It is built into the ground so has a very low profile bit like Amex stadium. The pitch is about 100 feet below the median landscape and you could drive past it without knowing if it wasn't for the advertising. I remember when queing for tickets to watch an American football game at Michigan Stadium a guy asked me if we had tickets, no I said There you go said the dude have a couple on me. The only blot on the landscape was my son played for Ann Arbor Arsenal F.C. Point of note Chelsea and Manchester are both towns within 20 miles of Ann arbor, indeed I used to drive past a sign that read Chelsea 8 Manchester 2. i used to go the long way home just to read it.

 

Top post Piano Teacher.
So you loved Michigan's Cold, snow & wind more than London? Good for you!!
Pasadena & Ann Arbor both are terrific venues.

Ann Arbor is couple of hours drive for me. I wish I could go south of the wall to see.

 

Cheers Stan, on topic I have very high hopes for next season, without European football we have a decent shout at domestic titles and I will have a flutter on us winning **** all due to this. But the next season if we aren't relegated and Roman has patience with the "Passionate One" then look out "FORZA AZZURE"..

 

I am looking forward to August Mid myself. Tough few days TBH footy wise & personal life wise.

I don't want to put too much pressure on Conte & team. I would be happy with top 4 or even top 6.
That doesn't mean - I have low expectations or underestimating Conte & team.

We can go all the way certainly.

 

Stan, the summers were wonderful, the winters were harsh, proper seasons like I remembered in my childhood in England. I deduce you are in Candadia, couple of hours means Ontario have friends in Essex county and Hamilton.

 

Oh and by the way, I am not from London, Worcestershire in fact, still a life long Chelsea boy mind, Since 1967.

 

Yes I am a Nomad in ON

 

Kante has had a medical will sign by the end of the weekend

 

Have you been to the "Ballet" in Windsor mate.

 

When I first read that I thought it was because you were homesick, then I realised you looked at it as a score

You sick, sick man

 

Not familiar here. Living here for less than 6 months.

 

Alright boys - this is it official preseason footy kicks off.

In 4 hours against Rapid Vienna.

 

Is the game on Chelsea TV? or has anyone got a link. N'Golo Kante has signed for 32 mill having personal terms and medical today and tomorrow

 

Two things make me nervous about Kante.

One is that he's only had one season. I know he was probably player of the year but can he play to that standard again?

The other one is we're a very different team to them, he's really good without the ball but we'll have a lot of possession next season so will be interesting to see how he adapts.

Having said all that he's probably the only footballer I've ever seen constantly be on the screen when watching a live game, no matter where the ball is so he'll have the work rate that Conte wants so I can definitely see why we've brought him in!

 

it should be on Chelsea TV, if not Stream2watch or firstrow.

I hope this is Ivan's last few cameos in RB position & Mike's last few appearances.
If Ivan at RB & Mikel at CM - we are destined for another top 10 struggle.

 

Conte's first reaction in 2nd half - pull Mikel for Chalobah

 

I know it is just a friendly, but Ivan has no clue & business at RB.

 

Boys looked rusty and slow but that game and the next one should sharpen them up no end.

 

Diego it did not stipulate Utd or City, so I used to imagine it was both. Sick, well maybe but pleasantly satisfying also.