quickpassnmove

3.5 million gets you one of the best squad players around. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-transfers-west-hams-mohamed-3479860

we're all much older after 9 years. whew. 2005 is still my favorite time as a Chelsea fan.

All those minutes on the bench and waiting in the stands; he deserves some appreciation today.

"apparently?" which young player has Chelsea given plenty of minutes in the past 2 or 3 seasons? aside from Oscar.

this week has been the all-time high for mid-April B.S. rumours.

Haunting memories of January 2011 as this thread began on 10 January 2011.

I would say there is no Lampard successor or that a 20 goals/season central midfielder is not a priority; MORE THAN one or two strong all-around midfielders (we have just ONE in Matic now) should be the priority. But, where Oscar is concerned, either he fetches a very good transfer fee or we definitely keep him to develop into a center midfielder; not an attacking midfielder behind the striker. He is not Kaka version2 and I don't expect him to be. I think it's a big mistake to give up on Oscar so soon after his arrival in Europe at CFC. Still has a lot of potential and Chelsea have not been the place for him to flourish due to Chelsea's poor forward play, poor center midfield players and overall poor build-up play most weeks since Oscar joined.

Difference is Everton can pass and move quickly, thus people enjoy their play, unlike CFC first team with too much hesitation, ponderous play. Everton still lack enough in the striker position though.

get some good CMs, attacking fullbacks, and a real top striker and start playing quick then the neutral viewer will enjoy CFC a bit. Chelsea are "doing what's necessary" not just because it's practical away at Madrid but also because Chelsea are inept and have been inept for years as a squad. Some of you Chelsea fans should recognize that this is the CL semi-final and a lot of people watch it regardless of the club they support, so when Chelsea continue to be the 1.7 billion GBP club that can't play football, the reputation is deserved. Get some better players and start playing quicker, more incisive and the club's image will improve along with many Chelsea fans' feelings about the way Chelsea play.

Got a question for all of you who think Chelsea should be buying just ONE new center midfielder this summer: if Chelsea are in the quarter finals or semis of the CL next year, how would like another poor center midfield, like today's CM options next year? This is what the billionaire Blues have to play at the end of April 2014, 10 years on from the Roman purchase. the criticism isn't about "parking the bus;" it's the fact that chelsea don't have any other option than parking the bus regardless of circumstances. oh, sorry, plan B: hoof it to Demba Ba.

Well, he's not Raul, he's not an Inzaghi, and he's not a Drogba and he's not smooth as some would like, but he is strong and persistent, so all i can say is he's something else and he could be exactly what Chelsea need to lead the attack. I don't see better options out there at the moment, but I'm honestly not watching as much football as I used to. I've also not watched much La Liga this year; same as last year and the year before.

good point. one would hope he's better than Ramires on the ball as a forward, but I can find that Ramires characterization someone else made agreeable too at times (not every time he has the ball though).

Right, thanks for the reply, but it doesn't seem like any individual is "overstating" a lack of technical ability. He has decent technique on the ball but he doesn't look silky smooth, so people have different opinions, but I don't see any one person overstating a lack of technical ability. He is still 25 and arguably growing into his role or maturing overall, so we'll see how it goes.

WHO is overstating his lack of technical skills?

LOL. http://talksport.com/football/tottenham-move-would-be-step-down-klopp-claims-brassell-14041587378

He's undeterred and persistent. Unfazed by the opponent, the challenge. That mentality and his physical presence make up for his technical shortcomings and lack of pace. I'm hoping he goes on to score plenty of goals for Chelsea.

Should we buy Ciro Immobile instead? I suggested Wilfried Bony last summer after we had been linked with him for months, but apparently Lukaku was going to be the next striker, according to the online forum users. Not sure who else Chelsea would consider right now. Dip into Ligue 1 again?

I think Costa is Ramires-awkward on the ball, but the difference is that he has better balance and strength up against defenders than some strikers we know in the Premier League. Also, his mentality is always in a state of "undeterred." just the way I see him.

No one reporting on this story knows the transfer fee, but it looks like 42.5 million EUROS is the current estimation by some papers. It's amazing how often the daily papers in England report the cost in pounds as though 42mil EUROS = 42 mil P. 42.5Euros = ~35P, which is a very good price for a supposed top striker --in the present high-spending climate. Means we would be getting Costa for less money than PSG for a slightly older Cavani last summer.

for me, One "top top" CM, plus Diego Costa, Rodriguez at LB (or a LB of choice), and a second CM like Borja Valero would be an excellent summer window. go ahead and add in an English player like Stones from Everton. He's a good defender, excellent feet, quick, young and not overpriced yet. Let Manchester United blow their big wad on Shaw.

Will be interesting if Ciro Immobile goes to Atletico. can't wait to see that.

Borja Valero is one of my favourite players for CM in Serie A and probably in Europe. Had that short time at West Brom which found him back in Spain quickly. he's 29 but he's not a slow guy. Hard to say how well he would do in the Prem, but he is superb in positioning, passing, vision.

I agree, but I am confused on the homegrown talent rule, or how many English players are required in a squad. How does the club circumvent it? Do Chelsea need to have a number of English players in the 1st team? if some English player is still needed, I think Stones is a better choice than Shaw.

yes, getting the FB elsewhere

I have a feeling that Shaw isn't going to happen and that the Stones rumour is not only more likely, but a better choice. http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/fans/faqs/home-grown-player-rule.html