OhForAGreavsie

It's funny you should say that. I was all in favour of moving if it meant we could get the stadium we needed, and as for naming rights, the sooner we get it done, the better. I was therefore considering what my personal lines in the sand would be and I think there are just four; Chelsea, Blue, the Lion Rampant Regardant with Staff, and Ossie's statue. Everything else is negotiable as far as I'm concerned.

Well played Wayne; 6 more goals than Jimmy Greaves from only 50 more matches!

If City fail to win on Thursday, we can clinch the title with victory at Liverpool in two weeks time. Be nice to get it done then and turn the last fixture into a celebration. Unfortunately I think City will win in midweek. They are the form team in the league right now.

Subbed on 50 minutes. A couple of good involvements in the second half but nothing decisive.

I don't think that Ruben's talent was ever in doubt. It's always been mainly a question of hustle with him. After Kennedy's first appearance in the summer my first thought was that I hoped Ruben was watching. (Which he was of course, but you know what I mean.) Jose took it easy on RLC when he laid into him in Australia. The young man needs to to be more involved in games, to be an influence. Yes this applies when we don't have possession but it applies just as much when we do. For me, Ruben still drifts through some games so it was music to my ears when Jose said he'd be staying here to benefit from more time under TSO's tutelage. There's a dark side to that statement mind, a side that can best be summed up with a question; what have the academy coaches been doing? Two and a half years ago I said Ruben needed a kick up the backside or he'd fail. That may have been administered privately of course but, if it was, it certainly didn't work or else there'd have been no need for Jose to repeat it. I've been a staunch defender of the Academy but I won't defend them on this.

From the first time I saw him, a youth team game against Cardiff, I felt he had no chance here or at any top four club for that matter. Scott has taken a lot of stick over his moves to Chelsea and City but I just don't see why a lad isn't allowed to show a bit of ambition and self belief. He backed himself and took his shots. Good for him. I don't for one minute believe that he's about to prove me wrong but if he did I'd be delighted for him.

I hope Oscar is available. For me the start of the season has offered more evidence that he's the best ten we have. Willian, as he often does, has looked eye catching at times but, as usual, has achieved virtually nothing. Oscar has many flaws and we definitely need an upgrade but for now we are a better side when he plays than when he does not. At the back, maybe Zouma should play to offset Lukaku's pace.

That's not accurate. Lot's of people were unhappy with the fee rumoured to have been offered for Stones.

I 100% hope you're right. !!

Absolutely no indicator of anything whatsoever at all of course but his teammates looked pleased with it.

You are right but I can't imagine that fee is correct. If there is any truth to it at all then it's much more likely to be the total cost; transfer, agents and wages.

As for Martial. I've seen him play three times. Once against Arsenal and twice against Valencia. He didn't catch my eye against Arsenal, was absolutely brilliant in the first leg vs Valencia and, to be frank, was crap in the second leg. The fact is that all players have good and bad games; the trick is to see through the form and try to judge the finite quality of the player. Two such different displays make it hard to be confident in an opinion but, he showed so much to like in the first game against the Spaniards that you'd have to say there is something there.

Absolutely, completely, 100% right and it was always thus. One dimensional simply does not cut it and never did. For example Michael Owen* was, in my opinion, the best English finisher since Greaves yet, once people saw through the initial hype, he couldn't get a game for anybody. That was because being a pure finisher, even a very good one, is nowhere enough and never was. I heard Mickey Quinn talking the other day about an early season game where he and Clive Allen were subs for their respective teams despite having scored 80 goals between them the previous season. Quite right too, neither of them had enough to their games to hold a place in a good side. *Owen was a much better finisher than Shearer. Anyone offered a bet on any English footballer scoring a one-on-one vs any keeper will obviously take Greaves unless they're an idiot but next comes Owen in my book; a beautiful finisher. Even so Shearer was the better player. More to his game.

So do City. (Have youth products plying their trade in the lower reaches of the professional game.) We just don't know their names.

Well... There's truth in that of course but, in my opinion, City have shown themselves to be better judges of top quality players than we are. We have never signed a Silva, a Zabaleta or a Ya-Ya* and when we had the chance to sign Aguero our manager didn't fancy him. My point is that while City will lose players, they have shown themselves very capable of retooling well enough to stay ultra competitive. *I know many people will offer Essien as a Ya-Ya alternative but I'd take the City man every time.

The midfielder you describe and a starting quality CM are both higher priorities than a CB.

It was a tweet by an Everton fan who claimed to have been present. The comment was re-tweeted on the Chelsea Transfer Gossip feed which is where I read it. Obviously I've no idea whether the crying bit is meant to be literal or just a jibe at Stones. No idea even if there's any truth to it at all.

Hope not.

Quarter of an hour gone. Monaco 1 down on the night, 4-1 down on aggregate. Monaco have barely had a kick and could easily be dead and buried already. Mario hasn't had any kind of influence yet. Only notable involvement was conceding a free kick which looked far worse than it was. Started as a fair shoulder barge but he gave the bloke a shove at the last moment and turned it into a foul. Edit: Monaco just equalised on the night following a corner.

Firstly, well said. Everton's responsibility is to their own fans, their club as a whole and to their player. As far as that last responsibility goes, many well respected commentators have offered the opinion that remaining at Everton is best for Stones. This means that Everton should not be accused of ignoring John's best interests in insisting that he stay. I don't happen to agree, that staying is best for him but that's a side issue, you and plenty of others see it differently. Secondly, I think all of us here fully appreciate Everton's right to decide if they want to accept an offer or not. Thirdly, as Arsene Wenger said a few years back, there comes a point in the life of any transfer deal, when you have to know if the player is interested in joining your club. If, as seems likely, Chelsea are continuing to bid, it's reasonable to assume that they have received encouragement of some kind. That encouragement can only have come from the Stones camp so I don't think it's unreasonable to believe that Stones would at least like to hear what Chelsea have to say. Who knows how it will go. Personally I agree with those people who think we have bigger priorities but I don't make those decisions. More's the pity.

Wouldn't claim to hate any football club but if there's a candidate then it has to be Liverpool. Must say though that I get very, very happy when bad things happen to Spurs.

No it's fairly standard with players in the development phase. Neil Bath has talked about it a number of times over the years. It's also not only Chelsea who do it. Very standard.

Agreed, and he has been for a long time, stretching back most, if not all, of the way to Christmas. A starting quality CM, able to give the side more balance would undoubtedly aid Nemanja's game. If we can find one before the window closes then that would be great but, if not, Matic will have to muddle on without the help. There is no one else.

Really tightening now. Millie Bright on for Ji. Love Millie, she was excellent at Wembley anchoring midfield with Drew Spence. Was disappointed she didn't start today. Good player. 6 minutes plus stoppage time remain.

Emma Hayes tightening things up, Borges on for Aluko. Eni worked hard today. A couple of great runs and good passes to set up chances but a lot of her contribution was made working back today. Borges will probably sit in midfield.