Randall

Yeah on football manager whatever team I play no-one is ever number 25.

We haven't even signed Mata yet!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8712683/Chelsea-manager-Andre-Villas-Boas-closing-in-on-Juan-Mata-deal-and-praises-Jon-Obi-Mikel.html sidlowe Sid Lowe Mata deal to Chelsea very close... 56 minutes ago

Guardian is pretty reputable.

Pretty, pretty please can we keep this thread for transfer news about Mata?

Speculation then I guess.

I think they were saying he was spains number 10 in U21 championships.

To tottenham so we get modric? OH DON'T SPOIL US!

To be fair the article seems very definite, not the usual media hedging.

Yeah I think we should wait for BBC or Skysports to give us some of their reliable goodness.

Seems no-one here has read the Juan Manuel on pun making. I just read that GarbosJ (bbc reporter on twitter) has said that we've not made a bid yet and still interested in Hazard also, and AVB is determined to get an attacking slash creative midfielder before the transfer window ends.

Seems this has turned to a Mata of life or death. Will you give us Juan one more chance? But seriously, can we hurry up and sign this guy pretty please!

Mate Kalou is used as a right/left winger, how many quality right or left wingers do we have? One based on pre-season; Sturridge. Malouda once was but isn't anymore. Kalou is good as an impact substitute and that's it, we need to bring in another quality winger and then Malouda and Kalou are good enough to be on the bench and to back up quality players that would be in our first team.

Yeah? I never said I had an issue with Kalou, my problem has only ever been he is not of a high enough quality, IN MY OPINION, to play in Chelsea's first XI. And I take issue with people saying we're the bad guys because we're not supporting our team because we don't want certain players in the starting XI, well we want the best players to give us the best team to win the best competitions and be the best chelsea fc can be.

I don't think anyone would argue that he is a good substitute to bring on like 65/70 minutes as an impact player my issue is he is starting in our first XI. He is not good enough for a Chelsea first team player.

Knee injury, medial ligament damage, 3-4 weeks, Hilario probably until then, maybe Turnbull but doubt it.

AVB said no decision made between Turnbull and Hilario yet and final decision will be made tomorrow, I'd imagine it will be Hilario though.

Lukaku and Romeu Oriol to be presented next tuesday after training.

Fuck. Hilario good shot stopper but can't kick for shit and not good at coming out through players to get the ball.

Can't we all just hug and make up? This thread should be about congratulating zolayes anyway!

Well okay was a bit childish but Mourinho is a hero and it was funny. Nothing better than a bit of drama with an el classico.

Jose Mourinho what a hero, they just had a huge fight and Mourinho lent over and twisted the ear of one of the madrid backroom staff then walked off and the guy pushed him and mourhino just looked innocent then laughed. Pure pantomime.

It's not even about slagging off Kalou it's about having the justified opinion that he isn't good enough and doesn't perform at a consistently high enough level to progress chelsea football club and win us the trophies and bring us the success that every chelsea fan wants. It's about wanting us to have the highest quality in all areas of our team and Kalou is unfortunately not a high quality winger and we need better to be challenging at the top. I still don't get this "OH BUT WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR PLAYERS IF WE'RE REAL FANS", fuck that - why should we be happy with players that aren't good enough for us and who aren't capable of bringing success to our club as has been proven by their performances. I'm a real fan and I want the best players so we can win trophies and be the best, I don't see why we're the bad guys for not pretending that Kalou is the best thing since sliced bread.

We're not professional footballers getting paid 65 grand a week to play for one of the best teams in the premier league/the world you mug.

Messi is so good.