LDN Blue

Wow, AC Milan are losing everyone!! Nesta, Gattusso, Van Bommel, Seedorf & Inzaghi. Added with Del Piero from Juve, it's marking an end of an era in Serie A within itself. Buffon, Zanetti, Pirlo & a couple of others only remain now as the 'old guys' of this league. Gattuso wants to go back to Rangers as well!

In fairness to Torres, off the ball he's not as cowardly as he is on it. He'll track back and put in a hell of a tackle often to win the ball back. But you are right, on the ball it's very easy to push him off, only when he's running full pace down the wing does he manage to beat the defenders, but more often than not there's no final delivery (I'm not forgetting the cross to Mata v. United either) I agree about squad-player role because no-one will take him now.

Hell of a bump. This post sums up this rumour. ^

We started this hooligan culture and now we're seeing the repercussions of it. It's a shame how seriously people will take football to the extent of this targeted violence. Always gives me a flashback to those Leeds United fans killed in the UEFA Cup semi-final or something like that.

Agree with Sheva. Even if it was as low as £5m I'd say no. Simply because we shouldn't look for players like this because we have a gut-feeling they'll bounce back after these injuries. Even though there have been documented cases of players returning from ACL's to full competitiveness (I hope), the pressure that comes with playing for Chelsea will be too great for someone who's endured so much this year. I refer to Sloth's argument in the Marin-thread about the fact we shouldn't buy players for the sake of them being "just" £10m. Even if these sums are low (relatively) in today's football market it's still £10,000,000. We should do everything to try and stay in touch with financial stability and spending £10m on a player like this isn't the right gamble because if he can't return to sharp form we'll have to seek another striker, while retaining Rossi on our wage bill. It's a cynical view I've just taken, but it's also logical.

In all honesty, he shouldn't make the plane.

Two major ACL injuries in 2 seasons, no way. Already seen the devestating effect of returning injuries on one former world-class player, wouldn't risk it on another.

Good man! Have you been to a Chelsea game before?

I don't even think City will want him. Why would they? It seems Hazard is going there, there'd be no room for Sturridge. My guess is Arsenal or Liverpool, if he were to move.

I've stopped getting excited about these 'big names' ever since Torres arrived. Whether it's true or not, I reserve judgement on him till I see some substance and justification on the pitch. If I being frank, I'm more excited about Marin than Hulk.

The thing is, we'll make these quiet deals (and we've done this for a while) but then the board goes ape-shit crazy about lack of publicity and somehow manages to drag out a transfer prospect. I have a feeling this summer it will be Hulk, despite what media reports are saying about an 'agreement'. I'm sure Porto will deny this and it'll keep dragging through the whole summer and we'll sign someone like Rodellega instead.

You win forever.

Yeah I'm hearing those £15m whispers. Don't be too surprised if we sell..

Great story!

Ramires left out of Brazil squad for upcoming friendlies in build-up to the Olympics!! Hopefully he'll make it when they announce the final 23-man squad. Luiz is named though.

Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou will make a decision on his future after the UEFA Champions League final. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7751478/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter *Kalou-thread needs unarchiving*

Tomorrow.

Agreed. At present we're not a team that could accommodate last-shoulder strikers. That's why I think Drogba should depart this summer, so we can usher in a new era of the club's football philosophy. With dedicated players to the formation and system which will play ball-to-feet, not hoof it up and hope for the best. (Which is no criticism of the latter, since it's been very effective for the better part of the last 8-9years)

Makes my throat burn just looking at it. First time I had it, nearly died!

Avoid the Singha beer. AWFUL.

I'd rather see him work on his passing more if I'm honest. He's found his place in the wider area of that 4-2-3-1, and it's doing wonders for the squad. However if he refined his passing range he would become even more devastating down that wing and we could kill 2 birds with 1 stone in our pursuit for a winger.

It makes sense on paper, granted. However it also takes the right players too. Mata could only do so much from his position but we'd need another player of that calibre too, who knows if Marin's got a killer pass on him or not. Ramires' wasn't blessed with the best passing abilities either, but he's effective at running into the box and cutting it across, case & point would be his pass to Drogba in the first leg v. Barca. In an ideal scenario we could be a 4-2-3-1 squad off the ball and 4-4-2 when in possession because I think a poacher and all-round striker would be much more effective than a lone-poacher.

You mean, you don't think Bramford should feature?!

Brave man

Juninho?