LDN Blue

Glad I wasn't around on TC when this went through My take: He's a good box-to-box midfield player, so maybe, this could've been a good signing. But. We've got ENOUGH box-to-box players, or players in that defensive nature. Mikel, Ramires, the returning Essien. Hell even Josh McEachran. Therefore, this signing makes no sense on an individual basis. I'm not disappointed that it's this player we've signed. I'm disappointed that this is the only player we've signed.

For what it's worth. This story looks like complete b/s anyway.

Talks broke down.

By the way.. Anyone who is for this deal. Just remember: He's Champions League cup-tied.

Modric replacement?!

Oh man, are they actually gone sign Shaqiri?

Gone on loan to Getafe.

Barkley's a great player! He's been unlucky with injuries, but he's been playing a big part for Everton this season. Won't be easy to get Moyes to sell him though!

Probably doesn't want to see Joe Cole again

Slow transfer day hey? No way this is true. Just another Twit trying to get some retweets.

Yup. Scares me though.. If Liverpool are fixing up defensively, they will be a nuisance.

Gerrard could've been a fantastic no.10 if Liverpool managers had tried to transform him into one.

Liverpool fans making noise about how they'll land Sturridge :giggle:

To be fair.. I wouldn't complain about £12million. He is good muscle to have in our, weak, midfield. No-one fucks with Meireles.

Hilarious.

Kind of hope he'll revive, what's left of, his career if he goes abroad.

Good job it's not allowed too. I would like to see some more of Lukaku between now and Jan (when he probably will get loaned out.)

Ignoring the obvious hindsight remarks.. I agree we should've sold Drogba. Not Cole though.

I imagine he'll walk straight into that team.

This. Can't believe this. Another defensive player. Great work Chelsea.

To be honest, I think the team that Villas-Boas is building isn't even for Torres. The creativity in midfield has been a long standing problem anyway, they're not in for just Torres but any striker we play. The purchase of Lukaku, shows we've got back-up plans should Torres continue to under perform. Agree with most of that. However Drogba was thoroughly criticised for his performance too, just read through the thread. Obviously there's more sympathy because of what happened, but it doesn't change the fact he was just as bad, if not, worse. I still hold some faith of this happening. With Drogba KO'd & Lukaku heading out on loan, I see AVB giving him a chance ahead of Anelka & Kalou.

It's never a good idea to build a team around a single player, let alone one who's performing a lot under-expectation. We've given him support by signing the likes of Mata, Villas-Boas has let him start all our games so far, and yet he still isn't improving to the extent we hoped he would. Clearly his summer hasn't given him (or us) any more confidence in his abilities and so it's very dangerous to build a squad just to suit him. We have other players ready to fill in for Torres who can make do with what we have. Sturridge comes to mind first..

Definitely ^

Drogba is not captain material either.

Not just out of Cobham