LDN Blue

Update: The Fulham Chronicle has reported that we are looking to replace Michael Essien (?) with Barca midfielder Yaya Touré. This is by far the worst rumour I've ever heard as Michael Essien looks to be going nowhere. It cannot be stressed how important Essien is to our squad, even though he'd had an injured campaign he's still our "engine" we cannot go on with Mikel in defensive midfield. With Essien missing the World Cup, he's going to be the freshest player in the squad next season. There's no way we're selling him and so I highly doubt we'd buy Yaya

Right, here's the update on our "link" with Zlatan. CaughtOffside says we're close to a deal Goal.com says Ancelotti has met up with him If I'm honest. I wouldn't trust either website. The media have always linked Zlatan with Chelsea and It's never materialised

You're quite right. Last year in the Carling Cup we did play some of our youth, with Kakuta unfortunately missing the penalty that had us knocked out so early. What did annoy me though was when we played FA Cup games vs lower league teams who did we play in goal? Not Turnbull or Walker, but Hilario. Why we extended his contract is a mystery to me, we should sell him get in whatever we can and promote Walker or Turnbull as the secondary keeper. I hope CA delievers on his promise to give the youth more chance, I think this last season was our best for debuting young talent into the senior squad with Kakuta, Borini, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Stoch, Hutchinson & I believe even Walker had some time. It's a good start but much much more is needed. We need to give these guys starts now and 90minutes. I hope we promote Josh McEachran and Connor Clifford to some first team action after they impressed in the past season Josh especially after his big contribution to England u-17's winning the European Championships this year.

Okay I have to stop you there! As a 17 year old British student, I have CONSTANTLY been labelled as a "typical youth drunk" even though I have never even been drunk! Yes it's true people my age to drink and get drunk, but so what? The media in England has severely over-hyped the youth of this country, everywhere we go people are looking at us like we're about to pull a knife or start drinking randomly. It really annoys me sometimes because people believe the media and we're suffering because of it. This year, more teenagers than ever before took an interest in the general election. No-one has noticed the contributions we are making. One of my good friends is in the Youth Parliament. He has sat in the House of Commons to have his say. University fees have been cut which means places are going, is it any wonder SOME kids will turn to the streets when the education system has let them down?

From ex-Chelsea man, to another. After everyone pretty much xpected, Avram Grant has been name the new West Ham manager http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11685_6188813,00.html I personally hope him the best of luck, Grant is having a promising managerial career. Despite knowing relegation he and Pompy made sure they were going out in style. Reaching the FA Cup Final in those circumstances was a great achievement, and had it not been Chelsea they faced I would've backed them.

It's true.. England fans haven't done justice to their reputation of having the most hooligans. However I think that there's a new generation of fans emerging now, one that's not so quick to get drunk, throw up there fists, streak naked ect. Most fans learnt their lesson after those 2 Leeds United fans were killed in Istanbul in 2000. Football hooliganism is down though, there's no denying. Throughout the qualifying campaign I heard nothing of it. I'll always believe Spain have by far, the worst fans. Openly racist and not afraid to show it..

Just in case anyone needs clarification on that, UEFA's definition of "home grown" is

Pretty harsh to condemn the squad to 8-0 defeats for a portion of inbred fans? xD

Ordered a few days ago! Should be here today.. Very xcited

I think you're forgetting that despite the recent trouble Liverpool have had, they're still one of the BIGGEST clubs in the world. I've said the same thing about Newcastle last season (yes I know they got relegated) but they're still a big club, recognised in nearly every part of the world. Most managers would love the chance to go to Liverpool, think about who you'd be working with! Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Pepé Reina. All world class players

Me too mate, me too...

This isn't confirmed totally yet.. Rafa has not agreed to the offer laid out.. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8719210.stm Note: Rafa can walk away with almost £16million as his contract is worth almost £5million a year on 4 year deal.. Should be interesting to see if he accepts and for how much.

But touché. LOL

Well said mate! You should be proud of the new skin, everyone (bar, ungrateful people) seems to love it, as do I

So I was listening to talkSport today, Adrian Durham on Drivetime and there he was suggest that I personally would still follow England, JT or not, and the chances Capello would drop the BEST England central defender are near nought. But just to get your views, would you turn your back, in protest, on England if Capello had dropped John Terry?

!! I'll admit when I saw £18million paid for him I was a bit weary, but the way he played in Ashley Cole's absence was terrific.. He's got good pace, and defensively he can keep it tight at the back. His game against Bolton was great to watch, even a bloody mess, with the blood pouring through the bandage he continued till half time giving 100%.

Still don't trust it. Harry's probably annoyed Joe's rejected him, bodes well for us?

I don't blame you, but I wouldn't go that far as to hope he leaves xD. Let's not forget Joe Cole was our player of the season in 2008, for good reason too, his skills on the pitch, his attitude, team work and ability to score goals is the prime reason we want to keep hold of him.

I hope people aren't forgetting this is JUST a rumour for now, there's no back up to this claim by talkSport. Let's not forget there are continuous rumours where Joe Cole is going: Totteham, ManUtd, ManCity, West Ham & yes Arsenal. We shouldn't be so quick to rule out the possibility for him signing a new deal with Chelsea, he has xpressed a desire to stay before (right?). Carlo is still confident Joe Cole will pen a new deal, and I'll still believe him until someone from Chelsea or Cole himself tell us his decision.

Wh-What if it's not?

We should try and use that to get Pepé to come the other way lol!

Ivanovic is no stranger to the Left-back role remember! When we played Barcelona at home last season, Ashley Cole was suspended, Ivanovic (imo anyway) did a brilliant job vs Messi

I don't think either of them are going anywhere. Ashley Cole's worked hard to get the fans on his side, which we are, and he's even said he's at Chelsea to win things (which we are) Lampard's loyalty to Chelsea is unquestionable. He's not going anywhere.

I know the term "the next [enter already established star]" is very over-used these days but watching him play this season, he does have all the makings to be the next Lampard. Let's hope Chelsea keep it producing more players like him.. I'm liking the products we have in our academy right now, the improvements are showing good signs for the future

Agreed.. Perhaps we should go in the market for Milner as a replacement.. Not Yossi :|