Madmax

He is to an extent, yes. But personally I'm not a fan of the destroyer we employ in our 4-3-3 midfield. Mikel usually plays that strict defensive role and I think it takes away more than what it gives to the team. A creator in Modric, a shuttler in Ramires and another one of his ilk in Park would be more progressive than a simple destroyer like Mikel.

Yeah because Mata would give up the CL football he earned at Valencia and go play under wobbly chin alongside robot impersonator guy and Gomes the clown. It doesn't Mata Juan bit what you say, Harry.

Probably not in the conventional sense, no. And that's not why I want him anyway because we've got Mata and possibly Modric for that. With those two in the side you need someone to 'bust a gut' ... do the dirty work of ensuring that things keep ticking over and the engine room functions with discipline. -------------------Torres------------ ---------------------------------------Sturridge--- -----Mata-------------------------------------- -----------Park----Modric-----Ramires---- Cole--------Terry------Alex-------Ivan----

Most games. First name on the sheet in crunch matches.

'Wonderful' is a subjective term. For me Park is wonderful, yeah? We have too many individualistic players anyway, we lack someone like him.

Ji Sung Park. Been a massive fan of him ever since his PSV days under Hiddink. Fantastic commitment and energy, great temperament. Can always count on him to deliver in a big game. Versatile as well, playing anywhere across midfield and the flanks. Chips in with a fair few goals and assists as well while always staying disciplined positionally and never ignoring his defensive duties. Great commercial value too, look how much Utd have benefited in the Asian market. The quintessential team player.

I think this club needs to move away from sentiments if it wants to be successful in the long run. To be successful you need to be ruthless and need to have a single minded focus towards achieving that success. Look at Ferguson. How many times over these years has he discarded and rebuilt sides? Barcelona as well. It is absolutely vital to be able to freshen up the dynamic of the squad and move along with the times. Is there any doubt those two are the benchmark for the others in the two best leagues in the world? We on the other hand are in constant limbo, enveloped in a time warp. Cech-Terry-Lampard-Drogba was more or less the core of the back-to-back title winning squad and they're still here playing 90 mins week in week out. We are at a pivotal time in the history of the club. Make no mistake, what we do now will pretty much determine if we continue to challenge for major honours domestically and in Europe over the next decade or so, or just fade away like previous teams that threatened to, but ultimately failed to upset the established order eg Arsenal. We can either decide that these veterans need to be phased out and replaced with younger, hungrier substitutes or continue to cling on the romance and sentiment of the wonderful few years they've given us and keep playing them regardless of form and attitude.

Good news, happy for the lad.

http://thechels.net/2011/08/injury-strikes-again-for-phillip/ This sucks big time. AP was getting into his own and looked good for an educational experience with a loan somewhere. Speedy recovery I hope, though ACL injuries are the absolute worse you could get as a footballer.

You make too much sense.

Mancienne has been found out. Always said he wasn't good enough to be a regular at Chelsea, maybe could've been a bit like our very own John O'Shea but certainly no starter. Absolutely horrible so far. 3m for him looks like a better deal every passng day. Bruma has been in those defeats as well, but he's not as bad as he's being painted out to be. In fact without him they would have shipped even more.

You know that won't happen mate Mata starting on the left is the only change I expect from AvB. We might see debuts for Romeu and Lukaku later on if things are going well and we're up by a few.

Wait a minute - Kalas and Bruma loaned, Rajkovic sold. Where's the backup if Alex leaves?

As long as there are more spectators than fans, it'll only continue.

Some trivia from that second leg : Ronaldo's 100th goal for Madrid, in just two seasons Xavi's 16th club trophy, becomes Barca's most decorated player ever Guardiola's 11th trophy as coach, joint top with Cruyff

Just browse through his thread in the transfer section - it's got all the links and stuff.

Permanent.

I know your Rajkovic love and you'll probably get a fit over this, but he signed for Hamburg.

His twitter ---> https://twitter.com/#!/juanmata10

Why shoot the messenger?

Fuck's sake.

That's not needed mate. Let it rest.

Thus confirming that he goes missing when the team doesn't do well and turns up when it does.

Home debuts for the new boys?

Word is he has a medical on Monday.