PaulHopkins

Daily Star: JOE Cole’s future at Chelsea is in doubt. The England midfielder is still seething from being left out of the Carling Cup Final side against Spurs last Sunday. Cole, 26, has since held talks with under-fire coach Avram Grant over his shock demotion but the pair failed to settle matters. Now sources sources close to the player suggest he would leave if Grant’s rotation system is still in place next season and he is a regular victim. The Chelsea camp was stunned by Cole’s shock Wembley omission – he only came on as an extra-time sub – and believe he could have saved them from their 2-1 defeat. Joe is a quiet person. He doesn’t like causing a fuss but being left out hurt An insider “Joe is a quiet person. He doesn’t like causing a fuss but being left out hurt,” said an insider. Cole, a scorer at Upton Park, yesterday, was a success under previous boss Jose Mourinho. But the frustrated player knows he can’t be guaranteed an England place if he is a victim of rotation and would seek a first-team place elsewhere.

I don't think he will miss any matches to be honest as the red card will almost certaibnly be overturned. Mark Lawrenson said on match of the day even he would go to the FA appeals committee to appeal it

Loved the performance Thank you boys Every one of you deserves praise for that!

Ref is an arse how wasn't Boa Morte sent off? I hope he doesn't ref again this season after that pathetic display. How the hell wasn't Anelka's goal allowed either?

I think we did look exciting up until around the start of February when it has all gone rather stale. I don't understand what has happened especially as it has coincided with the return of our "star" players.

I haven't got a great deal of confidence in us getting 2 if Olympiacos score though.

I'd revert back to 4-4-2 for this one and play the following: G Cech DR Ferreira DC Terry DC Carvalho DL A Cole MR J Cole MC Ballack MC Lampard ML Malouda AC Drogba AC Anelka Bench: Cudicini, Alex, Mikel, Essien, Shevchenko

Grant has been criticising them in his pre-match interview - he's gone pretty nuts at the media actually and quite rightly so. Surely we won't have Rijkaard in? I'm not so sure of that being a positive. What if Grant wins us the treble? (Okay I admit it looks unlikely right now) Surely then he must stay - I don't think we need to go scouting for managers just yet.

I can't see Portsmouth wanting him back as Harry was never complimentary about him.

Yeah there was no outcry about this from Wenger... Let's not ban Eboue from football... Double standards!

If we win nothing this season I can see Grant moving back upstairs as well.

I hope we go back in for Alves this would be a positive move for sure. I guess we would have to sacrifice Belletti but I wouldn't lose sleep over that after his Carling Cup display.

He has failed in his team selections recently I agree - Liverpool and Portsmouth were must win games. Olympiacos was simply strange and Tottenham was shite. I still have faith that he can turn it around so I feel we should stick with him - however should we not beat West Ham and lose to Olympiacos then I'm with you all for calling for his head.

I don't understand what has happened to Malouda - even his injury was a total mystery. Hopefully he will get back to his early season form!

She's fit as... though Can't blame him

Whether we like it or not Grant has been given the position and if he does a good job then I'd be more than happy with him staying on in the long term. He did lead the skeleton team on a great run but I guess he didn't really have to make any decisions. Since the return of our players his team selections have been poor. But give him time I guess. West Ham away is a tough game but we should be winning these tough games. So far he has failed in every one of our tough games bar Liverpool in the Carling Cup.

I'm not so sure we should be speculating yet as Grant hasn't been given a chance. We can't keep chopping and changing managers as the likes of Newcastle do. I'd say we look at the situation at the end of the season - if we win sod all then questions should be asked but not yet.

It all depends where the money is thrown though. Will it be for past it stars such as Ronaldinho who would guarantee shirt sales etc. or will it be sensible stars.

From the Daily Express: Roman Abramovich will back under-fire boss Avram Grant with a £100 million spending spree this summer – if the Israeli can keep his rocking ship afloat and ensure Champions League football next season. Abramovich staged a very public show of support for Grant yesterday as he and chief executive Peter Kenyon were at Chelsea’s Surrey training ground standing side by side with their Israeli coach as the players returned to work after their shattering Carling Cup final defeat against Tottenham. But it has been made crystal clear to Grant that he is expected to win something this season – or at the very least finish in the top four of the Premier League. If he can do that, then Abramovich will back him with a massive spending spree to enable Grant to bring in his own players and build his own team. Top of the shopping list are AC Milan’s £25million Brazilian star Kaka and £15m Valencia striker David Villa. Abramovich is also prepared to let Didier Drogba, who has publicly voiced his unhappiness, and Frank Lampard leave if they do not want to stay at the club. Grant, whose stock has taken a battering inside and outside the club after Sunday’s dismal display, cancelled a trip to Israel on Monday to complete his UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge in order to have a clear-the-air meeting with his players, several of whom were unhappy at being left out of the final. These next few weeks are now crucial. Grant cannot allow his team to slip further back in the title race behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester United, so starting at West Ham on Saturday he needs wins – and fast. If Grant can pull his squad together and win something, his job is safe. If he fails, he will be shunted upstairs in the summer, probably back to his old role as director of football, with a big-name manager brought in.

I'm still more than happy to give Grant a chance although the Liverpool-Portsmouth-Olympiacos-Tottenham results/performances have to be noted and another like performance against West Ham should create pressure on him.

Coming through the RC Lens academy in his native France, the Lille-born youngster could easily have seen Coupe de France time in 2007-08 if he was to stay, but the allure and attraction of Chelsea was enough for the youngster to come over. Kakuta moved to Chelsea in 2007 and became a player for the youth team. He impressed at Chelsea after his first reserve game alongside teammate Michael Ballack. The German international told journalists, "Go see the French lad, he is the star". Kakuta soon began to flourish earning the Academy Scholar of the Year award after his first season with Chelsea. He was also voted Academy Player of the Year after finishing as the top scorer in the youth side finishing his first Chelsea season with 12 goals in 24 appearances. This included a hat trick against Port Vale in the FA Youth Cup. For the 200809 season, Kakuta was given the opportunity to train with the first team, though he was still limited to playing with the club's reserve team. In February 2009, Kakuta saw his progress come to a shuddering halt when he suffered a double ankle fracture in a friendly against the Glenn Hoddle Academy. Kakuta missed six months returning to the team in August for a youth game against local side Queens Park Rangers. On 1 September 2009, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti added Kakuta to his Champions League squad. Kakuta made his much anticipated Premier League debut during a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21 November 2009 as a substitute replacing Nicolas Anelka on the hour, impressing largely with his tricks, skills, pace and enthusiasm. On 2 December 2009, he came on as a half-time substitute for Joe Cole during the quarter-final match of the League Cup against Blackburn Rovers losing on penalties when he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out. On 8 December 2009, he made his Champions League debut against APOEL. He became the youngest Chelsea player to ever represent the club in the Champions League. He played 73 minutes before being substituted by Fabio Borini. The match ended in a 22 draw. Carlo Ancelotti was not satisfied with the team's performance but was very positive about the French youth international: "We had no intensity and no concentration, it was a very bad game from us. The only positive of the night was Gaël Kakuta. He played very well, he showed his fantastic talent. He trains very well everyday and will be the future of Chelsea." On 11 September 2010, he played his second Premier League game for Chelsea in a derby against West Ham United, coming on as a substitute for Nicolas Anelka in the 76th minute. Kakuta also made an appearance in the Champions League match against MSK Zilina on 15 September 2010. On 22 September, Kakuta started a match in the League Cup and coming off at halftime in a match which ended 43 to Newcastle. He then provided the assist for a seventh minute John Terry goal in a 20 win over Olympique Marseille. On 21 December 2010, Kakuta signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea, committing himself to the club until 2015. Kakuta expressed his desire to leave because he says he is unwilling to sit on the bench for another year. Kakuta joined Bolton Wanderers on loan for the first half of the 2011-12 season, but struggled to make an impact, making just six appearances in his spell at the club. He joined French club Dijon for the second half of the season where he was much more successful, scoring 5 goals in 14 appearances for the Burgandy side. He spent the 2012-13 season on loan again, this time in the Netherlands for Vitesse Arnhem. As part of the relationship between Chelsea and Vitesse, a number of young Blues have spent time on loan at the Geldredome and Kakuta was joined by Tomas Kalas and Patrick van Aanholt during his time there. After an initially slow start, Gael became a regular for a team chasing for the title and weighed in with a goal and seven assists as they qualified for the Europa League. Click here to view the record

van Aarnholt flick on for Kakuta volley for the 1st after Stoch corner. 0-1 Fabulous strength by Nouble along with assist by Nielsen for easy Kakuta 2nd goal. 0-2 Nice dancing in the box by Kakuta as he glides past half the Port Vale defence before Nielsen fires home from the edge of the box. 0-3 Silly challenge by Brumer for the penalty as the Port Vale player was facing away from goal. 1-3 Kakuta drags in 2 or 3 Port Vale defenders in the box and he caresses the ball over the keeper with class composure. 1-4 Superb crossfield ball by Kakuta finds Stoch who cuts in and out to beat the full back and score at the far corner. 1-5 Wall was too far over to the right from the free kick. Poor wall line up by Taylor and a deflection from Nouble takes it in. First semi-final for 35 years! Nice interview with Nouble and Kakuta at the end.

5-2 full time We now play Aston Villa in a two-legged semi-final. Awesome 90 minute display from the boys! Nielsen, Stock, Kalkuta (3) were the goals

Mellis off Taiwo on. Unsure on the third as I was out of the room but am working on it

5-2 - free kick