steve5221

I think we should all feel very positive for next year and my main basis for saying that is the young players. As you have just pointed out Josh Mc will be a year older and would have been in the setup of the first team squad for a season. He is regarded as the best young English player coming through after Jack Wilshere - who is a year older (it is not just Chelsea sources saying this). Secondly Sturridge, if he can maintain his form at Bolton till the end of the season he will be buzzing come start of next year. As has been pointed out on previous threads Carlo can ignore his reserve goals and against lower oppostion but he will NOT be able to ignore a proven PL consistent goalscorer and remember Bolton are not as good as us. Throw in the talents of Bruma and Kakuta and it is looking good. In the recent interview with Arneson he stated that we he arrived at Chelsea we had a handful of youth players involved in international squads, now we only have a handful that are not. Sure this has taken time but it will be the future of Chelsea and is a business plan all long term succesful clubs adopt. Torres, Luiz, Ramires will also improve next year having had the time to bed in with us. Yossi will hopefully get fit and will be like a new signing. I dont want to sound to negative here, but the things that concern me is the potential loss of income should we not qualify for Champs league this season with UEFA's new rules coming in soon. Can we hit the required criteria without the CL money?? Sure we all want success now but if we want to be thought of along with the likes of Man Ure and Arsenal in 10 years we need to invest and have patience in youth.

The top european sides know how to mark Drogba now though, I think they will all fear Torres.

Thing is he will want a 4 or 5 year contract. Will be ok for the first few years but when 30+ he'll be earning huge wages but won't have the same effect on the side( a la Shevchenko, Ballack, Deco and now Lampard and Anelka)

Please not Anelka for this game Carlo, start with Kalou on the right.

You also need a strong decent ref over the 2 legs who will not be intimitated. In the later rounds games hinge of important decisions. We can all remember being robbed by the ref against Barca and if the ref would have given that blatant pen in the San Siro last year against Milan things could have been different.

I cant agree with you on Anelka mate, I wish Liverpool would have took him as part of the deal for Torres.

we need to remember also he is a long term signing, not an impact signing. Roman has been courting him for ages, come summer City will spend big again and he wont be the centre of attention.

Is it true that Borini is out of contract in the summer and wont sign a new deal??

Yossi if he could get fully fit could do a job.

If it was me i would drop Lampard and play him there. He can however play on either flank of the front 3. Would Carlo have the guts to drop a fit Lampard though?

Will Yossi play again this season??

He's to slow for the Premier league anyway.

Yossi is underated a good little player. He's knackered his achilies though and players are sometimes never the same after that.

If we do end up in Europa even Carlo would play the youngsters!!!!

The bottom line is we would be better with him in our squad for next season than out of it...

Remember Carroll is gonna make his debut soon, hopefully the twats in the press will get after him more than Fernando and he will be able to relax a bit more

Lets not rule out City's ability to balls it up either like last year. It only takes an injury to Tevez.....

Can see both sides of the argument here, but it comes down to who is the more valuble player to the side?. I think Essiens ability to cover the pitch better gives him the nod for me, but he seriously needs to concentrate on what he is doing more.

We will beat Spurs at the Bridge, have faith.

Does anyone think that Carlo will give him a decent run of games in the side?

Does anyone think Carlo will spring a surprise or two with his lineup??

This is all on the assumption that Carlo will be at Chelsea next season. A new manager could well fancy Sturridge.

We need him, he is still a great asset in the PL. If Carlo goes in the summer then the preference for 4-3-3 and Anelka goes with him. People say he is to old but don't forget he only became a pro in his 20's.

Certainly we are very slow in our buildup play, which is allowing teams to defend deep against us. How about putting Luiz and Ramires in the centre of mid - they are very quick and sharp...

How about a mention for wee John Spencer??. Always remember Julian Dicks stamping on his head!!!!