EskWeston

Lol, summed him up perfectly at the end there!! I think it has been pretty certain all along with Ivanovic in the squad that Ben Haim will move on this summer. If it is true that he could sign early next week then he certainly will not fly out, but it would not suprise me if we waited till after the tour to sell anyone else....

Blimey, this one has changed so many times now! Maka has been 100% leaving, then 100% staying!! If used Sparingly Maka could certainly do another season, although as i have mentioned before, the age of our midfield is something that needs to be looked at sooner rahter than later.

Why next week? Does that mean that Ben Haim is not going to fly out with the rest of the squad on Sunday? Scolari is obviously assesing his squad of who to keep and who to let go, has he seen enough from Ben Haim to know that he does not want to keep him?

Completely agree with that, these players are in general completely ut of touch with reality. So many complaining of being "not appreciated" or about their "treatment" from their clubs. We know more facts about the Lampard situation that we do the Drogba one. The Drogba one at the moment is just talk from his agent! With Lampard we know that he has turned down an offer from the club to extend his contract, one that is almost certain to be better than his current one. If these 2 players have turned round and said to the club that they want to leave, then the club have to decide if they are to keep them here when they don't want to be or negotiate the best deal possible for them. Much in the same way we did with Robben. There is talk of Barca offering a swap with Eto'o that we have turned down...

Manchester United and Chelsea are among the clubs chasing Falkirk starlet Scott Arfield, skysports.com understands. The 19-year-old midfielder has shone for the Bairns since breaking into the first team in 2007, and has been called into the Scotland Under 21 set-up. He is recognised as one of the best young players in Scotland, and the Old Firm are monitoring his progress, but the big interest is coming from South of the border. Skysports.com understands up to 12 clubs from the Premier League and Championship are regularly checking on him and Falkirk could face a battle to keep him at the club. Arfield is, though, on a long-term contract after penning a five-year deal earlier this year, but with United and Chelsea leading the chase, the Bairns could easily cash in on their prized asset. Chelsea's interest emerged at the end of last season, but United have been tracking the midfielder for over a year and Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have personally checked on Arfield last season. Source: Sky Sports

Ben Haim or Pizarro!!

Jimmy Smith is on loan for 6 months and Sheffield Wednesday, he needs a EXTREMELY good season if he is to have any chance of forcing his way into a first team chance, i would say it is unlikely that Smith will make it with us. Jack Cork i am sure will go out on loan again this season, he is with England U19's at the moment. It is possible he may be kept at Chelsea for some chances but i would have thought a loan will be more likely. Mancienne is training with the first team as i said, it looks like he will be with the first team all season if he impresses enough, which i am sure he will. Sam Hutchinson has had a very very long injury lay off, close to being fit i beleive but will go out on loan once he is fit.

Lol Ryan Bertrand is an excellant player. It is very unfortunate for him to have 2 of Englands finest left backs infront of him, which is going to make it very very hard for him to break through. He is only 18 yet is already top class at Championship level and i expect him to push that reputation even further. It would be good if in the second half of the season we could loan him out in the premiership, i think he is ready for it.

When Luiz Fellipe Scolari was presented as Chelsea manager to the press he said that he plans to give the young players at Chelsea every chance of playing first team football. This will be helped to make possible by the new 7 sub rule. Since that day Scolari has lived up to his word. From day 1 of Pre Season and all the way up to now he has had both Franco Di Santo and Michael Mancienne training with him, and no doubt will be going on the pre season tour for further assesment. He also plans to have one of his assistants in regular contact with the reserves and youth to see who is worth giving chances to, this was again shown by him attending the Reserves first friendly game of the season against Aldershot. Obviously that visit paid for a few of the young stars of that game and Miroslav Stoch, Gael Kakuta and Sergio Tejera all yesterday trained with the first team and had their chance to impress. All of this is very very good news for those who follow the younger players of the club and want to see us bring through our own talents. Hopefully Scolari can keep this up and give the young talents at his disposal chances to represent the first team.

Not a chance, the first pre season game is next wednesday. I expect this transfer saga to run well into August. It's a shame though, i want to see him here as fast as possible, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

It is a strange situation, because Drogba is on a fairly long contract at the moment. But his agent is claiming that if he doesn't get a move in the next 10 days he will sign a new contract! Well by the sounds of it at least we can expect this one to be dealt with soon unlike the Lampard and Robinho sagas that we are going through as well at the moment.

Robinho's agent claims Barcelona could be ready to rival Chelsea's interest in the Real Madrid forward. The Stamford Bridge side are weighing up a summer swoop for the Brazilian star, while Manchester United has been mooted as another possible destination. Wagner Ribeiro claimed on Tuesday that his client was 'seriously considering' a move to Chelsea following the appointment of compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari as the club's manager. But further reports in Spain suggest that Barca are now planning an approach, a move which comes as no surprise to Riberio. He told Spanish sports daily El Mundo Deportivo: "It's only logical that a club like Barcelona want Robinho. "He is also wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United. "Chelsea have presented a big offer for Robinho to Real Madrid, but it seems as if the club don't want to sell him." Chelsea have reportedly made an offer of £48million for the 24-year-old - something the Blues deny - who has also been mentioned as a makeweight in any deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish capital. However, it is believed Madrid are reluctant to let Robinho go until the Ronaldo saga is concluded, and Ribeiro has reiterated his client's claim that he is happy at Real. "Robinho has a contract at Real Madrid," he added. "And for that reason he is not looking to leave the club." Source: Sky Sports

Chelsea youngster Ryan Bertrand insists he will soon be ready to take on England's first choice left-backs. The Blues youngster faces the unenviable task of competing with Three Lions' regulars Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge for a starting berth at Stamford Bridge. But the 18-year-old believes he will be up to the task and is relishing the challenge he faces in the next few seasons. Bertrand recently agreed a year-long loan move to Norwich and he hopes his performances for the Canaries will impress new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. Bertrand said: "I am only young so I still feel I have time to break into the first team. "I've just got to go out on loan and show Chelsea what I can do then hopefully my time will come. "I'm looking forward to going back to Norwich and playing regular first team football again. "My aim is to go out there and prove that I can play in the league and do well. "Hopefully then I can come back to Chelsea and get my chance." Bertrand is currently competing in the Under-19 European Championships with England in the Czech Republic. Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has joined the squad for training and Bertrand has been inspired by the former Three Lions full-back. Bertrand added: "Having Stuart Pearce around is a great help. "He has given us a few tips on how to improve our games and I've tried to take as much on board as possible. "He has been around the game a long time and has a lot of experience. "You can tell he's passionate about England and he's always trying to get his point across about how important it is to play for your country." Bertrand's Blues team-mate and England you-19 skipper Jack Cork added: "The lads are really enjoying having the chance to impress Stuart Pearce. "It's really exciting that he's around and it's good to learn from him." England you-19s face Italy on Thursday and need a draw to stay in the tournament after losing 2-0 to the Czech Republic in the Group B opener. Source: The Sun

There is no way we are offering the prices being talked about. Real may have shot themselves in the foot by Calderon claiming that Robinho is worth more than €60m because he is on a £30,000 a week wage and wants double that and is annoyed that Madrid won't give him better terms, Robinho will look at those comments and say well if they think i am worth that much how come they won't give me a better salary. Who knows where this will go, dealing with Madrid is a bloody nightmare with their games and lies.

Drogba's best season for us you could see he wanted to prove himself and show how good he is, the mentality was there for him to do well because he wanted to! I would hope he can do that again. Having Drogba in the squad is always great because he can be sensational on his day, i hope he stays and i hope he has a great season too.

I am sure that Roman isn't encouraging anyone to keep and play Sheva. If that was the case he would have played a lot more last season under Grant!!! I think Sheva has been given a lot more stick than he deserves. He has had some very good performances and just because his goals record hasn't been that good (even though his goals to games ratio last season was pretty decent) he has had a lot of stick.

I don't think with Drogba that money is the issue. It really does come across that he wants a new challenge at a new club, i think he is dissapointed that no-one has come in for him and his agent is now trying to generate some interest in him. If Drogba doesn't get his move how will his attitude be this season playing for us?

I agree Chelsea do want him to stay. Although once again i do not like the noises comming out the Drogba camp. Basically saying "If no-one else comes in for Drogba then he will stay, but if someone else wants him then he will go".....

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will make a decision on whether he will remain at Stamford Bridge within the next 10 days, according to the player's agent. The Ivory Coast international has been strongly linked with a move away from Chelsea ever since he confessed his desire to quit the club in an interview with France Football magazine shortly after former boss Mourinho's Stamford Bridge exit last September. Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan are all reportedly keen on making summer moves for the powerful forward, however new Blues manger Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted Drogba is '200 per cent in his plans'. But it now seems that Scolari will have to wait before knowing where Drogba will play his football in the new season after the 30-year-old's agent, Thierno Seydi, explained that he will decide his future in the next 10 days. "Didier has given himself 10 days," Seydi told France Football. "If nothing happens he'll stay at Chelsea and extend his contract by two years. "He doesn't see himself starting training in a few days with Chelsea and then leaving to a new club. "The reality of November is not that of today. At the time Didier was affected by departure of Jose Mourinho who he was very close to. "Today, there is nothing to say that he won't stay at Chelsea." The supporters of Drogba's former club Marseille recently began an appeal to raise the €28million (£22.4million) that would reportedly secure his signature. Their petition reached the €1million mark on Saturday; however Drogba's agent has explained he is unlikely to make a return to the Stade Velodrome. "OM would have difficulty paying the player's transfer and salary," added Seydi. "The 'Drogbathon' really touched him. "He found the initiative nice but pitiful; because that shows a bit that OM and French clubs have real difficulties in attracting great players." Source: Sky Sports

To me it always makes more sense to have younger talented players as squad players instead of players like Ben Haim who eventually won't get played because you can't risk them. It seems like Ivanovic will take his place in the squad this season and that is definately an upgrade.

I don't think there was much doubt of Riccy staying with Scolari in charge. Sheva can still offer us something i think, and i hope we will see more from him this season. Although i think he is already carrying an injury as i havn't seen him involved in any of the training sessions shown on CTV.

I wouldn't say equal to Cole's. Ashley is excellant going forward too and will be given more freedom to do that now i would think. Cole really came into supberb form for us last season and i don't think there are many if any better than him.

I agree. If he really wants to go, then lets take the offer from Inter and move on now rather than have a season where Lampard is just waiting to leave and we know it...

Wayne is a fantastic asset to us. When he plays he always performs well, he gets forward so well and can put some great crosses in. His defensive side isn't as good as Cole's but that is why he is backup. He will get plenty of games this season i am sure.

Ben Haim is another player who we do need to offload as soon as possible. We need to get our squad as complete as possible as quickly as possible. Ben Haim never worked for us, he just never look comfortbale and you was just waiting for the next mistake every time he played.