EskWeston

As much as we don't want to rely on him at 17, Josh is a player who hardly ever gives the ball away and can create openings in attack. The way the midfield is playing i see no other option than to play Josh, but it won't happen. We will continue to plod on with underperforming players.

Absolutely right. And it is becomming very frustrating. The thing is what is the solution. I like him a lot but i am starting to question Carlo at the moment, unable to get the players playing the way we should, unable to make tactical subs to turn a game - Torres should have stayed on when Drogba came on, it was clear a straight swap would make no difference.

The crazy thing is that if we played say Ramires, Clifford and McEachran it isn't as if they could do any worse than what we are seeing at the moment..... We do need to look towards younger players, like Ramires, Like Luiz. Our forward options will need looking at in the summer too Drogba, Malouda, Anelka and Kalou are all underperforming.

Our midfield is a BIG problem. Ramires is the only player who is is any sort of form the rest are just poor and holding us back at the moment. Looking toward the summer is one thing but we are in desperate need of a solution for the rest of the season.

Would be nice to see us put out our strongest side for this one, no point being precious with the new signings, we paid big bucks for them so we may as well chuck em in. Would love to see us rip Liverpool apart with Torres at the head of attack....

Fantastic performance at last! What a revelation Anelka was played behind Drogs and Kalou! With Torres there instead of Kalou it will be devestating. Good to see some positive movement and quick play at last..... very much enjoyed that game,.

Really was mad watching it all unfold last night and very surreal to see Torres at Stamford Bridge signing his contract and holding up the shirt. I thought he handled his interview well. Big statement of intent from us now, up to Carlo to get him and Drogba playing together.

The fact that Liverpool have offically agreed a fee for Carroll means that Torres is definately on his way out 100%! Of course he still could end up at City, but it looks like by 11:00pm tonight Torres will be a Chelsea player.... who would have thought it eh

Well it certainly looks like Torres is our only target for January now. However this big spend plus the potential move for Luiz will make the summer quite interesting that is for sure.

Good to see ya back Mike, been far too long, hope you are keeping well..

Honestly, our transfer dealings have been so poor for the last few years, we make it so much hard work and it always gets played out in the media....

Can understand Torres wanting to leave Liverpool, he will feel he should be playing at the highest level. As i have said i have my reservations about signing him given his injury problems, for that amount of money.

Either way, this signing will have no significant impact on the rest of our season. Our transfer dealing over the last few years really seem to have been handled poorly...

If this is true, the only good to come of it is our apparent willingness to spend money again. However i cannot see it happening. And again if we to be spending big surely we have learned our lesson on spending £30m on strikers with injury problems? Also would rather see us build with forward thinking rather than sort termism. Neymar, Lukaku, Hazard, Hamsik ect.. is the sort of places we should be putting our money in my opinion.

With regards to Lalkovic, this year is important for him. I have said a number of times that he has a lot of talent but he has a real tendancy to overdo things or to make the wrong choice at the crucial moment. He also has a bit of a selfish streak, i would see his long term future as a winger and i hope he really gets it right this season.

Second half highlights:

We should definately sign Hulk, he is incredible

Billy Clifford will end up as a right back, however his ability and industry means he is the perfect option in this team to play in the midfield with Saville and Josh as we don't have anyone else who can play that role of box to box midfielder at the moment. No, but they have won a number of cups already including the milk cup, highlights of which you can see on my Youtube page to see how good they are.... also see the U15's demolition of Man City there too

Would be fantastic move for us and Gael if he can go to Fulham and get games, that is EXACTLY what he needs (and so does Bruma, Van Aanholt, Bertrand) games in the Premiership....

Yup Nditi looked impressive enough when he came on. Not too much of a suprise though considering that the U16's/U15's age group is sweeping aside everything before them and seem to be full of top quality youngsters. Watching them come through this and next season is going to be very exciting. Given where we were and the players we are producing i think we have now one of if not THE best academy in the country. Frank Arnesson and Neil Bath deserve a lot of credit for the set up now. Only 1 player in that squad last night aquired from overseas and that is Lalkovic and even he came at 14!

Still a schoolboy, 15 i think....

What we need is players pushing the established older players for a place (of course we also need the manager to give them the chance), at the moment the players have no real fear of losing their place because there is no-one pushing them.

Chalobah is a massive talent, his development will definately be one to keep an eye on. Of course it was worthwhile Josh playing. For a number of reasons, firstly the youth cup is the biggest competition at this level and we want to put out our best side to win the game. Secondly Josh needs games, it showed his fitness is not 100% last night and that is down to lack of games. It is also important to keep this boys grounded and to not think they are above playing for the youth team now. Like Bruma did last season, like Jack Wilshire did for Arsenal the season before. We want to retain the youth cup and Josh is our best player available for the competition, of course we should be playing him.

And it isn't wrong, Bruma CAN go all the way to being a first team regular at Chelsea. Chalobah is a huge talent, still only a schoolboy and only just turned 16. Danny Pappoe is also a big talent, the big test for Danny will come when his size no longer becomes the advantage it is now. Rohan Ince as well is a decent prospect at centre back.

Comparing Jamal this year to Sam last year Sam Walker is better at the moment. Much more assured whereas Jamal is a little bit unsure of himself at times and will hesitate on descisions. I think Sam is a very good keeper. Blackman is too and he can develop more still, he started later as well which makes it harder for Jamal.