EskWeston

In what way? That it is not big enough? Our squad size now is dictated to us, we are only short in the homegrown department but we are using U21 players who do not need to be registered in Bruma, Kakuta, Van Aanholt and Borni

Fantastic player for us over the years, was a real quality signing. No big suprise that he has moved on given the cover we have at centre back. What it would seem to indicate for us is that there must be another deal in the pipeline. Deco leaving left a space in the new squad rules for Ramires, to bring another player in we would need to sell someone - that someone is Riccy C. Wouldn't need to make the space to bring Neymar in so who can it be?

Well only 21 days to find out one way or another if this will happen or not....... I am sure Ozil will move somewhere this summer, unless of course he has an agreement in place with someone to hang it out a season and move on a free.

Would do if i could make sigs......

Of course it is, which is why in the long term we will be better off, and why we shouldn't worry about the results in pre season

A number of ways we could play Ozil, obviously the diamond is one of them. As the playmaker in a 4-3-3 or behind the forward in a 4-2-3-1 ............................................Essien.................................................... ................Ramires..............................Lampard.............................. .............................................Ozil......................................................... or ............................................Essien.................................................... .............................................................Lampard............................... .............................Ozil......................................................................... or .............................Essien.....................Lampard.............................. ..............................................Ozil.........................................................

Carlo has said a decision will be made on mancienne in the next week or 2. Seems more likely he will move on now though i think.

Providing there are no extra injuries picked up, an extra game could be OK for the players to get more match fitness. Right now it is all about getting players up to scratch ready for the start of the season.

Differing reports flying around. Some saying that Barca have agreed a dela with Bremen, others that Bremen know nothing of a deal with Barca and that Chelsea are in the lead. I am sure a player of this type with the price that he would be available at i am sure that Us, Barca and Man U are all probably trying to sign him. Like Fabregas i think Ozil would be mad to go to Barca with all the midfielders they have there, who is he going to displace? Time will tell on this one, but one thing is for sure whoever does end up with him will be getting a very good deal.

Midfield is certainly where we need to look at rebuilding considering the players we have lost. Having Essien back is a huge boost and to have a squad with Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Ramiers, Benayoun, Matic, Kakuta, McEachran would be a good way to start to the season. Would be een better if the Ozil roumers are true and we add him into the mix.

Not a suprise at all. Good luck to him, he has picked well i think. A chance to set upself a good career, a manager who knows him very well and a club where he will definately get the starts. I hope he really kicks on now and makes something of himself, it's a shame it went with him.

Thats a huge assumption that he would be Kalou's substitute..... I certainly wouldn't rule out this transfer just yet.

Lots of stories doing the rounds this morning linking us with Ozil. Us and Barcelona leading the chase with us having had better discussions with Bremen than Barca. This would be a cracking deal if we can do it, doubly so considering the fee we would pay, to be honest we would be mad not to get involved considering a playmaker we could certainly do with....

Like i said, we all knew that he wouldn't automatically pass the rules for a work permit. I am sure they have to go through the whole process of applying, then appealing to just get it done. I am sure Chelsea were aware it would take this long.

Has to be that he either was going to see none of the Milner money or they have accepted an offer for someone else like Young or Agbonlahor....

I wouldn't be so sure, there was a report from the kids father a few days back about him asking clubs to wait until after his cup game which has now been done and they now expect any negotiations to carry on. If we had made a bid as they said we did i am sure we will be back in for him.

Where has that been reported? Could make sense i guess, considering we all knew he wasn't eligable. Now goes to a panel to decide if he classes as an exceptional player or whatever it is they call it...

Because sometimes the club will need to sell players to bring much needed money into the club, or a deal could be too good financially to turn down even if the manager doesn't want to lose said player. Suprised O'Neil has walked, i wonder if there is another player to be sold that he wasn't happy about other than Milner.....

Kakuta would most certainly have been given a break. Fitness isn't an issue for him, he has played plenty of games. Good result from the lads there, a good team put out too. Would expect Jack Cork and Mancienne to have their futures decided soon. Just goes to show the difference in competition between playing lower league team and reserve teams, even Man Utds. Reserve teams need to be allowed to compete in League football if this country is to move forward with youth development.

Don't really have any concerns over this game, but would like to see a good team put out. I would personally go with : ...........................................Cech....................................... Ferreira...........Ivanovic...............Terry....................Cole .........................................Essien...................................... ..................Lampard.....................Malouda..................... ...Sturridge.....................Drogba......................Anelka...

Well at least thats over with. Only other possible departure now is Riccy C...

Unless United add to their squad then we will beat them both times this season and definately finish higher than them. I thought we did pretty well yesterday considering. Man Utd had 3 players in their 11 who had played at the world cup, we had 3 who had NOT played at the world cup. The extra pre season will have made a difference. I think we are looking in good shape, and with the addition of Ramires and 1 other (who i think will end up being Neymar) we will be looking even better....

Performance-wise i thought we played pretty well, a little lapse in defense still but the whole back 4 had come back late so a little rustyness is to be expected. A couple of points i felt, firstly Anelka as a lone striker puts a lot of pressure on the wingers to come inside high up the pitch as Anelka drops very deep, secondly someone needs to show Kalou to go around players rather than through them..... Sturridge very very impressive when he came on, would like to see him start there for West Brom. I think it will come together for us just at the right time, the internationals are right pain in the backside. I hope people try not to overreact and panic over these pre season results. The way it has worked out i think we can only look at these games as a fitness exercise. Certainly don't think United deserved to beat us. The biggest annoyance of this game was the commentary, i seriously thought for a while that i had accidentally subscribed to MUTV.

Well i guess my prediction was off then!!! Lets hope it is the work permit issue that is holding it up and nothing else.....

Yup lets hope the majority of players are left out of their squads..