EskWeston

All reports indicate that the deal between clubs is done, Ramires seems to think it is done. Probably work permit issues holding it up. Still expect to see "Ramires Signs" as a headline on the Chelsea website come 5pm.....

Both players not handled too well by the club with regards to loans and first team appearances ect... It's all dealt with a lot better these players with players like Van Aanholt being the model of how to deal with players with loans/first team appearances.

Only to make up numbers. I think the only chance he would have had was to have got a Premiership loan move again and he really made something of it. Doesn't seem like that will happen though and a Championship loan would be no good to him or us at this stage, so it may be best to let him go now.

By the look of things Patrick Van Aanholt has got the nod over Ryan for first team chances. I guess being around last season really helped his cause as Carlo now knows him pretty well. It was always going to be one or the other..........

Absolutely. You do have to say that compared to other top European leagues we are very poorly organised in this country with respect to our top league and the international game.

We don't "have" to fill our homegrown quota, it just means that we work with a smaller squad, although boosted by the "U21" group which will contain players like Kakuta, Bruma, Borini, Van Aanholt ect..

As i have already said, would not be suprised at all if we sold Scott, there is only so long you can keep players around once they have spent so long on loan and reach a certain age. The Sun has it this morning that Scott will sign for Swansea.

I am sure that the deal is all done and dusted now. For some reason Chelsea have a thing about announcing signings on a Friday at 5pm, expect to see the obligitory picture of him signing his contract on the Chelsea website at 5pm today

I would hope that this is the season where Yuri steps up a level. Being able to play all the way down the left hand side is a great asset to have and i am sure he will have a good part to play in our season. Unless he is desperately unhappy then there is no way we will sell him.

Are these fixture dates not set by FIFA? The premier league are the ones who have stitched everyone up, most other leagues in Europe are starting a week later. It is clearly not ideal to have this friendly 3 days before the start of a new season, and a new season where pre season has already been massively disrupted by the world cup.

Playing time in the Cahmpionship is a given for him now, he will not move up a level with another loan there. I can't help but feel this is leading up to him being sold.

Will be a relief to get this one done and dusted and i am looking forward to seeing him on the pitch for us.,

If he is not going to be part of Chelsea's first team after this long and all those loans we should have sold him! Surely we would have got a few million for him, England U21 international ect...

Another Championship loan for Ryan isn't good. I am sure he is pretty dissapointed with that. Would have liked to have seen him kept around or loaned to the Premiership. I guess this probably means long term his future will not be at Chelsea.

Ryan Bertrand has today signed for Nottingham Forest on loan until January 3, 2011. The left-back, who celebrates his 21st birthday today, has been involved in this summer's pre-season under Carlo Ancelotti, but returns to the Championship where he has represented several sides on temporary deals over the past couple of seasons. Last year was spent at Reading, where he missed just two league games, having spent the previous 18 months with Norwich, making 60 appearances. Ryan is a regular in the England Under 21 squad, and this week was named alongside fellow Chelsea men Jack Cork, Michael Mancienne and Daniel Sturridge in the squad to face Uzbekistan in Bristol next week. Source: Chelsea FC

Exactly, pre season is no indication of how a season will play out.

Well it has been a very dissapointing pre season thats for sure. But there are verygood reasons for that. The first half was a very good Chelsea performance, good passing and controlled possesion, not much in the way of chances but that will come. Nico's goal should have stood which was a shame but i think this was a much improved game and a lot to be positive about going into the Man Utd game. We have faced some tough teams this pre season, Ajax, Frankfurt and Hamburg have all given us tough challenges. The games have been physical and intense and that will stand us in good stead eventually in time, whereas Man U have gone and played a team made up of players from the league of ireland and thumped them. I am sure a lot of people would rather beat a team of no-marks by 7 goals but for pre season preparation i am much happier with the game we played last night, it was a real challenge for us and for the most part we did very well. I am sure because we lost 3 pre season games there will be a lot of clamouring for a dozen new players to come in, but with Ramires on the brink and probably 1 more signing i think we are looking at a very good squad of players to into the season with. Thankfully we have a few easier games to start the season which will help our players get momentum for the bigger games to come.

Yup, pretty much agree with that, although i think Ivanovic will be JT's preffered partner. Mikel, Ramires and Essien alternating games.

Would like to think that in 5 years time this team would be pretty decent and good enough to beat anyone ............................................................Delac........................................................... Clifford..........................Bruma........................Ivanovic..................Van Aanholt .................................Ramires...............................Mikel........................................ ........................................................McEachran..................................................... ......Kakuta........................................Lukaku..............................Sturridge........... Would like to see Hutchinson at right back but as DavidEU said, i cant seen Sam being able to command any sort of regular spot due to his chronic injury problems.

Well i suppose there has to be SOME incentive to join Man City or why would anyone bother....

Lol, that was hilarious.

Don't like the diamond full stop! It just doesn't work and we are 100 times more creative with the 4-3-3 ...................................Essien........................Ramires................................. ..................................................Lampard...................................................... ........Anelka...............................Drogba.....................................Malouda... Not too shabby and with the likes of Mikel, Zhirkov, Benayoun, Kalou, Kakuta, Sturridge ect and back up we are looking in pretty good shape.

Lol, OK., So then the question is, would we get another Lampard type player with Cork given another 5 years? I still don't think we will, as top class as Jack Cork is and can be i don't see him ever being a Lampard type player. Sorry to be so contradictory but it's just the way i see it

If we were to line up like this .....................................Essien...............Ramires............................... ................................................Lampard............................................... It would in my opinion give us a very strong and dynamic midfield. And make it easy to slot players in for rotation or injuries.

Thats for any future England manager to sort out. Yes Gerrard and Lampard are completely different players the problem there though is that Gerrard is so tactically inept and a compelete lack of discipline that unless you give him free licence the whole thing falls apart. Lets just hope that Whilshire and McEachran are not as thick as he is. And on current evidence i can't see it being a problem. One things for sure i can't think of another McEachran type player we have seen in the England set up.