EskWeston

Yes our form hasn't been the greatest this season and we have dropped points where we probably shouldn't have, but look at the table, we are still the team in the country!! Is that because the league is stronger or weaker is up for debate but the fact still remains, you can criticize our form as much as you like but we are still top of the league and that is the only stat that means anything....

Not surprised something has been said, the image of the club is more important than the image of any one player.

Really hope that Matic gets a start now, but i would expect either J.Cole or Malouda to drop into the midfield with the other upfront with Anelka and Drogs....

As BlueLion says, done brilliantly with the limited chances he has been given and has certainly shown he deserves more chances and i am sure he has a good future with us.

Well clearly Zhirkov is the 1st choice replacement as that was what he was brought in for. It will actually be very good for him as now he will get a decent run of games and will make him stronger for next season. I would prefer though to see Yuri used further up the pitch.

Well, Englands loss if true. No-one can lead a team like JT. And they are just going to look like Hypocrits whoever they give it to, like has been said, they all have some sort of previous, the worst would be to give it to Ferdinand after his past and even recent incidents. Just goes to show how everyone in this country panders to the scum that is the English press, man cheats on wife is front page news....

Mikel is probably our most underrated player at the moment. Personally i think he is an exceptional player and he plays the defensive midfield role brilliantly even though it has never been his natural position. There is no-one i would rather play there, positionally he is better there than Essien and a long way ahead of Deco, Belletti and Ballack for that role too. I wouldn't even bring anyone in over him unless you offered me a Maka in his prime.... There always has to be a player seemingly that the fans want to get on the back of, and this season for some reason that is Mikel.

Have really liked what i have seen of Yuri so far, think he has settled well after injuries and is starting to get into a good stride. I think by next season he will be a real asset to us, he is now but i think he will come on a lot after the summer. I can't see anything wrong with the signing of Zhirkov other than i would like to see him played further forward more often.

Great news but not unexpected, it was clear that there was no proper contract in place to be breached which has been confirmed by the CAS. Will the press give this the same coverage they gave to the story when we got done? Hell no of course not, like said above they will probably claim we paid Lens off, even though the CAS have said there was no proper contract to be breached and the money we paid them (which was the money we was told to pay to them by FIFA) was only a goodwill gesture and had nothing to do with the case..

Good move for him if he can get the playing time there, that is why the loan is for such a short period so if it doesn't workout there he can go somewhere else. I am sure he will be able to earn himself a regular starting place there and continue to improve with every step that he takes.

What an absolute plonker!!! You would have thought that someone in his position would be so careful about what he was taking...

An excellent controlled performance from us again last night. Birmingham was a tricky challenge for us and come through it cleanly. The next 2 game are must wins and will put us in an excellent position going into February.

Not too happy about the midfield 3, obviously Lampard is fine. But a team with both Ballack and Deco in it is always far too slow paced and i don't like it. Also Deco in the holding role for a prem game? Is it better to play an experienced player totally out of position (especially one poor in a challenge) or a young player in their comfortable position. Personally i would rather Matic or Cork - hell even Conor Clifford play there than Deco, but thats just me. Other than that great, 4-3-3 again which is good to see, shame for Sturridge to drop out again though, has deserved some more chances.

Fantastic news that we will have Drogs back sooner than we all thought. It was important to have him back for the Arsenal game and now he will be.

Well Anelka's contract doesn't run out to the end of next season so there is no real rush on this deal and i am sure something will be sorted out. The thing is the club are under a fair bit of pressure to bring the wage bill down with FIFA threatening to bring in these new financial rules.... Plus Anelka's age makes it that bit more difficult to agree to a pay rise.

Certainly shouldn't be on the same wages at JT and Frank, that is for sure. But i am also sure he isn't asking for that. I personally don't see anything to worry about. Joe wants to stay, the club wants him to stay. All this back an forth over wage demands is standard contract discussion, there will be a compromise in the end, Joe will be happy, Chelsea will be happy and the fans will be happy.

No confirmation on that yet, but i would assume so, maybe Van Aanholt on the bench too. Hopefully that midfield will work in this game, but it is a rather slow midfield i feel.

Carlo has already announced the team: ..................................Hilario......................................... Ferreira...........Alex................Terry....................Zhirkov ..................................Belletti........................................ .............Ballack..........................Lampard...................... ...................................Deco.......................................... .....................Anelka............Sturridge...........................

Yeah if he can return from injury this time like he did last season that that wouldn't be too bad

4 to 6 weeks out, could have been a lot worse i guess. At least it isn't for the rest of the season.

Had to laugh at the jacket Sullivan was wearing for the takeover Don't see how they can hope to spend enough to take them to Champions League football with all that debt and no sign of any real money coming in from anywhere? Too seems to rest on taking over the olympic Stadium which doesn't look very likely.

No-one will be going anywhere in January that is for sure, maybe a move come the summer but not now..

No good asking a bloody Newcastle player what it is like living England, not exactly going to get a good picture is he? Would be good to sign a young attacking midfielder, although with Kakuta we probably have that covered.

Should be a good game, i would expect Carlo to field a strong team to get the win in the bag, probably Sturridge to start which would be fair. Although i would of course like to see Matic, Borini and Kakuta get a game too. Matic in particular has done very well and follwoing a decent influential reserves outing could well have earned a possible start.

Arsenal have only managed to get where there are because United are not as strong as they were and we had a horrible December!! The fact that Liverpool have had an awful season and still close to 4th spot shows just how the level of consistancy has been this season through the league. Having said that i can't see Arsenal picking up too many points from their next games, Liverpool have everything to fight for, United want to keep in the race and us at the Bridge you will fancy us to beat them of course.