EskWeston

I think the league is the weakest it has been for a very long while. Our squad isn't as strong as it has been, united are considerably weaker and that is why Arsenal are where they are at the moment. Really anything could happen but i expect us to still hold onto it, although injuries look like making it hard for us.

Just thought i would re-start this thread as firstly i didn't comment before and secondly it is a very important thread in my opinion. I don't want to go into detail on players to bring in, because the club have a better idea on that front than me. But i feel investment is needed now and we are carrying too many players who are not contributing enough or not what we need in our squad. I feel like i have been saying this for too many seasons now and every season in the summer i hope it will change, we have made some decent signings over the last few years - Ivanovic, Zhirkov and Matic are good long term investments. We really need to look at freshening things up. I think these are the players we should look to move out: Hilario - Not good enough for a number 2 at a club like Chelsea. We need a top class young keeper to come in and really give Cech a fight, like when we brought Cech in himself he was a young keeper and he forced his way past the excellent Cudicini immediately. Ferreira - Seems to have long past his usefulness, a big surprise when he got his last contract which was a long one too! We do need a right back to push Bosingwa and allow Ivanovic to play in the middle. Carvalho - Probably time for him now, especially considering the options we have with Ivanovic and Alex, both of whom are top class and already playing better than Carvalho. Not to mention we have a number of top young centre backs just itching to get their chances, Bruma being the best of these but Mancienne and Hutchinson will also fancy their chances. Ballack - Despite his reputation it is definately time for Ballack to move on, for me (and i know a lot of people would disagree on this point) i think Matic would offer just as much as Ballack now. Our midfield needs an injection, Mikel, Essien and Lampard are the 3 main in midfield and we need to add to that and shift the rest on. Matic should be used a lot more next season. Deco - Basically exactly the same as Ballack above. Belletti - Similar to above. I know there is the argument for these players, good squad players etc. etc. but are they really? Are they offering us more than a player who will come in and fight for a place? Not in my opinion, Younger new blood in to build a future team around is needed. Also a couple of players i have smaller question marks over are Soloman Kalou and Florent Malouda. Decent enough players but are they the best we could do at a club like Chelsea for the number of games they get? As i said, as part of this discussion the players to come in is not as important. Certainly we need players with creativity and flair. Also there are the homegrown quotas to adhere to. Yes there are young players we can call upon, how many though are ready for real first team duties, obviously not regular starters, i would say Matic yes - possibles - Stoch, Bertrand, Mancienne, Bruma. I would like to see us go for 1 big big name to build the future of the club around, personal preference would be either Aguero or Pato... So basically, a freshen up of the squad is well overdue in my eyes.

We need to keep hold of Stoch, such and exciting talent and has never failed to delivery with every step up he takes.

Bruma did a decent job at right back, just come back from injury as well. But yes i agree, would have been better in my opinion to play Ivanovic at right back at Bruma at centre back where he would have been more comfortable and confident, although i can also see why Ancelotti played him at right back...... No i have not been impressed with Kakuta's performances in the reserves but i also feel that he would and does perform much better in the first team, the pace of the game is more suited to his style, thats just the way it goes sometimes, i would like to see Gael apply himself more in the reserves but i wouldn't let that hold him back from the first team as he is a real real talented player. This is a question which is going to keep coming up and up again and again until we see a group playing regualry for the first team. However when you look at this season we have made massive steps in the right direction, Borini, Kakuta, Bruma, Matic, Hutchinson all had good involvement with the first team which is something we have not seen for a very long while at Chelsea - Sturridge also you can include in that. I think looking toward next season you will see that group get even more involvement than they did this season which is the right way to do it, we don't need to or want to rush them in to relying on them too heavily. For me Matic is the one who i think we will see get the most involvement next season along with Sturridge. Matic has gown into a really classy player this season, for those who have seen even the highlights of the reserve games will not what i mean, especially against Arsenal when the reigns were taken off and he was played box to box. You can include in that little group probably Jack Cork, Patrick Van Aanholt, Ryan Bertrand, Miroslav Stoch who will look to come back from loan and in the summer show they are worthy of first team oppertunities. The jury is out on Franco Di Santo unfortunately and it looks like the end for Scott Sinclair at Chelsea too. For me the bottom line is progress is being made 100% and lets not rush things and let these lads grow into first team roles which they are starting to do nicely. We ARE producing some exceptional youngsters, that is a fact and every year we are going to have more and more wanting to get their chances. Be patient.

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.

I usually read for about 2 hours a day, i get through so many books now it is brilliant. Already got through 3 and a half books since the beginning of January.... Can't wait to read under the dome, looks a great book but i will wait for the paperback...

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.