EskWeston

We need to get someone in for a long term project, give them money to freshen up the squad and stick with them. My personal choice would be Rijkaard, just think the style of play and set up would suit us the best.

Mancienne, Stoch and Di Santo should be given playing time now to see what they can do for us and give them a taste for next season. Especially Di Santo he needs to start a couple of games for us.

Just making the bench is such a big step for him. And i am sure he is over the moon with it. I would like to see us using the young players even in pressure situations like Man you or Arsenal or others do.

Have not seen Hiddink's post match yet but i think that sums it up! We kept punting long balls forward and high crosses even though we were losing 99% of them. It was very frustrating to see us do that.

Yes the title race is over for us. Time to fully concentrate on the Champions League and the FA Cup, maybe experiment a little with the remaining games to get a few ideas for next season.

It's a shame he didn't get a chance to come on. Considering how we was playing i wouldn't have minded seeing him come on for Ballack and put a bit of life into the game. But the experience will have done him the world of good and it shows that Hiddink has been happy with what he has seen of him.

To be honest i don't think it matters anymore. If you look at our squad you would say (and we have been saying it for a few seasons now) that our wingers need improving. Joe Cole will stay 100%, i think there is a chance we could leave a spot for Stoch and Kakuta to utilise, and i think both Kalou and Malouda are at risk of being replaced.

He has done well in the last half a dozen games. But like i said in another thread it is more than likely too little too late for him. He will still more than likely go in the summer so we can bring someone else in, as it would be a gamble to know which Malouda will turn up next season. Half a dozen games out of a season is not enough to warrant a stay next season i feel.

"he has also been utilised at full-back and even centre-back" - Not too sure on the accuracy of that. And if he did it was only briefly at youth level in an emergency and will never play there again. He is an attack minded midfielder with good vision and a good engine. Similar to Lampard in many ways, able to pop up in the box at the right moment to score a goal. I would be very interested to see Mellis make a first team appearance, just to see how he copes at that level.

At this stage of the season we are playing very well, especially considering what we have come back from. All we can do is take each game at a time and go out to win each one, and where we end up we end up. We could get very lucky and finish top, and if we go stride for stride with pool and Manure we will come third, no matter what we will have done well this season to end as strongly as we have.

I think thats a typo rather than an old story. Mellis has never before been mentioned for the first team. And it talks about Mondays Reserve game against West Brom.

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink is expected to include 19-year-old reserve midfielder Jacob Mellis in his squad against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge tonight. Mellis is a regular at reserve level and has scored three goals in 11 appearances this season. He played 90 minutes in Chelsea reserves' 2-2 draw with West Brom and impressed Hiddink who watched from the stand. The England Under-19 international joined the Blues from Sheffield United in 2007 and has mainly been used as an attacking midfielder. Mellis starred in Chelsea's FA Youth Cup run last season, scoring two goals, although he was sent-off in the final. Source: Daily Mail

I agree, depending on the situation here at Chelsea with regards to players comming and going, a season long loan in the Premiership would be fantastic for Michael. Infact in many ways it would be better for him than staying with us next season.

Frank has been outstanding again this season. Has to be main candidate for player of the season, along with Ashley Cole i think.

We wouldn't be doing Mancienne any favours to put him up against Barca. Image if he got ripped to pieces, he could find the fans turning against him and brandishing him as rubbish....

Mancienne is a quality young player. But watching him play at left back last night for the reserves against West Brom i would not even consider playing him there for the Barca game. It's not that he was bad, but it is just not natural for him and for him to do it in our biggest game of the season would be a disaster. Mancienne is a centre back 100% and a decent right back when needed, but i would not play him at left back.

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne insists he is ready for the task of marking Lionel Messi in the UEFA Champions League semi-final with Barcelona. Blues boss Guus Hiddink is considering playing Mancienne at left-back against Barca in the first leg at Camp Nou next week, with first-choice left-back Ashley Cole missing through suspension. Mancienne was switched to left-back for Monday's reserve-team draw against West Brom as Hiddink wanted to try out the England Under 21 international in the role. Hiddink watched Mancienne perform at left-back and the defender is ready to answer the call of filling in for Cole and facing arguably the best player on the planet in the shape of Messi. "It was a new one on me, I've never really played there before. I would love the challenge of facing Messi," Mancienne told Chelsea TV. "The manager came to watch and I was asked to have a go. The manager is keeping his options open. "They told me a couple of days ago I would have a go at left-back and I did ask Ashley a few questions about it. It felt all right." The 2-2 draw with West Brom also saw the return of Juliano Belletti after injury. The Brazilian, who has missed the last few weeks through injury, played for an hour and scored in the game to put himself in contention for a first-team recall. Source: Sky Sports

A wage cap is a good idea. But the problem is that it has to be applied across the board in world football otherwise no-one will agree to it or it will see all the best players go to a legue that has no wage cap

Would you partner JT and Alex for the Barca game? I would be a little worried that neither of them have enough pace when up against Eto'o, Henry and Messi...

Our squad is very strong and they are all still looking fresh. We should have no problem with fitness at all and we have the players to cover if there is any injuries.

There is no disputing that when Drogba is on form that he is the best in the world. The trick is keeping him in that form, which is no easy task. We have had i would say a full season and a half of Drogba in that form. If we can have him in that form next season then we will be all the stronger for that.

Considering the situation we found ourselves in a few months ago, any trophy would be incredible. For me we have no chance in the Premier League. The Champions league will be difficult but i think we have the momentum to do it. The FA Cup is the obvious one for us to pick up, but we shoudln't be complacent with Everton or we will come undone. 1 will be amazing for me, and if we can manage the 2 cup comps then it will be nothing short of miraculous from the position we was in.

Joe has had some bad injuries in the last few seasons but he is has always been a quality player. I would love to see him stay longer and produce some of his best form for us. As time goes on i think he may be better utilised in the middle as he has never had blistering pace.

Alex has been nothing but solid since he has been here with us. I like Alex a lot. But for me our best pairing at the moment is still JT and Carvalho. Purely because i think Alex and JT are too similar and need a Carvalho or Ivanovic to work alongside and compliment their skills.

Ivanovic is the only choice in reality. I can't think of another player i would play there. Messi is a quality player, but we need to stop thinking of him as some sort of god! He will not enjoy the run of the park against us. And we will give them something to worry about aswell. For me the back 4 against Barca should be Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ivanovic.