Blue Armour

Good post, a lot of people are getting carried away with the form shown by the likes of Messi, Wilshere and all those other early bloomers. A lot of good players develop at a later stage in their career with regards to decision making, and other mental attributes. This was Sturridge's first full season with us. Granted, the second half of the season was almost forgettable, but its too soon to write him off.

Maybe, but if I remember right, it was Lampard and Drogba who wanted Terry to lift it with them. In the highlights you can even see Drogba trying to clear space in the center.

That last line of the article...

Don't want to him to be an RB or CDM...I feel both these roles place restrictions on him. During counter-attacks he's often the first player to make the break, and he can do so easier when playing from an advanced position.

Same here. But really, it doesn't matter in the end if someone else gets to wear it. Its not as if Drogba was wearing 11 the whole time he was here.

That's what "they" say.....

Lol yeah, just imagine if he did a Robinho....Look at the reactions here, its like we've won another champion's league !! Within 4 months we've gone back to being the most hated club in England. Good times ahead, I suppose...

Anyone else think Joe Cole might have vouched for us to help Eden choose? Anyways..great signing, can't wait to see him in action. Should bed in easily with Lukaku already here.

Perhaps he will (if he's coming) see it as a challenge. To see if he can achieve what he did at another place, that does not have its roots in "total" football, or whatever they call it.

I don't know about Messi's hormone problems, but Zidane certainly takes the no.1 spot for me.

Meh.....he's been complaining about our playing style for months now, and was wondering why we couldn't beat barca in their own game. I don't think he was a fan of any club in particular..just liked the sexy football and the africans...

That was an incredible period. Our squad was full of Experienced star players in their prime. I wonder whether we'll ever have a squad like that again.

Odd. I thought Drogba held the record for most goals scored as sub.

There's always a translator with him when he speaks to the players. So I would guess he's not comfortable with English,.

No. Which is why we call his right foot his weaker foot. Look, I don't expect him to be a two-footed player like the Brazilian Socrates, but I know he's not totally useless with his right like most people here would imagine.

One of the first few goals he scored for Chelsea came off his right. He can hit them when he needs to.

"The Petr-minator" sounds more appropriate

Agreed, and not to mention the time it will take to implement his style. Its something very new to the club, and cost us a lot of results in the process.

You can tell from Iniesta's face what he thinks of his new kit.

Lol @ the top comment: 'Heineken has to stop funding these championships'

Looking forward to see how he'll perform next season. Its probably now or never for him. Unless Ashley Cole is gay for Danny Sturridge, he must really see something in the kid to put him in his all-time starting eleven. If he improves his decision making, he should be the man for us next season.

Essien can still be used a defensive mid when Mikel or someone else isn't available. When you look at the players coming in or coming back, such as DeBruyne, Benayoun, Marin and Kakuta, they're all attacking mids/wingers. McEachran is the only 'new' option in central midfield. As far as Kalou goes,..he hasn't been released officially. If I'm correct, the club will leave Kalou's contract extension in the hands of the new manager.

I'm pretty sure Malouda will move on this season...there's nothing left for him to win, and he knows he's not going to reclaim a starting spot. He'll probably seek a move back to France, or Brazil where he said he always wanted to play. Essien is a slightly different case. Ironically he's now dependent on the club, when it used to be the other way around. I still feel, if he has a decent pre-season, he can be used as a squad option, filling in like Belletti used to.

We have other leaders in the squad, but Drogba was simply talismanic for us of late. Before him, it used to be Lampard. It will be exciting to see who'll be the next one for us. We all have our opinions, but I feel Danny Sturridge could very well be the next one to step up for us. Interesting times ahead.

Its a talksport interview, the article is from The Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4334918/Frank-Lampard-says-Didier-Drogba-is-the-best-player-he-has-ever-played-with.html And yeah, should have put it in Didier's thread..