CHOULO19

Prediction: 3-1 Chelsea

2 mins for the 2011-2012 to start...Come on CHELSEA!!!

AVB obviously went for a fast attacking team. That's why he chose bossingwa, Torres, Kalou and not Iva, Drog, Anelka.

Stoke have woodgate at center-half. Anyone else notice the mismatch in speed with Torres.

I have a feeling we're gonna pummel Stoke to oblivion!

Officially: Torres starts, Drogba and Anelka on bench.

If we were ever gonna sign Pato we would've done it when Carlo was around. Besides he is (after Neymar) the world's most overrated player in my opinion. Sturridge has more class than pato will ever have!

I think his attitude has become better over the years and could improve with the right manager (namely AVB). I don't think he's worse than ashley cole...by much! But the point is there are 2 weeks left on the transfer market and he seems like the only deal we could rap before the end of August. We NEED to sign a player who plays this position or we are likely to crash in December.

Sturidge is empirical for our current and even more for our future plans, AVB knows that.

"Andre Villas-Boas is said to be ready to move into the transfer market with a bid for Newcastle outcast Joey Barton" http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/192250/20110804/transfer-news-transfers-football-transfers-google-news-chelsea-transfers-stamford-bridge-john-terry.htm "Barton would love the chance to compete for trophies and play in the Champions League, and would move there like a shot. And with Lampard likely to be rotated more and more, Barton could be an ideal replacement." http://hereisthecity.com/2011/08/04/five-destinations-for-toon-rebel-joey-barton/ I am aware that links with Barton probably lack credibility but it's a thought right? I mean he's (his anger problems aside) a good player that always gives a 110% on the field. Plus he plays the same position that we are looking for. He might not be the artist that Modric is, but he's FREE and a deal that we can wrap in a week or so since newcastle are eager to get rid of him. Anyone else think he'd make a 'not-bad' signing?

He took us from 15points behind to almost winning the EPL if we had won at Old Traford with the worst injuries, selection, managerial...problems we had in a very long time. I don't about you but that sounds like 'relatively' descent football to me.

I hope chelsea sign him just so manu won't!

Franz Beckenbauer said that Gotze will be a world-class player, and when the Cesar talks, you listen. Frankly I would be much happier if we signed him than if we signed modric, neymar, lukaku.... But he's probably not leaving, German players rarely leave their home country.

Ancelotti was good enough to get us the double in 2009-2010. I hate how everyone seems to have forgotten that!

He's better than any right-back we currently have, at least offensively. I'll agree with you on that. He was a promising skilled young striker but we never really gave him the chance. (I think he's with westham now) They are still very young but have a lot of potential. Of course they're not yet good enough for chelsea standards, but that is exactly what I meant about us not youngsters a real chance, they won't always become great players but JT wouldn't be the best defender in the world today if he wasn't given the chance to play when he was young.

That's barcelona, our owner doesn't exactly have the patience to wait for a player to develop. When was the last a youngster at chelsea was really given a chance to stay and grow in the club? Almost all our young players end up leaving such as: Glen Johnson, Steve Sidwel, Di Santo, and lately Manciene, Bruma.....the list seems endless.

I'm not sure about this signing. I mean he's a promising player for the future but he's bound to create more selection problems for AVB...that's what got carlo sacked. And I can't help think that signing Lukaku means selling Sturidge!

City still haven't signed Nasri, anyone else still dreaming that we'll give up on Modric and steal him? I'm sure he'd rather sign for chelsea if we make a bid, I mean who wouldn't!