CHOULO19

But you forgot that we are still paying the fees of players we've signed recently like Torres (10m/year) Hazard(6.4m/year), Oscar, Mata..etc Not to mention that those players coming in will have wages that are probably higher than the ones leaving or at least equal. I did my research on FFP back in Jan when I was arguing that we can't afford Falcao. I still think we can't. Like I said, there have absolutely no reliable links with a DM. Just everyday media bullshit that dies down a couple of days later. Yes and I'm just saying the first 'IF' you mentioned about us spending 40m on a striker and 30m on a pivot duo is unlikely!

Read it, still sounds like you expect us to spend 70m on 3 players..

At his best he could be very good, but he is too injury prone to maintain that level. He won't come cheap, so I would much rather someone else if we're looking for squad players.

You said that "we are really going to spend big money on a ST, CM and DM" which is just an unrealistic expectation. We can't make more than one or max two major signings in a window. Says the FFP. The only player we have been reliably linked with is Schurrle and I'm pretty sure he's not a DM. You speak as if 100m is something you spend on groceries. 100m is more than our entire yearly income!

Errmm...No.

Any Serb can tell us some 'reliable' rumors about Lazar? Last i heard Inter were very interested, which tbh, would make much more sense than a move here. Maybe buy him and loan him to Inter?

I very much doubt this will happen, he's 30! Before anyone mentions Pirlo (people just love to throw his name as if there are thousands of Pirlo's walking down the street!) De Rossi's whole game is based on his physical attributes so at 30, he's only going downhill from here. I also have my doubts that his old school style fits the EPL now. He'd probably spend half the season suspended.

Says who? Mark my words, in this summer we are going to buy only two 'major' players (meaning players that could go straight into our starting XI). A winger who could cover at ST like Schurrle and a CM to play next to Mikel in the pivot.

It does look that way, but let's wait till the start of the season at least before we nominate him for the Ballon D'ore.

Bit premature, don't you think?

You know, this is not what I imagined when you told me you're a pussy magnet!

Nop. Switzerland has to be the toughest country on the world when it comes to giving citizenships. I asked once and was told that I have to live at least something like 12 years of my first 18 to get it. Jason, stop stealing other people's cats!

What!! I was just performing interpretive dancing shows to the people who voted for me! You and your dirty mind! :P

The 'practical' part of my mind can't help but hope that he has taken a big wage cut.

I heard Van Buyten was going to retire as well. (not 100% sure)

Didn't he beat your arse and win the league a couple of seasons ago and knocked you out of the cup the last time around?

You're just upset because you didn't get any of my 'services'

One of the biggest stars in football, but as a footballer he was never anywhere near world-class. I can't honestly say that he will be missed in the footballing world.

Many thanks for the nominations and votes, they meant a lot to me Congrats to every who got nominated and to all the worthy winners.

Hahaha You must have been inactive for months! Just take over another team or start a new one

But should we, as chelsea fans, feel the need to compensate for that by not giving him any credit? I said this a month ago in the article I wrote (funny how most of the people who criticized me back then are saying the same things now ), and I'll say it again: Rafa made many mistakes, cost us a few games, but that does not matter because this season was never about the results as long as we achieve the objectives. Overall, Rafa did a good job and a job that was necessary if we want to compete on the highest level next season.

True. On the other hand, Ramires committed 8 fouls yesterday and didn't get a yellow card!

But that's the exactly the point! It doesn't have to be us vs him, we're on, or at least should be, on the same side here. We, football fans, are fickle by nature; we're always changing our minds and we're always wrong/right about stuff. It should be no big deal that Chelsea fans changed their minds about Rafa. If he was any other manager in the world, we'd be full of praise for him now. Point is, what we thought of him before he came here, should not cloud our judgement of whether or not he did a good job because it's completely irrelevant.

Errmm..united?

Seems everyone is in an Article-writing mood today! Great read, mate. Looking forward to part two