Superblue

Very hard for just 5! 1. Munich and on a wider scale that whole cup run and the rollercoaster ride that it was. 2. Winning the league in 2005 at Bolton. 3. Winning the FA Cup in 1997 - i went there with my dad when i was 10, and is an experience i'll never forget! 4. 4-2 vs Liverpool in that same cup run was unbelievable. They were a very strong side then and we battered them in the second half! 5. Winning the double - the 8-0 over Wigan was superb and winning the title back was massively sweet!

I don't think it can get much worse than what the British teams just got in the Champions League draw...

Second half was very good - the lads stepped it up when they needed to. Very satisfying putting dirty Leeds back in their place amongst the also-rans!

I'm glad I'm going self employed in March - I hate going into work every day after another shite result from us. It pisses me off and it gets to the point where you don't even expect to win and wonder where the next result will come from. I have been an advocate of trying to make changes cheaply in January and then continue rebuilding in the summer but some major surgery is needed there's no doubt about that!

I actually think if someone activates his release clause he would move. Atletico are hardly going to win the Spanish league and I don't think he would risk turning down a big move in case that or any other club doesn't come in for him in the summer.Everything will depend on whether we are prepared to fork out to get him.

I probably didn't come across clear enough mate - I've got no problem with the price being quoted for Pjanic. It seems very fair value for money. However if that price pushes up to 20m euros or beyond we start paying a premium on his potential IMO, which backs up your first point. I would argue Mata was fairly well established even at his age when he joined, playing in one of the stronger European leagues for a big club with Champions League football. However Hazard and Oscar I agree with entirely, we paid a premium on their potential. The bigger clubs, like ourselves, can get away with doing this sometimes. We've actually balanced these deals out well with the likes of Moses and Azpilicueta who I think we've brought at the right price for where they both are at currently in their careers. But with FFP and some serious rebuilding work required, I would rather us look for good value for money in squad depth buys, which will hopefully mean more money can be spent on real quality in central midfield and up front.

15m wouldn't be too bad - he is very talented. However he has yet to fully realise his potential so I wouldn't want to pay much more.

I can agree with this to an extent. IMO if we buy Falcao in January we will have to pay premium, that's pretty much a fact. It depends on whether we are prepared to do this. I'm of the hope that the club can find one or two additions for our squad in January that are cost effective (keeping in mind FFP) but will help regain momentum into our season, particularly domestically. I'm still a big advocate of Demba Ba for £7.5m and Mo Diame for £3.5m. Both are tried and proven in the Premier League - Ba will add goals and put pressure on Torres, and Diame will provide some serious steel and strength to our midfield. £11m is a relatively small expense and their clubs can't demand big fees because of the release clauses. Looking towards next season and further on, both are good ages to provide excellent squad depth. We could move Torres on next season for example, and buy a world class striker (without the January panic) with Demba Ba a very capable alternative. I would also look into if possible recalling De Bruyne back, who can provide a deep playmaker option for our pivot (I believe he is at this point in time more polished to play in that position than Oscar) and can also provide depth in options further up the field. It would be a good opportunity for the club to see if he can make the step up here before we go about our transfer dealings for next season - he may save us a lot of money being spent on a big signing!

I can remember watching Pjanic 3 or 4 years ago almost single handedly knocking out Real Madrid from the Champions League with Lyon. He was and still is a real talent. For the right price (£15m or under IMO) he could be a very good buy. I do agree with the general consensus - we have bigger needs at this point in time. It is much more important at this moment to buy a genuine world class central midfielder for the pivot, and a world class striker. Until these two positions are sorted out we will continue to have the same problems. However following on from Leif's point regarding competition, if he is a cost effective purchase brought in to bolster options, then he would be high up my list. There must be a reason why Robbie and now Benitez didn't pick Marin, and I can only think he was a punt last season when we didn't look like making the Champions League that hasn't materialised. If he isn't in our plans then we do only currently have four genuine attacking options in our midfield (Moses, Hazard, Oscar and Mata) so Pjanic would be welcome.

Fucking waste of time - and i bet Leeds will take advantage of 'jet lag' wednesday night so that will be another cup fucked. I don't care if Torres got a couple of goals against shit teams, a good striker puts away their one chance they get in tight games, making the difference (Drogba!) Torres has never provided that and until we get someone like that we'll continue to struggle and not challenge. And Lampard, i love him but the club are right to be letting him go at the end of the season. We lack energy in the midfield when he's there and he no longer justifies his huge wages. Benitez bottled it - he should have started with the team that played against Monteray with Luiz in midfield.

Just to put our achievement in a little perspective City have just announced a loss of £97.9m in their recent set of annual accounts - they are nowhere near breaking even!

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Funkyflashman" data-cid="561960" data-time="1355463715"><p> I found this absolutely fascinating<br /> <br /> <a href='http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/12/14/3762770/marouane-fellaini-tactical-analysis-chelsea'>http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/12/14/3762770/marouane-fellaini-tactical-analysis-chelsea</a></p></blockquote> Very interesting take on things. I must admit I'm a big fan of versatile players and we've been crying out for a plan b and even c in our play.

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Leif" data-cid="561920" data-time="1355448772"><p> He was incredibly hyped up when he was younger for a reason.<br /> He's an amazing talent. Wenger just uses him absolutely terribly. He'll go and score 4 goals in 1 game while bagging an assist and then be benched the next game in favour of Gervinho. So odd.<br /> He's the same height as Javier Hernandez, has more pace, is a better dribbler, is more versatile, would hardly cost anything, has over 160 Premier League appearances and could become a very decent finisher. Not many people would turn down Hernandez, would they? So I don't see why Walcott should be turned down without good reasons.</p></blockquote> My issue with him was always his end product, but this was watching him on the wing. I've seen him a few times this season played through the middle and he looks much more effective! His finishing is underrated and I think in the right team and used correctly he could be a very good player. His pace is obviously a massive bonus!

How long left and do we look comfortable and in control? C'mon Chels!

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Hutcho_CFC" data-cid="561491" data-time="1355399037"><p> danny has an A next to his name along with JT who also had one. I assume it means they arn't there but can be called up if someone gets injured.</p></blockquote> The squad was named a couple of weeks ago and at the time Terry and Sturridge were included. Will probably get a medal actually if we win it.

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Hutcho_CFC" data-cid="561408" data-time="1355397425"><p> We are leading and look comfortable, but we really need a second to finish it, and come out in the second half like we did at the start of the first.</p></ How have individuals played so far mate?

Regular updates would be appreciated peeps - unfortunately stuck in work! C'mon the Chels! (remember the scousers never won this, so this is a must have trophy!)

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="skeeo" data-cid="561231" data-time="1355390386"><p> nah wasn't official<br /> <br /> Official is on the website:<br /> <br /> Cech, Iva, Cole, Luiz, Dave, Cahill, Oscar, Mikel, Hazard, Mata, Torres<br /> <br /> <a href='http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matchcast/matchday=4/day=1/match=300219240/index.html'>http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matchcast/matchday=4/day=1/match=300219240/index.html</a></p></blockquote> Official? Big chance for Luiz in midfield if this is the case (unless Dave's playing on the wing)

Yeah agree with this and whilst both pivot players must gave the intelligence and discipline to work together, they should contribute more than just a shield in front of the back 4.

I can't see Shakhtar selling in January. What about Wanyama at Celtic? I haven't seen much of him but he seems to be very highly rated.

Yeah but they arguably haven't had a player in that 'bracket' since Keane and they've been pretty damn successful since he's left, especially given the rise of ourselves and City.

Are we overhyping the importance of an orthodox defensive midfielder? I look at United at the weekend and they played Carrick and Cleverley in the pivot. Cleverley is a more offensive midfielder and although Carrick is good defensively and plays a little deeper, I wouldn't say acting as a defensive shield is his strong point. None of their other midfielders (Fletcher, Anderson, Scholes) are orthodox defensive midfielders either. Real Madrid are another - the likes of Khedira, Alonso and Modric can all press and put their foot in but none are orthodox defensive midfielders with the prime target to protect the defence. If you have two midfielders with the legs to get around the park and press, but also have the intelligence not to push forward together and leave holes, this would allow us to utilise two midfielders with other strengths that are not just sitting and protecting the back 4. Just a thought...

And we thought we had problems - Arsenal are abysmal and surely Wenger's time is coming to a close! I always felt re-establishing ourselves in the top four this season was priority in the league. As this was perfectly attainable, picking up a cup or two would be another productive season and keep breeding the winning mentality within the squad. We have an excellent chance winning two (league cup and world club cup), and another two to play for - I'm happy with that.

I feel more comfortable each game that I watch that Benitez will get the best out of Hazard. I like the way that he encourages the two wide players to overlap Torres to push teams back and stretch them. A lot has been made about how this will hopefully continue to benefit Torres and his goal return, but I think it will also play into the abilities of Moses and Hazard. Both are direct and quick and most effective in the final third of the pitch, whereas Oscar and Mata are both more capable of playing deeper and dictating play in behind. The runs of Hazard and Moses will not only occupy defenders to Torres' benefit but should also produce more time and space for Mata/Oscar to play within and more space for Ramires to be an extra runner from deep. A confident Hazard is a very dangerous and big player for us and it would appear he is regaining some confidence he may have lost earlier in the season. I really believe a strong second half of the season for both him and Moses will be on the cards.

Not sure about the others but Jose brought Mikel and had already began the process of him replacing Maka long term. He obviously saw something in him for that position. As Choulo said he's only 25. A lot of people forget how young he is given his experience.