Superblue

I agree, it's been blown out of proportion but Terry has cast a serious cloud over the club through his actions. On top of the reputation and potential revenue hits you mentioned, Terry is not as influential on the pitch as previous years and is amongst the highest paid at the club. I wouldn't be surprised if he did leave sooner rather than later.

The Juventus game wasn't like last season, we actually struggled and Juventus outplayed us at home. The game in Denmark we struggled aswell - 3 goals in the last 10 minutes masked a poor performance. The Shakhtar game was dreadful. European and English football are completely different styles and it is clear whilst we've hit the ground running domestically, it will take longer to adapt our style in Europe hence why I don't believe we'll retain the cup.

I think internally the racism allegations have hit the club more than they're leading on. On one hand i don't want us to make the mistake we made 3 years ago when we let a lot of experience leave at the same time, but on the other hand with the exception of Cech and Cole, our 'old guard' are no longer irreplaceable. We also have a much greater core of young talent now than 3 years ago and some players like Cahill, Ivanovic and Mata seemingly willing to step up to the responsibility of being leaders. JT will always be a Chelsea legend but i've grown tired of his baggage, there seems to be sonething he does every season that threatens to derail the clubs form and momentum, and i can only believe the board feel the same. I have heard rumours also that some of Chelsea's black players refused to sign a document supporting Terry in his court battle. Sometimes a player just has to leave for the good of a club. How many times have United done it - Ince, Keane, Beckham... The fear comes from the unknown future but i can't help but look past Terry's days being numbered over the next year or so.

Yes our squad has so much depth in striking positions doesn't it?! The one area we are well catered for in our squad is the attacking midfield three. All other areas of our squad may well be strong in talent but not in depth. Much of our 'squad depth' invariably comes from certain players being versatile to cover a number of positions such as Ramires and Ivanovic. What you also have to consider is that we are now a side relying heavily on a much younger core of players to 'produce' for us, as opposed to the previously old experienced guard. The point I have been making is that this season could take it's toll on the likes of Oscar and Hazard with the amount of competitions we are in and as we are clearly struggling much more to adapt in Europe than we have domestically, I wouldn't be too disheartened about having a mediocre European campaign if that kept the team fresh and benefitted us in winning back the league. All you have to do is check my post on this topic last night to realise that I am not one to call 'crisis' after one or two games, but we have to be realistic and at this moment we are struggling in Europe and flying domestically. One may have to prioritise the other eventually...

Yeah hopefully! I do think though with what is IMO a thin squad, particularly in certain areas, it would not be the end of the world this year to not get far in the Champions League. Don't get me wrong, I would give anything to see us retain the Champions League, but I just don't see it at the moment, and like 2010, an early exit from Europe could be hugely beneficial for a push for domestic titles. Europe seems to bring up rivalries, and give chances to teams to get payback on another team seasons afterwards (Liverpool, Barca, etc) - with that in mind, I have this huge feeling inside that Bayern will be our nemesis in this years competition.

Something else that crossed my mind after the City game is that if it wasn't for us winning the Champions League last season, it papered over the cracks for what was an abysmal season for English teams in Europe (both Champs League and Europa League). This season looks to be a follow on from that - City are struggling, us and Arsenal are not yet comfortable and both been comprehensively outplayed this week, and although United will get out of their group, I would be amazed if they could go on and win the competition. I wouldn't be surprised to be honest if this year no English team gets past the quarter finals. European football is the polar opposite to the English game and as United and Chelsea's styles have perhaps moved further to suiting the English game over the last couple of seasons, it is to the detriment of playing in Europe. Barcelona and Real Madrid will be there, Malaga and PSG look good dark horses, and the German teams look very dangerous at the moment. Having said all of that, and considering we have finally won the Champions League, I wouldn't be against a mediocre season in Europe this year if it meant winning back the league off the two Manc clubs!

I mentioned it last night - The Oscar goal could be key. We are perfectly capable of not just beating Shakhtar at home, but beating them by a couple. They are historically not the best travellers and I think if we can get in front against them they will wilt. By bettering this match, will give us the advantage in the head to head against them. Hopefully we'll be in a position come the final game where a win will do it, and Shakhtar and Juve can slug it out between themselves for the other spot!

It could be worse... We could be City (i.e. fucked!)... Or Arsenal (no hopers in every competition they compete in)

He'll start the Carling Cup game and probably get a full 90. He must take his chance in that game and not look back. He's certainly capable.

Would be nice to see him and Moses start in the Carling Cup game - give Fergie 2 different styles to contend with whilst he's in London next week!

Tonight was poor and after some excellent performances this season and heaps of praise in the process, the lads should be rightly criticised for what was an all round poor and lacklustre performance. Having said that though one poor performance shouldn't have people questioning Di Matteo or player's roles in the team. What I have noticed this season is that we have yet to impress in any European fixture yet. The frenetic pace and attacking style within the Premier league suits what we are trying to create. However European football in a much slower, tactical style which is clearly going to take longer to get used to. It is no surprise that past Chelsea teams have seemingly been more suited to playing in Europe where the experience and strength within our squad counted for much more than it did in the Premier League, an opinion backed up by 4 times in the last 8 years being knocked out by fellow English teams in Europe. Most of the successful teams in Europe have bundles of experience, and unfortunately as we move towards a new generation of players at Chelsea, it may take us a couple of years to get things 'right' when it comes to European competition. As a few have said, the Juventus draw tonight is a real blessing and still leaves us in the driving seat to qualify with two home games remaining - Shakhtar were good tonight, but they panicked when we scored late on and I really do see us winning comfortably at home if we can get a goal in front. The late goal might still be significant if this group comes down to a head-to-head remember. One of the positives to take out of tonight is that this has hopefully brought the team back down to earth and been a kick up the ass to keep our early season form going. It should help focus us on beating United on Sunday. Whereas for United, I have lost count now of how many games they have fallen behind this season and come back to win. It might show great desire on their part but eventually they'll come up against a team that will take such a lead and not let go, hopefully this will be us on Sunday. Despite the poor result tonight, I still fancy us to lay down a marker against United at the weekend.

Not too sure about the line up unless its more of a 4-3-3 setup bit i have full confidence in Robbie!

No pretty sure those quotes from Elia are translated to mean that he won't be here again next season because it says so in his contract, i.e. Bremen don't own him, Chelsea do and his contract with Bremen only lasts the season. With rumours doing the rounds about the futures of Lampard and Romeu, Chelsea will definately have not made a decision on De Bruyne yet next season. I believe they initially had a plan that they would loan him to a bigger continental league this season and then the Prem next season before joining us. However with possible squad places to fill next season, and a big season for Bremen and Belgium, the club may have to accelerate their plans for him. I personally would have him back in next season.

From what I have seen in Marin both in pre season and a few times at Bremen, he and Moses do offer something different to Oscar, Hazard and Mata, which helps to give our side an extra attacking dimension. The trio have shown already how dangerous they can be with their free roaming and intricate, yet direct, passing. Although this has served well so far this season, if there are times when we are struggling with these players, Marin and Moses can both offer a different style which is much more that of an authentic winger. Happy to stay out wide and offer an outlet for the team, stretching defences and running with pace and directness at full backs. Marin and Moses will both play parts this season but they will have a near impossible job of dislodging the other three based on current form and fitness.

If Lampard leaves at the end of the season then KDB must be the natural replacement in our squad for him. The young talent we have both at the club and out on loan is frightening and i fully trust RDM to blood such players over time.

He seems to get his comedic wit from Mark Lawrenson...both about as funny as AIDS

£90,000 fine for his FA tweet. So what are the reasons for being fined double what that prick Rio got for racially abusing him?!

Yes he would have been better served to not say anything but the press have once again twisted this to try and rock the boat at Chelsea. He actually commented that he had come across players in his whole career who only cared for themselves and not the team. When he was struggling last season he felt like he was turning into that mindset and knew once that happened something needed to change and he needed to 'snap out of it'. The press have taken this that he was talking about the Chelsea squad playing for themselves and not the team which isn't true.

We've been linked with him recently - is he any good? If we were to get him we could feasibly field Brazil's midfield 3 today of Paulinho, Ramires and Oscar...not too shabby!

My only worry is wages. Cole and Lampard are amongst the top earners at the club, a level which should be reserved for your best players. The likelihood is that if they get 2 year contracts, Cole at 34 and Lampard at 37 will not be amongst our elite players by then, and it then creates the wrong precedent like it did back in the day when ballack and sheva came in on huge wages and everyone wanted to match them. What if by then Bertrand has replaced Cole and Oscar replaced Lampard as first choice yet are only earning a fraction of what they are. If there is a compromise whereby they get the extra year if they take a pay cut then I'm all for it but with big money available in America, China, Russia, etc this is unlikely.

This is true in most circumstances but you will still get times when a player is very important to his club and as a result will still command a large transfer fee. I think this is one of those circumstances. Roma will not let him go for cheap and his wages will also be rather tasty I would expect. I do agree though that the club needs to ensure they have the right blend at the club. We cannot afford for all of our older players to move on in the next year or so and lose all of that experience without replacing it. It doesn't have to be players of 30 years or older as you said, there can be a lot of value buying players at the ages between 27-30 and we should not as a club ignore such opportunities if they arise.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2217686/Ashley-Cole-leave-Chelsea-end-season.html#ixzz29JTaoBwx More rumours that Ash will be moving on at the end of his contract this season. I can genuinely see this happening, but I also support the club's stance on the contract situation. If they cave in to Cole, then he will be 34 by the end of his new contract and presumably still on big money. If he were to go I'd like to think the club will give Bertrand the first chance to replace him, and if Robbie is still here next season I think that will happen. Bertrand is not as good as Cole but I believe further development over this season and a full season as first choice left back next season and he will be a top left back. Within the article it also says Lampard likely to move on aswell. I think this depends on Lamps' mindset. Cole will move to a big european club, PSG perhaps and continue playing at a high level. However Lampard's options will be much more limited at 35 and if he were to move to the MLS like it's speculated that would be the end of his international career. If Lampard is still within the England squad towards the end of the season, he may want to keep playing at the highest level and stay at Chelsea one more year, possibly get a World Cup swansong and 100 caps (which would be fully deserved) and then move on.

If Torres continues performing much more consistently for the rest of the season, he should reach 20-25 goals in all competitions which I said at the beginning of the season should be his aim and would be a very good season. That being the case I agree a rotational striker is required, even more important when you see Sturridge having been injured recently. However why buy a rotational striker? We have an option to bring Lukaku back in January and should do just this. Ironically Lukaku probably would have had at least as much game time for us this season as he has so far had at West Brom, given Sturridge's injury. He has shown in glimpses that he can perform in the Premier League and another 3 months at West Brom should set him up well to come back here and help the squad.

Yeah maybe but I've got no time for someone coming on here gloating because he predicted something correct when he originally caused massive arguments because he was adamant Sahin wouldn't leave Real, wasn't quite correct there. I can also remember him saying he didn't think Modric would go to Real initially because he wasn't good enough - wasn't correct there either.

Damn, seeing you back on here has just ruined my Friday!