Superblue

For those that don't like Platini (and he's never been a favourite of mine TBH) consider his comment when asked was it unfair that Spurs miss out on the Champs League - "No, they know the rules. They should have done better and finished third!" LMFAO

Whenever I watch France play, Malouda always seems to play well. Far better than playing for us for the last 18 months. He seems to have a good understanding with Nasri and Ribery, and you just wonder whether he would have a similar relationship with somebody like Hazard who I think is very much in the Nasri mould. I would be happy to sell him this summer because he is certainly past his best, however I would also not be completely against keeping him next season for one more year as an experienced backup. It would allow somebody like De Bruyne to go out on loan and get regular first team football for a season and hopefully come back a better developed player. I don't want happening to De Bruyne what happened to Lukaku this season.

Whatever happens it's shaping up to be the most exciting season in the club's history: Premier League - Can we shake off last season's abysmal showing to break the Manchester clubs and show again who's boss in England Champs League - No team has retained it, and the final is in London. Euro Super Cup - A trophy the club hasn't won since Roman brought the club World Club Cup - A trophy the club has never won FA Cup - Can we continue our dominance of the FA Cup And the Capital One Cup and Community Shield thrown in the mix too.

Love this

If Torres were to get 15-18 league goals and 20-25 in all comps i'd take that now because thats a good return from one player without becoming overly reliant on them. We have plenty more goals throughout the squad to complement such a return.

Based on us buying Hulk and Hazard and maybe another Cm and Rb. A lot will depend on Torres IMO. If he can get 15-20 goals in the league next season we'll certainly be much more in the mix than this season. We could very easily go on and win the league or champs league. I think the euro super cup and world club cup are realistic. If we could add to them the FA cup and strong league (top 3) and champs league (semis) challenges it would be a good season. If we could win one of the big 2 with the euro super and world club cups it will be another great season.

Yeah but he wouldn't have said anything because he would have expected to play in the euros. Hopefully not, i'm sure a list of players for the olympics has already been selected.

Likely to be some legal loose ends to tie up in the contracts so if a fee has been provisionally agreed between both parties expect it to take a day or two for porto to declare to the stock exchange.

My only worry now is if he's selected and expressed a wish to play in the olympics. Obviously given what he's done for the club if he wants to do it you cannot criticise him. But it would be much more preferable for a fully fit lampard with good rest and a full pre season under his belt.

Agreed i just love Chelsea and my pure hatred for other clubs makes it impossible for me to truly cheer on england. If england win cos of a rooney or gerrard goal and it means the country putting the pricks on a pedastal i'd rather they lose!

Hulk and Hazard and Monday & Tuesday off work - best fucking bank holiday ever!!!

United have to pick from a pool including Young, Nani, Park, Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov. Regardless if they let players go they are looking likely to buy Kagawa and Gaitan to be added to that group. Ferguson does fine keeping players both fresh and happy with the games they're playing. Injuries over the past couple of seasons have seriously depleted us and if we are to make a consistent fight at the league title, aswell as competing in other competitions we must have strength in depth within our squad. In all likelihood Drogba, Kalou and Malouda will all go, so if we were to bring in Marin, Hazard and Hulk we aren't on the face of it actually bulking up our squad. But it will be much more packed with quality. I would love Chelsea to sign both of these players!

Very big difference between being past your prime (which Lampard indeed is) and past it (which he clearly is not)

I can understand the argument about whether he will be worth the money but at the end of the day does it really matter? Roman, Gourlay and the rest of the board know better than us what the finances look like, what we need to do to keep within the FFP rules, etc. Our Champs League win has clearly swelled the coffers, and to be honest if we were going to buy two 'marquee' players this summer available on the market I would have snapped your hands off for Hazard and Hulk. The facts are we clearly want the player and it is better to compromise and get the player signed up early. If City, Real, etc were to come in for him his price would be £40m+ and then we would be looking at having to pay a higher transfer fee and probably higher wages to get him. I would rather us spend the extra £5m and get the man we want rather than a player within that original price range but isn't deemed as good. IMO Hulk and Hazard will be well worth their transfer fees.

A lot of people are questioning this move now that we are closing in on Hazard but the two together make perfect sense. To me it's all about having different options and different styles. If we were to play an attacking trio of Mata, Hazard and Hulk together I see nothing but success. Mata can pass the ball for fun and thread plenty of balls through the middle. At times this season we have become so predictable and reliant on him to create something. It's also meant as the season has progressed a lot of teams have man marked him. However with two real dangermen alongside him teams will no longer be able to concentrate on him which should give him much more time and space. Hazard will give us a player who can take a man on with ease and get either in behind out wide or through the middle. Teams will be more reluctant to sit back because the closer Hazard gets towards the penalty area, the more dangerous he will become when running at players, in terms of potential penalties, etc. If teams instead feel they cannot sit back, there will be more space in behind for Torres which will obviously benefit Mata, and also Hazard with their ability to find the pass. What Hulk gives is a completely different threat. Any teams who drop back will be taking a much greater risk as it will give this man licence to get in the right areas around the penalty area to have shots. And this man can shoot! Again, it will scare teams into dropping off and encourage them out giving more space again in behind for Torres and the passing abilities of Mata and Hazard. Hulk will effectively become the wildcard to get us out of a hole at times. How many times in the past have we been struggling to break a team down and Lampard bangs one in from 25 yards out. Hulk will give us this threat once more. These different options will allow us to hurt all manner of teams whichever way they look to play against us.

Roman's money. Let him buy hulk. I'm buzzing about next season already!!!!

Good news i'm not too bothered about England so would rather him fresh and rejuvenated for us next season with a full summer rest - especially now at his age.

Very pleased we're getting our transfer dealings sorted early - this is vital if we're bringing in 4 or 5 new first team players to allow them to adapt and the players already here to get used to them. Not every player can get chucked in and adapt instantly like Mata! Hopefully have all things sorted before our US tour.

I don't think we need this deep lying playmaker, all our midfield are capable of passing, as are our defence, particularly david luiz who is essentially an even deeper lying playmaker!

Its a nice feeling that this barca team are hailed by many as the greatest club side ever yet you ask all of their plsyers, directors and fans who they wouldn't want to draw in the champions league and nearly everybody to a man would say Chelsea because we're the only team that have a psychological edge over them. They find it unfair because they're used to teams already having given up before the match and rolling over during it. They will always be out fought and out battled by us.

Most of the reports I've read is that Porto want about 43-45m euros (roughly £35-38m) Chelsea currently only willing to offer 35m euros (about £30m approx)

And let's not forget that Drogba hasn't always worn the number 11 shirt. He was 15 for the first two seasons. In fact the change in shirt went hand in hand with a hugely upwards curve in performances and goals. No chance in retiring it, if it's a lucky number!

What a twat, great player but no class. His penalty miss was unfair?! What was unfair is if he had scored it as a result of a dive from that nasty little shit Fibreglass!

Agree with not retiring numbers and following on from what LDN Blue said in regards to United's no 7 shirt, I would be pleased for someone new to come into the side and whilst appreciating what Drogba did for the club, not be afraid of 'following in his footsteps' and show the confidence to take his no 11 shirt on and continue the legacy. Same with Zola's no 25. Maybe Hulk and Hazard between them can take those two numbers this summer What I do think though that Drogba should have to be honoured is one of those banners in the ground. Considering what he achieved for us, it's a real slap in the face that Torres has one having done very little so far.

I must admit I am really looking forward to Hazard and Mata linking up. I can see both of them over time striking up a very productive partnership which would involve both roaming between the centre and left making it difficult to pick either up and having a player who looks like he is capable of being on Mata's wavelength will be a big plus! I also see Mata having a stellar season next year, even more so when teams can't man mark him because they'll be much more afraid of the creative quality alongside him now.