Superblue

The reason he is my preference is because he would give us a completely different option. IMO that front four should all offer something different because in tight games, something different might be required to break a team down. Mata offers the ability to pass through opposition, Marin is a tricky winger great at isolating a full back and using his dribbling qualities, and Hulk would offer an explosive powerhouse option. There may well be just as good, maybe even better players for that price, but the key is to get the right balance and blend in the squad. Hulk would offer this.

Has to be Premier League. Stoke were linked last summer with loaning him so they may come back in for him. I wouldn't actually mind him going somewhere like Wigan, Reading - a team where he'll almost certainly play week in week out. I'll be pissed if he is loaned to a foreign club. This will only be acceptable if used to smooth a big name signing.

I haven't really seen him, but from what I have read, he is best suited to playing centrally behind the striker. We don't need a player for this position which is why I would prefer us looking for other targets. With Marin an inside left forward and Mata the central playmaker, surely the next signing will be an inside right forward. If Sturridge is not trusted to make this position his own or decides to leave us, then Hulk would be my preference.

His quote of Chelsea suits me more than Spurs I think might well suggest Robbie will be here next season. His first season in Bremen, they played a 4-2-3-1 formation to accommodate him, Hunt and Ozil in the same team. They finished third in this season and many considered him to have had the better season and was a more promising prospect than Ozil playing on the left of the three. Ozil's value and reputation soared on the back of his performances for Germany at the World Cup more than his performances for Bremen. Since Ozil's departure though, Bremen now play narrow and Marin plays in the centre to try and get him on the ball more and it clearly doesn't work. He's obviously spoken to people at the club to discuss how he would fit in and with Robbie preferring a 4-2-3-1 formation it makes you wonder if he's going to be staying on. I hope so!

This makes me wonder if Robbie had some input into this. It's clear he prefers to play 4-2-3-1 to get Mata in the middle, but we really lack the players to play out wide. I think it's a good signing. He has been forced to play out of position since Ozil left, and that won't happen at Chelsea - Mata is and will remain the main man in the middle for us. With a couple of genuine wide men, this formation will be the beginning of the evolution of our football club.

Two important aspects that I consider with this signing - The first is that I have said a number of times that the club need to look at buying players at the first source as opposed to the second. What I mean by this is that despite a player like Ramires being a superb signing, we paid three times the amount that Benfica paid for him just a year later. This signing seems to show we may be finally doing this. it may be more of a risk, but the player is purchased much cheaper. Romeu has shown he will continue to develop as a bargain buy, and hopefully Marin will be the same. In previous years Marin would have ended up moving to a team like Valencia or Porto and then we would buy him another season or two later for £15-20m, so I'm glad the board are looking at this. The second thing is that, perhaps for the first time during Abramovich's reign, I fully trust the board and Emenalo with the signings the club are looking to make. The signings of David Luiz, Ramires, Mata, Romeu, Lukaku, Courtois, De Bruyne and Cahill have proven to be exceptional for an immediate impact in the first team for most and great vision for long term planning. This is another sign of that. They have seen something they like with Marin and spotted an opportunity given the price, and I trust our transfer business this summer will be excellent, well thought out and take us on to the next era of the club. I just wonder whether Robbie has had any say on this transfer? Hopefully this has been made on his recommendation, and he will be managing us next season.

Firstly very surprised, came out of the blue. I can remember him being linked with Arsenal, etc a couple of seasons ago for £15-20m. There is no doubting his talent but injuries, confidence, etc have affected this. Hopefully a fresh start will help, and happy with a signing which doesn't break the bank. I'm not worried about his size and physique having seen Mata this season. The strength we have upfront, and in the centre of our midfield and defence still keeps us a very physical side. Having a couple of players smaller and quicker in the areas that can hurt teams is the right blend. As people have said, very happy we are looking to do business early this season before the Euros. Hopefully this may also mean that Robbie has identified targets with the board and has had an input signalling the likelihood of him staying on! I just hope that the announcing of this signing doesn't affect the performances and commitment of players like Malouda and Kalou, who we will need for the remaining weeks of the season. Looking forward to seeing him next season, hopefully with four or five others! This might give an insight into why he has been playing poor over the last year or two: "Marin is a gifted winger, who in his earlier years was dubbed as the "German Messi." That comparison was proven premature, but the 23-year-old's strengths and weaknesses more resemble those of Angel Di Maria. Marin is a very talented dribbler, but stagnated after joining Bremen in 2009. He has primarily been used out of position as a central playmaker, where his dribbling qualities are less noticeable and his underwhelming playmaking vision is evident. He needs a fresh start, and perhaps he will flourish when used once more on the wing. It is, however, a great gamble for the player, who could find himself on the bench for five years. For Chelsea, €7-8 million is worth the risk." We have Mata for the centre, so we may bring out the best in him back on the wing.

FIFPro want all six yellow cards rescinded. Karl Heinz Rummenigge has also come out and said he thinks the rules need changing and will look to discuss with UEFA. In regards to which team will benefit more, I think both will benefit greatly and it's difficult to ascertain whether such a move would favour a team. It's more the principle that all six players, not just ours, shouldn't be banned for the final from just yellow cards. They all deserve to play.

From BBC website - BBC Sport's Richard Conway reports: Six Chelsea and Bayern Munich players will miss the Champions League final, because of yellow cards awarded in the second semi-final against Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. FIFPro, the worldwide union for professional footballers, pleads for acquittal. "Six Chelsea and Bayern Munich players will, on 19 May, miss the match of their lives. FIFPro therefore proposes that from now on, yellow cards awarded after the first semi-final of the Champions League should be waived." You just wonder if UEFA will crack if enough pressure is applied? Bayern have to want this aswell. They hold more power then we do and I'm sure if they supported it UEFA would certainly consider it more. I think Bayern would also be in agreement and want the yellow cards rescinded.

The difference here though is that BOTH teams have the same number of players out through suspension for yellow cards and UEFA have admitted there's a problem with the system. Do they want two teams given maximum opportunity to be at full strength or do they want six very good players missing the final, who would be pretty much guaranteed starts? The clubs must try to force through an agreement with UEFA over this.

http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/13082-trying-to-overturn-the-suspensions/ Read this topic thread Effenberg and see what you think? Do you think the Bayern board may consider such a proposal?

Whether the suspensions are to Bayern or Chelsea's advantage should not really be the deciding factor in this decision - I don't believe any of these six players have ever been involved in a Champs League final before; it should be the biggest game so far of their careers. Is there any way of getting the Chelsea board/management to consider such a proposal. It just seems such a real possibility to happen if both clubs were in agreement and went to UEFA as one with such a proposal. Everyone knows the influence Beckanbauer and Rummenigge have!

I made a post about this as a little bit of a tongue in cheek comment in another thread. However the more I think about it, the more I wonder if it would be possible: The suspensions for the final due to bookings is a huge sore point for Chelsea fans - particularly given the mammoth efforts that Ramires, Meireles and Ivanovic put in against Barca in the semi. Bayern similarly have three players missing also due to bookings tonight against Madrid. I just wonder whether Chelsea's board could have a word with Bayern's and come to some sort of agreement which would let all of these players play in the final - it would be of equal benefit to both sides as they would each have three players return. Now getting UEFA to agree to this would normally be an impossible task. However UEFA have already admitted that the system has flaws within it, and will review the system for next season's competition, with the idea to scrap all yellow card suspensions for the final, only red cards would result in a suspension. And I believe FIFA changed their rules very late on a couple of years ago to scrap yellow card suspensions for the World Cup final. It also benefits UEFA as it allows the two finalists to play much stronger looking sides. So I just wonder whether UEFA would agree to something this season when they are already considering a rule change in future years. Both clubs would equally benefit and the players from both who put their bodies on the line in the semi's would be rewarded with an appearance in the final. It may also help with a team like Bayern in the final. Alongside Madrid and Barca they probably hold the most clout and influence within UEFA and European football. If they agreed to it and pushed it also I believe UEFA would allow for it. It's a long shot, but is there any way of making the club aware of such a proposal to put forward to Bayern?

If that is the case it's a very attack minded midfield. For all the issues of finding a replacement for Badstubber, their biggest loss may well be Guztavo as it could really affect the balance of their midfield and play into Mata's hands.

I fully accept the right to everyone's differing opinions but if i'm going to be honest Dylan, some of your posts since last night have really wound me up. You're so negative mate! We're in the fucking Champions League final!!!! And the FA Cup final!!! Give us that two months ago when AVB left and I think people would have thought it was crazy talk. A lot of the credit has to go to RDM, alongside the players, and he deserves an opportunity to carry it on IMO. For me his lack of experience is perhaps the one glaring weakness, but he's getting that experience as we speak, leading the club on three fronts at the business end of the season, under immense pressure. Even if we were to lose both finals, I'll stand by what I said - the only manager I see currently as a better choice than RDM is perhaps Mourinho.

Taking John Terry out of the equation, I wonder if an agreement could be made between Bayern and Chelsea, and accepted by UEFA, for all the booked players missing out to be able to play in the final. Three each, they let us have Ramires, Meireles and Ivanovic and we'll let them play Badstubber, Alaba and Guztavo. You can only dream...however, UEFA have said they would look into the booking/final suspensions issue in future Champs League finals, but not this year. However it would surely be worth a shout if they realise their system is flawed and it would benefit both teams equally. On a serious note, anybody know who Bayern have in reserve to replace these suspended players? I understand their other two centre backs Van Buyten and Breno (neither of great quality) are injured. Season ending hopefully!

Well, well, well. The two 'Spanish Gimme's' have fallen, both going into the lead in the tie at home, and both effectively bottling it. I think the idea of losing to Mourinho at the final hurdle worried Chelsea fans the most, but make no mistake Bayern are an excellent side. Their width is a worry for me, and the defence will have to be alert to the movement of Gomez. But tonight defensively they looked vulnerable and with two defenders and their holding midfielder suspended, it gives us real hope. Let's just not take it to penalties! You just continue to wonder though if this can really be our year - Liverpool can't stop us; United can't stop us; Barca can't stop us, and now Jose can't stop us.

In all fairness I think it's the right decision by the board. It keeps everybody on their toes, working hard, striving to succeed, and given how many times we've had our fingers burnt with managers it makes sense to bide our time. I just hope when it comes to it that this man gets the first interview and the first consideration, he deserves it. I believe anyone but Mourinho or Robbie and the fans will be very disgruntled.

The Terry red card, no complaints. The Meireles yellow, despite feeling so sorry for him that late on, no real complaints. But the yellows for Cech, Ramires and Ivanovic were ridiculous. But what were we to expect from an inexperienced referee in the cauldron like atmosphere of the Nou Camp... ...UEFA knew what they were doing! And I think everyone knows what I mean by that.

I think Gary Neville summed it up perfectly at the end of last night's game - What an unbelievable level of effort and commitment he is getting out of this group of players game after game. In 10 days we have smashed Spurs in an FA Cup final, knocked out Barcelona over 2 legs and held Arsenal on their own patch with mostly squad players. It does feel like back to the Mourinho era - he has players seemingly prepared to run through brick walls for him and the club. That comes from his own passion and love for this club. With the exception perhaps of Mourinho himself returning, surely the sensible choice to the Chelsea board must now be to give this man a permanent opportunity!

I think a few months ago there was a perceived feeling amongst fans that the 'old guard' were proving problematic to manage by AVB and unhappy at not playing every game. I think now it has become clear that the problem was more perhaps one of man management on AVB's behalf. I haven't seen Lampard, Ashley Cole, Drogba, etc complaining about being left out of games because they are being managed correctly (given reasons why they're missing out, etc). I wasn't one campaigning for Lamps to be sold, but I did feel he could no longer play every game anymore and that will be even more evident next season, by which time he will be 34. However by managing him correctly, perhaps similarly to Scholes and Giggs at United, Chelsea can continue to get great things out of Lampard for at least another couple of seasons. I have been impressed with his discipline and dedication taking up a newer, deeper role within the team.

Apparently Ivanovic got a yellow card for kicking the ground around the penalty spot in anger when Barca were awarded the penalty. Yellow card, really?

If he scores the winner in the final and it finally delivers the big one we've all been waiting to win AND qualifies us for next year's competition then it will definately be £50m repaid, both emotionally and financially. And I wouldn't bet against him doing it - something just tells me it's meant to be!

I have this feeling inside of me that Liverpool will beat us in the FA Cup final with an Andy Carroll goal to effectively 'repay' his transfer fee, and then Fernando Torres will score the winner for us in the Champions League final to 'repay' his transfer fee. To be honest I would let the Scousers win the FA Cup just this once if it means we finally win the big one!

And when Jamie Redknapp is considered Sky's 'golden boy' pundit. He's a good laugh on League of their Own, but as a football pundit he's dreadful and is so biased towards Liverpool and Spurs it's ridiculous!