BlueLion.

Post card?! No?!

A PLAYER WHO CAN OPERATE EQUALLY AS WELL ON THE WING AS HE DOES AS A NUMBER 10? ONLY 21 AND WITH SHITLOADS OF POTENTIAL? AND HE COST A WHOLE £11 MILLION?!?! THIS SIGNING MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE, MOURINHO OUT NOW.

Thank you, Lord Essien. Phenomenal player.

Correct, especially since Ivan is our best centre back!

Maybe because he's the guy in direct competition with Matic for a place in the XI?

You and your mixers! I drink the blood of my enemies by the yard glass.

Sorry it isn't up to my usual quality today, folks - far too much uni work to be getting on with!

Chelsea will face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup, after a comfortable defeat of Stoke City earlier this evening. Midfield maestro Oscar scored the only goal of the game when he stepped up to curl a delicious free-kick into the far corner of Asmir Begovic's goal. Despite a number of great chances - including later efforts from Oscar and Andre Schurrle that rattled the woodwork - the Blues were unable to extend their lead as Stoke, somehow, managed to escape the hiding many were predicting. The last time the two sides met, Chelsea had capitulated to hand the Potters a stunning 3-2 win back in early December, but the Blues' impeccable form since that shock result was continued here, much to the delight of birthday boy José Mourinho. In a week where Chelsea fans have lamented the sale of Juan Mata to Manchester United, it seemed somewhat inevitable that Oscar, the man Mourinho has put his faith in throughout the entirety of the season, would offer the greatest contribution possible with his wondrous winning goal. It was a free-kick as glorious as you are likely to see, measured to perfection as it nestled inside the side-netting. The Brazilian's ninth goal of the season was of such a great degree of quality that Mourinho may well end up being vindicated in allowing Mata to move on. Equally as impressive was full débutant Nemanja Matic, who was excellent alongside the returning Frank Lampard at the heart of Chelsea's midfield. On this evidence, the Serbian international will offer the Blues an added degree of steel in the midfield - something notably missing in many performances, particularly earlier on in the season. Another new addition to the Chelsea squad is Mohamed Salah, the 21 year old Egyptian winger, who today arrives from FC Basel, having scored three goals in four appearances against the Blues. If Salah takes to the Premier League in the same way Matic has done so, his arrival will be another shrewd Chelsea signing. The Blues began the game brightly, with Samuel Eto'o desperately close to adding to the hat-trick he netted against Manchester United last weekend when he sidefooted wide in just the second minute. That set the tone for a frenetic opening period, which also saw Stoke striker Peter Crouch trouble Mark Schwarzer on a couple of occasions, most notably when the former England striker beat Petr Cech's stand-in to a wicked cross from Jon Walters. Immediately at the other end, Schurrle was denied by a brilliant Ryan Shawcross challenge as Oscar looked to play the German through. Oscar's magnificent free-kick came after 27 minutes, and it was not long before the Blues carved out an opportunity for a second, but Lampard somehow failed to make contact with Eden Hazard's pull-back. That moment would characterise what would become something of a frustrating afternoon for the Chelsea forwards. First Oscar hit the post with a low drive before Lampard volleyed over from a Branislav Ivanovic cross. After the break, the Blues again found the woodwork a stubborn barrier as Schurrle saw a fierce drive deflect off the post. If it was not the woodwork that served to foil Chelsea it was the inspired Asmir Begovic, who made a brilliant low save to stop Frank Lampard from putting the result beyond all doubt, before pulling off an arguably better save later on when he parried over David Luiz's thundering free-kick. The Blues were not to be denied a deserved win, however, and despite moderate pressure late on from the visitors, the Blues looked thoroughly contented with a win achieved by playing in little higher than third gear. A considerably greater effort will be required in the next round, though...

Shit, sorry lad. RAFA OUT

Top squad signing, and for a decent fee. That means this window we've got rid of (essentially) three squad players for the combined price of £53 million, and brought in two quality players for £32 million. Good business Chels, good business.

Every picture I've seen of Mata, he might be smiling but there is no smile in his eye. He looks very unhappy to have left.

Moved to ex Blues.

Bienvenue a TalkChelsea. Il ya une commande ici, pour tous les membres du TalkChelsea à parler en anglais. Le membre peut parler dans une autre langue, mais le membre doit donner une traduction en anglais aussi. Merci.

Sorry if I came across a little strong. Just felt like I was being accused of being a Scouser and burning my shirt! I thought it was quite resourceful! No-one is trying to negate Juan's amazing contribution. If he'd have gone to Spain or France or Italy I'd happily be sat with his name on the shirt, reminiscing over the good times he had in a Blues shirt. But because it's United, it doesn't feel right to me.

Mata out.. so maybe we might now see 4-3-3, with Matic, Lampard and Mikel in the middle, Willy and Andy on the wings, behind Ba,

For moving to United? Yes, especially if he had other offers, but that is his decision and I respect him. I'm grateful of his contribution, but you're totally missing my point. If Oscar fucks off to Arsenal, would you be happy wearing a shirt with his name on it? If you said yes, I'd call you a liar.

Probably gone over your limit, delete all your convos.

If you feel comfortable having a Manchester United player's name on the back of your shirt, then be my guest. Me, I'm not comfortable with it. It's my shirt, that I purchased with my money, so I can do what I bloody well like with it - and also because I like the shirt and want to wear it. If it had Mata's name on still it'd probably be given to charity, so I decided to remove his name.

Different story altogether for Drogba. A club legend who has hardly joined what we'd call a rival club. I still wear his shirt with pride, as I will do with my Lampard, Cech, Terry, Essien shirts.

Hope that isn't a pop at me. I don't think it's appropriate wearing a shirt with the name of a player who has left to join a rival club!

I'm a Jedi.

Used a regular iron, dabbing the plastic lettering and then peeling it off.

Yeah, people are outraged over the sale of Mata, but Lampard leaving will trump even Cech and Drogba. The only one who eclipses them all is JT... that will be a painful one.