BlueLion.

Perfect time for Lampard to leave would be after breaking the goalscoring record, which I think he will at least equal (don't know why, but I can envisage him being stuck on 202 and then leaving...), á la Drogba's last kick being a "trophy-winning" one.

Fair point, but IF Mourinho does come back, realistically I can see Mikel becoming a fixture in the team and starting 75% of matches, as opposed to being one of Benitez' favourite players to rotate in and out of the team, though that does obviously refer to the squad as it stands now. If we switch systems or we bring in personnel that outshine Mikel, then fair enough. But if we return to the system we employed under Mourinho's first stay, it looks like Mikel will have a big-ish say in events.

Demba Ba looks like Dr Manhattan from Watchmen.

Fucking amazing photo:

^ found this promotional image of Petr Cech modelling the new kit. The tail is optional, it seems.

No leg-breaking you bastards! The only legs you may break are the adidas designers, in the chance this kit is about as good as Arsenal FC.

Well at least it's better than the shit we thought we were destined to be wearing...

I'm wondering, is this kit JUST going to be blue? No trim whatsoever, just blue and blue on blue? That's what the campaign material would suggest...

Going by the ears, it's either Cahill or the FA Cup...

Makelele was world-class. I was fortunate to see him many times at the Bridge and at other grounds around the country. But he's now retired, and Mikel is the best option we have for the system we want to play; better than Ramires (who is a better all-round box-to-box player, but not a holding midfielder), better than Lampard (I'm not quite sure what Lampard's job in the team is any more to be honest, he seems to play where we wants and not really give a fuck) and better than Luiz (who is really only a part-time midfielder at best, he is a centre-back by trade at the end of the day). Based on the view he is the best option that fits our system (with a double-pivot you need one who stays at home and another that goes walkabouts), he should be starting over Ramires and Lampard at the very least.

If we win this, it will be five wins in the last six in all competitions. That's a bit more like the real Chelsea, isn't it?

But would you agree that he needs Premier League experience also? He won't get that sitting here on the bench, and sending him on loan to Arsenal, for instance, would be suicidal as we'd be strengthening a rival.

If Mourinho comes back, Mikel WILL be first-choice. Despite being 18 when we signed him, he played in literally every big game under Mourinho's management and justifiably so. I think Mikel had matured so much as a player. He might not bring you the same drive as Luiz or the goals of Ramires in that position, but we are such a better team defensively when he starts, and there is a balance to the team that is always absent when he is sat on the bench. There is a reason that Mikel has been in the plans of Mourinho, Grant, Scolari, Hiddink, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, di Matteo AND Benitez - because he's absolutely brilliant at what he does. He's under-rated by most Chelsea supporters, who measure impact on a team in terms of goals and assists. I measure Mikel's worth by his composure on the ball, defensive and positional discipline, his range of passing, and his overall contribution by eight different managers who all get paid a hell of a lot more money than I do, yet still shower him with the same praise.

^ sadly, I have to agree. Seems he is persevering with playing to convince himself he is capable. But he is still on the road to recovery after his injuries - if he can get a full pre-season behind him in the summer and doesn't work himself too hard, he could become our Ledley King; someone to play in the cup games next season. He's clearly a big Chelsea fan and a lovely lad, and having people like that would be of benefit to other up-and-coming youngsters like Izzy Feruz and Lewis Baker.

If Lukaku scores for WBA against Arsenal and they get something out the game, he's going on my shirt next season (not that fucking home kit though, probably the away).

These stories are bollocks, I would reckon. The new manager will come in and have his say on who comes and who goes. KDB is the sort of utility player Mourinho likes, so if TS1 returns, I would hazard a guess that KDB will most likely stay.

Can't complain about him after the performance yesterday. The two goals weren't even the most pleasing thing - his hold-up and link-up play was as good as Drogba's ever was. Yes, it wasn't exactly Bayern Munich we were playing, but Rubin are clearly a decent side (you have to be to knock out Atletico Madrid, don't you?) and that performance was as close to £50 million as we're going to see from this lad, I feel.

The lad needs a run of games before he can be properly judged. However what I have seen of him suggests he will be little more than an impact sub thrown on for the last 10 minutes if he stays here next season.

When Luiz plays well, the team does. He might not be the best player defensively we have for the centre-back positions, but his footballing ability and drive are potent attacking tools. Even just by carrying the ball 40 yards forward as he so often does, from defence to midfield, he acts as an important attacking fulcrum.

What I like about Bertrand is his tenacity, which makes up for some of his shortcomings, but what concerns me most is he is very often "sucked" into the midfield. He has a tendency to try and close a player down to such an extent he begins to chase them, only to get turned and then leave the entire left flank exposed. That happened twice yesterday, but fortunately thanks to the positional sense of Terry and Ramires (Terry moved over into the LB position and Ramires covered in the centre), we managed to get away with it. Yes, it's admirable to show such tenacity but he needs to show more positional discipline, in my view. But I won't deny he had a good game yesterday. I'm pleased for him, and hope he does well for the sake of his own career at the club.

And sending him out on loan for three consecutive seasons without giving him the chance to even meet Cech, let alone challenge him for the shirt, is?

Seems like the club share my views: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4873672/Thibaut-Courtois-courted-by-Chelseas-Prem-rivals.html

Nike... nice and simple. Love it.