BlueLion.

Just not good enough for us. Just my honest opinion. Every time I watch him, he looks like he has a mistake in him. Even more error-prone than David Luiz, but the issue is he doesn't have Luiz' tenacity to try and regain the ball. He will simply rot if he comes back here.

Well right now I'd take KDB over any of our midfield three, Lampard included. In the midfield system we play, whether we have a positive or a negative pivot-point (ie. one holding player with one advanced, or just simply two sat back), you need an disciplined defensive-minded player (Mikel), an energetic, dynamic midfielder (Ramires, Essien) in the box-to-box function, and then an advanced attacking player who can either operate essentially as a false number 9 or as a playmaker (Mata). However, for the sake of variety, you need to have the option to throw in that second playmaker (which we can; Oscar, Benayoun, etc.), or that second engine-room player. With de Bruyne, you can slot him into either of the two more-advanced positions, or even play him where Hazard operates on either wing. His versatility, his dynamism and his stamina make him a perfect fit. If he doesn't get at least 30 starts next season, there is no justice. We don't need to blow £15 on Pjanic when we have this little gem, who can easily contribute 30 goals (in goals and assists) a season on a regular basis.

And the penalty-box-poacher is exactly what we need. How many times has a cross been fizzed in, and Torres has been sorting his hair out on the half-way line? How many times have shots rebounded off the the keeper, or off defenders, only for no-one to be following up? A poacher in the van Nistelrooy mould is what we desperately need. But you are doing him a disservice. His hold-up play is superb and outside the area he is as visionary as any forward I have seen. If he isn't scoring, he is creating. He has a special ability to play delicate chipped through-balls into onrushing midfielders, which would really work well with the likes of Hazard or Mata bursting through. His strength is also considerable despite his relatively short stature.

Bale is a fantastic player but I wouldn't trade him for Mata or for Hazard. Why? Because Bale is simply a driving force. Yes he is extremely talented and can play in a host of positions, but the only reason he is so coveted at the minute is because he is one of a very few number of wingers in world football right now who actually drive at opponents, rather than coming inside. He is something different to what we've got, so naturally it is in our fickle nature to want him here. However, back to my original point - Bale is great at what he does, but what else can he do? Free-kick specialist? Yes, but he's no better from dead-ball scenarios than Juan Mata, in my opinion.Great goalscorer? Not particularly, though he is having a good season in front of goal. However both Hazard and Mata are also potential 25-goals-a-season material.Inventive, and visionary? Not especially, though he has his moments. That's the reason why Spurs have someone like Holtby, or previously Modric, in their midfield. Mata and Hazard are more three-dimensional in that they are hybrid midfielders who possess the drive and the vision, especially Hazard.High work rate? Exceptional stamina and frequently seen helping in a defensive capacity, but again to no greater extent than any of our midfield players.He has incredible potential and will only get better, but the difference is a driving run against the likes of a well-disciplined Stoke defence might pay off one time in ten, but you have better chances of breaking them down when you have the vision and inventiveness coupled with it, as Mata and Hazard do. They are different players, yes, but I feel that though Bale is brilliant and would do a job for us, the way this team operates means we need our inventive players working in tandem. From a stylistic and functional point of view, Hazard and Mata are better options for us. But by any means, Bale won't be at Spurs for long. There is a lot of talk that di Maria is not content at Real Madrid, and that leaves a perfect slot for Bale to slip right in to. He'd fit Real's current system so freakin' well.

I liked him a lot when he was at Lyon and rated him highly, but as the previous poster has stated, Pjanic is incredibly similar in his style to Kevin de Bruyne.

Having to choose who I would want out of our starting left-back out of Shaw, van Aanholt or Bertrand, I'd go for Shaw. In fact, 9 times out of 10 I'd pick Shaw over Cole. Coley hasn't exactly had the most fantastic of seasons. There have been a lot of games when he has seriously struggled this season (though a large part of this is down to the non-existent support he gets from the midfield three). Shaw is only 17 and already good enough to be a starting full-back for any Premier League team. Think how good he'll be in six years... Shaw, but that is based on him playing every game for his club this season, in comparison to Bertrand who has only 15 starts, most of which in an unfamiliar wing position. If you gave Bertrand a string of 15-20 games at left-back, I'm sure he could do a decent job for us. However, as I previously posted, based on raw potential and how well they are faring right now, you'd have to go for Shaw, wouldn't you? Every time I see Bertrand I have my doubts over him.

Cech/Turn-ball-into-own-net Ferreira Cahill Terry Bertrand Mikel Benayoun Oscar Marin Torres Moses That should be a good enough team, right?

Granted. In terms of importance, the Premier League is more vital than the FA Cup or the Europa League. Agreed that we should be resting the likes of Hazard/Mata/Cech in this match. If we can't beat Boro with a shadow side mixed with four or five regulars, we've got serious issues.

We all expected it. Expect little and avoid disappointment.

If we perform in this match - I know it sounds strange - I'll be pretty pissed. Because that just stinks of arrogance; that we don't have to play properly apart from when we're playing the big teams. Disgusting attitude if that's the case. Anyway - as for the game - I can't see us winning. Fancy City to win and by a comfortable margin of a couple of goals, in all truth. They have absolutely nothing to lose, have had a week off in preparation, are fucking brilliant at the Etihad and need to win to keep a semblance of pressure on United.

^ they're also shit. In March, they have to play Swansea and Tottenham away. and also host Everton at the Emirates. I can see them winning one of those, maximum. They then have got to go to Newcastle, Fulham and West Brom, and also play United at the Emirates. Again, a tricky run of fixtures for them. Yes we have an incredibly hard run-in, but the worst likely result is for Spurs to finish above of us and us in 4th. A van Persie-less Arsenal just don't have enough about them IMO.

Lukaku is scoring goals at a rate of one roughly every two hours. Torres is scoring goals at a rate of one roughly every two months. We sent the wrong striker away.

Cool feature! No-one come knocking on my door for autographs though.

He wasn't too bad against Sparta. Produced a fine save out of the keeper when one-on-one and also went close twice in the first half when he shot just wide in the first couple of minutes and then when he hooked one over from close range. That being said he should be converting one in three as a striker. Just not good enough.

^ agreed. I think Cavani's style of play would be more suited to us. Both are relatively decent at holding the ball up, but the Napoli system is based around counter-attacking and with our playmakers that is the most-similar style to the way that we operate.

Juan Mata was poor last night. He's the one that needs the rest. Overall a great night out. The Bridge was very subdued; nothing to get excited about in the freezing cold at all. Hazard's goal alone was worth the admission fee. Either way, play like that against City or even Steaua Bucharest and we'll get slaughtered. Chant of the night - JOSE MOURINHOOOOOO, JOSE MOURINHO!

He's going to score tonight. He's scored the last seven times I've been to watch the Chels.

He'll score tonight. He always does when I go and watch Chelsea.

Got to feel sorry for the lad, you really do. Its like having a dream snatched away from you.

As if I needed any more reason to hate Benitez. Fucking cunt.

There are worse things that can be said of a footballer. For instance, when you're talking about Arsenal's midfield, one can say: 'they do nothing except insist on passing a further ten times instead of having a shot on goal from ten yards'.

If he does, I'll be in a mood alright!

Which is ironic when you've got the most creative midfield in the league. The issue is, like it or not, Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Lampard are exceptionally selfish players.

I'm expecting a routine 2-0 win. They'll be pushed forward looking to score as they are already behind the leg. Will leave space for the likes of Moses and Oscar to exploit, as they did yesterday. Hope to see some players rested again. Turnbull, Bertrand, Mikel (for game-time ahead of City), Moses and Ferreira should all feature.

Dear Frank, PLEASE score your 200th goal on Thursday! I was there when we beat Levski Sofia 3-0 in 2001 when he scored his first goal for the club, I saw his 100th against Huddersfield and it would be an honour to see his 200th as well!