BlueLion.

They can't even pay off their stadium, which was opened in 2006, let alone pay £20 million plus for Lukaku.

If all we achieve is a top four finish this season, then it has been the biggest failure in the history of the club - transitional season or not. This is ridiculous. We are Chelsea FC and we have to win a trophy this season. No season in which we dick Everton, Leeds, Spurs and Arsenal away from home is a bad one.

Yes, this is Brentford. This is also the FA Cup. Do I really need to remind people of Barnsley, March 10th 2008? No, I didn't think so. Plus there is no chance of Benayoun or Malouda playing. They're both surplus to requirements and neither will be seen in Chelsea blue ever again. Cech Ferreira - Terry © - Cahill - Bertrand Ramires - Lampard Marin - Oscar - Mata Torres

We need something to plug the holes, though... The club could do with recalling KDB and Essien (even if he is a crock, he is far more disciplined in the CDM role than anyone except Mikel) in my honest opinion. Another game with Ramires and Lampard in the DP and I'll scream.

Yeah I have to say that if we end up this season without having won anything - considering we were in three supercups, one of which should have been a breeze to win and the other two certainly attainable - would be absolutely shocking. 1/7 reads far, far better than 0/7, even if it is just the Europa League.

People have been too unrealistic over this season. This was always going to be a season of transition. I said at the start of the season I'd be happy with 3rd and a domestic trophy of some kind. We're well on track for that. I honestly think we can finish 2nd this season and if we win either the FA Cup or the Europa League we'll have done very well.

I remember in the old Petr Cech thread... when he went through a bad spell in 08/09 people were saying he was a spent force and we needed to buy a new goalkeeper. I believe my exact words were to call them "unintelligible buffoons" and that he would soon be back to his best. Fact is, he's the best goalkeeper this club will ever have, and the best the Premier League has even seen. Fuck Schmichael, Cech is on another level.

Chased the ball down well and showed plenty of endeavour also.

And there's my point in a nutshell. Hazard is Chels, so let's defend him. Not for me. If Luis Suarez had have done this, there would be a witch-hunt. But as you say, this will hopefully have blown over by the weekend. Thank fuck we have a game in just four days. Need to get this out of the system.

In my 'rush to condemn him' I've also noted how he should have turned and complain to the linesman and not take action into his own hands. He only has himself to blame. He should turn around, scream at the ref, get the ball back and get on with it, not try and kick it from the kid. This is an absolute PR disaster, and for those saying Hazard was in the right, I'm sure you'll all be a little embarrassed with what you're saying. I feel sorry for you just reading it.

Michael Owen has the right of it - there was no intent to hurt the lad, but what is done is done. You can all defend Hazard if you like, but such incredible naivety is truly embarrassing!

I can't honestly believe people are defending Hazard. Whether he kicked the lad or the ball is totally irrelevant, it was a reckless thing to do and he deserves to have the book thrown at him. Regardless of whether it was pre-empted by the lad or not, the right thing to do is complain to the referee or the linesman. The official would then take the time-wasting into account and eject the ballboy. You don't kick a player when he is on the floor and lying on the ball, so you certainly don't kick a young lad who is lying on top of the ball either. I really don't care whether people have a go at me for my opinion on this matter, but you simply cannot do that. Hazard deserves the hate for his idiocy; Benitez deserves the fault for his negative tactics, piss-poor team selection and motivation skills; Ivanovic needs a slap for his two errors in the first leg; but the lad deserves none of it. If it was the opposite way round and a Stamford Bridge ballboy did that, we'd be praising him and baying for the blood of the offending player. Hazard has no defence in my eyes and his actions warrant the 3-5 game ban heading his way.

Done. You taking the piss mate? He's a cunt.

He had a big game yesterday. Fair enough he only really had two saves of note to make (and even Cazorla's stinger was at a comfortable height for him), but his handling and positioning were absolutely fantastic. Always a positive to see a confident goalkeeper, the way he caught everything or at least punched it clear was such a morale-boosting sight for the defence.

I think he'd be a great second striker, in behind Ba. Almost playing as a number 10. Food for thought, unless you're Rafa and too blind to see.

"I'm sorry, but I don't speak English. I try, I try, but it is difficult for me". Wonder if he learnt that from Carlos Tevez?

Imagine all the hate Torres would be getting right now if he'd have produced that shocking miss...

Nah, not for me. Ramires showed both strings to his bow today. In the first half he was as creative as any of the 'Trinity', whilst he was defensively our best player in the second half. Full of endeavour and effort, kept Cazorla very, very quiet. His best game in ages.

Just need United to stuff Tottenham and the weekend is a good one.

Torres starts ahead of Ba. Going to put a cheeky fiver on Arsenal in that case.

No way will it be postponed. Sorry to dash your hopes.

Might actually win a header instead of it bouncing off his greasy forehead for a change.

£10 million is fucking derisory. Should be asking £30 million minimum if we are entertaining bids, especially when you consider how much de Gea cost United. I genuinely believe that in 10 years time we'll be speaking of Thibaut Courtois as being as good as Petr Cech ever was.

I'd assume we're paying his wages as a 'favour' to Mourinho. Nothing official on it, just going by what was 'reported' at the time.