BlueLion.

If Benitez is insisting on player Oscar and Ramires, he needs to put Ramires back on the wing.

Mikel's in Africa so we simply turn our attentions to another player. Unlucky Rambo, you've picked the short straw this month.

Dear Fernando,

Clearly forgot to eat his Weet-a-Bricks yesterday morning.

Ivanovic has a nightmare game for the first time in months and looks genuinely distraught. Torres has another shocker and doesn't give a fuck. That is the difference here people.

Out of respect for us as supporters, I doubt he would play for another English team. As much as I love him, I couldn't bear to see him wearing another English team's jersey.

Dave doesn't deserve to be dropped so it isn't a case of moving Ivanovic along one. Cahill and Bran have been brilliant, Terry shouldn't just walk back into the team.

Wow, he really is improving as a drummer! When he started all he could do is play the hi-hat and the snare drum! Some nice improvised fill-ins and I love a man that uses tom-toms

Sounds like we're trying to do a Mancini and sign 20 players for three positions.

Absolute bollocks, how can we be close to announcing this signing when he was playing but two hours ago?

Bosingwa's crossing > Dave's crossing. In every other aspect: Bosingwa > a three-legged kitten > most other Premier League defenders > Dave > Zabaleta.

I had it on good authority he would take the number 16. Oh well... Welcome Ba Ba.

Absolutely. He was doing the job of the attackers as well.

Wouldn't hurt to keep him until the summer, would it? A little less pressure on Mata, you could play him against shit teams in the Europa League to give the Special Juan a rest before he explodes.

Nothing new has been said, don't overreact just yet.

Turnbull Troll.

The FA have revealed a tentative date for the Blues' rescheduled home league game against Southampton. The original fixture was postponed due to Chelsea's involvement in the Club World Club competition in Japan, where Rafael Benitez' side lost in the final to Brazilian side Corinthians. The proposed date for the fixture has been changed to Wednesday 16th January, with a 7.45pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge. The date will not be finalised until after the FA Cup clash between the two sides at St. Mary's on Saturday. Should that tie finish a draw, a replay at Stamford Bridge will be arranged for that date, which has been designated as the replay slot for any unresolved third round ties. Should that be the case, the match would be put back in order to accommodate the FA Cup competition, which takes precedence in this circumstance. http://www.talkchelsea.net/_/articles/southampton-league-match-rearranged-r189'>Click here to view the article

On 4 January 2013, Ba joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Ba signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, becoming the first ever Senegalese player to join the club. He received the vacant number 29 shirt. Ba made his debut against Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup on 5 January. He marked his first appearance for the club by scoring two goals in a 51 victory for Chelsea. He scored on his home league debut on 16 January in the 2-2 draw against the same club. On 2 February 2013, Ba first played his former team Newcastle in a Premier League match. The match was held at Newcastle's St. James' Park. In the 32nd minute of the match Ba had a chance to open the scoring but his initial attempt on goal was saved by Newcastle keeper Tim Krul. Ba managed to head the rebounded ball and in doing so collided with Coloccini. The collision resulted in a broken nose and Ba was substituted in the 43rd minute. Newcastle went on to win the game 32. After a run of seven games without finding the back of the net, Ba added to his goals collection by scoring in a 10 win against West Bromwich at Stamford Bridge on 2 March. On 1 April, Ba scored a goal from a long Juan Mata cross in the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United, giving Chelsea a 10 victory and a spot at Wembley against Manchester City in the semi-finals of the competition. Click here to view the record

Rumours are he'll wear the number 16.

Is there actually anything concrete, apart from the fact he was at the Bridge, possibly to watch a very good friend on a night City weren't playing?

I've also merged this with the old Bale topic.

Spurs and Villas-Bitter will never sell to us. /topic.

A reminder that Ba has to be registered by 12 noon (so, within 1 hour and 34 minutes), for him to be eligible for FA Cup 3rd round selection. He's also cup-tied in the League Cup, so if the transfer isn't pushed through, we won't see him until next weekend at the earliest.

It's better to try and fail than to fail by not trying.

Turnbull Ferreira - Cahill - Luiz - Cole Lampard - Ramires Oscar Hazard - Mata Ba