BlueLion.

Thanks everyone. I'm not looking for sympathy, just explaining myself so Jim doesn't sack me!

Title could/should be won before trips to Emirates and Unfilled.

Voting closes tomorrow

Fixed.

Would have preferred to see him go, we need a new number two to Cech and none of the youngsters fill me with confidence.

Delighted with our first eight games. If we can get 21 points from those eight fixtures, I'll be chuffed.

Yeah, because Terry, Lampard, Cech at al are exempt Truth is the entire squad is full of overpaid prima donnas, no need to focus on two players you're so desperate to see leave.

The orange neon looks fantastic. My joint-favourite adidas Chelsea kit always has been this afterall...

Not boasting or anything, but I'm the next Dino Zoff. Anyways, back on topic...

I didn't consider that That would be shrewd business if true, but why prioritise a striker when we already have two world-class centre forwards and three others in Anelka, Kalou and Sturridge who can be potent on their day?

If Inter want Essien, they can have him. He's shot, as far as I'm concerned. I love him, but Ramires can do the same job just as well whilst giving additional attacking thrust.

There's definitely no genuine interest, that much is obvious to me. You can tell from the fact our name isn't even amongst the name of rumoured suitors.

Bruma isn't good enough, Ivanovic is inconsistent (though I blame this on his conversion to right-back, it has ruined his positional sense slightly, I feel) and Luiz is still adapting to the pace and power of English football. The only reason Terry starts every week is because he is our captain. Alex, without doubt, is our best centre-back and would be first choice at any other club. Not only is he superb defensively, but he is so vastly underrated in an attacking sense, though everyone knows his free-kick skill. And if Guus comes in, there is no way he would leave. I can guarantee he will start our first game of the season if Hiddink signs.

I'm more excited about this kid than Lukaku. Pace, trickery, speed and skill - and he's a winger. Why are we loaning him back out, someone tell me? Don't say 'for experience,' because the last young talented wide player we loaned out did sweet FA at Fulham (yes, I do know Kakuta is naturally a CAM but he has NO chance of ever making that position his own).

I guess that is that then. Personally, I love Nasri - I think he's brilliant. But we don't need another box-to-box midfielder. Essien, Frank and Rambo fill that category nicely.

Genuinely agree with you there. For the record, for the people who say Rodwell has no talent or potential.... basically, you're idiots. That kid is one of the brightest young English talents and could go on to become a great for whichever club he moves to. However, we don't need him, I agree there. He's probably only truly worth £10 million, but since he is English and young you'd have to pay about £25 million... not worth it when we have a more inventive option in McEachran and someone with at least equal potential in CC.

Keep this thread on track please. However, I don't see why this thread should even be open. The last 72 pages are members commenting on how they'd like him to come without any new news coming through at all... boring.

The fact is no other team have expressed an interest in him. Unless Anderlecht are pressing for Chelsea to outbid themselves, we have to maintain a semblance of realism.

Hey everyone, You might have noticed I've not been on at all over the last week - hope you've not missed me too much! I'm still currently in the middle of exams but I have got past the two most important (consequently the two hardest as well), but on top of that pressure my nan sadly passed away a week ago and it's been a very sad time for us all. However I'm back now, and I'll gradually be working my way back towards full activity over the next fortnight. AH.

Wake up and smell the coffee - Essien is ruined by his injury.

Exactly. Ramires can do the job Essien does even better IMO, he's less disciplined, yes, but he offers more of a consistent attacking threat. Plus he is far younger and can develop into a better player. Mikel is a better DM than Essien is, which means he is the odd one out. We NEED creative midfielders, the only one we have is Benayoun since we sold Cole and Deco.

LOL, I may as well lock this topic then.

I really really like that kit, I prefer it to the home shirt.

Rules are there to be ignored, I'm quite aware of that. It's like when you buy a new gadget and start playing with it without reading the instruction manual before it breaks and you have no idea what to do. At that point you panic and read the instructions. Now get back on topic.

^TalkChelsea's next Moderator seems to be on fine form