Jype

Does anyone really believe Mata was sold for financial reasons? He didn't fit the team anymore and wasn't getting enough playing time so best for all parties he moved on, getting a club record fee was only a bonus. And why Chelsea aren't doing dodgy sponsorship deals like City and PSG are? Well, for one they aren't needed because no matter how loopholed the FFP might be we are still going to comply with the rules. And maybe, just maybe the club have a long term plan to one day be a self sufficient top club respected by everyone around the world, a club whose success is not at all dependent on the owner and whose titles aren't so easily written off for having more money than the other teams? We seem to be doing just fine as it is and the future is very bright for the club so there's no need to change things now. Abramovich has invested massively in the club and it's now time for him to start enjoying the fruit of those investments.

Can't tell if you're serious or not. Lampard - Ramires against City's midfield would be suicide, especially at the Etihad. For that match, I'd even go as far as play a three man midfield with Mikel - Matic - Ramires and Hazard - Oscar as the two attacking midfielders.

Well, they did sell the naming rights to their stadium and are getting around £40m extra a year for it. Etihad money comes from Sheikh Mansour's brother and some of their other sponsorship deals are also funded by Abu Dhabi money belonging to either Mansour himself or his friends / family. Some could even describe all that as unfair because the source of the money is still pretty much the owner's pockets but it's only done that way to make their books look more flattering in hopes that UEFA believe it and cut them some slack with the FFP rules. Also: ‏@RobHarris: "Man City made £47m selling "intellectual property" to "third parties" or "related parties". Without that would have lost more than 2011-12" So, can someone tell me what exactly is this intellectual property they've sold to some mysterious Abu Dhabi investment group? City's coaching team goes to teach some local amateurs how to manage a football team and the club gets paid almost £50m for it?

Eto'o Schürrle - Hazard - Willian Matic - Ramires Cole - Terry - Cahill - Azpi Cech Probably not the most popular choice but I'd start Schürrle tonight. We need to try and get him back in form before the most important part of the season is right around the corner so starting back-to-back games could go a long way in achieving that. Also, we could then rest Oscar for City. Rest of the lineup picks itself, really.

Manchester City report a loss of £52m for the 12/13 season. Add that to the £98m loss they had the year before and even after writing off any 'exceptional costs' they're still down over a £100m for FFP's first monitoring period which means they're pretty much fucked. Will be the first real opportunity for UEFA to show if they mean business with the FFP or if it's all just fancy talk.

Southampton have 8 shots, Arsenal only 1. So yeah.

Don't want to jinx it but if Arsenal lose / draw this game and City fail to win Spurs away tomorrow we have a chance to go top of the table.

Came off injured against Liverpool. Hope it's not serious.

Starts for United. Jones and Giggs in the pivot behind him and Young - Valencia on the wings. Have fun playing with those clueless cunts, Juan.

He'd have to sign a new contract first. No point sending him away for another two years because at the end of that loan his contract at Chelsea would expire and he'd be able to sign for another club on a free transfer. Three years on loan at the same club is already kind of stretching it and for a Chelsea player he's gotten way too attached to Atletico. However, it might be a good deal for everyone if Courtois signed another contract at Chelsea, let's say till 2020, and was sent on loan to Atletico for another two years with the promise that in 2016 he will be Chelsea's number one with Cech either released on a free when his contract expires or him signing a new deal with reduced wages and a backup role. Atletico, given the good relationship between their club and ours, could then allow us to have Diego Costa for a reduced price. Win-win-win situation if there ever was one. Can't see that happening though, just speculating.

Cech will be 32 before the season ends. Both him and Courtois have contracts till 2016 so basically the ultimate decision will have to be made this summer. Maybe Courtois could be sent on another loan if he first signed a new contract and was given guarantees that he would be taking over Cech's position for the 15/16 season but I really can't see that happening and the time to make Courtois our new number one keeper is either this summer or never. Cech might be able to go on for another three or four years but Courtois will definitely be able to play for over a decade and could well end up being better than Cech ever was so I know which option I'd choose. It would be harsh on Cech but one can't be overly emotional when thinking about what's best for the future of the club.

Get Zouma then.

Daily Mail linking him to United for £25m. For a 24-year-old world class central midfielder that's a bargain these days. If there's even the slightest of chance he might be available, we should be monitoring his situation.

Matic - Kroos Fuck all other transfer targets, get André on the phone with this guy right away.

Ahmed Elmohamady plays for Hull. Decent player, totally embarrassed Cole when we played against them a couple of weeks ago.

Welcome to Chelsea, Mo! :blue scalf:

Calm down people, we can do this. Jose knows how to win cups and after beating Manchester City it will be smooth sailing, especially with either Arsenal or Liverpool out as well. Will be exciting to be facing City away twice in two weeks!

Lots of people moaning about Schürrle on twitter, am I the only one who though he did quite well?

Nice free kick, didn't know Oscar had that in him.

Liking Matic's interceptions so far.

€10 on Chelsea to win with Schürrle as a scorer €10 on both Schürrle and Hazard to score

Call it a lucky guess, I just assumed that if the idea was to make people more aware of the problem the correct answer would be the highest one.

Done, scored 5/5.

@MichaelEssien: Haters will broadcast your failure but whisper your success.Medicals done,looking forward to start my new life with AC MIlan.#jahbless Good luck at Milan, Essien!

Just came on as a substitute to make his Vitesse debut.