Jype

Can you blame him though? Anyone would find it hard to focus on football if they had Shakira to go home to after a game. Anyway I've never really rated Pique. He played his best football next to Puyol in his prime and back then he had it a lot easier than he does now. Playing next to a makeshift CB like Mascherano requires Pique to be the main man who organizes the defense and at least in my books he's not good enough for that.

Still an hour to go till the lineups are out, can't wait.

The club didn't want to keep him so it's hard to be annoyed about that. That being said, in their current state Eto'o is better than Drogba and having him fully settled would have been better than having 36-year-old DD who's been away for a couple of years so I'm not exactly sure why Jose didn't want him to stay. Either way I have absolutely no complaints about having Costa, Remy and Drogba as our three strikers.

Mata in central midfield.

The only one saying it at the moment is a Manchester United fan blog. Today a number of English newspapers have been reporting that Costa is set to start and even though we all know the quality of Daily Mail etc. I know which one I'll trust first if it's between them and one random Man Utd fan.

I like it more when we're the underdog, now there's a lot more pressure to win the game and I'm way more nervous than I was for the game at the Etihad for example. It makes no sense because this should be a much easier game than City away. Doesn't help that I'm watching this with my United supporting brother...

Surprised to see no one mention Matic. Plays every game, shows great attitude every single time and to my knowledge is well like by the other players. If it was up to me it would be between him and Fabregas at the moment.

Remy Salah - Oscar - Willian Mikel - Fabregas Luis - Zouma - Cahill - Azpilicueta Courtois Rest Hazard, Matic, Terry and Ivanovic for the game against Manchester United next weekend.

He already scored one against Schalke.

Yeah, third place is still entirely possible for us if we win against you guys next month but otherwise it's all over and we can (again) start preparing for the next qualifiers. Disappointing... Northern Ireland have been suprisingly good and Greece have been a disappointment, didn't see that coming.

Finland down against Romania, the referee is a cunt. A goal from a corner that should never have been given and a sending off after two incredibly soft yellow cards, all in the space of just a few minutes.

We get it that you're gay for Thiago but there's no need to go on and on about it in every thread.

You guys might as well give up, it's obvious that Finland will top the group. Just kidding, will be a very tough task for us to qualify even if the group is one of the easiest. We've never qualified for the WC / Euros before so to even make it to the playoffs would be a step forward for us. If we beat Romania tonight it would be huge, too bad I can't attend that one as I live too far away and won't be able to make a second trip to Helsinki after just a few days since the last one.

Yeah, I was at the stadium for the game and it was definitely not one to tell future generations about. Expected a lot more from Greece because even though we played like shit we'd have ended up with three points had our substitute striker Pohjanpalo not fucked up that 4 on 1 counter-attack late in the second half. Draw was probably the most fair outcome and as a Finn I'm reasonably happy with the point but for you guys it's a horrible result given the fact you lost the opening game against Romania. An interesting group either way because there's absolutely no way to predict where each team will end up.

On my way to the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki for Finland's qualifier against Greece.

What a game. Hazard and Oscar were magnificent throughout the match and then there was that one moment of magic between Cesc and Costa. Atkinson very early lost the plot reffing the game but at least he was consistent by deciding not to send off Cahill, Koscielny, Chambers, Welbeck and Wenger who all deserved to be given their marching orders. Five point lead going into the international break, couldn't possibly ask for more really. Let's all laugh at the Specialist in Failure.

How was that not a red?

Time for Schürrle to really step it the fuck up with his finishing but I've got faith in the lad, reckon he'll get two goals today.

£50m includes naming rights for their stadium as well as the training complex, completely different to us getting £25m for shirt sponsor only. If we were to sell naming rights for Cobham and Stamford Bridge (CPO permitting of course), I'm pretty sure we'd be looking at a lot more than £50m a year.

At least he's getting involved and works hard, IMO he's been really good but it's just the finishing that hasn't been up to his usual standards in the last couple of games. Only a matter of time when he starts finding the net more often again and then he'll be really influential.

They got Chambers because he can also play at centre-back and Arsenal are severely lacking in depth there.

I for one like this selfishly confident Schürrle we've seen today. In this game it hasn't really worked out for him but on another day he'd have easily had a hat trick already.

Where exactly would he score against us? Milan are not even in the Champions League this season and the chances of them making it there next season AND us drawing them are pretty slim.

Remy Schürrle - Oscar - Salah Mikel - Ramires FilipeLuis - Cahill - Zouma - Azpilicueta Cech Rest Costa, Hazard and Fabregas completely and include the likes of Baker, Boga and Christensen on the bench.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2756435/Eden-Hazard-close-signing-new-five-year-deal-Chelsea.html "Hazard’s deal with Chelsea was worth around £100,000 when he arrived from Lille two years ago, but he will double that when he signs his new contract with the club." What happened to us blowing United and City out of the water by giving him wages of £175k a week two years ago?