Jase

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1415403/rafa-benitez-reveals-juan-mata-is-behind-chelsea%27s-formation?cc=4716 In case you're wondering what Benitez was referring to... (warning: the music is rubbish!) Mata apparently did that to someone in training. Gotta wonder if it's Torres(random).

They mainly play at CB. Was talking about RB specifically!

Bale leave Spurs means no more Gareth Bale FC..

No no no. We have a better one in Paulo Ferreira.

True and if we do get Schurrle, where or how on earth are we gonna play all Mata, Hazard and Schurrle together? We already seen that Hazard is ineffective on the right and I'm not sure if Schurrle will be happy to play 2nd fiddle to Hazard on the left. OR unless, Schurrle plays at LW, Hazard at CAM and Mata at RW? Wouldn't advocate that though since CAM is not Hazard's best position as his ability will not be exploited to the fullest IMO.

Hazard is probably only try to find a reason as to why the whole team played so poorly in the 1st hour or so. Just because he said we were scared of City or we showed them too much respect, doesn't mean we are generally. So, I'm not really why are we reading so much into this. We'll fare better next season against City(with a competent manager in charge!).

If Kane continues to play well as he is right now, then our future at RB is sorted with Azpi and him (and maybe Wallace too, though I can't see us keeping 3 RBs at one time).

Meh. 1 will be relegated by then. I know the game yesterday was intense with lots of physical challenges going about but I don't understand it when David Moyes said it was a great game and end-to-end. Both sides hardly showed enough quality to make it a really entertaining game.

Just a note though. When Drogba was here, only 2 of the 8 seasons he hit more than 20 goals and both times he got more than 30. The other times he only got to about 18 but yet he was still crucial to us because of his physical presence and ability to link up the play by holding the ball up and bringing others into play.

Rafa's middle man: Ba and Torres won't play together for fear of pushing Mata out wide

Mourinho to write autobiography Am really looking forward to that if its true!

Because Alex is English and he thinks English players are overrated.

Reliable German journalists such as Raphael Honigstein has mentioned it. He even provided links to Leverkusen insiders or whatever you wanna call them, people who know about the club etc. The deal is certainly in place right now and looks very close to be completed. You can see Honigstein's Twitter(www.twitter.com/honigstein) timeline for more details if you want to.

Here's how the battle for Top 4 looks like: If recent history has anything to go by, then doubt we will win tomorrow. We always fail to take advantage of our rivals slip up. However(please, please!), by hook or by crook, we must win tomorrow. We just have to. If we can get at least 4 points from the next 2 games, it would be a great return!

I know we are desperately looking for a striker who can solve our scoring problems but don't think we should be targeting a one dimensional striker like Gomez. He may score against the lesser teams but a more all rounder kind of striker could easily do that as well and against the big teams too! And if he's isn't scoring the goals, at least he will create for others, unlike the one dimensional goal poacher like Gomez. Furthermore, getting an all round striker would offer us more variations in our play through link up plays etc as opposed to just create chances for the ST and does nothing else. And the players such as Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Moses, Ramires and possibly Schurrle are not just goal creators but also goalscorers themselves. Because of this, we need to have ST who can score themselves but also equally capable of creating for others to do so. Would be so so much better to have a team where the goalscoring exploits come from everywhere(like this season perhaps) rather than just rely on the ST and hope the others pop in a few too. Versatility and adapability >>> One dimensional ST!

Would rather get a ST who can score against the big teams and small teams and create for others. Furthermore, buying a limited ST like Gomez would affect the way we play too because then, it will all center around creating chances for the ST and only the ST to score.

@steve22, your thread created in the Transfer Talk section has been merged with this one since it's the same judging by the identical URL.

Mandzukic does scores a number of goals but it's not a lot if you compare with the goals that Gomez has scored for Bayern last season. Partly that and partly also the fact Mandzukic simply offers more to Bayern compare to Gomez simply because of his much better work off the ball, holding the ball, linking up the play etc.

His goalscoring record paper over the fact that he is a very limited player. The fact that Mandzukic - an all around better player but poorer goalscoring record - has been preferred over Gomez despite his goalscoring exploits/record & after returning from injury tells you a lot how Bayern view him.

Here's how the Top 4 race would look like depending on the Arsenal v Everton game result tonight..

Spurs will be playing Southampton at WHL before facing us. And after facing us, they'll go to Stoke.