Jase

Congrats Didier! And Ivanovic! WTH!

I was referring to the Anelka and Alex case. The Cole and Lampard issue was different!

Hargreaves's case was entirely different. He didn't get thrown into the youth team. His constant injuries was what prevented him from playing and training. Kaka is still training with the Madrid's first team and Mourinho has said he still part of his plans. Though he won't use him much in matches, Kaka will still get game time in certain circumstances. As for Vieira, it was more of a case Wenger wanted to invest in youth and sell off the senior players.

Seem to remember that wasn't the case last season...

You just don't throw a player into the U21 team just because he is no longer in the manager's plan. Have you seen Ferguson, Wenger or Mourinho doing that?! And it's extremely silly to do that with Malouda when our options in midfield are already low with the departure of Essien and Meireles.

Seriously, why is this thread still even open?!

His fault or not, it can have a negative impact on the team. And if you say I'm reading too much into it, then aren't we all reading too much into that he has been thrown into the U21 team because of the wages?! Maybe it's because of something else that we don't know about! No one from the club has come out to say anything yet...

Cahill on England's WCQs, being back with the squad, CB partnership with Terry, Sturridge and England squad.

Mikel. The point here is that he has been here for a number of years now and is bound to have good relationships with some of the players and tossing him into U21 team like yesterday's garbage is not going to benefit the team. And every year, we always seem to create or have some sort of problem with squad unity.

It's not only that, repeating what we did last year may cause squad disharmony again. Last season we were affected by it and this could potentially happen again especially when Malouda is close to a few others.

Fantastic news! Though it is just an improvement on the contract terms from the one he signed last year.

Still no way to treat a player like that especially one that was crucial to our Premier League and 2 FA Cup success back in 2009 and 2010. Our midfield squad depth just became threadbare by tossing him into the U21s. And what's the point of us registering him into the PL squad if we were gonna do that?!

Talk about hypocrite. Around this time last year, we were slamming AVB for doing the same with Alex and Anelka and now you're praising RDM?!

I don't think he's in the French squad for the upcoming International matches.

Don't think he will play in the double pivot. If anything, his availability gives RDM an option to switch to a 4-3-3 if needed. Terminating his contract and paying the compensation is probably worse. Will have to splash out the cash and won't get anything in return. And really, I just don't get why people can't be patient with him for a little while more. Our squad depth is already nearly threadbare with the departure of Essien and Meireles and now people want Malouda gone too when he can be a decent option in case of injuries/suspensions till January at the very least when then we can get a new CM or two! IF we seriously want to get money from him, then we definitely have to sell in January now because his contract is expiring next summer.

Most likely in the Premier League but wouldn't guarantee it in the Carling Cup.

What can we do if no clubs want to buy Malouda?! At least Meireles has shown he still got about 2 years left in him to contribute while Malouda has gone downhill in the past 2 years.

One word. Wages.

Maybe in the Carling Cup and in certain circumstances in the Premier League.

So, he is still at the club then? At least we still have a very decent squad depth.

Indeed. Can only see him feature against Nordsjaelland. Won't play against Shakhtar & Juve unless we are really desperate!

If Hilario's career at the club was truly finished, he wouldn't have been given a 1 year contract extension back in March/April after he was left out of the CL squad for the knockout stages last season.

:rant:

Our CL squad has been announced: http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2910233?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter No Malouda and Hilario in the squad.

Bored and depressed...