Jase

Certainly better than the previously reported 200K p/w but that is still a bit too much for a 21 y/o and especially when you consider the likes of Mata, Ramires and Ivanovic too earning less than that at the moment.

Don't see why RDM would want to go to Villa anyway. Randy Lerner seems to reluctant to spend much and the club is in big mess right now. And after managing us in recent months including winning the FA Cup and Champions League, I'm sure he will be looking for a bigger job elsewhere IF Roman doesn't want him.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2012/05/27/3129979/ivanovic-i-know-that-real-madrid-want-me Hoping that he meant it and not just empty words..

Would much prefer us to spend that extra few million to get Azpilicueta. He's a much better RB than VDW.

Meh. Still prefer this despite the distance.

http://www.metro.co....vic-replacement The Metro are reporting that we're targeting Van der Wiel to replace Ivanovic! That better be a BS story! EDIT: Gah. Late by a minute.

Get your point but what I meant was the need for us to adaptable. Yes, you can have a certain style of play but you also want your players to be able to play a different way, to have a Plan B when the need arises and not just go blindly playing the same way in every game. I know Barcelona have been successful with that but not too fond of that idea. Arsenal and Man United tried to play Barcelona at their own game in recent years because it's their supposed philosophy to be playing attacking football but look what happened to them in those encounters.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2150486/Roberto-Di-Matteo-Eddie-Newton-face-Chelsea-axe.html?ITO=1490 Even Daily Mail have picked up on what Eddie Newton has said. This supposed obsession of Roman with Guardiola is just embarrassing at times.

There might be a good possibility of the other players protesting over their wages if they see a 21 y/o kid joins the club and being paid 200K p/w immediately. Taking the news on that reported 200K p/w with a pinch of salt at the moment but if we do get him and he's really being paid that amount, there's gonna be trouble!

Mourinho won't be coming back this summer, so we can rule him out. Perhaps the only person I would take ahead of RDM right now is Hiddink. Otherwise, please give the former the job, for maybe 2 seasons at least with the option of extending it further!

Example? IF we were to really get both Hazard and Hulk, I don't see the need for us to sell one of our current best players. We have been crying for the lack of quality on the bench when needed and squad in depth for many seasons now. Yes, some of the players then might have less playing time a little bit than before but it gives options, it gives something different to bring on and change the game when something is not working on the pitch. Furthermore, when you consider how many games we'll be playing next season and injuries and suspensions included, it is great to have more options available for us than in previous seasons.

Hoping or perhaps even expecting an announcement to be made by the next weekend. Need to get the plans for next season up and running ASAP.

Whoever wrote this needs to punched in the face! http://www.soccerplay.net/mata-happy-at-chelsea/24610 It's from a relative unknown site but still.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26052012/63/blues-news-newton.html Hmmm............

Shame that we couldn't complete a clean sweep of FA Cup success this season.

Avram Grant is available.

Do not want us to have a definite style of play like Arsenal, Manchester United or Barcelona. Would much prefer us to have a varied style of play where against the smaller teams, we can play attacking football and when it's against the big teams/matches, we can adapt to a more defensive & counter attacking approach like we have done this season. A good example of that would be like how we played under Carlo in his 1st season with us. Having just one style of play all the time like Arsenal and Barcelona is suicidal because you can easily come unstuck against certain teams or teams who adopt a similar type of tactics.

Messi has scored 73 goals this season but couldn't even find the net against the Champions of Europe..

No but we could well do with a decent backup to Torres. Having a 'Plan B' is crucial in the team.

Well said!

Harry Harris is somewhat a dodgy & unreliable writer on Soccernet but I hope he is right on this one!

http://footballspeak.com/post/2012/05/26/Is-There-A-Right-Way-To-Play.aspx A very good piece that with great points being made. Well worth a read.

Ba was shifted out wide by Alan Pardew in order to bring in Cisse into the team. That is why the goals dried up for the former.

He was and adding to what KOF said, Torres did more and looked much more threatening in the remaining 35-40 minutes(including ET) when he came on than Kalou did in the entire first 85 minutes!

Yeah but judging by the recent outrage on Benayoun, seems that people wants him OUT!