Sideshow Luiz

Funny. I came to this thread to link an article from the Guardian for the non-UK people (and some UK I suppose) who haven't seen it. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/05/juan-mata-chelsea-gianfranco-zola The article says 31 assists.

Once you are out of the competition, it's difficult to get back in. Look at Liverpool. We need to finish in the Top 4. For all of Wegner's moaning, he is right. It's kind of a trophy on it's own. I'd rather finish in the top 4 than win EL or the FA Cup.

Lampard was awful today. The press don't seem to write about these performances from him. But, when he scores, it's all "Chelsea are mad to let him go".

I think we need a deep lying playmaker, and have them play next to Mikel. Someone who links up the defence and attack, like an Alonso/Pirlo type. The problem is that there aren't that many of those out there. Most of the time, we are trying to break teams down, and that is not Ramires' strength. His strength is playing box to box and when we set up to play on the counter, he would be first choice in midfield. You could also use him as a sub when protecting a lead. He's at his best when powering through midfield with space in front of him (and his marker in his dust), not trying to thread balls and break teams down. Need players like him, need to be flexible tactically.

To the guys with techfit tops. What is the sizing like compared to the regular climacool replicas? I wear a L in the climacool, so from looking at the megastore asia site, it looks like I should be a 9 or 10 (to compensate for the tightness). What do you guys do? Do you go up a size? Thanks.

We have 10 matches remaining. We still have to play Spurs at home, MU away, and Liverpool away. Worst case = 0 points, can't see us getting any more than 4 points from those matches (that's being optimistic). We need to get all 3 points from the other 7 matches, and hope for multiple slip ups from Arsenal. I'm not confident about finishing in the top 4.

Our defense has taken a sharp downward turn since losing Mikel to the ACON and DL to the trainer's table. The combo of Ramires and Lampard aren't doing an effective job of shielding the back 4. No ball winner in midfield right now.

Laudrup for me.

I'm pretty sure that Pep's going to City. RM's taken them as far as he can. They already have Txiki in place.

When Utd have a policy of 1 year contracts for players over 30, it's a good thing according to the media. It's funny how the story is different with us. I think Lampard is a Chelsea legend, and I will be sad to see him go. However, when it comes to things like this, and the "loyalty" word gets thrown around, let's not forget that Lampard has already been financially compensated for his past performances. The new contract is for future performances.

I think Oscar can play as a deep lying playmaker. I think he has the vision and he's tactically/positionally sound. Move Mata over the the middle and start Moses or Marin on the right. I love Ramires, but he's not going to open anyone up. But, with his energy, I think he would be a fantastic impact sub. Considering our recent results, would be worth a shot, no?

I don't think we need a good CM because we have a lot of rotation options from there IMO. 2 of Mikel, Lamps, Ramires, Essien, Miereles, Romeu

I just think that for the money we can get 2 players and get some depth.

I don't rate him a the kind of money being thrown around. How much of a step up from Sturridge is he? We need some real wingers and depth. For this kind of money I'd rather see us get Iker Muniain and a RB.

Right, but the star we're discussing is not inside the crest.

Does anyone else think that the new kit looks weird with the white Premier League printing? There's no other white on the shirt. Looks much better with the gold Champions League printing. Will look even better with the CL winners patch.

Transfer window isn't officially open yet. I believe nothing until the club makes an official announcement and/or we see the player holding the shirt.

I'm thinking that the kit with the star will only be sold at SB because that's the only place that has it right now. It's the guy in Soccer Scene on Oxford street that told me that the PL doesn't allow stars (etc.) on the kit (outside of the badge, hence Aston Villa), I was asking him about it. He didn't mention anything about getting the shirt with the star in to his store and they are run by Sports Direct. This makes me think that they won't be wearing this shirt in the league. Maybe we will have a different shirt for Champions League, I don't know. Stamford Bridge is the only place where you can get Champions League lettering on the shirt (outside of the UEFA website), so maybe they will be allowed to play in the competition with the star. I don't know. I'm just saying that there isn't any evidence to suggest that they will definitely wear it. Will have to wait until September to find out for sure.

That CL win had a lot of good fortune about it, and it's lead to the Hazard signing, a CL spot to help rebuild the squad, it's bad karma to not bring back RDM.

I believe nothing until I see them holding the shirt. I've learned that from my Arsenal friend. We had Robinho shirts for sale on the website, and well...

If they really wanted to make a commemorative shirt, they would get more 2011/2012 shirts in with the finals script on the front and some proper CL badges. They are out of shirts, out of CL badges, and don't have any 1s left for printing. I can get a shirt from somewhere else, but not with all of the other stuff. I should have got one on the day of the parade, but I didn't even think of it. Too late by the next day. This will haunt me forever (well, until the next title).

According to PL rules, if we want to wear a star on our shirts, it has to be inside the bade (a la Aston Villa). Like I said, I can't see us ever playing in a shirt that you can only get at Stamford Bridge. Don't think Adidas would be cool with that, it would undermine their agreement with other stores. Maybe they'll surprise me, but I can only see us playing in the regular shirt next year (in CL) but with one of these badges: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Champion_Clubs%27_Cup#Multiple-winner_badge Much like they do in the Premier League (gold patches), my Man U friend didn't realise these were special "Oh really? I just thought it was part of the kit". Having said that, the kit next year looks super with the lettering (our new CL font). Shirt looks kind of strange with the white PL lettering. New kit, with gold CL lettering, with champions patch? Only question is: Who to get on the back?

I can't see them playing in the kit with the star at all. I can't see Adidas being okay with us wearing a kit that can only be purchased at Stamford Bridge. The only reason we even play in the 3rd kit is to meet contractual obligations.

I don't rate him at the values being thrown around (circa £30M). I think this is about £10M too much. If this deal goes through, I'll fully support him, and hope he proves me wrong.

That's what I'm saying. I know it's too narrow, but we don't have anyone who can cross the ball anyway. Why play in a formation that needs wingers, when we have none?