Sideshow Luiz

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?

I'd play the 2 of them together with a midfield diamond. I'm not a huge fan of the diamond, but I think it's the best formation for us. We have no wingers anyway, and it gets our best 11 on the pitch in their best positions. ------------Cech Ivan-----Luiz-----Terry-----Cole --------------Mikel -----Ramires----Lampard -------------Mata ------Torres-----Drogba

I'd love to see Lukaku get a full match, but Drogba HAS to start against Blackburn. Last home match, gives us a chance to bid him adieu. Lukaku against Liverpool away? Fine.

How does Bertrand have that man votes for MOTM? I thought he was quite timid getting forward and when he did get forward he was no where near the touchline. He wasn't awful, but certainly not that good. I thought we were really poor. No sense of urgency, I felt. Didn't look dangerous and didn't really threaten goal. Look lost without Mata in the side, really showed our lack of depth. 5s and 6s all round. Thought Mikel was the best of the bunch though. Makes the CL final so interesting though. Huge match. Last run for the old guard, and a way to top of their Chelsea careers together, and the start of the next 3-4 years (it's much easier to attract talent if you're in the CL). All to play for, lose and get nothing.

I know it's got fond memories and everything, but Stamford Bridge is actually a bit grim, IMO. Financial Fair Play = more revenue = more seats. The Bridge is half the size of the stadiums of the teams we want to compete with in the Premier League and in Europe.

I would normally watch the CL final at home, but I have a visitor here from Canada and it would be nice to take him to a pub around the Bridge to watch the match. Figure he'll get an experience out of it. Not sure where to go either, saw this post hoping for a recommendation.

Didn't see this coming at all. Goes to show what the rumours in the paper are worth. For the fee, I'd say it's a good piece of business.

RDM has done a great job, I don't think there's any debate about that. The question is: Is he the right manager to take us forward and manage us through a transition period? Just because he's doing a great job getting the most out of our aging squad, does that mean he's the right man to overhaul the team?

Wingers should be a priority. Need at least 2. Iker Munian, Willian?

I totally agree with the OP. I thought he was going to be an important squad player for us and was disappointed to see him leave. He is the only player we had/have that would be a direct replacement for Mata. Luckily Mata hasn't been injured this year, but if we had Yossi, maybe we wouldn't have to play Mata every match and we could give him some rest. Take Monday night in Fulham for example. RDM tried to give Mata the night off and had to play Miereles in his role (didn't work by the way). Yossi is the closest player we had to Mata, you need squad depth to challenge for 4 trophies. Big mistake by Chelsea IMO. No way he wants to come back and play for us next year, and I don't blame him.

Play him through the middle, going for goal all the time isn't so much an issue then. I find his lack of awareness to be frustrating, but to be fair to him, he's trained as the main striker throughout his entire life, it must be hard to switch to a winger/support role.

JT, Lamps, Drogba, and Mata need to be rested for mid-week, IMO. Cech Bos---Cahil---Luiz---Bertrand Meireles----Romeu Sturridge---Kalou---Malouda Torres Maybe Torres in the hole, Kalou on the left, and Lukaku up front? Give it a shot for 45 min? Why not?

We need a winger, or multiple wingers. I love Ramires, but he is not a winger. The fact that he played there in such an important match goes to show how lacking we are. I'd be surprised if we didn't get at least Willian in the summer.

I think the Spurs "poor" run of form has been a bit overstated by the media. They lost at City, home to Utd, and at Everton. Not all "3 losses in a row" are created equal. We lost at Everton, expect us to lose at City, and drew against Utd. at home. Arsenal have found some guts. I think we'll finish 5th.

You can take any Chelsea shirt to the megastore for printing. I bought last season's kit when it was on sale from somewhere else (£6 = bargain) and I took it to the megastore for printing. No problems.