Strike

No. if he was fit when Cole was dropped from the first team i think he would make more than 3 appearances.bertrand is 24 now and was a squad player here. a player who will be needed in February/March when there are a cluster of games in the space of few days. if one of Ashley or azpilicueta are injured/suspended then the other one will have to play every game at left back. Ake, Luiz etc simply won't work

Even Bertrand's injury came at the wrong time. He was out injured until January. I think between Kalas, Bertrand and Ake, Bertrand is clearly my pick for squad player since there's only one other recognised left-back at the club and he isn't really playing extremely well this season either. Azpilicueta at left-back has been decent defensively but he had his best game at Right back vs Liverpool.

Just a theory but there is a chance that Jose has decided that Ashley Cole has not been good enough this season and may not offer him a new contract. Now, Bertrand loaned till the summer gives Jose the chance to get a fullback in now and when Cole leaves in the summer, Bertrand assumes the backup role again

yeah they're the best of its kind but then again Martin Skrtel was MOTM vs Chelsea last month on whoscored

Luke Shaw for me. Rodriguez is clearly good but there will come a time in 1 or 2 years when most of the English core will leave. Lampard JT Ash. Should replace them soon and Shaw fits the bill perfectly

bump. is he available on loan?

can register just 21 players . not entirely sure how many we've got now

where does it leave us regarding HomeGrown? just Cahill, Terry, Cole, Lampard so Coentrao coming in will have to be balanced by another sale

Ryan Bertrand has joined Aston Villa on loan for the rest of the season, after Jose Mourinho confirmed the loan move in his press conference this morning. The English left-back has struggled for minutes this season due to injury problems but is expected to be a first-choice player at Villa with only Antonio Luna for competition and this move will be Bertrand's sixth loan spell since joining from Gillingham in 2005. He famously made his Champions League debut in the final in 2012 helping Chelsea win the competition for the first time. The news comes as a surprise as it leaves Ashley Cole as the only left-back at the club. Bertrand's lingering injury problems and Mourinho's preference for Cesar Azpilicueta to be played on the left side has also restricted him to just 3 appearances this season and a loan move at a club like Aston Villa could give the 24-year old a good run of games under his belt to improve his fitness and form. Chelsea could now be in the market for a left-back and have been continously linked with Southampton's Luke Shaw. The news of this loan deal could mean that Mourinho is looking to move on the 18-year old soon. Click Here To View Article.

Bertrand will be a very good signing for Villa

I thought Kalas should have been the one going on loan

Bertrand out on loan? Unless Shaw is coming in, it's not good

all the combinations you mentioned should own the United midfield.

nothing concrete except the agent saying he'll be leaving this month

Essien deserves an ovation from the crowd. Hopefully he makes another appearance (FA Cup game) before leaving

Every time there's a big home game the atmosphere is great and it gives the players a big lift. United will probably sit deep and try to catch Chelsea out on the break like last season but I think at home, we should win it especially with their 2 good strikers out injured. Same XI as the last game for me.

Earlier in the season, Jose confirmed that Chelsea had asked about an uncapped English player. At the time many thought it might have been Barkley but I think it was mostly Shaw. Zouma and Shaw in the summer and the defence is set for years

Why is everyone putting Matic in their teams? i doubt he'll pick up on his roles and duties in midfield (pressing) within 2 days

KdB out Matic in. Good business. the fuckin pivot is finally sorted!

Angels and Demons is the best of the lot. Even better than the da Vinci Code

yeah. just saw Kompany voted for Yaya and Hazard. Eto'o voted Hazard. Gerrard voted for Suarez. Messi voted Iniesta. Biased votes

Been coming really

All assumptions. Matic signing will surely mean Lampard's playing time is regulated and that will get the best out of him imo

Haha. sturridge is a lot better than Demba