Strike

The USA tournament was completely unnecessary. Chelsea have been to the US twice in the last year, so brand promotion is hardly the concern there. I hope the manager is smart and rotates the squad and includes a LOT of youngsters in the team

Chelsea will have to offer hard cash though. No way would Napoli accept Cash+Torres over Cash+Dzeko how much ever we like to think Benitez likes Torres. You'd have to be a complete noob to accept Torres over Dzeko. Maybe more money in cash like 40mil or total cash offer is needed

I'm actually surprised at how accurate he's been. Got Neymar and the manager changes spot on long ago. Hope he's right about this

So it has come to this. Cavani the only one of the big three left i think. Falcao to Monaco looks nailed on and Lewandowski seems to be heading to Bayern

America last year, America post season. No other possible reason for America again. It's the money

Even Bayern will have a new coach, adjusting to new strategy. Hopeful

Finally he didn't fluff his chance on the big stage.

yeah but you see the effect it had? first 2 pages had a goon no, of teams no discussion started.. If I hadn't put that in the OP? disagreements would start and the whole point of making this thread was to have a consensus on what people think

Funnily enough, it was an admin who first broke that rule (Looking at you Alex)

i think Zeman is a Rugby coach

No because I rate de Rossi's work as a deep midfielder. Teams usually try and counter-attack Chelsea and so the pivot should be defensively strong. de Rossi edges it over ther others like Modric for that As for Cabaye, it's not like I don't rate Cabaye but I just think there are much better options than him.

de Rossi - 12mil is a big factor Cabaye hasn't had one good game this season. double groin surgeries and he's never been the same. woeful passing - a major component in his game But you wouldn't expect fans to put Oscar on the wing ahead of di Maria/Schurrle etc and he hasn't played enough at CM. Sunderland game, Reading for a few mins, where else? That's affecting perception. I want him in CM though just to be clear

Shocking indeed but there is the problem of his best position. That's influenced some people's judgement Cabaye on the back of a woeful season? No thanks.

if this thread was made last week, there would be Moutinho or Alonso in the pivot but that rumour about de Rossi leaving for 12million has gotten everyone jizzing about him.

Post your Chelsea XI for the 2013-14 season. Use this website if you want to generate the image http://footballformation.co.uk/ No opinions. No discussion. No transfer fees but don't be very unrealistic like including Bale, Ronaldo. Don't consider confirmed transfers either - Gotze, Moutinho etc. Pick a formation, fill in the players and post. This will be my choice

don't necessarily agree. none of these seem like solid rumours anymore. all guesswork to me

2 weeks ago - Alonso to Chelsea. Pages of discussion a week ago - di Maria to Chelsea. More discussion 2 days ago - Khedira, yesterday Coentrao, today Modric

Bertrand, while given the chance has been solid but yeah, I get the point your making. He doesn't impose himself well. Perfect for backup but not someone you'd have starting 30-odd games a season PvA had a great season. Easily the best Left-Back in the Eredivisie but his defending is not as good as his athleticism. Ash has been strictly okay this season. Never had an alarming dip in form but he's not the player he was in his prime. Eden Hazard's improvement in his tracking back and defensive duties has helped and I think the club is fine as it is at LB.

Also an unnecessary signing

finance is a big issue. Porto has no obligation to help it's rival but yes, it is underhanded and Sporting rightly deserve the 25% they are entitled but if Porto pull this off, I wouldn't hold anything against them. Bayern rip talent from rivals in Germany but they get ahead. Think success is the main motive. While this tactic seems like a cheap shot, it will save about 5-10 million which makes a big difference in Portugal

@Leif, 1. Think Schurrle deal is too far along to turn back now. Direct quotes from Bayer representatives. Schurrle instead of Sanchez there 2. Coentrao seems unnecessary this summer. Cole and Bertrand haven't really shown an alarming dip in form this season and with a better midfield think the LB spot is managable with current players. van Aanholt is a 3rd option as well 3. Mangala - probably a defender is needed but I'd not put Mangala at the top of the list 4. Thiago - if we are getting a central playmaker, i would prefer a player suited to the deeper role. Thiago has no way through to his favoured position CAM 5. de Rossi -

This is 3am India time? Can't catch a break with the times!

Being white is the new racism.

Take it lightly mate . I obviously have nothing against people from the Middle-East. Even One of the mods is from middle-east. I wouldn't risk a ban