Strike

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

That is open to interpretation but my point was Robben was probably the only Chelsea players in last few years who left the club to join another 'big' club in his prime True that. He had done the hard part - settling in - and his athleticism cannot be questioned. But if the club arranges a cash plus player deal or signs a DM in replacement, I won't complain

As a neutral, I'd say it's smart business.

Upon review, it seems racist but you know what i mean. Countries under ESPN network. anyway, i'm not a white person. hence it should not be racist

Player loyalty is not a problem at Chelsea now. In the Abramovich era, maybe only Robben left Chelsea to better his career. If Ramires is paper-weight in a deal for a Napoli player or if Napoli are offering a lot of money, why not cash in and re-invest?

Who airs football there? Al-Jazeera? I don't know about that. I am talking about the real Asia. Not the Middle East. The countries under ESPNStar or as it is now called - Fox. Indian sub-continent, SouthEast Asia etc

fair enough but i am talking about whole of Asia. The boom in supporting only big teams is due to lack of coverage of the Norwichs and the Swanseas of the league. Haven't met even a single Spurs fan yet let alone the mid-table teams. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, United and City that is all

Football Manager reference- "I would only sell at the right price"

Maybe now. Not until 2009/2010. Coverage was highly specific to the big 4 before that.

i caught the first half. He was good. Tackled Tevez 2-3 times

Oh come on mate. Outside of England, there is barely any chance of catching Swindon Town or Harrowgate Railway in action. I wouldn't say all us non-British people became Chelsea fans for the glory. Just random happenstance because of exposure to the top teams

Haven't lost with a 3-goal lead in 60 years. Should have defended it out easily, even if City were creating chances

It's a friendly. Take the money and run