Leif

Let's just get this clear and out of the way so that there are no more questions or uncertainties: Maicon would be coming in as back-up. I hope there are no doubts about that. Ivanovic will remain our number 1 right-back. If we were to buy someone like Debuchy, all that would do is push players like Todd Kane back even further away from a future starting role. Signing an older player as back-up is much better than signing a fresh, hungry motivated player for £10mil+ who will keep one of our most promising youth players out of our team for a decade. Maicon got ripped a new bumhole by Gareth Bale in the Champions League...but that was a one off. Players simply do not do that to Maicon. The tactics Inter used in the match were absolutely appalling in defence and midfield, and Maicon was told to keep on attacking, leaving acres of space behind for Bale to exploit. Maicon HAD to push forward constantly, as Inter were using a narrow formation and he was responsible for adding the width to the team. He's also had a very good season with Inter this past year (Personally, anyway. The team in general was rubbish.) He completely destroyed AC Milan too in the derby match! (I mean his overall performance, not just the wonderful goal.) Finally, surely no one can deny that the idea of having Maicon flying down the flanks vs. teams like Wigan or Championship teams in the F.A. Cup etc. sounds good! (Unless of course we do buy an out-and-out winger. This is where Ramires could come in handy though. We could have Maicon and Ramires pretty much switching positions through-out the game.) Don't worry. This would be a good signing.

Looks like Malaga or Juventus could sign Lucio (who just left Inter) on a free! He's 34, but still has tonnes to give. He's an amazing guy to have around in training for the young guys, and he's a great professional. At Juventus he'd be back up, and at Malaga probably a rotation option. It all comes down to what his body can handle and what he wants I guess. Hope he goes to Juve. Would be perfect there against mid-to-lower table teams and 'easy' Champions League teams.

Does anyone remember me taking the piss and saying we should loan him to Vitesse? Silly me. I actually believe we should now! Vitesse have got Europa League football next season (Well done Kalas!), and I'm sure they'd play him often as they need someone physical up-front. If Vitesse did well, they'd play against the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid etc. In the league, he'd face Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV and Twente. If they played in our league, all of them would be pushing for a top 6 place each season, I'm sure of it. (Well, maybe not Feyenoord.) After a loan spell there, he could have 1 more loan spell the following season in the Bundesliga (it's the closest thing to the Premier League outside of England), and then if we still don't consider him ready, a move to a Premier League club. You can't rush perfection. We want Lukaku to be a perfect striker though, right? Well, no need to rush then.

In other news, Arsenal fans seem awfully sad on Twitter that Benayoun is officially leaving them tomorrow, and his 1st name is even trending on Twitter! He was very good with them. Fits their style perfectly. Unfortunately, although I really like him, I don't believe there's space for him here. Would be happy getting £3mil+ for him.

I personally don't like his music. His punchlines are so predictable and his style is too easy to imitate. Here's something I've just come up with which would fit his punchline collection so easily: "Uh, I'm too cocky, so everybody blow me - You don't feel my 16's ? I'll force you, ....statutory - Uh, I'm good with lyrics I can tell a story, Flip pages like skateboards, grinding every morning." ( C'mon, read that back in Drake's voice. Surely someone agrees that's something alone the lines of what he'd write. )

LET'S LOAN HIM TO VITESSE AND THEN LOAN HIM TO WIGAN AND THEN SELL HIM! WOOOO!!!!

I think I'm in love with that team. Good gracious. Time to get the tissues out.

Again, how exactly do they know what Fiorentina executives have told the Chelsea board? Our board is possibly one of the most tight lipped groups of people I've ever seen. Zero substance to this story. Unless of course, the paper phoned up Gourlay and asked him for the low-down of our potential transfers.

I believe it would be an amazing move if he's happy being back-up. (He'd definitely be good enough for F.A. Cup and Carling Cup games. Even games against teams like Wigan etc.)

I think Mata is back on the wing. In the newest Chelsea TV upload on Youtube, Essien and Mata introduce themselves. Essien says - "Michael Essien, midifelder." Mata says - "Juan Mata, left winger." with uncertainty in his voice.

I guess it's just hard to accept and weird in general for a lot of English people who support an English club and support England in national competitions to be presented with someone of a particular nationality, who chooses to support a club in a different country, and then another different country for national competitions. Foreigners, if that word is allowed, are wanted here. It's just that some feel extremely passionate and strong about being born into a football club and country etc. and not choosing who to support (unless you just follow them casually etc.) idk. This isn't really my place to be saying anything to be honest. Personally, I'm a believer of supporting any club or country you want - just as long as it's for the right reasons. As long as it's for the right reasons, you can't question the authenticity of someone's support.

His penalty made me cringe. Knew he was going to miss the moment he started that awkward run up. Would still welcome him here though for £20mil or under (which I doubt would happen.) Could develop into an Xabi Alonso type player under the correct guidance.

He's not a consistent player, but when he's at the top of his game like he is tonight, I just want to shove him behind a bush and make love to him!

FUCK EVERY RACE! Yes, including my own.

:eyebrows:

Just need to get this out. I really hope people on here stop believing every story in every paper. Don't take into account the papers reputability every time, but instead, use common sense. Example - I'm reading a new rumour on Twitter right now which is - "RDM has told Chelsea he wants a deal for a new defender sorted by the end of next week & #CFC are willing to spend £15m on one. (Metro)" How on EARTH would the Metro know the conversations between RDM and members of the board? Do they tap phone calls? Have spy cameras inside the building? Have they tapped the room with mini microphones under the tables? No, of course not! Paper rumours are based on logical assumptions when they mention "[insert name here] has told [insert club name here's] board" blah blah. Urgh.

So - Which youth players do we think we're taking on the USA tour then? I assume Piazon, Blackman and Chalobah will come, and although unlikely, I'd really love to see Feruz to come too so he can step off the bench vs. AC Milan and get a hat-trick...

That would be a fantastic potential partnership in my opinion. Could be similar to the Alonso - Mascherano pairing at Liverpool a few years back.

RE Giroud's comments: Stability? That card has been used too many times against us. It's just lazy journalism which is copied by fans and players. It's no longer normal for us to go a season without a trophy. It is normal for Arsenal to go a season without a trophy. We have won the Champions League - Arsenal haven't. Arsenal perhaps have more stability when it comes to transfers and managers, but what do they win? Nothing. I'd much rather have 'less' stability (although I do believe we're perfectly stable) and win more than complete stability and win nothing. I will now boo my heart out whenever I see Giroud.

Any Whisky drinkers out there? I want to try out Whisky tasting, but as a lightweight, I don't want to start off with anything too strong. I'm more about flavour than strength at the moment, and if there's anything which goes particularly well with ice, lemme know. Any recommendations?

Whenever I see new members on this site I get a big smile on my face. Welcome!

Finally got my Transfer Deadline Latest page set up on Twitter! Would appreciate a follow, even if only one of you do so. Every follower helps!!! (Will follow back) https://twitter.com/#!/TDLatest

The guy above is right ^^ Due to my own curiosity of the Bundesliga, I follow Schalke in Germany, and the times when Schurrle has lined up vs. Schalke he has been awfully predictable with his moves.

lol, he's not leaving Atletico Madrid. It's looking extremely likely that Dominguez will be leaving though as he's not happy with his current role (Godin & Miranda start ahead of him) and is pushing through a transfer. Sevilla, some Russian team, Juventus, Udinese and Napoli are all rumoured to be interested. Atletico Madrid aren't a very rich club. Even with that money from the sale, they wouldn't be able to bring in a central defender around the same age and around the same skill level as Dominguez. Godin and Miranda will be kept as they simply must stay. That aside, there's absolutely no reason for any team to be interested in Godin anyway. Doesn't really do anything out of the norm.

Apparently been offered to Brazil side Fluminense as he has a Brazilian wife & has made it clear before he'd like to play in Brazil.