Leif

We are clearly building our team around a 4-2-3-1 formation to accommodate our forwards. A 4-2-3-1 rarely allows for a box-to-box midfielder, which Essien is, so if Fellaini were to be an Essien replacement, we'd need to shift back to a 4-3-3, which won't be happening with our current attack. So that would mean the money spent would be on someone being asked to play a role that they're not natural in; See Mikel.

Did you not read 'just' ? As in, "don't only do that", which was followed by the final thing to do?

Central playmaker, attacking central midfielder, advanced playmaker/winger and a deep-lying playmaker? :banghead: They're all completely different roles. Why on earth are all those players being mentioned in the same sentence?

For the people questioning my praise of Romeu's positioning, go back and watch ANY game of his with us, barring the last Liverpool game. He constantly drops back into defence when Luiz goes forward, slots into right-back when Bosingwa goes forward which would usually leave us open, covers for Cole when he's doing his business. Who else has done that for us in midfield? Maybe you lot don't realise it, as aside from Makelele, we've had no REAL defensive midfielders, but that's what he's SUPPOSED to do, and he did it better than ANYONE in the league. Re-watch the 1st game vs. Newcastle and watch him simply boss the entire midfield. Don't just watch. See. His positioning is perhaps so magnificent and world-class that people get confused, as only few defensive midfielders have perfected the art of it in such a way. P.S. - The people who, with me, see his outstanding awareness on the pitch will most likely also be the same modern thinkers who clearly see David Luiz needs to be played as a Libero.

My unwanted, negative, grumpy thoughts on Fellaini: So... we have one of the best defensive midfielders we've literally ever had (but short-sighted people won't be able to see that I'm sure) in the form of 20 year old Barcelona-bred Oriol Romeu, who reads the game superbly, has the best positioning I've seen of any player this past season, and can pass better than most of our midfield, yet people on here would be happy to see us spend £15-£20mil+ on Fellaini, a player who turns 25 this year and would drain us of yet more money? First of all, think how that would make Oriol Romeu FEEL. "Oh, I was a standout midfielder this season, but they'd rather bring someone else in to play my position. OK..." Oh how the times have changed. I miss the times when the fans didn't just want to overpay for every single player who they 'believe' would be a good player for us, JUST because a few media outlets came up with a story linking the player to us. It's as if supporters can't even come up with their own views and opinions these days! They just echo what others whisper! The main irony of all this is, reading back, I remember a few of you going on and on about us not giving our youth a chance. May I remind you that Romeu and McEachran play in midfield, the position Fellaini plays? Looks like you don't care about the youth now. Rant.Over.

OK, forget my earlier post. This kit has grown on me. Not a fave, but I like it.

Looks like a goalkeeper kit. Just imagine Cech wearing that. Yeah.

I believe Arsenal will/have bid anywhere between £16mil - £24mil. He's worth it.

"MULLER" SUPPOSED TO BE NAME OF YOGHURT BRAND, NOT NAME OF FOOTBALLER. WHY DOES FOOTBALLER HAVE NAME OF YOGHURT BRAND!? I NEED ANSWERS! ლ(ಠ益ಠლ

Horrible kits in my opinion. Sky Blue has nothing to do with us, and this combo of Black/Yellow will make our players look like Wasps.

As an avid watcher of Serie A, me and many others have noted that Cavani only ever works well when his team counter-attacks (same goes for when he's in the national team.) We're evolving from a counter-attacking team into an attacking team. He really is just like Drogba, only with a higher work-rate. He would have been perfect 5 years ago. Not now.

You're right. It's just a number. Let's give Cech number 17 and give Hazard number 1.

I'm, yet again, very worried about buying yet ANOTHER player who IS NOT a winger with intentions of playing him on the wing. He prefers to be central with the occasional drift out wide; just like Mata. If they play together and Cole is attacking the left flank, there's acres of space to be exploited.

I often feel that our so-called 'scouts' just go for whoever's expensive and is being chased by other top clubs. I also feel that many of us, supporters, would make far superior scouts than those scrawny, spineless so-called 'scouts' at our club. (Ok, I'm being a bit too mean.) Basically, my point is - Barcelona scouts or Arsenal scouts or SOMEONE with good scouts are going to pick up on this kid, and we won't. Why? Well, our scouts are shit, unfortunately. Can't wait to see this boy's future. He's called the "Spanish Pirlo", and rightly so. (No, the bellow video isn't a clip of his 'best moments' which tricks you into believing he's the next best player in the world)

For those of us who use Facebook, this is pretty cool in my opinion - The official Chelsea Facebook page has the 2nd most 'likes' out of all English clubs (Man Utd being 1st). Also, whenever you refresh the Chelsea Facebook page, we get around another 5 'likes' ! So.. we're averaging maybe around...2 new fans per second right now? http://www.facebook.com/ChelseaFC

I'm worried now that we're not getting linked with any defenders. If Ivanovic is to play right-back, we NEED one more or even TWO more centre backs, and at least 1 more top right back. We're European Champions now - not just contenders. We are not "A" team, we are now "THE" team. We can't stay "THE" team with depth which is only as deep as the sub bench. NEED.MORE.PLAYERS!!! >

Since Kagawa is now basically Manchester United's now, can we please pretend he's absolutely awful, will fail in the Premier League, is just a flashy version of Ji-Sung and how glad we are that we didn't sign him etc. please?

I'm glad I no longer have to see his tiny red nose.

This signing has me ecstatic, and if Hulk comes too, then wow. I believe our team is now going to be based around those two players pretty much. I originally believed we'd play a 4-2-3-1 next season like Manchester City do or like how Liverpool used to do, but it would seem we're going more down the Real Madrid way of a 4-2-3-1. Hazard will be the Di Maria-like player, while Hulk will be our C.Ronaldo-like player (there really are tonnes of similarities between Ronaldo and Hulk.) Lampard will act like Xabi Alonso I assume, while Ramires may be slotted in ahead of Mikel to act like Khedira. Although we won't be a team who crosses into the box much, I believe that our dribbling on the flanks and through-balls down the middle will more than make-up for that. Welcome Hazard. Please don't flop. If you do, I'll piss on your car.

Hazard isn't official they said. Hazard won't be announced until mid-June they said!!!!!

WHICH TEAM SHOULD I FOLLOW? Ok, so I want to start following a team in Spain, but can't decide which team to go for. I'm stuck between: • - Athletic Bilbao • - Atletico Madrid • - Valencia I'm looking for a team who actually use some of their youth (unlike us, hehe), hence Athletic Bilbao being in there. I'm not a fan of the Basque-only policy they have though (I wish they'd just make it a Spanish-only policy), and it doesn't look like they'll be winning much any time soon. They seem like a naive bunch (the players.) Atletico Madrid are in there simply because I like the kit, fans, Falcao (who could be leaving due to money issues between Atletico and Porto), location (I really like Madrid) and the way they play. I also adore Diego, but I'm not sure if he'll be returning now that his loan is finished. It's also nice getting to see Courtois play. Valencia...Valencia... Valencia. Now, I like their history, I like their style of play, and I love some of their ex-players (such as Mata), but it seems like they're a club who scratch and claw into 3rd place in the league, and then sell off their best players, such as Mata, Silva, Villa. I understand that there are some financial issues at the club. Are these issues likely to be gone any time soon? I've also noticed that Valencia seem a bit inconsistent. They'll smash a team 5-0, then lose 5-0 themselves in their next game. I'd also like to know the following: • Out of the teams, who has the best/loudest fans in the stadium on match day? • Are any of those teams planning on moving to a new stadium any time soon? • Who uses their youth more; Valencia or Atletico Madrid? • Which team looks most likely to win something within the next 3 or so seasons? Thank you guys.

Edinson Cavani has today been cut to 6/4 to join Chelsea from 10/1. Surprising. I really can't see him leaving Napoli this summer.

I still find it amazing that it was Torres who won us the corner, which was then headed into the goal by Drogba. I was sure that a new apocalypse would occur with them both on at the same time.

For those of us who want beautiful passing, teamwork, attacking football with loads of creativity and positive movement... Pep isn't for us..or well he shouldn't be. You know who should be? Lucien Favre - Swiss manager of Borussia Monchengladbach. They play the most beautiful and awe-inspiring football in the country (Germany). They do base their foundations the same way Barcelona do, but there are far more 'hoofed' balls, areal duels etc. than you would see over in Spain. They just let go of their version of Messi in the form of Marco Reus, but if reports are to be believed, Junior Hoilett is joining them on a 4 year deal to try and fill that void. The manager got the team to a 4th place finish this season - Improving on a 12th place finish the previous season. Here is what they can do -

Hulk wins the ball back quite well, doesn't he? Good to see.