Leif

Brazil are really surprising me. I didn't expect this sort of performance from what is basically their '4th' team. Good stuff.

Ah, did I touch a nerve?

*Waits for Hulk fan boys to claim he's now world class for managing to score in a friendly match*

A goal last night for him vs. Slovenia U19's. (The opening goal.) Todd Kane also got 1, while I believe the other 2 scorers were Manchester United boys. Highlights - http://www.thefa.com...0-slovenia-u19s

Any updates on if we're making progress in the new stadium department? I'm really excited. I don't care how the stadium looks. I simply want lower ticket prices, and more people attending. I know a lot of new fans won't know this, but we used to have some of the greatest support EVER. Just look at this - I hope someone who was attending that game is on this forum somewhere!

List of FREE out of contract Premier League/Serie A players this summer: PREMIER LEAGUE ARSENAL: Manuel Almunia 19 May 1977 Goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski 18 Apr 1985 Goalkeeper, Vito Mannone 2 Mar 1988 Goalkeeper, Andrei Arshavin 29 May 1981 Midfielder, ASTON VILLA: Brad Guzan 9 Sep 1984 Goalkeeper, Andy Marshall 14 Apr 1975 Goalkeeper, Habib Beye 19 Oct 1977 Defender, Carlos Cuellar 23 Aug 1981 Defender, Shane Lowry 12 Jun 1989 Defender, Emile Heskey 11 Jan 1978 Striker. BLACKBURN: Michel Salgado 22 Oct 1975 Defender, David Dunn 27 Dec 1979 Midfielder, Herold Goulon 12 Jun 1988 Midfielder, Vince Grella 5 Oct 1979 Midfielder, Josh Morris 30 Sep 1991 Midfielder, Nick Blackman 11 Nov 1989 Striker, Junior Hoilett 5 Jun 1990 Striker. BOLTON: Jussi Jaaskelainen 19 Apr 1975 Goalkeeper, Ricardo Gardner 25 Sep 1978 Defender, Sam Ricketts 11 Oct 1981 Defender, Paul Robinson 14 Dec 1978 Defender, Gretar Steinsson 9 Jan 1982 Defender, Sean Davis 20 Sep 1979 Midfielder, Martin Petrov 15 Jan 1979 Midfielder, Robbie Blake 4 Mar 1976 Striker, Ivan Klasnic 29 Jan 1980 Striker, Tope Obadeyi 29 Oct 1989 Striker. EVERTON: Marcus Hahnemann 15 Jun 1972 Goalkeeper, James McFadden 14 Apr 1983 Striker. FULHAM: Csaba Somogyi 7 Apr 1985 Goalkeeper, Zdenek Grygera 14 May 1980 Defender, Stephen Kelly 6 Sep 1983 Defender, Danny Murphy 18 Mar 1977 Midfielder, Andy Johnson 10 Feb 1981 Striker. MAN CITY: Stuart Taylor 28 Nov 1980 Goalkeeper, Owen Hargreaves 20 Jan 1981 Midfielder. MAN UNITED: Tomasz Kuszczak 20 Mar 1982 Goalkeeper, Michael Owen 14 Dec 1979 Striker. NEWCASTLE: Steve Harper 14 Mar 1975 Goalkeeper, Tamas Kadar 14 Mar 1990 Defender, Danny Guthrie 18 Apr 1987 Midfielder, Alan Smith 28 Oct 1980 Midfielder, Peter Lovenkrands 29 Jan 1980 Striker. NORWICH: Declan Rudd 16 Jan 1991 Goalkeeper, Adam Drury 29 Aug 1978 Defender, Zak Whitbread 4 Mar 1984 Defender, Aaron Wilbraham 21 Oct 1979 Striker. QPR: Radek Cerny 18 Feb 1974 Goalkeeper, Danny Gabbidon 8 Aug 1979 Defender, Fitz Hall 20 Dec 1980 Defender, Clint Hill 19 Oct 1978 Defender, Bruno Perone 6 July 1987 Defender, Danny Shittu 2 Sep 1980 Defender, Lee Cook 3 Aug 1982 Midfielder, Hogan Ephraim 31 Mar 1988 Midfielder, Patrick Agyemang 20 Sep 1980 Striker, Alessandro Pellicori 22 Jul 1971 Striker, Angelo Balanta 1 Jul 1990 Striker. STOKE: Carlo Nash 13 Sep 1973 Goalkeeper, Jonathan Woodgate 22 Jan 1980 Defender, Danny Collins 6 Aug 1980 Defender, Salif Diao 10 Feb 1977 Midfielder, Matthew Lund 21 Nov 1990 Midfielder, Tom Soares 10 Jul 1986 Midfielder, Michael Tonge 7 Apr 1983 Midfielder, Rory Delap 6 Jul 1976 Midfielder, Danny Pugh 19 Oct 1982 Midfielder, Ricardo Fuller 31 Oct 1979 Striker, Mamady Sidibe 18 Dec 1979 Striker. SUNDERLAND: Craig Gordon 31 Dec 1982 Goalkeeper, Nyron Nosworthy 11 Oct 1980 Defender, Jordan Cook 20 Mar 1990 Striker, Ryan Noble 11 Jun 1991 Striker. SWANSEA: Vangelis Moras 26 Aug 1981 Defender, Ashley Richards 12 Apr 1991 Defender, Ferrie Bodde 5 May 1982 Midfielder, Thomas Butler 25 Apr 1981 Midfielder, David Cotterill 4 Dec 1987 Midfielder, Mark Gower 5 Oct 1978 Midfielder. TOTTENHAM: Carlo Cudicini 6 Sep 1973 Goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes 15 Feb 1981 Goalkeeper. WEST BROM: Luke Daniels 5 Jan 1988 Goalkeeper, Marton Fulop 3 May 1983 Goalkeeper, Nicky Shorey 19 Feb 1981 Defender, Joe Mattock 15 May 1990 Defender, Paul Scharner 11 Mar 1980 Midfielder, Somen Tchoyi 29 Mar 1983 Midfielder, Jerome Thomas 23 Mar 1983 Midfielder, Roman Bednar 26 Mar 1983 Striker, Marc-Antoine Fortune 2 Jul 1981 Striker. WIGAN: Mike Pollitt 29 Feb 1972 Goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland 2 May 1981 Goalkeeper, Maynor Figueroa 2 May 1983 Defender, Mohamed Diame 14 Jun 1987 Midfielder, David Jones 4 Nov 1984 Midfielder, Hendry Thomas 23 Feb 1985 Midfielder, Hugo Rodallega 25 Jul 1985 Striker. WOLVES: Jody Craddock 25 Jul 1975 Defender. SERIE A ATALANTA: Ciro Polito 12 Apr 1979 Goalkeeper, Daniele Capelli 20 Jun 1986 Defender, Michele Ferri 29 May 1981 Defender, Federico Peluso 20 Jan 1984 Defender, Simone Tiribocchi 31 Jan 1978 Attacker. BOLOGNA: Simone Loria 28 Oct 1976 Defender, Daniele Paponi 16 Apr 1988 Attacker. CAGLIARI: Vlada Avramov 05 Apr 1979 Goalkeeper, Alessandro Agostini 23 Jul 1979 Defender, Davide Astori 07 Jan 1987 Defender, Francesco Pisano 29 Apr 1986 Defender, Andrea Cossu 03 May 1980 Midfielder, Joaquin Larrivey 20 Aug 1984 Attacker. CATANIA: Andrea Campagnolo 17 Jun 1978 Goalkeeper, Ciro Capuano 10 Jul 1981 Defender, Adrian Ricchiuti 30 Jun 1978 Midfielder, David Suazo 05 Nov 1979 Attacker. CESENA: Francesco Antonioli 14 Sep 1969 Goalkeeper, Alex Calderoni 31 May 1976 Goalkeeper, Luca Ceccarelli 24 Mar 1983 Defender, Steve von Bergen 10 Jun 1983 Defender. CHIEVO: Lorenzo Squizzi 20 Jun 1974 Goalkeeper, Nicholas Frey 06 Mar 1984 Defender, Davide Mandelli 28 Jun 1977 Defender, Luciano 03 Dec 1975 Midfielder. FIORENTINA: Per Kroldrup 31 Jul 1979 Defender, Cesare Natali 05 Apr 1979 Defender, Amauri 03 Jun 1980 Attacker. GENOA: Cristian Lupatelli 21 Jun 1978 Goalkeeper, Alessio Scarpi 19 Apr 1973 Goalkeeper, Giandomenico Mesto 25 May 1982 Defender, Marco Rossi 01 Apr 1978 Midfielder. INTER: Paolo Orlandoni 12 Aug 1972 Goalkeeper, Cristian Chivu 26 Oct 1980 Defender, Ivan Cordoba 11 Aug 1976 Defender, Sulley Muntari 27 Aug 1984 Midfielder. JUVENTUS: Alex Manninger 04 Jun 1977 Goalkeeper, Fabio Grosso 28 Nov 1977 Defender, Alessandro Del Piero 09 Nov 1974 Attacker. LAZIO: Simone Del Nero 04 Aug 1981 Midfielder. LECCE: Davide Petrachi 14 Aug 1986 Goalkeeper, Moris Carrozzieri 16 Nov 1980 Defender, Leonardo Miglionico 31 Jan 1980 Defender, Manuele Blasi 17 Aug 1980 Midfielder, David Di Michele 06 Jan 1976 Attacker. MILAN: Flavio Roma 21 Jun 1974 Goalkeeper, Alessandro Nesta 19 Mar 1976 Defender, Gianluca Zambrotta 19 Feb 1977 Defender, Mathieu Flamini 07 Mar 1984 Midfielder, Gennaro Gattuso 09 Jan 1978 Midfielder, Clarence Seedorf 01 Apr 1976, Filippo Inzaghi 09 Aug 1973 Attacker. NAPOLI: Roberto Colombo 24 Aug 1975 Goalkeeper, Salvatore Aronica 20 Jan 1978 Defender, Gianluca Grava 07 Mar 1977 Defender, C ristiano Lucarelli 04 Oct 1975 Attacker. NOVARA: Matteo Centurioni 08 May 1974 Defender, Massimo Paci 11 Jun 1979 Defender, Marco Rigoni 05 Jan 1980 Midfielder. PALERMO: Luca Di Matteo 25 Feb 1988 Midfielder, Fabrizio Miccoli 27 Jun 1979 Attacker. PARMA: Nicola Pavarini 24 Feb 1974 Goalkeeper, Alessandro Lucarelli 22 Jul 1977 Defender, Stefano Morrone 26 Oct 1978 Midfielder, Francesco Valiani 29 Oct 1980 Midfielder. ROMA: Marco Cassetti 29 May 1977 Defender, Cicinho 24 Jun 1980 Defender, Gabriel Heinze 19 Apr 1978 Defender. SIENA: Simone Farelli 19 Feb 1983 Goalkeeper, Luca Rossettini 09 May 1985 Defender, Andrea Rossi 07 Nov 1986 Defender, Paul Codrea 04 Apr 1981 Midfielder. UDINESE: Andrea Coda 25 Apr 1985 Defender, Damiano Ferronetti 01 Nov 1984 Defender, Giampiero Pinzi 11 May 1981 Midfielder, Paulo Barreto 12 May 1985 Attacker. Many of these players could be worth a punt in my opinion. Some would be excellent squad players, such as Hoilett, Andy Johnson, Craig Gordon (Fantastic back-up for Cech), Diame (Potentially good enough for the 1st team), Astori and Miccoli. Hope we pick up a bargain.

De Bruyne is an attacking midfielder, who plays on the left wing, and is right-footed. He has amazing dribbling skills, and pin-point precision passes and crosses. He is a great free-kick taker. Marko Marin has been bought as a squad player to replace Kalou, and won't be a regular starter. De Bruyne will be a starting winger, if a starter at all, and not a central midfielder. We are Chelsea. We don't do what's obvious and play players in their best position.

Guardiola has come out to say that he only actually needs around a month to recharge his batteries, and if a team seduces him, he could get back into managing this season.

Also - He said his decision will be made by around June 2nd. If knowing how he'll be deployed is such a huge factor to him, surely he'd want to speak to a team with a MANAGER. We have no manager. We have no plan in place. We have no one to tell him how he'll be used.

Nasri would be dropped for Hazard. It would be Hazard - Aguero - Silva. He would be used as their number 10 there. Here, he would be used as a WINGER, which he doesn't like at all, and has much less of an effect on the game.

He doesn't play as a number 10 at all. He plays as a false 9.

Looks like it is Man City then. Hazard has specifically said that he'll go to where he'll get the most playing time, but more importantly, where he'll be used in his PROPER role. He wants to be used as a true number 10. Mata is our number 10, and Manchester United don't use a number 10.

Yeah, he's actually said many times he's supported us since he was young.

He is not actually a winger. He's simply deployed there. He is infact a striker.

Nah, this is just rubbish. Only being linked with us because of his nationality and ethnicity being the same as Drogba's. He's most likely going to be joining AS Roma in Serie A for around £17mil.

Due to a part of the Cahill deal when we bought him, Bolton can loan 1 Chelsea player next season. I believe this could be the perfect opportunity for Josh McEachran to get some game time, although Bolton themselves want Oriol Romeu. Romeu has said in a Spanish interview however, that he doesn't want to join Bolton.

I hope we eventually start playing our football like Manchester City. Although they also use a 4-2-3-1, it's much better than our own. We use 2 defensive midfielders, 1 attacking midfielder, 2 wingers, 1 striker. They use 1 defensive midfielder partnered with 1 box-to-box midfielder, 2 playmakers where the wingers would usually be (but they play closer to the centre and then drift out wide to put a cross in when needed), and then a trequartista who swaps roles with the striker up-top, who often also acts as a trequartista. (A trequartista is a player who switches between being a striker and attacking midfielder throughout the game. Think Aguero, Messi, Rooney.) This creates ultimate possession with the playmakers, striker and trequartista all wanting to pass, pass, pass, while the box-to-box midfielder will often go with a surprise run and put the ball into the net when those playmakers mentioned occasionally drift wide, opening up space in the middle. Due to their playmaking-wingers playing a lot more central, their full backs always need to bomb forward. I think we could play something like them if we lined up in the following way - Cech Kane, Cahill, Terry, Cole Mikel, Ramires De Bruyne, Mata, Hazard Torres This would give us an English back 4 which would be great for communication purposes, a possession-minded midfielder in Mikel deployed as the holding midfielder, Ramires with his surging runs and versatility, De Bruyne whose fantastic with both feet and works well in any attacking position, Mata is obvious, and then hopefully we can snatch up Hazard who is MADE for this role. With Lampard as a sub able to play where Mikel/Ramires are or where Mata is, Marin able to cover for any of the front/mid 3, Bertrand to rotate with Cole, Ivanovic to rotate with Kane, and Lukaku and Sturridge able to cover for Torres, I'm sure this would bring us effective, possession, attacking football. No need to go crazy with the money and buy Hulk and Lucas Moura who wouldn't even fit into a 4-2-3-1. We'd be much better off investing in back-ups and rotation options.

https://twitter.com/#!/search/Released%20by%20Chelsea

Yep. Simply go to Twitter, and look at the trending topics. Go from there. It was all discussed in a press conference earlier called by Ron Gourlay. He also talked of Di Matteo's chances as our next manager saying: "The fact that he has the Champions League on his CV helps him enormously. "I know there has been speculation in the press and media about conversations with 'XYZ'. That has not been the case. "We will sit down as a board of directors with our owner as quickly as we can and take our decision from there. We are going through that process now and then we'll sit down... it's only been a couple of days [since the season ended]." He added: "[An appointment could be made] any time over the next couple of weeks and certainly by the time we go on tour. "The players report back on July 4 or 5 and in an ideal world you want the coach in position by then."

Why's no one talking about this? According to, well, everywhere, we've released Kalou, Bosingwa and Malouda.

Dzeko is not too dissimilar to Mario Gomez. They make the same runs, same passes, and often the same decisions that the other would make. They also both have issues with change. It took Gomez AGES to come good at Bayern Munich, and I'm positive if Dzeko is kept at Man City for another season (and used regularly), he'll win the golden boot. He's phenomenal on his day, but we haven't seen much of that this/last season.

Ah, so you think their last colossal sum transfer was a good one do you? Also, you shouldn't talk about what you're clueless about. My family has deep ties into football, always have, and always will. Grandad owned shares in AS Roma, uncle is a professional coach at Brighton, and cousin plays professional football (in a small league in Asia though, admittedly). On top of that, my mum's cousin is Rio Ferdinand's ex. Pretty sure I know something about football.

Ok, for all you Lucas Moura lovers, just tell me one thing - Where would he play? He's too expensive to just be back-up to Mata, but Mata is far superior to be dropped for him. We can't change from a 4-2-3-1, as it's the only formation which Fernando 'please leave' Torres works at all well in. He is far from a winger, as he can barely cross the ball, and likes to be in the centre of the pitch. Think logically before sucking some guys dick. He wouldn't fit into our team at all. smh.

Fuck Torres.