Fulham Broadway

Amazing if Rangers can do it, but they can hardly be accused of being free scoring in the competition. 100 000 Rangers in Madchester apparently http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7399999.stm

Very doubtful that he does.

Essien to Replace Diarra Predrag Mijatovic approached Peter Kenyon, when he travelled to London to watch the Blues play Fenerbahçe, about the Ghanaian international and was quoted a price of €35m. That is €10m more than Madrid were preparing to go with, but the sale of Diarrá may see the Spanish giants counter with a bid of €30m According to reports, the former Lyon midfielder is keen to leave Stamford Bridge following the departure of José Mourinho and has been weighing up where his next move would be. Diarra looks certain to leave Madrid as his agent agent, Frederic Guerra, revealed that after Barcelona visit the Bernabéyou on May 7, the club should be willing to talk about a transfer.. "We will have to see what happens after Madrid play Barcelona," he said. "After that we will know more clearly what could happen. Diarrá is not happy at Madrid because he is not playing very much. It is a worrying situation." Bernd Schuster is also said to have told Mijatovic that Essien would be a very welcome addition to the squad as he has never been a big fan of Diará and wants a new defensive midfielder. Ian Dixon, Goal.com for Ians ''...according to reports''..read..''I just made this up''

There was a thing on Tribal or Goal about Essiens agent being approached ina massive deal by Real or something. I'll try and find it.

Telegraph Today Grant Sat Next to Abramovich The planning has already begun and Grant, who joined the club as director of football before becoming manager, is taking the lead role alongside Abramovich. "Nobody except me and the owner knows the players for next season," he said. Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Petr Cech are all due for negotiations over contract extensions, while Tal Ben Haim, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge, Andrei Shevchenko and Steve Sidwell must decide whether to seek regular first-team football elsewhere. Cech is expected to agree an extended £90,000-a-week deal to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012. Ballack has spoken of his desire to finish his career with Chelsea, and his recent partnership with Frank Lampard will surely have enhanced the willingness finally to settle the England midfielder's contract talks. Key to Chelsea's summer transfer strategy, however, will be resolving the future of Didier Drogba. Grant has received no reassurances from Drogba, but is expected to seek clarification of his intentions after next week's Champions League final. "He didn't say to me that he wants to leave and the club didn't say that they want him to leave," Grant said. The shock to me is that the club would consider offloading Bridge !

Zola Magic Cup Tastic http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/93222.stm

Nailed on again Pluto. I just remember some of his Israeli counterparts talking about his appointment. About how his strength is ingratiating himself with the rich and powerful, and basically conning people that he knows about football. Bloke is a complete fraudster in my book, and has managed to con some fans now that he desreves some kind of credit.

Cracking atmosphere at the Gate last night, and City are on their way to Wembley. Sadly, unless they spend well, (if they beat Hull or Watford) they'll really struggle. Maybe not of Derby proportions, but they will come straight down again.

Take your point, but if Rain Man took over at Old Trafford, he'd get adequate results ....for a while. I for one, am not happy with this season -we should have at least TWO pieces of silverware by now. As I've said we've the most cash at our disposal, and the quality of players and two experienced coaches either side of the fat buffoon is what's keeping him afloat. We should be the dominant force in football now...and without Abramovichs fragile protected ego, and his delicate sensibilities upset by the gobby Portugeezer, we would be. I'll forgive you that transgression CM what with the demise of Scratch. I might change my username to Mr Elegant as well.

We've been fortunate to be in positions this season where silverware has just been in reach. given the resources at the clubs disposal, some should be in the cabinet. I maintain the grip on those has slipped because of lack of tactical awareness, and unqualified bufoonery. A competent coach wouldnt have let those slip, -it's no coincidence that ManUtd have won the PL ten times with Ferguson there. With the break up of the squad -whenever it happens - new additions need an inspiring leader off the pitch, as well as the JTs and Lampards on it. There is no shining light off the field, unless all the players are obsessive Simpsons fans.

I think the squad is important - but without a change at the helm any strenth in depth is diluted. Take, O'Neil, Clough, Mourinho, Ferguson -all did wonders with average squads initially. They command respect from their achievements and know how to motivate players. They are/were also tactically competent. It'll be a case of what could have been, and a 'nearly did it' season unles Grant is told to do one.

I can see Drogba being sweet talked into staying. One of the Guardian rumours atm is that we're trying to swap Anelka+SWP for Berbatov

..and hes off if one rumour is to be believed . We definitely need strengthening in that dept, and the result next Tuesday will have probably have some bearing on who stays

Definitely SpanierdPool propaganda in my book, and hes a tart anyway.Theres certainly an abundance of rumours. ManUtd have a seemingly surplus of strikers yet are rumoured to be in the hunt for TWO !

It's mainly journalists earning their commission. Remember the last two season holiday periods ? Transfer rumours go into meltdown with reporters licking their lips at the prospect of Romans fortune being spent. Mostly worth ignoring until it's official.

Lol I'd always support Chelsea above England Dutch Dignity

Very dubious. The report is in a Spanish paper which 'bigs up' Spanish players like theres no tomorrow.....nothing wrong with that, but its probably Liverspanish bollocks.

Wouldnt want him tbh. Fine free scoring talent against Fulham, Wigan, Derby etc, but fairly impotent against proper opposition, and its silly money, and hes a girl . Drogba must be worth £100 million then. Just Scouse propaganda...

Good point C the C, complete waste of energy if theres no final gameplan and no end result. Like blagging a girl all night just to get the knockback. Thanks for the compliment -never been called elegant before ! Your so called 'rants' are spot on btw.

Be interesting to see how our squad members perform -Bosingwa will be showcased as well , before he joins us. Portugals game against Czech Republic on 11 June

Having watched us when ''we were shit''. This season could be deemed a supreme success. But given the resources, and that we can still end up the with the same amount of trophies as Arsenal it could also be regarded as a dismal failure. I wouldnt say our board is as greedy and incompetent as Birmingham, but it's not far off. A season of missed opportunities up to now, not down to the team, but due to a tactical void, -open mouthed head scratching, when contingencies and Plan B's were callled for.

Saw this as well on 'Chelsea Pies'. Should really acknowledge the source. Theres a tactical void towards the end of games, no doubt. But just a load of ifs and buts really. If me aunty had bollocks she'd be me uncle

18 is quite an age for a cat. Know what you're going through -same thing happened with my cat last year 'Puss' (original I know). She adopted me as a kitten, and had her 14 years.

OK no England because we're shit , but some tasty games afoot and Chelsea players performing. My money is on Germany and Ballack to lift the trophy. Group A - Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey Group B - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland Group C - Netherlands, Italy, Romania, France Group D - Greece, Sweden, Spain, Russia