The only place to be

QPR are a rival. They're actually based quite close to us. FYI, we don't like them.

He's been washed-up for a year. He probably wouldn't play much for us though, not with Matic and Fabregas starting and Ramires and Van Ginkel on the bench. It's a shame but from his perspective this is probably one of the better moves.

Have you just decided?

Maybe it's revenge for us using their colours in our training kit. On the plus side, have you seen Man United trying to copy us with their new blue kit? Must get on Twitter and wind them up.

Oh it's a shit feeling but I can't bemoan a guy whose instincts to push himself at the highest level which gave me so much joy are still pushing him to compete at the highest level. He hasn't retired from international football like a certain bottle-job so clearly he still thinks he can contribute and if he wants to be selected should he go and play in the A-League or the Champions League? Would people have preferred he had gone to Liverpool? Arsenal (no chance)? He's gone to a club who will keep him stronger for longer. I hope he doesn't contribute much but if he's the difference between us winning and losing the title then there's bigger problems.

Let's name some other options then? Melbourne? Really...a guy who still wants to play for England is going to play against Heskey and Bridges? Be realistic. This guy is a born competitor, something no-one here moaned about when we reaped the benefits so now you expect him just to turn that off? Sorry to break it to you guys but; A. Competitors will compete until their dying day and B. Your ex-girlfriend will have sex after you. Get over both of them, Have a wank and a lemsip and you'll be fine in the morning.

We let him go. We have these players who have this drive and determination that gives us great days out (or things to brag about on Facebook) and then expect them simply to give it up when we're done with them? He's still Frank. He's got to play somewhere, he still has ambitions to play for England so why wouldn't he put himself at the highest level he could? Where else realistically could afford him and play him at the level he still obviously thinks he deserves.

Pathetic. The guy's a legend and anyone who wants to question his loyalty needs their head examined. It's not a great situation but it's just the way it's worked out. He plays for a City sister club so it makes sense he'd train /play there.

So now we're questioning the loyalty of a player who stepped up for this club so soon after his mother passed away? The guy who was captain that night in Munich? The guy who scored the goals to win us our first title in 50 years?

Frank has a young family. There's a massive difference between the commute to Melbourne and New York. He's a professional footballer. These things happen and whilst it's shit it's not a reason to bash a genuine legend of this club. Gotta laugh at City having to sign aged legends from other teams though because they've got none of their own.

What a prat. Sign players with immense drive and then get arsey when they decide they don't want to be retired early just so a small minority of fans' feelings aren't hurt.

See this is where I'm maybe a little old-fashioned but I don't really hate City. People who would rather a Chelsea legend go to QPR is beyond bewildering. I'm sure these people would be fine with him going to Leeds as well. It's not nice seeing him in any other shirt but he's a professional footballer. He doesn't owe us a thing because he gave us EVERYTHING he had on the pitch. Personally I'd rather go to City than QPR as well. Some of the comments on Twitter are worryingly RAWKish though.

So he needs to stay fit for City's sister club, and he joins City for six months to do that? Didn't see this coming but don't know if he had any other realistic choices. Hopefully he doesn't play too much but he's probably their fourth best midfielder now. Sucks but that's life.

Chalobah likely, Baker looks to be part of the squad though.

Ake and Baker can play there too, although I'd obviously prefer Chalobah.

Cech Mikel Romeu (loan) Torres

Except Mourinho DID use Lukaku. In 3 of the first 4 matches he got gametime. Azpilicueta on the other hand didn't get any significant minutes until September. That's because he has an exemplary attitude and Lukaku doesn't. You can believe your version of events but I know for a fact it's false.

And you're basing your opinion on what? What's on the Swedish grapevine? And you know Mourinho is lying? How about the transfer request Lukaku made last season? Any views on that kid?

And last season when he made a transfer request? That's when his fate was sealed. He didn't have the right attitude. That won't be missed.

We operate in a world based on 'realism' though. Costa is the number one striker and he will have a lot of pressure on him, but I think he's mentally tough so it's not a huge problem for me. Drogba is the guy we bring on when chasing games and again, I think as a guy in the six yard box he's still a very capable operator and again he's mentally tough enough to deal with that. Torres sits in a rather nice spot of having zero expectations on him and little pressure. He'll be the guy we bring on when games are close to being won and he'll start games where we feel we don't need Costa's presence. I call this the 'Kalou role'. That's why I think he'll get into double digits for Premier League goals this season and 8-12 goals elsewhere. Maybe I'm being hopelessly optimistic but I think there's enough negativity and vitriol elsewhere in this thread that you need that. What is interesting is that hybrid 4231/4312 formation we deployed against Vitesse where he and Costa interchanged as striker and left-winger with three central midfielders and one right-winger behind them. It's an aggressive formation and one that might be productive for him (Schurrle can also fit into that role).

From someone who lied about Chelsea supporters booing Lukaku, that's pretty rich.

Can see him staying and having his best scoring season for us. The additions of Fabregas and Costa will aid him, as will us hopefully being a better team. He seems to just get his head down and play and I can see him getting late goals in games where he comes on in winning situations for Costa. At this point you have to ask who is realistically out there we could get?

Heskey is different. He was all about pace and power, had a poor first-touch and hold-up play and got into double digits in the Premier League on two occasions before his 21st birthday before moving to a club on Merseyside. Completely different players.

I don't think Reus for Oscar is particularly worthwhile unless you're moving Hazard to 10. Either way we have the likes of Boga coming through so there's pressure on Oscar and we don't necessarily have to go into the market. As for why this thread has been quiet....well there's no reason to talk about him. Everyone hopes he's not as shit as he has been for the last 6 months and it's not like there's any reason to think about him beyond that. When he doesn't play you don't miss him. Fabregas at 10 is a far more enticing prospect at the moment and I'd quite happily go with that and have Matic and Ramires/Van Ginkel behind him.

That's based on a sample sizing of 4 games isn't it? He got more minutes than Azpi in that time. Lukaku got that. He quit after 4 matches, 3 of which he played in.