The only place to be

Still trying too hard.

Jesus.....plastic fan trying too hard.

Got to give him credit, he did well yesterday. He killed the game off early and made some good runs for other players for the rest of the game. But Villa were awful and he still has to show it against better teams than Sunderland and Nordsjaellend.

He left City because they wouldn't pay him £60k after about a dozen games. We did. Contrast that with Mata who came to London on a reduced contract, proved himself and then got an improved one. We've moved on. We've got Hazard, Marin, Moses, Oscar and Piazon for the wings and we'll buy a new striker in a couple of weeks in all likelihood. Some people need to give the board some credit for making £12 million on a striker who could move for free next year - remember how much we laughed at Arsenal for putting themselves in that situation with RVP and now Walcott?? He had no future here so we sold him for about twice what we paid for him. That is good business.

Dude.....brevity. Just stop with the great walls of unreadable text. You aren't Shakespeare, so stop trying to invent new words too. Frank is a legend, but we're a business and he will be replaced eventually. But he's going to be 35 and his performances aren't as consistent as they were a few years ago so he's going to play a lesser role in the side. That probably means he won't play in the bigger games in future so his contract should reflect that. I really don't need you telling me what a legend he is over and over and over again because I've seen it in the flesh hundreds of times. We get it, you're a Lampard fan. Just stop trying so hard and be a little more realistic ok. :tophat:

So you think he could be the next Joe Cole?

I tend to pick out the salient points in the walls of text you post. I'm obviously not going to respond to each point you make. I honestly don't need you to tell me what a great player he is. But I think you need to take a step back from the overwrought sentimentality and recognise that the club has to make tough choices, and that we are going to operate in different ways. It would be great if he stays but it has to be what's best for the club too. I'm sure he'll find a nice home in Monaco or LA and he'll always be welcomed back to the Bridge with love.

That's simply not how clubs can work nowadays. We have to strike the right balance by acknowledging the roles players fulfil now, and not reward them based on reputation alone. The funny thing is that Frank Lampard would be the first person to recognise this. He had a good game today, but the opposition was weak. He's not the same player he was 5 years ago so he shouldn't expect to receive the same contract he did then, and he also needs to understand why the club is doing what it's doing. Two year contract. That sounds nice. In reality it's a roughly £10 million commitment to a player who will be 35-37, in a position where we have a lot of competition and tighter restrictions on our spending abilities. He's a legend, and we're a business. Hopefully the negotiations will find a way to marry these two concepts to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.

Has been mightily impressive since we signed him, and the board deserve some credit for picking him up at such a decent price.

Luiz has done well when he's played there, but he still needs to show it against some top-level opposition before we can say he's definitely a midfielder. He looks composed and steady but had so little pressure today that I'd have been more surprised if he didn't. It's encouraging but it's going to take time.

I think a few fans are just trying too hard. Today felt like one of those Ancelotti games in 2010 where we'd just stuff teams. The atmosphere was great, going in there was a real Christmas spirit which helps and I heard only sporadic anti-Benitez chanting. I enjoy games where the crowd is positive, getting behind the team and even the opposition get ribbed lightly. Like I've said elsewhere Villa were poor but Benitez got the tactics and the team spot on, and it was nice to see Piazon get some game time. Hard to judge against such poor opposition but that was one of the most complete performances in the league for a long time.

I assume they'll renew them if it's an equitable deal for both parties. The club has this policy for players over the age of 30 and has to stick to it and if they can't come to an agreement, it'll be a shame. But both sides have to want to come to an agreement.

Good performance which shows he probably still has a place in the squad but him and the club have to find a way to agree on wages, length and the type of role he's expected to play. He knows this, and he knows that the club will be here long after he goes so they have to look to the future, at the likes of De Bruyne, McEachran, Oscar and Chalobah. No Chelsea fan would want to see him leave but I also think every fan would understand if he felt he could still do it week-in and week-out for a club prepared to pay him close to what he's currently earning, on a long-term contract. Got a great reception today though and hopefully that reminds him how much he's loved by the Chelsea faithful.

Great result but Villa were pretty awful. Lots of promising things but hard to judge against such a poor team. Hazard's work rate seems to have come on leaps and bounds though, and he didn't stop. Luiz stepped up again and apart from a few moments of complacency, he looked very comfortable so has to start there again. Lamps got a goal and got a great reception which will hopefully convince him to lower his expectations in terms of games and wage. Defence looked solid, although Benteke's attempts to stay onside were laughable. Torres deserves credit for a fantastic goal. I said before the game that the first goal would be crucial and the floodgates did indeed open. Great to see Piazon get a run out and he didn't look at all out of place, although by then Villa were already on the bus home. All in all a great result.

Looking forward to the game today but can see travel being a little mental. Nothing better than a home game at Christmas seeing all the kids excited. A win to cap it off would be great.

Obviously I disagree with what pep would want. In fact I think falcao is good type of player, I've he admires and it's a good sign that we're going after . He fits what we are trying to do throughout the club at all age groups.

Clearly you and I have different views of what we need in a striker. I'm not going to argue over it because I can't see that being beneficial. I think Falcao can fulfil our needs in that position simply by doing what he does. I think that will benefit the rest of the players but I wouldn't be disappointed if we got Cavani too. But I simply look at what type of football we're looking to play, and what type of football we might be playing next season if we get Guardiola and I think the best option is Falcao.

Sorry, I don't think I made myself clear in that point. I don't think the Falcao deal is close because he hasn't played in the Europa League. I was simply making the point that if we're letting Sturridge go so soon in the window, then a deal for his replacement (whoever that might be) must be fairly advanced. As for Danny, he's got talent but it's always been the attitude side of things that has let him down. Remember the whole contract issue that caused him to leave City in the first place? Now look at someone like Mata who took a reduced wage to come here, proved himself and now looks to be getting a new contract - that's the type of player we want in my opinion.

I've addressed this point in the other thread but the conclusion is the same - one year ago I would've agreed that Cavani was the right guy but looking to the future I think Falcao is.

I agree that Cavani is a good team player and is better than Falcao in certain regards. I just look at what our team needs and think Falcao is the best available option right now. We need a guy who stretches the field, finishes moves and makes good runs - it sounds simple but it's where we've struggled all season. You seem to be looking for another Drogba, but everything seems to suggest we're moving away from that. It won't solve all our problems, but the effect of having a guy who fits your system can be dramatic. Sure there's the culture shock, but that would be the case with Cavani too. Like I said earlier this isn't an exact science but when I look at all the things we want in a striker at this point in time and going forward, Falcao seems to tick most boxes. If this was one year ago, I'd agree that Cavani would be the best choice.

But that role that Drogba played doesn't exist in the same way anymore and it won't in future if things go to plan. I love the progress he's making, but I think he's going to have to share that striker role or be our 'plan b', although a lot can change.

I think Cavani would've been better for us last year and that Falcao will be better for us now, and especially next season if we actually get the guy we know Roman wants. I really like Cavani, but I look at what our club wants to do and Falcao really does seem the best choice.

It probably helped, but the guy's reputation was simply solidified in that game. Are there other options? Yes. But Falcao ticks more boxes than the other options and you pay a premium for that sometimes.

We are rebuilding and moving to something he isn't particularly known for.

Who?