The only place to be

Can't believe I'm going to defend Costa, but didn't we sign a player who was about his age around a decade ago who had one solid year under his belt (in the French league no less) and who could be a bit of a twat (diving, and even got himself sent off in the biggest game in our history, when he would've been a penalty taker in the shoot out.....which we lost). Just saying.

You might think it's ridiculous but I don't. And how quickly you forget that we signed Kurt Zouma just a few days ago.

I think he's learnt to be a bit more decisive when clearing the ball and that's about it. I still think he's immature at times and does the stupidest things now and then. Again, big games and small games. Every game is a massive game and this season he's thrown in some of his worst displays in my opinion. I don't see much difference in his individual performances, just the improvement that comes with being in a much more defensively sound system. He doesn't let you down. 2 more in the league than us. I wouldn't have started Mikel. Defence would've stayed exactly the same though. Possibly. But then you've got Cahill's presence at set-pieces that you'd lose out on. Swings and roundabouts. He's made 2 league appearances in defence since November. Barca want different things from their defenders than Jose does. The argument that the number of bids should determine who is better is remarkably facile. No official bids were lodged for Phil Jones but that doesn't mean he doesn't have massive potential. It absolutely is.

Lampard. 12 yards out. Centre of goal. If you're not scoring those goals then it's just not your day.

Don't take risks?? We created 39 chances against West Ham and got behind their first bank almost at will. Plus I've never looked at Cahill and Terry and wanted them to help unlock a tight defence. That's the job of the 8 players in front of them. We've beaten Man City, Man United and Liverpool at home without him. If the centre-halves keep it tight then we're always in with a shout. Which skilful forwards are you talking about? That's the thing with skilful forwards though....they're skilful. Phil Jones might yet live up to his potential, but I'm not sure what this has got to do with anything in this thread.

It's not just about raising funds though. It's effective management of assets. If you can get £30 million for a player who isn't an integral part of your starting XI then it makes sense to cash in, especially when you have young players with potential behind players like Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic.

If you can improve the squad by selling him, then that's precisely the reason to let him go.

He hasn't stalled. This is just his ups and downs and the only progress I've seen is that he's more willing to hack the ball clear, almost completely without thought at times. Exactly the type of thinking I hate in David Luiz. Are the prices any cheaper? Are the three points any less 'three pointy'? Do they not count in the league? At the start of that day, David Luiz is given the chance to wear the Blue of Chelsea for the day. The same Blue that hundreds have represented with honour and millions around the world support. Saying it isn't a big game is exactly the problem David Luiz has in my opinion. Now the myth that Gary Cahill has channelled Franco Baresi for the last three months. He hasn't. He's just been fairly solid and not done anything stupid.

There's always money to spend, but Mourinho hasn't been reluctant to strip dead wood and bring in players who are capable of contributing to the way he wants to play.

I haven't forgotten his ability. In fact I've seen it written here a few times that 'we knew what we were signing when we bought Luiz' and 'he is who he is' or words to that effect. I'm not talking about his form. I'm talking about who David Luiz is as a player and that's pretty much the same guy he was at 23. The last time he made a major mistake in a big game off the top of my head was against Cardiff at home. He also had a poor game away to Newcastle. Either way, 2 games at CB since the start of November tells it's own tale.

He's not horrible offensively, and the most important thing he does is consistently get up and down which creates space for Hazard. Cole is massively inconsistent at the moment and it's hard to predict which one we'll get. But with Negredo, Kompany and Toure at set-pieces I think we'll need Ivanovic's presence at set-pieces, plus he's one of our main targets from goal-kicks where he'll probably be up against Clichy. If you want to exploit the wings then you need to win first-phase ball.

I'll probably edit this a few times but let's see. IN - Shaw, Striker (Cavani, Rooney, Costa) OUT - Luiz, Cech, Mikel, Bertrand, Van Aanholt, Moses, Marin, Cole, Ba, Torres (probably dreaming on that one) GOALKEEPERS - Courtois, Schwarzer, Blackman, Hilario's corpse. DEFENDERS - Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Terry, Cahill, Zouma, Shaw, Ake DEFENSIVE MIDS - Lampard, Matic, Ramires, Romeu, Chalobah, Van Ginkel ATTACKING MIDS - Oscar, Willian, Hazard, Schurrle, Salah, Piazon STRIKERS - Shiny new one, Lukaku, Etoo Plenty of other youngsters to be decided on (Bamford, McEachran, Kane, Omeruo being the main ones) and could see us getting another DM but that to me a is a squad that can compete.

Aside from his attitude.....It's amazing how people are willing to excuse the most important aspect of a sportsman's makeup. Costa might be a flop but I think he could fit the system. The other option is perhaps Cavani who excelled in a counter-attacking system in Napoli and is not being played in his preferred position in Paris.

Since when does Azpi not contribute anything in offence? Azpi was used against Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal. I think there's a good chance he starts tomorrow.

Roman was one of the biggest supporters of FFP by most accounts and it benefits us to see it implemented so it's unlikely we'll try and undermine it..... And Balotelli???

How? By lowering the expectations of those outside the camp?

Maybe the FA could help us out and let clubs have B teams that play professional football in the lower leagues. A mini-Chelsea playing the same type of football so they can slot seamlessly into the first-team.

1:30 in. Nice ball.

Eventually yes, but it takes time. We completely overhauled the academy upon Roman's arrival so the results will take time to filter through, but a decent comparison might be Barca. Cruyff revolutionised La Masia in 1979 but it was about a decade until Amor made his debut for the first team. Then it was a fairly steady stream, although still rather limited. Manchester's class of '92 is an exception as well, but I think if we can get stability in the managerial position then there's too much talent and too great a will in the club to promote youth for some young players not to make it here.

Ssshhh.....don't tell them that. We want them to keep him.

Now look Oscar, Willian, Andre, Eden and Mo....if you don't work your socks off without the ball then we'll sell you to a shit team up north too. Oh and Mata....

Terry, Cahill, Zouma, Ivanovic, Omeruo, Kalas. That to me is sufficient centre-back cover. I really do like Zouma and although we talk about his potential I think he could contribute like Varane did at the same age for Madrid.

Cahill has been a fairly consistent, unspectacular player for much of his career and I don't think he's massively changed from that. He's playing under a better manager in a better, more solid system and he's simply carried on doing the simply things he's always done fairly well. David Luiz is the same player he was when we signed him, except he hoofs the ball out a little bit more than he used to. Under Mourinho he's been dropped twice and seen more time as a midfielder in the last few months. But who knows, maybe Luiz can peak in a year's time. That might be around the time he gets a start in defence next. If Barca come in with the £30 million bid that was rumoured a while back, why not let him go? We have midfield cover now in Matic and a bright young prospect with amazing potential in Zouma. Here's the thing....you talk about Luiz in terms of potential, but the guy is 26 and is making the same boneheaded mistakes he made when he was 23. Where's the progression? Where's the ability to learn? I would honestly take Zouma over him as third choice centre-back next season and use the money to invest in other areas. It's not nonsense to suggest we sell a DEFENDER who has played in defence TWICE in the last THREE months in the league.

You said 'who the hell is supposed to take over his spot?'. I asked to which spot you were referring, his spot on the bench or his spot as a DM. We've signed Matic so its less likely he'll play in midfield. So I assume you mean his spot as third choice defender, and for that I'd probably go with Zouma next season. If Terry is injured then I'd start Cahill and Zouma and move Ivanovic to third choice. That's based on us getting a left-back in the summer (hopefully Shaw) and being able to play Azpi at right-back more often. Against Liverpool? I dunno. Can we trust Luiz in defence against a team as good as Liverpool? How many games as Luiz played as a centre-back since November 2nd (or the last THREE months) in the league?

On the bench or in midfield? In midfield I'd choose Matic. As third choice defender, why not Zouma? Why not Ivanovic? Maybe even one of Kalas or Omeruo.