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Unless you only discovered Chelsea Football Club yesterday, that isn't really something you need to state.

PSG have raped italian football. Cavani, Ibra, Lavezzi, Pastore, Thiago Silva, and now Marquinhos..

If Mourinho wants him, I'm sold. Rooney is pure testosterone, a brute. He certainly won't come with a fragile psyche like Torres after his move. Torres is a delicate little snowflake who had to be wrapped in cotton wool because Carlo started him against his former club. Rooney wouldn't give a fuck and it won't effect him at all..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOYcn0_fKHk

Rooney started his career pretty early though, and he could still leave a strong legacy here. The transfer itself could also signify a power shift if we do go on to win the league with Mourinho and United fade out.

Killing off a number for that reason seems a little contradictory. Because the whole idea of United's number 7 (for example) is that by giving it to another player.. it keeps the legacy of former players alive. It gives the number an identity and immortalises those who made it famous for that club. When Michael Owen got it, their fans instantly thought he wasn't good enough to wear the number worn by [said legend].

United could have retired the number 7 after George Best, they didn't.. and along came Eric Cantona who created his own legacy with the number. Football clubs are forever.

It's a small-club 'mentality' thing to do then.. I.e.. 'that's as good as it's going to get'/'won't get any better than this' etc. Not moving forward, not letting another generation make it's mark, maybe that's one of the many factors as to why italian football is in the state it's in.

I think it's safe to say... Pelé is a boss.

1-11 numbers should never be retired, only small clubs retire them. Football clubs are eternal, they will live on until the sun destroys the earth, Lampard is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

He turns 30 this month, hope we don't overspend. Very much a 'short-term' option.

You know what, if this had been ANY other manager wanting Rooney I'd be against it, but it's Mourinho.. so. And unlike Schurrle 'who Jose was only partially responsible for', this would be a 100% Mourinho signing. He's more of a 'brand' now 'Englands Rose', living off his reputation like Torres was, although.. Jose may be the right personality to get the best out of him.

Besides Roman, obviously (shouldn't have to mention that on a Chelsea forum ffs) He's not an idiot. If we have a bad spell under Jose, he just needs to be reminded of what happened the last time he was sacked. I.e.. lack of an identity, player power increased, could only win the league & CL by the grit of our teeth etc etc.

We may have to accept Mata has no place in Mourinho's system, as much as we all love Mata.. let's get a bit of perspective here. Mourinho is bigger than any player, we don't have a Bale, Ronaldo or Messi.. Mata is not of that calibre.

But of course a mere fan/punter 'joe bloggs from [insert Chelsea forum]' only sees it in football terms If Ballack hadn't got his number 13, he would have never been a Chelsea player. Gallas left because Kenyon demanded he be stripped of it..

Torres was a MASSIVE success commercially and 'brand wise' (the latter not being as measurable), why break a winning formula.

Oh dear. Rooney would be another 'business buy' like with Torres, 'Pride Of England™', even if he flopped.. we'd still make a killing commerically. Which leads me to believe that yes Mata was offered, for the number 10 shirt.

Mourinho is the best thing that ever happened to this football club, it must be a really shitty existence being a Chelsea fan and hating him.. Sort of like being a fan of pizza but lactose intolerant.

Yea, 2Pac was more of a poet than a lyrical powerhouse like Nas for example, his beat selection was never great either.

I'd rather re-sign Kalou, and give Benayoun a coaching role.

You look at clubs like Spurs, Liverpool, and even Barca & Real and you can pinpoint one player who is bigger and more important than the manager. Feels good to have coach bigger than our entire squad, respect isn't 'given' it's intrinsic.

Sublime.