Wxgba

I think the game against Villa will be a lot more difficult than you'd first imagine. As Alex has said, Villa are one of our bogey teams that we do often seem to struggle against. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with Heskey's fearful presence up-front... Although I think it will be a challenge, I do think we'll leave the game with all three points.

I've missed a few games due to work commitments and returning to sixth form and that, so no doubt this will come in very handy for me. Thanks a bunch, guys! Keep up the good work.

Sheffield United. And then other teams I like; Spain - Atlético Germany - Werder Bremen Italy - AC Milan Portugal - Benfica Holland - Feyenoord

It is rare nowadays, particularly in big clubs, to see English talent coming through in to the first team. Hopefully the new squad restrictions and regulations will change this somewhat, but that won't be evident for a good few years or so yet, especially when clubs are still able to scout youngsters from abroad providing they're under 21. We're lucky to have such a good prospect within our ranks, and I really hope Kalou is right, thinking he'll go on to be an influential player for Chelsea in years to come.

I know, mate.

Yes there is. The forthcoming season!

If there's any players in particular you'd like to see in the avatar galleries here on TalkChelsea, just let me know. Just drop a post with the player you'd like to see in my graphics thread, which can be found here. I've already done Joe Cole and Eidur Gudjohnsen avas, I just haven't uploaded them yet.

None taken. But, sometimes, I do feel as though people do attempt too much, overdoing the layers, textures and lighting effects within signatures. Excessive textures is something, I, myself, am not a massive fan of. Others are though, and it's just down to a matter of personal preference and opinion. If you want me to constructively criticise the piece, and explain why I think it's not the best of the bunch, then I shall do so... Although the black and white designed texture in the signature, which you seem to like, is something different, it is a little too harsh for my liking. Rather than be the main background for the piece, I'd suggest it to be used at a lower opacity on a different setting to, perhaps, overly another texture that could be placed underneath. The black and white colours also seem to clash with the border; and the border is something I deem to finish a piece off- something that is often disregarded or seen as unimportant, when in fact, it can be the changing factor in a signature or a graphic. The render itself seems a bit plain, and the yellow of Lampard's kit, though it makes the render the centre piece, draws too much attention to player. A few lighting effects and blending in the background would suffice, but obviously, the background would also need altering slightly; harmonising colours could be added in to help blend the render in slightly more than it currently is. The placement, and font face, of the text could also do with being tweaked; though as I've previously said, the text is really hard to 'get right'. I could go on, in detail, to explain why I think the other attempts Steve has done so far are better than the Lampard sig, but I feel as though I've spoken too much already. Hope you don't take offence to this, Steve. It's all said with a good spirit.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm a fan of that kit. Hopefully that's the real deal.

Big wages at Santos, or big wages playing for the Champions of England, in the best league in the world? I know which I'd prefer...

No offence intended here, Steve, but honestly, I'd say the Lampard one's possibly the 'worst' (if there is a bad one!) of the bunch. I like the newest Malouda one, and the new manipulation signatures you've uploaded. I particularly like v1 you did up there, though I think the black border is too thick, making it a little harsh. Other than that, it's fantastic. Keep up the great work, buddy.

Now, now... don't be silly. Describing Mikel as a slug really is laughable. In the past year or so he's improved and developed massively; but by no means is he yet the finished article. I wouldn't say he's particularly slow, either, nor would I say he lacks heart. He's a committed player, in my opinion, and one I'm glad we've got at the club- and this wasn't my opinion of him, say, a year ago...

I'm actually going to agree with you here. I don't deem the preciseness of the join date necessary.

You're either on a wind-up, or you're going mad. Obviously, you'd like to see some English talent brought in and injected to the club. But we can do much better than Cattermole. If we were going to sign anyone along those lines, I'd like to see Rodwell brought in. I'd quite like to see Neymar come to us this transfer window; he's looking like a realistic target. Torres is a hopeful one, but both won't be necessary and Neymar, though not proven in the Premier League, will cost us a lot less. And with Abramovich splashing the cash a lot more sensibly nowadays, I doubt that'll develop any further than rumours. Ramires, another realistic target, also seems promising, and I wouldn't mind seeing him come to the Bridge this summer. Aye, I've heard that too. Liverpool, if they sell Insua (which may not actually be happening now), would be left without a left-back.

Thanks, mate. I'm currently in the process of making some avatars for the galleries on here.

Ignore me if I'm wrong (which I may well be as it's only an assumption), but I'd have thought Ancelotti would decide the players we buy, and Begiristain would do all the negotiations with whoever it may concern, regarding transfer fees, wages and the like. It'd be nice if someone who knows could clear it up, though.

Just wait until he's fully fit then, eh? It's about time he had surgery, though; like others have said it is long overdue. He may miss the start of the season, but I'd much rather him miss the first few games where most teams will be inconsistent anyway, as opposed to the rear-end of the season where every last point counts. We need Drogba for the run-in, and this time around, hopefully, he'll be at full match fitness.

I bet your mouth reeks... with all the shit you come out with. How on earth do you know how many of your posts I've seen? For all you know, I could come on here daily, click on your profile, view your posts and have a good old chuckle to myself. Obviously I don't do that; that'd be stupid of me to do so as there'll be nothing worthwhile to read, anyway. Okay, you may contribute more than most; I'll give you that. But, let me ask you this, how many of your posts are actually to a good standard and don't contain hideous remarks/comments within them? Quality over quantity and all that. I'm only 'dedicating my time to such back and forths' because your replies are quite amusing. Please, do keep them coming.

Cheers, pal. Nice to see you're still about too.

Me? I'm your worst enemy. Someone who doesn't post much on here because of numbskulls like yourself. There are differing opinions and slants on certain topics, and then there is idiocy and stupidity. Most of your posts would categorise under the latter. Now please go and bore someone else with your drivel; one can only cope with so much shite being spouted.

A valid point? Where exactly did you make a valid point? I don't think I've seen you make a valid point. Ever.

Seriously; grow up. Don't cry because other people are getting repped. It's an online forum, ffs. He's setting an excellent example- showing the newbies who the idiots of the forum are. So you also lurk round the forum, checking back every post you make, see where someone's quoted you and then check who's repped them? Or do you just assume it to be him? Either way, get a life. EDIT: Also, Jim, whilst reviewing this post I noticed there's a problem with the formatting/alignment of the posts.

I wasn't pointing the finger at you, nor was I implying that it's your duty to go round 'cleaning' people's posts up. A basic level of grammar and punctuation should be required to post on here, though. And, at times, some threads become almost unreadable with the amount of bad grammar, spelling, punctuation etc. contained within them.

I can write a player profile on who I want, when I want, thank you very much.

I'm sure I wrote a player profile for Essien before the site got updated, but I never saw it displayed on the site. Seriously, though, I wouldn't mind doing a couple when I find the time. I'll probably do Essien, Benayoun and Anelka, if other people aren't already planning on doing them?