petre.ispirescu

I think he had a decent first half as a target man, but then he disappeared from the game as Martinez chose to change his tactics and defend that slender lead. I was really hoping Everton will push for a top4 place this season, but now I don't know if they are able to do it. Unfortunately, Liverpool/Tottenham will grab a Champions League spot... Right now, I'd wish United would have been higher in the standings, maybe three points behind Liverpool and Tottenham so that they can give them a real fight for that spot. As much as I hate United, I really can't stand Liverpool and Tottenham and their deluded fans.

pretty sure I've seen this pic in a southampton related article in daily mail a couple of days ago

I read an interview he did for Cadena Cope last night and he said he'll be staying here until the end of the season and then he'll be going back to Mallorca, play a season or two and finish his career there.

And he keeps getting better and better, but at the same time we have to agree that with Azpilicueta at LB, Hazard isn't having the same impact on the game as playing with Ash, or a proper LB. Still, I'm happy for Dave because he deserves playing week-in, week-out, he's a great lad and he seems to be one of those guys Jose enjoys working with.

De Bruyne back for £35M

I think the De Bruyne to Wolfsburg deal should have been done and dusted days ago and I must reckon something else is happening there. Maybe a last minute decision from Jose and a swap deal proposition from Chelsea involving KDB and Rodriguez? Who knows... Rodriguez can't be valued more than €20M, maybe, let's say, €25M. Same goes for KDB.

Matic was supposed to be 40-50M and he is here for half of it. I'm sure Jose will figure something out for Mangala too. If he's still interested in the guy, of course.

Heard Essien's agent talking about a move to AC Milan. “We have not yet opened any direct talks with AC Milan but this does not mean he cannot move to Italy. Clearly this is a great opportunity for my player. Milan are still in the running in the Champions League and are a great club, despite the difficulties of the moment. “[Essien] is fine and wants to play ahead of the World Cup, where he intends to do well with Ghana. We are fascinated by the Milan hypothesis and, from here to the end of the month, we want to explore all the requirements.” Can see this happening to be honest now with the arrival of Matic. Maybe Nate will fill in that spot? Still, with Jose's friend in charge at Boro we might see some players going there in the next transfer windows

fuck yeaaaaaaaaaaah!!! NEMANJA O TANQUE SERVIO my mood right now

Well, Alex, you do this kinds of things when you're in a really bad rush to sign the guy, just like Arsenal did with Ozil, but that's not the case with Matic, I guess. As for the medical tests (blood tests especially) they are only done in the morning because your body has to be "clean" after a proper sleep - no food before a medical test, no coffee, no cigarettes etc. So tomorrow it is. Welcome back Nemanja! I'd go with Matic Rami - Willian Oscar Hazard for the next years. Time for some consistency in our midfield for two or three seasons in a row, with the likes of van Ginkel, Chalobah, Baker, Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore, Piazon, Atsu coming as subs and starting to pick up minutes.

isn't Rob Beasley the one saying last summer "Stay tuned for some big news on Chelsea. Big signing coming up, i'll post it to my twitter account at 11 o'clock" and in the end it was someone pending a new contract? If so, I'm sure it is about Ash, JT and Lamps

First it was Matic, now Zouma and we're only two weeks in 2014. Gotta be a great year, I can feel it

With Arsenal at 51 points, City at 50 (assuming they will win their games, and they will) and with a game at the Etihad coming? Can't see Jose settle for a draw here, we would be fools thinking of anything else than a win here

Cristiano voting Falcao as his 1st pick for the Ballon D'or, over Bale and Ozil. Yeah, fucking sublime Florentino, should have seen this one coming. I wonder how the articles in the media will look when you'll be after Falcao in the summer: "The Colombian is thought to choose a move to Madrid as everybody loves him there, including Cristiano who, in appreciation for his abilities, voted him for the Ballon D'or."

of course he is not in the squad for tonights game, he is suspended for his 5th yellow card against Lazio. Jose said he is not interested in him nor in Jackson Martinez, that's enough for me

Put it that way, but it could have been the other side of the coin too, with him ending up in Kosice or some mid-table team in Portugal. Hats off to a guy that never gave up even though some of Roman's trustful employees threw him away like a rotten tooth. You need guts to go back to the "crime scene", but I really feel this guy is so eager to prove he is Chelsea material that this transfer could turn into a superb one.

I'd love to see the look on Tenenbaum and Gourlay's face when Matic arrives back to Cobham.

Jorge Jesus on Matic: "If Matic is leaving? I would be the last to know. We've always sold players and we have to live with it."

and if something REALLY REALLY bad happens there will always be Roman's friends, the oligarchs (Rybolovlev, to name one), who will throw a bid just for the sake of it.

Saul is a midfielder, can play as an anchorman too and he is highly rated in Spain, top talent, no doubt about it, Atletico have hit the jackpot with him and Oliver Torres, two magicians, but I don't know why the fuck we're being linked with yet another young midfielder when there is so much raw talent coming from the youth ranks (Baker, Chalobah, Swift, Loftus-Cheek, van Ginkel too).

David James iirc, 170 ish

We came. We saw. We conquered. Things starting to shape up well and defence looks rock solid this days. Move on now, big game coming. Hazard motm

He is not coming!! YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Now I see. Would have been too easy I guess and this saga has "go the hard way!" written all over it.

there is an exclusive article in The Times saying that talks over a new deal have failed to get off the ground, and Rooney is flattered by Chelsea's continuing interest. Can't read the entire article though And I've found something interesting in The Telegraph: "Even if United refuse to sell, Rooney would have the option of exploring the possibility of buying himself out of the final year of his contract. Under Article 17 of Fifa’s regulations for the status and transfer of players, a player who signed a contract before the age of 28 is entitled to buy himself out of the contract three years after the deal was signed.Rooney was 24 when he signed his last United contract on Oct 22, 2010, so his so-called ‘protected period’ officially ended on Oct 22, 2013.To avoid Fifa sanctions, Rooney would have to serve United with his intention to leave within 15 days of the final Premier League game of the season on May 11.Such a move would be costly to Rooney, whose United deal is worth £250,000 a week, but he could demand a huge signing on fee by effectively moving as a free agent.United are seventh in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and have lost their last three games. Chelsea are third, two points off leaders Arsenal and have won their last four matches." Now, I don't really know the rules, but "buying himself out of the final year of his contract" I think it means paying United those 12 months he is left in his contract. 12 months x £250,000 a week equals a total of £12million. I don't really expect Rooney to pay that from his own money, if you know what I mean, but sounds like a good deal for me. Add £8million to that, his signing on fee, and this would go to a total of £20million deal. Good piece of business if you ask me, he'll be 29 in the next season though, but still with two or three top seasons in his pocket.