Gambrinous

His exams results were decent, certainly not adequate for a scholarship to Harvard - it will have been a sports scholarship (or he aced the SATs.. unlikely given those A level results). They wouldn't gain him entry into the better English uni's, let alone a highly competitive scholarship @ Harvard. Regardless, he seems like a bright guy and I find it rather funny that Mourinho has been texting One Direction members... Hoping he can do well with Derby on Saturday and either secure a loan with them on promotion/another bottom-tier PL club or come here and get some time as 3rd choice striker. If I was him I'd prefer to go on loan though and play regularly.

Yes, it is going to be an exciting end to the season. We'll be stronger next season but we still definitely have a chance this year.

What is the consensus on here about this guy? I like him, am very grateful for all he has done (and that Barca goal) but I truly think that, after our strikers, he is our limiting factor. If we are to persist with the 4-2-3-1 with Matic in the 2 I don't think Ramires is good enough to be first choice to partner him, not if we are looking to go to the next level. We need someone a lot more composed on the ball who gives it away less, can make incisive passes and - for goodness sake - does not give away stupid fouls/get easily carded. I would not advocate selling him but, provided we address our striker issue, I'd like to see a player in the Modric/Kroos/Gundogan mould to play alongside Matic. Please don't take that for me saying we will get/should target any of the aforementioned three, I just think they are the types of CMs that we need to be looking at if we are to become a better team. I genuinely have no idea who we should be going after though - one thing's for sure: if Utd are after Kroos, we better bloody well make sure he either comes here or stay at Bayern. If he's available we can't allow him to go to Utd.

Think it looks good to be fair.

Want Dortmund, want to avoid Madrid.

Costa has opted to play for Spain, no? (I know he is still obviously regarded as Brazilian by most) These boys are professionals and old enough not to need a joker figure like Luiz to feel good about playing for Chelsea. Yeah, DL is a good option to have in midfield and can, at times, be a very good defender. However, the best defenders are not just technically good, they are leaders at the back and don't make lots of mistakes that cost their team; consistency is key to being a great defender. His midfield displays are also not particularly special, certainly not if we could offload him for 25+m and then bring in a midfielder actually worth 25-35m. Whilst Luiz has great potential - we have all seen it - I feel that if he's not beginning to show the level of performance and consistency he should be capable of by his age, then he never will for us. He won't be given that time, nor should he. So, anything north of £25m and we have to say yes, IMO. We've got Zouma for the future, we can go out and get another CB if necessary but if Barca are willing to take off our hands someone who is effectively a 3rd/4th choice CB (is he behind Ivanovic in that pecking order too?) and a rotational midfield player then that would be jolly good. All that being said, I would still be sad to see him go as he is a genuinely likeable character - the same cannot be said for Torres.

He's been injured until recently, I believe. Agree that he looks v special. Great close control and composure when on the ball and can see a pass too.

When I've watched him for Liverpool he has been pretty poor to be honest, could be partly down to lack of match-sharpness. Surprised if Rodgers really wants him permanently. Agree that anything around 10m and he'd be off.

He's a quality CB with great potential, similar to what Varane was like a few seasons ago IMO. Admittedly, I have only watched 4-5 games of his but that was enough to show me he is a quality defender - better paying 10m or whatever than being extorted by Porto for Mangala.

Yes but if you watch a video of the challenge you will realise a 10 game ban is overly harsh. If I had been watching that live and he was one of our players I would be cheering at what a 'cracking' (no pun) challenge it was.

Ha. It's hardly negative publicity for the club, doubt anyone cares about it. Clearly a stupid thing to do but we have no idea of her motives behind it; it's not like models (or whatever she is) are famed for their wits is it? Trust the Guardian to make such a hurrah over it.

Loved Wolf of Wall street and also Lone Survivor.