Sheva

After a couple of games of pre season it's pretty obvious that this is a new look Chelsea as in formation. Carlo is looking more and more likely too stick with this diamond formation. It's looking more than likely that we could line up like this next season. ------ Cech ------- Bossy - Terry - Alex/Riccy C - Cole ------- Deco/Mikel ------- Essien ------------ Zhirkov/Malouda --------- Lampard --------- --- Drogba ------ Anelka --- There are 2 things that worry me, where will Joe Cole fit in as i don't think Essien will be taken out of the team as his energy and power makes him a must starter and where will this Marquee signing play? We have plenty of depth aswell upfront with Sturridge, Sheva, Pizzaro, Di Santo so surely that rules out the likes of Aguero, Pato, Villa etc. Our midfield is packed and i mean packed, we have Ballack, Mikel/Deco, Joe Cole, Beletti. Defence is the same as the midfield with alot of cover. Will Joe Cole be a fringe player next season at Chelsea dropping in and out of the squad? And do we really need a Marquee signing? The only player who i think we could need if Deco breaks a limb is Pirlo. I know most people want one as it brings excitement too the forums and something fresh too the team but lets say we get a striker. Mr Striker comes in and replaces Anelka/Drogba, Anelka/Drogba become unhappy causing disruption in the camp. Also the only player i can see leaving at the moment is Pizzaro with us keeping Shevchenko for another season. It's a win/lose situation, if we don't go for a target in this transfer window and god forbid one of big players gets a bad injury we will be stuck in the January market looking for a new player who is not cup tied. Sadly i don't see any youngsters apart from Sturridge getting a look in at Chelsea next season, let's hope Ancelotti rotates some players in the Carling Cup. However, it's looking good so far and im confident we can look ahead to a successful era under Ancelotti.

However it does make me wonder about our squad it is so big at the moment, i put a team out there and i almost forgot about Joey Cole. Where will he fit in this season if we are going to play the diamond. We need too sell some players after the tour in my opinion. Di Santo(loan) Mancienne(loan) Pizzaro Beletti - good squad player but i don't think he is really needed. Done well tonight and done his job. One player i didn't want to sign a new contract was Ballack as i really see him warming the bench this season if we stick to the current formation. He wont keep Essien out of the team as we need bags of energy to track back in this formation but i'd be happy for Ballack to get a CL medal with us as he deserves one for missing out so many times! ;) Only worrying thing is where does Joey fit into this formation and where does this Marquee signing play?

After what we have seen so far it's quite difficult to pick a starting line up. ----- Cech ---- Bos -- Terry - Carv -- Cole -------- Deco/Mikel -------- Essien --------- Zhirkov/Malouda -------- Lamps ------ Drogs ----------- Anelka That's what i wouldn't mind seeing, sometimes i feel we lack the cover when we are suffering on the counter attack. However, no room for the Marquee signing imo. Good game tonight, wasen't as such an easy one but a result is a result. and Sheva looked quite impressive ;)

Ooofa what a strike.

Anyone got any ESPN Streams quality is usually alot better on them.

Looking forward to this, anyone got Ac Milan line up? Lets hope Pato "accidently" sits on the wrong bench eh ? ;)

Shocking stuff, i think it's blatently obvious that he should of faced some sort of punishment. So this basically means any big name footballer can go around hitting DJ's and just get away with it. If this was in a different court he it would of been a different story. Disgusting.

Great deal for Inter this however i dont want to bet my house on Ibra doing well at Barca. I simply wouldn't be surprised if he wins top goalscorer in La Liga. Robbie Fowler could bag in 20+ goals for barca with the players and style of play they have.

The main reason why we are being linked with him is because Ancelotti had an interview before he joined chelsea and he said players like Ribery and Alonso would be perfect for us if i recall.

When Deco is on form he's peharps the best passer of the ball in the world no doubt about it. His vision is unreal sometimes.

Drogba with an awesome strike!

I love american commentators, they are so crazy.

Cheers, just a quick question... i watch alot of american streamed programs but never sport. They don't have like an advert every 5 mins during the game do they

Stream anyone ?

Doubt that would happen, if Eto'o agrees everything i think he's very much a Barca player and i think Jose likes Eto'o as a player so i don't think he minds. Big names are getting bought, sold now and the list for a "marquee" signing is certaintly getting smaller however we don't know what a marquee player is. Well we don't know what Bruce Bucks idea of that player is. Also there are numerous reports coming out from Italy that AC Milan haven't got alot of money to spend in the market, a mega bid for Pato may happen if they fail to get thier targets. However if Milan sell Pato, the ultras riot... if Milan fail to sign anyone the ultras riot.

He should do community service for this, it's the normal punishment dealt for such a case.

Maybe i choose my words a little bit wrong but Casillas is overated when it comes to everything else apart from shot stopping. Casillias is an absolute phenominal shot stopper but the rest of his game other goal keepers are ahead of him in my opinion. I would take an in form Cech over Casillas any day. I still think Julio Cesar is the best keeper in the world and sure he's in the italian league but i don't think it would affect the game of a goal keeper in which league he is in. I think Cech is number 2 but he could be easily number one again if he got some of his confidence back.

If you say Given is a crap keeper he's only a good shot stopper, it's basically saying Iker Casillas is crap aswell.

First game was just recently, Chelsea vs Borough when we won 2 - 0 with Kalou scoring both. That day was luckily enough to stuble by a certain england/chelsea captain JT and got a photo and autograph. Bit of a lucky first game eh.

Thing is now though, Ibra looks like he's going too Barca. Real have bought Benzema, the 2 teams will dominate La Liga leaving Valencia trailing behind in a heap of debt with no CL. If an english club come in for him with a big bid and CL football, i seriously think he would consider it. Thats why the rumours are coming up again with Manchester United looking at him.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/?cc=5739 look to the right and the goals are on the 2nd of the list of videos.

I don't think he's overated, Alonso is good at picking out the passes and sitting back. He slows the game up a bit but he is pretty comfortable on the ball and i think he's a luxury too have and he helps gerrard alot in my opinion.

Just come back from the FC Twente friendly, stoch was by far the best player on the pitch and gave the crowd a nutmeg to cheer about!

They bought Raul Albiol :P

What i find really interesting is that if this deal goes ahead, David Villa will more than likely stay at Valencia. Can imagine how pee'd off he would be right now after failing to get a move to the top 2 clubs in spain because of the president of valencia changing his mind all the time.