Oblivion

Actually, I think Liam has categorized Ballack as a Juve player......I think.

Wouldn't mind that at all R180. Btw, what do Bayern fans think of Rensing? Is he a good long-term replacement for Kahn? Why was he dropped for the Sporting game on Tuesday?

We're on form. City aren't really (on the road). The confidence is back, players playing as a team, for each other. Long-term injuries clearing up so things are looking up. Probably seeing the same team as the last few weeks ......................Cech Bos........Alex........Terry.........Cole .....................Mikel ...............Essien.......Lampard Kalou...............................Anelka ......................Drogba I expect Essien to start in place of Ballack, doing his box-to-box thing, for another hour or so. At the business end of the season, its important for him and Carvahlo to get as many games as possible. Speaking of Riccy, I think he'll get another 30 minutes at the end of the game, to get him fit in time for the CL QFs. Subs Hilario Mancienne Carvahlo Ballack Quaresma Belletti Di Santo 2-0 / 3-0 win for us. Bling it.

Young, yes, but he's been here for almost 3 seasons, and appears to have stagnated in his progress. If we can sell him for a profit, might as well.

Read somewhere that the Gene Hackman felt Kalou couldn't play as a winger in a 442 lineup (if FM09 is anything to go by, this statement is false, but anyway.....) but deployed him as one in our standard 433. How does the formation impact the role of the winger? What other positions are affected in a similar manner? Discuss please (formations not limited to 442/433).

We should win this one.... but am still a bit nervous about the squads fitness and concentration levels. Watched the Wigan highlights, and with the exception of that spell in the middle of the game, we were actually very poor at the back. Melchiot was having a field day early on. We have to tighten up at the back and put more pressure in midfield if we are to secure 2nd spot come end of the season.

I think we're all just a bit jaded regarding Drogba. He's thrown a strop one time too many, no tears will be shed should he leave this summer. It's all just a matter of getting the best outta him till then.

Who wouldn't want him to stay? Proven manager at club and international level, won trophies with PSV (in recent history) and well-capable of molding young, exciting squads. But will he?

Think he was denied decent service from the wings for most of last season. Not enough good crosses and our set piece play wasn't as good as before. We need a player like D'Allesandro for him to thrive.

3-0

.......AAAAAAANNNDDD that's what's not making any sense. Why play for a team that's won nuts for the last what, 3-4 seasons? That constantly underperforms in the league and bombs in the CL? None of it makes sense. Unfortunately, the same story was reported on Soccernet, which isn't as fickle as some other sources...so it may come to pass. Looks like we'll be going a-shopping come the summer.

Weeeellllll.....me neither, but I figured having a proper left-sided winger with decent crossing would help with the whole 442 plan......

IT'S THE WEEKEND! IT'S WIGAN AT HOME! IT'S A REJUVENATED CHELSEA! IT'S A FREE 3 POINTS! It is.....isn't it? 2 solid 1-0 wins against teams, who, not 3 weeks ago, we'd have fumbled, stumbled and fallen with mud all over our face. Our tactics have been stable, conservative even, but now is the time to go the distance and push for a big win. SB needs to be returned to its rightful place as a fortress of immense strength With that in mind, I'd like to see: .........................Cech Bos............Alex.......JT...........Ash Cole .....................Ballack ..............................Lamps Kalou......................................Malouda ................Anelka ................................Drogba With the following: Hilario Mancienne Stoch Di Santo Quaresma Ivanovic Belleti What we will see: Probably the same squad we've been seeing the last 2 games. Thoughts?

Don't we already have a few players in that position already? Unless of course we plan to sell Deco (no real loss there IMO), won't there be TOO much competition for places? Slightly off topic, but what's the status with Ballack's contract? Are we renewing. Relevance in terms of even MORE competition for places.

Heh, 'spose we could. For those in the know.....what is VDV's best position? I know he isn't the fastest, but is a good technician. So who'd he be replacing? Use a 3-man midfield as a basis.

What makes you think they'd sell a player they only recently bought, who has started to settle in to the side? VDV isn't getting games over there, but Klaas is (isn't he gonna be Ruud's replacement?), so I doubt we'd get him

Superb defender, when his head was in the game. For me, Ferrer and Ferreira

One out of 5? 20% of the above can't be that hard? Can it? Please? :lol:

Another African? Signing him to would mean we'll be crapping our pants every 2 years more than ever. Is it worth the cheap pricetag?

Thankfully the club have some sense. From the above press-conference I conclude: 1) Sheva, Pizzaro, Ballack, Belletti, Ferreira may all be on their last season as Chelsea players. We'd save about 300,000 pounds per we week estimated, by the release of those players. 2) Di Santo et al may FINALLY get their chance. I anticipate that from next season onwards, our RBs will be Bosingwa and Ivanovich, with Mancienne promoted full time as an understudy to Alex/Ricky. Di Santo learning from Drogba. Stuff like that, y'know. 3) Fewer ridiculous rumours. No more 200 million pound bid for Kaka stories and the like (hopefully) 4) Stronger stands on players holding the club to ransom 5) Salary cap? All these things may, in the long run, lead to greater stability and continuity in the club.

This is what some of you have been waiting for: Academy Chance?

This is sick. The Internet was supposed to be the new (and last) bastion of free speech and now your government has taken that away. How long more 'fore the rest of us?

Kaspersky is it for me. Its cheap (get the 3 user one and share it with 2 others, comes down to about 5-6 pounds per year) and effective. I'm a download-holic and grab large amounts of mp3's and movies, so having Kaspersky is like have Cech in goal, great safety net. Never get McAfee and Norton. Ever. Panda is pretty good too I heard.

12 billion dollar losses? I thought Roman was valued at 11 billion?

For me it had to be the game against West Ham a few years back. 1-0 down with 10 men early in the game, then WHOOOSH!! We spanked them 4-1 or the like. Best comeback I ever saw.