lecter

My bad. And how many U-21 players are actually first-team quality, or at least considered first-team quality at CFC, do u think?

I think this is one of the stupidest moves ever..not only in our history but in premier league transfer history! If we want Josh to get more game time, give it to him. Bench Benny or use him seldom and only when necessary. Its not like he is on big wages! He is on something like 40k/week, isnt he? As someone pointed out, we are again one injury to Mata away from the exact same situation of the last season! If Essien is making good progress and can be included in the action sooner than speculated, then again why not send the likes of Kalou out on loan, a position in which we have enough options. If we are really crowded in MF players by January send him out on loan THEN! Its not like we are trying to develop a youngster here and a six-month delay in regular game-time, which I doubt he is gonna get at Arsenal btw, is gonna hinder his progress. Its a finished product we have at our hands. Hes 31 FFS and hes been playing in the PL for more than 6 years now! And why a loan deal for a 31 year old? That too to our rivals Arsenal?! No matter what people say about how weak Arsenal is. Actually we have strengthened their squad by giving out a very good midfielder and more importantly someone whose role is vital in the mode of play that AVB is seeming to adapt in the side! From when has CFC become so generous as to cut out on its own numbers and strengthen the Arse's squad?! Just f**kin ridiculous! I am SO mad at whoever was instrumental in this!

It somehow troubles me that our squad looks thinner after the transfer window than before it!

Links for the PVA and Kakuta bits please..

EXACTLY!!!! FFS!! This is driving me insane! Why the hell is Arsenal even an option?! That too a loan deal?!

Out of context a bit, but I am pretty sure that the arrogant f**ks who call themselves the Red Devils might be pleasuring each other to death saying CFC is just trying to copy the Red Nose!

Just like most of the journos come up with any sort of c**p in the transfer window..it gets us excited, doesnt it? (more often than not, at least) This got me too

His wiki page already says he plays for CFC :O

This. I always envisioned Gael to be playing on the left flank putting in delicious crosses. Unless we offload a couple of players I dont see him making the first-team, which is sad considering the speculations of his great talent and the fuss CFC went through when we signed him.

Any news on him after the return from the WC? I hope he features somewhere in AVB's plans. If not, I hope he is sent out on loan to a decent side, which uses him amply unlike Fulham last season. TBH, CA stalled a couple of years of this lad's progress.

Milan provided the cross for the only goal last night, apparently. Any source for the video of his performance? I am yearning for a striker from our young ranks to make the first team in the near future, especially after the Borini case..

I do understand that wages are not something that are open. I was looking for something like a compilation of the figures "disclosed to the media".

Is there any (reliable) source for individual player wages? Chelsea, non-Chelsea, non-EPL too? Kinda grown curious about this especially after rumours that Aguero snubbed us for better wages!

is that confirmed?! and btw what jersey will romeu sport? No. 6?

Can someone elaborate on the "add-ons"?

Is he busy with some competition at the moment? I am dying to see a full interview of his regarding his move and his aspirations. Until now, it sounds as if Barcelona is his love..unlike our other signing

I hope the club makes some dough outta either of these players. Its hard to tolerate top-class (ehm!) players moving away on a free transfer! Was bad enough with Ballack and JCole. I hope it does not happen again..

Any details on the youth and reserve players who have been offered pro contracts and till when they last? In short, a similar list of the youngsters we hold with pro contracts..

Any info about the fee agreed from Anderlecht or any other reliable source? Awesome signing btw..looking forward to the future strike force of Chelsea!

For some reason I am unable to edit the prev post. Please use this format. No./The Blue/DOB/Pos/Joined-Contract End/Loan Details 1/ Petr Cech/ 20-5-1982/ GK/ 2004- 2/ Branislav Ivanovic/ 22-2-1984/ RB/ 2008-2016 3/ Ashley Cole/ 20-12-1980/ LB/ 2006-2013 4/ David Luiz/ 22-4-1987/ CB/ 2011-2016 5/ Michael Essien/ 3-12-1982/ MF/ 2005-2013 7/ Ramires/ 24-3-1987/ MF/ 2010-2014 8/ Frank Lampard/ 20-6-1978/ MF/ 2001-2013 9/ Fernando Torres/ 20-3-1984/ ST/ 2011-2016 10/ Yossi Benayoun/ 5-5-1980/ MF/ 2010-2013 11/ Didier Drogba/ 11-3-1978/ ST/ 2004 -2012 12/ John Obi Mikel/ 22-4-1987/ DM/ 2006-2014 15/ Florent Malouda/ 13-6-1980/ MF/ 2007-2013 17/ Jose Bosingwa/ 24-8-1982/ RB / 2008-2012 18/ Yuri Zhirkov/ 20-8-1983/ MF/ 2009-2012 19/ Paulo Ferreira/ 18-1-1979/ RB/ 2004-2013 21/ Salomon Kalou/ 5-8-1985/ ST/ 2006-2012 22/ Ross Turnbull / 4-1-1985/ GK/ 2009-2013 23/ Daniel Sturridge/ 1-9-1989/ ST/ 2009-2013 26/ John Terry/ 7-12-1980/ CB/ 1995-2014 33/ Alex/ 17-6-1982/ CB/ 2007-2013 38/ Patrick Van Aanholt/ 29-8-1990/ LB/ 2007-2015 39/ Nicolas Anelka/ 14-3-1979/ ST/ 2008-2012 40/ Henrique Hilario/ 21-10-1975/ GK/ 2006-2012 43/ Jeffrey Bruma/ 13-11-1991/ CB/ 2007-2014/ 2012 (Hamburg) 44/ Gael Kakuta/ 21-6-1991/ FW/ 2007-2015 46/ Josh McEachran/ 1-3-1993/ MF/ 2001-2016 / Slobodan Rajkovic/ 3-2-1989/ CB/ 2007- / Ryan Bertrand/ 5-8-1989/ LB/ 2005-2015 / Oriol Romeu/ 24-9-1991/ DM/ 2011-2015 / Thibaut Courtois/ 11-5-1992/ GK/ 2011-/ 20xx (Athletico Madrid)

Considering the immense amount of talk about the number of homegrown players and the 25-man squad and about players leaving and the squad growing 'old' and the aim of CFC to make the squad younger and etc. etc., can somebody please fill the following blanks so that people have a lil more information at one place? No. The Blue DOB Pos Joined Contract End Loan Details 1 Petr Cech 20/5/1982 GK 2004 2 Branislav Ivanovic 22/2/1984 RB 2008 2016 3 Ashley Cole 20/12/1980 LB 2006 2013 4 David Luiz 22/4/1987 CB 2011 2016 5 Michael Essien 3/12/1982 MF 2005 2013 7 Ramires 24/3/1987 MF 2010 2014 8 Frank Lampard 20/6/1978 MF 2001 2013 9 Fernando Torres 20/3/1984 ST 2011 2016 10 Yossi Benayoun 5/5/1980 MF 2010 2013 11 Didier Drogba 11/3/1978 ST 2004 2012 12 John Obi Mikel 22/4/1987 DM 2006 2014 15 Florent Malouda 13/6/1980 MF 2007 2013 17 Jose Bosingwa 24/8/1982 RB 2008 2012 18 Yuri Zhirkov 20/8/1983 MF 2009 2012 19 Paulo Ferreira 18/1/1979 RB 2004 2013 21 Salomon Kalou 5/8/1985 ST 2006 2012 22 Ross Turnbull 4/1/1985 GK 2009 2013 23 Daniel Sturridge 1/9/1989 ST 2009 2013 26 John Terry 7/12/1980 CB 1995 2014 33 Alex 17/6/1982 CB 2007 2013 38 Patrick Van Aanholt 29/8/1990 LB 2007 2015 39 Nicolas Anelka 14/3/1979 ST 2008 2012 40 Henrique Hilario 21/10/1975 GK 2006 2012 43 Jeffrey Bruma 13/11/1991 CB 2007 2014 2012 (Hamburg) 44 Gael Kakuta 21/6/1991 FW 2007 2015 46 Josh McEachran 1/3/1993 MF 2001 2016 Slobodan Rajkovic 3/2/1989 CB 2007 Ryan Bertrand 5/8/1989 LB 2005 2015 Oriol Romeu 24/9/1991 DM 2011 2015 Thibaut Courtois 11/5/1992 GK 2011 Please edit any wrongs. And please bold the edits. If someone can, please make a similar list about the blues who are under the age of 18 playing in the reserves and the youth academy, who look like good prospects for the first team in the near future. Thanks people.

And again..I wish the official site had made a proper explanatory comment to end all speculation about the buy-back clause. Personally, I do not feel that a club of our stature will agree to a buy-back clause..at least to a cheap one. It should be around 5-8 times the amount we are buying him for, if at all there is some such catch

Exactly. I am a lil confused too as to the official site reporting nothing of the sorts. Even the signings of Courtais and Romeu are still not confirmed by the club. I will be extremely positive if all these three speculations/news are officiated in the next few days. Drogs is a legend. I personally feel the club owes him a CL. People might disagree with my stance but I would certainly be extremely happy to bid farewell to Drogba with a CL medal.

Chalaballa almost granting ur wish :D

The Malaysian wingers are pretty pacy, I must say! Creating problems for Paulo and Cashley at times too! And what the hell did the Malay GK have prior to the match?!