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A very good prospect, however as we all know dealing with Lyon comes with a premium transfer fee. Given as well our ludicrous position at the top of agent fees when we have hardly made a dent in recent times in transfers, seems to me those advising Roman are taking him for a ride and he will be taking a closer interest in all that goes on.My biggest worry has come to roost however this morning, as I raised concern in a post in the wake of Russia getting the World Cup in 2018 about Romans role, Putin has come out and said he expects a large chunk of Romans cash to help build their World Cup empire. Quite where that leaves us in the next 8 years of planning and building is anyones guess.

( apologies in advance to Spiller but on business - using my I phone - too much trouble putting in paragraphs !) Spurs will be our biggest test of the season so far, not because of our form of late, simply because players with pace on the left hand side of the pitch will always cause us problems - Bale probably is the best in the Premiership and I am certain he will be their matchwinner, unless Carlo completely changes our system to combat his game. In our squad as I have said before, we have no natural right sided player, again today Baines caused us problems in an advanced position. Until we get the balance right in our squad we are going to face this problem. Zhircov or Malouda in front of Ashley Cole, or the old days with Duff, Robben tracking back or worrying defenders with pace in a 4-3-3 could deal with him but in our current 4-3-3 we have no chance because Anelka plays right of the front 3. In my opinion the only way to get a result at Spurs is to play 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 but if Carlo plays a suicidal 4-3-3 again, he has to drop Anelka and play either Sturridge or Kalou on the right and Malouda to the left of Drogba. Me I would spread 4 in front of Cole, Terry, Ivanovic and Bosingwa (there for his pace rather than my concerns about him defensively. In front of Bosingwa I believe only one player in our squad is capable of handling Bale and that is Michael Essien. We presume Lampard will be fit, if not it's Josh alongside Mikel for his quick feet and quality on the ball, Ramires alongside Mikel just would not work, on the left obviously would be Malouda. In a 4-4-1-1 the way I would play if given the reins Drogba with Anelka behind, for gods sake Anelka drops back all game, why not make it his position? Other than that I'd go Sturridge in a flat 4-4-2 alongside Drogba. That said I doubt if that will happen, Bale will run riot and on form I'd go for a 3-1 victory for Spuds. That's with my head, my heart says a vintage result at three point lane a 6-1 Flo inspired win will do for me, can we play in yellow socks too Carlo - please !!!!

As I said a while back, when injuries came into play, we had to put faith in the kids because as a club that is the way we chose to go. The problems arose once we started to play players out of position to compensate for injury and in the same way it will be the same when players go through a patch of bad form. I wanted youth promoted into our squad as well as adding players in their prime to balance things out. It's quite obvious to me once Bruma and Josh were overlooked for starting places we would struggle. That's how it has panned out and that is why I am relaxed about everything. Until we buy quality to replace what we let go in the summer or pin our faith in the kids when things dictate we will go into freefall. Josh or Ramires should have started with Malouda in his natural forward three position , this even with only Lampard not fit is the situation we are in. If we played Bruma and Josh from the outset Liverpool onward I'd bet my bottom dollar we would have more points that we have gained, certainally not less anyway, then they would have experience under their belt and maybe a little of an excuse if things went a little wrong. As it is we have got what we have deserved, off the back of the double , like when we won back to back titles it seems to me we have only needed a few tweaks to kick on and dominate. They things are panning out we have not learned from the past, with Wilkins, Arneson on their bikes, in different circumstances of course, we have troubles behind the scenes whatever anyone says. All is not lost, because if we had beaten Sunderland, Newcastle, Birmingham and Everton we would be on the way to back to back titles with Lampard coming back. However, my fear is the damage has been done and our only hope with our current squad is to get our best 11 fit and raring to go for the Champions League so we win it to re-qualify. Our next three games against Spurs, Man Utd and Arsenal are must win games and our fans must stick together to help our cause and support the lads to victory. If my fears come to roost three defeats and we could be staring down the barrel of not making the top 4 in the premiership, Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City and Spurs could be in pole position. Quite how Roman will react will be the key, release money for a January plunge or think back to last year against Inter when our season seemed all but over and Carlo's calmness ensured our best season in our history. Whatever his thoughts one thing he shouldn't do as he has done in the past is sack Ancellotti - that would be suicidal or will he be thinking Guss Hiddink again - I really hope not but stranger things have happened here over the years even before Roman arrived. The next three games might just determine everything - hold on to your seats the Famous Chelsea rollacoaster is about to spring into action - don't we all love it !

Of all the people that went through the doors in Zurich yesterday, one man's presence should not be underestimated. Our own Roman, I just wonder how much influence he had on the bid and where that will leave us, Chelsea FC not England, in 2018. The magic sign flipped England to favourites a day before the presentation, you could have had 9/4 Russia, Betfair had England at 2.02 as England went 4/6 ..... sort of said the big price on betfair compared to the bookies at 1145 am said it all. England's bid was always going to fail in my book, they are now going for new countries Qatar proves that.

For me, there was only one celebrity fan, Micky Greenaway. The way the press hounded him and the club followed suit to ban him from Stamford Bridge to say he was a hooligan was a disgrace. As we all know Micky died like a pauper, as a youngster when I folllowed Chelsea all over England, Micky booming out 'Zigger Zigger' , got us all up wherever we were in the ground. Once at Norwich, another at QPR stick out in my mind. I was in the 'loft' and unsure whether to sing, out from our end 'Zigger Zigger' boomed out and I found my voice, as did 3/4 of the loft ! At Norwich up against a fence next to the barclay end, we were squashed it was mental, from a stand to our left Micky boomed it out again, we stood tall, and joined in as one, a tricky situation as everyone was intent in getting at the Norwich lot, once Micky sang everyone joined in - like magic ! Anyone wanna know who started 'One Man went to Mow' The legend and celebrity that is Micky Greenaway RiP

Grimbsby by a long chalk - never seen so many Chelsea in my life, Cambridge one year when we had the whole ground, up the floodlights and top of the stands, Abroad has to be Stockholm - kin planes landing next to us on the runway!

Anyone go to Derby when we had the seats and terraces and we ripped up the seats - muggins here was clattered by one - standing !

Not sure what year it was, but all I remember is we won the game 3-0, it was when they emptied 5 mins from the end, we all thought they were off to Fulham Broadway. Can tell you for certain they came right up the middle of the Shed, up the steps, it was chaos. Early to mid 80's for sure, the week before I went up to Villa Park, they beat us 4 something, at a guess it might have been the year Dixon scored at Highbury our first year back in the first division?

There would have been a time in the mid seventies when a kid at a school in North London I'd have taken that result and bugger the rest of the season tea bar !

Clearing out of the North Stand at 5 mins from the end, the Pikey's came up the middle of the Shed .....

I once was fortunate to share a beer with Mickey Thomas, he said he wanted to play for Chelsea all his life, even at Man Utd he said he was fascinated by Chelsea, their fans were something that he needed to experience, their cult like following and the way they related to players that gave everything and one's with a aura of a lovable rogue. He told me, that when he scored his first goal on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday he ran like mad to Gate 13 because in his words 'The lunatics were there!' Mickey does a lot of media work at Man Utd to this day, to many he is remerbered for his time there. Talking to the geezer I can tell you, at Chelsea he enjoyed his football the most, at Chelsea the fans were the best in the world. It's hard for younger and 97 onward Chelsea fans to relate to things of the past, for us oldies - the passion of those days come out in our posts, Gate 13, the North Stand boys, us Shedites remember the bad days on the pitch, but off it the Chelsea fans were the best in the game. How we need a Mickey Thomas in our ranks these days and Joey Jones type to rally the troops in JT's absence. Plus a fan base at Stamford Bridge with the passion of years gone by.

When Ashley headed that one off the line on Sunday the commentator said that Routlegge has never scored a premiership goal, lets hope that's our turn of luck! Saying that Bent always seems to score against us and he never played when they dicked us 3-0 !! Think we will beat them though, with Essien back and hopefully JT looking out for Cahill ghosting in between the centre backs, together with Arteta being banned must be in our favour. My crystal ball says the following - then it's the new year Chelsea 2 Everton 1 Spuds 3 Chelsea 1 Chelsea 0 Man Utd 0 Arsenal 2 Chelsea 3

Very much in line what thewestawaywonder has said, They have more balance where we need it, we have no natural width on the right in an advanced position, thus as Carlo stated after withdrawing Drogba at Man City, 'I needed width on the right hand side so I brought on Sturridge.' I'd much rather have Lennon crossing with Drogba nodding in, much has been said of Aneka and Drogba in particular being excellent crossers of the ball, but maybe I am a traditionalist but Centre Forwards score and get on the end of balls, I know the game has changed over the years but wingers are wingers. Bale gives them cover at left back as Zhircov does, but I cannot see them playing as we have in Lampard and Essiens absence our width in Malouda and Zhircov in central midfield positions. However, as my point must be again emphasised we have taken the route to put youth in our squad, young Josh was our best midfielder by a country mile against Zilina in a competitive match yet Ferreira was better in training than Bruma, it smacks of contradiction that our young squad players are not used when it is obvious the trust is not there for Premiership matches. It's my opinion Carlo Cudicini made a huge mistrake going there, as a back up keeper, well I'd say we would rest a little easier if Cech got injured, make no mistake if we lose Petr for a long time we will be in grave danger of not qualifying next year for the Champions League, financiially all this cost cutting would be a waste of time as it would be a conta entry on the balance sheet. In central defence, JT is missing games, maybe not the same as Ledley King, but believe me, I know plenty of Spud fans and in the dressing room and amongst their fans King is to Spuds as Terry is to us. With Alex now having an operation, Terry's fitness will always be questionable, another booking for Ivan and Ferreira / Buma will be our central pairing .... Spuds have lost Woodgate and Dawson, yet that London tramp G***** is showing the form that he showed in our first title winning season. Add Corluka and a player who I don't rate but importantly uncle Harry does, Kaboul, Kyle Naugton is a very underatted player and Hutton is doing well to keep him out of the side. In Central Midfield they totally out strip us in depth, Rose is their Josh, Hudlestone has the likes of Jenas and Palacious, Krankjaer is quality, Modric, Van der Vaart - Bentley can play there but no better than Zhircov. Up front 5 players that are Strikers, but with some that play off the main man. Crouch or Paullyuchenkis, Defoe, Keane and Dos Santos is still there I think. If we lose Drogba, Lampard, Terry and Cech for the rest of the season. Id be happy bringing in Defoe, Krankjaer, Corluka and Cudicini - all four have not played much of a part of their season. As I have said and will bang on about it until the club take the right steps to address things, we need to strike the right balance, our squad is ultra thin, if you are forced to play players out of position to compensate you are in trouble. Our best 11 will be a match for anyone in Europe, but we all know injuries are likely to scupper that. If Bruma and Josh are part of our squad they must play when injuries come into play, if Ashley is injured Van the man is ready. Kakuta and Sturridge are another story. Kakuta worries me, the spark seems to not be in his game as it was when he was younger, he doesn't get bums off the seat as he did. Sturridge however needs gametime, these 15 min cameo's are doing nothing for his game. I'd have used his pace at half time against Newcastle at the expense of Kalou. He is comfortable drifting in from wide, Kevin Keegan said recently he should be a winger, i'm not sure about that, but believe he is worth a regular start in the current situation when Malouda is being forced into midfield. My coaching staff comment refers to the whole team, Carlo yep i'd take him over Harry, but the rest of our lot are not in the class of Spuds or anyone else for that matter! Clarke, Wilkins even going back to Ian McNeil - i'd take them over our current crop. Can anyone believe the Manager doesn't pick his backroom team ? It's a 'kin joke if you ask me, I really hope Carlo goes full on for Maldini in the summer and puts an ultimatum to the board, above all they have to believe Carlo is really the untouchable one, the grace he has taken everything in his stride reminds me of the way Ranieri was treated when he was here and how he stood tall and faced everything as a man. By the way I hope spurs get the Olympic Stadium and it all goes tits up, playing in the east end ???????? I hate Spurs as much as I love the Chels Don't get my post interpreted in any other way, i'm speaking from the head here, they look the business squad wise to me

Was thinking more of turning 0-1 into victories where the Premiership is concerned .... Newcastle, Birmingham, Sunderland, Liverpool I was at Blackburn when we turned things round, it seems light years away from what we have produced of late. As for Spurs 0-2 against Arsenal, 0-1 against Liverpool. I said quite a while back, we cannot expect our strikers to get us out of jail away from home, we need to start games on the front foot and get back to clean sheets, as we do not look like scoring two goals a game at all. If we continue to ignore the likes of Bruma and Josh when we are struggling with injuries, Spurs might even cost us a Champions League place next season. We need our best 11 with Ramires, Kalou, Sturridge , Josh as impact subs ... otherwise it will be a sruggle, I guess we all realized that at the start of the season. That little addition of a Van Der Vaart ahead of Spurs would have levelled our squads a little, but on paper still they are better. Two good keepers, plenty of cover with King and Dawson out , loads of midfield and strikers

It pains me to say it, but I will, player for player Spuds have a better squad, overall coaching staff and forward thinking board than ourselves. I really do not want to meet them at any stage over two legs in the Champions League, for unless we have our best 11 - they will knock us out. I really feel they have the mentality and class to get back into a game after conceding a goal, in turn we are showing worrying signs of not being able to do the same. Harry has done a brilliant job there. lets hope England come calling sooner rather than later. They have had up to 9 players out this and last season, on form they will hammer us at the Lane, I will go for 3-1 and Bale will score for certain.

Ashley 'best left back in the world' Cole Had it not been for his header off the line - another certain defeat. With Taylor and Campbell given their first starts and no Collochini and Nolan to say Newcastle were there for the taking. Is it me or are we looking to pass, pass, pass like Arsenal ? In this and the Brum game we had all the play, but our gun is firing blanks in some cases and the trigger is not being pulled in others. We went 4-4-2 today, Anelka never got close enough to Drogba, young Josh our best player midweek never got a sniff again. As for Alex, clearly injured and given a torrid battering by Carroll in the air, it's about time we gave Bruma a little faith and also put him in the firing line. It's ironic, that when everyone is banging on about injuries and our lack of depth, Bruma and Josh are yet to start a Premiership game this season ? This is the first time this season i've really felt as if we should have easily won, Newcastle are average without injuries, with them they are not even a top championship team. Very disappointing result, goals have dried up and we can't keep a clean sheet for toffee, , Lamps and Essien and JT your team needs you!

For my third signing, though it would be in the summer, given the way Michael Essien and Frank Lampards injuries have wrecked our chances of running away with the title and may yet threaten our champions league aspirations, to blend in with youth development by adding a mid 20's star developed to world class stature ... Step forward sweinsteiger from bayern munchen !

After more thought and watching him again putting in an outstanding performance at the weekend, I'd make the versatile Phil Jones my second priority. After man of the match performances in our last two visits to Ewood Park and recent comments by Sam Allardyce likening his versitility to Michael Essien, his outstanding ever present performances in the premiership this season has his name on more than one managers lips. A John Terry type leader and tackler in the heart of defence, a more than capable full back and holding midfielder, he's our man ! Alongside Bruma for years to come.

Julian Speroni, my mate is a Crystal Palace season ticket holder, he has been their player of the season for the last three years. Agile, commanding and world class shot stopper. It's quite amazing he isnt a NO1 keeper for a top premiership side. My mate reckons he is their man of the match every other game. If Big Pete gets injured, Roman will get restless and sack Ancellotti and we will be back to square one again. Kin' must buy in my opinion.

Carlo said today at his press conference that this appointment had nothing to do with him and Paul Clement will continue to coach with Emenalo continuing to scout! So now we have a 1st team coach, that doesn't coach or is he just going to be on the coach to games! Joking apart it seems certain Emenalo has accepted a change in name of his job with no wage increase and Paul will remain on the same contract doing the same job. Cost cutting 100% certain as most of us suspected. Alex back for Birmingham is the surprise of the week!

It's no real surprise. I had it between him and Neil Clement, it is most definately a cost effective move. He has to take his coaching badges still, which makes things a little confusing, all in all it proves what a man Carlo is, I couldn't see Jose, Wenger, Sir Alex or any top premiership manager having his assistants being chosen, it's not the done thing over here, Carlo has had things done above his head in Italy - it doesn't really bother him he just gets on with it and history says results follow. Mickey Mouse could be his assistant - it wouldn't worry him. Roman sure has his man !

Hope this post gets through from my I phone again ! Well all I can say is if it all goes tits up until the boys get back for the champions league in march, the prawn sandwich merchants in the east and west stands - off the back of a non spending January ... Sing Roman out ! They deseve filling in - when getting their cabs just off the kings road !!!!

If this is true, Carlo has no option but to throw Bruma in at the deep end. It's quite simple to me, someone (nobody hand on heart can say they know who) made the decision not to replace Ricky and therefore the judgement had to be made that Jeffrey was our fourth choice centre back, in fact as the transfer window closes Carlo said as much in an interview on Chelsea TV. Like others I have watched a few reserve games this season, albeit on Chelsea TV again. He does make the odd mistake, but in the Premiership this will result in a goal, unlike in the stiffs where others get more of a chance to get him out of jail. It's quite weird that this news comes out after my 'are we overestimating our youngsters post' This of course was not meant to be aimed at us posters in the main, for there are some, like me, who feel we should be bringing kids through, or others who feel the Ballacks, Deco's, Cole and Belletti's of this world should have been replaced by players of the same quality if not age and be ready to help us to challenge for honours at home and abroad. One thing is for sure, the Club as a whole have pinned their faith in the kids and are accountable for that, if they have over estimated the players coming through, Roman will have some important decisions to make. My belief then is as it is now, we need to strike the right balance, only Lyon and Barcelona to be fair have mastered the way to bring young players through, plus generally players peak later in life these days. But that's why Arneson and co are on big money, John Terry apart we have produced nothing for years that had to be adressed and to be fair steps have been taken to do so. I was amazed Stoch went and Matic went on loan to be honest. We have no natural right sided player in our squad or someone of the so called right age as cover in Central Midfield, thus is the case Zhircov is in there out of position. Bruma has to be given his chance, If he fails, we have the chance in the January transfer window to make things right. Young Josh in turn, might find himself starting against Brum and Newcastle, Again, it was the clubs decision not to go like for like in the transfer window in the summer. At 17, this is a massive risk granted, but it's only two games, it might just be the making of him. I am sometimes critisised on here for being negative, people that know me personally call me positive and a realist, having three kids older than my future wife to be sort of says something that I'm clearly not living in the past! I am prepared for us to win nothing for a couple of seasons if helps the kids turn into suoerstars, there are a lot of those who boo at Stamford Bridge as they did on Sunday who are not prepared to do the same, In fact i'd bet my bottom dollar two or three blank seasons we will be looking at 25000 attendances ! Anyone for lifelong Chelsea fan and family blue season ticket holders Roger Johnson in the January window !!!!!!!!!! I am really looking forward to our next two games, I've got a hunch things might just turn out better than a lot of us think. They boy Bruma might just turn into a man facing towering Zidic and battering ram that is Andy Carroll. I'd give Ivanovic the captains armband so it lifts his responsibility on to another level. My degree in Psychology says that is the thing to do.

I have followed Youth Cup football finals pretty closely since that famous Man Utd side of 1992, with Gary Neville, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs along with Robbie Savage and Simon Davies who beat a Crystal Palace side that produced nothing of note! I seem to remember they lost to Leeds in 1993 with Paul Scholes joining a few of the above, with only Noel Whelan making a good living out of the Leeds line up! The 1994 final of Arsenal and Millwall produced nothing. with the 1995 Man Utd victory over Spurs only rearing Phil Neville and Stephen Carr! 1996 was better, Liverpool beat West Ham, with Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard becoming England Internationals and legends for their respective clubs! The young Leeds side, before it all went wrong, that beat Crystal Palace, the year our long wait for a major trophy came to an end in 1997 was possibly the best since Man Utd's, the likes of Paul Robinson, Jonathon Woodgate and Harry Kewell were brilliant in the final. As the 90's closed, Richard Dunne, David Dunn were the class of 98, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick along with Coventry's Chris Kirkland in 99 were the only notable players to really make the grade. So to year 2000, Arsenal beat Coventry, a certain Steve Sidwell and wait for it, the new England 28 year old Jay Bothroyd ! Sidwell in fact played in the 2001 final along with Jermaine Pennant - Blackburn produced nobody of note! When Villa played Everton in 2002 Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell played - but the real star was a certain Wayne Rooney for Everton ! In 2003 Man Utd beat Middlesbro' with Eubanks Blake and that geezer from Sunday Kieren Richardson, with the dreaded Ross Turnbull between the sticks conceding for Boro' alongside Chris Brunt! 2004 Saw Boro' beating Villa with Adam Johnson, Gabby Ablonlahor and Gary Cahill making the grade as well. 2005 and this is closer to my point brought an Ipswich victory over Southampton that only produced two quality players in Theo Walcott and wait for it a substitute by the name of Gareth Bale! 2006 and this is my point - Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards of City and nobody yet from Liverpool! 2007 between Liverpool and Man United only a single player so far Danny Wellbeck - er a reminder of Sunday again! 2008 Man City v Chelsea !!!!! Daniel Sturridge again ... whilst Bruma, Van Arnholt, Jacob Mellis, Gael Kakuta, Stoch and Nouble were in our side. 2009 between Arsenal and Liverpool has only produced Jack Wilshire of note so far. To my bone of contention, have we as a club over estimated our 2010 Youth Cup win ? Are we expecting too much too soon ? Will on the back of that 2008 final will Paul Clement be assigned the job of replacing Butch Wilkins ? Is young Josh better than Jody Morris at his age ? Although his off the pitch lifestyle sure is ! History suggests Sturridge and Bruma are strong candidates to succeed as Bruma as doubled up in 2010. Gael Kakuta has a chance maybe, as for the rest history says their chances are limited. Unless we have that United side of 92 !!!!!!!!! Let's 'kin hope so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I've said since teams jumped on our 4-3-3 without Lampard with 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 Like when we played Liverpool, Man City, Villa etc we should go like for like simply because we have better players. Today Sunderland had Zenden and Richardson wide, Henderson and Cattermole in the middle and Wellbeck off Gyan. Me, I'd have gone Anelka off Drogba Obi and Ramirez matching the middle two , with Malouda and Kalou either side, Bruma instead of Ferreira my only other change in the starting 11