Star

I'd revert to our Championship winning formation of 4-3-3 as I said at the outset. Whilst it maybe doesn't suit Drogba, as his goalscoring exploits have proved in the diamond, it is a tried and trusted and successful team formula. Mikel, Essien, Lampard. - Joey Cole, Drogba, Tevez. Cole and Tevez would be a revelation in the same team and could link up with the Drog rather than hugging the line Duffers style. Tevez's workrate is astonishing and i'm sure this would appeal to Jose even if biting the bullet and sacrificing the system to accomodate our Champions League signings wouldn't

Cast your mind back to Kenyon's Open Top Victory parade interview a year ago. "Tevez is a player we've looked at but we will not be signing him in the summer, if Shevchenko, however, becomes available, we will be interested." It's pointless now discussing whether the opposite view would have seen us ease the long term width crisis we experienced during the following campaign but one thing is for certain, had we bought him, the Spammers would have joined Leeds in relegation to ease the pain of being dethroned as Champions for us old school Chelsea fans! Like when the Argies Villa and Ardilles arrived at Spuds and even eventually our own Hernan Crespo, Tevez has proved perfectly suited to the Premiership and excelled in his first season. Dare I say it, well I am going to, Carlos Tevez is the closest in talent (and looks!) to in my mind the greatest player ever to wear the illustrious blue ... Gianfranco Zola. If we want a player this summer, the wide man, come 2nd striker, playmaker some are wishing for, all action tracker backer, Tevez is our man. Like when Manure nicked Cantona from Leeds, a move for the little man would shake our challengers next season and maybe just maybe he'd be the catalyst for a sustained period of dominance at home and in Europe in years to come.

I take no satisfaction to say I was the only forum member on this site to say the signings of Ballack and Shevchencko would cost us the title. It has to be said however, today we saw the real Chelsea, that showed everything we have been missing in every game that mattered this season WHY we are Champions. Proud, you'd better believe it. Ironically both were missing from the trophy I believed we'd win, yep we would have they been available, that's life. Long live Chelsea, Long live Jose as our manager.

I've bin drinking all day - 120 mins

Don't read the papers in the morning, forget Essien, though our best player on the night should have played in midfield, forget what lets be honest was a off the training pitch free kick that was perfectly executed and without doubt a lesson to Jose in terms of mind games. WE HAD 150 MINUTES to score against a team in player for player terms inferior to ourselves to place ourselves in history which would kill the tie. WE DIDN'T the lottery that followed isn't an issue.

I am making this my return post in a sober manner in a brief return to the CSR. Ballack was the one of the main reasons for my defection from these forums as was the ridicule from certain posters who failed to recognise my rants from the heart and support through the bad old days (which were good in my mind believe it or not) when players were underpaid, not in the same class, but bled blue as much as the hard core. I said early doors, the introduction of Ballack and Sheva for that matter, would hinder our Premiership chances but increase our chances of landing the jug with the big ears. At the same time I TT style put my money where my mouth was to lay Chelsea on betfair for a tidy sum to win the title whilst lumping on for a glorious European repeat in Athens. Some may be surprised to hear me say it's not good news to hear. My opinions have not changed since Ballacks first appearance in a Chelsea shirt. He'd not get in my Premiership side but in Europe he would. I'm not talking Anfield for he STILL wouldn't be in my side, because it will not be a European type game where he remains comfortable and effective. But i've got an inkling Milan will oust Manure and he would have been ideal for that encounter. Michael Essien remains our best midfield player and my prayer for the rest of the campaign would be his prescence alongside Lamps in our central midfield. He can fill in at right full back but Centre Half do me a 'kin favour. Need I mention the dreaded Xmas period, Spurs in the Cup and Bolton at the weekend. Boula isn't my favourite player but for gods sake he must be drafted in to replace the outstanding Cava (who needs that lying, cheating gooner c*nt g***** ?) The positives in our campaign, the emergence of our youngsters, Jon Obi Mikel and the raw Kalou (that's how to adapt to the Premiership) will see us claim the title back next year for sure.

Just got home, sat in the West Lower, to the left four nigerians,in front two russians, behind a few chinese, to the right well I need a phrase book. MICKY GREENAWAY BRING YOUR GHOST TO ANFIELD. The scoucers sang, even the MHL should be ashamed.

......................... Carlo ............................ Ferreira ........... Pettigrew .... Terry ................ Bridge ........................... Makalele ............................... .................. Lampard ............ Essien ............ ........... Sahar ........... Drogba .......... Joe Cole

Because unlike other signings in Jose's reign and in Drogba/Essien we have prime examples - Ballack and Shevchenko were considered World Class and possibly THE best in their respective positions. It's a case of me repeating myself time and time again BUT I have always had Shevchenko in my starting 11 - unless we switch to 4-3-3. As for Ballack I nailed my case early on - he wouldn't get into my Chelsea team in a diamond or 4-3-3. I've not seen anything from him - or has any real football fan from other clubs ( and I have a huge circle of friends/ contacts and customers both here and abroad - and G4 should take note of this ! - I ain't got time to post an average 6 a day !!) they ALL think in the same way, and i've seen nothing to change my mind. Also we are talking about two players that possiblyare showing signs of being past their best, is it wrong to expect more from seasoned pro's and highlight concern? Class is permanent we all know that and that's why I still have high hopes both will make key contributions in crucial games - like Sunday for example, or more to the point where we need it and have came up short in Jose's reign, in the Champions League. BUT lets all be honest here. IF we had signed Shevchenko when we signed Didier - Chelsea fans would have expected him to be a instant hit and one to drive us to the title and the Champions League. The fact still remains the Drog was our Centre Forward when the title came home for the first time in 50 years and wasn't regarded as a World Class striker. He played a major part in that make no mistake, a lone Central Striker is a bloody hard job to do. I was ridiculed when I said Drogba was among the best 5 strikers in the World early doors, flowing posts of goalscorers, household names, glowing reputations followed. Now he's classed in a matter of months as probably as Carlsberg might say the best striker in the world - some might say better to our cause than Shevchenko. Concern is different as it can be from lack of total faith but i've got to confess in Ballack's case my patience is close to being snapped. ( If i've miss- spelt anything or have put text out of order please excuse me - but i'm half pissed - Free Red wine from the South of France )

No he wasn't. Essien had a couple of games in his first season where I would say he took the game by the scruff of the neck but to say he was IMMENSE is, in my opinion, well wide of the mark. Comparing Essien and Ballack at the moment would be like comparing Drogba after 10 weeks of his first season with Guddy when he was on fire alongside Jimmy. And your take on that is Star? My take is simple dear Loz, When we signed Essien I posted on these forums that it was a blessing in disquise that he arrived on the back of Gerrard spurning us again. As my mate in France - who is a great deal more knowledgeable about football than any man or beast i've ever known - gave me the confidence to say after his 'brilliant' cameo appearance on his debut against Arsenal that here we had a player 'better than Gerrard in the long run' The pure and simple thing is can Ballack improve ? Are his best days behind him ?? Can he adjust to the Premiership and excel as he did in the German League ??? Is he good enough for our starting eleven ???? Can he take the game by the scruff of the neck in Lampards absence ????? I have doubts on all counts, in fact now you ask, he reminds me of Jokanovic Poll on Crespo and Shevchenko anyone ?

There was me thinking these forums were lacking a sense of humour! Let's start a new one .... Jokanovic or Lampard !!