bluedave

Yes, the well known premier league striker Joseph Barton.

Chicharito is smart, lively, quick, and a genuine danger in front of goal. Having him up front for us would be like a breath of fresh air. The fact that quite few people on here hate him only shows how good a striker he is.

I think we've signed very well this season. We've spent quite a lot of money but considering the talent and youth of the players we've brought in I wouldn't say we've overspent at all. We might even have captured one of two bargains along the way. The only mistake we've made is to gamble on Torres suddenly turning back into a good CF after several years of stagnation, and I'm pretty sure who was responsible for that decision (I can't imagine the same people who brought Hazard, Oscar, Azpilicueta and Moses to the club being so oblivious to Torres's limitations). As for Sturridge, I don't think we have much choice there. He's clearly desperate for starts as a CF and he has not been getting them here (whether that is the fault of the last few Chelsea managers or an overbearing owner I have no idea). It make sense financially to sell him now rather than to let him run him contract down and leave for nothing. I think the majority of people agree that we desperately need to sign at least one more CF. What will be interesting to me is if we go for somebody like Falcao who will likely displace Torres as first choice striker, or we go for a lesser-player (Walcott?) to be a backup/squad player (i.e. a Sturridge replacement).

With Sturridge all but signed for Liverpool now I'm starting to warm to the idea of Walcott in blue on two conditions: 1. We don't pay much more than we sell Sturridge for. 2. He agrees to play in whatever position the club needs him to. I'd still like us to sign a proven centre forward to compete with/replace Torres, and definitely do not see Walcott as the solution here, but there's no denying the impact he can have (especially off the bench) in tricky deadlocked games.

It was pretty clear to me what you meant. Your assessment of Lukaku's strengths and weaknesses seems to be in quite good agreement with what I gather to be the general consensus among Chelsea fans. What is obvious to me is that Lukaku has no interest in being a backup to Torres (or whoever we end up signing in January). He made this very clear last summer. If we were to recall him from West Brom and not give him a good run of games then it would naturally create some discontent. The best option for all parties is to let him see out his loan deal, probably for next season as well.

The tabloid's are also saying that Terry won't get a new contract, and that we're going to sign David Villa (like we really need another past-it Spanish striker). I guess it's easier than doing proper journalism.

What a day, I'm still buzzing though my head is pounding. I was full of apprehension before the game but shouldn't have been, Villa were by far the worst team I've ever seen. They just didn't show up at all. 8-0 is a special result though, it doesn't happen very often in this league and I feel privileged to have witnessed it. Luiz was immense. He was popping up all over the place, at times it was like having 12 players. Lampard played very well too, it was very satisfying to see his name back on the scoresheet, and the fans were not shy to show their appreciation. He clearly still has a lot to offer at this level and we should sign him up for another year at least. Torres took his header brilliantly. Luiz's free kick: superb. Hazard's goal was jaw dropping. Piazon impressed me greatly in his little cameo appearance. The best thing about yesterday: for 90 minutes I forgot all about our Spanish problem. We've got a couple of tough games away to Norwich and Everton next, and our performances in those games will say a lot more about "Benitez's Chelsea" than easy wins against no-hopers like Leeds and Villa.

I wouldn't trust a journalist's twitter as confirmation, let alone a scouse one. I'm wondering where Sturridge is supposed to have told fans he's leaving?

He was still a kid when he was at City, and I'll bet a fair few of those appearances were from the subs bench (edit - Brandinho confirmed it). The rest of your post just reads like conjecture stated as fact. I can't think of anything he has done while at Chelsea to warrant any kind of ill-feeling should he decide to move on.

This will be my first and possibly last match of the season (I bought the tickets before the Interim Manager wormed his way into the club). I'm mainly looking forward to seeing the new lads play. If for some reason the FSW decides not to start with Hazard then my hatred for him will reach a whole new level. On paper we should win comfortably but I'm a little nervous. I can't see it being a high scoring game, Lambert is a decent manager and I'm expecting Villa to set out to try and stop us playing and maybe nick a goal when the chance arises.

Bollocks. Even if Hazard wanted to leave he can't go anywhere for 5 years without the club's say so.

To be fair there aren't that many strikers ahead of him right now. I'll be sorry to see him go (assuming he does leave), he has his faults but should have played much more ahead of Nando. I can honestly see us regretting the lack of faith shown in him one day.

I have to agree with you there, some of the recent posts in this thread are embarrassing. I don't know what I was expecting from the "Torres groundhog day thread" though. As pointed out in Tommy's earlier post, I feel the need to state that I'm not a fan of Torres personally and would like to see him replaced at the earliest possible opportunity.

Frank also has his arms crossed and is looking quite stressed to me. Torres looks the calmest out of the three. To be honest, I have no idea where this picture has come from or why it's interesting enough to generate a couple of pages of discussion.

The ones who have played all deserve praise. We really signed well. What's even more pleasing is how young they all are. If I have to single one out then it's got to be Hazard, he's one of those rare players who excites the fans everytime he receives the ball.

Of course we can do both, it was a hypothetical question. I've been thinking about this and I'd prefer to see us win the Europa League. f**k the accountants. Players like winning trophies too (just ask any gooner).

I went to see Seven Psychopaths today. It was written and directed by the guy who made In Bruges so I was expecting a brilliant dark comedy, this was much more dark than comedy though. Still it's an entertaining, cleverly plotted film with a few laugh-out-loud moments. I think maybe my appetite for violent movies had been reduced as a result of recent events though. It's definitely worth going to see if you're not interested in The Hobbit, etc.

"Are you an Arsene or a Robbie D?" That's a leading question surely? All I will say is my heart says Europa League and my head says Champion's League qualification.

Ballsack surely?

I don't think what Piason claims to have said is all that unusual to be honest (how many times have we heard similar words said in post-match interviews after big matches?). I'm sure the club will not be afraid to fine him appropriately if they think he has overstepped the line.

Piazon is disputing that quote on twitter now- "All i said was that corinthians had more courage to play the final than us , that they wanted more this tittle and... That they played with more passion than us! I would never say something about my team mates , im just 18 and with them i learn a lot of... Good things.And i also said that this tittle is so important for the south american clubs and that was a dream for me thats why i was so sad... Thank you!" That's slightly different to what was reported at 'byfarthegreatestteam.com', I wonder who to believe?

I think it's a valid issue but, like most problems, there is more than one solution. Getting rid of Cech (like you suggested in your first post) is a fairly drastic solution in my opinion. Like others have suggested, the problem is not solely down to Cech, I don't think it wouldn't really matter who the goalkeeper is if the outfield players are not trying to help him.

You'd like to get rid of a world-class goalkeeper who has served us brilliantly for 8 years because our current forwards can't head a ball? I agree that Cech's distribution is his weak point, but honestly that's the least of our problems.

I will console myself with the knowledge that the probability of the FSW ever being able to drop the word Interim from his job title must be getting ever smaller.