Jonty

He signed a new contract all of 2 days ago so this seems unlikely. http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-benfica-news/38833-matic-handed-new-benfica-deal By the sounds of it he's better than Javi Garcia, who now plays for City. Makes me wonder wtf we're doing, whoever is in charge of the youth system at Chelsea seriously didn't see this lads talent? Embarassing.

Honestly Marin looks like he has very good ball control and is as good, if not better, as the rest of them as going past players. He also looks more of a proper winger than the three amigos, which is something we've needed when the middle becomes so congested from all 3 of our AM's coming infield. And now that we have a big strong striker, it only makes more sense to play a proper winger that will whip crosses into the box.

Let me get this straight. We exchanged a youth player to Benfica as part of a deal for Luiz two years ago. And now Barca are buying him for 45m? FML.

I'm talking at a week in week out level, people watch their team play in hope that they'll win, regardless of what that win means in the long run.

It may not just be about winning, but I think anyone on this forum is lying if they said it isn't a big part of it. Or else why do we spend hundreds of hours of our lives watching and supporting them play?

The first one, I wonder if 30 years ago if the fan's were offered all the titles they could ask for in exchange for a revolving door of manager's, what they would have said. If you asked a Liverpool or Spurs fan the same question now I wonder what they would say.

I wonder if an international with Russia involved being played at the Bridge is somehow linked with Roman.

Welcome mate

Would it surprise you to hear he's been inducted into the FFA (Australia's FA) Hall of Fame? And up until 2 years ago was manager of one of the country's top clubs.

I do think we've become a bit spoiled

Reading that horrendus daily mail article about Fergie's current team possibly overtaking Mourinho's 04-05 team and breaking the record for most points in a season, really rustled my jimmies. We need him back!

f**king typical, hopefully when Fergie finally f**ks off this nuthugging will stop.

I cried, just a little.

I can see it now. -Final game of the season, home against Everton, need a win to secure 4th place -Scores are tied -Frank needs 1 goal to equal the record -Win a penalty in the 90th minute -Frank steps up to take it -Rafa runs onto the field and restrains him while Torres takes it instead -Put's it into row Z -The waiter and his #9 consider it job done, Chelsea lose the final CL spot to Liverpool -Both the home and away fans sprint onto the field and chase the pair all the way back to Madrid

Wouldn't it be a laugh if they get slapped by FFP next season and go into administration, then meaning they get deducted league points by the FA and end up getting relegated despite having their best season in decades.

Do you think he would get rid of him so quickly though? Since he got bored of Carlo this is the man he's wanted and built this new team around, Pep has been plan A for a long time now and I don't think he'd abandon it as quickly as the AVB project.

pics?

With the group of players we have I don't think we need the worlds most tactically astute manager, what we need is someone that can motivate the dressing room, reunite the fans with the club which would get our home form back on track, and not be afraid to make the big decisions. What we need even more is a manger that will drop Torres regardless of what those above him tell him. And what we need more than anything is a manger the board will give a minimum of 5 years to work with. After that I don't mind so much who it is, our squad has more raw talent in it than any other squad in the league by a long way, and many of them are still young.

Only makes sense loaning Piazon to Malaga if hes going to be a starter, which doesn't seem likely. As for Marin, makes no sense loaning him out at all.

Maybe Inter would be interested in him, they just bought 35 year old Tommaso Rocchi from Lazio, so clearly they have no idea what they're doing.

Ba seems like a bit of a workhorse and he had a break when he missed Newcastle vs Everton (when we played QPR) and he was left out of the squad, and when we played Swansea, so he shouldn't need to be rested already, if anything he needs a continued run in the team to build up his partnership with Mazacar. Team i'd play with Arsenal on the weekend in mind: Cech Azpilicueta - Cahill - Ivanovic - Cole Luiz - Ramires Marin - Oscar - Hazard Ba Keep Mata, Lampard and JT rested for the weekend, obviously all 3 can come on if we need them.

I'd say if you're looking at the effectiveness as out and out wingers, i'd rank them as so: Robben Hazard Duff Mata That being said, I don't think Mata is a winger, he's not fast enough and his play making talent is wasted out on the wing. If we're talking about talent as a footballer in general, i'd say: Robben Mata Hazard Duff Robben was truly magical when he wasn't injured and I was quite devastated when he left, and the fact he's gone on to have a great career with probably the two biggest teams on the continent show how class he is. That being said, I ranked Robben higher than Hazard or Mata because the pair of them haven't yet proven they are better than him, but I do think they will over time considering this is only their first/second seasons at the club. I loved Duff and actually have his name on the back of one of my old shirts, he was very good on that wing and knew what he was doing, but talent wise i don't think he's in the same league as the other 3. Voted for Mata and Hazard because I think they'll go on to have far better careers than Robben had.

Pathetic, I don't know why anyone except those 4 clubs would go for it. United will gain the most, Arsenal will become bigger financially than Chelsea/City so i can see why they want it. And Liverpool and Spurs just want to get on an even footing to us, what jokes.

Welcome mate.

How did he have 3 assists? He took the corner for the first own goal. Second own goal he was behind Walters as he headed it so he couldn't have gotten a touch on it? Got fouled for the penalty, does that count as an assist? And I wouldn't have thought Hazard's goal would have had an assist to anyone.