Bodzilla

He certainly was not the champion of last summer! It is not inconceivable to see ALL of Jose's signings from last year gone 12 months later. How many clubs can ever say that? (I consider Alex to be a signing from a few seasons ago)

No Kaka? That is ok, let's go for Pato...he looks like a real player.

Gutted. I first wanted Hiddink, but then I really really wanted Hughes. Thought we were going to sign him and set myself up for a major dissapointment here. After I heard Hughes was gone I didn't care who we appointed. Now that I have finished a days work I have simmered a bit and decided the only manager I have any interest in whatsoever is Spaletti, which of course means we will not sign him. Dissapointing day.

I watched a fair number of Sevilla's league matches this year (probobly around 15-20) and barely remember seeing Boula. I have no idea if he was injured or just not up to it, but he did not seem to figure very much, and certainly did NOT enhance his pricetag.

Everybody linked with our managerial vacancy have had something to say on the matter, either personally or through an intermediary. Except Hughes. Does this mean anything? Or have I missed any quotes or feelings attributed to him? After Hiddink ruled himself out my hope is that Hughes will be the man.

Don't forget we have a 13M RB that can't get a game for us at the moment.

Wouldn't be the first time we've done that. I'd love to think we have learned our lesson...but I tend to think we haven't.

I've heard rumblings that Eto'o has lost his ertxa gear of pace that sets him apart from nearly all other strikers. Is this true? I have no idea, but I'd be just a little more then apprehensive if we shell out big money on a striker who may be losing his legs. Kun Aguero please, thogh the BBC very recently did a bit on him where he declared he is definitely staying with Atleti for at least another season or two.

Did we spend 9M on Ivanovic to be 4th choice in the middle and second or third choice on the right? This is, in all honesty, rediculous.

"If only" Robben and Duffer weren't made of glass. We'd have 100 points a year!!!

Really happy for Joe, but it is a crying shame in my opinion that Riccy didn't get it. I don't think anybody came close to him this season for Player of the Year. Popularity contest, but at least he got recognized in some capacity. Shockingly underrated.

In my opinion he is Madrid's best player and is certainly going nowhere. As mentioned before, agent speak.

The most important part of any banner for the site is surely the url!

Great to see Duffer at the end, true Blue.

Agree 100% Loz, however, barring injury does anybody really think Grant will drop one of Essien, Ballack, or Lampard? Perhaps Maka is dropped, however in a match where we need defensive cover I cannot see him on the bench. Essien at RB it is I'm afraid, be shocked to see it any other way. Paulo, unfortunately, is just "easier" to drop.

That's one more Xmas card to go out this year then. Beeeeeauty!!!!!!!!!

My 7 year old nephew holds the ball better and is stronger on the ball then Malouda. I'd give him a year to settle, but I'm not sure (well yes I am, 100%) I'd be playing him as regularly as Grant is at this time.

I don't have any particular problems with the selection, bar maybe Malouda (who I thought might be a little better in Europe...), but the tactics were God-awful. Olympiacos had no interest in anything but trying to have their CF fouled by one of the 4 defenders around him. If this is how we will approach big games (and I am not basing this solely on tonight) then we will win very little this year. If we don't attack an Olympiacos side that had 7 players not stray out of their own box then what are we going to do against decent clubs? Play 9 at the back and pray? I was also baffled by the amount of time it took Grant to make any changes. Things were clearly dire, why wait so long? Or was that the plan in the first place? A tiny, tiny, tiny bit of ambition tonight would have seen us run out 2 or 3 nil. Confident of going through at the Bridge, but not so confident for the next round unless we draw Schalke or somebody of their ilk. (If we continue this way)

Cech, because he did nothing, which is better then most of the team.

I think Maka will get a rest, JT with Ricky in the middle of defense. Essien holding and Anelka wide in a 4-3-3(4-5-1). Cech Belletti Terry Carvalho Cole Essien Ballack Lampard Anelka Drogba Cole Subs: Cudicini, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Makelele, Malouda, Wright-Phillips

How long will he be happy being #3 at RB, #4 at CB, and #2-3 at LB? He cost us a lot of money, surely he can't strictly be a utility player? How is he going to get a rythem playing everywhere, once every few weeks? If we do not sign Alves, I see all the sense in the world in signing Ivanovic. As you say, Belletti is getting up there, but Alves is 25 and will be playing wek in, week out if signed. I just cannot, in my own mind, justify spending that much money on a player that will be cover for positions that in most cases already have adequate cover. I guess we will see how it all plays out.

This could be a tough call. Will Grant stand up to Terry and tell him he is not playing if he feels Terry is not fit enough? Lampard was straight back into the team, is this the precedent set by the manager?

If we do sign Alves in the summer, where does that really leave Ivanovic? Are we really paying close to £10M for utility players to fill in here and there when needed? Did we pay that much to have him start 10 matches at RB when we will surely pay £20M+ for Alves. Not to mention, as others already have, the £13M we will not recoup from Paulo(granted he gave us some very good - average years). We have also spent £3M on Belletti, £6M on Boularhouz who was supposed to be able to play there, and brought in Ben-Haim on what has to be good wages, who was also supposed to be able to play RB if need be. Really is a shocking state of affairs. At least we, presumably, got something back for Johnson...who looks like he may be the best of the bunch, or close to it at this moment.

I'd like to see Ivanovic given a chance. If we wont try him against this lot then just who th hell will we play him against!?!?! I'm sure he must be close to some sort of fitness by now, and there is no way to get match fit unless you get to playing some matches. Free bane!

I'd like to see a race between Malouda with a ball and John Hartson without one.