:D Maybe I just haven't seen enough of him to judge properly. It's fully possible I've only seen his bad games.

I must admit that I haven't seen too many Arsenal matches where Arshavin has played, but I understand he's being played out of position there. Before we signed Zhirkov, Arshavin stated that he'd love to see Yuri at Arsenal, because that would allow him to move into his natural position.

Couple of stories that suggest we might be in a position to grab Modric here and here.

I've also been thinking recently about what formations we might try over the next few seasons. My first thought was that, with all of the Brazilians we've been bringing in, we might have a crack at something Brazil have tried in the past:

It's somewhat of a hybrid of a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-2-3-1. Mikel sits deep to hold, much as he already does and McEachran plays as a deep lying playmaker (which seems to be the role we're grooming him for). Neymar attacks the box from wide causing problems for defenders whilst moving out of the way enough for Cole to overlap on the outside. Ramires is given license to do his thing and generally dominate the right-side of midfield with Van der Wiel providing the majority of our width on that side. Modric should be able to cover the Kaka role in attacking midfield (although probably not quite as well). The real benefit of this system is that it is an unusual formation that people will (at least at first) have trouble figuring out how to defend it. In addition to this, it manages to be a shape that plays to the strengths of all of our players/those players we will hopefully buy.

Another benefit is that it's very easy to switch back to our previously successful 4-3-3 that has been successful in the past. Moving Modric out wide and pushing McEachran forward would leave us in a formation very similar to that which served us so well back in 2005:

I'd suggest that Neymar could fill the Robben role and Modric is easily as good as Duff. Both are able to play on either side and contribute effectively. In fact, the only position that I would consider to be significantly weaker in our side now (assuming we make these signings) compared to back then is defensive midfield with Mikel not even close to the level of Makelele. Obviously McEachran and Ramires have different skill sets to Lampard and Essien, but I think they both have the potential to step up and contribute effectively in both formations.

I've also been thinking recently about what formations we might try over the next few seasons. My first thought was that, with all of the Brazilians we've been bringing in, we might have a crack at something Brazil have tried in the past:

Although I don't think the squad will change as much as you suggest here but I'm convinced our future is in young and fearless players like Luiz and Ramires. McEachran is still too soon to be evaluated but I think he'll come good.

Luiz' first games with us were eye-opening for me. Our squad looked so old and uninventive comparing it to Luiz. Fearless and willing to make big decisions in the game. He played like the rest of our squad does in games we are trailing in the last 5 mins, which is sad. Something that experience brings you and age takes away.

Playing Lampard, Terry and Drogba gives you the experience and mixing it with young players like Luiz makes it interesting. Just like it was with Robben and Makelele.

Zenit wants to get Alex in a swap, Bruno Alves + Cash.

Tim W is to be appointed manager from June 15 source

Macienne having a medical at Hamburg according to Sky Sources.

Macienne having a medical at Hamburg according to Sky Sources.

Good buisness 3million for him, he was sh*t and wasnt going to get into the team, put 3mill towards VDW hopefully

Zenit wants to get Alex in a swap, Bruno Alves + Cash.

Chelsea have been offered Zenit St Petersburg defender Bruno Alves in a swap deal for Alex - but the Russians' initial bid to lure the Brazil centre back has been rejected.

Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti contacted Chelsea about the 28-year-old last week.

Alex has fallen down the pecking order after David Luiz's £25million transfer from Benfica in January. Zenit are prepared to include cash, as well as Alves, in their attempts to sign Alex.

Alves only joined Zenit from Porto in an £18million deal last August and has made 24 appearances.

Link

I've not seen a huge amount about Alves, but I don't really see the logic in this deal. Zenit are trying to swap a 29 year old CB who's quite good at free kicks for another 29 year old (at least, he will be by the start of the next season) CB who's quite good at free kicks. Alex may well be more solid defensively (as I said, haven't seen very much of Alves) but when you're looking for somebody to play in the Russian league, surely Alves is sufficient?

Only way I could see this one happening is if the players are unhappy at their current clubs and would like to move.

Good buisness 3million for him, he was sh*t and wasnt going to get into the team, put 3mill towards VDW hopefully

£3 million is a helluva deal for a centre half that looks to have a soft centre.

My link

errr, yeah whatever...

Liverpool and Chelsea will have to fork out £12million to sign Dutch ace Vurnon Anita after he signed a new contract with Ajax.

That is the price of the new release clause for the 22-year-old midfielder, who has apparently committed his future to the Amsterdam club until 2014.

But there is a suggestion the new contract with the increased transfer value could be an Ajax tactic to maximise the value of their versatile defensive midfielder, who has come through the club's youth system.

3 million seems like good money right now for Mancienne, but man, about the time he got his England callup a couple seasons ago I thought he was going to be a key part of the future.

I have faith that Josh will turn out well, but I hope a couple of years from now we're not talking about how promising Kakuta used to look after we sold him for 6 million to a French team.

3 million seems like good money right now for Mancienne, but man, about the time he got his England callup a couple seasons ago I thought he was going to be a key part of the future.

I have faith that Josh will turn out well, but I hope a couple of years from now we're not talking about how promising Kakuta used to look after we sold him for 6 million to a French team.

That's football sadly. Most prospects will inevitably fall by the wayside

the players are superbt..but who will replace the wilkins position? who will be the coach??

the players are superbt..but who will replace the wilkins position? who will be the coach??

Throw the question back open to you - who do you think will be the coach?

Good deal.

Arnesen has chelseas best interests stilll

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/924581/palermo-could-sell-javier-pastore-to-balance-books?cc=5901

Pastore might be sold still this summer, I guess the president is backing off the 100m buyout clause.

I've only seen a little of him, both for Argentina and Palermo, so I can't really say I'd be in favor of us spending money to get him here, especially if we are in for Neymar, Modric, VDW, etc. Still, the kid could be a real talent for the future.

I swear I saw an article where it says Real will buy him, which makes no sense considering they have Kaka, Ozil, and Sahin now. Still, rather them than any club in Manchester.

Pastore is another one of these guys who isn't half as good as his price tag suggests. Illicic at Palermo is near as good and probably half the price. He plays alongside Pastore behind the striker in a Christmas Tree. There are targets who play around who could be just as effective for less than Illicic even. Honda from CSKA, Kagawa from Dortmund, Ashley Young, Arda Turan, Renato Augusto, even someone like Arshavin who seems to be one the outer is just as good (or just as inconsistent I should say) and would cost less than the kings ransom Palermo will charge for Pastore.

TheWestawayWonder (shame he has gone away) and I made this point regularly last season that good players that fit our criteria are available for half the cost of most of those we are linked too, we seem to only pay massive money when the best buys of recent years (see Sneijder, Milito at Inter, Robben at Bayern, Oezil and Khedira for Real) were all reasonably cheap. Van Der Vaart was one we mentioned last season, that many on here said was too injury prone or not good enough, apparently he was offered to us for 8m and we said no. Next minute he turns up at Spurs and takes the league by storm.

I for one won't be sorry to see a good portion of our scouting team follow Arnesen to Hamburg. We've consistently paid over the odds for players who weren't any better than ones who could have been found for less (see Raul Meireles and VDV last season.) I sometimes wonder whether or not we honestly think FFP either won't happen or won't be effective.

Pastore is another one of these guys who isn't half as good as his price tag suggests. Illicic at Palermo is near as good and probably half the price. He plays alongside Pastore behind the striker in a Christmas Tree. There are targets who play around who could be just as effective for less than Illicic even. Honda from CSKA, Kagawa from Dortmund, Ashley Young, Arda Turan, Renato Augusto, even someone like Arshavin who seems to be one the outer is just as good (or just as inconsistent I should say) and would cost less than the kings ransom Palermo will charge for Pastore.

TheWestawayWonder (shame he has gone away) and I made this point regularly last season that good players that fit our criteria are available for half the cost of most of those we are linked too, we seem to only pay massive money when the best buys of recent years (see Sneijder, Milito at Inter, Robben at Bayern, Oezil and Khedira for Real) were all reasonably cheap. Van Der Vaart was one we mentioned last season, that many on here said was too injury prone or not good enough, apparently he was offered to us for 8m and we said no. Next minute he turns up at Spurs and takes the league by storm.

I for one won't be sorry to see a good portion of our scouting team follow Arnesen to Hamburg. We've consistently paid over the odds for players who weren't any better than ones who could have been found for less (see Raul Meireles and VDV last season.) I sometimes wonder whether or not we honestly think FFP either won't happen or won't be effective.

We should buy an Asian player and reap the commercial windfalls...lol

I actually am a big fan of Kagawa. Seen him play for Japan a few times.

Kalou + money for Nasri ? yeah.(his contract is going to expire next summer)

with this move we can get rid off one striker and get finally great playmaker ?

Kalou + money for Nasri ? yeah.(his contract is going to expire next summer)

with this move we can get rid off one striker and get finally great playmaker ?

I'd be happy with that deal, very happy indeed.

Apparently we bid £33m for Pastore, but its been turned down.

But, speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the club's president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed that the west London club have firmed up their interest with an offer - which was some way short of their asking price.

Zamparini said: "Chelsea was a club that we had a major offer from.

"But it did not reach the minimum figure that we set for a player of his quality.

"If someone wants to buy Pastore, the price is 50m (£44m).

"There are five or six clubs also interested, including Man City and big clubs from Spain and Italy but so far there has been nothing from them."

There's no doubt Pastore is a good player, but £44m for a 21 year old? I'd doubt we'd even pay that for Neymar.

To be honest, I don't care what we pay for players and what wages they're on, as long as we are within the financial fair play rules. It's not my money. Pastore is a quality player and would be perfect, but it's extremely unlikely