Today Arjen told Chelsea he wants to sign for Real Madrid, at the same time Madrid have increased their bid and dropped their interestin Alves in a gentleman's agreement with Chelsea. Chelsea have upped their Alves offer accordingly.

Here we go again ... Cole/G****s last minute jobs!!

If thats the case f**k him....

Im not being vidictive because he has simpily handed in a transfer request.

Fact is the the club, the staff and the fans have robben in the face of critasisem and continues injurys respectivly in the past. IE terry's comments in reply to beitez jibes made a couple of seasons ago.

He has been plagued with injury for more or less his entire time here and really hasnt re-paid the clubs faith and time with performances on the pitch. I would think he's like to try and give us one decent season!

Guddy and duffers althoguh i was sad to see them go had never given anything but there best in a chelsea shirt and when they moved on you understood there reasoning, cant say i feel the same way about robben so not going to wish him all the best!!

Ok so moving on to the next point.. alves, really limited in terms of the ammount of times ive seen him play, only really in uefa cup games and for brazil so could some one who has seen a little bit more of him tell me exactly what we are going to be getting for our cash??

What took him so long??

PS Star I'm spreading this all over the world as I type.

Done deal if Star says so

I'm disappointed in Robben. Brilliant talent, but no heart whatsoever.

I do hope we make Real pay through the nose for this one. Calderon will be desperate to get the Dutchman while we don't have to sell. It's time to do a bit of Jean-Michel Aulas on this one.

Alves possible arrival is a great news.

Alves possible arrival is a great news.

Yes, but we need someone to replace Robben for cover for the left wing...ideally someone with a longstanding detestation of the Liverfool captain, thanks!

Why would we need left wing cover? We have Malouda and Joe who can play on the left. If Robben was to leave and be replaced by Alves then we have SWP as an orthodox right winger and Alves as an attacking right sided wing back who can play further forward if required.

Drenthe would not be a worthwhile signing.

Why would we need left wing cover? We have Malouda and Joe who can play on the left.

Don't forget Sinclair.

If Alves is really coming we'll be covered in all areas.

and that is the end for Johno if true

IF the rumour is true, it sounds like a good deal. Swap Robben for Alves, and some change . please proceed Mr Kenyon..

and that is the end for Johno if true

Or the rebirth of Johno the right winger.

If Robben has actually handed in a transfer request, then the debate over his value to the team becomes meaningless - because if he doesn't want to play for us, then there is no way we should keep him.

Why would we need left wing cover? We have Malouda and Joe who can play on the left.

Don't forget Sinclair.

If Alves is really coming we'll be covered in all areas.

So far, what I've seen of Sinclair, has made me very impressed. Robben's speed from a coupe of years ago, without the constant need for doctors, nurses, and band aids.

Why would we need left wing cover?

Because Malouda was brought in as competition for Robben, NOT as a replacement for him. And because JM has said REPEATEDLY that he wants to play both Malouda and Robben together in the same 443 formation, the way he played Robben and Duff. That's why (and that was our most attacking / sexy football of the New Chelsea era remember!).

Two top players for every position. J.Cole is no more a left winger than he is a right winger. Not in the traditional sense. Yes he can play there. But so can Bridge. So can A Cole, in a pinch. But are they the best we can do for that position? No. Are they a natural for that position? No. If Robben is going - and sod off you diving tw*t if you are - then we need a like for like replacement and pronto!

Plus, to the suggestion that: 'We've got Sinclair'. Need I mention that Manure have just bought Tevez as a back up for Rooney for goodness sake! (Though they'll no doubt end up playing together with Ronaldo behind them - yikes ). And this is the sort of mentality the champions of England have going into this season. We need to match that mentality with a squad of equal if not greater, depth and raw footballing talent. So let me ask you: did Sinclair get the footballing world to sit up and take notice of him like Royston did? No. Are Real Madrid (or ANYONE else) trying to lure Sinclair out of our grasp because of his talent? No. He's a 1-2,000,000 player. He's one for the future. But we need someone who can win us matches with his creative trickery next weekend! Not in 2010!

I don't see much logic in the argument that Joe Cole is not really a left winger when he has played there far more in the past few seasons than in any other positon ut in the same breath saying we should go for Drenthe to provide cover when Drenthe is really an attacking full back rather than a left winger.

But we need someone who can win us matches with his creative trickery next weekend! Not in 2010!

Unfortunately, this reflects the sad reality of our tactics and football- we need individual skill to win games, never as a team.

I?m siding with Loz on this one, Brian, and I also believe that this could be a very big moment in Sinclair?s career. Admittedly, Drenthe will have had his nose put out of joint by Real?s relentless pursuit of Robben and subsequent cooling of interest in him, but this does sum up their Galactico mentality and Royston simply isn?t a big enough fish by comparison. Chelsea appear to be a second choice as far as he is concerned and as such I?m inclined to think that our priority should really be Scott?s development, rather than see him slip back down the left sided scale behind Malouda, Cole and an incoming Drenthe. Anyway, it does rather defeat the object [bringing Scott into the first team squad] if we?re going to immediately promote over him, without even giving him a decent crack at being the classy, flying winger he threatens to become.

So far, what I've seen of Sinclair, has made me very impressed. Robben's speed from a coupe of years ago, without the constant need for doctors, nurses, and band aids.

Its just plain stupid to think that Sinclair is anywhere near Robben. Sorry but you really have to ask you what some people are thinking. Sinclair is a decent young player but nothing special.

I?m siding with Loz on this one, Brian, and I also believe that this could be a very big moment in Sinclair?s career. Admittedly, Drenthe will have had his nose put out of joint by Real?s relentless pursuit of Robben and subsequent cooling of interest in him, but this does sum up their Galactico mentality and Royston simply isn?t a big enough fish by comparison. Chelsea appear to be a second choice as far as he is concerned and as such I?m inclined to think that our priority should really be Scott?s development, rather than see him slip back down the left sided scale behind Malouda, Cole and an incoming Drenthe. Anyway, it does rather defeat the object [bringing Scott into the first team squad] if we?re going to immediately promote over him, without even giving him a decent crack at being the classy, flying winger he threatens to become.

Agree absolutely with you Dorset.

There are two sorts of Chelsea fan now. The post RA fan and the ones (like myself) who are a bit longer in the tooth and remember Chelsea's previous incarnation. Our newer fans are used to us splashing the cash and signing two or three ?20m+ players and so when we haven't gone they see this as a disaster especially when our rivals have broken the bank. It isn't. We have the strongest squad since RA's arrival. If Robben goes which looks increasingly likely we do have cover on the left. We do NOT need to sign an unproven left-back/wingback. As Loz says, we have Malouda and Cole and Sinclair. That's more than enough. We do however look a bit light on the right where we have only SWP (Joe seems to prefer the left so he can cut in on his right and join the action much like Pires did for the arse). Therefore the signing of Alves to strengthen that side would be for me the the final piece in the jigsaw.

Some fans obsession with the kind of galactico policy that cocked up Real Madrid for five years is not the way we should go; lest we forget how the arrival of two such player in Sheva and Ballack pretty much f**ked us up last season. Like life itself, it's all about balance. With Alves we would have that.

Brian, how come you rate Drenthe higher than Sinclair? Okay - so Drenthe impressed in a couple of games in the under 21 tournament (and of course we loved his tackle that sparked off the brawl against Liverpool!). That is not enough to warrant us signing him at Sinclair's expense particularly as Drenthe isn't an out and out left winger also after the Robben debacle I have had my fill with moody Dutch players. Incidentally, my guess is that had he been in the England squad instead of Routledge or Richardson, he would have impressed too. I want to see us bring our kids through, kids that have grown up with Jose and the first team squad.

SWP on the right. He always played like sh*t when used there. He started to play good as he became a midfielder. So I dont know if you can say hes a winger. So in my opinion we have Robben and Malouda on the left and Joe and Kalou on the right. If Robben leaves ,Malouda is alone on the left. Maybe Sinclair as a replacement.

To Alves: I thought we sign him as a right back ?!

Its obvious this move has been coming for ages, at least in my book. We have seen repeated stories from Robben's dad that CFC didn't make him a good enough offer and that he was off to real. At the same time Alves has been talking constantly about wanting to go to CFC.

You have to see management saw the Robben thing coming and that's why they bought Malouda. It wouldn't surprise me if this actually what they hoped would happen, that's why Robben didn't get the contract he was after. After all its obvious to me that Malouda who is after all pretty much a regular in the French national team, not that easy a team to get into, is likely to start in front of Robben and its also been obvious to everyone on these boards that we need more cover around the right full back.

On paper this is all very encouraging, however in my view we are still short in the striker stakes.

Just hope it doesn't distract us from the immediate task which is winning on Saturday.

German

Kalou is far more comfortable on the left than the right so he doesn't really provide proper cover on the right.

If Robben is off, then I have to say that its the first summer in which we lost quality in the Roman era. When you look at ManU its making you really frightend. I think this year its the first time they have a better squad. We go into the season with so many doubts.

If Robben is off, then I have to say that its the first summer in which we lost quality in the Roman era. When you look at ManU its making you really frightend. I think this year its the first time they have a better squad. We go into the season with so many doubts.

They may have more "flair" players but I do not think they have a better squad. I am surprised that they haven't strengthened at the back. If they lose either Ferdinand or Vidic they'll be in trouble as who are the replacements? Wes Brown? John O'Shea? Hardly world class. Likewise, with no Neville (who is past his best) they will rely on Brown or O'Shea to fill there. As it seems that Heinze is off, they have no back up if Evra gets injured or suspended.

Also, it will take time of their new players to fit in. I am not too worried.

This was coming... Shame really, great talent but was just injured for far too long, far too often.

Chelsea have treated him well, the fans included, I hope he acts in a mature manner if the deal is sealed.

Come on the Chels, snap up Alves quickly.

I don't see much logic in the argument that Joe Cole is not really a left winger when he has played there far more in the past few seasons than in any other position ut in the same breath saying we should go for Drenthe to provide cover when Drenthe is really an attacking full back rather than a left winger.

You know I rate Joe, Loz, always have. If we still had the old CSR files you could dredge posts from me saying we should go in for Joe, a number of years before Claudio meet the RA era. I've always loved players who can do magic with the ball at their feet. They're my favourite type of player. They're the wizards of the modern game, if you will. And Joe fits into that category. So, if Joe plays on the left for us we'll always get a pound of flesh from him, we know that. But, he will 90% of the time, cut in on his right foot from there. And when he does that we become terribly narrow. Something that has been our problem for a while now. We've got strikers who need service from wingers who can get around the full back on the outside (by skill and speed) and cross the ball. You know, like they did in the good old days. Back when we were all in short pants. We need width. Malouda gives us that. But if he's injured, or just doesn't adapt quickly enough, then we're suddenly playing somebody out of position there.

Also, if Drenthe is in fact played as a wing-back rather than a winger in a flat 442 (which I think would be the place JM would play him) then don't you think him on the left and Alves on the right would be a really nice balance for the team? Way better than, say, A.Cole and Johnson?

(Though to be honest I think Bridge can play wing-back on the left in a pinch - though again, he can't beat people with the ball at his feet. But he is a terrific and unselfish crosser of the ball which strikers love)

Also, if Drenthe is in fact played as a wing-back rather than a winger in a flat 442 (which I think would be the place JM would play him) then don't you think him on the left and Alves on the right would be a really nice balance for the team? Way better than, say, A.Cole and Johnson?

(Though to be honest I think Bridge can play wing-back on the left in a pinch - though again, he can't beat people with the ball at his feet. But he is a terrific and unselfish crosser of the ball which strikers love)

The general idea is that when the left sided player cuts in onto his right it is to allow space for the full-back to over lap. I think we will see a lot more of this from Cashley this season.

You don't play a wing back unless you use a 3-5-2 formation and that went out with smiley t-shirts.