http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 10,00.html

Really just confirms what we already know.

1. There is no cast iron certainty about Drogba's future

2. Some of the reported remarks by Drogba in the year were paper talk, some were correct

3. Drogba hasn't apologised for his red card

4. We will be getting maybe 2 or 3 new players in and this will mean maybe 5 or 6 leaving

He added: "We decided several months ago that our squad size is a few players too many. It is about 28 now and it should really be 22 plus three goalkeepers.

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does that mean a squad of 25 then so only 3 will be going??

it also says avrams squad will be trimmed, is there also somethin about avrams future there?

I think it means 5 or 6 leaving as if we are to bring in 2 or 3 and still get the 28 down to 25 then this will be required.

I think it means 5 or 6 leaving as if we are to bring in 2 or 3 and still get the 28 down to 25 then this will be required.

sorry that makes more sense

my brains still in bed

Pretty easy to trim the current squad down by 5/6 without much impact

Sidwell

Pizarro

Ben Haim

Belletti

SWP

One of Sheva or Anelka (anelka would be my preference)

and then you have the possibility of people leaving that the club would rather retain - i.e. Drogba and Lampard (I am more confident by the day that Lamps is staying)

Leaving us space to bring in a new striker or two and pretty please a good orthodox winger!

i think swp will stay, hes said he wants to stay. i think both sheva and anelka will leave, along with sidwell, ben haim, belletti and pizarro. therfore, if drogba goes we need at least 2 strikers. everyother position is filled, but i also feel we need some invention in the midfield.

Hopefully Sinclair and the like willl get a few starts this season. Sinclair looked great for Palace at seasons end.

Why is everybody on Belletti's case? He's a good fullback with a few more good years.

Why is everybody on Belletti's case? He's a good fullback with a few more good years.

mainly because he's a defender who can't defend.

I do think he's a good option for certain games or situations, but we've just spend £16m on another player who fits the description of "attacking right back", and as such, belletti no longer offers a unique alternative to the defensive fullbacks already at the club.

Why is everybody on Belletti's case? He's a good fullback with a few more good years.

mainly because he's a defender who can't defend.

I do think he's a good option for certain games or situations, but we've just spend £16m on another player who fits the description of "attacking right back", and as such, belletti no longer offers a unique alternative to the defensive fullbacks already at the club.

I think when Mourinho brought him (Belletti), the idea was because of the change in formation (to a 4-4-2) there would be less pressure on him as a defender than previous defenders were put under when Chelsea played their 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 compact diamond formations. This makes sense to the extent that the wide midfielders provide cover for the wing/full backs.

With a reduced squad size, and seven subs rule next season, we should really start to see an emphysis on youth development next season, for better or for worse.

What worries me is that issues like squad size should be dealt with by the manager. Some managers like big squads with lots of seasoned professionals and some like compact squads where everyone knows their place. Some managers like to place faith in youth prospects. Others don't.

Unless we have someone lined up, it really does worry me that the club's upper management (Roman, Kenyon, Buck) seem to be making a lot of decisions on the squad structure (already signed Boswinga, already chasing Robinho, deciding to cull the squad down to 22+3) without consulting the new manager.

If this is what is going on, then it is not a good start to the post-Grant era.

Unless we have someone lined up, it really does worry me that the club's upper management (Roman, Kenyon, Buck) seem to be making a lot of decisions on the squad structure (already signed Boswinga, already chasing Robinho, deciding to cull the squad down to 22+3) without consulting the new manager.

Could be the new manager is allready pulling some strings around the place dispite not being officially named yet.

I sincerely hope that is what is going on - in which case the manager must be about to be named in the next few days.

I'm crossing my fingers here, but Hiddink likes his attacking, all action wingbacks and that is what Bosingwa is, by all accounts.

Unless we have someone lined up, it really does worry me that the club's upper management (Roman, Kenyon, Buck) seem to be making a lot of decisions on the squad structure (already signed Boswinga, already chasing Robinho, deciding to cull the squad down to 22+3) without consulting the new manager.

Could be the new manager is allready pulling some strings around the place dispite not being officially named yet.

You obviously have a lot more faith in our club's professionalism than I do at this precise moment.

I just think Arnesen et al are buying who they like and the new manager will just have to work with them when he turns up.

I'm a bit surprised that anyone would suggest that SWP make an exit over Malouda. Florent gave us 3 goals (correct me if I'm wrong) and a brilliant long ball to Joey Cole against Everton in the League Cup. Other than that...nothing.

SWP on the other hand was our best player for a stretch of time this season. If it came down to the both of them, who would you keep?

My list of out's:

Sidwell

Ben-Haim

Malouda

Belletti

Pizarro

+ one more. This slot is reserved for either Drogba, Anelka or Sheva.