The Platypus - Comments

Also, Marcelo did the exact same thing then preceded to spend the rest of the game crying. Don't think he got as much flack as Ronaldo.

I don't mind having Torres, I still think he offers something at times. While he might not score an array of goals he does tend to work well off the ball and link play between Hazard, etc. Plus, it's tough to move on a striker who's on such a huge wage unless he either takes a massive pay cut or we do a Veron/Crespo and pay a portion of his wage after he goes.

I'm also in a camp that would prefer to keep Mikel. I actually think he's exceptionally under appreciated at times because he seemingly offers nothing special. However, he's by far our best holding player, composed on the ball, strong, reads the play well and plays his way out of trouble well. He was the player Mourinho would call upon most times when it was time to shut up shop. His main issue is that he isn't suited to a 2 man central midfield. If we had to sell a midfielder I'd be selling Ramires. He had a woeful season both in terms of form and discipline, particularly after the good season he had last year. He hasn't improved at all, his technically terrible, can't pass and is neither a holding player nor an attacking one who can create/score. His engine is about all that he has going for him. To me, he's the most easily replaced.

Vidal is a no brainer as a choice but he's not an option of any sort of realistic sense. I'd actually love to see us test Tottenham's resolve over Eriksen, he'd fit in perfectly along Matic in either a 2 or 3 man midfield. The other option (which I seriously think Mourinho will consider) is to ditch the 4231 and go with the 4-3-3 and push Oscar back into a central midfield position to play that Lampard-esque role.

I'm not sure if we'll actually sign a centre back now given Terry re-signed for another year. Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic and then you have Kalas and Zouma too that can all fill the position. In saying that, if Mourinho does want another centre back I think he'll look to sign Varane from Real Madrid. Given how much he rated him during his time at the club.

As for a midfielder having MvG back is like a new signing, then there's still Lampard, Ramires, Mikel and Matic. We could still use a more creative type in the middle though if one is available for the right price.

Ba looks to also be staying, so I dare say a strike force of Diego Costa, Torres, Ba and possibly Lukaku could be had for next season. Mandzukic could be an option we've been linked with which may result in one of Torres or Lukaku being moved on, be it permanently or out on loan.

Sad to see Luiz go as he's been a good character to have around the club and is one of the few players at times who has shown some urgency to make something happen. But to get what could eventually be £50m for a 3rd choice centre back and part-time midfielder is an excellent piece of business.

Hopefully this don't mean another year of Mikel

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/may/premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html

Chelsea:
Cole Ashley
Eto'o Fils Samuel
Lampard Frank James
Schwarzer Mark


Does that just mean they haven't agreed a new deal yet?

Spider-man 2 hasn't aged to well. Still better then the newest one though. It is a decent popcorn flick but the character development of the villains is shit as fuck.

It's ok. Its overly long, and some of the dialogue is wank but Andy Garfield is about 20x the Spiderman Toby Maguire ever was and its far better than any 3 of those films.

YESSSSSS

FUCK OFF MORUINHO U SPECIALIST IN FAILURE

FUCK OFF LIVERPOOL OUR SEASON WAS BETTER THAN URS U DIRTY SCOUSE BASTARDS

Yeah, I was going to say he'd be a good squad player but couldn't be arsed to type it. Would be weird to sell Luiz for a squad player if you were getting Costa when you could probably get like £30m+ for him and strengthen other areas.

Rumours that Mandzukic has been left out of the German cup squad for tomorrow because of an impending swap deal with Luiz. Got to say, I can see the sense of that deal for both clubs, even if Mandzukic probably doesn't quite have the quality Chelsea want.

Gerrard wins on account of being better though.

Starting 11 of Brazil players left out of the 30-man WC squad.

Tbf Frozen is one of the only disney films I have seen. Haven't even seen Lion King

It's a quite good series :L I'm on the 2nd book atm

Smalling is probably the second best centre back in the squad. It's whether he's being taken as cover at right back that worries me.

Both Helenius and Okore were massively rated last season, though, a lot of big clubs were scouting Okore especially. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new manager come in and both of those players break into the first team. I do think that Paul Lambert is in a bizarre situation at Aston Villa. He seems to get on great with the owner and you get few stories coming out of the dressing room, but yet Villa are still not getting results, and the fans seem lukewarm about him. He's also had two years now, which is fine if you want to argue that the team is young and in transition, but then he keeps buying in raw young players that aren't ready for the first team, which means that the squad age is staying the same.