Chelsea thread

Drogba will be back to full training in 3 weeks so thats not too bad

on the topic of strikers i really liked sturridges goal vs ajax. hoping to see alot more of him this season, think he could prove quite a threat with consistant playing time under his belt

very keen to get my hands on the season review from last season, they sometimes pop up in the warehouse or soccer shop (hamilton) but that could take some time

anyone know of anywhere? or just the best way to get a hold of one

I've just come back from visiting my Dad in Portugal and there are lots of rumours and articles over there that Ramires will be the next signing for us, from Benfica. The fee is believed to be about �17.5m but the issue that needs sorting out is that he's owned by Kia Joorabchian (remember him?). This is therefore not allowed under PL rules so he'll have to buy the 50% of his contract out that's owned by Joorabchian.

David Luiz was also heavily rumoured to be coming to the Bridge from Benfica. Word in Portugal was that we bid �23m for him but Benfica want �27m. Benfica are financially very well off and can dictate whichever terms they like so we'll have to play ball if we're going to sign him.

On the other hand it looks as though the deals for Porto's pair, Alves and Meireles are dead. No word on Aguerro but plenty of rumours regarding Fernando Torres.

My advice, Downey, would be to go online to the Chelsea megastore. They always have copies of the season reviews in there so you should be able to order online, with a bit of surfing on the site.

 
yea i seen it on there was just wondering if there was an easier way of getting it.

all good i shall order it with my malouda shirt.

lost 2-1 to Eintract Frankfurt. first game back for some of the regulars. not worried by the result but its a little displeasing to have another defensive blunder lead to a goal.

hopefully we are just getting them out the way before the season starts. interesting to see who will start in goal for the community shield and epl.

Always disappointing to lose a game but pre-season is all about getting players match-fit and perhaps trying out various combinations. That said, it's nice we're playing meaningful friendlies as opposed to the usual money-making publicity tours of the USA and China.

I think Carlo will go for Hilario in goal against the Mancs. I'd love to think Turnbull will get a chance but he seems very prone to error. The Ajax game was just the latest in his catalogue. Hilario, while not the most solid keeper in the world, is at least a more seasoned pro. But it does highlight the problem for us that we don't have a quality backup to Petr Cech.

not an ideal pre season but dont think you can read to much into it, i hope. the community shield i think will be treated as a final chance to get the team ready for the start of the season

Ramires confirmed signing for $39m. Dunno what that is in pounds. Probably about 18m.

Real poor start...so many unfit players according to the coach....may struggle with Man U this weekend, just hope Terry has a half decent game or we may need a new centre back !!!!!!

 
havnt seen much of this guy but excited none the less

 
yea im a bit worried we may get off to a sluggish start, cant afford to slip too many points behind

tis only pre season though so we will just have to wait and see

My Dad is from Portugal and sees a lot of Benfica games on TV. He reckons he's a decent player (as do all Benfica fans I know) but that he's definitely not worth prices we've been quoted as paying. The deal is yet to go through but everyone seems to be of the opinion we should be paying no more than �14m, as opposed to the �18m we're supposedly shelling out.

We're also being linked with Fabio Coentr�o, the Benfica left-back who had a superb WC. I think it's dependent on Ashley Cole going to Real Madrid though.

poor form continues. not worried yet but if we dont win next weekend ill start to become concerned. 

Silly defensive errors cost us, although the Mancs' first goal was a superb move between Rooney and Valencia. However I thought we were the better side over the 90mins. The third goal only came about after we'd battered them for about 10mins and Bruma was caught out by Berbatov. But it's key that youngsters like Bruma get experience at first team level.

Positive to see Essien back - I thought he had a good game. I thought Ferreira did alright at right-back but I was concerned with how easily Ashley Cole was skinned time and again. I thought Lampard was anonymous and Benayoun looked like a fish out of water when he came on. Zhirkov looked good at left-back when he came on.

All in all, a fourth straight pre-season defeat but next week against WBA will be a true test. If we struggle there, it could be a long season. I only wish to heaven that this Ramires business would get sorted out quickly so we can move forward.

Also, strong rumours in the press today that we're about sign Bosnian-Canadian keeper, Asmir Begovic. Carlo has reportedly run out of patience with Hilario and Turnbull. As I said last week, a solid backup keeper has been a problem for us since Cudicini left. Begovic looks quite impressive so could be a good signing.PaulSG2010-08-09 23:29:43

Saw a story on this in the boxey press, apparently Begovic hasn't heard anything about this other than the Guardian story which first suggested it.

Tony Pulis has confirmed that we made an enquiry about Begovic. Stoke have said they don't want to sell. To be expected, this close to the season, I guess. A pity as he would've been a very reliable backup to Cech.

So Carvalho is off to Real Madrid. Where does that leave you guys in defence this year?

Terry and Alex with Bruma backing up. Probably need one more though.

A big shame to see Riccy go. In my opinion, he's the best centre-half we have at the club and has been for some time. But, we have enough quality to cover. Terry and Alex will likely be first choice but Ivanovic is also a natural centre-half, he just filled in at right-back last season in Bosingwa's absence.

There are still the stories linking us with David Luiz from Benfica. He's a very good player so he may well be next in as we need at least 4 quality centre-halves. The last time we had three, two of them got injured and Essien had to fill in. Bruma will also feature more this season.

the season is almost upon us, the excitement

Malouda opens the seasons account. Poor from Carson.

but i not complaining 1-0 to us

6-0 nil.......here we go again

well pleased with the game this morning, whole team looked very sharp. drogs, malouda and essien in particular. given our pre season form i was a bit worried we may struggle through this game

Picked off from last season really. Good to see Drogba bagging a hattrick.

yea great game to watch

  Downey262010-08-15 16:52:52

When is Bosingwa back?

i think hes back training now in some degree. ivanovic is a more than capable rb but im hoping we stick with paulo for the next game. deserves some first team action

Ramires given the 7 shirt.

hope to see him against wigan this weekend

Ramires is the first Premier League player, and pro footballer for that matter, I have ever seen to still wear braces.

we have a pretty kind run of fixtures coming up

Wigan away
Stoke home
West Ham away
Blackpool home

to be honest we should aim to and be able to win all these. Last season we won our first 6 and that was a great platform for our season. Man City away after that may be tough but who knows how things will be going by then.

One game at a time

Sam Hucthinson has had to retire after persistant knee injuries.

pretty gutted as i thought he could have developed nicely into a first team regular. had that nice cross for lamps last season vs stoke

So Drogba has scored a hattrick in his last 2 epl games. wondering if thats ever happened. chelsea have scored the last 3 epl hatricks and 4 out of the last 5.

wouldnt bet against someone netting 3 against wigan this week if they play like they did last weekend 

Awesome game. i thought wigan were the bettr team in the first half, pressed us well and generally made life diffecult. they had another little spell of pressure in the 2nd hald after anelkas brace.

Can't argue with a +12 goal difference after two games.

Even if it is against two teams who are very likely to be relegated.

Stoke at home this weekend, looking foward to it. hopefully teams dont come to the bridge and park the bus in fear of getting beaten heavily. away from home we can counter attack but at home one expects to dictate the play against the lesser teams

im sure it will be a good game, a repeat of the last time stoke visited would be nice (7-0)

not sure what to expect as far as changes, maybe ramires in for mikel. personally i would like to see more of sturridge, plenty of time for that though

just reading this interview on the chelsea website with kalou, he mentions he is good friends with akon and steve nash. i cant begin to imagine how he met steve nash 

Matic and Raijkovic loaned out to Vitesse Arnhem