Swagger

I would really like us to get Ben Arfa, it would really be a shame if Arsenal bought both him and Nasri.

I would say around 5m is a fair valuation.

With all the players Rafa is willing to offload, I'd be surprised if we didn't get at least one big name in, but it doesn't tie up with what Elisha has said.

Grant has been treated very unfairly. From the outset he has had the odds vastly against him, and to be fair, didn't do too bad. Hardly his fault Terry missed his penalty, Drogba wasn't on the pitch to take one, and that Anelka couldn't be arsed. When Grant came in, he replaced one of the biggest names in European football (and the biggest c*** ever, but thats a different story), he had the press and the fans united against him, he had a divided dressing room full of spoiled multi-millionaires with overinflated egos, and had to deal with almost daily reports of managers lined up to replace him. Despite these almost impossible circumstances, he managed to steady the boat, push the mancs until the final day of the league, get to the Carling Cup final, beat Rafa over two legs (something Mourinho failed to do twice, Riise you ginger t***), and get within a goalpost of a CL winners medal. Regardless of what you think of Grant personally, if thats not worthy of another season in charge, I don't know what is. Please let it be Rijkaard or Mancini. They'll be gone by Christmas.

Me too. If that is true, he sounds like exactly what we need. Good. It'll give a chance to properly rest before turning up fresh and fully charged up for pre-season.

Couldn't believe Grant opted to start with him. Anyway, I thought Parry wasn't entirely to blame (for a change), that the player himself preferred Chelsea from the outset (mates with Drogba and all that).

From the little I've seen of him he hasn't shown enough potential to suggest he will turn out to be a top player. Hope I am proved wrong, though.

Ye, me too.

Should we really care?

Well, Serie A clubs are not as rich as they once were. I'd be disappointed to lose Alonso, regardless of Barry. In an ideal world, I would have liked both. With the Alonso speculation gathering wind, and with our interest in Dossena, it would seem as though Barry is targeted primarily for center midfield, and not for left back.

The Premiership is considered to be the top league in Europe at present, and the highest paying, so, without getting into a discussion of which club is bigger, he might prefer trying himself in the Premiership. Also, it would seem that our interest is genuine and that negotiations are pretty advanced, whilst Milan's interest may well be preliminary.

He did absolutely feck all after coming on. Its as if he really couldn't give a feck. Very overrated. Glad we didn't go back for him. I'd have Kuyt every day of the week over him - less talent, but more heart than Anelka will ever have, and he never goes missing.

Quick, someone post that in a Chelsea forum. My sentiments exactly. Terry tears are always nice, but Ronaldo crying would have been much more pleasing.

Still makes no sense to me that we have to sell in order to generate funds for incoming players. I would have thought that in such a situation Rafa would have preferred to give up and go somewhere else, especially since he is not likely to be short on offers.

Not that he is aware of ... I am not usually one to have a go at one of our players, but he really is a stupid dumb f***ing ginger c***. Still hard for me to get over his unbelievable own goal ...

Aimar at his prime was a fantastic player, my favorite non-LFC player at the time. Haven't seen him for Zaragoza this season, but if Rafa can get him back to anywhere near that level, he'll be perfect playing behind Torres, with Stevie roaming from the right. Regarding whether he'll be strong enough for the Premiership, as Maldini said, Argentinian players are tough f*****s, especially the little ones, as they've been kicked every which way week in week out in Argentina.

No way will we sell Torres, regardless of how temping it will be to G&H. If they force Rafa's hand, he'll walk out without hesitation, and then they will have a real mutiny on their hands.

PLTBT. Regarding Drenthe, I think the lad has a lot of potential, and I would love to have him here. Seems to be a bit of a c***, but we could do with having a few in our team. Besides, I am sure the likes of Gerrard, Carra and Kuyt can keep him in line when necessary.

Certainly does not tie up with what Elisha was saying, and I know who I trust more.

This would appear to be the case, but the question arises if this is indeed so, how come is Rafa willing to stick around? Surely he is not short of offers.

Without a doubt.

Skrtel was Heinze money from last summer, Mascherano was partly financed by Momo's sale.

It should have earned him a contract extension ...

Feck. I'm surprised Rafa is willing to hang around.