Would rather we kept Bamford as back up striker this season. He's linked up well in per-season and wouldn't expect to start or need huge wages.

Have been so impressed with Costa and Cesc pre-season.

No confirmation on Drog's injury yet - hopefully weeks rather than months.

Rumours are we have made an interest known for Remy in case Drogs is out for longer than expected.

My niece is off to the game tonight, very jealous. All the players will be announced and will come onto the pitch one by one from 7pm.

Reports everywhere that we are about to make a £30m offer for Mehdi Benatia from Roma. All the big clubs around Europe have shown an interest, but I wouldn't have thought he was a priority signing for Chelsea ?
He would be an exciting addition though. Strangely, he likes getting foward almost as much as David Luiz, and is probably even more adventurous with the ball at his feet. Difference is, he doesn't neglect his defensive duties. Strong in the tackle and great in the air.

Not sure about Loic Remy. His games/goals ratio is good, but he's always struck me as a player with a poor attitude. I was surprised Newcastle took him on loan after the way he let them down, and his attitude to QPR has been a bit shabby. I guess those clubs are desperate, but we don't need anyone who's going to give us problems.

If Drogba is out for a extended amount of time then I can see a reason for going for him, He would only be used when really needed and think we have a strong enough manager and dressing room to combat any trouble he might cause. It would only be a short-term stop gap just to get a body in

Thibaut Courtois | Nathan Ake, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic | Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Ramires | Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Andre Schurrle

Substitutes from: Petr Cech, Mark Schwarzer, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Filipe Luis, Kurt Zouma, Mikel, Oscar, Marco van Ginkel, Mohamed Salah, Victor Moses, Willian, Fernando Torres

Costa 1-0 after a minute

Costa again 2-0

Missed the first goal. Second one was a simple enough finish, but you-know-who would have skied it.

Loved the introduction of all the players one by one last night. They all got big cheers but the biggest of the night was when Drogs came out.

So excited by Diego Costa, he seems just what we are looking for but obviously until he starts banging them in in the PL....I won't jump the gun.

Yea its to early to tell but he does look the part more then anyone else we have bought for quite a while.

Both the goals scored last night (and the goals he scored so far) are the type of goals we have been missing.

I think the bigger key will be keeping Cesc fit

Atsu has completed his loan move to Everton. Will be interesting to see how he does this season, and whether there's any potential at all for a future playing with us.

Jose said on Chelsea TV after the game that Drogs will be only be out for about a week. Good news!

Looks like we're loaning Moses to Stoke for a year.

Hi chelsea fans. What are/ were your views on ex chelsea players wayne bridge and Scott Parker ?

Both fine players, but they just happened to be around at the wrong time. Gallas, Del Horno, and then of course Ashley Cole prevented Wayne Bridge from making the LB position his own. But he still made 80+ appearances.
Scott Parker never had much chance. But that was at a time when we were just throwing money around. Parker was never going to be able to force himself into our midfield at that time, not with the likes of Makelele, Tiago, Lampard and Essien in competition.
But there have been times since when I wished we still had Scott Parker, or a player much like him. .

What did chelsea fans tink of steve sidwell odd buy I recken ?

And also how come tiago only had a year ?

Signed on a free transfer, sold a year later for £5m. Only signed for his cheapness and to bolster the squad, but was never going to force his way into our team.



He was upgraded for Essien. Tiago was a decent player but not of the same calibre as Essien, who was up with the world's best back then.

Decent, average player and no more. But as I said previously, there was a time when we just threw money around. We still do, but we're a bit more selective these days and it's usually for young players with potential.

Oh, was he signed on a free ? ..that makes more sense then. Ignore above.

Mourinho has always admitted that was a mistake. But that was before everyone was playing 4-2-3-1. He would have been great in the other pivotal role alongside Essien. Essien was the power-house, Tiago was more creative..a very under-rated player.

Yeah, that was the summer when we raided the bins for scraps rather than the shopping at Harrods that we had become accustomed to! We also picked up Tal Ben-Haim and Pizarro on free transfers.

I thought Tiago was a good player but even if we had kept him around it's hard to see where he really would have figured considering we had Essien, Makalele and Lampard with Ballack joining a year later. That was one heck of a midfield, looking back.

Oh yes, we had an incredible midfield at that time. Without looking it up, I'm not sure when Makelele left, so I was thinking more of Tiago playing alongside the other players you mention.
I always get mixed up about when the careers of various Chelsea players over-lapped.

Ah right, yeah Makelele was with us for another 3 seasons after Tiago left.

McEachran's gone to Vitesse. On loan, of course.