Oh, I agree. For all the talk about this being the best in the world (which is highly debatable) and the richest (which it almost certainly is) the players signed have, in the main, not been the very, very best players. We've had good players, sure, but the real quality inevitably still ends up in Spain or Italy.

Michael Owen was when he signed for Newcastle


Veron when he signed for United?

Crespo when he went to chelsea?

Tevez and Mascerano to the hammers?


Hmmm all argies whats going on

I have always held the same opinion.

Sheikh Mansoor could change that though. I'd love to see the best players in the world play in England. It would be great if an English club, I don't care who, managed to sign Messi. That would be incredible. It would certainly make me want to watch that team more often.

But then again, when to Spanish and Italian sides sign World Class players from abroad? Kaka for example, bought from Sao Paulo, Robinho from Santos iirc, Ronaldinho wasn't world class imo at the time he signed from PSG. Messi came through the Barca system etc.

I'm not sure, English clubs never really sign established 'BIG' name players, but then, how many clubs are willing to sell those players?

We sign top players and they become world class in England.

Just think, Chelsea have signed the likes of Drogba, Carvalho, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko, Lampard and Robben as top players, and turned them into world class players (although Robben has left for a very tidy profit). Forget Shevva in that, but he was signed as world class.

When you say 'the real quality', what do you mean?

I'm sure Italian/Spanish clubs would love the likes of Fabregas, Adebayor, Sagna, Clichy, RVP, Torres, Mascherano, Alonso, Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carvalho, Ballack (in his day), Lampard and many more.

I think Italian clubs are vastly overrated, and ever since the relegation of Juve, that league's been on the slide for a while now.

Good win for us yesterday, playing a team bang in form and with Liverpool winning it became vital we win to keep the gap. Routine for Liverpool in my eyes, once Rafa realised he had to play half decent players then it was a stroll, they'd have been 3-0 up at halftime had Torres and Alonso started.

This isn't true for the last 5 years or so. The CL Winners & English clubs dominance in the competition proves our league is the strongest.

On the subject of World Class Players, there's more players making the move to the Big Clubs in La Liga than the other way around isn't there ? Robben, Hleb, Henry, Diarra, Heinze, Beckham, Van Nistelrooy, Pique, Gudjohnsen etc. If you let them, they'd sign another 50, Fabregas, Drogba, Ronaldo, Torres, Adebayor, RVP, Lampard, Gerrard and on and on. They poach our talent as oppose to years ago, they didn't give The Premiership a look in, in the 90's not many, if any footballers left England to go to Barca or Real.

I think coaches look at our Top 4 players and admire them far more than our coaches look at there's if you get me ? Say Barca, take away Messi, Eto'o, Xavi & Iniesta, there's not many you'd want. Real - Casillas, Ramos, Raul ? Not many like.

Overall, 1-20 teams in the league, I think La Liga is stronger than ours, more gifted anyhow, poor sides have a quality player, generally one that Barca or Real have tossed away.

I find it unfair on Big Phil because they aren't that far away from the top. Also they are still in the champions league. He hasn't really had Essien or Drogba at full fitness who are both key players, but had a feeling he could be on his way out. IMO Mourinho or Zola will take over. Either way I think Steve Clarke will return as assistant manager.

It's not unfair, he's woefully inept. Chelsea players have been moaning for months now about his antiquated training methods. These were probably fine in International Footall, you only met up with the bloke once every two months. Every day, the same drills, they've been bored less. Also, they say you spend very little time in training doing ballwork, I think for some of the longer serving players, your JT's, Carvalho, Essien, Lampard et al, they'll obviously compare it to Mourinho and his regime and they've felt it was light years behind. I think because Big Phil was a nice guy, it is a shame, but it's not a nice guy competition is it, it's The Premiership.

They eeked through an easy CL group, were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley. Struggled past Southend in the FA cup, have a replay at Ipswich to come. Failed to beat Hull at home, were mighty lucky against Stoke. Haven't beaten any of the Big Four (well Villa, if we aren't including Arsenal). He had to go, it's not good enough. The next appointment will tell all about Chelsea, I think it's a club really on the way down, I think any manager taking the job will want to know the plans on investment and such, and who is appointed will be an indication of this. I think Chelsea fans should prepare to be underwhelmed.

Wonder if we can beat last seasons record of getting 3 Managers IIRC sacked in consecutive weeks after they all lost/drew against us?

Seems an odd time to change manager's though, just AFTER the transfer window closes.
I knew there was more to the eye in the Tony Adams leaving Portsmouth situation....he's off to the Bridge

It's unfair that he is a proven world-class manager and yet he hasn't been given a season to win them a major trophy.

I think a fortnight is more than long enough to judge anyone. Heat, kitchen, live by the sword etc.

chelsea have really missed essien this season
i havent seen the list of possible managers but di matteo could be in the running if they want to do it cheapish

Volare, oh oh
Scolari, oh oh oh oh
Let's fly way up to the clouds
Away from the maddening crowds
We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of
Where lovers enjoy peace of mind
Let us leave the confusion and all disillusion behind
Just like birds of a feather, a rainbow together we'll find
etc