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"So the Essien saga is at an end then..."

£24.4M.

Bit more realistic, I should think. I haven't that much of Essien but claims that he's as good as Gerrard seemed to me a bit hysterical.

Where would you fit him in? People on the BBC's 606 message board seem to think of him as a replacement for Makelele, or another wide option, or backup for Lampard.

This confuses me. I immediately saw him as a replacement for Gudjonsen as a more natural central midfield partner for Lampard, with Makelele keeping his place behind them in that holding role. Few seem to think it's as clear cut as this.

So given that Chelsea have one of their toughest fixtures ahead of them against Arsenal this Sunday, they'll want their strongest side. Anyone care to speculate on what that might be?

Your's was even more unrealistic - sports forumers intelligent enough to try some tactical voting?

whatever next

down wrote:
> Is that what you heard? I heard it was the CIA, fitting missiles to
> empty planes, and stuff

Come on it is Stryke, the most he could afford is making some paper aeroplanes and throwing them in the face of the site members making them type in the wrong name while voting.

I even had to rob some poor Spanish tourist to be able to pay for the refreshment at the meetings

As a Chelsea fan, I didn't want Essien in the slightest. Gudjohnsen was class in midfield last season, and there is no way I would replace him. We do need someone to replace Maka in a few seasons time but we bought Lassana Diarra (a Maka lookalike) who is only 20 to mould into him. Thus there was no need for him whatsoever. Added to that the fact that I've never seen him play makes me think that there is nothing special about him :)

I shall wait for him to prove me wrong and be a legend.

Is that what you heard? I heard it was the CIA, fitting missiles to empty planes, and stuff

It involved a cunningly hidden "Vote for me" message in a post and a devious plot by the sport forum

Gahaha. Stryke's a notable....

How on earth did that happen :P

I should go away less often.

LOL That's all you need to make up your own balanced opinions, isn't it

I think he's an excellent player, and will slot straight into the first team, probably removing Gudjohnsen

Stryke wrote:
> How many times have you actually seen Essien play, Dringo? Not saying
> I have, mind, but I'm inclined to believe Jose Mourinho knows more
> about players than you or me.

Okay, I haven't seen Essien play, but I've read 2 articles, 1 in The Daily Express and one at BBC.co.uk where the pundit cannot understand the obsession!

Stryke wrote:
> Drogba seems to be an exception. But you can never be sure about
> buying a one-season wonder. I should know, we bought Diouf.

Yeah, you should've known a playerlike Diouf could never work in the Premiership.

Now if only someone had've told Sam Allardyce that...

Drogba seems to be an exception. But you can never be sure about buying a one-season wonder. I should know, we bought Diouf.