Who I'd buy this January

Well we are 15 days into the mid season transfer window, and we have signed one player, Demba Ba - which I am very happy about! Unfortunately for some, we had to let Daniel Sturridge leave to Liverpool too, and it looks like Lucas Piazon is off to Malaga on a six month loan. I'm hearing rumours of buying players everyday, as well as selling some of our beloved stars. How many of these actually have any truth behind them I don't know, but they're fun to read right!? Based on the rumours and speculation I have heard, I'm going to talk about some of the players we have been linked with in this window.

Marouanne Fellaini
If you haven't read my article on the possible signing of Fellaini, please check the link below this paragraph, however a lot has changed since I wrote it. L'Equipe on the 9th of January claimed that the Everton star would sign for Chelsea 'this week'. Now I don't know what's happening behind closed doors, but I doubt we'll hear the Belgian has signed tomorrow.
However, Fellaini would be a great addition to the current squad. Fellaini could can play in most positions across the midfield and attack, which would be great for us especially with holes to fill as Mikel and Moses are competing in the African Cup of Nations. Fellaini would also add some strength to our physically soft team, as well as additional threat from set pieces with his six foot four build.

Reality - 7/10

Excitability 9/10
David Villa
David Villa is a rumor that has popped up several times over the last four seasons or so. After 8 months out with a broken tibia, it seems as so David Villa is passed his best at the age of 31. However, his best was fantastic, so he is still a very good player, and would play an important if he came to Chelsea. Villa can either play down the wing or as a striker, although I'm sure he could probably fit in just tucked behind the striker too. David has scored 10 goals in his 22 appearances for Barca this season. Villa impressed at both Valencia and Barcelona, scoring a total of 276 goals in his career in 557 games, being used mainly as a wide man.
Reality - 4/10
Excitability 7/10

Radamel Falcao
Falcao. I must hear a rumor about this man three to four times everyday. However, it doesn't stop being exciting! Falcao has been linked with a move to Chelsea for a couple of seasons, and has also been linked to Man City, Real Madrid and PSG. The Colombian featured in the FIFA Team of the Year, and thoroughly deserved his place. Falcao has lifted Athletico Madrid into second place in the La Liga, with his brilliant record of 21 goals in 19 games for the Spanish side this season. Falcao is in my eyes, without a doubt the best traditional striker in football at the moment, which means teams will have a hefty price tag to pay if they want to sign him. In Spain, every player will have a release clause, and Falcao's is 55million Euro's, which is a lot to ask for. However, it is more likely we will sign a player with such a hefty fee in the summer.
Reality - 6/10
Excitability 11/10

Theo Wallott
This rumor has died down a lot, but I think it is still worth a mention. I am a big fan of Theo, and have been since he joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2006. He has recently proved he can play on both the wing and down the center in the striker role, having been reportedly tutored by legend Thiery Henry whilst he trains at the Shenley training center. Theo has great pace, and has the ability to finish having scored 14 goals this season, as well as making 10 assists. Despite his good record this season, a few Arsenal fans that I know have been quite negative of Theo, arguing that he is lazy and that he doesn't get involved as much. However recent form has changed this, and if he keeps playing the way he is, he would be a great addition to any team in England.
Reality - 4/10
Excitability 7/10

IscoI haven't seen much of Isco, but I have heard a lot. Last week a lot of rumours broke out from numerous sources such as The Mirror, The Daily Mail and The Metro claiming that we had agreed to sign the Spanish international. Unless it's been done behind closed doors (which I doubt), nothing has happened. New rumours of a summer move however have been mentioned however. Isco is a 20 year old attacking midfielder who currently plays for Malaga (Lucas Piazon looks set for a loan move there, if you catch my drift!). Isco has been described as the best Spanish player of his generation. Stat-wise, Isco has looked average in the La Liga this season, but his performances argue with this. He has been impressive in the Champions League with 2 goals and 2 assists, but with Oscar who is a similar age who plays in the same position, I'm not sure I can see this one happening
Reality - 6/10
Excitability 6/10

In conclusion, it is likely that we will add one more addition to the squad in this window, especially with the latest rumours that Marko Marin is off on loan. Although our team is quite impressive at the moment, a bit more depth would be nice, and depth with the talent to change a game. We need to compete in all the remaining competitions we are in, and a push for 2nd place doesn't look impossible. So go on Roman, open your wallet!....again.

Southampton 1-5 Chelsea: Reaction

Chelsea re-found their winning ability after a poor 1-0 loss to west London rivals QPR in midweek, with a 5-1 thump away to Premier League strugglers Southampton. The big talking point in this game was new signing Demba Ba's fantastic debut, as well as Frank Lampard scoring his 193rd goal for the club, meeting Kerry Dixon's record, and sitting in 2nd place of our all time top scorers list.

As per usual, Rafa Benitez set the Blues out in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Brazilians David Luiz and Ramires being chosen to occupy the two double-pivot roles. I have no idea why the supposedly fit Mikel didn't start, especially as this was his last chance to play for us before being jetted away to Portugal to start Nigeria's training before the African Cup of Nations. Hazard, Mata and Moses were chosen to play in the front three behind new striker Demba Ba. I am still baffled about Rafa's choice of squad rotation over the last week, but let's not get into that now.

Although we ended the game 4 goals ahead, the first 30 minutes or so looked like it would be more of the same regarding our midweek loss. David Luiz and Ramires were poor in the double pivot, frequently losing the ball to Southampton's midfield, leaving the front 4 with nothing to work with. Due to this, a Southampton counter attack down the right side of the field ended up in a goal for the Saints, with James Puncheon playing in Jay Rodriguez, with his first touch taking him past Gary Cahill before calmly caressing the ball into the bottom left hand corner, past second choice keeper Ross Turnbull.

Despite being a goal behind, Chelsea still didn't look the team we expected them two, with passes being intercepted and attacking runs not being found. Hazard came close with a finessed shot at the edge of the area, which resulted in a fantastic save by Saints keeper Artur Boruc.

35 minutes in, and Chelsea managed to equalise, with a goal by debutant striker, Demba Ba. A lovely attack started down the left hand side, when Victor Moses played in Eden Hazard attacking down the wing. Come the edge of the box, Hazard played in Juan Mata, who cut in past two Southampton defenders before cheekily lobbing the ball over Boruc. The ball was in danger of being cleared before it reached the net, so quick thinker Demba Ba jumped at the opportunity to score his first Chelsea goal, equalising the game at 1-1.

After the equaliser, we looked a complete different team, with our midfield seeming a lot more confident, and our class was simply too much for Southampton's, and it wasn't to anyone's surprise that we took the lead just before the break. Mata picked up the ball at the edge of the box and played it to Victor Moses. A lovely 'Ronaldo chop' pass to Ashley Cole who saw his shot bounce off the Southampton defender and fall to Moses, who sweetly shot a left foot strike through the Saint's defence and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

The third Chelsea goal came in the 52nd minute, as rock solid Branislav Ivanovic jumped high to reach Mata's accurate free kick, after he had skilfully cut in down the left hand side. By now Chelsea had sealed the game, with Southampton showing no signs of getting back into it.

Chelsea made it 4 on the hour mark, as Mata picked up the ball on the half way line. David Luiz entered the attacking half as he loves to do, and attempted to play a long ball to Ba which got intercepted. Ba won the ball back using his brute force, and shielded the ball long enough for Moses to catch up, who received the pass. Moses quickly played the ball central to Ramires, who opted to go back out wide, this time to the right hand side where Eden Hazard played a beautiful through ball to the edge of the six yard box which saw Demba Ba score his second with a typical poachers finish.

Southampton did come close on the 70 minute mark, but a pair of great saves by Ross Turnbull prevented the ball from landing in his net for the second time. Ba could have made it three, two minutes later. A beautifully weighted pass by Ramires played Moses in on the right hand side. Moses saw Ba lose his defender in the area, and played a lightly weighted cross to the Senegalese striker, who headed it down, only to be saved by Boruc's feet.

Lampard won a penalty in the 81st minute, when the ref wrongly accused a Southampton player of a handball, when it actually hit his chest. Frank immediately picked up the ball, despite Demba Ba being one goal shy of a hat-trick, as Frank wanted to become the 2nd highest scorer in the history of the club. Lampard scored his 193rd goal, as his penalty was smashed into the bottom left hand corner, and you could really see his passion towards the Chelsea fans through his celebration.

So we made it into the 4th round draw which takes place at 3:30 on ITV1. Personally I'd like to see an away draw to Brighton, who beat Newcastle by 2 goals to 0, simply because I'd go to the match! But a good draw to see would be QPR, so we can get our own back on them after the shocking loss on Wednesday night.