Nice.

I’m expectecting a very tight affair to start then opening up more in the 2nd half. I’m thinking we could come away with a 2-1 win but, with our recent history at the Bridge, we may see a 3-0 win for Chelsea.

So close to call. Can’t make me mind up!

Alph

However, I don’t believe that Hughes ‘let Sturridge go’ that’s just a re-writing of history. The club were remiss in allowing Sturridge’s contract to run down as far as it did before starting negotiations but that wasn’t Hughes fault, it was well on the way before he joined City. Sturridge refused a very lucrative contract ofer, several in fact, and ran his contract down. He had been tapped up by CFC a long time in advance, had an agent and a plan and carried it out. The contract that he declined to accept would have paid him more than several other established players, including Richards and Onuoha, and would have put him just under that of Ireland, who at that time was regularly our star player.

Whilst £55k pw might sound a low sum compared to what we pay these days, it did represent more than £10 million over 4 years, with rugular reviews, which at that time it was top PL pay and ludicrously rich pickings for talented but largely unproven 19 year old talent with an attitude.