So, with that being said, I’m taking off for the weekend. A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Rakim, Nas & a host of others are awaiting my attention in the US capitol. If anything happens while I’m gone, keep me posted in this post. Yeah, if Robinho makes the move, let me know. Holla.

What a crazy club name. Anyway, it’ll give us fans — at least those with Chelsea TV — a chance to see how the club is being shaped under the new regime. For the regime, it will give them a chance to see not only how much work they have left to do but, more importantly, who will step up amongst those on the cutting room floor.

Ben-Haim, Pizza Man, Belletti and Drogba have all been left behind. Are they gone? Most likely. Well, except Drogba who’s iffy at best right now. So that leaves us with a handful of names fighting for a place with the first team. We’ve got our experienced squad guys: SWP, Flo, Ivanovic, Sheva. Then there’s the youngstas who have travelled: Franco Di Santo, aaand who knows who. Sinclair and Cork aren’t there because of U-19s and there’s no definitive roster anywhere. Whatever, on with the program.

We have 26 squad players at the moment, including those who were left out of the tour and not including youth team players. Uncle Phil has stated he wants a squad of 25 and no more. With that aforementioned trio bailing, that will cut some fat. But, with potentially one or more signings still to come, even more might be heading for the exit as we’ve read over the summer.

So, I ask you, who will solidify themself as a member of Chelsea FC during this preseason tour. The players have three matches in Asia before closing out the preseason in Moscow (no doubt a bittersweet return there) as part of the Russian Railways tournament, which involves Sevilla and AC Milan.

Is SWP finally going to come good (riiiiiight)? Will Flo step up after a season (hope)? Is Sheva bound to net 20-plus (def)? Let the season begin my friend.

I’m think I’m going to be sick.

Chelsea set to land Kaka for record £80m
· Negotiations with Milan at an advanced stage
· World player of the year keen on move to London

That’s how the Guardian is prosing it out.   Now I’ll open this trash up for discussion. Give me something people.

“I think Claude has this kind of gift - he’s been the best player in the team for years but people just don’t notice him, don’t notice what he does. But you ask anyone at Real Madrid during the years we were talking about and they will tell you he was the best player at Real. We all knew, the players all knew he was the most important. The loss of Makélélé was the beginning of the end for Los Galacticos… You can see that it was also the beginning of a new dawn for Chelsea. He was the base, the key and I think he is the same to Chelsea now.”
-Steve McManaman

“Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?”
-Zinedine Zidane

It seems as if the worst has, indeed, come true. According to Sky Sports, Claude Makélélé has flown to Paris this morning in order to undergo a medical ahead of his long-rumored move to PSG. All I can say is, I’m gutted.

The 35-year-old has been linked with the Paris club for nearly the entire summer. And, although he still has a year left on his current contract, it looks as if his five-year tenure in London has finally come to an end.

It’s safe to say Maks will go down as a Chelsea legend. The man the holding midfield role has since been named after moved to Chelsea in 2003 for £16.8 million. It’s easily Claudio Raineri’s best contribution to the club — and likely one of the best pieces of business Chelsea has ever conducted. Hey, just ask Real Madrid.

Since his move to London, Maks has made close to 220 appearances for the club, serving as one of the most pivotal pieces during the club’s emergence as a genuine European contender. He even capped the club’s first Premiership title campaign in 50 years when he smashed in the rebound off his own missed penalty against Charlton during the 2004-05 season.

Makélélé is undoubtedly my favorite player. His competitive spirit. His tenacity. His willingness to remain in the shadows. Maks is just on another level for me. I’ll miss him more than most.

Then again, maybe this is just a rumor and my man will hang around for another year. Well, if not, here’s to the best holding mid of all time. We wish you the best. You’ll always be in my XI.

Below are a few videos featuring Makélélé the great:

Just a day ago, the pint-sized Brazilian was quoted in an array of media outlets saying: “I hope to remain at Real Madrid this year. Now I am only thinking about Madrid. I am not prepared to enter into the operation to sign Cristiano”

Scratch that. Less than two days later, the current Madridista emerges from “crunch meetings” with Real sporting director Predrag Mijatovic with a completely different view of his future.

“It would be a dream for me to work with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is one of the best coaches in the world. I have always spoken highly of him and he has always spoken very highly of me, since well before he was at Chelsea,” Robinho said last night according to the Guardian. “In 2003, when I was unknown in Europe, he called me to play in a charity match. It was brief but it was enough for me to see his style and character.”

Robinho’s agent, Wagner Ribeiro, added some nastiness to the cause.

“Madrid have failed to value him as he deserves,” Ribeiro said, “and I do not like the fact that they tried to include him in the Ronaldo deal. Money is not the problem for us now. What matters for Robinho is to leave the club and play for Scolari at Chelsea.”

Whaaaa? Somebody’s doing some poor reporting (imagine that). Or, Robinho’s bi-polar. I’m opting for the former (by inches).

The Guardian opens its story with Chelsea lodging an asburd £48m bid for the 24-year-old. This after having a 40mil euro offer already rubbished by the Real board. Come on, we could buy two or three Stern Johns with that kind of cash. I like Robinho (in a totally hetero way), but this is getting ridiculous.

I guess we’ll see how this thing draws out over the next coming weeks. With CR7 recovering from his ankle injury in short shorts, I’m assuming a battle for Robinho will not be won by the Chels. However, if he indeed is adamant about departing, I can’t see how he won’t end up in London — even if it means Romes ponying up about 75mil sterling.

According to the Guardian, the Milan club are prepared to offer £15 million plus — yes, plus — Adriano. Are you kidding me? This rumor just reeks of nonsense.

However, it could be true right? We all know The Ordinary One is desperate to land Lampard. He’s never been very high on Adriano, either — remember when we were linked with him a couple summers ago? So, let’s say it is true. Then we should pounce on this gift asap.

15mil is a considerable bump from the previous 8mil on offer for a player who will most certainly leave in a year when his contract is up. He could still buy his way out, too. That’s why we should get what we can — as much as we can — now.

Adriano is certainly a risk. However, it’s a no-lose situation. If he succeeds, then boom, we’ve added a fantastic piece for absolutely nothing. If he struggles, we simply loan/sell and turn a profit. Regardless, this guy has all the tools. Don’t forget, just four years ago he netted 40 goals in all competitions and was regarded by many as the best striker in the world at the time. And he’s still only 26. Why not take a chance on that kind of potential?

Still, I can’t see this rumor being true. I guess only time will tell, though. Hell, if they’re desperate to land Lamps, why not throw Mario Balotelli and Pele into the mix?