Is there any need for reinforcements?

I guess there is. Who will be sitting on the bench? We can't simply bet on having no suspensions and injuries during January.

Drogba is currently the best striker in Europe, I'd get him in!

Also the Ancelotti midfield diamond is more likely to be:
---Essien---
Lampard/Ballack
-Cole or Deco-

Bosingwa is out for a bit with Ivanovic doing well as a replacement.

Zola, that's true. But there are some young players such as Sturridge, Bruma, Matic and Borini, and other guys like Deco, Alex, Ivanovic and Belleti. Besides the January fixtures are not so hard. I just wonder if it would be worth signing somebody who would face a lot of competition beyond January.

Ricardo, this team is meant for January when the African Nations is on. Otherwise, you're right, Essien would be in and the team would play a diamond with Drogba up top.

The problem with the young players is that they don't get any playing time in Premier League. And Carling Cup does not really cut it.

Don't forget the looming transfer ban as well. This might be our last chance to buy players for 2 years.

Who would you go for?

Napoli have turned a bit of a corner under their new manager, so i'm not sure he'd be available, but Marek Hamsik is terrific. Something of a long term replacement for Lampard as well.

From Toulouse in France, Moussa Sissoko and Piere Gignac are both playing well.

Pato was mentioned before, but I don't think Milan would be willing to sell.

I guess we need a striker and a defensive midfielder urgently.

I rate Dzeko from Wolfsburg highly. He might like the idea of playing in Premier League.

As far as the defensive mids go, France is the place to look. Vieria can be given a chance as a stop gap measure as well.

I do agree with you, it's going to be hard to lure players and clubs. We'll probably not get value for our money.

If I were a hot propsect, I wouldn't sign for a team that's going to be not buying anybody for a while.

But I guess Ancelotti knows how to work with older stars.

Lamps out for 6 weeks. He will be back before January, but this is still a warning sign.

If you do need a midfield enforcer at times in front of the back line, is Ballack the best option?

Lamps out for 6 weeks, Cole not so good and Drogba might have a broken rib from that Evans kick ... looking tight.

Might be:

Ballack - Zhirkov
Deco - J.Cole - Malouda
Anelka

But not really sure, maybe:

Belletti
Ballack - Zhirkov
Deco
Cole
Anelka

JT urged the club spend big in the January transfer window. We are now getting mixed messages. Ancelotti says he's happy with the squadd.

Dont really like ballack anymore.